Who would you add? (From last years team)

[Rocco]

I got in a debate with another MU fan last night after the game.  I asked him if he could bring one guy back from last years team who would it be?  He said Burke, I said James.  I honestly think a point could be made for any of the four.  But my pick would be a healthy James.

[MarquetteDano]

James all the way.  He was our best perimeter defender last year and that is one of the key things we are missing.  And James is just as good if not better with running the offense than Acker.  While Burke was good for last year's team we would be hurting offensively with him on the team this year.

[MarquetteVol]

I tend to agree that DJ would be the guy. Particularly, the DJ from his senior year that was more of a "pass first" point guard and did not force as many jump shots.

That said, you could make a compelling case for Wes Matthews. He would start at the 3, allowing DJO to play exclusively at the 2. Wes was a good all-around player and could guard five positions - a valuable commodity given our current personnel. This would allow Lazar a little more rest, as you could move Jimmy to the 5 and Wes to the 4 for spells. He would certainly help us on the boards and with perimeter D.

Very interesting question. I do agree you could make a case for any of them.

What about if you could add any player from the last 10 years of MU basketball, excluding DWade?

[wadesworld]

Wesley.  It'd give us a slasher who gets to the hole (which only DJO does on this team with consistency, and even he is more of a shooter than a slasher).  It would also give us more size at the guard position.  Instead of starting Acker (really like 5'6" but listed at 5'8"), Cubillan (really 5'10" but listed at 6') and DJO at 6'1", we'd be starting Acker, DJO, and Wes at 6'4", to go along with the 6'7" Butler and 6'6" Hayward.  Burke wasn't good enough to make up for the fact that we need a big.  Also, the way Acker has been running the team has been fantastic this season, making the need for a PG less, thus the need for DJ less.  I would take any of the 4, though.

[77ncaachamps]

Wesley, though Burke would be tempting.

I don't think I'd be able to deal with DJ's cramping.

But if you go back another year...Barro.

[MUCam]

I don't think I'd be able to deal with DJ's cramping.

Did DJ cramp at all his senior year that you recall? I watched every single game and don't remember a single cramp.

[lab_warrior]

Definitely DJ.  A lock-down defender, could get to the hoop at ease, never turned the ball over, and he could have kicked to the wide open gunners that this team has in DJO, Acker, Cubes, and Lazar.  Also think he could have gotten guys like Buycks and Fulce easier baskets off his drives.

[chapman]

Give me a first team Big East, second team All-American player to start at the two over Cubillan.

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

Jerel. We need someone who can cut to the lane. We go possessions at a time without a paint touch more often than I'm comfortable with. It makes the offense really one-dimensional.

[San Diego Warrior]

From last 10 yrs:

John Polonowski when he wasn't drinking.

[jaygall31]

Give me a first team Big East, second team All-American player to start at the two over Cubillan.

+1

[wheresthecake?]

Definitely Pat Hazel.

[ErickJD08]

I think Wesley without a question.  Big guard, strong, could post up, good defender, good rebounder, great FT shooter, and he would fit in with our current style with finding the open shooter with the dribble drive.  I think the last factor about the style of offense this year gives Matthews the edge over DJ and JM.

[Ari Gold]

put me in the DJ crowd. That senior leadership he brings to the table plus his skill at running PG would be something I'd take. I think that combination puts us ahead in some of those close losses against Nova and WVU

The only downside I see is if there'd be enough basketball go to around with DJO Butler Lazar and DJ

I chuckled a little when I said he'd bright some height to the PG position but...

[MR.HAYWARD]

persoannly i do not think i could stomach another year of Jerel.  Without a doubt the worst decison maker since i have watch Mu basketball for over 30 years.  Watching him make one stupid play after another and then rationalize it by being an agressive player got really old after a year or two.  The 30 footer against villanova with 15 seconds left last year was one of what 200 complete head scratchers?  

While I would tend to say DJ.  I would probably go with Wesley at the 2 or 3.  Acker has defensive weakness but is the engine that makes us go offensively.  Cubi is a poor defender and we play 4 on 5 when he is out there offensively.  

Best lineup would be Acker, Wes, DJO, Butler, Zar.


clearly i beleive Dj and jerle are better than acker and DJO, but if i could only have 1 it would be wes for cubi

  

[HoopsMalone]

We would have beaten nova 2x with James' perimeter defense.

[PGsHeroes32]

Id go Wes or Jerel. They can both guard very well(not as good as DJ) and along with that they are big time scorers. This way we would still keep Acker at the point who does great assist to turnovers(leaving no need for DJ) and have DJO out their as well with jimmy and Lazar. Jerel or Wes would start for Cubby and we would be set. Our offense would have 3 guys that can get to 20 pts at anytime and we would add a solid defender as well.

[MarquetteDano]

Id go Wes or Jerel. They can both guard very well(not as good as DJ) and along with that they are big time scorers. This way we would still keep Acker at the point who does great assist to turnovers(leaving no need for DJ) and have DJO out their as well with jimmy and Lazar. Jerel or Wes would start for Cubby and we would be set. Our offense would have 3 guys that can get to 20 pts at anytime and we would add a solid defender as well.

Reading everyone's posts there have been some really good arguments for Wes.  We could keep Acker out there, have DJO at the 2, and Wes at the 3.  We would sacrifice a little perimeter D with Wes (versus James) but his offense would be better than James and it would give us another solid rebounder.

Change my answer to Wes.

[PGsHeroes32]

I'm actually not even sure we would lose a whole lot on D anyways. Wes would have very good size for a guard and really the main reason Jerry Sloan got him minutes and a starting role is because of Wes defense. So factor in the ability to score and Wes is definitly a notch above Dj. Now if you want to give up a good amount on d but have a lights out offense then Jerel would be your guy. In this offense Jerels far superiorty to the 3 ball would benefit greatly.