MUScoop
MUScoop => Hangin' at the Al => Topic started by: Wade for President on December 02, 2013, 10:25:46 AM
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Last night we saw more glimpses of how overpowering Burton can be for defenders to handle. If he can continue to hit that mid-range jumper, coupled with his uber aggressive play, strong frame, long-wingspan, he'll be a match-up nightmare.
The play in the 2nd half when he caught the ball at the top of the key, gave a ball fake, spun to the hoop, and finger rolled it with the left, was DWade-esque.
In a season that has started with more bumps than we're recently accustomed to, Burton continues to show flashes (last night's was blinding at times) of his seemingly bright future.
After watching some of Deonte's insane YouTube highlights, I'm dying to see the young bull take one the length of the court for a SportCenter-esque dunk.
Deonte....you're table is ready.
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After watching some of Deonte's insane YouTube highlights, I'm dying to see the young bull take one the length of the court for a SportCenter-esque dunk.
He put on the best show I've ever seen in a Madness dunk contest.
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Love his aggressiveness. He wants to be the man. Needs to learn to countermove and finish with his right hand. With his height, as soon as they start committing to taking away his left hand, he is going to need his own counter.
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Love his aggressiveness. He wants to be the man. Needs to learn to countermove and finish with his right hand. With his height, as soon as they start committing to taking away his left hand, he is going to need his own counter.
+1....and he needs to figure out what to do on the defensive end.
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Yup, his defense needs work. IMO, that is where is size is a problem right now. Not quick enough to guard 2/3's, not big enough to guard 4's. He can learn technique to compensate, just like has on offense.
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I find it absolutely comical that Burton's defense is getting criticized - as if its some kind of net negative - benchmarked against all he brings from an offensive positive perspective.
First, his defense hasn't been bad at all. Second, his assertiveness, confidence, power and finishing ability are exactly what this team need. I'd hate to think of what last night's game would have looked like had he not played and performed as he did.
Oh...and Sultan, Guns - you could see very easily in Burton's limited minutes against the cupcake opponents he has "it." Hard to do much when you get 5-8 minutes of playing time, broken down into 2 different 3-4 minute segments - as Burton has been given. Look what happened when Deonte, and even JJJ have been given long stretches of PT - they've performed their best. It takes time to get into a rhythm/flow. Sadly, the guys getting the most minutes - Derrick and Jake - produce the least, when they should be producing a lot more given there long, extended stretches of minutes - that no other players are afforded on MU.
Love Buzz, but feel his continued decision to ride Derrick and Jake for 25-30 minutes a game is what ails this team - and will all year, if he doesn't change his approach.
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Derrick I feel played well before his fall. But honestly I don't know who you ply in his place, jamil hasn't exactly lit the world on fire. The double bigs hasn't worked at all. This team has potential. Many are giving up but with growth throughout the season I think this team could knock some off in tourney. I see a 5-7 team with potential.
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I find it absolutely comical that Burton's defense is getting criticized - as if its some kind of net negative - benchmarked against all he brings from an offensive positive perspective.
First, his defense hasn't been bad at all. Second, his assertiveness, confidence, power and finishing ability are exactly what this team need. I'd hate to think of what last night's game would have looked like had he not played and performed as he did.
Oh...and Sultan, Guns - you could see very easily in Burton's limited minutes against the cupcake opponents he has "it." Hard to do much when you get 5-8 minutes of playing time, broken down into 2 different 3-4 minute segments - as Burton has been given. Look what happened when Deonte, and even JJJ have been given long stretches of PT - they've performed their best. It takes time to get into a rhythm/flow. Sadly, the guys getting the most minutes - Derrick and Jake - produce the least, when they should be producing a lot more given there long, extended stretches of minutes - that no other players are afforded on MU.
Love Buzz, but feel his continued decision to ride Derrick and Jake for 25-30 minutes a game is what ails this team - and will all year, if he doesn't change his approach.
Have to disagree on the defensive end....he spent most of the night guard O'Brien last night who almost literally has only one hand. Can/Is his defense improving? Sure/a little, but if you are either lying or not paying attention to him on the defensive end. ;D He is lost or a step late nearly every possession. In fact, one of Jamil Wilson's dumb fouls(that seems redundant) was because Jamil was forced to rotate help side when Deonte lost his guy in traffic instead of playing goal side of his man.
