Feel bad for Henry

[ChicosBailBonds]

But Buzz also chose to not allow MU to have any down years(except his last one), by bringing in Jucos...Wojo doesn't seem to care for that, not sure why? Think of how much better this team would have been with a Jimmy Butler type or DJO. Yet Wojo seemed to ignore the Juco ranks altogether. As a Head Coach, you have a responsibility to the fans, alumni etc to make the team as good as you possibly can...that means using every avenue possible to you...but he essentially ignored the JUCO ranks. Sorry, but to me, that's irresponsible.

Do you think if you repeat the lie enough it becomes true?

Wojo went after several JUCO players, he didn't land any of them.  They were not ignored.   Like it or not, Jae would not be admitted to MU any longer. 

[bilsu]

I do wonder how Henry would of fared in Al's star system. Al built his offense around his star player.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

good question . but didn't Al feature his upper classmen?  Don't know what he would have done with a McD level player

[AZMarqfan]

Do you feel bad for Ben Simmons?  That despite ESPN's best hyping all season long, LSU has virtually no shot of making the NCAA Tournament.  MU's future looks bright.  JJJ really turned the corner in the last 6-8 weeks in a way like we saw when Vander Blue started his junior year.  Next year we're going to have some serious guard depth.

[Litehouse]

I do wonder how Henry would of fared in Al's star system. Al built his offense around his star player.

Someone posted some stats earlier, but I believe Henry was taking the highest percentage of a teams shots of any freshman in the country.

[brewcity77]

The 09-10 team is a poor comparison. Listen, I loved Jimmy, Jae, DJO, and our other JUCOs, but it's well past time to accept we're not going that route anymore. Wojo is building his program on four year players.

09-10 had DJO, Jimmy, Fulce, and Buycks, the subsequent years had more. For us to have experienced players, they need to go through the system. Wojo is designing a program that will have to take lumps while waiting for guys to improve.

He tried getting grad transfers. Guessing players like Damion Lee and John Brown might be regretting their last chance decisions now, but it is what it is. Wojo swung and missed. Hopefully he has better luck next year. Our core is built to start competing next year with Buzz's holdovers as seniors, and start winning in 2017-18 when Wojo's players become upperclassmen.

This team improved a lot this year. Traci, JJ, and Cheatham all look like the types of guys that will win us a ton of games. But we struggled because we're young and the rest of the league really isn't. Worst case scenario, next year has similar results as we regroup without Henry. Best case, we're Seton Hall, winning with sophomores.

Buzz won by putting bandaids on the program. It was a ton of fun while it lasted, but we see the results of that style now. Wojo is taking a long term approach that will require more patience and offer less immediate gratification, but in the long run have a stronger, deeper core by developing guys in house.

[MUWarrior4Life]

Personally I think HE should stay another year, he needs to work on his defense and 3pt shooting. I'm well aware he could do that in the NBA, but I don't think he would get any significant time on the floor during his rookie year. With that said, I wish him the best in whatever decision he makes in the upcoming weeks. Thanks Hank!!!  GO WARRIORS!!!

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I have no idea what's up with Farleigh-Dickenson, nor do I particularly care.

They play in the NEC.  'Nuff said.

[tower912]

Henry, if he so chooses, is about to get paid an obscene amount of money doing what he loves.   I do not feel bad for him. 

[Dr. Blackheart]

Henry, if he so chooses, is about to get paid an obscene amount of money doing what he loves.   I do not feel bad for him.

Tough joining the 1% at 19, hey

[nyg]

Henry, if he so chooses, is about to get paid an obscene amount of money doing what he loves.   I do not feel bad for him.

NBA pick #5 is 17 million for 4 years
NBA pick #8 is 13 million for 4 years

This is just an example in view of the fact most mocks have him going in that range.  Set for life.

[macman320]

The 09-10 team is a poor comparison. Listen, I loved Jimmy, Jae, DJO, and our other JUCOs, but it's well past time to accept we're not going that route anymore. Wojo is building his program on four year players.

09-10 had DJO, Jimmy, Fulce, and Buycks, the subsequent years had more. For us to have experienced players, they need to go through the system. Wojo is designing a program that will have to take lumps while waiting for guys to improve.

He tried getting grad transfers. Guessing players like Damion Lee and John Brown might be regretting their last chance decisions now, but it is what it is. Wojo swung and missed. Hopefully he has better luck next year. Our core is built to start competing next year with Buzz's holdovers as seniors, and start winning in 2017-18 when Wojo's players become upperclassmen.

