I don't see how you make up for the loss of Butler.
And do you dare start Cadougan AND Blue?
I think MU will be significantly better next year, DJO in his senior year will be a stud, Otule has shown excellent signs of improvement and is ready to step into a major roll on the team. Also I think that Jamil Wilson is the replacement for Butler, I've heard great things about him. I think the starting line up will be
1. Cadougan
2. DJO
3. Crowder
4. Wilson
5. Otule
Have to disagree. DJO is a solid player, but I think he's plateaued. Otule has upside. Cadougan has upside, but that means he'll add +2-3ppg.
We can hope Wilson will be a star, but his Oregon year doesn't point to that. Crowder .. may get marginally better.
If I had to take a guess right now, it'd be 9-9 again for next year.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on March 05, 2011, 08:32:13 PM
Have to disagree. DJO is a solid player, but I think he's plateaued. Otule has upside. Cadougan has upside, but that means he'll add +2-3ppg.
We can hope Wilson will be a star, but his Oregon year doesn't point to that. Crowder .. may get marginally better.
If I had to take a guess right now, it'd be 9-9 again for next year.
I agree, but may not reach 9-9. MU needs a mean, intimidating PF who has ability to be a force on the boards and actually grab, not fumble rebounds.
Cadougan played well against Providence, but horribly against the pressure of STJ and SH. Our guard play has been nothing short of atrocious. We are going to get pressed like a bare ass against a picture window for the rest of the season. I don't like our chances.
Quote from: mu_hilltopper on March 05, 2011, 08:32:13 PM
Have to disagree. DJO is a solid player, but I think he's plateaued. Otule has upside. Cadougan has upside, but that means he'll add +2-3ppg.
We can hope Wilson will be a star, but his Oregon year doesn't point to that. Crowder .. may get marginally better.
If I had to take a guess right now, it'd be 9-9 again for next year.
I tend to agree with you on DJO--for quite a while I have thought he was a stud, but he is not showing the confidence in his shot any more.
And if we do go 9-9 again, then it is time to make a change. No more excuses.
no stud at PG, maybe Wilson replaces Butler, have good big men - don't expect much from DJO or Crowder given how they failed to show up the last few games of this year, Vander might hit the rim next year on his jump shots...
I would say 9 - 9 at best next year...
Jamil will help. Vander should improve. So there's hope.
Butler will really be missed. For the first time I can remember, there is no one poised to step up to replace the big guy that we're losing. Butler is the most consistent player on the team and the only one who really seems to play smart and with killer instinct all the time. Hopefully Wilson can be what we need, or someone else, but there doesn't seem to be that guy that is on the verge of taking the next step.
Quote from: willie warrior on March 05, 2011, 09:57:51 PM
I tend to agree with you on DJO--for quite a while I have thought he was a stud, but he is not showing the confidence in his shot any more.
And if we do go 9-9 again, then it is time to make a change. No more excuses.
Yeah, we wouldn't want Buzz to get a chance to coach his own players as seniors. I suppose this mindset here shouldn't surprise me.
Quote from: willie warrior on March 05, 2011, 09:57:51 PM
And if we do go 9-9 again, then it is time to make a change. No more excuses.
Not going to happen, nor should it. You need to give every coach 5 years...hell, we could be talking about a NCAA team next Sunday. I hope like hell we are.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on March 05, 2011, 10:22:15 PM
Not going to happen, nor should it. You need to give every coach 5 years...hell, we could be talking about a NCAA team next Sunday. I hope like hell we are.
I've used to be annoyed with a lot of your posts. Today, and recently I have really been impressed, and find myself universally agreeing with the way you are thinking.
Quote from: Warrior1 on March 05, 2011, 10:30:06 PM
I've used to be annoyed with a lot of your posts. Today, and recently I have really been impressed, and find myself universally agreeing with the way you are thinking.
Don't tell MarqPTM....that will ruin his idea that EVERYONE HATES ME. ;)
Much better next year. 5-stars are usually just role players freshman year and take huge leaps sophomore year to dominate.
4-stars generally have their big leap junior year.
with all the people moving into the year they usually take off and the transfers having practiced all year. I believe we are likely much better despite the tremendous loss of butler and the need to fill the shoes of buycks and fulce.
DJO will be as good as the PGs allow him to be. Better PG play will get him open for threes.
I think we will be as good or somewhat better next year. Almost every team loses key players. Losing Butler, Buycks and Fulce will not have the impact that losing Hayward, Acker and Cubillan did. Remember how bleak it looked after losing the three amigos? We will be fine. Not great, but fine.
