NCAA Basketball: Dean Wade vs. Sam Hauser for better player in 2018-19
By Brian Foley
The case for Dean Wade
The previously listed numbers are nearly identical, and if you dig even deeper, the statistical similarities between Wade and Hauser become even more eerie.
Last year, Hauser finished in the 98th percentile in both effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage, with Wade close behind in the 96th percentile in the two categories. Their offensive rebounding rates, defensive rebounding rates, assist rates, and turnover rates were also all within two percentage points of each other. Hauser and Wade even flash similar moves on the court and they love to slip screens at the top of the key to create open three-pointers from the wing. Neither player has supreme athleticism, but they are both very capable at creating their own shot.
Still, there are a few differences, particularly ones that tilt the matchup in Wade’s favor. First off, Wade has a couple inches on the Marquette forward (6-foot-10 to Hauser’s 6-foot-8), which allows head coach Bruce Weber to be a little more creative on the defensive end. Wade can easily function at the nominal small forward and power forward positions, or he can slide to the center spot to totally open K-State’s offense.
Hauser can also man the five for Marquette – and often did in 2017-18 – but Wade provides more credible defense at the rim. Last year, in roughly 60 fewer minutes, Wade collected 16 more steals and 11 more blocks for KSU than Hauser did for MU. That may not seem like a big disparity, but it means Wade completely flipped 27 possessions for the Wildcats last season. College basketball games are decided in the margins, and Wade provided nearly one more impactful play per game on the defensive end than Hauser. That wasn’t necessarily the difference in Kansas State grabbing a 9-seed and Marquette slipping into the NIT, but it certainly played a role.
Wade is also more of an attacker with the ball. He isn’t necessarily a high-volume chucker, but he does get to the line at a much higher clip than Hauser. Last season, Wade made more free throws (97) than Hauser has attempted through his first two seasons combined (90). Hauser is a vastly superior shooter from the charity stripe, but Wade makes up for that flaw in sheer quantity.