Davante's facebook status.

[MUfan12]

You do realize Gardner grabbed the highest percentage of defensive rebounds available when he was on the court over anyone on the team.

To hell with any actual facts.

But if he's on the floor with three guards and Jamil, he should get the highest percentage, no?

[Norm]

Because of his lack of athleticism, Davante should have been a complementary playa, or dropped down a notch to a lesser program. He's not alpha dog material at this weight and attitude.

Geez, what does this say about the rest of the team then, because Gardner was the most consistent scorer we had and would have lost many more games without him on the court for us.

[mattyv1908]

All the bigs play horrible ball screen defense.  Davante is no exception.  The rest of this is incorrect and some just foolish..."only jumps for his own misses"  really?  What would be the benefit of this?

If he had adequate guards he would have been all conference and runner-up to McDermott as player of the year.

Couldn't agree more.  All of his offensive efficiency numbers were right there with McDermott.  Had he had a team around him that he could have played his game with without being hampered by their limitations we'd never have heard about defense at all just like McDermott's defense isn't mentioned because we'd be blowing teams out of games.

[MarsupialMadness]

But if he's on the floor with three guards and Jamil, he should get the highest percentage, no?

Not if he's such an unathletic short guy that can't jump with a bad attitude that only cares about himself and his own scoring output who is only a two star and will always only be a two star like everyone here is making it out to seem.  Not to mention he's always been terribly inconsistent and pulling down rebounds because 4 times last year he had less than 5.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Just a few corrections from the last few posts.

Davante is not a scoring 4. He was not forced to play out of position. We tried him at the 4 and it was terrible. He doesn't have the speed or athleticism to guard other 4s.

Davante would not have been runner up for POY if he had better guards. You can't be POY playing elite offense but average at best defense.

Whoever said Davante is inconsistent is just wrong. His offense efficiency numbers were off the charts. He was a helluva a player and we won't see the likes of him for awhile.

[4everwarriors]

Geez, what does this say about the rest of the team then, because Gardner was the most consistent scorer we had and would have lost many more games without him on the court for us.

This team is woefully short on talent.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

You do realize Gardner grabbed the highest percentage of defensive rebounds available when he was on the court over anyone on the team.

To hell with any actual facts.

all of them without jumping.

[BenCat12]

Just a few corrections from the last few posts.

Davante is not a scoring 4. He was not forced to play out of position. We tried him at the 4 and it was terrible. He doesn't have the speed or athleticism to guard other 4s.

Davante would not have been runner up for POY if he had better guards. You can't be POY playing elite offense but average at best defense.

Whoever said Davante is inconsistent is just wrong. His offense efficiency numbers were off the charts. He was a helluva a player and we won't see the likes of him for awhile.

A few corrections from your post.

We tried him at 4 and it was terrible because Otule is too one dimensional, and that one dimension isn't that good either.  His man to man defense was fine.  The problem with his defense is he is not a help defender and not a shot blocker.  If he is asked to guard his man one on one he does fine.  It is when teammates get beat that he looks bad because he can't fix others mistakes.  He would be fine as a scoring 4 if we had a Luke Fischer type at the 5, someone who can block shots and shoot jump shots.

Your POY comment is just wrong see McDermott, Doug

The consistency comment is actually correct.  

[BenCat12]

This team is woefully short on talent........at the starting guard postion

FIFY

[MUfan12]

This team is woefully short on talent.

Yep. People confuse talent with potential far too often on this board.

[4everwarriors]

McDermott's a lottery pick and Gardner will look good at the Y on Saturday mornin's.

[reinko]

McDermott's a lottery pick and Gardner will look good at the Y on Saturday mornin's.

Nah, DG is getting drafted, TallTitan said so.

PS: RIP TT

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Wow, you guys are just pitiful taking shots at a kid who did nothing but play his heart out every game, puking on the sidelines. Gardner was our best post player since Mac and maybe the Al years. You guys are hairy wet cats and pathetic for taking shots at a kid for doing nothing but great things for this program.

[4everwarriors]

Just the facts, Mam.

[BenCat12]

Just the facts, Mam.

