How this plays out

[Nukem2]

MU was going to be a far different team this year even before Todd's ineligibility.  Last two season, people marveled at how fast MU played.  Now with the loss of DJO, Jae and ( for now ) Todd with the addition of Trent, Steve and Jake, this team has a far different look.  Offensively, we'll probably see a lot of zones as perimeter shooting will be challenged.  Defensively, Vander and Todd were kind of interchangeable.  If Vander gets into foul trouble, will MU go to a zone?  Did see some zone at the Fish Fry scrimmage.  In any event, this team will have a far different feel than Buzz's prior teams.

[jesmu84]

MU was going to be a far different team this year even before Todd's ineligibility.  Last two season, people marveled at how fast MU played.  Now with the loss of DJO, Jae and ( for now ) Todd with the addition of Trent, Steve and Jake, this team has a far different look.  Offensively, we'll probably see a lot of zones as perimeter shooting will be challenged.  Defensively, Vander and Todd were kind of interchangeable.  If Vander gets into foul trouble, will MU go to a zone?  Did see some zone at the Fish Fry scrimmage.  In any event, this team will have a far different feel than Buzz's prior teams.

In the latest MJS article, Buzz stated he wanted to play at about the same pace as last year but wanted to get more efficient. I think last year's "style" is a very good model of how Buzz wants his teams to play and how he will build them going forward.

[Nukem2]

In the latest MJS article, Buzz stated he wanted to play at about the same pace as last year but wanted to get more efficient. I think last year's "style" is a very good model of how Buzz wants his teams to play and how he will build them going forward.

Agreed.  But personnel may force Buzz to adapt for this season.  This team could be more inside-oriented...?

[MU82]

Didn't say he was there yet. Said it wouldn't surprise me if he looked at getting paid for basketball. Getting drafted isn't impossible. Getting paid in the D-League or overseas is virtually guaranteed.

DJO was one of the more productive players in recent MU history and he was barely drafted. Todd Mayo getting drafted is impossible.

Of course I agree he almost surely could get paid overseas, and that might be the best thing for him.

[brewcity77]

DJO was one of the more productive players in recent MU history and he was barely drafted. Todd Mayo getting drafted is impossible.

Of course I agree he almost surely could get paid overseas, and that might be the best thing for him.

Productivity only means so much to a league that drafts so often on frame and potential. Mayo is 2 inches taller than DJO and would come in about a half-year younger if he came in after this year. Todd is also a better defender and I'd be shocked if he didn't have a proportionally longer wingspan as well. Name recognition also plays in his favor.

Likely? Probably not. But far from impossible, especially with the reputation Marquette has for putting unsung guys in the league of late.

[bilsu]

Assuming Mayo dropped below 12 credits for the semester, he will not be back this year. He did not take extra credits during the summer, so he had no margin for error.

[MU82]

Productivity only means so much to a league that drafts so often on frame and potential. Mayo is 2 inches taller than DJO and would come in about a half-year younger if he came in after this year. Todd is also a better defender and I'd be shocked if he didn't have a proportionally longer wingspan as well. Name recognition also plays in his favor.

Likely? Probably not. But far from impossible, especially with the reputation Marquette has for putting unsung guys in the league of late.

OK. We'll disagree on this and find out who's right down the line. If I had Mitt's bank accounts, I'd offer to make a 10k bet, but I don't!! Cheers.

[96warrior]

Bummer for Todd.  Would love to see him get his act together and return.  Have to admit, this a bit of a head scratcher, with Todd's comments to Hunt last month, and also knowing that MU has a department full of tutors dedicated in whole to athletes.  Hopefully Todd steps up, and learns from what could be just a minor setback in the big picture.

I'm curious about the timeline. Sounds like the ineligibility was something that was on the horizon for awhile, as opposed to being related to anything that happened this school year in the first semester. If that is the case, Mayo has some cajones to come back, knowing that this was coming and being remorseful about last season as conveyed to Hunt in the recent interview. I respect the guy to come back to an anticipated tough situation to try to work it out rather than bail altogether.

In other words, I find it less of a head scratcher and more of a confirmation that the time off this summer was the first step in a 180 turnaround for Mayo. Second step is to focus on getting his academics in order this semester so he can return to Big East play this season.

