I just want to get back on the topic of hoops asap. I just typed this up real quick cause I was bored and didn't want to write my history paper or study for my physics exam. Hope I didn't forget anyone - my opinion on the potential best and worst case scenarios of our team, by player:
The returners
Junior Cadougan:
Best case: After a full year of running the offense Junior is ready to be more consistent. His decision making, handle, and outside shot all significantly improve as he continues to get in better physical condition. 12 and 7 with over a 30% 3P% isn't unreasonable to expect as there won't be 2 guys monopolizing the shots this year.
Worst case: Another season like this year. Can't get over the consistency hump and Vander / Taylor / Wilson take more time from him at the point.
Chris Otule:
Best case: Complete recovery an continued dedicated work ethic result in 1-2 more RPG and 2-4 more PPG. I don't see any more than that mainly due to Gardner pushing for at least equal playing time as he gets more fit and capable on defense. A stat line of 7/6/3blks would do wonders for this team to stabilize the defense and rebounding.
Worst Case: Not quite the same athletically as last year and conditioning becomes a problem due to his knee, the Eagles are forced to go "small" again with Davante/Jamil splitting time at the 5.
Vander Blue:
Best Case: Mr. Everything. He takes the big step offensively. He begins to finish strong and in control around the rim and hits the 3 pointer off the set shot at a rate of 33-35%. Takes on the opposing teams best offensive perimeter player every night. 15pts/5reb/4assists/2steals/1block. The ultimate glue guy.
Worst Case: Can't put it together offensively and get passed by Mayo and Taylor in minutes. Numbers drop from playing time being down.
Jamil Wilson:
Best Case: Really starts drilling that 15-18 footer we saw Jimmy Butler master. It opens up his driving game an becomes a real dynamic offensive threat. Defensively our best switchable and screen guarder. 15/8 isn't unreasonable.
Worst Case: Is there really a worst case with this guy? 10/5? I dont see anyone taking his playing time and he will inevitably get more shots with DJO and Crowder gone. I just don't see a "worst case" from Jamil.
Jamail Jones
Best Case: Finds his offensive niche now that he'll be relegated to the 3 as he should be instead of the 4/5 when jae and jamil are in foul trouble. Knocks down the 3 at a good clip and isn't afraid to put it on the floor and throw it down like we saw in high school. A dynamic offensive threat capable of serious instant offense. 6-8ppg and a handful of rebounds.
Worst Case: Bench warmer for his career. Too many good guards in front of him and not a "banger" to play the 4 position.
Davante Gardner:
Best Case: Looks like an entirely new player AGAIN next year. A noticeable vertical leap and conditioning improvement allow davante to play 25mpg at a high, efficient level. Develops a strong left hand skill set and gets more defensive boards. 14/7. I think these numbers could be higher but I dont see Chris not getting 15-20mpg if healthy.
Worst Case: Continue to have nagging injuries that keep him from getting in great condition (shoulder last year, knee this year). Stays about the same weight with the same production.
Todd Mayo:
Best Case: A weight room offseason of Todd vs. Todd. Stronger around the rim and becomes a real go to scorer for 25-30mpg. Takes the new roll as defensive stopper (maybe the best off the ball face guarder i've seen as a freshman). 16/4/3.
Worst Case: Bugged by shooting slumps too often and doesn't get his points in the flow of the offense. Throws up shots too early in the shot clock and struggles as defenses key on him more. Similar stats to this year: 8/3.
Juan Anderson:
Best Case: I hope he moves in with Todd Smith until Marquette Madness. See a similar body transformation as Jamail Jones in the off season strength-wise and really excels in the 10-15mpg "Joe Fulce" roll. A bit of a "do anything" type of player. Great passer, good defender and decent shooter while the game slows down for him.
Worst Case: Passed by Steve Taylor and behind Jamil, Davante and Otule he just doesn't get any minutes. Bench.
Derrick Wilson
Best Case: Shows the ability to run the offense and not just keep the TO's down. Spells Junior for 10mpg with an effort of 4/2. While those numbers aren't huge, they would be incredibly useful to Buzz and Junior.
Steve Taylor
Best Case: Takes Juan Anderson's 10mpg and stretches the floor with his 3pt shooting. Excels as an energy guy in the paint grabbing rebounds on both ends of the floor and shows a bit of a post game every once and a while.
Worst Case: Behind Juan, Jamil, Otule and Gardner he can't get in. His body isn't Big East ready and spends the year seeing too many DNP - Coach's Decision.
The New Guys
TJ Taylor
Best Case: Replicates his JUCO numbers of 14ppg and a low 30's 3P%. Shares minutes with Todd/Vander as the 2/3 or even spells Junior at point (less likely). His strength and experience really pay off.
Worst Case: Slow JUCO transition to the new workload / school. 5-10 mpg with not much confidence.
Jamal Ferguson
Pretty big question mark here:
Best Case: Bothers teams with his ungodly wingspan and becomes a fantastic defensive stopper. A bit like Vander his freshman year with more of an ability to finish around the rim. 10mpg spelling vander at the 3 and playing great defense.
Worst Case: Just too many good guards in front of him. Bench.
Aaron Durley
Mega unknown, hard to predict:
Best Case: His athleticism and big body translates to the Big East immediately. Playing against Chris and Davante all summer give him the confidence he needs to play 5-10mpg of solid defense and get scrappy put back points. I don't see him taking Chris' defensive roll or Davante's offensive roll this year but he shows an ability to develop into both a solid offensive and defensive player.
Worst Case: Mbao minutes and Mbao ending. His skills just don't translate to high major status and ends up on the bench.
I predict that Durley red-shirts. I predict that Junior and Blue make the biggest leaps. Assuming health, the DG/CO combo becomes a two headed monster that combines for 20 and 10, forcing other coaches to actually game plan for the MU post game. Incremental but noticeable improvements from JWilson and Mayo, primarily in leadership and consistency. Sweet 16 again, done in by the lack of a Crowder/Lazar/JFB type leader.
When was the last time we did not have at least one double digit scorer returning?
03-04 may be a decent parallel, as Diener at 11.8 and Merrit at 10.1 were returning, but Wade and Jackson had left. I couldn't find any since 2000.
Quote from: jeffreyweee on March 28, 2012, 12:52:19 AM
TJ Taylor
Best Case: Replicates his JUCO numbers of 14ppg and a low 30's 3P%. Shares minutes with Todd/Vander as the 2/3 or even spells Junior at point (less likely). His strength and experience really pay off.
