First minute in the game today two rebounds and an assist.
I was just talking about this with MWBauer7. I'll admit it: I've developed a bit of a man-crush on Jimmy Butler. Quickly becoming one of my favorite MU players.
Jimmy-B, should adopt Visa's old slogan. He's Everywhere You Want To Be.
They are calling some questionable fouls on us. FIrst McNeal on the legit block and now Matthews down low when he did nothing wrong.
Only way we lose this game is if one or both get into foul trouble.
It would help if we could hit a shot every now and then. 4-of-14 is the only thing keeping St. John's in the game.
Jimmy is the man. We're looking a bit off on offense (shooting), but I like how our D is looking. They are including Burke a bit more though...I like. Maybe Buzz will take the cuffs off Butler from three? Prob not, but it'd be nice to see.
I also like Burke's aggressiveness on offense, despite his last jumper
Quote from: IAmMarquette on March 11, 2009, 01:51:10 PM
I'll admit it: I've developed a bit of a man-crush on Jimmy Butler. Quickly becoming one of my favorite MU players.
+1
We, as a team, need to continue the dribble penetration.
And there is McNeal's 2nd foul.
JB is by far our best player today
This game should be over already. They have got to make some shots and get a lead so we have an easier second half. I agree about Butler major man crush on him, he is Dyno-mite!!
Cooby showing some aggressiveness. Man I wish he could nail a 3 and get his confidence back and rolling but what a crazy shot that he made.
Quote from: mufanatic on March 11, 2009, 02:02:43 PM
And there is McNeal's 2nd foul.
And he should be done for the half
I dont want to jinx anything but was our defense really bad these last 4 games and we found it today or was it because we played against 4 extremely talented teams with quickness and height that we just don't matchup well against and most others would not.
I think we look a little more active on defense compared to the last 4 games. We stood around a lot during the Pitt game. IMO today you see us challenging their guards further out and putting the pressure on.
I am not sure if it is great D or St. Johns is just that bad. They have had a lot of open looks that have not fallen for them.
It really helps that St. John's sucks.
JB can be a big contributor next year, along with Hayward and the trio of Maymon, Cadougan, and Buycks.
Quote from: ecompt on March 11, 2009, 02:20:41 PM
It really helps that St. John's sucks.
They beat Georgetown. ::)
No bad teams in the BEAST.
Quote from: mufanatic on March 11, 2009, 02:10:36 PM
I dont want to jinx anything but was our defense really bad these last 4 games and we found it today or was it because we played against 4 extremely talented teams with quickness and height that we just don't matchup well against and most others would not.
I think it's a little of both. We played 4 teams with top 10-caliber talent (not necessarily rank) close (well, with the exception of the last 8 minutes of Pitt). Also, I think having a couple of days rest certainly helped in terms of working on defense and the offensive rotations. Everything looked much more crisp today.
St. John's has the talent IMO to be very good next year. Most of those guys are freshmen and sophomores. But to lay a beating on them today was HUGE for our confidence going forward.
Jimmy Butler-Stud of the Game?¿
I know he didn't have the most points, or the most rebounds for that matter, but this game, in my opinion at least, was a break out game for him.
And yet I was called insane and/or an idiotic 17 year old who must have just started watching basketball a few weeks ago for stating that Butler was playing better basketball than James.
;D
Quote from: SCdem@MU on March 11, 2009, 06:58:11 PM
And yet I was called insane and/or an idiotic 17 year old who must have just started watching basketball a few weeks ago for stating that Butler was playing better basketball than James.
;D
Uh, keep telling yourself that. You must have missed the previous 4 games where we couldn't stop AJ Price, Andre McGee, Levance Fields, and Johnny Flynn even if Acker was permitted to carry a firearm.
Quote from: SCdem@MU on March 11, 2009, 06:58:11 PM
And yet I was called insane and/or an idiotic 17 year old who must have just started watching basketball a few weeks ago for stating that Butler was playing better basketball than James.
;D
Keep in mind though that playing better basketball and being a better basketball player are often two different things.
Jimmy's a solid player, no doubt, but he reminds me of Ousmane Barro or Joe Chapman more than Dominic James. If he starts, he seems like a player who can toss in 6-10 points and grab a couple boards, but he's not the kind of player who can singlehandedly change the course of a game.
Quote from: The General on March 11, 2009, 07:34:57 PM
Uh, keep telling yourself that. You must have missed the previous 4 games where we couldn't stop AJ Price, Andre McGee, Levance Fields, and Johnny Flynn even if Acker was permitted to carry a firearm.
