JaJaun Johnson ready to practice soon

[Tugg Speedman]

JaJaun Johnson ready to practice soon


http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/241570561.html?ipad=y

Freshman guard JaJuan Johnson, who sprained his ankle in practice last week, should be ready to rejoin practice in the next day or so, coach Buzz Williams said Wednesday.

Williams, however, could no say when Johnson would play again.

Johnson, who showed the ability at times to make a shot for a team that struggles with the jumper, has received spot minutes this season.

With a big home game Saturday against No. 4 Villanova, the Golden Eagles (11-8, 3-3) are beginning the big push for an NCAA tournament berth. After opening with four of their first six Big East games on the road, Marquette, which has not lost a home conference game since 2011, will be at the Bradley Center for the next two.

Logically, Williams could begin paring the rotation at this point, which might give fewer minutes to freshmen such as Johnson when he is ready, Deonte Burton and John Dawson, who had a big game Monday night in the victory at Georgetown. Williams told me he's going to give the minutes to the deserving players and will keep the point guard situation the sam with Derrick Wilson starting, but he added that Dawson could see more minutes in the future.

If Marquette is to go to the tournament for the sixth time in Williams' six years, it will largely be up to the four seniors to carry the team, particuarly Davante Gardner, who has put together consistently good games since moving into the starting lineup five games ago, and Jamil Wilson, who is starting to get it together on a consistent basis.

[Texas Western]

We need JJJ to be healthy and then give him some decent run. This kid has a very quick first step and excellent court vision.  Together with a healthy Steven Taylor it  would give us a completely different dimension offensively.

[Hards Alumni]

We need JJJ to be healthy and then give him some decent run. This kid has a very quick first step and excellent court vision.  Together with a healthy Steven Taylor it  would give us a completely different dimension offensively.

I'm fine with JJJ playing more if he can learn to play defense.  I don't need another defensive sieve playing just because he can score.

[MarquetteDano]

I'm fine with JJJ playing more if he can learn to play defense.  I don't need another defensive sieve playing just because he can score.

Agreed.  If we lost a game 60-50, there is a portion of this board asking for players to be replaced.  If we lost 90-80, that same crew would be saying things like "the other team got hot" and "I like what I am seeing from player x".

You still lost by ten either way.

[Aughnanure]

I'm fine with JJJ playing more if he can learn to play defense.  I don't need another defensive sieve playing just because he can score.

Agree in principle, but I also feel many here 'assume' that the starters Buzz are automatically the best defensive players (and not just the best, but significantly better than the next option). Derrick is good, but not the defensive force he is made out to be and Dawson is not the lapse defender some believe he is.

Also, some here forget that a good offense often leads to a better defense (i.e., no run outs, no transition buckets, boost of energy/confidence, time to get set up on D).

[MarquetteDano]

Also, some here forget that a good offense often leads to a better defense (i.e., no run outs, no transition buckets, boost of energy/confidence, time to get set up on D).

And a good defense can also lead to better offense as well.

The point is defense is 50% of the game and I think there are quite a few posters here who give it about 20% thought.

[StillWarriors]

Agree in principle, but I also feel many here 'assume' that the starters Buzz are automatically the best defensive players (and not just the best, but significantly better than the next option). Derrick is good, but not the defensive force he is made out to be and Dawson is not the lapse defender some believe he is.

Also, some here forget that a good offense often leads to a better defense (i.e., no run outs, no transition buckets, boost of energy/confidence, time to get set up on D).

Dawson generally seems to know what he is supposed to be doing on defense, he just really seems to struggle staying in front of him man against dribble penetration. Other teams have clearly noticed, because they seem to attack that all the time as soon as he comes in. Gtown didn't really hurt us when they beat him due to either help D or Dawson recovering and blocking a shot from behind on one play that I can recall late in the game.

[avid1010]

my belief is that there is a huge difference in what allows a player to be good on defense compared to offense.  there isn't much buzz can do to make d. wilson a better shooter today, but he can work with dawson to understand the team defensive scheme better today.  i always loved coaching defense because anyone could play defense (obviously that changes at a high D1 level), but relatively speaking there isn't anyone on mu's team that doesn't have the physical requirements to guard their position.  so with that belief...if we have better offensive options sitting on the bench because they can't play defense, i think a coach has to look in the mirror a bit.  i always thought buzz did a great job with this...jimmy butler probably the best example of a guy who came in and was just told to focus on defense and rebounding.  vander had a similar mindset as a freshman.  it would be interesting to see how buzz and co. work with the freshmen on their defensive skills/understanding on a day-to-day basis.    

