Better off with Spike?

Submitted by toomer18 on

Is Walton really that much better than Spike?  I really like the offense when Spike is running the show.  I know he isn't a great defender,  but he does everything else well, and is fun to watch.  I suppose it's nice to have options at the point.  Im not sure why it seems to be a given that Walton is our starter.

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Yostbound and Down

March 13th, 2015 at 10:53 AM ^

Uh, national championship game? He was draining 3's from the corner off the pass. And he has continued to do that throughout his career. I'd say best spot up guy on the team.

Also if you don't think he's a threat without the ball in his hands, than how do you square that without being a drive threat? Drive and kick is a big part of the point guard game.

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taistreetsmyhero

March 13th, 2015 at 11:04 AM ^

spike is a 40% 3-point shooters (mostly because of unreal shooting in freshman year), and walton is a 39% career shooter (mostly because of terrible shooting while playing injured this year). interestingly, they've put up an identical number of 3 point attempts (186), with spike having made 75 to walton's 72.

differences in shooting percentages are basically a wash.

Joined: 08/08/2012

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MgoRayO3313

March 13th, 2015 at 10:02 AM ^

I enjoy both. Spike seems to be more of a pure PG. Walton has a more diversified game. IMO Walton takes too many shots from the outside when he is in. I'd like to she him drive and dish a bit more. I do not feel he is a great shooter. Spike can shoot and dish, but he is a liability on D. Both have upside and both lack elements in their game. I can't complain though. At times both get frustrated but I would as well when you don't have a strong or consistent inside game.



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umfanchris

March 13th, 2015 at 10:13 AM ^

If they are both healthy then they both play and get lots of minutes. You would then see minutes eliminated for Dakich and other walk-ons. I think MAAR's minutes take a hit and even though Dawkins is playing great, I think a few minutes would even come off his tally because he is playing a lot of minutes and Beilien likes to keep guys fresh if he has the options. Spike and Walton are completely different players, so why compare? 

Joined: 01/21/2011

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Dilithium Wings

March 13th, 2015 at 10:34 AM ^

If Walton is to play today, Spike will get the nod.

Next year, who knows? It was hard to gauge Walton because of his injury this year. Spike has been dynamite in the starting role.

Toss up?

Joined: 07/26/2012

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MichiganMAN47

March 13th, 2015 at 10:55 AM ^

Mateen Cleaves. He has a very similar style to his game, and has that X factor that gets wins. If Walton stays all four years, he will be an All Big Ten player. If we can have the right personnel around Walton, he can get us back to the Final Four. He plays well in all aspects of the game, like Cleaves did.  

Spike would start on most Big Ten teams, he is a very skilled offensive player with great vision and leadership. He has improved a lot this year, so it's hard to knock him. He has the team playing really well the last few games. I would not be surprised if he retains a starting job next year along with Walton. 

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ColsBlue

March 13th, 2015 at 10:59 AM ^

I don't, at all, like the idea of squeezing Walton back into the lineup after a lengthy time away. This team is rolling as much as it has all season, probably a lot more.  Spike is a great point guard, not serviceable, but great.  He has done more than much higer rated players and should be a starter until he's out of eligibility.  

Joined: 11/09/2008

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Bluemandew

March 13th, 2015 at 11:13 AM ^

If Walton is healthy enough to play you bring him off the bench to spell Spike and Maar. It could be a big help just getting those two a couple of extra minutes of rest. Wisconsin is also vulnerable to dribble penatration and Walton brings more of that to the game than Spike. But I don't think it is realistic to expect Walton to play more than 10-12 minutes off the bench in this game.

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Wolvie3758

March 13th, 2015 at 11:14 AM ^

Spike is much better..doesnt turn the ball over which Walton does(Walton drives me crazy when he tries to drive the baseline or goes up against players WAY bigger and loses the ball)...doesnt try to do more than he can..Hes SMART, aggresive  he forces turnovers and scores enough.(although I wish hed shoot more 3...I think the team polays better with Spike..

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ST3

March 13th, 2015 at 11:34 AM ^

That's what makes coaching fun. You have all these different elements and you try to figure out how best to utilize them. Spike and Walton could definitely co-exist as co-point guards. You play a 2-3 zone with them at the top, but you need an athletic big with length to play the middle. Think DJ Wilson instead of Bielfeldt. Spike might get beat by penetration, but you have that size inside to make up for that weakness. What I really didn't care for this year is when Beilein played Spike at the bottom of his 1-3-1 zone. He may have been trying to hide him there, but teams figured that out rather quickly and oftentimes it seemed like we were playing defense with only 4 guys. Walton can play at the bottom of the 1-3-1. He's got the strength and quickness to hold up better than Spike. On offense, you present problems to the defense because they don't know where the attack is coming from, you have multiple guys who can penetrate and dish, and you have 4 really good three point shooters in the game if you pair them up with Irvin and Dawkins.

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Number 7

March 13th, 2015 at 1:47 PM ^

he sure makes some boneheaded plays sometimes. I'll take Walton"s steadier presence, with Spike's high-risk/high-reward act providing the spark off the bench

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StephenRKass

March 13th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^

I don't think of this as Walton or Spike. We want and need both. Being in Chicago, and a Bulls fan, it is great to have lots of depth. Especially when you see D Rose go down . . . again. I want every single guy on the team. But that doesn't mean I wouldn't rather have Rose out there. I realize the NBA is different from the college game. But I think it is great to see starters sit and get a breather. Chicago didn't get good with Michael Jordan until he really embraced being part of a team.

This is why I don't envy several of the teams out there with big time stars. They too easily can be one and done players and not succeed as part of the team. Just look at Ohio State this year for an example. D'Angelo Russell is great, but with all their upper classmen, they really are a pretty meh team. Look at how we played Wisconsin compared to how Wisconsin demolished them last week . . . in Columbus. Michigan gave the Badgers a run for their money. Ohio State won't.

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wahooverine

March 13th, 2015 at 2:34 PM ^

With Walton I think many are forgetting how effective he was as a freshmen orchestrating the Stauskas, GRIII, Levert show, hitting open looks at the top of the key and occassionally driving and finishing at the rim when it came within the flow of the offense, and running the break. He was the point guard for the most efficient offense in KenPom history (albeit as the 4th/5th option).   Also forgotten it seems - his speed and acceleration running the break.  He is blazing fast with the ball and I actually think his court vision is better on the break than in a half court offense. We hit at on of transition 3's with him pressuring the D with his speed.  Also, he's a great rebounder for his position.  We never really got a chance to see what he could do this year as the 3rd option this year behind Levert/Irvin.

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