Having said that he is way better than Taylor at this point which is surprising.
Burton has earned more minutes but lets not pretend that his offensive game doesn't come with liabilities on the defensive end at this point.
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I find it absolutely comical that Burton's defense is getting criticized - as if its some kind of net negative - benchmarked against all he brings from an offensive positive perspective.
First, his defense hasn't been bad at all. Second, his assertiveness, confidence, power and finishing ability are exactly what this team need. I'd hate to think of what last night's game would have looked like had he not played and performed as he did.
Oh...and Sultan, Guns - you could see very easily in Burton's limited minutes against the cupcake opponents he has "it." Hard to do much when you get 5-8 minutes of playing time, broken down into 2 different 3-4 minute segments - as Burton has been given. Look what happened when Deonte, and even JJJ have been given long stretches of PT - they've performed their best. It takes time to get into a rhythm/flow. Sadly, the guys getting the most minutes - Derrick and Jake - produce the least, when they should be producing a lot more given there long, extended stretches of minutes - that no other players are afforded on MU.
Love Buzz, but feel his continued decision to ride Derrick and Jake for 25-30 minutes a game is what ails this team - and will all year, if he doesn't change his approach.
So Buzz should play Burton and JJJ for long stretches, take lumps defensively and hope that one or both of them can get into a flow offensively?
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I find it absolutely comical that Burton's defense is getting criticized - as if its some kind of net negative - benchmarked against all he brings from an offensive positive perspective.
First, his defense hasn't been bad at all. Second, his assertiveness, confidence, power and finishing ability are exactly what this team need. I'd hate to think of what last night's game would have looked like had he not played and performed as he did.
Oh...and Sultan, Guns - you could see very easily in Burton's limited minutes against the cupcake opponents he has "it." Hard to do much when you get 5-8 minutes of playing time, broken down into 2 different 3-4 minute segments - as Burton has been given. Look what happened when Deonte, and even JJJ have been given long stretches of PT - they've performed their best. It takes time to get into a rhythm/flow. Sadly, the guys getting the most minutes - Derrick and Jake - produce the least, when they should be producing a lot more given there long, extended stretches of minutes - that no other players are afforded on MU.
Love Buzz, but feel his continued decision to ride Derrick and Jake for 25-30 minutes a game is what ails this team - and will all year, if he doesn't change his approach.
I love Burton. I commented on him a long time ago. Feel free to go back and check. Love his potential.
As far as extended minutes, this is the same argument you used for Todd last year when you said that he could be as good as Vander if he got minutes. (same thing you said for Dawson vs Derrick).
Buzz sees them everyday. He knows what he has. He's not going to hand John Dawson 25min. "just because". Dawson is going to have to earn them in practice. He has to show that he's a good option. Same for Todd.
If Todd was destroying Jake everyday in practice, and was doing everything Buzz wanted, you can bet your ass he'd get more minutes.
Guys get the minutes they earn. Todd and Dawson are getting what they have earned. When they play better than the guy in front of them, they will start to see more minutes.
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Burton, JJJ and Duane Wilson all be major parts of success moving forward. The more minutes the better IMO.
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I find it absolutely comical that Burton's defense is getting criticized - as if its some kind of net negative - benchmarked against all he brings from an offensive positive perspective.
No one said it was a net negative. It most certainly wasn't last night. Other days it might be. But he does need to work on his defense.
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I find it absolutely comical that Burton's defense is getting criticized - as if its some kind of net negative - benchmarked against all he brings from an offensive positive perspective.
First, his defense hasn't been bad at all. Second, his assertiveness, confidence, power and finishing ability are exactly what this team need. I'd hate to think of what last night's game would have looked like had he not played and performed as he did.
Oh...and Sultan, Guns - you could see very easily in Burton's limited minutes against the cupcake opponents he has "it." Hard to do much when you get 5-8 minutes of playing time, broken down into 2 different 3-4 minute segments - as Burton has been given. Look what happened when Deonte, and even JJJ have been given long stretches of PT - they've performed their best. It takes time to get into a rhythm/flow. Sadly, the guys getting the most minutes - Derrick and Jake - produce the least, when they should be producing a lot more given there long, extended stretches of minutes - that no other players are afforded on MU.
Love Buzz, but feel his continued decision to ride Derrick and Jake for 25-30 minutes a game is what ails this team - and will all year, if he doesn't change his approach.
