Expectations for this season

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Consistency (mostly in shooting a defense) will tell the tale.

Last year, when MU was hot, they were probably a top 12-15 team (before the Louisville loss, and when they picked up steam in the tournament.)

When they were bad however, they were probably about the 50th best team (probably worse).

They have to eliminate/limit those "off nights" and figure out a way to win those games (cliche). Hopefully experience helps with that. Losing Jimmy hurts, but with all of the other guys getting better, it could be a net gain in overall talent.

DJO needs to start the season hot. He was very good the second 1/2 of last year after a slow start. I think a hot start will help his (and the team's) confidence a ton. If DJO can be a big time scorer, it should allow the other guys to find their roles without pressing to score themselves.

I haven't gone through the schedule yet, but I think the over/under might be 11.5-12 conference wins. I'm taking the over.

[Henry Sugar]

It seems like Henry Sugar is very negative about Marquette's season. 

you mean, except for the part where I expect MU to make the leap this year, be ranked all season, contend for the BE, and get a high NCAA seed?

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

you mean, except for the part where I expect MU to make the leap this year, be ranked all season, contend for the BE, and get a high NCAA seed?

Stuff it, Sug.

You're the new Chico's with your "faint praise".

Know your role.

[Golden Avalanche]

With what returns, and all the hype of what is to come, this team has no reason finishing lower than 5th in conference (unless simultaneous leg breaks occur).

They also shouldn't come out of non-conference with more than two losses. If you're big time and legitimate, you win the games we have scheduled.

They must contend until mid-February for title. I don't think they have what it takes to last until the final week but we should be dreaming of the possibility with five or six games left.

NCAA-wise, the bar is set at Sweet Sixteen. That is a must. I understand the BS about match-ups but a team with the hype like ours overcomes bad match-ups to win the first weekend.

[g0lden3agle]

brew I just don't think DJO has the overall athleticism to take a game over like Wade did.  Even now, Wade looks so smooth but still looks like he is moving 100 times faster than his opponent.  DJO takes awhile to get going sometimes.  Good shooter...explosive at the rim...but not the type of guy you can give the ball to regularly and say "OK...we need a basket."

This is why I think we may not see more than marginal improvement from DJO this year.  I think players make great strides when they go from an "experienced role player" to an "experienced core player" - that is why I am expecting big strides from the likes of Junior and Davante.  I think what you saw of DJO last year is basically what he is.

I'm hoping DJO is this year's Kemba Walker.  Looking at OT of the UConn game last year shows me that DJO definitely has the ability to completely take a game over a chunk at a time.  It's just a matter of him having that edge from day 1.

[Henry Sugar]

I'm hoping DJO is this year's Kemba Walker.  Looking at OT of the UConn game last year shows me that DJO definitely has the ability to completely take a game over a chunk at a time.  It's just a matter of him having that edge from day 1.

NOT SAYING DJO WILL BE AS GOOD AS KEMBA WALKER

Kemba Walker
2009 (Ortg 107, usage 20%)
2010 (Ortg 105, usage 24%)
2011 (Ortg 118, usage 31%)

DJO
2010 (Ortg 107, usage 23%)
2011 (Ortg 107, usage 26%)

I found it interesting how similar the first two years of production were between the two players, with DJO being a slightly better player than Kemba through the first two years.  Again, not saying that DJO will bust out like Kemba did... just that there's a comparison.

[T-Bone]

DJO struggled through the non-conference part of the season.  Couldn't find his shot at all.
If he gets his season off on the right foot, he'll be All BE First Team. 
http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/player/marquette/darius-johnson-odom

As I have been for the last 2 seasons, I'm kind of down on the team.  Expect the worst and watch your expectations be blown out of the water.

Reasons why I'm optimistic (most of this has been said before):
1. DJO
2. I think Jamil Wilson will be a very solid contributor. 
3. The 3-eyed monster down low (sorry, I know it's not PC).  Chris gained a lot of confidence in his abilities.  A leaner stronger Garnder, who also gained a boat load of confidence in the UNC game, won't have a breakout season but will be better than I expect.
4. Cadougan.  I still think he has a Levance Fields season in him either this year or next.  He's a bulldog and pretty solid at the point.  If his shot comes around, it will be a lot harder to shade DJO on defense.
5. The youngsters.  Vander needed to learn to use his body as a shield when driving - it looked like he was learning that toward the end.  His shot will come around.  Juan/Mayo/D.Wilson all lumped in here - excited to see what they can do.
6. The fact that I haven't even mentioned Jae yet!

