D. James Question?

[Warrior1969]

Last night DJ had one assist.  He is obviously a score first pass second point guard but one assist?  He doesn't seem to be being a point guard to me this year.  I love the guy but I don't think this can help his draft status can it?  I doubt the NBA will be drafting him as a 5'10 scoring guard.  I know other guys have played some point and DJ has been the two gaurd but one assist from an AA?  I think he is averaging about four a game?  I think he needs to do much better and get guys involved more.  Any thoughts?

[MU71]

Talk to the coach.  He's the guy playing his point as his #2 and his #2 as his point.  As I see it, we have a weaker point and a weaker #2 with the attack we're employing......but I'm just a fan.

[SoCalstu09]

Dominic is third in line, behind Wesley and Cubillan. Hmmm. Did anyone see DJ posting up last night. Several times he was posting against a guy twice his size, and scored on more than one occasion!

As far as the assists detracting from his draft stock. I'm not so sure. DJ WILL get drafted on potential and atheticism alone. He doesn't pass now because he is such a great scorer in college. I think once in the association that may change.

[Harrison]

25 and 7 dimes against Duke when he played primarily the point...hopefully this does not turn into a all the reason DJ should stay ala 2003 with Wade everytime he had a bad first half or a particular stat did not match that of an "AA".  Does the UNC board have one on Hansborough after going 2 for 10 for 7 points against Kentucky

[MU Avenue]

… I will remain of the opinion that Dominic James is a fine player who quite likely will be ready for the NBA one day, although not after this season.

He is too slow to get going, a fair-at-best outside shooter, a lousy -- or at least an unreliable -- free-throw shooter and inconsistent in generating assists.

I cannot see James going to the NBA after this season. He has too many areas where he must improve.

[dwaderoy2004]

you're assuming that DJ or the nba cares about these deficiencies.  would he improve if he stayed another year in college?  absolutely.  is he ready to step into the nba right now and play quality minutes?  probably not.  will dj still get a guarantee from a team in the first round based merely on his athletic ability and flashes of brilliance after this year.  most definitely.  if you don't believe this to be true, you are just pulling the wool over your eyes.  DJ is gone (as well he should be) after this year barring an injury or extreme lapse in play... 

[Warrior1969]

Does anyone have a shred of evidence that DJ is going pro?  I don't think so.  A lot of guys who could go pro stay in school another year.  He might go and he might not, we'll find out in march or april.  I am just saying DJ needs to bring the Duke game every night to become a GREAT player.  Hopefully he will figure that out starting saturday at 1pm!  Go WARRIORS!

[MU71]

Dominic is third in line, behind Wesley and Cubillan. Hmmm. Did anyone see DJ posting up last night. Several times he was posting against a guy twice his size, and scored on more than one occasion!

As far as the assists detracting from his draft stock. I'm not so sure. DJ WILL get drafted on potential and atheticism alone. He doesn't pass now because he is such a great scorer in college. I think once in the association that may change.

Are you saying he's more valuable as a post up guy than a point?  Is he such a great scorer from the #2 spot?  Sorry, I don't see it.  I see most of his points coming when he is at the point as well as most of Barro's when DJ is at the point dishing to him.  He's our best player - put the ball in his hands where he can best do something with it!

[Bob "Big Daddy" Wild]

Unfortunately, this is a a very good year for DJ to go pro, because there are very few PGs in the upcoming draft...

[77ncaachamps]

I know Crean knows how to showcase his stars for the next level (see Wade, Diener and Novak).

But I can't help to think that there's some kind of rift forming between Crean and DJ. I think winning early and getting ranked early really contributed to some big heads on the team (reference: Loss to NDSU and close wins to other middle and low mid-majors). It seems to me DJ thinks he can run the offense  and take over the game, and this may be limited a bit by Crean.

[SoCalwarrior]

But I can't help to think that there's some kind of rift forming between Crean and DJ.

Based on what?  To speculate that there is a rift forming between our best player and coach without any evidence is meaningless.

[SoCalstu09]

Dominic is third in line, behind Wesley and Cubillan. Hmmm. Did anyone see DJ posting up last night. Several times he was posting against a guy twice his size, and scored on more than one occasion!

As far as the assists detracting from his draft stock. I'm not so sure. DJ WILL get drafted on potential and atheticism alone. He doesn't pass now because he is such a great scorer in college. I think once in the association that may change.

Are you saying he's more valuable as a post up guy than a point?  Is he such a great scorer from the #2 spot?  Sorry, I don't see it.  I see most of his points coming when he is at the point as well as most of Barro's when DJ is at the point dishing to him.  He's our best player - put the ball in his hands where he can best do something with it!

I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying he can score at any position in college and his score first pass second mentality definately benefits this team when he isn't running the point. If he's only playing PG for 10 minutes, don't expect 10 assists! But if he is playing at the #2 for 20, expect scoring via drive and jumpers after being passed to.

[MU71]

Dominic is third in line, behind Wesley and Cubillan. Hmmm. Did anyone see DJ posting up last night. Several times he was posting against a guy twice his size, and scored on more than one occasion!

As far as the assists detracting from his draft stock. I'm not so sure. DJ WILL get drafted on potential and atheticism alone. He doesn't pass now because he is such a great scorer in college. I think once in the association that may change.

Are you saying he's more valuable as a post up guy than a point?  Is he such a great scorer from the #2 spot?  Sorry, I don't see it.  I see most of his points coming when he is at the point as well as most of Barro's when DJ is at the point dishing to him.  He's our best player - put the ball in his hands where he can best do something with it!

I'm not saying that at all. I'm saying he can score at any position in college and his score first pass second mentality definately benefits this team when he isn't running the point. If he's only playing PG for 10 minutes, don't expect 10 assists! But if he is playing at the #2 for 20, expect scoring via drive and jumpers after being passed to.