We'll be better next year. A lot will be up to JC, but if he can step up his game....
Quote from: ecompt on March 05, 2011, 10:18:14 PM
Jamil will help. Vander should improve. So there's hope.
Unless this team can get some jump shooters we are in trouble. Jimmy,like Lazar, will leave a big void. Vander is a terrible shooter, JCc is not a threat either. The cupboard looks weak next sesaon based on who we have now.
I really thought we would be better next year, but now I am not so sure. First of all we do not know if anyone is going to transfer out. We have two incoming recruits, but Buzz has not utilized freshmen very much so I am assuming they will not play.
C Otule and Gardner
PF Crowder & Williams
SF Wilson & Blue
SG DJO and Jones
PG Cadougan and Singleton
That is not an impressive team
Not encouraged that next season will be any better...and point guard play is at the root of the pessimism. JC did well vs. PC only b/c they played D like a summer league team. Jordan Theodore and Cashmere Wright are average BE points and each had their way with JC.
Our success next season really rests on a lot. Will someone be able to step up early and emerge as a true leader? Whether it be DJO, Crowder, Wilson, or even Blue, we need a go to guy that can lead the team when we need it most. DJO is still inconsistent in his second year at MU, but maybe we will be able to get it together for his final year at MU. Crowder was great for most of this year and faded some down the stretch, but there's no reason to believe he can't fill the void. Wilson is very intriguing because of his size and athleticism. Looks like a fluid athlete that can do a lot on the court similar to someone like Jimmy. It's a lot to hope for him to step in to such a big role, but anything can happen. Blue is also a dynamic athlete, so maybe with a summer of work on his offensive game and more confidence he could emerge as a big piece to our team next year. I think what he really needs is just the confidence to compete at the Big East level. He's a slasher on offense, but I haven't lost all hope in his shot. He can, and will improve.
Junior will feel more comfortable in his second year (let's be realistic), and Otule will improve even more. Gardner is going to improve his conditioning and may be a key part of our offense. Jones could play a role as a shooter and slasher on offense, he is certainly capable of playing at a high level once he learns. Newcomers like Anderson and Wilson could be sparks; again we have no idea how they might play despite the typical freshman struggles.
Obviously these are things we all hope to happen, but I don't think it's a long shot. We have talented guys on the roster next year. While I won't expect anything more than this season has been at this point (which I think we did decent) we could have a solid rotation of guys with some roles. I didn't think Jimmy would be anything like what he has become, so I'm hoping someone takes over for him and becomes our leader. Let's focus on getting to the tournament now and worry about next year when this season's over :)
Quote from: bilsu on March 05, 2011, 11:49:20 PM
I really thought we would be better next year, but now I am not so sure. First of all we do not know if anyone is going to transfer out. We have two incoming recruits, but Buzz has not utilized freshmen very much so I am assuming they will not play.
C Otule and Gardner
PF Crowder & Williams
SF Wilson & Blue
SG DJO and Jones
PG Cadougan and Singleton
That is not an impressive team
Hmmm... I look at that line-up and have a lot of hope actually. Maybe I'm smoking something.
Using this year's team as a baseline, here's how I view next years team on a goofy scale I just invented:
C Otule and Gardner +1 (Solid upgrade as both players are developing and Gardner could experience a pretty big jump as he continues to develop physically)
PF Crowder & Williams + .5 (Same or slightly better next year. I don't like Jae's disappearing act the last couple of games, but the guy has had a good year, and should be better next year. E.Will looks lost, but should be able to provide 10min that fulce does this year)
SF Wilson & Blue -1.5 (downgrade. Wilson is going to be good, and Vander will improve, but Jimmy is the toughest SOB they've got, so losing him will hurt)
SG DJO and Jones +.25 (slight upgrade, DJO is just a streaky guy, so you have to live with that. Jones should be fine getting 10min. and might become a shooting threat)
PG Cadougan and Singleton +.25 (slight upgrade as Junior continues to develop physically and learns the position. Don't know if Singleton will be the back-up or if it will be Wilson/Blue).
I think the remainder of the bench is a slight upgrade if they don't have any transfers, so overall, they are up .75 on my weird scorecard.
The biggest opportunities are for Wilson, Blue and Cadougan. If they all play better than expected, this team could be sweet 16 material. If they underachieve, could be looking at 9-9.
Don't we have like 6 months to discuss the topic in this thread. They'll be plenty of time come May, June, and July to discuss this. BET starts Tuesday baby!