Why pessimistic:
1. Floor leadership.  It seems like the juco guys have trouble taking the reins over on the court and being a leader out there.  JFB was OK at it, but nothing compared to Lazar.  I want to see someone screaming out there and pumping their chests and that sort of crap. 
2. It's the Big East, it's a grind. 
3. One of our tougher non-conference schedules in a long time. 
4. What if no one steps up?  Who's going to be the Fulce?  Who's going to be the Cubillan/Acker? 
33-0.  Pittino has a mental breakdown after our destruction of their team - shaves head, wears baby blue blazers, sweats a lot.  Huggins gets mauled by a bear in the WV woods.  DePaul sucks, but manages to beat ND.

[brewcity77]

Why pessimistic:
1. Floor leadership.  It seems like the juco guys have trouble taking the reins over on the court and being a leader out there.  JFB was OK at it, but nothing compared to Lazar.  I want to see someone screaming out there and pumping their chests and that sort of crap. 
2. It's the Big East, it's a grind. 
3. One of our tougher non-conference schedules in a long time. 
4. What if no one steps up?  Who's going to be the Fulce?  Who's going to be the Cubillan/Acker?

To address some of those points...

1. Did no one watch Jae at all last year? He's the definition of the screaming chest-pumper. It's hard to come in, especially when you arrive on campus late, and take the leadership reins. But I think Crowder has it in him. Around the middle of last season, he seemed to be taking that role of team leader, but then his play faltered and it's tough to lead on the court when your play isn't the example. I'm not sure where the loner talk comes from, because he went to Florida to work out this summer? He led Howard to a JUCO national title, I think with a year under his belt he will be the emotional leader of this team, and be more vocal than JFB was.

3. Hugely important factor. And not just the Vandy's, the Wisky's, and the LSU's of the world. If we aren't careful, a team like Northern Colorado or Jacksonville could sneak an upset. This is a great non-con schedule, but also a very dangerous one.

4. Thankfully, we have a lot of guys to step up: DJO, Crowder, Wilson, and to a lesser extent Cadougan, Gardner, and Blue. Plenty of guys to share the scoring load. Who'll be the glue guy, you mean? I have no idea. As far as Cooby/Acker, do you mean running the point, or providing the unexpected veteran leadership? I think Cadougan gives us a steady hand, but if he goes down, we're in trouble.

[77ncaachamps]

I expect DJO to have a solid, not breakout season. Jae will be the key. Cadougan will be the surprise.

RE: DJO, he is not like Wade. Wade was pretty much a lockdown defender. That's going to be DJO's knock: his inability to lock down his man.

[T-Bone]

To address some of those points...

1. Did no one watch Jae at all last year? He's the definition of the screaming chest-pumper. It's hard to come in, especially when you arrive on campus late, and take the leadership reins. But I think Crowder has it in him. Around the middle of last season, he seemed to be taking that role of team leader, but then his play faltered and it's tough to lead on the court when your play isn't the example. I'm not sure where the loner talk comes from, because he went to Florida to work out this summer? He led Howard to a JUCO national title, I think with a year under his belt he will be the emotional leader of this team, and be more vocal than JFB was.

3. Hugely important factor. And not just the Vandy's, the Wisky's, and the LSU's of the world. If we aren't careful, a team like Northern Colorado or Jacksonville could sneak an upset. This is a great non-con schedule, but also a very dangerous one.

4. Thankfully, we have a lot of guys to step up: DJO, Crowder, Wilson, and to a lesser extent Cadougan, Gardner, and Blue. Plenty of guys to share the scoring load. Who'll be the glue guy, you mean? I have no idea. As far as Cooby/Acker, do you mean running the point, or providing the unexpected veteran leadership? I think Cadougan gives us a steady hand, but if he goes down, we're in trouble.

1. Yeah.  I thought about that.  I can't remember who it was (Vander?) that Jae nearly knocked over destroyed with a chest bump - which was hilarious.  I think I kind of disregarded that as he didn't see the floor as much later in the season when he was having foul problems.  If he's on the floor, see point #6 in the optimistic category.  
I definitely agree with your points.  He has it in him, without a doubt. 

4. I'm actually addressing a bunch of roles in that statement.  The energy/glue guy - Fulce.  Kill a rally or break a game open 3 - Cooby and Acker (to a lesser extent).  Leadership I was working that out in point 1.  

To be clear, I think/hope all my reasons to be pessimistic are unfounded.  Guys always seem to fill in and take on these challenges year in, year out.  

[Benny B]

Season expectations?  Simple.

-Sweet Sixteen - if this team stays healthy, anything less would be a miserable disappointment.  However, as soon as I see DG and COT in a game setting, I may ratchet the expectation up a notch or two depending on how much they've improved over the summer.

Individual expectations:

-DJO 1st team all-conference.  Jae, 2nd team.
-Cadougan to average 30min & 8apg.
-DG and COT to average a double-double between them.
-Blue to develop confidence in his jumper.
-Limited, but solid minutes from at least two of Todd, Juan and Derrick.
-Phil Knight to be hospitalized sometime in mid-March from "self-inflicted blunt force trauma to the groin area."