Worst Case: Slow JUCO transition to the new workload / school. 5-10 mpg with not much confidence.
One thing to remember about Taylor - he spent a summer and 1st semester at Oklahoma. He had concussions and was going to sit out, which is why he went JUCO. Thus, I doubt his transition will be slow or difficult.
Great post, thanks.
Steve Taylor is a "new guy" but that's nit picking.
I don't expect any meaningful contributions from the new guys.
I think Otule, Mayo and J. Wilson are poised to take the biggest steps forward.
Didn't see Jake Thomas in there. Not expecting much from him, but I think his "best case" could be pretty good.
Mostly, I would just love to see us go through a season without any significant injuries. If we do that, we should be in the top third of the BE. But one or two key injuries could really derail this team.
Good points. The only thing I want to see is Junior learning to use his left hand more, dribbling is questionable but what he really needs work on is finishing with his left hand in scoring situations. If he does that, he can become a 10 point scorer.
Quote from: tower912 on March 28, 2012, 06:45:56 AM
I predict that Durley red-shirts. I predict that Junior and Blue make the biggest leaps. Assuming health, the DG/CO combo becomes a two headed monster that combines for 20 and 10, forcing other coaches to actually game plan for the MU post game. Incremental but noticeable improvements from JWilson and Mayo, primarily in leadership and consistency. Sweet 16 again, done in by the lack of a Crowder/Lazar/JFB type leader.
Considering this was only our 4th sweet 16 since Al left, that is a high expectation. 3 in a row would truly be sweet.
Nice thread, though as far as the OP goes...pretty sure Steve Taylor is a new guy ;)
My thoughts...
The Starters- Junior: I expect him to simply be consistent. Maybe 7-9 ppg, 5-7 apg, and a 2.5 or better A/T ratio. He'll be the often unsung hero that always gets undue blame, but I expect him to be great.
- Van: I expect some pretty studly numbers. 12 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg, and around 30% from the arc. He won't put up the gaudy points of his predecessors, but he'll be a guy you never, ever, ever want off the floor.
- Mayo: Likely scoring leader, should start and average 14-15 ppg while hitting close to 40% from 3. May declare for the NBA draft if his scoring average is 16+, though it'd be a year too early.
- Jamil: Will be close to Mayo for the scoring lead, and will really excel as a swing 3-4. Numbers will make him look like MU's MVP, and he may well be.
- Otule: No idea how he'll rebound from the surgery, but I think he'll be somewhat limited. Still, with his 7'5" wingspan, he'll be a defensive force. Look for him to start and get 15-18 mpg of shot-stuffing.
.
The Returning Bench- Gardner: Will come off the bench, but will get more minutes than Otule, probably in the 20-22 range. Will be one of 4 guys in double-digit scoring and a low-post load.
- Juan: He'll make the jump so many hoped Jones would make this year. One of the hardest workers on the floor already, he'll benefit greatly from a summer with Todd Smith and hopefully getting his skills to catch up with his insane basketball IQ. 10-15 mpg off the bench.
- DW: Will pretty much strictly be Junior's backup, which will give him 8-10 mpg. He won't need to score, but if he can keep his A/T ratio around 2, he'll be a solid contributor.
- Mellow: He put in work in the weight room, but it didn't translate to the court. The talent is there, but he doesn't seem to be able to harness it. I hope he can just find a little consistency.
- Jake: When he puts up 17 points on 5/5 shooting from 3 against Wisconsin, his admirers will go nuts. But the reality will be that he's a zone-buster who's really only suited for short stints and won't contribute in fast-paced games. He'll have his nights where he legitimately makes a difference, but just as often will be a DNP-CD. 5-8 mpg and 3-5 ppg.
.
The Newcomers- Steve: We always oversell a freshman, and I think he might be it this year. He'll get some time, but by Big East season it will diminish and he'll likely be deep bench. I love his potential, but this is just a different level, and Jamil, Juan, and Mellow all have a big leg up on him.
- TJ: I expect him to be our biggest impact newcomer. I think he'll be the first guard off the bench, and his ability to play 1-3 in Buzz's offense will allow him to get 20 mpg if his defense is sound. With his shooting and athleticism, I think he could have a statline similar to Wes Matthews as a freshman.
- Ferguson: Early on, he'll surprise some people. He's an athlete and has the kind of defensive potential Buzz likes. I think he's a lot like a less polished Jeremy Lamb.
- Durley: If he doesn't redshirt, he'll see limited minutes in November and December, and will only play in the Big East if someone's hurt. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he ended up better than Otule or Gardner (**braces for backlash**) but I think he needs 1-2 years before we start to see that.
I may be overly optimistic here, but I think Jake Thomas steals the show next year. Had INCREDIBLE range and massive games before he walked-on last year. Tall, perimeter player. Reminds me of Steve Novak. Watch for him to explode in BE play.
Quote from: Bardo32486 on March 28, 2012, 09:08:10 AM
I may be overly optimistic here, but I think Jake Thomas steals the show next year. Had INCREDIBLE range and massive games before he walked-on last year. Tall, perimeter player. Reminds me of Steve Novak. Watch for him to explode in BE play.
I know you stated that you maybe overly optimistic, but can I have whatever you are drinking? Thomas is listed at 6'3". Novak was 6'10" I believe. That's a big difference. Thomas won't be able to shoot over anybody the way that Novak did.
Thomas has the ability to knock down a triple or two a game, but to expect something more might be a little too optimistic.
I've seen Thomas listed as 6'3" and 6'4". Either way, that's not the small perimeter players Marquette has had in years past. And during his freshmen and sophmore years he made over 175 3-pointers and had multiple 30 pt games and one 40 pt game where he made 10 3's. Thats big time. I can see him.as a role player/3point Sharp-shooter like DJO was his sophomore season. Call me crazy all u want, but I think its possible
I'm still hoping for Juan to have a massive breakout year at the 3 position behind Blue.
Quote from: Bardo32486 on March 28, 2012, 09:32:31 AM
I've seen Thomas listed as 6'3" and 6'4". Either way, that's not the small perimeter players Marquette has had in years past. And during his freshmen and sophmore years he made over 175 3-pointers and had multiple 30 pt games and one 40 pt game where he made 10 3's. Thats big time. I can see him.as a role player/3point Sharp-shooter like DJO was his sophomore season. Call me crazy all u want, but I think its possible
DJO as a sophomore was a starter that averaged 29.7 mpg and 13 ppg. I like Jake and think he'll give more than the average walk-on, but with the quantity of talent we have, even getting 10 mpg would be a monumental accomplishment. He's a very good player, but the South Dakota team he played for was a completely different level of basketball. In his 2 years there, they only had 2 wins over top-200 kenpom teams, and none against teams in the top-175. To succeed at this level is a massive step up. I do feel he can contribute against slower paced teams (UW, ND) and act as a zone-buster, but to think that he will do anything remotely like what DJO did as a sophomore is...well, titanic expectations to say the least.
