Thoughts from the last three games

[tower912]

1. It is good to see scoring from a lot of different people.
2. Jake can play at this level.
3.  Buzz has installed the offense
4.  Guys are attempting to lead on the court.   Have seen JWilson, DWilson, Gardner, even Mayo chirping at other players to get them to the right spot.
5.  Freshmen require patience.  But man, do they have potential,
6.  This is a good rebounding team.   
7.   tOSU was probably just MU's annual early season CF, and not a harbinger.    This team can score.
8.  Gardner is starting to put forth effort on defense.
9.   When things are going poorly early, start humming Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds."   It helps. 

[warriorchick]

1. It is good to see scoring from a lot of different people.
2. Jake can play at this level.
3.  Buzz has installed the offense
4.  Guys are attempting to lead on the court.   Have seen JWilson, DWilson, Gardner, even Mayo chirping at other players to get them to the right spot.
5.  Freshmen require patience.  But man, do they have potential,
6.  This is a good rebounding team.   
7.   tOSU was probably just MU's annual early season CF, and not a harbinger.    This team can score.
8.  Gardner is starting to put forth effort on defense.
9.   When things are going poorly early, start humming Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds."   It helps. 

+1

[Sunbelt15]

10.  JJJ should take more of Mayo's minutes. He is more productive and offense seems to run smoother.

[IrwinFletcher]

I disagree on the Mayo comment.  The kid plays hard, attacks the rim, has a very nice shot, is a good FT shooter, plays good hard defense.

The problem we have is that Mayo JJJ and Jake all play the same position and all have been playing well.

[tower912]

I look for more 3 guard sets going forward.   Jake, JJJ, and Todd are all playing well.   STjr is not.  (though I think he will get better as the season progresses.   He is too good not to)   

[brewcity77]

I think it's a positive as long as they can all learn to play together. Those three can all get time at the swing 2/3 positions and as long as Jake and JJJ are making shots, any time two are out there it means teams have to respect us at the three-point line. In our first four games we were 13/71 (18.3%) from beyond the arc while in the last three we are 23/54 (42.6%) from deep. This team changes immensely when we have a legitimate three-point threat. It has made everyone better from the outside in.

The three of them will play 2 positions in general and thus far are averaging 57 minutes per game (granted, both JJJ and Mayo were held out of one game each). That sounds about perfect, with Jamil and Juan sharing the other 20 or so minutes at the 3.

[MarquetteDano]

7.   tOSU was probably just MU's annual early season CF, and not a harbinger.    This team can score.

I agree with most of your post but I do think that our offense will struggle more than last year.  When we play great defensive teams we are going to struggle.  But our defense and rebounding look better than last year which can make up the difference.

I am shocked how good of a rebounder DWill is.  Did you see some of those rebounds he had versus GW?  Unbelievable.  He has some faults but he may be the best rebounding point guard we have had in a long time.

[Sunbelt15]

I think it's a positive as long as they can all learn to play together. Those three can all get time at the swing 2/3 positions and as long as Jake and JJJ are making shots, any time two are out there it means teams have to respect us at the three-point line. In our first four games we were 13/71 (18.3%) from beyond the arc while in the last three we are 23/54 (42.6%) from deep. This team changes immensely when we have a legitimate three-point threat. It has made everyone better from the outside in.

The three of them will play 2 positions in general and thus far are averaging 57 minutes per game (granted, both JJJ and Mayo were held out of one game each). That sounds about perfect, with Jamil and Juan sharing the other 20 or so minutes at the 3.

I know Juan loves Jamil because that kid can never stay out of foul trouble. The frustration is that it's always a reaching foul. If he stays out out foul trouble, Juan would see less time.

Also, it seems Juan, Jamil, and STjr are shooting less outside shots this year. I wonder if that is at the request of Buzz. Last year Juan and STJr jumpers were deadly at the top of the key.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Tomorrow will say a lot to me about this team.  I thought we played pretty well against ASU, certainly after the first 10 minutes, but I think folks have made ASU to be some dominant team they aren't.  The last two games went as expected.  SDSU is athletic, how we do against them will show me what we got.  Certainly making progress from where we were two weeks ago, just not sure how much yet.

[tower912]

I don't think ASU is a world-beater.   I think they shot 3's really well in their gym and rode the home crowd energy to the win after MU played really well to get back in it.   I think their center had a career defensive game.   I think MU had a chance to win a road game against a major conference school and missed it's last couple of shots.   I think that is mildly inconvenient but hardly season-defining.   

[WarriorFan]

Last year Juan and STJr jumpers were deadly at the top of the key.
[/quote]

This year STJr Jumpers from top of key are also deadly... to our chances of winning.  Buzz needs to give him a simple rule - if you can't dunk it, don't shoot it.