Exactly! You can totally tell, in limited minutes if someone has IT!
Best regards,
(http://wiki.muscoop.com/lib/exe/fetch.php/men_s_basketball/kinsella2007.jpg)
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Too bad we don't have a Stud of the Game following losses. He would get my vote.
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Exactly! You can totally tell, in limited minutes if someone has IT!
Best regards,
(http://wiki.muscoop.com/lib/exe/fetch.php/men_s_basketball/kinsella2007.jpg)
Kinsella's senior day breakout is till one of the biggest head scratchers I've ever seen.
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I've been on the Bull's bandwagon since the summer: http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=39364.msg507775#msg507775
After last nights game I'm convinced he should be getting 15-20min per game, especially when he is showing that agressiveness and making shots. I hear the critiques about his D and of course he needs to improve it, but I dont think its nearly a bad as its been described in some places. He's the most physically ready to play of all the freshmen and will only improve with consistent minutes. it was nice to see Buzz give him extended minutes down the stretch last night, rewarding his agressive play.
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Oh...and Sultan, Guns - you could see very easily in Burton's limited minutes against the cupcake opponents he has "it." Hard to do much when you get 5-8 minutes of playing time, broken down into 2 different 3-4 minute segments - as Burton has been given. Look what happened when Deonte, and even JJJ have been given long stretches of PT - they've performed their best. It takes time to get into a rhythm/flow. Sadly, the guys getting the most minutes - Derrick and Jake - produce the least, when they should be producing a lot more given there long, extended stretches of minutes - that no other players are afforded on MU.
Sultan, surely, these cliches won't stand!
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My two thoughts:
1. Having never seen Burton in high school, this was my first chance to see him get a nice run in a close game against a quality opponent. I was thoroughly impressed. I'm still trying to figure out how he got that one banker in from almost behind the backboard! Some guys just have a knack for scoring, and maybe that describes Deonte. Goodness knows, we need scoring. He's a tough rebounder for his size, too. Definitely a step behind on defense but I'm hoping that's more attributable to inexperience than anything else and will be improved once he gets "coached up" more.
2. Is anybody else a little surprised that less than a minute after Burton gave us our only lead of the second half, 50-48 with 6:11 left, Buzz pulled him? Usually, Buzz, like most coaches, like to ride the hot hand. And no Warrior has had a hotter hand all season than Deonte did during that 7-minute stretch. Buzz got him back into the game less than 2 minutes later, but the mojo was gone. Maybe Deonte just needed a rest because he hadn't played so many minutes consecutively, and if so that certainly is a plausible explanation, but it sure seemed an inopportune time to take him out. Especially taking him out and putting in Jake, who was pretty much useless on both ends of the floor all night.
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No one said it was a net negative. It most certainly wasn't last night. Other days it might be. But he does need to work on his defense.
And so do JT and JA.
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2. Is anybody else a little surprised that less than a minute after Burton gave us our only lead of the second half, 50-48 with 6:11 left, Buzz pulled him? Usually, Buzz, like most coaches, like to ride the hot hand. And no Warrior has had a hotter hand all season than Deonte did during that 7-minute stretch. Buzz got him back into the game less than 2 minutes later, but the mojo was gone. Maybe Deonte just needed a rest because he hadn't played so many minutes consecutively, and if so that certainly is a plausible explanation, but it sure seemed an inopportune time to take him out. Especially taking him out and putting in Jake, who was pretty much useless on both ends of the floor all night.
That is one of my biggest gripes of the entire game. I'm still not convinced Buzz is a great in-game coach. Many more examples besides that, but why on earth he pulls the only guy hot on offense is beyond me. It's common sense to leave someone in when they are producing that much so quickly. If he screws up big time on D a few times and forces a couple shots, pull him. I don't think he needed a rest either. What do I know though.
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One thing I really liked about Deonte's game was those "wide post" scores. That would give us another element. We have a bunch of low post scorers, three point shooters, and drivers but nobody who consistently pulls up accurately from mid-range. Jamil is a slight exception.
At least the wide post will have defenses thinking about another element of Marquette's offense
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Glad people are beginning to understand how good my brother Deonte is / can become.