It'd be nice if Jake Thomas, Blue or TJ Taylor could run some of the point this year. Having a scoring option/threat would be so nice at the PG.
Quote from: brewcity77 on March 28, 2012, 09:04:58 AM
Nice thread, though as far as the OP goes...pretty sure Steve Taylor is a new guy ;)
My thoughts...
The Starters
- Junior: I expect him to simply be consistent. Maybe 7-9 ppg, 5-7 apg, and a 2.5 or better A/T ratio. He'll be the often unsung hero that always gets undue blame, but I expect him to be great.
- Van: I expect some pretty studly numbers. 12 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg, and around 30% from the arc. He won't put up the gaudy points of his predecessors, but he'll be a guy you never, ever, ever want off the floor.
- Mayo: Likely scoring leader, should start and average 14-15 ppg while hitting close to 40% from 3. May declare for the NBA draft if his scoring average is 16+, though it'd be a year too early.
- Jamil: Will be close to Mayo for the scoring lead, and will really excel as a swing 3-4. Numbers will make him look like MU's MVP, and he may well be.
- Otule: No idea how he'll rebound from the surgery, but I think he'll be somewhat limited. Still, with his 7'5" wingspan, he'll be a defensive force. Look for him to start and get 15-18 mpg of shot-stuffing.
.
The Returning Bench
- Gardner: Will come off the bench, but will get more minutes than Otule, probably in the 20-22 range. Will be one of 4 guys in double-digit scoring and a low-post load.
- Juan: He'll make the jump so many hoped Jones would make this year. One of the hardest workers on the floor already, he'll benefit greatly from a summer with Todd Smith and hopefully getting his skills to catch up with his insane basketball IQ. 10-15 mpg off the bench.
- DW: Will pretty much strictly be Junior's backup, which will give him 8-10 mpg. He won't need to score, but if he can keep his A/T ratio around 2, he'll be a solid contributor.
- Mellow: He put in work in the weight room, but it didn't translate to the court. The talent is there, but he doesn't seem to be able to harness it. I hope he can just find a little consistency.
- Jake: When he puts up 17 points on 5/5 shooting from 3 against Wisconsin, his admirers will go nuts. But the reality will be that he's a zone-buster who's really only suited for short stints and won't contribute in fast-paced games. He'll have his nights where he legitimately makes a difference, but just as often will be a DNP-CD. 5-8 mpg and 3-5 ppg.
.
The Newcomers
- Steve: We always oversell a freshman, and I think he might be it this year. He'll get some time, but by Big East season it will diminish and he'll likely be deep bench. I love his potential, but this is just a different level, and Jamil, Juan, and Mellow all have a big leg up on him.
- TJ: I expect him to be our biggest impact newcomer. I think he'll be the first guard off the bench, and his ability to play 1-3 in Buzz's offense will allow him to get 20 mpg if his defense is sound. With his shooting and athleticism, I think he could have a statline similar to Wes Matthews as a freshman.
- Ferguson: Early on, he'll surprise some people. He's an athlete and has the kind of defensive potential Buzz likes. I think he's a lot like a less polished Jeremy Lamb.
- Durley: If he doesn't redshirt, he'll see limited minutes in November and December, and will only play in the Big East if someone's hurt. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he ended up better than Otule or Gardner (**braces for backlash**) but I think he needs 1-2 years before we start to see that.
Solid analysis. Agree with starting lineups and pretty much everything you say. However, I only saw Steve play once and none of the other new comers. I remember watching DJ(O) at the Old Spice in 2009 and saying he was going to make a huge impact at Marquette. From what I am hearing I may say the same about TJ.
JC seemed to be more confident shooting/scoring towards the end of the year. Sometimes it was a good thing, sometimes it wasn't.
I am interested to see what Blue can do when you don't have a "star" player making him more of a role player. If his scoring goes up, and he rebounds like he did this year, it could be a very special year for him.
Quote from: brewcity77 on March 28, 2012, 09:38:59 AM
DJO as a sophomore was a starter that averaged 29.7 mpg and 13 ppg. I like Jake and think he'll give more than the average walk-on, but with the quantity of talent we have, even getting 10 mpg would be a monumental accomplishment. He's a very good player, but the South Dakota team he played for was a completely different level of basketball. In his 2 years there, they only had 2 wins over top-200 kenpom teams, and none against teams in the top-175. To succeed at this level is a massive step up. I do feel he can contribute against slower paced teams (UW, ND) and act as a zone-buster, but to think that he will do anything remotely like what DJO did as a sophomore is...well, titanic expectations to say the least.
Exactly. If he was *that* good, why was he only offered by the likes of South Dakota out of school? If he was *that* good, why is he a walk-on next year? Let's be realistic here.
Quote from: buzzchiapet on March 28, 2012, 10:16:35 AMSolid analysis. Agree with starting lineups and pretty much everything you say. However, I only saw Steve play once and none of the other new comers. I remember watching DJ(O) at the Old Spice in 2009 and saying he was going to make a huge impact at Marquette. From what I am hearing I may say the same about TJ.
I think one big difference for TJ is simply the available minutes. When DJO came here, we went small by necessity, Acker and Cooby were the obviously default starters, but even they hadn't put up big numbers before. The other minutes were either going to go to him or Buycks...someone had to step in because Caddy was injured, Fulce was coming off injury, and Williams simply wasn't ready. I felt the same exact way after the Old Spice, but for TJ, there are three established guards ahead of him, and other guys who can take some minutes as well.
Quote from: brewcity77 on March 28, 2012, 10:47:58 AM
I think one big difference for TJ is simply the available minutes. When DJO came here, we went small by necessity, Acker and Cooby were the obviously default starters, but even they hadn't put up big numbers before. The other minutes were either going to go to him or Buycks...someone had to step in because Caddy was injured, Fulce was coming off injury, and Williams simply wasn't ready. I felt the same exact way after the Old Spice, but for TJ, there are three established guards ahead of him, and other guys who can take some minutes as well.
Three established guards if you count Blue, but Blue is more of a wing player. My guess is TJ is the primary back up to Mayo and will get even more minutes if he can handle the ball reasonably well.
