I have had this debate or conversation several times with multiple friends and fellow fans about who was better, Kendall or Dakota. Ran through the stats and thought I would post what I found.
To get this out of the way now, I love both players and am very happy they are both Boilers and think they both will have great Purdue careers, but neither are perfect.
Before Illinois game:
Kendall: 18 games, 25 mpg, 11.6 ppg, 3 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.4 bpg, 1.4 TOpg, 1.8 pfpg, 39% FG%, 2.7 made 3s per game on 43% shooting, 77% FT%.
Dakota: 18 games, 15 mpg, 3.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.3 spg, 0.1 bpg, 0.5 TOpg, 1.3 pfpg, 33% FG%, 0.9 made 3s per game on 34% shooting, 89% FT%.
Illinois game and on.
Kendall: 16 games, 19 mpg, 5.5 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.1 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.0 TOpg, 1.4 pfpg, 29% FG%, 1.6 made 3s per game on 32% shooting, 64% FT%.
Dakota: 16 games, 24 mpg, 6.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.1 bpg, 1.1 TOpg, 2.1 pfpg, 32% FG%, 1.4 made 3s per game on 31% shooting, 64% FT%.
Dakota got healthier as the season went on and most of his play showed what that improved health did for him. Kendall got more injured as the year went on and his play severely suffered. Kendall made some pretty bone - headed plays throughout the season, but so did Dakota. From a purely statistical standpoint, even with injury, Kendall was able to make plays happen for teammates just as many times as Dakota did, and did so with fewer TOs.
I found it very surprising that even during the injury period that Kendall was still the better 3 shooter. I did get the sense that the team operated better with Dakota on the floor.
If I had to choose which player will get more minutes and shots this coming season, I would choose Kendall. Kendall is just the better player, even with a healthy offseason for both players, I don't see Dakota catching up to him. If we need a guy to come in and make 3s and play well, I would say Kendall is the better option to fill that role between the 2 players.
What do you guys think?
To get this out of the way now, I love both players and am very happy they are both Boilers and think they both will have great Purdue careers, but neither are perfect.
Before Illinois game:
Kendall: 18 games, 25 mpg, 11.6 ppg, 3 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.7 spg, 0.4 bpg, 1.4 TOpg, 1.8 pfpg, 39% FG%, 2.7 made 3s per game on 43% shooting, 77% FT%.
Dakota: 18 games, 15 mpg, 3.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.3 spg, 0.1 bpg, 0.5 TOpg, 1.3 pfpg, 33% FG%, 0.9 made 3s per game on 34% shooting, 89% FT%.
Illinois game and on.
Kendall: 16 games, 19 mpg, 5.5 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.1 spg, 0.2 bpg, 1.0 TOpg, 1.4 pfpg, 29% FG%, 1.6 made 3s per game on 32% shooting, 64% FT%.
Dakota: 16 games, 24 mpg, 6.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.1 bpg, 1.1 TOpg, 2.1 pfpg, 32% FG%, 1.4 made 3s per game on 31% shooting, 64% FT%.
Dakota got healthier as the season went on and most of his play showed what that improved health did for him. Kendall got more injured as the year went on and his play severely suffered. Kendall made some pretty bone - headed plays throughout the season, but so did Dakota. From a purely statistical standpoint, even with injury, Kendall was able to make plays happen for teammates just as many times as Dakota did, and did so with fewer TOs.
I found it very surprising that even during the injury period that Kendall was still the better 3 shooter. I did get the sense that the team operated better with Dakota on the floor.
If I had to choose which player will get more minutes and shots this coming season, I would choose Kendall. Kendall is just the better player, even with a healthy offseason for both players, I don't see Dakota catching up to him. If we need a guy to come in and make 3s and play well, I would say Kendall is the better option to fill that role between the 2 players.
What do you guys think?