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That is one of my biggest gripes of the entire game. I'm still not convinced Buzz is a great in-game coach. Many more examples besides that, but why on earth he pulls the only guy hot on offense is beyond me. It's common sense to leave someone in when they are producing that much so quickly. If he screws up big time on D a few times and forces a couple shots, pull him. I don't think he needed a rest either. What do I know though.
Buzz certainly has earned the benefit of the doubt, and then some. I'm a big fan of his, but that doesn't mean he never messes up or is beyond criticism.
Again, maybe Deonte was gassed or Buzz just saw something going on. As was pointed out in another thread, the score was tied when Deonte came back in, so it's not as if, in the short-term, the brief sit-down cost the team.
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LOL@thisIlovemesomeD-BurtTopicThreadtitle ....
I love the thread...
'D-Burt' is blowing up. Lets hear it for the Freshman! Ha ha ha. Tha roof da roof da roof is on fire!
D-Burt, JJJ, J.D, DuWil..
Diaper dandies baby! <Dickie V's voice...> No, please don't shoot. LOL.
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I believe Burton will be fantastic. He's got that same kind of hunger Jae Crowder had in him. But this idea of declaring "it", whatever the hell "it" is, after one game is idiotic. We were pretty much told a week ago that ASU had "it" and they were a top-15 team. We've been told John Dawson has "it". Well, "it" is a load of crap. You don't learn about anyone because of one game. You learn about them over time. If the freshmen can do it they'll get a chance to prove it, but they have to earn it. And they have to do that on the defensive end. I really want to see over the next few months and years what Johnson, Burton, Dawson, and DuWil can bring to the table. But until they earn it defensively, those chances will be limited.
And seriously, this stupid "it" has to be the worst cliche we've had on this site. Toss that baby out with the bathwater.
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That is one of my biggest gripes of the entire game. I'm still not convinced Buzz is a great in-game coach. Many more examples besides that, but why on earth he pulls the only guy hot on offense is beyond me. It's common sense to leave someone in when they are producing that much so quickly. If he screws up big time on D a few times and forces a couple shots, pull him. I don't think he needed a rest either. What do I know though.
As I pointed out elsewhere, he had been in the game for 7:30...and MU actually went +1 when he sat out for about 90 seconds.
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you could see very easily in Burton's limited minutes against the cupcake opponents he has "it." Hard to do much when you get 5-8 minutes of playing time, broken down into 2 different 3-4 minute segments - as Burton has been given. Look what happened when Deonte, and even JJJ have been given long stretches of PT - they've performed their best. It takes time to get into a rhythm/flow. Sadly, the guys getting the most minutes - Derrick and Jake - produce the least, when they should be producing a lot more given there long, extended stretches of minutes - that no other players are afforded on MU.
Love Buzz, but feel his continued decision to ride Derrick and Jake for 25-30 minutes a game is what ails this team - and will all year, if he doesn't change his approach.
Ners....In my opinion, you hit the nail right on the head. Games like the one D-Burt had against SDSU, and JJJ had against C-State Fullerton, should warrant more playing time. I've seen zero reason (practice aside) why Jake should get more minutes than JJJ. Zero.
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Ners....In my opinion, you hit the nail right on the head. Games like the one D-Burt had against SDSU, and JJJ had against C-State Fullerton, should warrant more playing time. I've seen zero reason (practice aside) why Jake should get more minutes than JJJ. Zero.
Other than an Elite Eight coach disagrees with you. Burton's game against SDSU is not the same as JJJ's against Cal State Fullerton as Fullerton's defense was atrocious.
Over time hopefully JJJ will improve his defense and get more playing time (presumably from Jake) but acting like this is a slam dunk right now just isn't the case.
I am hoping come conference tournament JJJ will be averaging 20+ minutes a game but it may be a bit early for that right now.
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Other than an Elite Eight coach disagrees with you. Burton's game against SDSU is not the same as JJJ's against Cal State Fullerton as Fullerton's defense was atrocious.
Over time hopefully JJJ will improve his defense and get more playing time (presumably from Jake) but acting like this is a slam dunk right now just isn't the case.
One could make the case that CSF's porous defense helped JJJ have a big game, but he was 3-3 from deep. Jake was 1-4 against that same defense.
In addition, JJJ adds another dimension to the game that we are desperately missing - the ability to take the ball to the rack.
Listen, we obviously support all MU ballers, but seeing Jake Thomas get the minutes he has this year is beyond head scratching.
