Maybe I'm oversimplifying, but it seems to me that this team's greatest weakness is that there is no clear-cut leader.
The defense looks strong, but offensively it's an entirely different story.
I know it's a small sample size, but the only time I saw serious movement without the ball on offense was in the Grambling State game. In the rest of the games, when the shots aren't falling, it seems that most of the team stops moving and looks at each other to see who is going to step up and start scoring.
This team needs a leader.
[EDIT]
Let me add one thing... A leader doesn't need to be the guy that suddenly starts scoring when everyone else can't. The leader needs to be the guy that is going to get these guys to stop going into shock when the shots aren't falling and grind out a few bunnies to stem the tide.
Todd Mayo is our leader, or at least, soon will be.
Quote from: ElDonBDon on November 24, 2013, 12:57:24 PM
Todd Mayo is our leader, or at least, soon will be.
Agree, but I don't know if the team will accept him as leader.
Is he? I need to see him get a bit more animated about the paralysis that is happening on the floor. He needs to call for screens, push his teammates to clear the lane...
What I see from Todd is that he gets to a point where he starts to force it. That just looks like panic to me.
I'd be thrilled to be wrong.
Quote from: ElDonBDon on November 24, 2013, 12:57:24 PM
Todd Mayo is our leader, or at least, soon will be.
Is this a good thing? Color me skeptical
Quote from: ElDonBDon on November 24, 2013, 12:57:24 PM
Todd Mayo is our leader, or at least, soon will be.
I don't see it. Being the team leader is more than being the guy who can get a bucket at the right time. Todd's a great player, but seems like a bit too much of a loner to take the type of role previously embodied by guys like Butler, Jae, and DJO.
I don't think Mayo is our leader. He may be our best scorer and the most fearless, but you need someone out there who can be the emotional leader. I don't know who that is. I was hoping it would be Jamil but he hasn't shown it yet.
I've heard Derrick has some strong leadership skills, but you need at least some ability to create your own shot to be the leader.
I suppose it depends on how you define "leader."
As far as most aggressive and most reliable scorer who can create his own shot, I think it's certainly Mayo. With respect to pure heart/desire to win in a Jordan "I refuse to lose" sort of way, I would still say Mayo (go back and watch the S16 loss to Florida to see what I mean).
NO, NO, NO. I DID NOT SAY THAT MAYO IS MICHAEL JORDAN. STOP. NO, I DID NOT SAY THAT. I said that, IMO, he is the closest thing we have to a having the Jordan mindset of "I am going to take over this game myself if I have to" at least based on what I have seen so far.
As far as emotional leader (i.e., direct traffic and motivate the squad), I have no idea. Last year that seemed like Junior. Crowder did not strike me as this type of leader, however.
Quote from: ElDonBDon on November 24, 2013, 05:16:16 PMAs far as emotional leader (i.e., direct traffic and motivate the squad), I have no idea. Last year that seemed like Junior. Crowder did not strike me as this type of leader, however.
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Crowder more than anyone in the past decade was the type of guy to lift the team on his back and will us to a win. To do everything on the court, from grabbing a rebound to leaping out of bounds to spike the ball off a player's foot to win a possession to hitting a clutch basket to defending like a beast. He was had an infectious outgoing passion that simply exuded his will to win. I don't think we've had a better exemplar of a leader in the past decade than Jae.
Leadership is like information. If the truth is not told then lies and gossip win. If a true leader who can lift up the team does not emerge, then the most aggressive player becomes the de facto leader. Right now, Todd is the most aggressive player on the team. I do not know if he can make those around him better, but unless someone else (looking at you, Jamil and Davante) emerges, then he is the best we have.
Quote from: brewcity77 on November 24, 2013, 05:26:31 PM
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Crowder more than anyone in the past decade was the type of guy to lift the team on his back and will us to a win. To do everything on the court, from grabbing a rebound to leaping out of bounds to spike the ball off a player's foot to win a possession to hitting a clutch basket to defending like a beast. He was had an infectious outgoing passion that simply exuded his will to win. I don't think we've had a better exemplar of a leader in the past decade than Jae.
I was thinking the same thing. Crowder would just will us to victory. Had great intensity, but still kept it under control.