I know chicos lives out in Cali so do you have any opinion of Juan Anderson if you've seen him ball? Think he could be a contributor next year?
11-7 next year.
Cadougan Gardner Otule Jones Williams Vander take big steps forward.
Otule will play more consistently - as he has the 2nd half of this season.
DJO will be similar maybe a bit closer to his 3PT% from his soph year. Closer to 40%.
But who cares about next year. We'll beat providence get in the tourney and upset two teams THIS year.
Quote from: Jamil_toMU10 on March 06, 2011, 12:20:38 AM
I know chicos lives out in Cali so do you have any opinion of Juan Anderson if you've seen him ball? Think he could be a contributor next year?
He's a Nor Cal guy, never seen him play. I hope he can contribute, but Buzz doesn't seem to like playing Freshman much and the one that is playing somewhat (Vander) has struggled. So who knows.
This year DJO is having to create his own 3 PT shot. Last year he had Lazar and Mo Acker/ Cubillian to spread his (DJO's) man on a help defense situation. The problem this year is that his man is still able to close out because Junior's man and JB's man don't have to extend defense to 21 feet. thus not forcing extra help. Those defenders just have to react to dribble drive (for Junior) and have to close out to 16 feet (for JFB). The extra pass becomes useless.
Last year DJO was the beneficiary of the "extra pass." Now that extra pass doesn't result to a wide open three, instead it is a contested 3 or a pump fake 3, and another dribble drive.
Marquette needs another shooter to spread defenses to create open looks for DJO or the other shooters on the floor.
Sadly, Vander Blue and more minutes for Junior don't fit that bill.
We won't be because we'll still have that bald, Karl Pilkington clone as our bumbling head coach.
His teams DO NOT play major college level defense and the word is out on his "paint touch" nonsense offense.
Quote from: Warrior1 on March 05, 2011, 10:30:06 PM
I've used to be annoyed with a lot of your posts. Today, and recently I have really been impressed, and find myself universally agreeing with the way you are thinking.
just cuz chico isn't status quo; independant thinkers not welcome? everyone knows chico needed this to pull out of his slump-great confidence builder
I frankly can't see how we would be significantly better. However, I really hope that Buzz takes a different look at the defensive end of the floor and how we can improve there. If we come in with the same basic scheme, it isn't going to work.
Buzz needs to bring in two point guards -- not shooting guards who play the point. JC has the attitude for the job, but not sure he has the skills.
Quote from: Jamil_toMU10 on March 06, 2011, 12:04:05 AM
Our success next season really rests on a lot. Will someone be able to step up early and emerge as a true leader?
This is the biggest thing. I think there's a lot of great leadership by the senior class off the court (from what I read), but in-game it seems to be lacking the way Lazar put it together last year.
We got some games to win before we'll find out.
Cadougan and Blue are the keys...
- Cadougan has shown obvious improvement.
- Outside of the fact he can't shoot, Blue is probably playing as well as anyone right now.
- Crowder has been good all year (except the last 2 games). No reason to think he won't be good again.
- Buycks is addition by subtraction.
- We should have a legitimate backup PG, if not 2.
- Jones, Williams, Gardner should all be a year better (Jones is the guys that intrigues me most).
- Jamil Wilson...tough to say, but seems he could be a potential difference maker.
The year of experience and off-season work for a number f these guys will be critical. Can they find a go to guy between now and next season? With all respect due Jimmy Butler, the simply did not have one this year, and it showed up often. The opportunity is there for anyone who wants to step up and be the man.
Quote from: oshkoshbgosh on March 06, 2011, 08:22:44 AM
Buzz needs to bring in two point guards -- not shooting guards who play the point. JC has the attitude for the job, but not sure he has the skills.
This is not a good idea. What are three point guards on the roster going to do for MU right now?
I agree with the leadership posts. Last year you had a clear hierarchy (Lazar, Acker, Cubes) of three guys that would take a leadership role depending on personnel on the floor.
This year should be JFBs, but he has only stepped up to it in small spurts. That's left a weird little void where Jimmy wasn't doing it and no one else would step up because it was Jimmy's. Maybe there's some addition by subtraction here.
Junior, Vander and Crowder all have the poise to do it. Will they? We have a whole off-season to debate that.
In terms of games played for MU, will Junior be the most experienced player on the team next year?
Echoing the sentiments of many folks on here, I think PG play is the key to next season. Lets remember that DB was never really a true PG, and Junior's basically a freshman.