Quote from: bilsu on March 28, 2012, 08:21:51 AM
When was the last time we did not have at least one double digit scorer returning?
Buzz's second season... Not sure if Harward as a double digit scorer yet.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on March 28, 2012, 10:47:13 AM
Exactly. If he was *that* good, why was he only offered by the likes of South Dakota out of school? If he was *that* good, why is he a walk-on next year? Let's be realistic here.
Perhaps I'm being unfair (and I may even be accused of being 'anti-traditional'), but I can't help but wonder/worry if the Jake Thomas scenario is the Scott Christopherson scenario in reverse. SC had a solid enough high school career to get a scholarship at a major program as a freshman. But, maybe it was a program that wasn't well suited for his speed and athleticism (or lack therof), so he transferred to a lower level program (although folks could debate that, to some degree). And, he ended up having a solid collegiate career.
Thomas, on the other hand, didn't have the same attention in high school and started college in an undeniably low program. He was able to exploit his awesome shooting skill to have some great numbers. Still, what did that earn him? An opportunity to walk-on at a BEast program. He may well be overwhelmed in the same way SC was.
I want to hope that he'll have an impact, although I think a small impact is about all I can realistically hope for. I do hope that he'll be a great teammate and a valuable player in practices. Mostly, I hope he gets loads of playing time, 'cuz that is likely to mean we're having a lot of one-sided wins.
I am not sure if I am thinking of the right person. I think Thomas was hurt his senior year and fell off the radar.
I think the dark horse is Steve Taylor.
I agree starters will be Jr, Blue, Mayo, Jamil, and CO.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on March 28, 2012, 10:52:21 AMThree established guards if you count Blue, but Blue is more of a wing player. My guess is TJ is the primary back up to Mayo and will get even more minutes if he can handle the ball reasonably well.
True, I'm just thinking that the role of TJ v DJO will be different. Being a backup at 2-3 positions versus instant starter and top-3 scoring option isn't nearly the same thing.
Quote from: ErickJD08 on March 28, 2012, 11:05:19 AM
Buzz's second season... Not sure if Harward as a double digit scorer yet.
Lazar averaged 16 his Junior year.
This will be a tough year, Junior and Chris will be the leaders and they are the least vocal players out there.
I have a feeling we might see DG start over CO just for scoring purposes. A lot of our starts this year were abysmal with 2 all-americans starting. A lineup of JC, TM, VB, JW, CO wouldn't be pretty offensively unless those 3 switchables make huge leaps forward. I'm thinking we get in with a 9-11 seed, grinding to a 10-8 Big East record. This could be a year like Jay Wright/Jamie Dixon had last year though. Some talent on the roster, but you can't guarantee any one person is going to average more than 14 points.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on March 28, 2012, 10:47:13 AM
Exactly. If he was *that* good, why was he only offered by the likes of South Dakota out of school? If he was *that* good, why is he a walk-on next year? Let's be realistic here.
It's not unreasonable to think that the kid may have been under-recruited for various reasons.
It happens. In fact, MU has had handfuls of those guys the last few years.
As far as the walk-on stuff... you're right... so who the hell knows.
*Edit Grammar.
/Thanks Ammo
Quote from: robmufan on March 28, 2012, 10:42:44 AM
I am interested to see what Blue can do when you don't have a "star" player making him more of a role player. If his scoring goes up, and he rebounds like he did this year, it could be a very special year for him.
I've said this a few times in the past, but I still believe it so I'll say it again. Blue reminds me of Terrence Williams from Louisville. Not a huge scorer or great shooter but he's very athletic and can get points and contribute in a lot of different ways.
I could very well see Blue's junior year line being similar to Williams':
11.1 ppg, 7.2 reb, 4.5 ast, 0.8 blk, 1.3 stls, 1.9 TO, .431/.340/.571
Granted, VB's assists will likely be lower and FT% significantly higher, but you get the idea.
Oh, and as far as next year's team:
I love everything about this roster except for 2 things:
#1 Shooting is a HUGE concern
#2 No clear alpha player. Might be Mayo, or Blue, or even DeDe. They will just have to grow into it, which could cause an early season OOC loss that we hate.
If they address these, I think this could be a top 15 team. If these go awry, I think they are a borderline tourney team due to inconsistency.
Quote from: 2002MUalum on March 28, 2012, 11:50:19 AM
Oh, and as far as next year's team:
I love everything about this roster except for 2 things:
#1 Shooting is a HUGE concern
#2 No clear alpha player. Might be Mayo, or Blue, or even DeDe. They will just have to grow into it, which could cause an early season OOC loss that we hate.
If they address these, I think this could be a top 15 team. If these go awry, I think they are a borderline tourney team due to inconsistency.
I'm a glass half-full guy so I only bolded consistency but I really think that's going to be the key for MU next season. DJO was just about as consistent as they come and Crowder contributed in just about every way possible in nearly every game this season. That's tough to replace.
Jamil, Junior, Blue, Mayo and Gardner are expected to lead this team next year and I wouldn't consider any of them to be particularly consistent at this point. Doesn't mean it can't or won't happen though. In fact, I expect Jamil (who I think will emerge as a leader) and Blue to be the most consistent and I really, really hope that Junior can keep his yips to a minimum because as Junior goes, so goes MU's offense.
Quote from: MerrittsMustache on March 28, 2012, 11:59:28 AM
I'm a glass half-full guy so I only bolded consistency but I really think that's going to be the key for MU next season. DJO was just about as consistent as they come and Crowder contributed in just about every way possible in nearly every game this season. That's tough to replace.
Jamil, Junior, Blue, Mayo and Gardner are expected to lead this team next year and I wouldn't consider any of them to be particularly consistent at this point. Doesn't mean it can't or won't happen though. In fact, I expect Jamil (who I think will emerge as a leader) and Blue to be the most consistent and I really, really hope that Junior can keep his yips to a minimum because as Junior goes, so goes MU's offense.
Time for them to grow up, Cadougan as you saw has some serious weaknesses, for one being inconsistent, needs to finish with his left hand in scoring, overall weak left. Blue is weak all over the place, finishing at the hoop and outside shooting. The one thing this team will be able to do is put pressure on the other teams D. DJO was never a great defender, but when they
play Mayo, Blue, Wilson, Anderson, and Otule. they will be able to defend.
Quote from: MerrittsMustache on March 28, 2012, 11:59:28 AM
I'm a glass half-full guy so I only bolded consistency but I really think that's going to be the key for MU next season. DJO was just about as consistent as they come and Crowder contributed in just about every way possible in nearly every game this season. That's tough to replace.
