#9 backcourt in the country....

[dw3dw3dw3]

A little lofty,  but nice to get the praise... based on VB,DJO,DB,JC.
http://msn.foxsports.com/collegebasketball/story/2010-11-NCAA-basketball-preview-best-backcourts-Duke-Michigan-State-VIllanova-102810

[NavinRJohnson]

A little lofty,  but nice to get the praise... based on VB,DJO,DB,JC.
http://msn.foxsports.com/collegebasketball/story/2010-11-NCAA-basketball-preview-best-backcourts-Duke-Michigan-State-VIllanova-102810

Why is it lofty?

[bamamarquettefan]

We will sure find out.  Five games against his other 11 elite backcourts, and none of them at the Bradley Center:

9. Marquette: Darius Johnson-Odom is a big-time scorer who averaged 13 points in his first season in the Big East. Freshman Vander Blue is ideal for Buzz Williams' system, and Dwight Buycks and Junior Cadougan will give the Golden Eagles another stellar group of guards.

12. Vanderbilt – away Dec. 29
8. Georgetown – away Feb. 13
6. Pittsburgh – away Jan. 8
3. Villanova – away Feb. 2
1. Duke – neutral court Nov. 22

[dw3dw3dw3]

Why is it lofty?

I would think it would be pretty easy to find more than 10 backcourts with > 23 average pts (just guessing) returning.... Its assuming every one of those players is going to take the next step in their progression. A lot of players reach their peak potential pretty early and don't step up to that next level.

[jmayer1]

I would think it would be pretty easy to find more than 10 backcourts with > 23 average pts (just guessing) returning.... Its assuming every one of those players is going to take the next step in their progression. A lot of players reach their peak potential pretty early and don't step up to that next level.

I think MU will be a lower top 25/receiving votes team this year.  I don't think they have even a top 40 frontcourt so that means that their backcourt must be better than a lot of other team's for them to perform at that level.

[Aughnanure]

Nice to get some respect, and one that isnt in the "underrated" type of mentions. But I agree its a little lofty, especially when all other previews have not given our players and team this much respect because of how little we will know about the new players.

Im surprised Kansas State isn't on that list. Yes they lost Clemente, but Pullen might be the best guard in the country and they basically have the same amount of question marks after Pullen (probably less) in the backcourt as we do after DJO....and right now, you'd think Pullen gets the benefit of the doubt over DJO.

[bilsu]

I am not sure it is lofty. They are overrating Blue, but do not even mention Smith. DJO only average 13 points last year, but I expect him to average 18 this year. Blue 6 pts, Buyckes 8pts, Cadougan 10 pts, Smith 4. We are good, because you can put our starting guards on the bench and we still have better guards on the floor than a lot of other teams.

[mugrad99]

I am not sure it is lofty. They are overrating Blue, but do not even mention Smith. DJO only average 13 points last year, but I expect him to average 18 this year. Blue 6 pts, Buyckes 8pts, Cadougan 10 pts, Smith 4. We are good, because you can put our starting guards on the bench and we still have better guards on the floor than a lot of other teams.

Not sure if they are overrating Blue. He turned a lot of heads during the USA practices and tournament. Maybe our staff is downplaying how good he really is going to be immediately.

[Lighthouse 84]

I am not sure it is lofty. They are overrating Blue, but do not even mention Smith. DJO only average 13 points last year, but I expect him to average 18 this year. Blue 6 pts, Buyckes 8pts, Cadougan 10 pts, Smith 4. We are good, because you can put our starting guards on the bench and we still have better guards on the floor than a lot of other teams.

What makes you think Junior can get 10 pts per game?  Nothing he showed last year or in this summer's Pro-Am gives me any comfort to think he can get that many.  Can he dish the rock to others to get their averages up?  No doubt.  But I'm not as confident with his scoring abilities yet to pencil in 10 a game in the scoring column.

[Skatastrophy]

What makes you think Junior can get 10 pts per game?  Nothing he showed last year or in this summer's Pro-Am gives me any comfort to think he can get that many.  Can he dish the rock to others to get their averages up?  No doubt.  But I'm not as confident with his scoring abilities yet to pencil in 10 a game in the scoring column.

I don't know about 10 a game, but during Midnight Madness he was getting to the hoop at will (not that there was a ton of defense).

[bilsu]

They are overrating Blue, because they are considering him to be the starting point guard. Blue will start if MU goes to a three guard lineup and than in that case he will be at the three not point guard. Maybe they are underrating Cadougan. I think Cadougan will average 10 a game. He will take the ball to the hoop, which will usually result in him dishing off to another player. However, he will take enough shots and free throws to average 10. He is not really a three point threat.

[Coleman]

I think MU will be a lower top 25/receiving votes team this year.

I don't know about that, I'd love it if you were right...but I'm doubting we crack the top 25 this year (next year we should be all over it). Receiving votes maybe.

[NavinRJohnson]

MU will be well within the Top 25 for much of the season.

[Jacks DC]

#9 seems pretty high, but our backcourt would be much more effective if we had more size in the post to collapse defenses a bit more.  Hopefully someone will emerge to do that, but I'm not holding my breath.

[MarquetteDano]

They are overrating Blue, because they are considering him to be the starting point guard. Blue will start if MU goes to a three guard lineup and than in that case he will be at the three not point guard. Maybe they are underrating Cadougan. I think Cadougan will average 10 a game. He will take the ball to the hoop, which will usually result in him dishing off to another player. However, he will take enough shots and free throws to average 10. He is not really a three point threat.

If you are right about Cadougan (averaging 10 per game) we are in for a VERY good season.  I figured he would average 5-6 points per game.  I hope you are right and I am wrong on this count.

[mu-rara]

We don't need JC scoring.  We need him distributing and playing D.  Maybe we need him scoring another year, but we have plenty of scoring. 

If they leave the lane open, sure, go for it....but we don't need it.

[Lighthouse 84]

If you are right about Cadougan (averaging 10 per game) we are in for a VERY good season.  I figured he would average 5-6 points per game.  I hope you are right and I am wrong on this count.

That's how I see Junior's scoring as well.  and Rara's right.  we need him to penetrate and distribute.

[GoldenWarrior]

#9 in the country seems a bit lofty to me.  Look I love our team and support them, but I can't say they are a #9 backcourt when it consists of a potential starter in a guy who tries to take everyone he faces on one-on-one And1 mixtape style the great majority of the time he touches it on the offensive side of the ball.  Smith, VB and Cadougan who are all big '?' marks really with some hype behind each, but really we haven't seen them play at all (2 of them) and barely with Junior.  DJO was great last season, but I think he still needs to show he can do it again this season as well and isn't a one year wonder.