We were all jacked up to have Junior coming to MU, salivating over the highlight reel's, but then the reality of being a freshman PG in the Big East set in. Give him his first healthy offseason with the staff, and a year's worth of BEast play, and I expect him to make a huge jump next year. Although not where we'd like him to be, I think he's made a lot of progress in the last 3 weeks, and expect an even higher trajectory to continue.
On another note, I think DJO should be shooting first, asking questions later to open up the rest of the game. I don't care if he goes 2-12 in a game, just go in with the mentality of bombing treys.
Quote from: mugrad2006 on March 06, 2011, 10:02:49 AM
On another note, I think DJO should be shooting first, asking questions later to open up the rest of the game. I don't care if he goes 2-12 in a game, just go in with the mentality of bombing treys.
I tend to agree with this. As good as that pump fake is, if you don't end up getting a good shot off of it, which happens often, you're better off jacking the three.
We are better if somebody steps up and decides to be the man. Whether it is Crowder, Wilson, Cadougan, DJO....somebody has to be the coach on the floor, the one that demands the ball, the one who wants to guard the other team's best player, the one who wants to take the big shot, the one who calls his teammates into a huddle at the foul line and chews ass. Other than JB 40% of the time, this year's team lacks that. If a true leader emerges, we are better. If one doesn't we are worse. I missed yesterday's game due to familial obligations, but when against Cinci, when you are down two possessions with a minute to go and your two leading scorers pass on open 3's..... that is on the player's not seizing the moment.
Quote from: tower912 on March 06, 2011, 10:15:20 AM
but when against Cinci, when you are down two possessions with a minute to go and your two leading scorers pass on open 3's..... that is on the player's not seizing the moment.
Bingo! There was not a more defining moment for this season, that that one.
Quote from: tower912 on March 06, 2011, 10:15:20 AM
We are better if somebody steps up and decides to be the man. Whether it is Crowder, Wilson, Cadougan, DJO....somebody has to be the coach on the floor, the one that demands the ball, the one who wants to guard the other team's best player, the one who wants to take the big shot, the one who calls his teammates into a huddle at the foul line and chews ass. Other than JB 40% of the time, this year's team lacks that. If a true leader emerges, we are better. If one doesn't we are worse. I missed yesterday's game due to familial obligations, but when against Cinci, when you are down two possessions with a minute to go and your two leading scorers pass on open 3's..... that is on the player's not seizing the moment.
We will need somebody to be that man next year. Not knowing any of the players personally I would say it will have to be DJO or Otule, they will have been in the system the longest. Don't know if otule is capable of taking the Big Shot, so by default it looks like it will have to be DJO.
Quote from: tower912 on March 06, 2011, 10:15:20 AM
... but when against Cinci, when you are down two possessions with a minute to go and your two leading scorers pass on open 3's..... that is on the player's not seizing the moment.
I was confused by that one as well, and discussed it with a couple of friends. Did they pass up the shots because they're not 'the man' or because Buzz preaches the pump fake and paint so much that they couldn't overcome that instinct? Or did Buzz coach something else in the huddle? Those two passed up three's were just gut wrenching, I just can't figure out why they did it when everyone in the BC was screaming 'Shoot!' in their minds.
Quote from: mugrad2006 on March 06, 2011, 10:25:18 AM
I was confused by that one as well, and discussed it with a couple of friends. Did they pass up the shots because they're not 'the man' or because Buzz preaches the pump fake and paint so much that they couldn't overcome that instinct? Or did Buzz coach something else in the huddle? Those two passed up three's were just gut wrenching, I just can't figure out why they did it when everyone in the BC was screaming 'Shoot!' in their minds.
I hear that. When you preach making the extra pass all year long, it can be tough to adjust, but I look at it this way...Would Lazar Harward have passed up that shot? Mo Acker? Wes Matthews? Jerell McNeal? No chance.
Add Steve Novak, Travis Diener or even (shudder imagining the nearly inevitable clanging) Dominic James.
Quote from: willie warrior on March 06, 2011, 10:22:08 AM
We will need somebody to be that man next year. Not knowing any of the players personally I would say it will have to be DJO or Otule, they will have been in the system the longest. Don't know if otule is capable of taking the Big Shot, so by default it looks like it will have to be DJO.
Otule? Not sure if he can command the ball with his sight limitation. I think with better PG play he could develop into one of the top guys but he needs to be feed the ball properly. DJO? When you're the "man", you don't consistently pass up open looks and dish out to covered teammates. The "man" helps make his teammates better players. I'll get trashed for this but I wish we had David Cubillan over DJO for this current season for a variety of reasons.