That was the Dominic from 2 years ago. With him it is clearly all mental and all about confidence. If he can back this up with another big preformance the next time we play a big game (Nova New Years day) my feelings about this team could change over night. There is something about James, maybe its his athletics, maybe its just the fact that the PG tends to have the ball in critical situations, that if he can become Mr Clutch then this team still has a chance to be special. Lets face it you know you can count on steady play from Mathews and Lazar. McNeal is the energy guy but if he's asked to carry the team he is as likely to play you out of a game as he is to play you in. If James could return to early career form like the games he played against Valpo and Duke as a soph this team can beat top level Big East teams effectively playing 4 on 5. We can give up double figures to the other team's center, hope to keep it close and win it at the end. Lets hope this is the start of a trend. A guy can dream right!
Yes you can dream, I seem to remember a game last year when he scored like 26 and carried MU but it didn't really continue. I hope its different this year.
One thing that I think will be different from past years is that James doesn't seem to force it anymore. Despite this game, we all know he is not a lights out shooter. He is a great playmaker and ball defender... every game. If he performs a heat check and realizes the outside shot isn't falling, I think this year he will not continue to jack up threes. Today, he did the heat check, it was there, so it continued.
Oh baby... it continued. ;D
James is so much more unselfish this year. Unlike his second and third year, we've yet to see him chuck up more than 5 threes in a game and only make one. In fact, I'd venture to guess he averages fewer shots per game than Zar, Rel and wes. His assist to turnover ratio is at a career high and his playmaking ability is much much better. The kid deserves more credit. While we all miss his freshman year ability, to say he has completely regressed like so many have said is wrong. he is a better floor leader and defender than he was three years ago. Minus his FT shooting, this year his shooting percentages are similar to his freshman year. Lets hope he continues to improve on them.
Tonight reminded me of the game at Valpo two years ago when Dom scored the final 18 points including a 3 at the end to win it.
http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/valpo_11_27_06 (http://wiki.muscoop.com/doku.php/men_s_basketball/valpo_11_27_06)
http://www.fandome.com/video/71920/Dominic-James-game-winner/
Quote from: YoungMUFan4 on December 23, 2008, 12:28:29 AM
http://www.fandome.com/video/71920/Dominic-James-game-winner/
Great find!