The mental, motivational and more or less intangible side of basketball are elements that can often be undervalued by spectators and pundits alike.
A player’s on-court production is quantifiable. There’s no way to calculate the mentality that same player brings. There’s no stat called hustle plays per game.
Ohio State’s transfer portal acquisition on the wing, Micah Parrish, had strong statistical outputs at his previous stop, San Diego State. But it’s those intangible qualities that he was perhaps most known for.
“At San Diego State I was known as the tone-setter. I set the tone on defense,” Parrish said.