Casto is already the best shot blocker in the Pac 10

by Craig Powers on Mar 6, 2009 1:09 PM PST

Casto_medium

After reading this article from Cougfan on Deangelo Casto's shot blocking prowess, I was inspired to look at the tempo-neutral stats to find out just how awesome Casto really is when it comes to swatting shots.

Here is a look at the Pac 10 leaders in block% (from kenpom):

1 Taj Gibson	9.17
2 Jordan Hill	6.25
3 Michael Dunigan	5.15
4 Aron Baynes	4.22
5 Roeland Schaftenaar	4.22
6 Jeff Pendergraph	3.67
7 Josh Owens	3.54
8 Jordan Wilkes	2.73
9 Caleb Forrest	2.41
10 Omari Johnson	2.37

So where is Deangelo? To qualify for these rankings a player must play 40% of his team's total minutes. Deangelo just misses the cut at 39.6. For argument's sake, we will round up (like they taught us in third grade). Right now, Deangelo is posting a robust 9.8 block percentage. From the table above, you can see that would easily move him ahead of Taj Gibson for first in the Pac 10 in blocking efficiency.

I watched on television during last year's 4A state title game as he was sending away a state championship record eight shots and wondered if it was because he just outmanned the competition or if he truly was a skilled shot blocker. We've seen so far this year, and the numbers prove, this guy truly does have a knack for protecting the rim.

How old is he again? Oh that's right (drools on keyboard).

Be very afraid Pac 10, be very afraid.

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I love his shot blocking ability

Those blocks and his D energy really feed this team.

So, how many minutes does he need tomorrow to make the cut?

Go Cougs, pound the puppies!

by DCinSEA on Mar 6, 2009 1:21 PM PST reply actions

according to my research

He needs just 21 minutes tomorrow to finish the regular season at 40% of our minutes. Or, if we go to OT, he needs 23 minutes – just keep adding two for every OT.

Tony Bennett for Heisman!

by johnnycougar on Mar 6, 2009 1:37 PM PST up reply actions

sort of...

keep in mind that he is the second guy coming in the post…and that’s why he gets more blocks. the second guy, i.e. the help defender, gets more blocks than the main defender. Baynes gets posted up by the big guy, and Casto comes over to block the shot.

watch—next year Casto’s percentage goes down, though he will get more overall blocks as his minutes go up.

this situation is the same reason Taj Gibson is up there at the top and not Hill, Baynes or Pendergraph.

by bill gray on Mar 6, 2009 1:54 PM PST reply actions

Good point

But for most of the year Casto was on the floor when Baynes wasn’t, the Baynes-Casto combo is pretty recent development.

This is where per game statistics go to die.

CougCenter

by Craig Powers on Mar 6, 2009 2:09 PM PST up reply actions

He also doesn't get a lot of his blocks on big men making post moves

It’s usually helping to stop penetration. And that won’t change next year.

I actually was going to write a post this year on how much having legitimate shot blockers in the paint helps the Bennett system, but never got around to it. Baynes and Casto are easily the best shot blocking combo in the conference. When they’re on the floor together, the Cougs’ interior is nearly impenetrable.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Mar 6, 2009 3:25 PM PST up reply actions

I love how much Baynes has improved in that area

those 20 lbs have made all the difference. That block he had on Saturday was something that would not have happened last year. Hopefully next year Watson or Motum will be just as intimidating down low.

This is where per game statistics go to die.

CougCenter

by Craig Powers on Mar 6, 2009 3:28 PM PST up reply actions

That's been the most underrated aspect of Baynes' improvement this year

His block percentage is up from 3.7 to 5.0, and his FC/40 is down from 4.9 to 2.9.

Translation: He’s blocking more shots and committing fewer fouls while doing it. His development over the past four years has been a sight to behold. You might never again see a Cougar grow as much as he has over his four years, it’s been that incredible. He’s improved more, even from last year to this, than I ever could have dreamed.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Mar 6, 2009 3:32 PM PST up reply actions

I remember his freshman year thinking

If we could just get 5 rebounds and 10 points out of this guy I would be beyond thrilled. He has gone way beyond my expectations and has added so many elements to his game. He didn’t have the drop step two handed power dunk his first two years, he would always try to lay it off the glass (never worked). Now he is an animal around the rim.

This is where per game statistics go to die.

CougCenter

by Craig Powers on Mar 6, 2009 3:39 PM PST up reply actions

Years ago...

My best friend (UW alum) and I watched a lot of bball together. We nicknamed Artem Wallace and Baynes the Australian Adventures…the Adventures for short. This was due to one announcer commenting at some point it was always an adventure whe Wallace shot a free throw.

Bottom line, there was a point when I viewed Baynes as comparable to Artem Wallace. Baynes is a special story, and I would love to hear more from coaches or teammates as to how his growth may have happened.

by 02Coug on Mar 6, 2009 7:40 PM PST up reply actions