[Benny B]

Assuming Mayo dropped below 12 credits for the semester, he will not be back this year. He did not take extra credits during the summer, so he had no margin for error.

So if that's the case, why can't he be reinstated simply by enrolling for 12 (or 15 or whatever) credits in spring?

[brewcity77]

OK. We'll disagree on this and find out who's right down the line. If I had Mitt's bank accounts, I'd offer to make a 10k bet, but I don't!! Cheers.

I wouldn't take that bet even with Mitten's bank account...so you have the edge

I just hope it all works out for Todd.

[Dawson Rental]

Assuming Mayo dropped below 12 credits for the semester, he will not be back this year. He did not take extra credits during the summer, so he had no margin for error.

When I was at MU, I took a course during the semester break - I think they called it the intersession - where I went for several hours a day for two or three weeks straight and I got three credit hours for it.

[4everwarriors]

When I was at Marquette that session was called intercourse.

[Goose]

Little Murs

I took those XMas break classes for 5 years straight. No way I graduate without them.

[Benny B]

When I was at Marquette that session was called intercourse.

You're dating yourself 4ever... it's been a long, long time since any college student called it intercourse.

[NersEllenson]

DJO was one of the more productive players in recent MU history and he was barely drafted. Todd Mayo getting drafted is impossible.

Of course I agree he almost surely could get paid overseas, and that might be the best thing for him.

Todd Mayo plays with a much greater tempo, and rhythm than DJO ever will be able to play with.  DJO's body control isn't nearly what Mayo's is.  Todd gets more lift on his jumper, and is a far better shooter off the bounce than is DJO.  Mayo is a smooth player - DJO - quite herky jerky.  Todd won't ever have DJO's physical strength, but he'll play much more fluidly.  Go back to the Wisconsin game and Bo Ryan went through multiple defenders trying to get the right/best defender on Mayo.

Todd has a ton of potential, though he is fairly old for his class year - think he was poised to have a BIG year this year.  He definitely was MU's best looking freshman since Dominic James freshman year...

[GGGG]

Todd is also a MUCH better ball handler than DJO, so he could play point if necessary.  Regardless, if he decides to leave MU early, he will have to go to Europe or the D-League and work hard to get to the NBA. 

[MU82]

He'd better not spend too much time in the D-League. There have been a few exceptions, but not too many 26-year-old rookies make it in the NBA.

I wish I saw as much potential in Mayo as Ners does. What I saw from Mayo was a kid who caught lightning in a bottle when he was a newcomer but who was clearly overwhelmed in the second half of the schedule. Even had none of this happened, I would have given him a big "We'll see." But this did happen, and my skepticism about him only grows. One needs more than skill. One needs to mature and be a team player.

[brewcity77]

One needs more than skill. One needs to mature and be a team player.

To succeed and have a long career, you're right. To get a shot in the NBA, skill and upside are enough.

[dgies9156]

How I'd like it to play out.

MILWAUKEE, WI - January 1, 2013, -- Tonight when the Marquette Warriors take the floor for their Big East opener against the UConn Huskies they'll be missing one familiar face and welcoming back another one.

The Warriors will look to defend Al McGuire Court at the Bradley Center without the familiar and quixotic presence of Head Coach Buzz Williams who is serving a one game suspension but will once again have the springy presence of Sophomore Guard Todd Mayo.

Williams said that Mayo, who sat out the first semester after being ruled academically ineligible, took stock of himself and his academics during his time away from the team.

"It speaks to Todd's character that he delivered a grade point average that many people would have thought possible. In the 100 days he was away from our team he took 12 tests, wrote 4 papers and bought apples for all his professors..." Something about 'character revealed.

Pipe dream but a fella can hope right?

I agree. Many students have academic problems, but the ones with character and determination overcome them. I'm hoping Todd has lots of both. Candidly less for basketball than for his own future. If he doesn't make the NBA and he buckles down, he has a Marquette degree and that's worth something. It truly is. The scary thing is that if he squanders his opportunity -- and I'm optimistic he doesn't -- you wonder how many young men and women would kill for the opportunity to attend Marquette and be graduated as a Warrior/Golden Eagle.

Hang in there Todd. Show us what you're really made of.