Gardner is a nice pick up, no doubt. But he is another project, albeit one with some nice building blocks. (Size, touch, etc.) This gives us 3 bigs, all of whom still have developing to do. If accounts are to be believed, COt is getting close. To expect any of them to be a 30 mpg or double double contributor is premature. What they will be, assuming health and normal rates of development, are options. I still expect to see a lot of 3 guard or 3 forward sets out there. But now there is a gleam at the end of the tunnel. This is the get that Crean struggled with, a developmental big.
Obviously 30mpg or double doubles aren't realistic expectations.
I would be happy if we could get 20-25 mpg combined from these three next year. I think that is still optimistic but not unrealistic.
The thing that has me really excited is Buzz actually gets it. Creampie in his never ending quest to boost his own image quickly was clearly never interested in the Pittsburgh/Wisconsin philospohy of recruiting one big every year and letting them develop. He wanted the one 5 star that could boost his stock immediately.
What really has me happy is in two and a half years on the job Buzz has now brought in Otule at 6'10, McMorrow at 7'0, Mbao at 7'2, Ewill at 6'8, and Gardner at 6'9. Additionally, before he took himself out of the picture he had gotten a commitment from 6'11 Monterale Clark. Now none of us know how these guys will pan out but every report you read on every one of these guys is that they are athletic. Buzz is doing an outstanding job of filling the pipeline with athletic bigs. Boy is this guys a breath of fresh air!!
Keep up the good work Buzz!
I still think we can get 20-30 mpg from Otule, and Gardener and Yous should both get more minutes than Yous did last year -- of course, this is assuming that they all stay healthy between now and next March (i.e. they all get a full season of conditioning, practice and game play).
You would think that barring injuries at least 1 of the three assert themself as "they guy" at the 5 next year and obtains about 15-20mpg. That would be a considerable improvement. So while I agree that hoping for 30mpg 10pts and 8 rebounds is unrealistice for any one of these guys. Someone is going to be garnering minutes at the 5. And my hopes are that the 30/10/8 comes from the 5 position next year as a total.
Quote from: Canadian Dimes on May 05, 2010, 09:01:49 AM
The thing that has me really excited is Buzz actually gets it. Creampie in his never ending quest to boost his own image quickly was clearly never interested in the Pittsburgh/Wisconsin philospohy of recruiting one big every year and letting them develop. He wanted the one 5 star that could boost his stock immediately.
What really has me happy is in two and a half years on the job Buzz has now brought in Otule at 6'10, McMorrow at 7'0, Mbao at 7'2, Ewill at 6'8, and Gardner at 6'9. Additionally, before he took himself out of the picture he had gotten a commitment from 6'11 Monterale Clark. Now none of us know how these guys will pan out but every report you read on every one of these guys is that they are athletic. Buzz is doing an outstanding job of filling the pipeline with athletic bigs. Boy is this guys a breath of fresh air!!
Keep up the good work Buzz!
Wasn't Otule a Crean guy still? Maybe Buzz was his main recruiter, just saying.
Quote from: tower912 on May 05, 2010, 08:24:18 AM
Gardner is a nice pick up, no doubt. But he is another project, albeit one with some nice building blocks. (Size, touch, etc.) This gives us 3 bigs, all of whom still have developing to do. If accounts are to be believed, COt is getting close. To expect any of them to be a 30 mpg or double double contributor is premature. What they will be, assuming health and normal rates of development, are options. I still expect to see a lot of 3 guard or 3 forward sets out there. But now there is a gleam at the end of the tunnel. This is the get that Crean struggled with, a developmental big.
I would not classify Garner as a project. He has definite talent. His issue is going to be that of conditioning.
I would consider pretty much every freshman big a project until they prove otherwise. Sure, there are the occasional DeMarcus Cousins type guys, but they are few and far between. I think the average big begins to really show their ability around the middle of their sophomore year. That being said, my hopes this year are highest for Otule, and I still think Yous could really surprise us and be an important player by the end of the year, possibly getting 10-15 mpg.
Fulce is going to get a lot of minutes at the 5. I think he will be a big factor in next year's success. The pressure to contribute at the 5 is on him more than anyone. Otule is a little accountable too, but there is still room to be patient.
