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The Low-Usage All-Stars: Scoring isn’t everything

By Will Schreefer

Nov 18, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears forward Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. (0) reacts after a score against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles during the first half of a mens NCAA basketball game at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 18, 2016; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears forward Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. (0) reacts after a score against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles during the first half of a mens NCAA basketball game at Ferrell Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports /
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4. Isaiah Wilkins – Virginia

(13.7 percent usage, +17.5 points/100 possessions BPM)

Next up — one of a pair of ultra-efficient big men on the ‘Hoos, veteran big man Isaiah Wilkins (the other being Mamadi Diakite). Wilkins has played about 55 percent of the team’s power forward minutes in the last five games, per KenPom’s lineup algorithms,  and about a tenth of the minutes over the same stretch as the nominal ‘center.’

Wilkins, though the stepson of the high-flying nine-time NBA All-Star Dominique Wilkins, lives for the less glamorous parts of winning basketball. The starting power forward for Virginia as a junior, Wilkins’s 5.9 points per game  so far this year would mark the first time he’s averaged even 5 points per game in his 3-year career. Last year, though, he finished in the among the top four on an Elite Eight team in a wide variety of statistical categories — third in rebounds and steals, fourth in assists, and first in blocks.

He’s pulling the same trick this year — despite averaging ‘just’ 5.9 points per game (ninth on the team), he’s leading the team in rebounds and steals, sits at second in blocks, and comes in at third in assists. He is the quintessential glue guy — nothing about his game stands out on its own more than the combination of everything does.  His current BPM of +17.4 points per 100 possessions leads the NCAA so far this season — and he’s been a significantly positive contributor on both ends, with a +5.9/100 Offensive Box Plus-Minus and a +11.7/100 on the defensive end.

Wilkins does his best work on the offensive side around the basket — 32 of his 55 field goal attempts on the season have come in the form of a layup, dunk, or tip-in. He does particularly good work on the offensive glass — his 11.1 percent offensive rebounding rate, per KenPom, currently sits at 183rd best in the country, and he’s finished 7-of-7 putback attempts (shots taken within four seconds of an offensive rebound attempt, per hoop-math.com) so far this year. Predictably, his overall contribution to the offense is best expressed by something other than counting stats — per hooplens.com, Virginia’s offense has been 13 points per 100 possessions better so far this year — the difference between what would be the 10th-best offense in the country, and the 135th best.

wilkins
wilkins /

It’s pretty safe to say at this point what Isaiah Wilkins is doing is sustainable — he’s been doing it for three years. He would probably be stretched if asked to carry a larger offensive role — his lack of unassisted/non-putback rim attempts, and non-existent outside shot (he’s taken twelve 3’s in his whole career) point toward a player who needs others to create opportunities for him — but when he’s on the court, his team is simply better.