Jamil, Junior, Blue, Mayo and Gardner are expected to lead this team next year and I wouldn't consider any of them to be particularly consistent at this point. Doesn't mean it can't or won't happen though. In fact, I expect Jamil (who I think will emerge as a leader) and Blue to be the most consistent and I really, really hope that Junior can keep his yips to a minimum because as Junior goes, so goes MU's offense.
You're right, and I distill that consistency issue down into shooting. If they can shoot it, the 1/2 court offense gets much better and life becomes a lot easier.
I think they can defend, rebound, score in transition, score in the post, defend the post, and create turnovers.
But, in a close game, when a team slows it down, can they score in 1/2 court sets?
Shooting is it for me. I don't have a magic number in mind, so off the top of my head I'll say if they shoot 35%+ from 3pt. they could be a top 10 team. (for the record, this year's team shot 33%).
I'm sure the stat guys can boil it down more into eFG%, and my guess is that will be in our season previews in the fall.
I haven't read the whole thread yet, but what about some sets next year with both Chris and Davante on the floor at the same time? Could we see it? I think it could be a difficult look for many opponents to handle.
The bottom line is we WILL be a deep, well-rounded team next year. It will be like this years Syracuse team just not as talented. The consistency of a line up like this should have us in the top 5 in the Big East.
Quote from: TJ on March 28, 2012, 12:28:12 PM
I haven't read the whole thread yet, but what about some sets next year with both Chris and Davante on the floor at the same time? Could we see it? I think it could be a difficult look for many opponents to handle.
Why? Otule is not necessarily as difficult of a match up as Davante. I think we really need 3 players to improve out of these guys (or someone to come in and contribute right away which I never anticipate):
Blue
Wilson
Anderson
Jones
Mayo
As long as that happens, we will have another solid season.
Quote from: TJ on March 28, 2012, 12:28:12 PM
I haven't read the whole thread yet, but what about some sets next year with both Chris and Davante on the floor at the same time? Could we see it? I think it could be a difficult look for many opponents to handle.
At this point, if either one of those guys is more than 6-8 feet from the basket, he's useless offensively and his man will sag into the paint. Playing two players who can only score in the post wouldn't work because there would be too many bodies in the lane.
Quote from: TJ on March 28, 2012, 12:28:12 PM
I haven't read the whole thread yet, but what about some sets next year with both Chris and Davante on the floor at the same time? Could we see it? I think it could be a difficult look for many opponents to handle.
I would rather see a front court with Devante (or Chris), Jamil, and Steve Taylor. Thats 3 6'8-6'9 guys with 2 of them being able to stretch the floor. No need to play both true centers at the same time
I really think Cadougan will emerge as our alpha dog next year. He has developed a very aggressive, in-your-face personality with the team that will translate directly to a leadership role on the court. You could already see it this year when our team ran 100% better on offense when Cadougan was on the court directing guys.
Quote from: MerrittsMustache on March 28, 2012, 12:49:19 PM
At this point, if either one of those guys is more than 6-8 feet from the basket, he's useless offensively and his man will sag into the paint. Playing two players who can only score in the post wouldn't work because there would be too many bodies in the lane.
This is why even though people get excited on the Gardner at the 4 and Otule at the 5 for stretches it doesn't work. Buzz has a "4 out, 1 in" offense, not a "3 out, 2 in".
Quote from: ErickJD08 on March 28, 2012, 11:05:19 AM
Buzz's second season... Not sure if Harward as a double digit scorer yet.
Yes, Lazar was a doubt digit scorer coming back. This will be the first year Buzz doesn't have such a scorer. And I know people say "well someone always steps up," and I would like to believe that. It just isn't as obvious this year.
Quote from: 2002MUalum on March 28, 2012, 12:16:42 PM
You're right, and I distill that consistency issue down into shooting. If they can shoot it, the 1/2 court offense gets much better and life becomes a lot easier.
I think they can defend, rebound, score in transition, score in the post, defend the post, and create turnovers.
But, in a close game, when a team slows it down, can they score in 1/2 court sets?
Shooting is it for me. I don't have a magic number in mind, so off the top of my head I'll say if they shoot 35%+ from 3pt. they could be a top 10 team. (for the record, this year's team shot 33%).
I'm sure the stat guys can boil it down more into eFG%, and my guess is that will be in our season previews in the fall.
I'm with you on the diagnosis but not on the treatment. I think the half court is indeed where we can be beat, but I think the solution is patient and disciplined offense. When our guys swing the ball, drive and kick, make the extra pass, and find the open man, our offense is highly potent. We saw this Lazar's senior year, when marginal big east players like Ackers and Cubillan looked great sometimes and our offense was highly efficient despite a lower talent level. That team gave me many near-heart attacks, but they were fun to watch in the half court because it was like a choreographed dance the way they moved the ball well. Doing that gets you open looks and makes average shooters look good.
This year I think DJO and some others would sometimes try to "hit home runs" by shooting shots that were maybe open enough but not in the flow of the offense. I think this is a place where 4-year-senior leadership and players recruited out of high school may have a legitimate advantage over jucos. Junior is our only senior next year, but I think Vander will be better at it (already good at the drive, not so hot on the kick), Mayo will get a chance to try, Gardner will hopefully improve passing out of the double, and Otule has been around for nearly 10 years by now.
Quote from: ErickJD08 on March 28, 2012, 11:05:19 AM
Buzz's second season... Not sure if Harward as a double digit scorer yet.
Returning scoring under Buzz (what they finished with the next season)
09-10Hayward 16.3 (18.1)
Butler 5.6 (14.7)
Acker 2.8 (8.7)
Cubillan 1.6 (6.8)
Fulce 1.4 (3.5)
Otule 1.3 (3.7)
10-11Butler 14.7 (15.7)
DJO 13.0 (15.8)
Buycks 6.3 (8.8)
Otule 3.7 (5.1)
Fulce 3.5 (3.2)
Williams 1.2 (2.2)
Cadougan 0.3 (4.0)
11-12DJO 15.8 (18.3)
Crowder 11.8 (17.5)
Otule 5.1 (5.0)
Blue 5.1 (8.4)
Gardner 4.6 (9.5)
Cadougan 4.0 (6.3)
Jones 1.5 (1.6)
12-13Gardner 9.5 (??)
