5 reasons Washington Basketball Matisse Thybulle thrives in 2018-2019
By Bret Stuter
Production
When a player clicks with a coaching staff, good things happen. Training in the gym is fun. Players get excited easily. Eventually it results in production on the court. The most notable production is of course, points. Then accuracy. Then secondary stats like rebounds and assists. But the hardest area to make an impact are steals and blocks.
Matisse Thybulle is first in the Pac-12 in steals and fourth in the NCAA. He is also sixth in @UW_MBB history for career steals at 147.
— Washington Athletics (@UWAthletics) December 29, 2017
The rundown via #UWDataPoints. #TougherTogether
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Defense is one of the hardest attributes to learn in NCAA basketball. It’s not “sexy”. But to the right player, and the right mindset, and the right coaching emphasis, it can lead to great things on the basketball court for both player and team. Thybulle disrupted opponents passing lanes.
Oftentimes defending at the top of the key, his arms created a 15 foot “no passing” lane at the heart of the opponent’s offense. And from that point, he frequently stole the ball and took it coast-to-coast for an easy layup.