Majerus's voice keeps playing in my head re: UConn

[NavinRJohnson]

I don't know why it has stuck in my head so long, but for some reason I keep remembering Majerus calling a game in 09-10 and he was talking about UConn who was in the midst of a season not at all unlike the one MU is going through. Entered the season with high expectations on what initially appeared to be a talented team, but for a variety of reasons, overvalued, mismatched talent, chemistry, etc., etc., etc., it just never came together for them, they had a lousy year, and ended up losing early in the NIT.

Rick's  comment was, "UConn is a real mess. He's going to have to get some JUCOs in there or something to turn that thing around."

He was right, not necessarily about JUCOs, but out went Jerome Dyson, and Stanly Roninson (yuk!), Kemba Walker got a year older, and in came Lamb, Napier...UConn entered the followin (10-11) season unranked, picked to finish near the bottom of the Big East and went on one of the more improbable post-season runs ever to win the national little in 2011.

My point? It happens. I see a lot of similarities between that situation and MU. Was Calhoun a bad coach in 09-10 and suddenly became good again in 10-11? Of course not. When you don't have the horses or have the wrong horses, or both, things can look really bad. For all the constant chatter about starting lineups and who is playing what minuets, etc.,none of it means anything. You have to have 5 guys out there for 40 (or 50) minutes, and with this year's roster, there is simply no possible way to avoid gaping holes or bad combinations somewhere.

The Majerus comments tell the story...it's about the players on (or not on) your roster. Buzz is a bit of a victim if his own recruiting success...in past years we've had NBA caliber guys in terms of ability, who were also highly intelligent and would consistently play as if their lives depended on it. This year...not, and there was simply no way that was going to change this season with the players avaialble. We've seen that.

Am I suggesting MU will win a national title next year? No, but all you can do is chalk this up to a bad year with a flawed roster, and look forward to addition by subtraction, as well as addition by addition.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Agree, I hate to say this but as my dad would say about some of his players "That is a good graduation." I feel that way about Jamil. Everybody relies on him but he just cant get it done. Great kid but just did not live up to the hype and we run way too many possessions through him.

[brandx]

Pretty much agree with all you wrote.

I have been on record here as saying we will be very good by the end of next year. We will have a better player mix as far as talents complimenting each other, and I think when Buzz looks back after the season, he will have learned some lessons as well.

[We R Final Four]

I thought you were going to mention when Rick said "I'm not a real big Gay guy" when referring to UConn's Rudy Gay.

[NavinRJohnson]

I thought you were going to mention when Rick said "I'm not a real big Gay guy" when referring to UConn's Rudy Gay.

I thought that was Lavin.

[connie]

Thank you for a great post.

I am incredibly frustrated and so want to call out the performance of some of our players, especially after last night.  Your post presents the reasonable and appropriate response to the season we find ourselves enduring, and rather than bashing what we have, I will look forward to what comes.

Go Marquette!

[We R Final Four]

I thought that was Lavin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RXaERVhNuU

[NersEllenson]

This is all great...yet I'm not holding out hope for Derrick getting a year older and turning into Kemba Walker...

Perhaps Duane Wilson can be the man - yet I'm not as bullish on him being ready even next year - as some here are.  Even less bullish that Buzz will relent on the loyalty to Derrick.  Think Dawson will be ahead of Duane on depth chart, just based on early pre-season chatter, and what Dawson has gained from at least being able to get some game experience this year.

If we can get good PG play, we'll be solid next year....but make no mistake...losing Davante will be a huge loss....and Jamil...for as frustrating as he can be...covers a lot of space defensively and has rebounded really well....don't see Steve Taylor being nearly as athletic as Jamil...which is where it would have been really nice to have McKay in program for next year.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

This is all great...yet I'm not holding out hope for Derrick getting a year older and turning into Kemba Walker...

Perhaps Duane Wilson can be the man - yet I'm not as bullish on him being ready even next year - as some here are.  Even less bullish that Buzz will relent on the loyalty to Derrick.  Think Dawson will be ahead of Duane on depth chart, just based on early pre-season chatter, and what Dawson has gained from at least being able to get some game experience this year.

If we can get good PG play, we'll be solid next year....but make no mistake...losing Davante will be a huge loss....and Jamil...for as frustrating as he can be...covers a lot of space defensively and has rebounded really well....don't see Steve Taylor being nearly as athletic as Jamil...which is where it would have been really nice to have McKay in program for next year.

Agree with everything except Jamil. As my dad would say..."That is a good graduation."

[WarriorFan]

Any chance Derrick graduates early?  THAT would be a good graduation!

[ChicosBailBonds]

guards game

[ATWizJr]

Agree, I hate to say this but as my dad would say about some of his players "That is a good graduation." I feel that way about Jamil. Everybody relies on him but he just cant get it done. Great kid but just did not live up to the hype and we run way too many possessions through him.

Did your dad coach college BB?

[rocket surgeon]

I don't know why it has stuck in my head so long, but for some reason I keep remembering Majerus calling a game in 09-10 and he was talking about UConn who was in the midst of a season not at all unlike the one MU is going through. Entered the season with high expectations on what initially appeared to be a talented team, but for a variety of reasons, overvalued, mismatched talent, chemistry, etc., etc., etc., it just never came together for them, they had a lousy year, and ended up losing early in the NIT.

Rick's  comment was, "UConn is a real mess. He's going to have to get some JUCOs in there or something to turn that thing around."

He was right, not necessarily about JUCOs, but out went Jerome Dyson, and Stanly Roninson (yuk!), Kemba Walker got a year older, and in came Lamb, Napier...UConn entered the followin (10-11) season unranked, picked to finish near the bottom of the Big East and went on one of the more improbable post-season runs ever to win the national little in 2011.

My point? It happens. I see a lot of similarities between that situation and MU. Was Calhoun a bad coach in 09-10 and suddenly became good again in 10-11? Of course not. When you don't have the horses or have the wrong horses, or both, things can look really bad. For all the constant chatter about starting lineups and who is playing what minuets, etc.,none of it means anything. You have to have 5 guys out there for 40 (or 50) minutes, and with this year's roster, there is simply no possible way to avoid gaping holes or bad combinations somewhere.

The Majerus comments tell the story...it's about the players on (or not on) your roster. Buzz is a bit of a victim if his own recruiting success...in past years we've had NBA caliber guys in terms of ability, who were also highly intelligent and would consistently play as if their lives depended on it. This year...not, and there was simply no way that was going to change this season with the players avaialble. We've seen that.

Am I suggesting MU will win a national title next year? No, but all you can do is chalk this up to a bad year with a flawed roster, and look forward to addition by subtraction, as well as addition by addition.

+ a bunch-i agree with it all navin and i am looking forward to the next few seasons with the guys we have coming in.  i think we are a little spoiled and our expectations were high and that's o.k., but, we have lots to look foward to

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Did your dad coach college BB?

High school in Illinois for some very successful programs.