2002-2003 Total Offensive Efficiency (Centers)
Here is the 5th and final part of my efficiency rankings from the 2002-2003 season.
1. Jeff Hagen, Minnesota
2002-2003 TOE: 0.120
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 4th
COMMENT: No, he obviously isn't the best center in the Big Ten, but is a pretty darn effective offensive role player. He isn't much of a rebounder or a defender which hurts his playing time but he is a brute around the basket and can do some damage. If Rickert played with his toughness inside, he would be about 100 times the player he is.
2. Jared Reiner, Iowa
2002-2003 TOE: 0.109
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 8th
2001-2002 TOE: 0.049
2001-2002 Big Ten Rank: 64th
COMMENT: THIS is the best center in the Big Ten (at least offensively). As I suspected, Reiner has made a nice jump this year with increased playing time. He moved up from the 40th most efficient player in the Big Ten entering the conference season, to the top ten. Like most young big men, needs to be stronger in the post and more secure with the ball, but he has quietly become one of the best players in the Big Ten.
3. Jerry Holman, Minnesota
2002-2003 TOE: 0.101
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 10th
2001-2002 TOE: 0.060
2001-2002 Big Ten Rank: 48th
COMMENT: Last year I think I called him a journeyman, which was probably pretty stupid considering his athletic ability. He still isn't a star, but is an underappreciated force for the Gophers. Holman isn't an initial option in the low post, but is an excellent garbage player. He is still turnover prone and a bit of a black hole, but I like him.
4. Velimir Radinovic, Ohio State
2002-2003 TOE: 0.086
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 22nd
2001-2002 TOE: 0.057
2001-2002 Big Ten Rank: 53rd
COMMENT: Big low-post option who is a complete and total black hole. That being said, he is underrated in terms of the rest of his offensive game in the low post.
5. Graham Brown, Michigan
2002-2003 TOE: 0.079
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 28th
COMMENT: Brown is a good looking young player who is just a banger right now, but has the potential to be more. He seems to know his limits but just needs some refinement to take the next step.
6. Aaron Jennings, Northwestern
2002-2003 TOE: 0.071
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 35th
2001-2002 TOE: 0.021
2001-2002 Big Ten Rank: 80th
COMMENT: Jennings was one of the better players in the league statistically at one time, but his game fell off during the Big Ten season. He has always been a decent outside shooter for a big man, but has seemed to make better decisions as to when and where to pop the jumper. He was more effective from inside the arc this year and is a solid decision maker from the high post. He still isn't much of a rebounder for a big but some of that is due to his role in the Wildcat offense in the high post.
7. Robert Summers, Penn State
2002-2003 TOE: 0.067
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 42nd
COMMENT: A big grunt with some decent moves around the hoop. Not anything special right now, but could have a future.
8. George Leach, Indiana
2002-2003 TOE: 0.063
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 45th
2001-2002 TOE: 0.050
2001-2002 Big Ten Rank: 62nd
COMMENT: Still just a garbage player. He isn't asked to do much on the floor, which works to his advantage as while not overly productive offensively, he doesn't hurt his team much either which allows his defensive skills to thrive.
9. Sean Sonderleiter, Iowa
2002-2003 TOE: 0.058
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 53rd
COMMENT: Sonderleiter is just a big grunt who's numbers fell when his shooting percentage came back down to earth as the season progressed. He is a useful as a body, but nothing special.
10. Nick Smith, Illinois
2002-2003 TOE: 0.056
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 55th
2001-2002 TOE: 0.080
2001-2002 Big Ten Rank: 29th
COMMENT: I have never thought he would be a star, but have always thought he was going to be good player for the Illini this year. He stunk early in the year but really came around the second half. With his lack of offensive rebounding, mediocre passing, and lack of true post play, he has to hit the face up 15 footer to have value in addition to his garbage hoops.
11. Chris Hunter, Michigan
2002-2003 TOE: 0.045
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 62nd
COMMENT: Good offensive rebounder and an athletic defender who played fairly well down the stretch. Hunter and Graham will make a solid combination for a number of years.
12. Paul Davis, Michigan State
2002-2003 TOE: 0.043
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 64th
COMMENT: Probably one of the most talented of the Big Ten centers, it is only a matter of time before Davis becomes a big time player IMO. He was brought along slowly but was one of the Spartans more productive players by the end of the year. However, his efficiency numbers really took a dive with more responsibility. Davis needs to finish better, but already does a nice job of drawing contact. Very poor passer. I have little doubt that Izzo will toughen him up sufficiently.
13. Ivan Kartelo, Purdue
2002-2003 TOE: 0.021
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 82nd
COMMENT: Shot 67% from the field and still ranked this poorly, which tells you something. Boosted his FT percentage from embarrassing to lousy as the year progressed. Has anyone called him "Ivan the Terrible" yet?
