A Big Zero
My guards and forwards are better than yours........and to prove it to you, I won't even attempt to score from the post. Play ball!
So goes the most puzzling aspect of Tom Crean's 2007-2008 strategy. It does not matter that Ousmane Barro demonstrated marked improvement year-to-year for the first three-quarters of his career, for some reason the big fella has digressed into an afterthought in the Golden Eagles' offense. To be fair, Barro might never have been more than that in previous years, but Ooze has bottomed out as a senior and the shenanigans of bringing him off the bench to prevent foul trouble must end.
Once and for all: Dwight Burke is not a Big East quality post player. Repeat it again: Dwight Burke is not a Big East quality post player. Despite the Fools' Gold fans discovered earlier this season, Burke has returned to form but for some reason Barro remains a bit player on a team that desperately needs a post option, a role he filled just last year.
Last season when MU played its best ball, Barro was at his best. A year ago, Barro enjoyed a stretch of unprecedented success by scoring in double digits in seven of nine Big East contests. MU won eight of those games, including three on the road. Barro's best game in that stretch was arguably his double-double at UConn, a mindboggling feat given MU's performance in Storrs a few days ago.
Fast forward to 2008..........Barro has attempted only 10 shots in the last four Big East games combined. If that's not enough, Barro has not scored in MU's past two games, and since piling up 14 points in the Big East opener against PC has contributed 12 total points combined in his next five outings.
As Henry Sugar pointed out in yesterday's sublime post, MU is relying on a high-risk strategy this season and abandoning the post plays a huge role in that approach. Basically, MU relies more on lower percentage shots (especially from three), which is inherently less reliable. So by refusing to incorporate Barro as part of the offense -- he made nearly 60% of his shots last season, folks -- MU is eschewing one of its most efficient options in favor of less reliable alternatives. Beyond the pure numbers, by abandoning the post entirely this season (and the subsequent decline in Barro's assertiveness on the blocks in this needlessly diminished role), the Golden Eagles have become one dimensional on offense -- drive and kick -- and therefore much easier to defend.
It is time to reinvest in the post and resurrect Ousmane Barro.
**thanks to Henry Sugar for his contributions to this post
http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2008/01/big-zero.html
Crean & company took a very raw project and molded him into a decent D1 player. But, in the most important off season of his college career, Barro chose to go forgo training and go home. Right or wrong, Crean has a 24/7 commitment to the team and I think Barro's choice shifted his focus to Burke.
Quote from: SoCalwarrior on January 24, 2008, 10:38:43 PM
Crean & company took a very raw project and molded him into a decent D1 player. But, in the most important off season of his college career, Barro chose to go forgo training and go home. Right or wrong, Crean has a 24/7 commitment to the team and I think Barro's choice shifted his focus to Burke.
Barro's decision this summer should not carry over through out the season. Things are broken and let's try fixing them. It's fine if he penalizes him for meaningless games but now the team could use a change. I really don't think he played his way out of a job last year. I don't disdain mind games but this one might have gone too far. I think he could show some real energy if he regained his starting role. It's not like Burke doesn't have another year to prove himself.
The more I see of Dwight Burke I think people are going to see his tremendous game at UW much in the same way we remember Amo's huge game against South Carolina: a fluke. Sad to say, he is overmatched in the BE.
Quote from: 77fan88warrior on January 24, 2008, 10:50:11 PM
Quote from: SoCalwarrior on January 24, 2008, 10:38:43 PM
Crean & company took a very raw project and molded him into a decent D1 player. But, in the most important off season of his college career, Barro chose to go forgo training and go home. Right or wrong, Crean has a 24/7 commitment to the team and I think Barro's choice shifted his focus to Burke.
Barro's decision this summer should not carry over through out the season. Things are broken and let's try fixing them. It's fine if he penalizes him for meaningless games but now the team could use a change. I really don't think he played his way out of a job last year. I don't disdain mind games but this one might have gone too far. I think he could show some real energy if he regained his starting role. It's not like Burke doesn't have another year to prove himself.
I don't necessarily disagree with you. I'm just stating my belief that Crean is loyal to players that are loyal to his system. I think Barro's decision upset him and, as we know, Crean is often uncompromising. Personally, I'd rather have someone like Crean than Slick Rick. He's not going to compromise his beliefs to win. And I love that... And hate that.
maybe i'm just totally outta the loop..but what exactly was barro's decision?
Rather than stay in Milwaukee for the summer and work on his game, Barro went back home to Senegal.
Cracked Sidewalks is a great blog, but frankly I think this post is was way too personal.
In addition, in this 3 + years, Barro has never been a "post" player. He's gotten almost all his points from fast breaks, offensive rebounds and dump offs from guards driving in the lane.
All we ever hear is about how this is a family. The kid chooses to go home, DURING THE SUMMER, to Africa and all of a sudden he's Ryan Amoroso?
Aren't there things more important than hoops? Couldn't a middle ground be found?
And what did he miss all summer? A chance at his Black Belt?
Quote from: ecompt on January 24, 2008, 10:55:19 PM
The more I see of Dwight Burke I think people are going to see his tremendous game at UW much in the same way we remember Amo's huge game against South Carolina: a fluke. Sad to say, he is overmatched in the BE.
Nah, I disagree. He still does a great job with offensive rebounding. Burke has also gone from almost zero playing time to being a much larger part of the rotation. He's inconsistent.
My expectations for next year with Burke is that he'll fill about the same role as this year, but he'll just be more consistent.
Yeah, I agree, that doesn't make sense. Punishing a kid for going home over the summer is pretty far out in left field. I never heard a peep about that, and I can't imagine Crean holding that over him.
I'm pretty sure if you looked at the tapes from last year, the amount of times MU threw the ball down in to Barro at the post and he worked his guy for a score, averaged less than 1 time per game. The guards are still trying to get him the ball in the alley, but its a combination of things, the "alley" has been scouted out, his confidence is gone right now so he's tenative finishing, and the penetration the last few games hasn't been good enough to get him in that scoring spot as many times per game.
The problem is that Barro is not rebounding or defending well in addition to not scoring. I don't think TC has punished Barro for going home; but, I think that decision hurt his game due to lack of basketball activity during an important summer before his final season. Beyond that, I think Ooze is confused with his role off the bench. I say put him back in the starting lineup and let him work things out.
It's ridiculous to think that going home for a month or two significant affected his ability to play basketball.
Put yourself is Ooze's shoes, hasnt seen family or friends for a long long time and his country is in turmoil. I praise the young man for doing the right thing, family comes first not bball. He has experienced adversity over and over again the last 5-6 years since coming to the US which few of us can understand or relate too. If he is being punnished for his actions which I hope is not the case then someone else needs to get their priorities in order.