Hardly, more like some uninformed misguided opinions.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Wow, the disrespect for Gardner in this thread is laughable. If we had some shooters on the floor to give him some space this year he would have been All Big East and we'd be a 6 seed or better in the tournament. Derrick Wilson's defender sagged 8 feet into the paint, making an entry pass from the PG position impossible and from the wing position a dicey proposition at best. Then when it actually got to him he was double/triple teamed with impunity because what was the punishment for doing so? He kicks it back out to a 7% three point shooter? Do the math. Do you try to stop the guy converting 55% of his double teamed 2 point shots for 1.1 ppp or do you dare the guy converting 7% of his 3 point shots at 0.21 ppp to shoot wide open J's all game? Easy call. Every coach in the BEast (sans Oliver Purnell) had Gardner blanketed before, during, and after he got the ball. And he still managed to put up the numbers he did this year. I can't believe some of the flat out stupid things I'm reading regarding Gardner right now.

[StillWarriors]

Wow, the disrespect for Gardner in this thread is laughable. If we had some shooters on the floor to give him some space this year he would have been All Big East and we'd be a 6 seed or better in the tournament. Derrick Wilson's defender sagged 8 feet into the paint, making an entry pass from the PG position impossible and from the wing position a dicey proposition at best. Then when it actually got to him he was double/triple teamed with impunity because what was the punishment for doing so? He kicks it back out to a 7% three point shooter? Do the math. Do you try to stop the guy converting 55% of his double teamed 2 point shots for 1.1 ppp or do you dare the guy converting 7% of his 3 point shots at 0.21 ppp to shoot wide open J's all game? Easy call. Every coach in the BEast (sans Oliver Purnell) had Gardner blanketed before, during, and after he got the ball. And he still managed to put up the numbers he did this year. I can't believe some of the flat out stupid things I'm reading regarding Gardner right now.

Agree completely. Davante's skill set with his size was pretty darn unique and special.  It is somewhat amazing he was able to accomplish as much as he did with the defensive focus he attracted. A go to scorer like he is inside, particularly with his ability to knock down free throws, is pretty rare in college hoops, and certainly at MU.

[NersEllenson]

Wow, the disrespect for Gardner in this thread is laughable. If we had some shooters on the floor to give him some space this year he would have been All Big East and we'd be a 6 seed or better in the tournament. Derrick Wilson's defender sagged 8 feet into the paint, making an entry pass from the PG position impossible and from the wing position a dicey proposition at best. Then when it actually got to him he was double/triple teamed with impunity because what was the punishment for doing so? He kicks it back out to a 7% three point shooter? Do the math. Do you try to stop the guy converting 55% of his double teamed 2 point shots for 1.1 ppp or do you dare the guy converting 7% of his 3 point shots at 0.21 ppp to shoot wide open J's all game? Easy call. Every coach in the BEast (sans Oliver Purnell) had Gardner blanketed before, during, and after he got the ball. And he still managed to put up the numbers he did this year. I can't believe some of the flat out stupid things I'm reading regarding Gardner right now.

Seriously?  It comes as a shock to you there is some idiotic analysis going on, on Scoop??!!  It never happens here.  

The most idiotic of which has been the handful of posters who think senior leadership has been the problem with this team, and why it fell off so far...and this same handful who refuse to acknowledge the real reality as to why we struggled so mightily - the backcourt, particularly point guard.

To your point above....it is absolutely comical people want to dog Davante given the double and triple teams he faced as a result of having a 7% 3pt shooting PG on the floor who got max minutes...and maybe took 2 shots outside of 2 feet from the basket in all of 2014 conference play...

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

A few corrections from your post.

We tried him at 4 and it was terrible because Otule is too one dimensional, and that one dimension isn't that good either.  His man to man defense was fine.  The problem with his defense is he is not a help defender and not a shot blocker.  If he is asked to guard his man one on one he does fine.  It is when teammates get beat that he looks bad because he can't fix others mistakes.  He would be fine as a scoring 4 if we had a Luke Fischer type at the 5, someone who can block shots and shoot jump shots.

Your POY comment is just wrong see McDermott, Doug

The consistency comment is actually correct.  

I'm going to agree to disagree on the POY thing. His offensive numbers would certainly increase. I think the lack of strong defense would have kept him short. McDermott plays fantastic defense.

The scoring 4 thing, strongly disagree. You are right that he plays "fine" man to man...on other 5s. Gardner gets burned by athletic 4s and shooting 4s.

Again, I love Gardner. I think he is a fantastic player. Those complaining about his production this year are misguided.