Xavier Henry: The Man, The Myth, The Controversy

by pblack on Feb 7, 2010 7:50 AM CST

Alright, I thought I would move the Henry conversation out to its own fanpost so everyone can get involved. First, I think Henry is better than Giddens. The similarity I see is the erosion in their games. Both started out very fast, both faded badly. I badly want Henry to play better because I do not think Kansas will win the NC without a more productive Henry. He needs to be a lead player, not a role player. Anyway, let's look at where he is now by examining his numbers dating back to the beginning of December:

Pts/gm: 8.5

FG%: 31%

3pt%: 30%

Assists: 18

Turnovers:26

Steals : 20

He hasn't scored in double figures since tallying 12 points against Baylor on January 20 on 3 of 13 shooting. In three of the last 5 games he has failed to play 20 minutes. Also, in December and January over half of X's field goal attempts were 3 pointers. In February...he has shot 13 times, 9 were from 3 point range. Conversely in November (his most effective month) he shot 54 times with only 21 coming from long range.

Since torching teams like La Salle, Alcorn St. and Hofstra, Henry has been a very mediocre player. That is the simple truth of the thing. Until he returns to form I will continue to worry and continue to compare him with people like Giddens who exploded on the scene and fizzled. Sorry.

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Am I the only one who sees the silver lining?

With these numbers, there is no way he is going to the NBA next year.

Also, anyone else notice Henry’s lefthandedness being detrimental to his driving? Teams make him go right, then he tries to finish with his left. It rarely works.

by Stilicho on Feb 7, 2010 9:27 AM CST reply actions

he drastically needs to improve his ability to go right...

at the moment he’s a one trick pony in the NBA and it relies entirely on his teammates drawing the defense in and kicking it to him for the three. He may still go, but I foresee some growing pains..

52 Conference Championships!! Holy Hell...Good Luck with That!!

by Owen on Feb 7, 2010 10:55 AM CST up reply actions

Not entirely sure what he does even matters

Regardless of what X does, he still has lots of potential…and that’s pretty much all the NBA drafts on. Jrue Holiday was about as abysmal as it got and he still got drafted high because he was overhyped and had potential. Even if X doesn’t pick it back up, I could still see him leaving and becoming a top 20 pick this year.

by DreamersProphecy on Feb 7, 2010 12:52 PM CST up reply actions

A big difference scoring wise

Is that we are constantly playing teams that have guards that play good perimeter defense. Overall we are shooting less threes and X isn’t getting as many open looks. Early against NU he had two open looks and knocked em down. After that if he had a shot it was usually contested.

Overall the focus of our offense is more and more getting the ball inside as often as possible. When Cole gets the ball he is likely going to score or get fouled. Marcus as well is scoring at will inside.

For X to be productive with us getting the ball inside he needs to continue to play good defense, knock down shots when he gets him, and move the ball when he gets it. I think expecting him to produce high scoring games at his point isn’t feasible given the emphasis on feeding the post and Sherron’s ability to score when he wants/needs to.

by Andrew Clark on Feb 7, 2010 11:50 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

x needs to score

within the offense, let the “game come to him”. he seems like he doesn’t know what to do out there. how about a pump-fake and then drive, then dish…or try to hit a mid-range shot, or get points in transition, or get an offensive board and put it back. i don’t see any of these things from him, he just seems totally befuddled as to what to do on offense.

"He once had an awkward moment, just to see how it felt...he lives vicariously...through himself- He is the most interesting man in the world"

by Home Run Tony Cogan on Feb 7, 2010 10:06 PM CST reply actions

and I believe thats why he is riding the bench so much here lately

by banshee_01 on Feb 8, 2010 7:11 PM CST up reply actions

Giddens didn't start fast.

He had one nice game against Oregon, but even with that he only averaged 8.5 ppg through November and December of his first season.

People seem to forget that that team had Langford, Miles, and Simien, and all Giddens did was sit in the corner and jack up open threes when teams went to double one of those guys. I wish he would’ve done more, because then that team might have been able to win the title. But he had only a fraction of the game Xavier has at age 18.

Here’s hoping X shows up in a major way when we play Texas!

"Here are our top priorities: recruit, beat Missouri, recruit, win the North, recruit, win the Big 12, and in most cases if you win the Big 12 then you're playing for a National Championship. And then we're going to recruit."

by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Feb 7, 2010 10:37 PM CST reply actions

Xavier does need to learn how to score within the offense.

But my main criticisms of him are my criticisms of most NBA players. Even earlier in the season when he was scoring a lot he was necessarily playing good basketball. I fully believe that if Self said that X should shot 20 shots tomorrow night that he would score 20 points. That’s probably what will happen when he gets to the NBA and he will be kind of successful. The problem I have/had with him is that he didn’t play good team basketball. He isn’t a good passer. He doesn’t really do anything exceptional on offense other than shot. That is why Morningstar is getting 39 mins. against K-State and he gets 16. But, I think I have seen more effort plays, certainly on defense. He actually is finding ways for him to be meaningful on the floor even if he isn’t hitting his shot. And I do think he will start hitting his shot again this season. It would be better for his basketball game if he came back another year, but it might not make since financially.

by Chyladin on Feb 8, 2010 12:34 AM CST reply actions