http://marquette.scout.com/2/1089523.html
I don't know how many of you usually read articles over at Scout, but I usually don't so I decided to post this here. It's an interview posted by Dodds with Davante Gardner about DG's new body and improved athleticism.
Interesting that he helping him prepare to play the 4. Otule and gardner on the court together could be a very effective combo.
Excellent interview. DG will be a big factor for MU this year!
I appreciate DG's one-line responses. No fluff. lol
I'm also glad that MU is preparing him for a position he may be playing one day in the League.
If Tractor Traylor can make it (people forget he was a like guard in a big boy's body), I can only hope Davante can!
Quote from: Skatastrophy on July 27, 2011, 09:43:56 AM
http://marquette.scout.com/2/1089523.html
I don't know how many of you usually read articles over at Scout, but I usually don't so I decided to post this here. It's an interview posted by Dodds with Davante Gardner about DG's new body and improved athleticism.
Not going to post any triple doubles if 55-23-1 is a typical night! Lets see some more passing.
Just kidding great interview!
Quote from: msbjim on July 27, 2011, 09:58:43 AM
Excellent interview. DG will be a big factor for MU this year!
Really? Must've audited Journalism 101. Where's Galli when you need him?
Quote from: KipsBayEagle on July 27, 2011, 09:50:30 AM
Interesting that he helping him prepare to play the 4. Otule and gardner on the court together could be a very effective combo.
That combo scares me to death. MU isn't deep enough at the 4 and 5 to risk having both of them get in foul trouble.
I guess later in a game if they both have 1 foul it might be worth a shot. DG seems to have nice touch, so you might be able to play a little high-low.
If DG continues to develop, he might be a nice option at the high post against a 2-3 zone, but I think we need to see more of his offensive IQ before that can be determined.
Quote from: 2002MUalum on July 28, 2011, 12:43:54 PM
If DG continues to develop, he might be a nice option at the high post against a 2-3 zone, but I think we need to see more of his offensive IQ before that can be determined.
+1.
Agree. And can get
meaningful "paint touches".
Quote from: 2002MUalum on July 28, 2011, 12:43:54 PM
That combo scares me to death. MU isn't deep enough at the 4 and 5 to risk having both of them get in foul trouble.
I guess later in a game if they both have 1 foul it might be worth a shot. DG seems to have nice touch, so you might be able to play a little high-low.
If DG continues to develop, he might be a nice option at the high post against a 2-3 zone, but I think we need to see more of his offensive IQ before that can be determined.
I would think you will see in the easier non-conference games as an experiment. You will only see it in the Big East against certain teams. Syracuse for sure. No way against Louisville.
You guys are right that it will certainly be "match-up based", but the fouls thing still scares the crap out of me.
I wished things had worked out better for E. Williams. Would have been nice to have some additional depth at the #4 spot.
Quote from: 2002MUalum on July 28, 2011, 01:44:42 PM
You guys are right that it will certainly be "match-up based", but the fouls thing still scares the crap out of me.
I wished things had worked out better for E. Williams. Would have been nice to have some additional depth at the #4 spot.
I said a few weeks ago I'd love to see them play together at the end of games. I agree that right now, we're not deep enough to play them together from the start. Buzz might not even feel it's worth the practice time it would take to play them together at that crucial point in a game. Looking back at the end of a few MU games last year, the crowd was literally booing the players because we were giving up second and third shots. Will be interesting to see how Buzz plays it...wish we had one more big.
Quote from: 2002MUalum on July 28, 2011, 12:43:54 PM
That combo scares me to death. MU isn't deep enough at the 4 and 5 to risk having both of them get in foul trouble.
I guess later in a game if they both have 1 foul it might be worth a shot. DG seems to have nice touch, so you might be able to play a little high-low.
If DG continues to develop, he might be a nice option at the high post against a 2-3 zone, but I think we need to see more of his offensive IQ before that can be determined.
Davante's offensive IQ is fine and probably about the best on the team. The real questions are conditioning and staying out of foul trouble. He is probably the best inside out passer on the team, a solid shooter, and uses his body well.
I still want to know who Gardner is going to guard if him and Otule are on the floor at the same time.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on July 28, 2011, 04:22:07 PM
I still want to know who Gardner is going to guard if him and Otule are on the floor at the same time.
This, exactly.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on July 28, 2011, 04:22:07 PM
I still want to know who Gardner is going to guard if him and Otule are on the floor at the same time.
Who is he guarding now? I mean, in reality, you are just moving him from being a below average defensive center to being a below average defensive PF. (I say below-average because I think his youth and small sample size make it too soon to say "bad defender").
At center, he's a little undersized and some guys can out jump him. At PF, he's a decent height and length, but not really quick enough to guard in space.
Might be equal trade off, especially if Otule's help defense continues to improve.
His conditioning and ability to play hard for 10-12 minutes in a row are going to be big factors in his success.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on July 28, 2011, 04:22:07 PM
I still want to know who Gardner is going to guard if him and Otule are on the floor at the same time.
Gardner guards the slower of their two bigs or we play a zone. Match up problems for us? Probably. Match up problems for our opponents? Also likely.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on July 28, 2011, 04:22:07 PM
I still want to know who Gardner is going to guard if him and Otule are on the floor at the same time.
I don't see that as a lagit argument when stated in such a broad way. It's easy enough to flip it around and ask what four could guard DG. Buzz has made a living off of winning the battle of mis-matches. As long as I can remember we've complained and worried about how we're going to play against bigger teams...then we have a chance to be the bigger team and there are concerns about matching up with smaller teams? I think having the option of DG or Crowder guarding the four is a good thing.
I like having the option of playing Gardner and Otule against the likes of Oriakhi/Smith/Olander...especially down the stretch when we need Otule's defense and rebounding, but the offensive threat of throwing it in to DG who can create paint touches, hit free-throws, and provide a lagit scoring threat. The only reason I would see Buzz hesitate is that the time he could play the two together would be at the most crucial time of the game because he couldn't play them together early over fear of foul trouble. If he can only play them at the end of games, in which he feels the match-ups make sense, I'm not sure it warrants the practice time needed to give confidence in playing that line-up to close out big games. He's so cautious about who he plays and when he plays them.
Well, you have two players who primarily play back to the basket. So someone is going to be out of position. I guess when I want height, I want both a post, but then also a 6'10" wing player. I am not saying it can't be done, but I see Otule and Gardner as more substitutes for one another rather than compliments to one another.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on July 28, 2011, 06:05:08 PM
Well, you have two players who primarily play back to the basket. So someone is going to be out of position. I guess when I want height, I want both a post, but then also a 6'10" wing player. I am not saying it can't be done, but I see Otule and Gardner as more substitutes for one another rather than compliments to one another.
If Gardner can't keep his man honest out to 15' I would agree that it would be more difficult to play both of them together....I'm going under the assumption that his mid-range jumper will be there.
I agree with you avid...that is why I said "I am not saying it can't be done." I think it would be awesome if he could develop that shot.