Cautionary Tale

[Skatastrophy]

I would say James got significantly better at ball control and seeing the court.  He may have stopped shooting because he lost his shot, but on a team with Wes, Jerel and Zar we didn't need him to score much.

DJ changed from an undersized shooting guard into a true point guard.  I wouldn't call that peaking his freshman year, I would call that transforming into what we needed out of him as a player.  This is further evidenced by the number of points he's pouring in playing professionally in Europe. 

[Boone]

Nice try, Tower, but stay on topic: the original post was only about Junior's outside shot and whether it could improve. For every Jerel and Wes (and that's a big stretch, b/c neither of them were billed in high school as being nearly as weak shooting from the outside as Junior was), Henry and Smith, I can give you a Dominic, a Marcus West, Barone, Will Gates and Tony Miller (although he made up for it with great ballhandling and D)...guards who came into the program billed as weak shooters, who never improved.  

I'll post it again, it's very difficult to reverse poor shooting ability.

[79Warrior]

I still believe Buzz will get MU to a Final Four.  We are in year 3 Sultan.  I like the prospects for next year's team - A LOT.  I'm not going to put a fork in this year's team yet either - I could see them making the Sweet 16.  

Not sure where the article I linked would suggest I think we should lower our sights - but I could see a scenario where Buzz takes us to 5 straight NCAA's and if he doesn't get to an Elite 8 or better, some fans will complain.

I think lots of people were looking forward to the prospects for this years team at the end of last season.

[tower912]

Right back atcha, Boone.   Please check out the shooting percentages of Wes, Jerel, and Cordell Henry as frosh.    Then please see if they improved.   Or Fredette.   Or Walker.   Or Jordan Taylor.   Cadougan isn't ever going to be Diener.    But I predict he will be able to shoot well enough to keep the defense honest.  

[Boone]

Ummm...you misread that one, Tower. I credited Henry to your side of the ledger. And like I posted, Wes and Jerel weren't nearly as poor from the outside as high schoolers as Junior was.

Fredette, Walker and Taylor don't attend MU, the last time I checked. For whatever reason, we don't have a great trackrecord  of improving perimeter shooters' strokes.

I hope your prediction is right.

[NersEllenson]

I think lots of people were looking forward to the prospects for this years team at the end of last season.

I agree with your statement.  I'd also suggest that this season is not yet over - nor would many have thought we'd play as many Top 20 teams on the road as we have thus far this season.  We lost a tough game to Number 6 Wisconsins at home, a neutral site game to Number 2 Duke - and then 6 other games against Top 25 teams on the road by an average of about 4 points per game.  We've beaten 3 Top 25 Pomroy teams at home - Cuse, ND and WVU.  Only "bad" home loss was UCONN.

[GGGG]

By the way, here is a good read by the Duke Basketball Report of all things talking about how the original article comparing NC State to an "ugly-duckling" is completely off-base.

http://www.dukebasketballreport.com/articles/?p=38486

[ATL MU Warrior]

I think everyone is losing sight of what Boone is getting at. There's a bit of defensiveness which is shading the responses.

Boone's point is that from what he's seen, and others are likely in agreement, Cadougan looks to have a ceiling which could result in a stagnation of his development. A stagnation that will no doubt affect MU in multiple areas. There aren't many options in the program so the 1 spot could become a real problem for MU as we've seen its effects this season.

Another point to remember is the only real evidence we have on development is Fulce and Butler. Fulce you can toss out due to injuries. Butler is basically the same player he was in his first season only more refined -- still not a consistent threat from deep; still a great touch from 16'; still looks more for contact on penetration rather than finishing, etc. We could look at other guys in this area but that's a discussion for the slow season.

And this theoretical ceiling is based on what exactly?  That's what I don't understand.  His advanced age?  His injury?  His overwhelming amount of D1 experience?  None of this except possibly the injury suggest anything other than future improvement, not stagnation. 

[Golden Avalanche]

And this theoretical ceiling is based on what exactly?  That's what I don't understand.  His advanced age?  His injury?  His overwhelming amount of D1 experience?  None of this except possibly the injury suggest anything other than future improvement, not stagnation. 

Firstly, the odds are against it. The majority of college players remain at the level they show early in their careers but we don't remember them. We only remember the good ones. In a month, Cadougan will be halfway done with his career.

Secondly, lack of athleticism/speed. Without those intangibles, Cadougan doesn't have what is typically necessary to separate himself during the game. Shuts him down.

Thirdly, can't shoot. And don't give me the excuse of deference for a better option. If Blue continues to shoot bricks, there is no reason Cadougan can't put it up. Defenses simply don't believe he'll ever pull up. 4 on 5 is difficult. 1,000 of these a day in the summer.

Fourthly, can't go left. That lay-up he had against the Hoyas was stunning -- man on the moon stunning. Unfortunately, it was the exception proving the rule-type event. May never see it again.

Finally, defense. He is mediocre and with the lack of speed from point two he can catch himself late and that starts a downward trend for the rest of the defensive possession. He has improved from earlier this year in this area but that's because you can't go any lower than the bottom.

These are the issues that surround him at this point. And, you're right, all of this could be reversed dramatically in just eight months of hard work but you can't think some people are stupid because they look at his play and see the possibility that he may never be more than a timeshare PG.

Ironically, I think Cadougan is the best PG on the team right now. Of course, that's likely because my dislike for Buycks is off the charts.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Call me an optimist but here we go:

#'s 1, 2 and 5 are directly related to his injury.  Have we even seen the real Junior yet?  If the Junior we've seen in the last 10 games is the floor, and his ceiling is even a little bit above his current level of play, he's going to be fine.

#3 - This can be fixed.  And deference isn't an excuse, it's the absolute reason why he's our best PG.  I also don't know why you single out Blue...he's also out there at various points in time with DJO, JFB, Jae, Buycks, Otule and Ox.  Those guys are options #1-#4 on the offensive end and Junior is the best guy we have at delivering them the ball where they can do something with it.  That's his role.  His role isn't to chuck up 3's.  His role is to set up our scorers.  Scoring every now and then will keep the D honest and make his role easier, but he doesn't need to be a scorer. 

#4 - I honestly never noticed this and don't remember the specific play you reference from the Georgtown game...must have been a doozy.