view from 30,000 feet

[downtown85]

If you take a step back and look at the program, we are in great shape. Let us be thankful for our blessings but keep in mind there is a fine line between being an elite program and no post season invites. 

1. A great coach, easily the best coach since Al.
2. Great facilities
3. Great university support
4. A very good conference, albeit a bit underrated.
5. A lot of player talent on the team
6. A great recruiting class coming in next year

I think the program is on the upswing despite the difficulties this season. 

Regarding the 2013-2014 season, two things that should stand out from 30,000 ft and this is not to bash Jake, Derrick or Jamil.

1. you can't win at an elite level with a back up point guard and essentially a walk getting the most minutes at the guard spots.  College basketball is a guard's game and you only go as far as your guards will take you. One way to think about it is if Vander had come back and got Jakes minutes, would that have been enough to swing 5 close games from L to W?  I say yes, absolutely.  If this was the case, we would probably be dancing.   (This has been hashed out on this board more than anything else this year but that is the way I see it from 30,000 ft).

2.  We didn't have that player (it usually seems to be a forward), like Lazar, Jae, Jimmy etc. who took over their senior year and suddenly was the stud on that team.  As the season developed in the past few years, there was always that player who had the chip on their shoulder who took over games.  I am sorry to say, this year was Jamil's turn to be that player and he just never got there despite all his God given talent. 

I am sure Buzz will do a lot of soul searching in the off season makes some adjustments and next year.

There is a lot to look forward to. I am not worried that next year as we will go back to that underrated under appreciated team who exceeds the expectations of the sports chattering class.   

I am just bummed that my walk in the MU-basketball-free wilderness started early this year. :-( 

[willie warrior]

If you take a step back and look at the program, we are in great shape. Let us be thankful for our blessings but keep in mind there is a fine line between being an elite program and no post season invites. 

1. A great coach, easily the best coach since Al.
2. Great facilities
3. Great university support
4. A very good conference, albeit a bit underrated.
5. A lot of player talent on the team
6. A great recruiting class coming in next year

I think the program is on the upswing despite the difficulties this season. 

Regarding the 2013-2014 season, two things that should stand out from 30,000 ft and this is not to bash Jake, Derrick or Jamil.

1. you can't win at an elite level with a back up point guard and essentially a walk getting the most minutes at the guard spots.  College basketball is a guard's game and you only go as far as your guards will take you. One way to think about it is if Vander had come back and got Jakes minutes, would that have been enough to swing 5 close games from L to W?  I say yes, absolutely.  If this was the case, we would probably be dancing.   (This has been hashed out on this board more than anything else this year but that is the way I see it from 30,000 ft).

2.  We didn't have that player (it usually seems to be a forward), like Lazar, Jae, Jimmy etc. who took over their senior year and suddenly was the stud on that team.  As the season developed in the past few years, there was always that player who had the chip on their shoulder who took over games.  I am sorry to say, this year was Jamil's turn to be that player and he just never got there despite all his God given talent. 

I am sure Buzz will do a lot of soul searching in the off season makes some adjustments and next year.

There is a lot to look forward to. I am not worried that next year as we will go back to that underrated under appreciated team who exceeds the expectations of the sports chattering class.   

I am just bummed that my walk in the MU-basketball-free wilderness started early this year. :-( 

And what adjustments are you expecting Buzz to make next year, in regard to your two points above:
1. The same backup PG will be back. Do you really think Buzz will relegate him to 10-12 minutes per game as a backup?
2. What Senior will step up to be the Leader next year? The backup PG? Anderson?

While we can all be hopeful, next year could be another brutal year. Might as well turn the keys over to some underclassmen.

[RubyWiscy]

One thing no one has mentioned, but I think is important: There was no juco on the team this year.  Buzz loves the toughness these kids bring. Maybe Jake was the closest to that attitude, but he was not the high level talent Buzz' jucos have brought in his prior teams. I think the missing piece on this team was that chip on the shoulder mixed with talent to back it up. I think if you interpret some of Buzz' comments though the season, it is what he missed.  Why else would he not start the most talented players and instead the ones who worked the hardest.  He needs to figure out how to make those two characteristics the same player.

[downtown85]

And what adjustments are you expecting Buzz to make next year, in regard to your two points above:
1. The same backup PG will be back. Do you really think Buzz will relegate him to 10-12 minutes per game as a backup?
2. What Senior will step up to be the Leader next year? The backup PG? Anderson?

While we can all be hopeful, next year could be another brutal year. Might as well turn the keys over to some underclassmen.

Regarding 1.  I don't think Buzz is stupid and the bitter pill of no postseason this year will focus his mind.   Yes, I fully expect and hope that he will relegate him to his proper role given his talent.  OR Derrick surprises everyone and develops an offensive repertoire including a good 3pt shot and a 70%+ FT percentage. 

Regarding 2.  yes, this is worrying.  However, I am hoping that Burton (even though he is a sophomore) could be that "hard-nosed" player we've come to expect at the PF position. 

[frozena pizza]

It is a fine line indeed.  We are in the same group as Providence, Xavier, St. John's and Georgetown and within that group we could have finished in any order.  They all made the NCAA or NIT and we were left out.  That's a difference of a few possessions over the course of the season.

On your second point, one of the few bright spots for me this season was seeing Mayo take over as a clear leader.  He wanted the ball in his hands in crunch time and at times was brilliant.  Granted, we still lost a lot of those games and he had a few clunkers, but in close games I always wanted to see the ball in his hands.

[Litehouse]

However, I am hoping that Burton (even though he is a sophomore) could be that "hard-nosed" player we've come to expect at the PF position. 

Everything I've seen from Burton tells me he wants to take over this leadership role, back to when he was first committed and said he wanted to stay local to be a role model to other kids in Milwaukee.

[Clam Crowder]

Everything I've seen from Burton tells me he wants to take over this leadership role, back to when he was first committed and said he wanted to stay local to be a role model to other kids in Milwaukee.

Todd is gonna be the leader of the team. Hell, Todd was the leader of the team in close games the whole second half of the year. Regarding PG why the heck wouldn't Buzz bench Derrick...if Derrick IS even still here because news flash! Someone has to go because we are oversigned.


We will be fine.

[Nukem2]

Todd is gonna be the leader of the team. Hell, Todd was the leader of the team in close games the whole second half of the year. Regarding PG why the heck wouldn't Buzz bench Derrick...if Derrick IS even still here because news flash! Someone has to go because we are oversigned.


We will be fine.

Not oversigned at this point.  Do have a commitment from Malek Harris, but who knows how that will work out.  He may well go prep school given that he has missed most of the past 2 seasons ( incl all of this past season ).

[frozena pizza]

Not oversigned at this point.  Do have a commitment from Malek Harris, but who knows how that will work out.  He may well go prep school given that he has missed most of the past 2 seasons ( incl all of this past season ).

Yes, I think that would be ideal.  Would like to Harris go prep for a year to get things figured out (basketball and otherwise) then re-evaluate next season, rather than forcing out a returning player.