Quote from: brewcity77 on November 24, 2013, 05:26:31 PM
?-( ?-( ?-(
Crowder more than anyone in the past decade was the type of guy to lift the team on his back and will us to a win. To do everything on the court, from grabbing a rebound to leaping out of bounds to spike the ball off a player's foot to win a possession to hitting a clutch basket to defending like a beast. He was had an infectious outgoing passion that simply exuded his will to win. I don't think we've had a better exemplar of a leader in the past decade than Jae.
No doubt. The guy is one of the greatest loose-ball/always-in-the-right-place-at-the-right-time type of players that I can remember. He is the personification of the word hustle.
But by "not that type of leader" I meant the kind that is the on-floor coach/motivator. For instance, Crowder never struck me as the guy who would go up to Otule and calm him down if he saw that he was getting frustrated. Junior, on the other hand, struck me as a guy who would do such a thing. I don't say this as a knock against Jae, just saying that he didn't strike me as that type of player and some people define "leader" as 'the on-floor coach'.
Quote from: ElDonBDon on November 24, 2013, 05:38:40 PMBut by "not that type of leader" I meant the kind that is the on-floor coach/motivator. For instance, Crowder never struck me as the guy who would go up to Otule and calm him down if he saw that he was getting frustrated. Junior, on the other hand, struck me as a guy who would do such a thing. I don't say this as a knock against Jae, just saying that he didn't strike me as that type of player and some people define "leader" as 'the on-floor coach'.
Gotcha, yeah, Jae was a guy who ran on pure emotion and adrenaline. One of the best for that type of play was Lazar, which was impressive considering he only had 2 years under Buzz. As a senior, I really began to appreciate him once I started going to more games. He frequently would let guys know where they should be. One of my favorite moments was Lazar placing a gentle hand on Mbao's back to keep him at the top of the key as the defense was getting set before the PG brought the ball across the half-court stripe. One of those away-from-the-ball moments that really made me appreciate the difference between watching the game and being at the game.
I look at the seniors on this team and I don't see a leader among them. Wilson might become that guy eventually but he needs to be that guy every game not just when he is motivated to do so. A leader doesn't need to be told to step up or be in the mood to step up. The others are role players and role players are not leaders. Gardner can't be the team leader until he is able to do be more than be an offensive threat.
I look at the juniors and Mayo is the closest but he needs to step it up on the team end not just try to score points. Strong defensive stops when needed. Creating offensive opportunities for others to take advantage of.
As the only sophomore on the team is Steve Taylor capable of saying enough is enough and just take over the team?
If not Wilson, Mayo or possibly Taylor, I believe that one of the freshmen is going to be the guy. It will be a long season until a leader emerges and takes the team with him. I still think this year's team will be successful but it will take longer than most MU teams to finally gel.
Think Jamil is the best candidate for this team...
Todd Mayo I believe will help the team develop a fearless attitude, develop a chip on the shoulder, us against them type of attitude. Todd strikes me as a guy who hates to lose, and wants to go down swinging no matter what.
I see Deonte Burton as being the next great leader for an MU team, however. He's just such a physical presence. A bull. Think he will exert his will on opponents and the future teams at MU over the next few years.
Lastly, I actually think Derrick Wilson has very good leadership qualities, is a high character guy - yet it is hard for a relatively ineffective player to have a lot of cache in a leadership role.
Quote from: RBSC on November 24, 2013, 12:46:08 PM
Maybe I'm oversimplifying, but it seems to me that this team's greatest weakness is that there is no clear-cut leader.
I respectfully disagree.
This team's greatest weakness is a backcourt that is not high-major level.
If you have a PG who leads the offense by creating opportunities for others and himself, you have a chance to win a lot of games. If you have just an OK PG but a true assassin at the 2, you have a chance to win a lot of games.
Marquette has neither, and judging by his decision to give Jamil all the important PG minutes against New Hampshire and to try a variety of guys at the 2, our coach knows it.
Quote from: ElDonBDon on November 24, 2013, 12:57:24 PM
Todd Mayo is our leader, or at least, soon will be.
Color me frightened in that scenario.
It will HAVE to be Jamil. If that doesn't happen, this team is in trouble.
Otule. He is an example of overcoming adversity no else can match.
Quiet yes, but he is the oldest and most respected member of this bunch.
He is Buzz's first born.
Jamil is the scorer in need, Mayo the spark, Burton the x factor and Ox the MVP--eventually, but it is up to CO to make this a special season. No better a person.