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Was Pemsl more valuable than Cook last year?

HawkAttackDial911

HB Heisman
Feb 1, 2012
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Advanced stats seem to think so. Although, Cook did come on strong later in the season. Are we underestimating the impact Pemsl has on the team or overestimating Cook's?

Below are some advanced stats with Pemsl first and Cook last.

Player Efficiency Rating: 21.3, 17.6
Offensive Rebound %: 10.1, 8.7
Defensive Rebound%: 17.4, 14.3
Offensive Win Shares: 1.4, 0.9
Defensive Win Shares: 0.9, 0.7
Win Shares: 2.4, 1.6
Offensive Box Plus/Minus: 2.5, 0.3
Defensive Box Plus/Minus: 3.1, 0.4
Box Plus/Minus: 5.5, 0.7

PER: strives to measure a player's per-minute performance, while adjusting for pace. A league-average PER is always 15.00, which permits comparisons of player performance across seasons.
PER takes into account accomplishments, such as field goals, free throws, 3-pointers, assists, rebounds, blocks and steals, and negative results, such as missed shots, turnovers and personal fouls. The formula adds positive stats and subtracts negative ones through a statistical point value system. The rating for each player is then adjusted to a per-minute basis so that, for example, substitutes can be compared with starters in playing time debates. It is also adjusted for the team's pace. In the end, one number sums up the players' statistical accomplishments for that season.

Rebound %: An estimate of percentage of available rebounds a player grabbed when on the floor.

Win Shares: An estimate of number of wins contributed by a player due to his offense and defense

Plus/Minus: A box score estimate of number of points per 100 possessions a player contributed above a league average player translated to an average team. 0.0 would be average.
 
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I think some get a little too enthralled with Cook's slam dunks. Both were key pieces for us and while the metrics point to Pemsl, I believe Cook is a greater scoring threat and probably drew more defensive attention.

Both have so much to work on defensively, from the perimeter and at the free throw line that I don't see either as a slam dunk over the other. We may all get an awakening when the freshman arrive as to how the minutes are used.
 
Cook was playing exceptionally well at the end of the season; not sure how much his finger injury effected his stats as reflected in the original post. Pemsl's attitude, which isn't reflected by any stats, seemed like a big positive with respect to the entire team.
 
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Maybe. But I know what guy Id buy futures in, and I love Pemsl. I just dont think he will ever be a guy that every team has to key on. I think Cook can be that guy.
 
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I would guess that Pemsl's contributions were more consistent throughout the year, and Cook's skyrocketed the last 7-8 games.

That's a good point. Luckily Sports Reference computes these advanced stats for conference games only (18 games) except box plus/minus. As you may have guessed, they are closer with Pemsl slightly ahead in all categories except defensive rebound percentage.

Player Efficiency Rating: 18.5, 16.5
Offensive Rebound %: 9.8, 7.8
Defensive Rebound%: 14.8, 15.5
Offensive Win Shares: 0.6, 0.5
Defensive Win Shares: 0.4, 0.4
Win Shares: 1.0, 0.9
 
That's a good point. Luckily Sports Reference computes these advanced stats for conference games only (18 games) except box plus/minus. As you may have guessed, they are closer with Pemsl slightly ahead in all categories except defensive rebound percentage.

Player Efficiency Rating: 18.5, 16.5
Offensive Rebound %: 9.8, 7.8
Defensive Rebound%: 14.8, 15.5
Offensive Win Shares: 0.6, 0.5
Defensive Win Shares: 0.4, 0.4
Win Shares: 1.0, 0.9

Thanks for doing that. That was going to be my response. Pemsl's performance (both in terms of volume and efficiency) went down as the competition got better in the Big 10 season. Both are good players and have good futures.
 
The more important question, IMHO, rather than who is more valuable in the general sense; is which one is on the floor at the correct time.
 
The more important question, IMHO, rather than who is more valuable in the general sense; is which one is on the floor at the correct time.

Doesnt matter that much, they're the two most similar players on the team.

Same strengths and weaknesses.

Both excellent finishers, good back to the basket moves and decent in screen roll. Both are poor FT shooters defenders and rebounders.

Cook has more upside so it may change.
 
