Former Richmond Star, Tyler Burton will be a Villanova Wildcat this upcoming season and looks to help get the Wildcats back on track. Burton averaged 19 points per game at Richmond and will be looking to add this scoring next season. So, what are the pros and cons of Burton?
Tyler Burton: Does He Help Villanova?
Tyler’s Strengths
Scoring
Tyler averaged 19 points last season at Richmond, including a 38-point performance against the College of Charleston. He scored 1634 career points in his four years at Richmond, just outside the top 10. Burton can score at all three levels which makes him a dangerous offensive weapon for the Wildcats. While his three-point numbers are not great, he is a streaky shooter, who had moments of success.
Burton also can drive the ball incredibly well. His right-hand drive is tough to stop, and his speed allows him to get to the rim effortlessly. His scoring prowess is an excellent get for the Wildcats, who were 8th in offense out of 11 teams in the Big East.
Size
Burton is 6’7” and 215 lbs. At the wing spot, he has a lot of height to take advantage of smaller match-ups inside and bigger match-ups on the perimeter. His size also allows Villanova to continue to switch ball screens. His defensive versatility and length can help Villanova on the defensive end.
Unselfish
Tyler gets a lot of his points working in the offense. He knows how to cut off the ball, screen well, set up pin-downs and ball screens, and allow the offense to develop. Villanova runs a motion offense with a lot of rolling and replacing options which Burton fits into. He is experienced, playing four college seasons, so he understands how to be effective in a college offense.
His Weaknesses
Efficiency
Tyler only shot 44.5% from the floor last season, which is a little concerning. Villanova as a team is an efficient squad, as they shot 54.5% from the floor this past season. Burton needs to be more efficient to get the most out of his experience.
Three Point Shooting
Burton is a streaky shooter but did not shoot a good percentage this past season. The forward only shot 29.3% from three, which needs addressing for him to fit well in the Wildcats system. Villanova traditionally shoots well from three and takes a lot of them. Burton will need to be a reliable three-point shooter for him to maximize his time in PA.
Last Words
Tyler is an excellent pickup for the Wildcats, as he brings a scoring boost to a team that struggled to score. His experience, athletic tools, and scoring abilities will help Villanova to be more relevant. It will be exciting to see him play when the Wildcats open up gameplay in November.
