Rab's words #27 - Dec. 7th 2007

[spiral97]

http://gomarquette.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/082107aad.html

`Rel...

"Welcome to Marquette, can I take your order, please?"

"Uh...yeah...I'd like 12 McSteals, 21 McAssists and 12 McOffensive rebounds. Oh, and throw in a .528 McShooting Percentage."

"Wow, big appetite tonight. So you'd like a number 22?"

"Yeah, the McNeal McDeal."

"Anything to drink with that?"

"Ok...yeah...um, I'll have an extra large Diet Deflections."

"Thanks for your order, please drive around...that'll be 49 career victories at the first window."

Jerel McNeal is off to a fast and furious "McJunior" season. The 6'3 "do it all" guard from Chicago's south side is leading the Golden Eagles in scoring, offensive rebounding and assists...shooting an outstanding 53% from the field and, as usual, leading the Golden Eagle's parade to the free throw line with 27 charity attempts.. In the past, if you had to file a complaint against Jerel, it would have been in the area of decision making and turnovers. Not the case six games into his junior campaign...Jerel has coughed it up only 14 times this season, is shooting an incredible percentage from the field and in his last outing posted his 3rd career "double-double" by handing out a very "Christmasy" 10 assists vs. UW Milwaukee. His deflections still lead our team in practice and games...his defensive presence is as ominous as ever...yes, Jerel has been a very good little Golden Eagle this Holiday season...he can expect a stocking over flowing with "goodies" on Christmas day.

Like those before him...Diener, Novak, Henry, Wardle and Wade...Jerel is experiencing what happens to ALL those who walk the halls of the Al McGuire Center...he is improving. Pay attention people...assists are up, TO's down...shooting percentage up...scoring up...rebounding up (can get better `tho) and day in day out leadership that is off the charts. Rab has said it before...Rab will say it again...Diener, Wade and Novak did NOT arrive at Marquette as sure fire, bonafide NBA prospects, but they definitely graduated to a high paying first year job. That same transformation is happening right before your eyes in the form of #22, Jerel McNeal.

So what's up next for the "Marquette Marauder," "The Thief of 4th Street"..."The Beowulf of the Big East"? Winning that's what. This young man has a thirst for championships and he approaches each day as if he has been wandering the Sahara for days without water. Individual accolades are nice...no one will ever take away last year's Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors...but Jerel wants to win and win big.

Ramblings...

Anyone out there like to compare scores as the season progresses? C'mon...get your hand up there. We love to saunter into the break room and brag on our favorite team. OK, here is one that is right up our alley...take this to the barber shop with you. Our season opener was a 76-68 win over an experienced and pesky IUPUI Jaguar squad. Recently UMass, of the Atlantic 10, went into the Carrier Dome and posted a 107-100 win over the Orange...and just days ago, UMass pulled the charter bus up to the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis and exited with an 89-77 loss ...so, if my math is correct, that makes the Golden Eagles.....better than the `Cuse. Nice try, but this "blogger" is NOT falling into that trap. I will, however, note that IUPUI cracked the www.collegeinsider.com Mid-Major top 25 this week checking in at #25.

No your eyes did not deceive you, the gentleman sitting court side at last Friday's game versus UW Milwaukee that had a strikingly similar look to that of Packer's head man, Mike McCarthy, was indeed Coach McCarthy. When he is NOT busy trying to win the NFC, Coach McCarthy is as die hard a Marquette basketball fan as there is out there. Coach McCarthy spoke to the team after Friday night's victory and preached a simple message..."Smart and tough rise to the top." Good advice as " smart and tough" are playing out quite nicely a short ride up I-43.

Prior to Friday's 100-65 win over UW Milwaukee, the Golden Eagles were #11 in ESPN.com's Power 16 poll...Jay Bilas will provide color commentary for "The Duece" Saturday in Madison...folks around the country are seeing first hand what we experienced in our scrimmage versus Kansas State...Michael Beasley is the "real deal", "a PTP'er", "he's special", "class personified", "an absolute star in the making"...pull out the Dickie V imitations when you read that sentence.

[TallTitan34]

McPhoto

[sailwi]

You could have photo shopped McSteal into one of those throw back badget unis and gotten the same result.

[Henry Sugar]

McAvatar (created by MU_Chi-IL)

[Henry Sugar]

http://gomarquette.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/082107aad.html

`Rel...

"Welcome to Marquette, can I take your order, please?"

"Uh...yeah...I'd like 12 McSteals, 21 McAssists and 12 McOffensive rebounds. Oh, and throw in a .528 McShooting Percentage."

"Wow, big appetite tonight. So you'd like a number 22?"

"Yeah, the McNeal McDeal."

"Anything to drink with that?"

"Ok...yeah...um, I'll have an extra large Diet Deflections."

"Thanks for your order, please drive around...that'll be 49 career victories at the first window."

Jerel McNeal is off to a fast and furious "McJunior" season. The 6'3 "do it all" guard from Chicago's south side is leading the Golden Eagles in scoring, offensive rebounding and assists...shooting an outstanding 53% from the field and, as usual, leading the Golden Eagle's parade to the free throw line with 27 charity attempts.. In the past, if you had to file a complaint against Jerel, it would have been in the area of decision making and turnovers. Not the case six games into his junior campaign...Jerel has coughed it up only 14 times this season, is shooting an incredible percentage from the field and in his last outing posted his 3rd career "double-double" by handing out a very "Christmasy" 10 assists vs. UW Milwaukee. His deflections still lead our team in practice and games...his defensive presence is as ominous as ever...yes, Jerel has been a very good little Golden Eagle this Holiday season...he can expect a stocking over flowing with "goodies" on Christmas day.

Jerel's season trends in comparison with last year:  Highlights in bold are those areas where he has improved.  Groups with ** are areas where McNeal is considered to be great (or close to it) according to the metrics.

FG% - 0.506 (up significantly)
3FG% - 0.267 (4 of 15 - down moderately)
FT% - 0.593 (16 of 27 - down moderately)
OR/Game - 2.1 (15 total ; second on team - up significantly)
TR/Game - 4.9 (34 total ; third on team - up significantly)
PPG - 15.7 (first on team, up significantly)
APG - 3.4 (24 total, second on team ; up slightly)
TO - 2.4/game (17 total, second highest on team ; down significantly)

Pomeroy Stats
PPWS - 1.08 (up slightly)
Offensive Efficiency - 106 (up significantly)
Usage - 21% (flat)
% of Shots - 29% (down slightly)
eFG% - 0.528 (up moderately)
**OR% - 9.2% (up significantly) - over 10% is good for a post player!
DR% - 11% (down significantly)
**TO Rate - 16.4% (down significantly) - below 15% is great
**Steal Rate - 4.6% (down slightly) above 5% is great
FT Rate - 18% (down significantly)

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

McPhoto

This is excellent. They should get a blown up size or one of those cutout heads of this photo for the student section.

[mu_hilltopper]

Um, shouldn't it be a photoshop of the Hamburglar, seeing as he is a McCharacter that steals?

[TallTitan34]

In theory yes it should be the hamburglar.  It's just that you can only find high-res photos of Ronald McDonald.

Your hamburgar picture actually is one of the best ones I've seen.  I'll try using that!

[Henry Sugar]

Totally OT, but the mention of the hamburgler reminds me of this.

you know... in case you were planning for next year's halloween party early

[Avenue Commons]

McPhoto

This is excellent. They should get a blown up size or one of those cutout heads of this photo for the student section.

That is great. Anyway of putting "McSteal" on the shirt, kind of like a name tag?

[TallTitan34]

I also made this awhile back.