Blue 8.4
Mayo 7.9
Wilson 7.1
Cadougan 6.3
Otule 5.0
Jones 1.6
Anderson 0.7
Wilson 0.6
Interesting. We have a lot more returners averaging more than 6 ppg returning next year than we have in a while. 5 guys that could really step it up with Otule hanging right on the outside there. Exciting!
Quote from: Skatastrophy on March 28, 2012, 02:20:36 PM
Interesting. We have a lot more returners averaging more than 6 ppg returning next year than we have in a while. 5 guys that could really step it up with Otule hanging right on the outside there. Exciting!
My thoughts exactly. We may not have a proven double digit scorer returning for the first time, but we have a lot more solid scorers returning than ever before.
Quote from: MerrittsMustache on March 28, 2012, 11:48:46 AM
I've said this a few times in the past, but I still believe it so I'll say it again. Blue reminds me of Terrence Williams from Louisville. Not a huge scorer or great shooter but he's very athletic and can get points and contribute in a lot of different ways.
I could very well see Blue's junior year line being similar to Williams':
11.1 ppg, 7.2 reb, 4.5 ast, 0.8 blk, 1.3 stls, 1.9 TO, .431/.340/.571
Granted, VB's assists will likely be lower and FT% significantly higher, but you get the idea.
There is some similarities between the two no doubt, however, Williams was much stronger and bigger muscle wise than Vander. And as athletic as Blue is, Williams was even more athletic. I'm telling you....T-Will had the kind of athletic ability to win the NBA slam dunk contest when it was actually good.
Quote from: Doris Burkes Thong on March 28, 2012, 02:26:36 PM
There is some similarities between the two no doubt, however, Williams was much stronger and bigger muscle wise than Vander. And as athletic as Blue is, Williams was even more athletic. I'm telling you....T-Will had the kind of athletic ability to win the NBA slam dunk contest when it was actually good.
I see the similarities as well, but agree with you. Terrence is far more built than Van, and what I noticed this year with Van is he sometimes runs pretty awkwardly out there and always has that second arm out blocking the ball like a running back. He looks pretty awkward out there at times. Williams looked a bit more smooth and athleticism wise Terrence was in a different league than Van. Only athlete we have that is close to Terrence is IMO Jamail, or Jamil.
lineup will be
1) Cadougan
2) Mayo
3) Blue
4) JWilson
5) Otule
Gardner and TJ Taylor first off the bench
someone said next year's team will be similar to this year's Cuse, but I prefer not to compare us to ACC teams, so I will draw a different comparison
I think next year's team will be a lot more similar to Louisville's team this year...
Siva comparable to JC
Kuric comparable with Mayo
Dieng comparable with Otule
Behanan comparable with DG
Swopshire comparable with Blue
rest of the team full of streaky shooters and long defensive-minded wings
(IN)Consistency was a word that was used, and I think it would be hard to argue that many players for LVille were consistent other than Dieng, but take a look at the sum of all parts and you will find a team that is fast, long, and hard-working on D, and an offense too deep to key on one guy, but no true go-to #1 scorers like DJO/Jae
I can see a rocky BEast slate, with the team's best ball clicking at the end of the year for another Sweet 16 run
Quote from: kinsella4three??? on March 28, 2012, 04:24:13 PM
someone said next year's team will be similar to this year's Cuse, but I prefer not to compare us to ACC teams, so I will draw a different comparison
I think next year's team will be a lot more similar to Louisville's team this year...
Siva comparable to JC
Kuric comparable with Mayo
Dieng comparable with Otule
Behanan comparable with DG
Swopshire comparable with Blue
rest of the team full of streaky shooters and long defensive-minded wings
(IN)Consistency was a word that was used, and I think it would be hard to argue that many players for LVille were consistent other than Dieng, but take a look at the sum of all parts and you will find a team that is fast, long, and hard-working on D, and an offense too deep to key on one guy, but no true go-to #1 scorers like DJO/Jae
I can see a rocky BEast slate, with the team's best ball clicking at the end of the year for another Sweet 16 run
I guess I am more down on our prospects next year than most, but I don't think we compare at all to Louisville, as they are far more athletic than MU is now that DJO and Crowder are gone. Dieng is much, much better than Otule. Siva is better than Cadougan. Kuric has a much better 3 point shot than Mayo. Behanan is much more athletic than Gardner. I can't remember much about Swopshire's game to compare him to Blue. Their offensive firepower, even if inconsistent, is better than what Marquette has coming back next year.
[quote
12-13
Gardner 9.5 (??)
Blue 8.4
Mayo 7.9
Wilson 7.1
Cadougan 6.3
Otule 5.0
Jones 1.6
Anderson 0.7
Wilson 0.6
[/quote]
Looks like 47 ppg returning if my math is correct. The last several years the complainers focused on not a deep enough bench and now that it is deeper no focus player returning.
Can't please everyone i guess.
Quote from: Norm on March 28, 2012, 04:38:03 PM
I guess I am more down on our prospects next year than most, but I don't think we compare at all to Louisville, as they are far more athletic than MU is now that DJO and Crowder are gone. Dieng is much, much better than Otule. Siva is better than Cadougan. Kuric has a much better 3 point shot than Mayo. Behanan is much more athletic than Gardner. I can't remember much about Swopshire's game to compare him to Blue. Their offensive firepower, even if inconsistent, is better than what Marquette has coming back next year.
Norm, I agree with you that Louisville will be better than MU next year, but Kuric and Swopshire won't be part of that UL team. Kuric is currently a senior and Louisville has already announced that Swopshire will not be back next season. The guy to look out for is Wayne Blackshear.
Quote from: Norm on March 28, 2012, 04:38:03 PM
I guess I am more down on our prospects next year than most, but I don't think we compare at all to Louisville, as they are far more athletic than MU is now that DJO and Crowder are gone. Dieng is much, much better than Otule. Siva is better than Cadougan. Kuric has a much better 3 point shot than Mayo. Behanan is much more athletic than Gardner. I can't remember much about Swopshire's game to compare him to Blue. Their offensive firepower, even if inconsistent, is better than what Marquette has coming back next year.
While I do think Dieng is a good player I don't think he is much better than Otule. He blocks a lot of shots but if the ball is in his hands for more than 1.5 seconds its an automatic traveling call. His coordination is on par with Otule's hand-eye coordination.
Quote from: RJax55 on March 28, 2012, 04:49:28 PM
Norm, I agree with you that Louisville will be better than MU next year, but Kuric and Swopshire won't be part of that UL team. Kuric is currently a senior and Louisville has already announced that Swopshire will not be back next season. The guy to look out for is Wayne Blackshear.