If we continue to struggle this year (and there have been few signs to argue the contrary), why keep rolling out the same players?
Let's see what one of the highest ranked MU recruiting classes can do with more minutes.
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One could make the case that CSF's porous defense helped JJJ have a big game, but he was 3-3 from deep. Jake was 1-4 against that same defense.
In addition, JJJ adds another dimension to the game that we are desperately missing - the ability to take the ball to the rack.
Listen, we obviously support all MU ballers, but seeing Jake Thomas get the minutes he has this year is beyond head scratching.
It really isn't all that head scratching. He's a smarter defender. Defense is the one thing that is preventing the freshmen from seeing more time.
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Guys get the minutes they earn. Todd and Dawson are getting what they have earned. When they play better than the guy in front of them, they will start to see more minutes.
Meritocratic minutes are all well and good but, at some point, doesn't Buzz have to think about who actually performs in games? He probably is - obviously none of us know - but I sure hope it's not just practice habits that defines playing time.
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One could make the case that CSF's porous defense helped JJJ have a big game, but he was 3-3 from deep. Jake was 1-4 against that same defense.
In addition, JJJ adds another dimension to the game that we are desperately missing - the ability to take the ball to the rack.
Listen, we obviously support all MU ballers, but seeing Jake Thomas get the minutes he has this year is beyond head scratching.
I don't disagree with long-term JJJ is the better option. As you have stated he has a better all-around offensive game. However it is on the defensive end that Jake is currently the better option.
The GW game was case in point. On two different occasions JJJ's man goes right by him and instead of leading him to a secondary defender his man scores. In that same game Jake gets owned but leads him right to Otule... who alters his man's shot.
Once JJJ learns how to play team defense he will get the playing time we all desire.
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Meritocratic minutes are all well and good but, at some point, doesn't Buzz have to think about who actually performs in games? He probably is - obviously none of us know - but I sure hope it's not just practice habits that defines playing time.
Yes and no.
I mean, in theory, somebody could be a total dog in practice, but fantastic in games. However, that's highly unlikely.
I trust that Buzz Williams puts his toughest/most effective players on the floor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nf7SuRwIfE&feature=youtu.be&t=8m54s
http://youtu.be/uC7QEOa_MCo?t=6m23s
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Burton is an absolute ball-hawk. That impressed me more than anything else throughout the tournament. He will eventually be a great defensive player once he learns rotations, etc.
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Burton is an absolute ball-hawk. That impressed me more than anything else throughout the tournament. He will eventually be a great defensive player once he learns rotations, etc.
I have absolutely no doubts that JJJ and Deonte will turn into better defenders over time.
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I have absolutely no doubts that JJJ and Deonte will turn into better defenders over time.
Well they can't get worse, Steve Taylor already took on that role.
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I have absolutely no doubts that JJJ and Deonte will turn into better defenders over time.
+1, in fact they will be much better in March than they are now and as a consequence will have more minutes.
Jake has the maturity and knowledge edge on the players right now....that edge evaporates with time and I think by the end of the season Jake will be getting less than 15 minutes a game. Or something has gone horribly wrong.
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+1, in fact they will be much better in March than they are now and as a consequence will have more minutes.
Jake has the maturity and knowledge edge on the players right now....that edge evaporates with time and I think by the end of the season Jake will be getting less than 15 minutes a game. Or something has gone horribly wrong.
+100. If Jake is still playing 25 minutes a game in March (at his present efficiency) we will be in trouble.
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It really isn't all that head scratching. He's a smarter defender. Defense is the one thing that is preventing the freshmen from seeing more time.
Valid but aside from the scorching hot start by ASU(against the "defensive" specialists might ironically) our defense has been more than fine. We cannot score.
Its time to mix in the potential offensive weapons more often. I would be absolutely shocked if our current starters ever have one of those amazing hot starts that we are prone to giving up. They just can't score enough consecutively to give us that chance. So, even if they do defend well, if a team is hot from 3....big deficit.
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Well they can't get worse, Steve Taylor already took on that role.
Steve Taylor is serving as a bit of a cautionary tale for all those who proclaim that so-and-so is a surefire great player-to-be.
I liked Taylor's potential last season but I was never quite as high on him as some were because of the many stretches in which he seemed to get lost on both defense and offense. He actually appears to have regressed, which isn't very common under Buzz. Gotta be driving Buzz batty.
