Ben Steele did a nice piece on the national reaction to Kam's game yesterday.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/marquette/2024/12/07/kam-jones-32-points-marquette-vs-wisconsin-social-media-reacts/76840228007/?
Jeff Goodman said Kam might be the NPOY frontrunner ... Seth Davis said he was obviously the best PG in the country ... Jon Rothstein, lauding Kam's assist-to-turnover ratio, called him the "best guard in the sport" ... etc.
I've seen similar praise elsewhere, too. I liked when the play-by-play guy, Jeff Levering, called Kam "a walking bucket."
Of course, those of us who have been watching all season already knew all of this. What has most impressed me has been Kam's ability to recognize when he needs to take over as scorer and when it's best to set up others. That's something that many PGs never really learn (or don't have the ability to execute).
As Marquette fans, I hope everyone realizes how lucky we are to go from one All-American PG to another.
Coach said he wasn't going to get a point guard in the portal because he knew I could do it. So I worked all summer and my teammates worked all summer. (Paraphrasing, not quoting)
Kam is amazing. He's always been so much fun to watch, but this season he's taken it to another level.
That over the head pass to Benny is a newer wrinkle that shows he is continuing to get better.
He's always been one of my favorites at MU because of his craftiness and ability to finish creatively around the hoop, but now he's just starting to see and read the game better and better.
It's incredible when someone so good finds yet another level.
It's also wild to think that he has a better chance at National PoY than TyKo had.
In the last half decade we've gotten Markus, Tyler, and Kam.
That's 3 All Americans.
We are blessed.
Kam is amazing.
One random tangent I do want to say though, the term "walking bucket"
Of all the sports cliches/terminology, this might be the most egregiously overused one.
It absolutely applies to Kam. But I also see it constantly used for guys like Wade Taylor, Jayden Epps, Caleb Love.
Basically if a guy can toss a ball into the ocean they are a walking bucket as the term currently stands.
Skills and Team Leadership wise , Kam is an Excellent candidate for NPOY
I think final result of award vote will come down to MU team performance over course of season relative to Duke and Cooper Flagg.
NPOY is pre tourney?
That kiss the sky, off the glass, finger roll did not suck yesterday.
Quote from: PGsHeroes32 on December 08, 2024, 10:52:52 AMKam is amazing.
One random tangent I do want to say though, the term "walking bucket"
Of all the sports cliches/terminology, this might be the most egregiously overused one.
It absolutely applies to Kam. But I also see it constantly used for guys like Wade Taylor, Jayden Epps, Caleb Love.
Basically if a guy can toss a ball into the ocean they are a walking bucket as the term currently stands.
Fair enough. My favorite hoops cliche to hate is "score the ball." That doesn't mean anything!
Unlike the others you named, Kam really IS a walking bucket! Yesterday, he could have gotten off a very make-able shot any time he wanted to. Poor Madison didn't have a single player who could even hope to stop him.
There must be some pretty intense practices with Chase or Stevie defending him!
Quote from: CountryRoads on December 08, 2024, 10:57:41 AMNPOY is pre tourney?
Yes.
https://apnews.com/article/ap-college-basketball-player-of-year-b2820fee259952b664327b49a112f193
Voting is done at the conclusion of the regular season and before the NCAA Tournament starts. Voting is based on regular season performance ...
IMO, how Kam has taken the leadership role on this team is more impressive than his play. I have loved watching him his whole career, but was a bit nervous on the leadership side going into the season. That was simply based on what appears to be a very happy go lucky personality. He has delivered the goods on all fronts.
The current basketball cliche that hurts my ears is 'young freshman'. How many old freshman are there?
All of the local weather people have started using 'stackable snow' this season. Ugghh.
Quote from: tower912 on December 08, 2024, 11:16:37 AMThe current basketball cliche that hurts my ears is 'young freshman'. How many old freshman are there?
All of the local weather people have started using 'stackable snow' this season. Ugghh.
There are definitely old seniors - looking at you, Chris.
OT but is there an accurate height measurement on Kam? I highly doubt he's 6'5"
Thanks, Woj!
Quote from: dpucane on December 08, 2024, 11:31:06 AMOT but is there an accurate height measurement on Kam? I highly doubt he's 6'5"
We won't know exactly till the combine, but he is taller than I originally thought. I'm thinking somewhere around 6'4".
Quote from: dpucane on December 08, 2024, 11:31:06 AMOT but is there an accurate height measurement on Kam? I highly doubt he's 6'5"
If memory serves, several of MUs recent NBA guys have come in 1-1,5in shorter than their listed height.
Those measurements are without shoes.
We will know at the combine for certain, but I would guess 6'3 and a half-6'4.
Plenty tall for an NBA pg, should hopefully get him drafted inside the top 20 if his trajectory continues
Broomie from Auburn is probably the slight favorite right now......but Kam and Flagg certainly in the discussion by the talking heads.
Lots of season left........just enjoy watching the last half of his senior season.