[Lennys Tap]

Paul Westhead and Mike D'Antoni have coached very entertaining teams who put up tons of points. I'll take boring, defensive minded Pat Riley and Greg Popovich over those guys seven days a week.

[NersEllenson]

Dawson generally seems to know what he is supposed to be doing on defense, he just really seems to struggle staying in front of him man against dribble penetration. Other teams have clearly noticed, because they seem to attack that all the time as soon as he comes in. Gtown didn't really hurt us when they beat him due to either help D or Dawson recovering and blocking a shot from behind on one play that I can recall late in the game.

I can recall one time in the G'Town game where Dawson's guy beat him off the bounce in a straight up guarding situation - meaning, not a case where Dawson was providing help D - and trying to recover back to his man...and that was the drive in OT, which he ended up blocking and stealing the ball from behind.

There were 2 other occasions where Dawson was providing help, and wasn't able to recover in time, and his guy got an edge on him..and Dawson was called for a foul.  Also so Derrick in 10 minutes of action against G'Town get taken off the dribble twice and scored on in straight man situations, not in a recovery situation.

G'Town's guards are some of the best in the league.  Dawson is a solid defender, particularly solid for a freshman.  Derrick is slightly better at this point, yet the difference isn't much of one.  Whereas the offensive threat Dawson provides comparative to Derrick is a pretty big difference.

[MuMark]

Both Riley and Pop are excellent offensive coaches.

Pat Riley coached the Lakers with Magic, Worthy, and Kareem......they were nicknamed "showtime" for a reason....

Paul Westhead and Mike D'Antoni have coached very entertaining teams who put up tons of points. I'll take boring, defensive minded Pat Riley and Greg Popovich over those guys seven days a week.

[Sunbelt15]

Dawson generally seems to know what he is supposed to be doing on defense, he just really seems to struggle staying in front of him man against dribble penetration. Other teams have clearly noticed, because they seem to attack that all the time as soon as he comes in. Gtown didn't really hurt us when they beat him due to either help D or Dawson recovering and blocking a shot from behind on one play that I can recall late in the game.

Everybody seems to struggle with defense, especially with these new "no touch" rules.

[MUfan12]

Everybody seems to struggle with defense, especially with these new "no touch" rules.

Which pretty much went out the window on Monday.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Everybody seems to struggle with defense, especially with these new "no touch" rules.

Yea, that really kinda disappeared after the first 3 weeks of the year.

[Aughnanure]

And a good defense can also lead to better offense as well.

The point is defense is 50% of the game and I think there are quite a few posters here who give it about 20% thought.

And some believe defense is 80% of the game.

[MarquetteDano]

And some believe defense is 80% of the game.

LOL.  Okay.  I bet if you took the number of posts on this site about offense versus defense it wouldn't even be close.

[Lennys Tap]

LOL.  Okay.  I bet if you took the number of posts on this site about offense versus defense it wouldn't even be close.

+1.

[keefe]

Agreed.  If we lost a game 60-50, there is a portion of this board asking for players to be replaced.  If we lost 90-80, that same crew would be saying things like "the other team got hot" and "I like what I am seeing from player x".

You still lost by ten either way.

Well, at least 90-80 would be more fun to watch. There's a reason Americans don't care for soccer.

[tower912]

Soccer is huge in your neck of the woods.   

[We R Final Four]

And a good defense can also lead to better offense as well.

The point is defense is 50% of the game and I think there are quite a few posters here who give it about 20% thought.

100% of zero is still 100%. 

[MarquetteDano]

Well, at least 90-80 would be more fun to watch. There's a reason Americans don't care for soccer.

I concur.  And I am even a soccer fan.

[jesmu84]

Well, at least 90-80 would be more fun to watch. There's a reason Americans don't care for soccer.

Thanks, Mr. Goodell

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Jajuan Johnson ‏@chosenJAUN 4h

It felt good being able to practice today. Had to wipe some of the dust

Twitta TrackaTrackaTracka

[Tugg Speedman]

Jajuan Johnson ‏@chosenJAUN 4h

It felt good being able to practice today. Had to wipe some of the dust

Outstanding!!!!

[Earl Tatum]

Come on JJJ we need you.