And I'm saying he scores more, gets more assists and therefore others score more when he's at the point.  I don't see why he's playing the off guard.  If TC doesn't want him to bring the ball up against pressure to save him physically I can see that (provided the others bring the ball up adequately) but in the half court offense to have him play off the point is senseless, in my opinion.

[MU71]

But I can't help to think that there's some kind of rift forming between Crean and DJ.

Based on what?  To speculate that there is a rift forming between our best player and coach without any evidence is meaningless.

Maybe based on the fact that he's not playing the point much and that he sat out most of the last 10 minutes when we were losing to ND State?  I have no evidence of a rift but there are a few things happening that could lead one to speculate.

[RawdogDX]

Talk to the coach.  He's the guy playing his point as his #2 and his #2 as his point.  As I see it, we have a weaker point and a weaker #2 with the attack we're employing......but I'm just a fan.

have you noticed how this only happens when mu is playing weak schools.  I think crean is just trying to get experience for people doing different things and experimenting with some things that could help later on once we hit con play.  James played point against duke and TT.

[RawdogDX]

Does anyone have a shred of evidence that DJ is going pro?  I don't think so.  A lot of guys who could go pro stay in school another year.  He might go and he might not, we'll find out in march or april.  I am just saying DJ needs to bring the Duke game every night to become a GREAT player.  Hopefully he will figure that out starting saturday at 1pm!  Go WARRIORS!

If you think it's 50/50 i'd be willing to give up some odd's that he's gone.

[RawdogDX]

I know Crean knows how to showcase his stars for the next level (see Wade, Diener and Novak).

But I can't help to think that there's some kind of rift forming between Crean and DJ. I think winning early and getting ranked early really contributed to some big heads on the team (reference: Loss to NDSU and close wins to other middle and low mid-majors). It seems to me DJ thinks he can run the offense  and take over the game, and this may be limited a bit by Crean.

Yes baised on their teary eyed hug a week ago at valpo i'd say there is much hatred between the two.

[SoCalstu09]

But I can't help to think that there's some kind of rift forming between Crean and DJ.

Rosiak interviewed Dominic and asked this same question. Dominic replied that in the NDSU game, Coach sat him because he was not playing with any intensity. David was playing hard and with intensity, therefore earning the right to stay out on the floor. DJ had not.

Crean doesn't care who you are...if you don't come out to play hard, you better sure as hell be ready to grab some sweet bench time. 

[NYWarrior]

But I can't help to think that there's some kind of rift forming between Crean and DJ.

Rosiak interviewed Dominic and asked this same question. Dominic replied that in the NDSU game, Coach sat him because he was not playing with any intensity. David was playing hard and with intensity, therefore earning the right to stay out on the floor. DJ had not.

Crean doesn't care who you are...if you don't come out to play hard, you better sure as hell be ready to grab some sweet bench time. 

Matthews' comments earlier in the week about the need to play with energy all the time, particularly defensively, are consistent with the info Rosiak relayed on DJ yesterday. Looks like TC has one message for the fellas these days

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I think Crean is trying to toughen DJ up, and rightfully so. I've never seen a player suffer so many dramatic injuries which cause him to leave the game, only to have him return minutes later. I like DJ a lot and by all accounts he's a great kid, but that stuff has got to stop.

[MU71]

Talk to the coach.  He's the guy playing his point as his #2 and his #2 as his point.  As I see it, we have a weaker point and a weaker #2 with the attack we're employing......but I'm just a fan.

have you noticed how this only happens when mu is playing weak schools.  I think crean is just trying to get experience for people doing different things and experimenting with some things that could help later on once we hit con play.  James played point against duke and TT.

Like ND State? 

[RawdogDX]

Talk to the coach.  He's the guy playing his point as his #2 and his #2 as his point.  As I see it, we have a weaker point and a weaker #2 with the attack we're employing......but I'm just a fan.

have you noticed how this only happens when mu is playing weak schools.  I think crean is just trying to get experience for people doing different things and experimenting with some things that could help later on once we hit con play.  James played point against duke and TT.

Like ND State? 

I didn't see the ND State game so i can't comment.  But I don't think your ever-so-witty, three word, comeback completely disqualifies my entire statement.  Thanks for actually trying to give someone elses thoughts the benefit of the doubt though.

[MU71]

Talk to the coach.  He's the guy playing his point as his #2 and his #2 as his point.  As I see it, we have a weaker point and a weaker #2 with the attack we're employing......but I'm just a fan.

have you noticed how this only happens when mu is playing weak schools.  I think crean is just trying to get experience for people doing different things and experimenting with some things that could help later on once we hit con play.  James played point against duke and TT.

Like ND State? 

I didn't see the ND State game so i can't comment.  But I don't think your ever-so-witty, three word, comeback completely disqualifies my entire statement.  Thanks for actually trying to give someone elses thoughts the benefit of the doubt though.

It doesn't disqualify your entire statement, you may well have a point and I hope you're right and DJ is back where he belongs Saturday against UW.  I did see the ND St game and when he wasn't riding the pines, DJ was mostly used at the #2.  Maybe TC mistakenly thought that was a lesser opponent.  No matter I do believe he belongs at the point and hope he will be there full time except a few breaks when Cubillan is spelling him. 

[ecompt]

DJ will have to decide whether he can improve his game through another year of college, or get drafted in the low first or high second round and play approximately 37 minutes total in the NBA. He is nowhere near ready to play professionally.

[mviale]

1st off, cant judge a player from 1 game
2nd - with our shooting %, not much chance for assists this year
3rd - Allen Iverson makes a nice 2 guard and he is 6'1" in sneakers.