Melvin Ejim Appreciation Thread

[Cincyclone]

This guy takes a beating here at times for his occasional struggles finishing and catching the ball, but he was certainly a difference maker last night.

His ability to constantly come up with loose balls, especially when they're offensive rebounds, is a huge asset to this team. Without Mel's contributions in the second half, ISU does not win this game.

Here's to 2+ years more of Melvin's hustle!

 

[Clone9]

Yep. Wouldn't have won without him. And, I believe his issues are fixable, and he could get a lot better down the road.

 

[CyFever]

I'm in. Melvin has been incredible this year. No sophomore slump for him.

 

[marothisu]

He is important, but still needs a lot of improvement. Many balls he's been thrown in the open and he's not been ready or can't handle it, or missing layups he should be making.

However, he's played decently this year and is usually our x-factor. Hoping he can continue doing well and playing better as far as the ball handling the layups go. He has been very good at the FT line this year too. Good rebounder for his size as well.

He's averaging 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds, but could easily be averaging at least 13-15 points this year.

 

[geburgess]

Watching Ejim play is something else. The passion and energy is off the charts. Gonna have a great next two years growing with the rest of the team.

I really think he will be the one that benefits the most from the tourney experience this year and we'll see it next year.

 

[CYlent Bob]

Last year, I thought that Melvin's upside might be "Jeff Grayer". He's not there yet, but he does make us a better team. If he jumps ahead another step or two in the offseason, he'll be a monster next year.

 

[Balls]

Agreed... ME is the perfect high school recruit... 4 year player. Keeps getting better... contributes for 4 years... and I think by the time he's done here will not only be known as one of the all-time greats... but may have the chance to go to the next level.

 

[Gunnerclone]

15 points and 3 Offensive boards in 21 minutes yesterday. Impressive numbers.

 

[Cincyclone]

I think a lot of people forget he's only a sophomore when they rip him. Almost all guys his age and his experience level have an area or two to improve on. If he can improve a bit in areas like finishing around the rim and ball handling, he could be a really special player.

 

[MartyFine]

Melvin is playing excellent basketball, and contributing in ways that don't even show up on the stat line.

 

[HiltonMagic23]

He is so much tougher this year. He doesn't mind pushing guys around down low

 

[dbronco7sc]

He's been playing great on the offensive end... just being patient as the ball moves around until he finds a chance to free himself from his man (whether it be his defender slid off to help on someone else or whatever) then makes an easy basket. He really hasn't forced much at all making him really effective.

And of course, his rebounding, hustle for loose balls, and team first mentality is great!

As for getting fouled, I agree with you Melvin and get frustrated with the refs with you... just gotta shake it off tho and keep playing your game.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

He is important, but still needs a lot of improvement. Many balls he's been thrown in the open and he's not been ready or can't handle it, or missing layups he should be making.

He's averaging 9.4 points and 6.7 rebounds, but could easily be averaging at least 13-15 points this year.

That is some great sensationalism. Expecting perfection is idiotic- he does not need to make much improvement at all to be an All-Conference player. All players miss shots they "should" make, drop passes, and could average more points/rebounds.

 

[marothisu]

I think a lot of people forget he's only a sophomore when they rip him. Almost all guys his age and his experience level have an area or two to improve on. If he can improve a bit in areas like finishing around the rim and ball handling, he could be a really special player.

I'm not ripping the guy, but catching a basketball and making a 2 foot shot are not things you have to be far ahead to be able to do. The guy is decent and he's been our x-factor in a lot of games, played well with great intensity and had good numbers in many games, but his production could be even higher. All the things "wrong" with him seem to be concentration things (i.e. completely missing the hoop on a layup or not handling the basketball and turning it over).

He will get better and I'm glad to have him on the team. I think he will be pretty damn good next year and the year after if he corrects those two things mostly.

 

[Chizit]

His energy in the second half was huge after sitting the whole first half.

 

[Cincyclone]

I think a lot of people forget he's only a sophomore when they rip him. Almost all guys his age and his experience level have an area or two to improve on. If he can improve a bit in areas like finishing around the rim and ball handling, he could be a really special player.

I'm not ripping the guy, but catching a basketball and making a 2 foot shot are not things you have to be far ahead to be able to do. The guy is decent and he's been our x-factor in a lot of games, played well with great intensity and had good numbers in many games, but his production could be even higher. All the things

Sorry, my post wasn't specifically directed at you.

Some of the passes he's dropped have been more on Royce than Ejim. Sometimes Royce fires a bullet in there when a simple bounce pass is all that's needed. In fact, my single biggest critcism of Royce is that he tries to be too spectacular at times.

 

[marothisu]

That is some great sensationalism. Expecting perfection is idiotic- he does not need to make much improvement at all to be an All-Conference player. All players miss shots they "should" make, drop passes, and could average more points/rebounds.

I think you need to watch some games again. Missing a two foot shot to me is about 90% inexcusable, however you need to watch the games again. Most of the layups I'm talking about which he misses, he completely misses the entire rim. It's not even close. Honestly, go back and watch every single game this year and you will know EXACTLY what I'm talking about. He takes it up too strong or completely uses the wrong angle on the backboard to lay it in. At least hit the rim when you're going to lay something in.

Not handling passes? Sure, happens all the time to every single player, but again watch the games. Many of them are passes he has no business in missing and some he's missed are bad passes and not his fault.


There's a difference between "perfection" and something that should be a given or expected to do. Where the **** did I say he's not making all his shots? Did I talk about his jump shots? No. I didn't. So don't put words of "perfection" in my mouth. There's a lot of shots he has taken where I would never get upset about. However, there are many times for the two things I mentioned above where it is upsetting because he SHOULD be doing those things. Please tell me how getting upset about not even hitting the rim on a layup or 2 foot shot is "perfection." That is something that should be at least done if the ball doesn't go in the hoop. Air balls on layups are not excusable. Period.


And my point in all of this is that even though he has some big things to improve on, he's only a sophomore and he's very important to our team and has still played decently well. Scary though to think if he corrects the things how good he could be in a few years.

 

[marothisu]

I'm not ripping the guy, but catching a basketball and making a 2 foot shot are not things you have to be far ahead to be able to do. The guy is decent and he's been our x-factor in a lot of games, played well with great intensity and had good numbers in many games, but his production could be even higher. All the things

Sorry, my post wasn't specifically directed at you.

Some of the passes he's dropped have been more on Royce than Ejim. Sometimes Royce fires a bullet in there when a simple bounce pass is all that's needed. In fact, my single biggest critcism of Royce is that he tries to be too spectacular at times.

Yep. Royce's passes can be suspect as well. There were 2 or 3 passes to start yesterday's game though where Melvin should have had them and they rolled out of bounds or BU stole it.


I really think of Ejim works on those things he'll be a guy averaging 15 or 16 points and 10 rebounds a game by his senior season.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Unsung hero. Just does what it takes to win. We're not in this position without him

 

[BostonPrep]

Mel looked great. Prior to the game if someone told me how many minutes he would play and how productive he would be I would have said you cannot ask for any more. He was a big part of a team win.