2002-2003 TOE: 0.120
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 4th
COMMENT: No, he obviously isn't the best center in the Big Ten, but is a pretty darn effective offensive role player. He isn't much of a rebounder or a defender which hurts his playing time but he is a brute around the basket and can do some damage. If Rickert played with his toughness inside, he would be about 100 times the player he is.
2. Jared Reiner, Iowa
2002-2003 TOE: 0.109
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 8th
2001-2002 TOE: 0.049
2001-2002 Big Ten Rank: 64th
COMMENT: THIS is the best center in the Big Ten (at least offensively). As I suspected, Reiner has made a nice jump this year with increased playing time. He moved up from the 40th most efficient player in the Big Ten entering the conference season, to the top ten. Like most young big men, needs to be stronger in the post and more secure with the ball, but he has quietly become one of the best players in the Big Ten.
3. Jerry Holman, Minnesota
2002-2003 TOE: 0.101
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 10th
2001-2002 TOE: 0.060
2001-2002 Big Ten Rank: 48th
COMMENT: Last year I think I called him a journeyman, which was probably pretty stupid considering his athletic ability. He still isn't a star, but is an underappreciated force for the Gophers. Holman isn't an initial option in the low post, but is an excellent garbage player. He is still turnover prone and a bit of a black hole, but I like him.
4. Velimir Radinovic, Ohio State
2002-2003 TOE: 0.086
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 22nd
2001-2002 TOE: 0.057
2001-2002 Big Ten Rank: 53rd
COMMENT: Big low-post option who is a complete and total black hole. That being said, he is underrated in terms of the rest of his offensive game in the low post.
5. Graham Brown, Michigan
2002-2003 TOE: 0.079
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 28th
COMMENT: Brown is a good looking young player who is just a banger right now, but has the potential to be more. He seems to know his limits but just needs some refinement to take the next step.
6. Aaron Jennings, Northwestern
2002-2003 TOE: 0.071
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 35th
2001-2002 TOE: 0.021
2001-2002 Big Ten Rank: 80th
COMMENT: Jennings was one of the better players in the league statistically at one time, but his game fell off during the Big Ten season. He has always been a decent outside shooter for a big man, but has seemed to make better decisions as to when and where to pop the jumper. He was more effective from inside the arc this year and is a solid decision maker from the high post. He still isn't much of a rebounder for a big but some of that is due to his role in the Wildcat offense in the high post.
7. Robert Summers, Penn State
2002-2003 TOE: 0.067
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 42nd
COMMENT: A big grunt with some decent moves around the hoop. Not anything special right now, but could have a future.
8. George Leach, Indiana
2002-2003 TOE: 0.063
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 45th
2001-2002 TOE: 0.050
2001-2002 Big Ten Rank: 62nd
COMMENT: Still just a garbage player. He isn't asked to do much on the floor, which works to his advantage as while not overly productive offensively, he doesn't hurt his team much either which allows his defensive skills to thrive.
9. Sean Sonderleiter, Iowa
2002-2003 TOE: 0.058
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 53rd
COMMENT: Sonderleiter is just a big grunt who's numbers fell when his shooting percentage came back down to earth as the season progressed. He is a useful as a body, but nothing special.
10. Nick Smith, Illinois
2002-2003 TOE: 0.056
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 55th
2001-2002 TOE: 0.080
2001-2002 Big Ten Rank: 29th
COMMENT: I have never thought he would be a star, but have always thought he was going to be good player for the Illini this year. He stunk early in the year but really came around the second half. With his lack of offensive rebounding, mediocre passing, and lack of true post play, he has to hit the face up 15 footer to have value in addition to his garbage hoops.
11. Chris Hunter, Michigan
2002-2003 TOE: 0.045
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 62nd
COMMENT: Good offensive rebounder and an athletic defender who played fairly well down the stretch. Hunter and Graham will make a solid combination for a number of years.
12. Paul Davis, Michigan State
2002-2003 TOE: 0.043
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 64th
COMMENT: Probably one of the most talented of the Big Ten centers, it is only a matter of time before Davis becomes a big time player IMO. He was brought along slowly but was one of the Spartans more productive players by the end of the year. However, his efficiency numbers really took a dive with more responsibility. Davis needs to finish better, but already does a nice job of drawing contact. Very poor passer. I have little doubt that Izzo will toughen him up sufficiently.
13. Ivan Kartelo, Purdue
2002-2003 TOE: 0.021
2002-2003 Big Ten Rank: 82nd
COMMENT: Shot 67% from the field and still ranked this poorly, which tells you something. Boosted his FT percentage from embarrassing to lousy as the year progressed. Has anyone called him "Ivan the Terrible" yet?