I agree with those who say this year's freshmen will have their day, some sooner and some later. The ones that can pass the "Buzz test" will end up being very good players for a very long time.
As for Jake's defense, yes, he "thinks" better than JJJ at this time in both of their careers and gets in better position. But he was quite bad against SDSU -- on both sides of the ball.
One sign that we are actually improving will be Jake getting significantly fewer minutes. I doubt he'll get completely mothballed as he did last season, but it will be a better sign for the team if, come conference season, he is closer to last year's minutes than this year's minutes.
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I also feel like Taylor has regressed, but we need to remember he had surgery and missed 4 or 5 months to work on improving his game. Time off leads to regression. I love Burton and have already stated he is going to be a stud. However, we got to remember when he was scoring inside again San Diego St. he was taking it mostly to a player that had four fouls. At the end of the game both 0 and 20 had four fouls, so Burton could attack without much resistance.
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I love Burton and have already stated he is going to be a stud. However, we got to remember when he was scoring inside again San Diego St. he was taking it mostly to a player that had four fouls. At the end of the game both 0 and 20 had four fouls, so Burton could attack without much resistance.
Good point, but who was attacking #0 and #20 successfully other than Burton? If nobody, that certainly begs the question why?
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SDSU sagged off Dwill and doubled Jake every time he handled the ball. they gave him no chance to put a shot up. Burton just went to the rim or put up a shot promptly when he was open. He was the only one who didn't hesitate to try and score. Thought he has a scorer's mentality.
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I really don't understand how people still think Jake doesn't deserve to be on the floor. He has really stepped up his game this year. Great defender, best three point shooter on the team, hi energy and hustle.
I do want to see more from the freshmen but all this Jake is worthless talk needs to stop
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I really don't understand how people still think Jake doesn't deserve to be on the floor. He has really stepped up his game this year. Great defender, best three point shooter on the team, hi energy and hustle.
I do want to see more from the freshmen but all this Jake is worthless talk needs to stop
Here, here. First it was he can't shoot three's in games. Then it was there were way better shooters on the team than him. Now that he leads the team in threes it is suddenly his poor defense.
Some have changed their mind others have their mind made up that there are better options at this very minute. They may be right by season's end but not right now.
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I believe Burton will be fantastic. He's got that same kind of hunger Jae Crowder had in him. But this idea of declaring "it", whatever the hell "it" is, after one game is idiotic. We were pretty much told a week ago that ASU had "it" and they were a top-15 team. We've been told John Dawson has "it". Well, "it" is a load of crap. You don't learn about anyone because of one game. You learn about them over time. If the freshmen can do it they'll get a chance to prove it, but they have to earn it. And they have to do that on the defensive end. I really want to see over the next few months and years what Johnson, Burton, Dawson, and DuWil can bring to the table. But until they earn it defensively, those chances will be limited.
And seriously, this stupid "it" has to be the worst cliche we've had on this site. Toss that baby out with the bathwater.
Did someone say throw It into the bathwater?
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_voJlqlEQno/Td-9XKVtiqI/AAAAAAAAAZs/X1KDlmtUWVA/s1600/It%2Bshower.jpg)
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Did someone say throw It into the bathwater?
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_voJlqlEQno/Td-9XKVtiqI/AAAAAAAAAZs/X1KDlmtUWVA/s1600/It%2Bshower.jpg)
It doesn't matter, "THEY ALL FLOAT!!!!"
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I really don't understand how people still think Jake doesn't deserve to be on the floor. He has really stepped up his game this year. Great defender, best three point shooter on the team, hi energy and hustle.
I do want to see more from the freshmen but all this Jake is worthless talk needs to stop
First of all, Jake is not a "great" defender. He can't man-up on a quick guard and he struggled in all sets against San Diego State. He is a decent athlete and a heady team-defender -- takes away passing angles, anticipates well, etc. I'm not dismissing that out of hand. It's important. He is better at it than I thought he would be. But he is not a "great" defender. Dominic James and Jimmy Butler were great defenders.
Second, I didn't say Jake doesn't deserve to play. What I said is that a sign that this team is improving would be if Jake plays significantly fewer minutes because the freshmen -- who potentially are much more skilled -- are taking minutes away from him. I stand by that statement, because Buzz won't play the kids over Jake until he's sure they will be an improvement.
