Duane Wilson

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I've been very impressed with Duane so far. His offense is already at a high major level. His defense needs work, but I honestly think he's ahead of both Deonte and JjJ.

[brewcity77]

I could see it changing next year, but it is interesting to note that many of the guys playing in the 2/3 positions have experience handling the ball. Cohen, Noskowiak, Cheatham, and even Henry have at times played point guard for their respective HS and AAU teams. I think we will see a premium on guys with some point guard ability and wouldn't at all be surprised to see the multiple ball-handler option kept in play. It also wouldn't surprise me to see a JUCO or grad transfer next year to help shoulder the load.

[4everwarriors]

Nick will be y'all's point guard

[MU82]

Who do you feel should have the keys this season??

I feel Duane should be the primary PG -- he has quickness and instincts the other two do not -- but in general I have no problem with the multiple-ballhandler deal Wojo has going.

My No. 3 problem with Derrick (after his total inability to hit any shot longer than 3 feet and his horrid FT shooting) is that he too often plays bouncy-ball 40 feet from the hoop, just standing there as the shot clock winds down to 10 or 12. We usually end up with a bad shot, especially if the ball is in Derrick's or Taylor's hands with 5 seconds or less on the clock. I doubt it's a coach's directive because the same thing doesn't happen when either Carlino or Duane is at point, but if it is Wojo's directive, he should change it.

Carlino has done fine. Going to the zone has helped limit his defensive shortcomings, he had 38 points two games ago and has had a couple of decent all-around games. He's not special, but offensively he's not bad. Opponents have to respect his shot, and that alone creates opportunities for others.

I've already posted about Duane, whom I feel can be a heck of a player. He already is quite good offensively. Even his occasional foolish plays -- such as losing the ball when trying to force things between multiple defenders -- is forgivable. He's young and aggressive and he'll learn to pick his spots better. To me, this season is all about seeing improvement in those who will play key roles in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

There was one "interesting" sequence for our three-headed PG late in Friday's game:

Marquette had worked hard to get back into the game and trailed only 69-62 with 4 minutes left. Duane got the ball at the top of the key, went 1-on-1 and just missed a runner from about 5 feet. MSU came back and hit a 3 to go up by 10. On our next trip down, Derrick got the ball at the top of the key, went 1-on-1 and chucked up a wild runner that didn't hit anything. Taylor got the rebound and passed to Carlino, who got the ball at the top of the key, went 1-on-1, tried to drive but lost the ball.

Each of our "organizers" took it upon himself to ignore his teammates and go 1-on-1, with each result being worse than the time before. With opportunities squandered, we went on to lose.

At least Duane has the raw ability and instincts to do it, but even then I wish he'd look to pass more, as he did on that beautiful dish to Taylor.

[GGGG]

Metaphors, and next year Carlino and Derrick will be vapor trails.   As next year's roster is currently constructed, I have little doubt that Duane will be the starting PG and more of a primary ballhandler than any of the 3 this year. 

We'll see.  As brew points out, we are recruiting a lot of players that can handle the ball, so I am not sure this team will ever have a traditional point guard type.  I mean there is all sorts of evidence that Wojo even looking at the possibility of a Juco 1/2 to fill out the last scholarship.

[tower912]

I would not object to Wojo securing a 1 year PG rental.  I am not sure I am ready for the drama of Wojo signing a JUCO

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Dom James was a scoring PG that Crean tried to turn into a SG.  By his senior year he was more of a distributor while McNeal, Matthews, and Hayward were the main scorers.  His D went from ok to shutdown whereas McNeal went from shutdown to just ok.  Dom was a below average shooter but compared to Derrick Wilson he's a marksman!

Diener was a great pass first PG and great shooter.  As a frosh he played more SG in the Henry-Diener-Wade lineup.  As a sophomore he had a bit of a shooting slump early in the year but came on as the season progressed.  The first two NCAA games that year foreshadowed his big scoring as a junior and senior when the offense was setup for him to shoot a lot more.  His D was ok at best.

Junior was a pass first PG.  Could score a little but his real value was hitting shooters on time, on target, and in rhythm or generating layups for the Crowders and Gardners of the world.  Spot the open guy under the hoop, pass, catch, layup.

Duane Wilson strikes me as more of a combo guard than a pure point.  He's the favorite to start at PG next year but this year's team needs his scoring.  Duane can get assists but I see him as being similar to Jerel McNeal as a shoot first, pass second player.  A pure PG is my #1 recruiting wish.  This player still needs to be a threat to score and ideally a good shooter as well.

Carlino is also more of a combo guard.  Derrick is a defacto PG in my mind.  6-1, can't shoot well enough to play the 2, but not exactly a great distributor.  He doesn't breakdown the D 1-on-1, draw help defense, make the great pass, etc.  His D is above avg but I think overrated since his shooting is so bad.  A coach once told me a defensive specialist is someone who doesn't have an offensive game.  Seems to apply here.  Derrick's offense is rather limited but I've come to accept the fact that he's going to play this year to allow Carlino and Wilson to focus on scoring.  Burton, Cohen, and Johnson are not consistently scoring enough to play them on the wing and give Carlino and Duane more PG duties.

Last year I wanted John Dawson to get more time.  Thought showed some nice vision passing and his shot was at least decent.  The fact that he's buried even deeper on the bench despite a coaching change speaks volumes to me.  If he was good enough he'd be playing.

[MU82]

Dom couldn't hit free throws, was a sub par long range shooter, and certainly never lived up to the expectations we had when he was BEROY. But his defense was fantastic. Absolutely elite.

Had James declared for the draft after his freshman year, I saw more than one mock draft that had him going in the first round. Unfortunately for him, he peaked offensively as a freshman. Obviously a great defender, though. Anybody who says otherwise must have been snorting coke.