[GGGG]

10.  JJJ should take more of Mayo's minutes. He is more productive and offense seems to run smoother.

Mayo way outplayed JJJ against GW.  Buzz is going to ride the hot hand game by game.

[MU82]

I am shocked how good of a rebounder DWill is.  Did you see some of those rebounds he had versus GW?  Unbelievable.  He has some faults but he may be the best rebounding point guard we have had in a long time.

James averaged 4.5 rebs as a freshman and 3.4 in his career. Diener averaged 3.9 rebs as a senior. Both were tough, scrappy guys who weren't afraid to challenge bigs. Derrick is averaging 4.1 this season and, yes, he has some of those same traits. Now, if only he could shoot it like Diener and drive like James!

[Dawson Rental]

nm

[MarquetteDano]

James averaged 4.5 rebs as a freshman and 3.4 in his career. Diener averaged 3.9 rebs as a senior. Both were tough, scrappy guys who weren't afraid to challenge bigs. Derrick is averaging 4.1 this season and, yes, he has some of those same traits. Now, if only he could shoot it like Diener and drive like James!

I would be more interesting in rebounding percentage than average.  That three amigo team with Novak played with more pace than this team, thus more rebounding chances.

Edit:  I do remember James being a really good offensive rebounder though.  It seems like DWill is better at defensive rebounding.

[wadesworld]

I agree with most of your post but I do think that our offense will struggle more than last year.  When we play great defensive teams we are going to struggle.  But our defense and rebounding look better than last year which can make up the difference.

I am shocked how good of a rebounder DWill is.  Did you see some of those rebounds he had versus GW?  Unbelievable.  He has some faults but he may be the best rebounding point guard we have had in a long time.

You've seen Duane Wilson rebounding already?!  Oh, wait...

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Mayo way outplayed JJJ against GW.  Buzz is going to ride the hot hand game by game.

I thought mayo looked horrible against GW. He's the one guy in the last three games who seems to be taking shots out of the framework of the offense. I also thought I'd seen a return of his somewhat poor body language, which I'm sure he's working on. I think he's kind of the Jay Cutler of our team.

I didn't see it mentioned, but what was the deal with his uniform switch? Was it a blood deal? I kept asking myself, "Who the hell is 13?"

[MarquetteDano]

I didn't see it mentioned, but what was the deal with his uniform switch? Was it a blood deal? I kept asking myself, "Who the hell is 13?"

Monster nose bleed.  Not sure if he got clocked on the play before but they went through two towels.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I didn't see it mentioned, but what was the deal with his uniform switch? Was it a blood deal? I kept asking myself, "Who the hell is 13?"

Some arm wood from Armwood.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=40807.0

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Todd will cause problems for San Diego defense today. I was impressed with his ball-handling skills  Friday as I watched him in person. That was a nasty thumping he got in the first half

[ATL MU Warrior]

I thought mayo looked horrible against GW. He's the one guy in the last three games who seems to be taking shots out of the framework of the offense. I also thought I'd seen a return of his somewhat poor body language, which I'm sure he's working on. I think he's kind of the Jay Cutler of our team.

I didn't see it mentioned, but what was the deal with his uniform switch? Was it a blood deal? I kept asking myself, "Who the hell is 13?"

Disagree.  If the game is still available on ESPN, watch from about the 9 minute mark of the first half until about 3 minutes left.  Mayo played the best stretch of basketball I have ever seen him play in that span.  Hit shots but more importantly was setting up others as well.

[MUSF]

I agree with most of your post but I do think that our offense will struggle more than last year.  When we play great defensive teams we are going to struggle. 

I don't know. Lost in the annual, sky is falling fear mongering, is the apparent fact that MU is actually a much better shooting team than last year. Jake, Todd, and JJJ are all serious threats, and Jamil & Juan can keep teams honest on D.

[PGsHeroes32]

I thought mayo looked horrible against GW. He's the one guy in the last three games who seems to be taking shots out of the framework of the offense. I also thought I'd seen a return of his somewhat poor body language, which I'm sure he's working on. I think he's kind of the Jay Cutler of our team.

I didn't see it mentioned, but what was the deal with his uniform switch? Was it a blood deal? I kept asking myself, "Who the hell is 13?"

What in the hell game were you watching?

[wadesworld]

Disagree.  If the game is still available on ESPN, watch from about the 9 minute mark of the first half until about 3 minutes left.  Mayo played the best stretch of basketball I have ever seen him play in that span.  Hit shots but more importantly was setting up others as well.

Agreed.  Again, I would have to think I've been the biggest Todd basher on here for a while now, but since he came back from the sprained ankle I think he has played great.  As long as he's playing within the flow of the offense he is a huge piece of the puzzle.