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Jake may not be a great "man up" defender but he knows where to be on the court, gets some good defensive rebounds and can get to a spot quicker than DG
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Did someone say throw It into the bathwater?
(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_voJlqlEQno/Td-9XKVtiqI/AAAAAAAAAZs/X1KDlmtUWVA/s1600/It%2Bshower.jpg)
That movie made me frightened of sewers for a long time. Good thing these guys live down there as well to keep America safe.
(http://collider.com/wp-content/uploads/TMNT-Teenage-Mutant-Ninja-Turtles-movie-live-action-1.jpg)
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Second, I didn't say Jake doesn't deserve to play. What I said is that a sign that this team is improving would be if Jake plays significantly fewer minutes because the freshmen -- who potentially are much more skilled -- are taking minutes away from him. I stand by that statement, because Buzz won't play the kids over Jake until he's sure they will be an improvement.
"But our best 3-point shooter? Hell, I'm not sure he's better than Davante."
"and Jake Thomas, who has shown less than nothing"
"I respect you too much, brew, to think you actually believe that Derrick/Jake have a prayer of being even a mediocre imitation of Junior/Vander"
Some of your recent posts about Jake.
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You see the little things Jake does, if you like him. You only see the things he does wrong, if you hate him.
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"But our best 3-point shooter? Hell, I'm not sure he's better than Davante."
"and Jake Thomas, who has shown less than nothing"
"I respect you too much, brew, to think you actually believe that Derrick/Jake have a prayer of being even a mediocre imitation of Junior/Vander"
Some of your recent posts about Jake.
OK. Since some of those posts, Jake has shown more than nothing.
I'm still not sure he's our best 3-point shooter, still don't think Derrick/Jake is a very good backcourt, still think Jake had a bad game at both ends of the court against SDSU.
And I absolutely still believe that it will be a very good sign for our team if Jake plays fewer minutes.
If I implied that Jake was pure garbage -- and I guess my "less than nothing" comment did imply that -- I shouldn't have. He is a classic role player: a guy who should play 5-10 minutes per game on a good team to hit the occasional 3 and help space the court in certain situations. If he gets hot, he should play more. If he struggles, he should sit.
Last season, Jake averaged 18 minutes over the first 7 games and played double-digit minutes in each of the first 11 games. As others outplayed him, though, his playing time decreased significantly. That was a good thing because it meant others earned Buzz's trust and playing time. Had Jake still been playing 15, 18, 22 minutes during the heart of the Big East season, that would not have been the best sign for the team.
And I think the same is true this season.
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"But our best 3-point shooter? Hell, I'm not sure he's better than Davante."
"and Jake Thomas, who has shown less than nothing"
"I respect you too much, brew, to think you actually believe that Derrick/Jake have a prayer of being even a mediocre imitation of Junior/Vander"
Some of your recent posts about Jake.
I think Jake had some sort of mental block going. He seems to be getting over it and actually hitting 3's now. It's too early to know if it will continue but if it does he will continue to get the playing time.
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You see the little things Jake does, if you like him. You only see the things he does wrong, if you hate him.
I think this is the most cogent analysis of most of our abilities to analyze the players during a game (replace Jake's name with anyone else's). I like Jake and see a lot of the good things he does, so I defend him.
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OK. Since some of those posts, Jake has shown more than nothing.
I'm still not sure he's our best 3-point shooter, still don't think Derrick/Jake is a very good backcourt, still think Jake had a bad game at both ends of the court against SDSU.
And I absolutely still believe that it will be a very good sign for our team if Jake plays fewer minutes.
If I implied that Jake was pure garbage -- and I guess my "less than nothing" comment did imply that -- I shouldn't have. He is a classic role player: a guy who should play 5-10 minutes per game on a good team to hit the occasional 3 and help space the court in certain situations. If he gets hot, he should play more. If he struggles, he should sit.
Last season, Jake averaged 18 minutes over the first 7 games and played double-digit minutes in each of the first 11 games. As others outplayed him, though, his playing time decreased significantly. That was a good thing because it meant others earned Buzz's trust and playing time. Had Jake still been playing 15, 18, 22 minutes during the heart of the Big East season, that would not have been the best sign for the team.
And I think the same is true this season.
Maybe you should email Buzz and share your thoughts on the proper amount of time that Jake should play. I am sure he would appreciate the insight. ::)