Team expectation:

-This may seem like a cop-out response, but basically, I want this team to stop being the team that "no one wants to face in March" and start being the team that "no one wants to face during the regular season."

Coaching expectation:

-Buzz to be rumored to at least five major school openings before April 1.
-Buzz to still be coach on May 1.

[Bob "Big Daddy" Wild]

I also have both some optimistic and pessimistic thoughts on the team:

Optimistic - same as many people are saying on here:
DJO breakout, Crowder is a stud, Vander takes a jump, Jamil is the real deal, Cadougan continues on his path of improvement, our post play is average to above average compared to other Big East teams (O'tOx), we finally have a 7 man rotation with 1-7 have meaningful Big East/Pac-10 experience.

I am worried about a few things though:
DJO has always disappeared for long stretches...if he does that now, does our offense falter?
Basketball IQ - our team made some pretty dumb mistakes last year, how will we be this year (Crowder's foul trouble, Louisville fiasco, Vander's shot selection)
Vander's shot - please come back
We have no back up point guard - if Cadougon goes down or has foul trouble, we will have problems
The freshmen will not contribute meaningfully - so who is that 8th guy in the rotation?  We need someone to step up in the 2/3 role - hopefully Jamail or Mayo are up to the challenge.

[LAZER]

Season expectations?  Simple.

-Sweet Sixteen - if this team stays healthy, anything less would be a miserable disappointment.  However, as soon as I see DG and COT in a game setting, I may ratchet the expectation up a notch or two depending on how much they've improved over the summer.

Individual expectations:

-DJO 1st team all-conference.  Jae, 2nd team.
-Cadougan to average 30min & 8apg.
-DG and COT to average a double-double between them.
-Blue to develop confidence in his jumper.
-Limited, but solid minutes from at least two of Todd, Juan and Derrick.
-Phil Knight to be hospitalized sometime in mid-March from "self-inflicted blunt force trauma to the groin area."

Team expectation:

-This may seem like a cop-out response, but basically, I want this team to stop being the team that "no one wants to face in March" and start being the team that "no one wants to face during the regular season."

Coaching expectation:

-Buzz to be rumored to at least five major school openings before April 1.
-Buzz to still be coach on May 1.

Cadougan's hypothetical 8apg would have been good enough to lead the nation this past year.

[NersEllenson]

I've felt this upcoming season is MU's best chance for a breakthrough to the Elite 8, possible Final Four - moreso than next season.  DJO and Jae are HUGE pieces on this year's team that next year's team won't have. 

I expect a breakthrough type of season from Gardner - to me he has the greatest potential of any player on the roster to make a major impact - with Cadougan a close 2nd.  Think J Wilson is a wildcard - but not certain that he can be Jimmy B, and think he will have a season similar to DJO last year - good at times, but frustrating and somewhat inconsistent.

I'm very bullish on Todd Mayo - and think he could pose a serious challenge to Vander for back up minutes at the guard position.  Also feel Juan Anderson could fill the role of what Fulce was last year - provide some high energy minutes, though in a limited number.

[bilsu]

I've felt this upcoming season is MU's best chance for a breakthrough to the Elite 8, possible Final Four - moreso than next season.  DJO and Jae are HUGE pieces on this year's team that next year's team won't have. 

I expect a breakthrough type of season from Gardner - to me he has the greatest potential of any player on the roster to make a major impact - with Cadougan a close 2nd.  Think J Wilson is a wildcard - but not certain that he can be Jimmy B, and think he will have a season similar to DJO last year - good at times, but frustrating and somewhat inconsistent.

I'm very bullish on Todd Mayo - and think he could pose a serious challenge to Vander for back up minutes at the guard position.  Also feel Juan Anderson could fill the role of what Fulce was last year - provide some high energy minutes, though in a limited number.

It is hard to predict the NCAA's, because so much depends on matchups.
As far as the year after we lose arguably our two best players in DJO and Crowder. That team will have a lot of good players, but no stud unless one develops.

[noblewarrior]

Is this not the year everyone has been anticipating since Buzz's arrival at MU with the players he has brought in....  I would hope this team does no worse than the sweet sixteen and a top 3 BE finish... If the 2012 recruiting class ends up a monster class, this season could be the spring board for the type of program many here have always thought the program to be... (ie top 10)...

I love the excitement.. or drama MU BBall brings (for better or worse) and do not expect anything different this year and as long as MU is in the BE this same drama will exist... it's not like the Big 12(10) were one storied program can dominate.

I can't wait for this season... we will be good, likely the best team MU has seen since the Wade final 4 run... of course I am not saying MU will be in the Final 4 but it is not out of the question with the make up of this years team...