I know Kuric and Swopshire wont be back, I was just using the comparison of players the original poster did.
Quote from: jfmu on March 28, 2012, 04:59:19 PM
While I do think Dieng is a good player I don't think he is much better than Otule. He blocks a lot of shots but if the ball is in his hands for more than 1.5 seconds its an automatic traveling call. His coordination is on par with Otule's hand-eye coordination.
Yes, but those blocks come in pretty handy - he had 124 blocks this year. He also averaged 9.7 points a game.
For comparison, last year, Otule had 55 blocks and averaged 5.1 points a game.
Otule or Dieng? I'll take Dieng. He's simply better than Otule im sorry. Go ahead and blast me away.
Quote from: Skatastrophy on March 28, 2012, 01:22:25 PM
I really think Cadougan will emerge as our alpha dog next year. He has developed a very aggressive, in-your-face personality with the team that will translate directly to a leadership role on the court. You could already see it this year when our team ran 100% better on offense when Cadougan was on the court directing guys.
I agree with Sally. Cadougan will be our leader, followed by Jamil and hopefully Vander.
Quote from: Dreadman24 on March 28, 2012, 05:22:44 PM
Otule or Dieng? I'll take Dieng. He's simply better than Otule im sorry. Go ahead and blast me away.
I will take Dieng as well. Otule has some physical issues he can never overcome, then the knee this year. Defensively, Dieng and Otule are equal but offensively there is no comparison. He
has a jump shot that Buzz does not let either centers shoot. If he can add that to his game, he might be equal with Dieng. He was working on his left hand, which was new to his offensive
arsenal this year, so now he has to take the next step. Dieng and Otule with Cooley will be the best centers in the Big East next year.
Quote from: BCHoopster on March 28, 2012, 06:17:12 PM
Defensively, Dieng and Otule are equal but offensively there is no comparison.
Dieng is twice as good as Otule defensively too. He was robbed of BE DPOY.
DWil's worse case: Not becoming an potent offensive threat to keep the defense honest. Having a worse A/TO ratio than this season.
Quote from: Norm on March 28, 2012, 02:16:25 PM
Returning scoring under Buzz (what they finished with the next season)
09-10
Hayward 16.3 (18.1)
Butler 5.6 (14.7)
Acker 2.8 (8.7)
Cubillan 1.6 (6.8)
Fulce 1.4 (3.5)
Otule 1.3 (3.7)
10-11
Butler 14.7 (15.7)
DJO 13.0 (15.8)
Buycks 6.3 (8.8)
Otule 3.7 (5.1)
Fulce 3.5 (3.2)
Williams 1.2 (2.2)
Cadougan 0.3 (4.0)
11-12
DJO 15.8 (18.3)
Crowder 11.8 (17.5)
Otule 5.1 (5.0)
Blue 5.1 (8.4)
Gardner 4.6 (9.5)
Cadougan 4.0 (6.3)
Jones 1.5 (1.6)
12-13
Gardner 9.5 (??)
Blue 8.4
Mayo 7.9
Wilson 7.1
Cadougan 6.3
Otule 5.0
Jones 1.6
Anderson 0.7
Wilson 0.6
On a positive note, we should be bringing back 5 out of our 6 top scoters the year after next. Sweet sixteen next year and elite 8 after that. The let diamond stone and burton bring us to the final 4
If an alpha scorer steps up, next year's team can be as good as this years'.
I think I rather have balanced scoring. The team ended up to dependent on DJO and Crowder. We might be better off with five 10 to 11 point scorers.
Quote from: tower912 on March 28, 2012, 07:41:48 PM
If an alpha scorer steps up, next year's team can be as good as this years'.
Looking at this year's Elite 8...
Kentucky: 6 players averaging between 10-14.3 ppg
Louisville: 6 players averaging between 9.1-12.7 ppg
Ohio State: 3 players averaging between 14.4-17.6 ppg
Kansas: 2 players averaging between 16.7-17.7 ppg
Florida: 5 players averaging between 10.2-15.9 ppg
North Carolina: 3 players averaging between 13.7-17.1 ppg
Syracuse: 5 players averaging between 8.5-13.4 ppg
Baylor: 5 players averaging between 10.2-13.8 ppg
5 of those teams don't have an "alpha scorer." The other 3 have "alpha scorers" who are likely going to be among the top 6-8 players selected in the NBA Draft. Since MU doesn't appear to have that type of player, having a balanced scoring team looks to be an advantage.
I think Jake Thomas will avg. 10 a game next year.Zone buster big time player!!!
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on March 28, 2012, 10:47:13 AM
Exactly. If he was *that* good, why was he only offered by the likes of South Dakota out of school? If he was *that* good, why is he a walk-on next year? Let's be realistic here.
You may be spot on....however, the unknown is how far he will have progressed this past year practicing against a first rate D1 squad, going up against to future pros.
This is, by no way, a guarantee of how he wil do next year, but Buzz has a way with guys like him.....see Jimmy, et al.
Quote from: mubb34 on March 28, 2012, 10:39:13 PM
I think Jake Thomas will avg. 10 a game next year.Zone buster big time player!!!
Ten what? Points?
The problem with this board and unknown players is that we constantly over-value what their performance is going to to be. Jake Thomas' ceiling in my opinion is Jamail Jones against Cincinnati. Comes in...hits a couple big threes...gets everyone excited...then sits back down again.
And in the end, he will be lucky to have Jamail's stat-line from this year. 8 mpg, 1.7 ppg.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on March 29, 2012, 07:41:36 AM
The problem with this board and unknown players is that we constantly over-value what their performance is going to to be. Jake Thomas' ceiling in my opinion is Jamail Jones against Cincinnati. Comes in...hits a couple big threes...gets everyone excited...then sits back down again.
And in the end, he will be lucky to have Jamail's stat-line from this year. 8 mpg, 1.7 ppg.
You can say what you want about the calibur of the competition in the pro am. However, I attended most of the games and Jake is a much better three point shooter than Jones. Of course being better than Jones does not guarantee you playing time.
Quote from: bilsu on March 29, 2012, 08:18:27 AM
You can say what you want about the calibur of the competition in the pro am. However, I attended most of the games and Jake is a much better three point shooter than Jones. Of course being better than Jones does not guarantee you playing time.
Exactly. His playing time will likely be limited but the one area where his stats may exceed expectation is the 'scoring' line. I can imagine special situations where he gets 30 seconds of playing time solely for the purpose of being the spot up 3 guy, such as the last possession of the first half. What I'll bet coach is interested in whether he can play any D at this level. Not being critical if he simply can't. He'll get a few minutes if he can.