If Fulce doesn't have it next year, we are in trouble inside. I am confident that things have clicked for him as he showed at the end of the season. He can hit the weights and put on 10 or so pounds and be a strong presence.
I know everyone is concentrating on big guys because Buzz just signed one. Fulce, Otule, Mbao, Gardner and Crowder as a group have the potential to bring alot to the table, but they are all role players.
We must not lose sight of what will make MU go next year and in the next few to come are guards and wings. Butler, DJO and the boys will define MU's success. They will do the heavy lifting and define the style of play. Where the big boys come in is that the rest of the team can finally play in their natural positions for a majority of the game. Buzz will still have to run some small ball line ups when he doesn't want to, but those moments will be much fewer than with the roster he had last year. Jimmy playing at the 3 instead of the 4 only helps MU, same with DJO at the 2 instead of the 3.
All the big guys have to do is be serviceable and give a combined 10 points 8 boards a game and deny easy baskets. MU doesn't need Greg Monroe type of play to be successful. MU will still get its butt handed if it plays teams with real bigs straight up, but I have full confidence in Buzz that he can create a style of play that will limit that from happening.
My prediction is that none of these bigs in their careers will be dominant and only one or two will be average. But that is better than what MU has had and it will convince better big talent to consider MU. All MU needs is to get to average at the 5 because the other four spots on the floor, recruiting wise, are taking care of themselves.
Next year, I really want Buzz to get a beast of a power forward and another project 5 with the 3rd scholliee going to whoever goes to prep school this year.
Lower my expectations? Why? I remember a certain partial qualifier who fans thought might be able to fill the shoes of Brian Wardle. His name? Dwyane Wade.
Oh, and I also remember a few years ago when an athletic guard from Chicagoland committed to Marquette and was going to be the next D-Wade. His name? Dameon Mason.
OK, maybe you have a point.
Quote from: MerrittsMustache on May 05, 2010, 12:05:54 PM
Lower my expectations? Why? I remember a certain partial qualifier who fans thought might be able to fill the shoes of Brian Wardle. His name? Dwyane Wade.
Oh, and I also remember a few years ago when an athletic guard from Chicagoland committed to Marquette and was going to be the next D-Wade. His name? Dameon Mason.
OK, maybe you have a point.
Dameon Mason signed and I.... jizzed in my pants!
I remember being stoked over the signing of one Mike Kinsella when I got the news on the old IWB Rivals.com board.
Why don't you highten your expectations instead of everyone else lowering theirs??
I was excited about the Israeli superstar Niv Berkowitz
Quote from: Hards_Alumni on May 05, 2010, 12:07:09 PM
Dameon Mason signed and I.... jizzed in my pants!
Pretty much describes the feeling some of us had in the late afternoon of April 1, 2008.
I agree with the idea that we are going to be a guard/forward dominated team for the next couple of years. All I really want from our developing bigs is for them to not get dominated on the boards, block the occasional shot, make the occasional putback, make themselves available for and actually catch the dump off from the penetrating wings/guards. I don't expect any of them to create their own offense for another two years.
Quote from: tower912 on May 05, 2010, 01:33:19 PM
I agree with the idea that we are going to be a guard/forward dominated team for the next couple of years. All I really want from our developing bigs is for them to not get dominated on the boards, block the occasional shot, make the occasional putback, make themselves available for and actually catch the dump off from the penetrating wings/guards. I don't expect any of them to create their own offense for another two years.
+1 Be the big body that the opposing team needs to box out so that our athletic Forwards can haul in the rebounds. Clog some space up in the middle defensively so that our guards do not have to help out all the time.
Very, very simple stuff. Not a lot to think about, but these guys can make a difference for short spurts.
Quote from: Nukem2 on May 05, 2010, 09:25:19 AM
I would not classify Garner as a project. He has definite talent. His issue is going to be that of conditioning.
Good point. You are definitely correct - on offense. Aside from the conditioning, he'll need to work on his defense, I'm sure. But project big men typically are brought in for rebounding and defense, and you
hope you can teach them some offense. Gardner has those skills and the athleticism to use them. Hopefully, learning defense and the necessary defensive intensity will come quickly to him.