SI Rankings - MU at 6

[mu35577]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-basketball/news/20130312/college-basketball-power-rankings/?sct=uk_t11_a4

Up from 12 last week. And for once, MU's late game play-call/execution out of a time out is praised.

[Wade for President]

The best part of the link (other than the fact that Winn has us at #6), is that they have a GIF of Blue's winning drive against St. John's.  That play never gets old.

[Wade for President]

Lockett needs to be praised for his keen ability to get to the offensive rim for the tip back.  He is usually in position to make a play (he damn near had the tip in OT at Cincy), and the clip of Vander's winning drive perfectly highlights how Trent will always try to get to the offensive glass (despite how far away he is at the time of the original play).

[reinko]

The best part of the link (other than the fact that Winn has us at #6), is that they have a GIF of Blue's winning drive against St. John's.  That play never gets old.

Agreed!

[Sunbelt15]

Lockett needs to be praised for his keen ability to get to the offensive rim for the tip back.  He is usually in position to make a play (he damn near had the tip in OT at Cincy), and the clip of Vander's winning drive perfectly highlights how Trent will always try to get to the offensive glass (despite how far away he is at the time of the original play).

That's what happens when you're the Dennis Rodman of the team. I expected more scoring from him the beginning of the season, but have come to accept his rebounding objective while on the court.

[ATWizJr]

Agreed!

Man, he put that thing up high off the board.  Great touch.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Those USF shorts shown in the article are pretty sweet

[robertoc]

That's what happens when you're the Dennis Rodman of the team. I expected more scoring from him the beginning of the season, but have come to accept his rebounding objective while on the court.

Agreed.  I think Lockett has really grown on me throughout the season.  I too thought he may be the next big scorer for us.  But that wasn't what he is.  He plays great defense, rebounds (especially on the offensive glass) passes well; and every now and then has some terrific offensive plays...

[Stronghold]

Agreed.  I think Lockett has really grown on me throughout the season.  I too thought he may be the next big scorer for us.  But that wasn't what he is.  He plays great defense, rebounds (especially on the offensive glass) passes well; and every now and then has some terrific offensive plays...

Agree as well.  Lockett has been a solid contributor in many ways.  He's not our go-to guy but I trust him with the ball and feel like he plays smart like a senior should.  I had higher scoring expectations for him just based off of his previous performances at ASU but I'm sure glad he's at Marquette.

[4th and State]

Agree as well.  Lockett has been a solid contributor in many ways.  He's not our go-to guy but I trust him with the ball and feel like he plays smart like a senior should.  I had higher scoring expectations for him just based off of his previous performances at ASU but I'm sure glad he's at Marquette.

Definitely not the guy a lot of thought he would be, but Lockett has been a solid role player.  I wish he would shoot from three a little bit more when he's open, but he has been playing better towards the end of the season and seems more comfortable on the floor.  Still makes the occasional dumb offensive foul or TO that drives me crazy but overall he's been good.

[Benny B]

Lockett needs to be praised for his keen ability to get to the offensive rim for the tip back.  He is usually in position to make a play (he damn near had the tip in OT at Cincy), and the clip of Vander's winning drive perfectly highlights how Trent will always try to get to the offensive glass (despite how far away he is at the time of the original play).

And thus spake the genius of Buzz (or whichever assistant drew up that play)... the first objective of the play was to get Obekpa out of position so that Vander could kiss the ball softly off the high glass.  If the ball goes in, great --- but that's not a gimme shot, even for Vander, so the secondary objective was to (so long as Vander got it over Obekpa) have at least one - or in this case, two* - players in perfect position for a put-back knowing that when the ball comes high off the glass, it has a tendency to bounce around/off the rim vertically more than horizontally... which makes for an extremely easy tip-in/dunk.

*Davante was also in position, but his job was to screen Balamou, giving Jamil a clear path to the rim.  Lockett was fortunate that a path opened up for him when Obekpa went too deep, and he deserves credit for taking advantage of that opening.  Jamil was the primary option for the rebound, and if that ball bounced off the rim the opposite way, his timing was dead on for a monster jam with 0.2-0.3 to spare.  By staying on the floor, Davante was in position to grab the ball if it can't be tipped & falls directly to the floor, which would have had him in ideal position with 1.0 remaining to go back to the rim with one of his patented quick put-backs or at the very least, draw a foul.

That play - by design - gave MU four different ways to win the game.  That's a COY play right there, folks.

[The Process]

Agreed!

Never gets old.

[CAGASS24]

Could watch that thing so many times - only thing better is if Wainwright sprang to life on the make too.  Buzz and Chew must really like having two pretty damn good former head coaches on their staff - Chew has the benefit of learning from three head coaches for the price of one all while getting paid very handsomely.  Bring in another top notch class or two, another conf championship, and a deep run and he'll have his pick of major jobs.  Not bad for a guy with a very non-flattering playing career who coached AAU for awhile.

[77ncaachamps]

Could watch that thing so many times - only thing better is if Wainwright sprang to life on the make too.  Buzz and Chew must really like having two pretty damn good former head coaches on their staff - Chew has the benefit of learning from three head coaches for the price of one all while getting paid very handsomely.  Bring in another top notch class or two, another conf championship, and a deep run and he'll have his pick of major jobs.  Not bad for a guy with a very non-flattering playing career who coached AAU for awhile.

He acts like he's been there.

[forgetful]

Could watch that thing so many times - only thing better is if Wainwright sprang to life on the make too.  Buzz and Chew must really like having two pretty damn good former head coaches on their staff - Chew has the benefit of learning from three head coaches for the price of one all while getting paid very handsomely.  Bring in another top notch class or two, another conf championship, and a deep run and he'll have his pick of major jobs.  Not bad for a guy with a very non-flattering playing career who coached AAU for awhile.

I would have given good money to see him start doing Buzz's high-stepping dance (DJO's tip-in).