And you can keep telling yourself that James would have made a difference.
Butler is a good player who plays efficient basketball and makes few mistakes. When he starts getting some confidence to take the open jumper, he will be really dangerous.
Quote from: SCdem@MU on March 11, 2009, 08:31:12 PM
And you can keep telling yourself that James would have made a difference.
Butler is a good player who plays efficient basketball and makes few mistakes. When he starts getting some confidence to take the open jumper, he will be really dangerous.
I'll agree with you on Butler, but really, what's with your constant hating on James? I really do not understand it.
I still don't know we win those games, but certainly our chances are far improved, since we'd have our best defender out there, plus we wouldn't be dealing with tired legs from running our starters 35-40 minutes plus as we were in those games.
Quote from: notkirkcameron on March 11, 2009, 07:36:59 PM
Jimmy's a solid player, no doubt, but he reminds me of Ousmane Barro or Joe Chapman more than Dominic James. If he starts, he seems like a player who can toss in 6-10 points and grab a couple boards, but he's not the kind of player who can singlehandedly change the course of a game.
Jimmy is essentially a starter now, and I've seen just as much from him on offense and defense as I did from Ousmane. He grabs more than a couple boards of course too (esp offensive glass). Chapman was a good shooter for us at best, and I think Jimmy can really be deadly as mentioned before once he gains confidence to shoot. Next year he will continue to improve and blossom into one of our best players.
Quote from: SCdem@MU on March 11, 2009, 06:58:11 PM
And yet I was called insane and/or an idiotic 17 year old who must have just started watching basketball a few weeks ago for stating that Butler was playing better basketball than James.
;D
those descriptions still apply.
Where is the dude that said Jimmy Butler was a wasted scholarship and a "waste" after watching him for 10 minutes in the Midnight Madness scrimmage?
That comment has the potential to rank up there with the Murf "dime-a-dozen" comment re: Diener.
In all fairness to that poster, whoever he/she was, I doubt anybody expected this type of progression from Jimmy this early. The kid has really turned it on.
PS. To say that Jimmy B has been playing well is an understatement. To say that he is better than James, or even playing better than James, is an overstatement.
Quote from: MUCam on March 11, 2009, 10:00:00 PM
Where is the dude that said Jimmy Butler was a wasted scholarship and a "waste" after watching him for 10 minutes in the Midnight Madness scrimmage?
That comment has the potential to rank up there with the Murf "dime-a-dozen" comment re: Diener.
In all fairness to that poster, whoever he/she was, I doubt anybody expected this type of progression from Jimmy this early. The kid has really turned it on.
PS. To say that Jimmy B has been playing well is an understatement. To say that he is better than James, or even playing better than James, is an overstatement.
I never called out Butler after one scrimmage I'm not that stupid. but to be honest after watching the scrimmage I thought Fulce would be playing the role Jimmy is currently. Fulce looks SO LOST right now, he almost looks scared out there.
ive always been a j butta fan and am so happy he is solidifying a role with the team. i think he could add a bit more confidence to his play but you gotta be happy with his solid contribution thus far. keep doin ya thang jimmy!!
Quote from: The General on March 11, 2009, 08:35:30 PM
I'll agree with you on Butler, but really, what's with your constant hating on James? I really do not understand it.
I don't hate James. I appreciate what he has done with the team and how he has represented the University of the last four years. He is a freak of nature athletically, but he is not the great player that some make him out to be and he will never play in the NBA.
I wish that wasn't the case, but it is.
Are with better with him than without him? Sure, but to claim that a PG who can't make an open jumper or hit free throws at a better percentage than Shaq is somehow a great NBA worthy player whose jersey should be retired is crazy.
I also care much more about the future at this point than what could have been with James. Butler is showing tremendous progress that makes me feel much better about our chances in the tournament as well as how we will do next year.
Quote from: SCdem@MU on March 11, 2009, 10:38:25 PM
I don't hate James. I appreciate what he has done with the team and how he has represented the University of the last four years. He is a freak of nature athletically, but he is not the great player that some make him out to be and he will never play in the NBA.
I wish that wasn't the case, but it is.
Are with better with him than without him? Sure, but to claim that a PG who can't make an open jumper or hit free throws at a better percentage than Shaq is somehow a great NBA worthy player whose jersey should be retired is crazy.
I also care much more about the future at this point than what could have been with James. Butler is showing tremendous progress that makes me feel much better about our chances in the tournament as well as how we will do next year.
who you crappin?