This team improved a lot this year. Traci, JJ, and Cheatham all look like the types of guys that will win us a ton of games. But we struggled because we're young and the rest of the league really isn't. Worst case scenario, next year has similar results as we regroup without Henry. Best case, we're Seton Hall, winning with sophomores.

Buzz won by putting bandaids on the program. It was a ton of fun while it lasted, but we see the results of that style now. Wojo is taking a long term approach that will require more patience and offer less immediate gratification, but in the long run have a stronger, deeper core by developing guys in house.

In the end the results were three sweet 16's, pretty good when you compare how many we had in the three decades leading up to that. Whether you bring in studs or recruit high school kids you generally have a two year window of greatness. Jucos can come in for two years and be studs right away, or you wait for high school kids to grow. the hard part is when the guards grow up and have to wait or hope for early development of a power forward and/or center. The three amigos were great, but as they got older they never had a complete starting five. Every team builds around a core and regroups: Syracuse, UNC, uconn all had runs in recent years and missed the tourney.
I'm not so concerned about if a coach brings in jucos or high school kids because both ways have highs and rebuilding periods, my biggest concern is wojo's teams (in my subjective fan no-facts opinion) don't seem to have the fire and hit the deck like Crean and Buzz's teams did. When Jose players lost, we still were the first on loose balls, taking charges, being gritty. We have had multiple moments of our guys looking at loose balls on the floor. Maybe that is young player communication that will improve? When was the last time someone was intimidated to play Duke because they were going to push you around? If you are soft on D and give up rebounds it is OK if you shoot lights out on the other end. We do neither and maybe both will change, but somehow the fire Wojo has doesn't come through on the court. Is it communication, the type of guys he has, or just youth?

[frozena pizza]

Yeah, it must suck to be 19 years old and on TV all the time and about to get paid millions for playing a child's game.  If you want to feel sorry for someone there are plenty of people out there with real problems.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

Stop

Was it like Vander's high-five?

[Coleman]

Would it have been cool if Henry was able to play in an NCAA tournament? Absolutely. Am I disappointed for him that he didn't get that opportunity? Sure.

But think about how good this situation was for Henry. He got to play at a university in his home state. He beat the in-state rival. MU recruited his brother Wally to the team so they could play together. He got to showcase his talent by playing massive minutes for a school in a major conference, averaged a double-double, and won Big East Freshman of the Year, and 1st Team All Conference honors. None of that would have happened at a Kentucky, Duke, or UNC. His year at MU has boosted his draft stock more than any blue blood would have.

Missing the NCAA is the only downside about his year at MU. Would have been nice. But I don't feel bad for him.

[Goose]

I do not feel sorry for HE one bit. He gave it his all and on to bigger and better things. Either Soph year (which do not think is the case) or the NBA. I am very happy for the kid and appreciate his effort and talent.

Now, I do feel badly for the fans. Quite honestly having a McD AA, who performed better than most thought, really was not what I expected. A once in 25 year player played in one sold out home game, played to more empty seats than filled seats on some nights. If HE could bring a "real" buzz to fanbase I am not sure it can happen at MU.

[CTWarrior]

I do not feel sorry for HE one bit. He gave it his all and on to bigger and better things. Either Soph year (which do not think is the case) or the NBA. I am very happy for the kid and appreciate his effort and talent.

Now, I do feel badly for the fans. Quite honestly having a McD AA, who performed better than most thought, really was not what I expected. A once in 25 year player played in one sold out home game, played to more empty seats than filled seats on some nights. If HE could bring a "real" buzz to fanbase I am not sure it can happen at MU.

I wouldn't call him a once in 25 year player, unless you are referring to our frequency of McDonalds AAs.  Guys like Crowder and Butler from the last 5 years were better than Henry was taking everything into consideration (especially defense) in their final seasons at MU.  But I do agree it does feel like we wasted his one year with us. 

[Goose]

CTWarrior

Get your point. My point on once in 25 year player is based off what could have been. His numbers are off the charts now and only would have increased each year. He would have put numbers that never would be broken if he stayed four years. Stick with my once in 25 year guy.

[AZMarqfan]

Tough joining the 1% at 19, hey

More like the 0.1%.  The 1% making something like $400,000. 

[KenoshaWarrior]

I do not feel sorry for HE one bit. He gave it his all and on to bigger and better things. Either Soph year (which do not think is the case) or the NBA. I am very happy for the kid and appreciate his effort and talent.

