Who is your candidate for the Rockets most improved player?

Wilson, Lorentsson and Cochrane all had good and bad games. It may not be fair to include Cochrane with the others as he has been an All MAC level performer for years but he was slowed early in the season by illness and lingering injuries and has been playing at an MVP level the last few games.

Wilson's improvement has been steady with a few excellent games.

Lorentsson is fun to watch. He looks like a different player over the past month. His energy on offense and defense is exciting.

Ben Wight was a big disappointment as a starter at the start of the season but has shown some spark and grit in a limited role coming off the bench lately.

Wight needs to have his dorm set up in the weight room with an NIL from Pure Protein.

I would have co-winners. Simmons and Simon. This team was a one man show at the start of MAC play. Cochrane was having to do everything. Without Simon and Simmons stepping up, this would have been a 3rd or 4th place team.

From last year to this year, or over the course of this year?

From last year to this year (cuts out the freshman, I get that) I would go with Moss. He's averaging 15-16 a game, and overall numbers are good (other than turnovers) vs 8 from last year. From the start of the year to now - Andre. I think he has improved greatly on defense, intensity, and scrappiness.

That said, I think Simmons should be a lock for freshman of the year, and it ain't even close.

(03-10-2024 04:27 PM)falconplucker Wrote:  I would have co-winners. Simmons and Simon. This team was a one man show at the start of MAC play. Cochrane was having to do everything. Without Simon and Simmons stepping up, this would have been a 3rd or 4th place team.

Simon? You must mean Sonny Wilson?

(03-10-2024 05:40 PM)Sleepy Wrote:  

(03-10-2024 04:27 PM)falconplucker Wrote:  I would have co-winners. Simmons and Simon. This team was a one man show at the start of MAC play. Cochrane was having to do everything. Without Simon and Simmons stepping up, this would have been a 3rd or 4th place team.

Simon? You must mean Sonny Wilson?

My bad. I meant Wilson

Lorentsson is the most improved in terms of transforming his game day 1 of this season to now. Wilson's subtle improvement over the season is probably the most valuable of any player. Cochran and Simmons contributed very little last yr, so their improved season to season is notable.

Relative to last year, I vote Lorrentson and Moss. Within this season, I vote for all starters plus Lewis and Lorrentson. Good coaching job the last few games after teams figured a D plan against Rockets there were finally effective adjustments.

IMO Winning the MACC is about rebounding well against bigger teams. Every conference loss coincided with a -5 or more rebounding deficit to bigger teams.

My vote would be Lorentsson. He went from the designated 3 point shooter to a reliable basketball player who can drive to the basket, defend some, and rebound.

Others who have stepped up would be Simmons who has continued to progress throughout the year, Moss who has really improved offensively and Lewis who went from being the 3rd best player on his high school team to a solid contributor to the team.

Sonny and Javan.

Lorentson and Simmons. Simmons is newcomer of the year.

(03-10-2024 05:40 PM)Sleepy Wrote:  

(03-10-2024 04:27 PM)falconplucker Wrote:  I would have co-winners. Simmons and Simon. This team was a one man show at the start of MAC play. Cochrane was having to do everything. Without Simon and Simmons stepping up, this would have been a 3rd or 4th place team.

Simon? You must mean Sonny Wilson?

Thank you. I was trying to figure out who Simon was. I could only come up with Simon Seyz

I like how our Freshmen have grown since the beginning of the season which bodes well for the future. While Simmons and Wilson have gotten the majority of playing time which has obviously helped in their development, I think Lewis has made great strides in recent games. As for Most Improved Player based on where he came from last season, I think Lorentson is that guy! How "that guy" plays in Cleveland will be a key factor for whether Toledo cuts down the nets Saturday night!

We are a good 5 from being dangerous. Guard ripe, solid and promising 4 with Simmons. More depth than ever, with bulk.

Where is our Freeman? Ain't that wild - a walk on.

Cochran is MVP of our team IMO. A walking bucket and physically a miss match/sleeper for most teams.

Moss, Cochrane, Wilson, Simmons and Lorentsson are all legit answers depending on how the question is framed. That is a testament to the quality of this coaching staff and its ability to develop players.

That hockey player from Sweden gets my vote. I love that hockey feisty mentality that I'm seeing finally.

If you consider Sonny Wilson is a true freshman, he has really come into his own scoring in the paint against bigger ball players, using his body well. He does a nice job on the weak side boards and has done a great job handling the ball and managing the offense. Definitely freshman all-MAC material, as is Simmons’s.

After losing the 55 points a game scoring from last year, the core guys have really stepped it up. Maddox has also been very good now that he is the focus of other teams. I really like the transformation of Lorentson’s game, as he is filling the holes if Simmons is out. Cochran and Moss are just simply playing bigger in the paint. Moss has been very effective getting to the hoop. Cochran is really doing a nice job with the short range jumper, too.


It has really been a year of progress. UT, again, is a really fun team to watch.

(03-12-2024 04:52 PM)PTLROCK Wrote:  If you consider Sonny Wilson is a true freshman, he has really come into his own scoring in the paint against bigger ball players, using his body well. He does a nice job on the weak side boards and has done a great job handling the ball and managing the offense. Definitely freshman all-MAC material, as is Simmons’s.

After losing the 55 points a game scoring from last year, the core guys have really stepped it up. Maddox has also been very good now that he is the focus of other teams. I really like the transformation of Lorentson’s game, as he is filling the holes if Simmons is out. Cochran and Moss are just simply playing bigger in the paint. Moss has been very effective getting to the hoop. Cochran is really doing a nice job with the short range jumper, too.


It has really been a year of progress. UT, again, is a really fun team to watch.

Sonny has also done a real nice job recently manning up defensively against some of the best guards in the league -- specifically Hunter from OU and Sullinger from Kent St. On the offensive end, he will need to work on his perimeter shooting during the off season so teams will not be able to lay off him for his drives to the basket which has been his go to game for most of the season.

(03-12-2024 09:09 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  

(03-12-2024 04:52 PM)PTLROCK Wrote:  If you consider Sonny Wilson is a true freshman, he has really come into his own scoring in the paint against bigger ball players, using his body well. He does a nice job on the weak side boards and has done a great job handling the ball and managing the offense. Definitely freshman all-MAC material, as is Simmons’s.

After losing the 55 points a game scoring from last year, the core guys have really stepped it up. Maddox has also been very good now that he is the focus of other teams. I really like the transformation of Lorentson’s game, as he is filling the holes if Simmons is out. Cochran and Moss are just simply playing bigger in the paint. Moss has been very effective getting to the hoop. Cochran is really doing a nice job with the short range jumper, too.

It has really been a year of progress. UT, again, is a really fun team to watch.

Sonny has also done a real nice job recently manning up defensively against some of the best guards in the league -- specifically Hunter from OU and Sullinger from Kent St. On the offensive end, he will need to work on his perimeter shooting during the off season so teams will not be able to lay off him for his drives to the basket which has been his go to game for most of the season.

Agreed. I like how Sonny matches up defensively with his quickness and his length at PG.