Quote from: tower912 on December 08, 2024, 11:16:37 AMThe current basketball cliche that hurts my ears is 'young freshman'. How many old freshman are there?
All of the local weather people have started using 'stackable snow' this season. Ugghh.
BYU freshman are usually pretty old.
Quote from: tower912 on December 08, 2024, 10:30:26 AMCoach said he wasn't going to get a point guard in the portal because he knew I could do it. So I worked all summer and my teammates worked all summer. (Paraphrasing, not quoting)
Kolek's injury last year was a blessing for Kam and the team this year. Kam showed he could run the team from the point and assume the leadership role (especially in the game at X), and it showed Shaka he didn't need to go get a PG, he had one already.
Quote from: tower912 on December 08, 2024, 11:16:37 AMThe current basketball cliche that hurts my ears is 'young freshman'. How many old freshman are there?
All of the local weather people have started using 'stackable snow' this season. Ugghh.
I'm guilty of listening to sports talk radio; you can't go 5 minutes without cringing at the mixed metaphors or gaffes in grammar.
Quote from: WhiteTrash on December 08, 2024, 01:49:15 PMI'm guilty of listening to sports talk radio; you can't go 5 minutes without cringing at the mixed metaphors or gaffes in grammar.
The one that irks me these days is referring to "rooms" in football, e.g. "Running Back Room."
Quote from: Billy Hoyle on December 08, 2024, 01:35:16 PMKolek's injury last year was a blessing for Kam and the team this year. Kam showed he could run the team from the point and assume the leadership role (especially in the game at X), and it showed Shaka he didn't need to go get a PG, he had one already.
Agree.
Quote from: dpucane on December 08, 2024, 11:31:06 AMOT but is there an accurate height measurement on Kam? I highly doubt he's 6'5"
Jim Jackson is 6' 6" and seemed several inches taller in that postgame interview.
Kam is no taller than 6' 3".
Quote from: BLWarrior91 on December 09, 2024, 07:30:14 AMJim Jackson is 6' 6" and seemed several inches taller in that postgame interview.
Kam is no taller than 6' 3".
Maybe he was wearing lifts
Kam is special. If this year turns into a deep tournament run like I think it will he becomes legendary and his number will be retired. He has the "it" factor. He is approaching Wade levels (final four) of impact on this team and season.
Quote from: Billy Hoyle on December 08, 2024, 02:09:03 PMThe one that irks me these days is referring to "rooms" in football, e.g. "Running Back Room."
Mine "That brings up a punting situation" instead of "They'll have to punt."
Quote from: DoctorV on December 08, 2024, 12:34:19 PMIf memory serves, several of MUs recent NBA guys have come in 1-1,5in shorter than their listed height.
Those measurements are without shoes.
We will know at the combine for certain, but I would guess 6'3 and a half-6'4.
Plenty tall for an NBA pg, should hopefully get him drafted inside the top 20 if his trajectory continues
I'd be surprised if he was taller than 6'2" barefoot. I didn't even know they listed him as 6'5"
Quote from: Afroman on December 08, 2024, 11:32:14 AMThanks, Woj!
Best thing he ever did for Marquette was recruiting Oso, Stevie and Kam. Of course, it took Shaka to develop that talent.
Quote from: muwarrior69 on December 09, 2024, 09:51:06 AMBest thing he ever did for Marquette was recruiting Oso, Stevie and Kam. Of course, it took Shaka to develop that talent.
As good of people as they are, we wouldn't view those kids in the same light had they been in Wojo's program. They may have been just as talented, but the culture they've been a part of for 4 years that Shaka has architected is what has made the biggest impact to their career and why we view them in such high regard.
Quote from: mileskishnish72 on December 09, 2024, 09:20:34 AMMine "That brings up a punting situation" instead of "They'll have to punt."
Yes! Another great example. This all reminds me of an old George Carlin bit (may his smutty soul rest in peace) about using unnecessary words and phrases, e.g. "rain event" and many other examples on flights and people wanting things to sound more important than they really are.
https://genius.com/George-carlin-airline-announcements-annotated#:~:text=People%20like%20to%20sound%20important,can%20get%20tickets%20to%20that!%E2%80%9D
Would you rather have a NPOY Kam, or NCAA tourney MVP Kam?
Obviously the latter, but also both.
Quote from: Skatastrophy on December 09, 2024, 11:00:42 AMWould you rather have a NPOY Kam, or NCAA tourney MVP Kam?
Obviously the latter, but also both.
Vote registered.
Quote from: mileskishnish72 on December 09, 2024, 09:20:34 AMMine "That brings up a punting situation" instead of "They'll have to punt."
Quote from: Billy Hoyle on December 08, 2024, 02:09:03 PMThe one that irks me these days is referring to "rooms" in football, e.g. "Running Back Room."
Quote from: mileskishnish72 on December 09, 2024, 09:20:34 AMMine "That brings up a punting situation" instead of "They'll have to punt."
Mine is the constant use of "QB1" now.
Keep having AA contenders under Shaka and we could be "GuardU" (both for developing guards...and how well they play defense).