Now, I do feel badly for the fans. Quite honestly having a McD AA, who performed better than most thought, really was not what I expected. A once in 25 year player played in one sold out home game, played to more empty seats than filled seats on some nights. If HE could bring a "real" buzz to fanbase I am not sure it can happen at MU.

Your absolutely correct

[brewcity77]

In the end the results were three sweet 16's, pretty good when you compare how many we had in the three decades leading up to that. Whether you bring in studs or recruit high school kids you generally have a two year window of greatness. Jucos can come in for two years and be studs right away, or you wait for high school kids to grow. the hard part is when the guards grow up and have to wait or hope for early development of a power forward and/or center. The three amigos were great, but as they got older they never had a complete starting five. Every team builds around a core and regroups: Syracuse, UNC, uconn all had runs in recent years and missed the tourney.

I have no problem with Buzz's results. The reality is there are people among the powers that be at Marquette who didn't feel the results were worth the other concerns that came along with it. Personally, I look at JUCOs and grad transfers as the ideal band-aids. Build around your four-year guys, fill in holes with one and two year players.

I'm not so concerned about if a coach brings in jucos or high school kids because both ways have highs and rebuilding periods, my biggest concern is wojo's teams (in my subjective fan no-facts opinion) don't seem to have the fire and hit the deck like Crean and Buzz's teams did. When Jose players lost, we still were the first on loose balls, taking charges, being gritty. We have had multiple moments of our guys looking at loose balls on the floor. Maybe that is young player communication that will improve? When was the last time someone was intimidated to play Duke because they were going to push you around? If you are soft on D and give up rebounds it is OK if you shoot lights out on the other end. We do neither and maybe both will change, but somehow the fire Wojo has doesn't come through on the court. Is it communication, the type of guys he has, or just youth?

I think again this comes down to a different style. Buzz's teams always seemed to outwork the opposition, win or lose. But any team with a guy like Jae will always outwork the opposition, those guys are rare. Honestly, I think better teams tend to look like they work harder. Perfect example, look at Jajuan last year and this year. Last year, he went for a lot of loose balls or errant passes and came up short, which left him out of position on defense. Made him look like he just wasn't grasping what was going on.

Fast forward to this year. Jajuan is getting to balls he missed last year, timing his jumps much better, and turning what used to be misses into possessions. Jajuan looks like he is putting in that much more effort because you see the results of his effort. It isn't necessarily that he's giving more effort, he is just maximizing his opportunities better.

I think experience is huge here. It's not just effort, it's effort channeled in the right direction. I don't think kids like JJ, Traci, or Cheatham necessarily have any problems with not playing hard enough, but as they play smarter, it will look like they are also playing harder.

And if it doesn't happen and Wojo can't get that out of his team, then he'll be gone. My guess is he gets two more years almost regardless, and if there aren't results, we move on. We have the resources to attract quality candidates. Wojo was a quality candidate who could have had his pick of schools. Other successful coaches wanted this job. I'm confident we'll be fine, but because of the nature of this rebuild, it will take more time than we wanted. And if it doesn't work, someone else will rebuild it better.

[Dr. Blackheart]

More like the 0.1%.  The 1% making something like $400,000.

You are talking Scoop Moderator money now.

[Benny B]

I give Henry my thanks for an exciting season.

But I don't feel bad for a kid that gets free schooling to play a game he loves, and get the choice between making millions or more free schooling in a few short weeks.  HE will be just fine.

I don't care how much money you have, having tourney memories with your big brother can't be bought.

[rocky_warrior]

I don't care how much money you have, having tourney memories with your big brother can't be bought.

Fine then, I'm pulling our sponsorship of the Benny B thunderdome.  Think of it as a memory that never happened - because you don't care about money.

[Herman Cain]

Trying to bring this back to the title of the thread ...

I don't feel even one iota of an iota of an iota bad for Henry.

He was a big part of everything this team was: great at times, crap at times, in between at times. He was fun to watch at times and exasperating at times. He did more good than bad, just like his 20-13 team. He was the best player on the team, so he wasn't as exasperating as the third- or fifth- or seventh-best player on the team.

I'm glad we got him. He was good for the program overall and good for this particular team.

In return, he got 35 minutes a game, a green light to shoot on every possession from anywhere on the floor, a chance to win most games, the right to play in front of family and home-state friends, and an experience that will help him be a top-10 draft pick worth a guaranteed 8-figure contract.

Seems like both sides got a pretty fair deal.

I agree with this analysis.