I'm sort of with Norm - a little pessimistic.
I see Van, Jamil and Todd making incremental improvements, as befits their likely boost in mpg.
I'm trying not to be down on Jr., and I agree that the offense this year depended on him quite a bit. He not only doesn't finish with the left, he never even goes in that direction.
If Chris is back, he and DG both healthy will make a difference.
I'm thinking TJ will have the biggest impact of the new faces and will earn increasing minutes. We should see some improvement from Juan, and hopefully get something from Steve Taylor. Jake will likely be the zone-busting Rosenberger all over again.
Jamail is the dark horse - I think it's his year to either make a quantam leap, or else we will likely look at his MU time as what might have been.
We should be able to defend, offense will be problematic. I wouldn't be surprised to see Buzz revert to the approach of a couple of years ago where every possession was an event and the clock was milked. Middle of the pack, but hopefully dancing.
Scoring off the fastbreak will be really critical next year. Defensively they will be fine next year, better than this year. Transition baskets will have to have Vander finish as from end to end
he moves down the court.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on March 29, 2012, 07:41:36 AM
The problem with this board and unknown players is that we constantly over-value what their performance is going to to be.
Not just this board - it's true for fans eveywhere. "New" guys have no flaws, only highlights on YouTube. Familiarity exposes weaknesses and, as the old saying goes, breeds contempt.
Quote from: bilsu on March 28, 2012, 07:51:55 PM
I think I rather have balanced scoring. The team ended up to dependent on DJO and Crowder. We might be better off with five 10 to 11 point scorers.
I agree to a point. I would like 4-5 guys averaging double figures, but to have that one guy who wants the ball and can create his own shot in end of shot-clock/end of game situations. If, for example, the scoring breakdown went JWilson 14, DG 12, Mayo 11, Blue 10, Cadougan 10, but Mayo (for example) emerged as the go to guy for big shots, I would be ecstatic.
Quote from: The Sultan of South Wayne on March 29, 2012, 05:18:55 AM
Ten what? Points?
Triple-doubles. Per game. Greatest Warrior since Mbakwe.
Just as a point of comparison, Dave Singleton played this past season at D3 Albright College in PA....and pretty much put up mediocre numbers like he did in D1.
http://albrightathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1500
Dave Singleton's numbers don't even approach Jake Thomas's, especially in terms of efficiency. Not that this means anything, but Jake is head and shoulders ahead of Dave in terms of team impact as a walk-on. Again, as a situational.
http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/compare?add=david-singleton&i=1&p1=jake-thomas
As an aside, see a video of Dave this past season vs. D1 Cornell. Visually compare him to the jake Thomas video of his monster trey game.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1hQsBYhXVE
Quote from: martyconlonontherun on March 28, 2012, 07:33:52 PM
On a positive note, we should be bringing back 5 out of our 6 top scoters the year after next. Sweet sixteen next year and elite 8 after that. The let diamond stone and burton bring us to the final 4
dont forget Looney
Can someone tell me how Van becomes a better "finisher"...Love the fact he can slice and dice into the lane and get around the rim at will, but he just doesn't seem to have the "it" to finish and get the ball down...I hope I am wrong and the game slows down for him, but I see a lot of me throwing things at my tv as Van clangs another bunny.
Quote from: mu_eyeballs on March 31, 2012, 09:30:29 PM
Can someone tell me how Van becomes a better "finisher"...Love the fact he can slice and dice into the lane and get around the rim at will, but he just doesn't seem to have the "it" to finish and get the ball down...I hope I am wrong and the game slows down for him, but I see a lot of me throwing things at my tv as Van clangs another bunny.
I'm sure it will still happen but another summer of practice certainly won't hurt at all. Vander does more than enough in all other areas for me to somewhat forgive his lapses on offense. Granted, he shouldn't be missing those easy lay-ups but all players will have their shortcomings.
Quote from: mu_eyeballs on March 31, 2012, 09:30:29 PM
Can someone tell me how Van becomes a better "finisher"...Love the fact he can slice and dice into the lane and get around the rim at will, but he just doesn't seem to have the "it" to finish and get the ball down...I hope I am wrong and the game slows down for him, but I see a lot of me throwing things at my tv as Van clangs another bunny.
How did he become a better free throw shooter? He shot 81.5% from the line in our last 14 games after shooting 61.4% from the line in his first 58 games. I'd say that 14 games (44/54 attempts) is definitely a significant sample size. I don't know if it was repetitions, confidence, or if it was finding a consistent release point, but it worked. I don't see any reason why he can't improve other areas of his game as well, such as finishing around the rim. Develop a softer touch, get a better sense of body control, work better to have specific go-to moves rather than going into the lane without a clear sense of what he's going to do, there are plenty of ways for him to improve. We've already seen him improve markedly over last year. I expect the same next year.
VB will continue to improve and will learn to finish. Really think it comes down to confidence with him. Once he made the big throws late in the game he was excellent rest of the way. Another productive off season will do him wonders. Plus next year he will not be looking over his shoulder and should be on the court a ton.
Quote from: mu_eyeballs on March 31, 2012, 09:30:29 PM
Can someone tell me how Van becomes a better "finisher"...Love the fact he can slice and dice into the lane and get around the rim at will, but he just doesn't seem to have the "it" to finish and get the ball down...I hope I am wrong and the game slows down for him, but I see a lot of me throwing things at my tv as Van clangs another bunny.
Can't tell you that he will but he needs to elevate his release point. If you notice when he drives the lane he pushes the ball from his chest out and not up. In my opinion he needs to work on three things:
1. Release point in the lane. It needs to be higher
2. Outside shoot. When he jumps it is as if he is trying to get all of power out of his legs that he can. People have commented it is like the corkscrew shot. He needs to shoot with his legs under him and not lift them. By getting more consistent he will have a better chance to get to the rim
3. Pull up jumper. When blue starts going to the hole he goes full throttle and either gets a shot off or gets into the air with no idea of what he wants to do. Blue needs to realize that you don't need to get to the hole to get a shot off. Penetrate. Stop. Jump shot from 5 - 8 ft out.
I think he dribbles with his head up which is good but he allows the help defender the opportunity to get into position by driving too deep. The larger defender either blocks his shot, gets a charging call or blue realizes he is in trouble and jumps in the air to get off a bad pass. He needs to judge whether a 5 ft jumper is better than a contested layup