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Maryland basketball beat the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road on Thursday. During the game CBS Sports’ Seth Davis delivered a hot, hot take on Twitter dot com that only people in College Park would be sensitive to.
Kevin Huerter is a better version of Jake Layman.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) January 20, 2017
The Maryland fan base had a few responses:
@SethDavisHoops not true... just because they are long and white doesn't make them similar at all....
— B. M. Stein (@steinyball5) January 20, 2017
@SethDavisHoops hot takes
— Ross Jespersen (@rosslaboss) January 20, 2017
@SethDavisHoops Huerter as freshman is nowhere near Layman as senior. However, comparing freshmen versions of each other Huerter is ahead.
— Barno (@DCBarno) January 20, 2017
@SethDavisHoops a lot more consistent and doesn't stand on the corner as much. Agree
— BarstoolReags (@BarstoolReags) January 20, 2017
There is really only one way to link Kevin Huerter and Jake Layman. Testudo Times spoke to Layman last year and he explained that his uncle played college ball at Siena with Huerter’s father. So he helped recruit him. But the similarities are far and between after that.
The differences start but don’t end with Huerter’s red hair and Layman’s wavy blonde mane.
Huerter played point guard in high school and shows clear vision running the floor when asked. Layman never led the fast break because he was a forward; Huerter is a guard.
Huerter shoots from deep off the dribble and is one of the team’s top scoring options. When asked to defend top opposing players the 6’6 Huerter takes on another guards, like Iowa’s Peter Jok. Layman, meanwhile, would take on bigger opponents. Layman made his name as a defensive player first, and in a big win against Iowa last season shut down another big man, Jarrod Uthoff.
The 6’9 forward was more of a catch-and-shoot option in college who was capable — and expected — to slash to the rim. Huerter gets to the stripe a mere 1.5 times per 100 possessions, where Layman earned his way to the line 5.5 times per 100 possessions for his entire career.
The two may start at “small forward,” but that doesn’t mean they play the same. Melo Trimble starts at shooting guard; would anyone label him as one? Huerter plays more of a shooting guard’s role, while Layman thrived in the power forward spot.
Not only does Davis’ take make little sense considering both Huerter and Layman are completely different players, but it’s also an unfair one to make for a freshman 19 games removed from high school. Of course Huerter isn’t better than a four-year veteran.
Davis isn’t the first and won’t be the last to compare the caucasian three-point shooters. But the silliness and laziness of forcing the comparison should be noted. Layman was great, and the uniqueness of his size and skill set made him an NBA draft pick. Huerter is off to a booming start himself. Let’s stop comparing the two.