 

[Markusquette]

Anything can happen in the NCAA tournament.  To get to the Sweet 16 again would be wonderful, but even the "best" teams can go out early.  My expectation is that we at least end the regular season at the same level or a bit better than we did this past year.  I also expect one player to step up and be a leader, because Jimmy became the man when I thought no one could fill Lazar's shoes.  Could be a number of guys, but most likely DJO or Crowder. I could see Junior, Jamil or Blue as long shots.

[mu_hilltopper]

This is the first time in a number of seasons where the high expectations (from others) have really surprised me.  

Certainly, we had a great weekend in the NCAAs, and it seems to have made a lot of people forget the hot and cold season we'd had ..  that at one point seemed likely to end with an NIT bid.   The only thing consistent about our game last year is that we could easily lose 3 in a row or win the same 3.

We lost an NBA first rounder, plus another starter .. last years' guys will be a bit better .. freshmen will be freshmen.  I think we'll be a game or two better than last year, win 10 or 11.    

The post-season will remain the constant crap-shoot MU knows too well, with the time-tested slogan: It All Depends On Matchups.  Could go one and out, could win 2-3.

Really surprises me that others think it that next year will be much better than that .. just do not see it.

[MUDPT]

I will say 11-7 in the Big East with a sixth place finish.  The Big East schedule doesn't do us any favors.  DePaul and Providence, are the only "gimme" road games.  So that's two wins and I say we win one more on the road and go 8-1 at home. 

[Marqus Howard]

This is the first time in a number of seasons where the high expectations (from others) have really surprised me.  

Expectations are also high because of Jamil Wilson. Many believe that he will be able to fill in seamlessly for Jimmy Butler, and if he is, I agree that this team is the best we've had in a while. A finish below 6th in the Big East would be very disappointing if Wilson plays well and we don't suffer any major injuries.

[tower912]

I've felt this upcoming season is MU's best chance for a breakthrough to the Elite 8, possible Final Four - moreso than next season.  DJO and Jae are HUGE pieces on this year's team that next year's team won't have. 

I expect a breakthrough type of season from Gardner - to me he has the greatest potential of any player on the roster to make a major impact - with Cadougan a close 2nd.  Think J Wilson is a wildcard - but not certain that he can be Jimmy B, and think he will have a season similar to DJO last year - good at times, but frustrating and somewhat inconsistent.

I'm very bullish on Todd Mayo - and think he could pose a serious challenge to Vander for back up minutes at the guard position.  Also feel Juan Anderson could fill the role of what Fulce was last year - provide some high energy minutes, though in a limited number.

Intereting observation from IWB over on Scout.   Paraphrasing, Gardner needs to learn what he can and can't do and play accordingly.    I take that to mean that he needs to stay down on the blocks, not try to lead the fast break and not chase guards around   the perimeter.

[brewcity77]

Intereting observation from IWB over on Scout.   Paraphrasing, Gardner needs to learn what he can and can't do and play accordingly.    I take that to mean that he needs to stay down on the blocks, not try to lead the fast break and not chase guards around   the perimeter.

Watching the Pro-Am, that's definitely true. He won't be able to do that coast-to-coast stuff even against Norfolk State. If he can figure out what his slimmer body can do, he could be great, but if he overestimates his own abilities, he could be his own worst enemy.

[mu_hilltopper]

Expectations are also high because of Jamil Wilson. Many believe that he will be able to fill in seamlessly for Jimmy Butler, and if he is, I agree that this team is the best we've had in a while. A finish below 6th in the Big East would be very disappointing if Wilson plays well and we don't suffer any major injuries.

The problem is .. Jamil was less than stellar in his one actual season of play at Oregon.  To think he can fill in "seamlessly" for 1st round draft pick Jimmy Butler would be quite a surprise indeed.

[NersEllenson]

The problem is .. Jamil was less than stellar in his one actual season of play at Oregon.  To think he can fill in "seamlessly" for 1st round draft pick Jimmy Butler would be quite a surprise indeed.

Haven't done the research, but I believe Jamil's numbers as a Freshman at Oregon were very similar to Jimmy's as a sophomore at MU.  Perhaps expecting a performance similar to Jimmy's Junior year might be a reasonable expectation for Jamil - but as everyone has said - Jamil has all the tools you could want in a basketball player, just a matter if he can have the tenacity for 40 minutes...if so, it seems plausible that he could be Jimmy-good...though doubt he'll be as efficient as Jimmy B (one of the best at MU in a long time)

[MUMac]

The problem is .. Jamil was less than stellar in his one actual season of play at Oregon.  To think he can fill in "seamlessly" for 1st round draft pick Jimmy Butler would be quite a surprise indeed.

If his year at Oregon was last year, I would agree.  A year in the program, though, makes a huge difference.