I just hope they both continue to get better. They are two highly motivated and smart kids. They can both teach each other some valuable lessons/moves from their own games. Cook is just a quicker player, with stronger legs, but Cordell has really good anticipation of what is going to happen in the next half-second.
 
Solid analysis.
I didn't need to explain much more than that. I don't think it's even a question..... the answer is Cook hands down. Scoring wise it's not even close. Cook is an enforcer and has NBA talent, Pemsl doesn't. Pemsl played well and scored a lot against teams like Savannah St, Rutgers, Omaha, Stetson, etc. Cook took down Biggie Swannigan and that moron from Indiana (The two best bigs in the BIG). He played well in big games and had that clutch gene that you can't teach. Look, Pemsl is a solid player and had a nice year, but Cook is WAY more valuable for this team. I'm guessing we won't have him for four years, so hopefully this next year is special.
 
I am glad to have both of them. They are VERY different players with different skill sets. Cook's offensive skills will be off the charts, his defensive skills are very suspect right now and he needs to get much better rebounding positioning.
 
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I didn't need to explain much more than that. I don't think it's even a question..... the answer is Cook hands down. Scoring wise it's not even close. Cook is an enforcer and has NBA talent, Pemsl doesn't. Pemsl played well and scored a lot against teams like Savannah St, Rutgers, Omaha, Stetson, etc. Cook took down Biggie Swannigan and that moron from Indiana (The two best bigs in the BIG). He played well in big games and had that clutch gene that you can't teach. Look, Pemsl is a solid player and had a nice year, but Cook is WAY more valuable for this team. I'm guessing we won't have him for four years, so hopefully this next year is special.

Actually Cook had a pretty tough time against Bryant, got blocked on most of his shots in the paint.

Right now there isnt a big difference between the two. The stats back that up.
 
Cook was significantly more important by the end of the season to put us at the edge of almost getting into the tourney.

Pemsl was very important in the first half of the season for us to even be on the bubble at the end.

Without either guy we would have probably been a roughly .500 team. They are similar, and yet dissimilar players. They provide roughly the same end result but do it in different ways. Cook with good post moves and athleticism. Pemsl with good post moves and veteran-like savy. They both need to work on shooting ability though, especially at the line.

In three years I'm going to guess that Cook will be more important to us as the starting PF alongside Garza or maybe Kreiner. But Pemsl will be needed to come in as a backup PF alongside the other center. In both instances I think we would be happy with them on the floor.
 
I would guess that Pemsl's contributions were more consistent throughout the year, and Cook's skyrocketed the last 7-8 games.

This...........

Great analysis, by the OP. Some of the hoops 'gurus' who also so accurately predicted
Jordan Bohannon's RISE (NOT) are probably aghast that someone would even start such a thread.

GO HAWKS :)
 
I didn't need to explain much more than that. I don't think it's even a question..... the answer is Cook hands down. Scoring wise it's not even close. Cook is an enforcer and has NBA talent, Pemsl doesn't. Pemsl played well and scored a lot against teams like Savannah St, Rutgers, Omaha, Stetson, etc. Cook took down Biggie Swannigan and that moron from Indiana (The two best bigs in the BIG). He played well in big games and had that clutch gene that you can't teach. Look, Pemsl is a solid player and had a nice year, but Cook is WAY more valuable for this team. I'm guessing we won't have him for four years, so hopefully this next year is special.

lol
 
I've said before, I think that Pemsl will be the better college player. But he doesn't have the pro potential Cook has. Pemsl is the better defender, passer and rebounder. His shooting percentage is unreal. Cook is obviously more explosive and has the ability to impose his will. As mentioned above, Pemsl brings some swagger that this team needs and I think is more of a team player. That's not intended as a knock on Cook.
 
I've said before, I think that Pemsl will be the better college player. But he doesn't have the pro potential Cook has. Pemsl is the better defender, passer and rebounder. His shooting percentage is unreal. Cook is obviously more explosive and has the ability to impose his will. As mentioned above, Pemsl brings some swagger that this team needs and I think is more of a team player. That's not intended as a knock on Cook.

Agree with Mohawk for the most part.
Both of them need to work on Free throws.
Cordell is definitely the better passer.........he and Jordan really work well together and that paid big Dividends for Hawkeyes, last year
 
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