Pitt Game

[rtw3]

I was trying to find some Marquette chatter on this game beforehand, and since your rivals and scout boards are dead, I looked and found this one. 

First, I would like to say nice game.  You guys hit some 3's, this game is really interesting.

Second, Please, Please, Please trust Buzz Williams.  I was very impressed what he did last year without Dominic James(my 2nd least fav. player ever besides Scottie F***** Reynolds).  What he is doing this year is pretty impressive. 

Third, I think you guys can win at least three of your last five, if not four.  None of those teams can utilize bigs like somehow Jamie Dixon utilized Gary against you guys tonight.  Louisville is the only one with a stud big.  You do get them at your place.

Fourth, If you guys get to 10 and a win in the BET or 11 and whatever in the BET you should get in.  Not saying it will happen, but you should be.  You would be a scary 11 or 10 for whoever you play in NCAA. 

Fifth, I saw that you guys are letting Acker move on.  I really don't know why.  I LOVED his game tonight.  I know he didn't hit much from the outside, but he shut down Gibbs which way taller and better guards haven't been able to.  Vander Blue(sp?) could be really special for you guys next year.

-----If you haven't stopped reading yet, stop now if you don't want to read my negative comment-----

Lastly, Lazar Hayward is a THUG.  He slaps at every player after a rebound.  He threw down our PG on the drive by Buckys(sp?) which was an and one and Gil Brown's 4th foul.  I know not all of Pitt's players are saints but I really saw a lack of class from him that I have seen before.  I really don't like Lazar.

Good Luck and rep the BE in the NCAA's

[Lennys Tap]

We are "letting Acker move on" because this is his last season of eligibility.

You couldn't be more wrong about Hayward.

Thanks on all your other points.

[rocky_warrior]

Fist, thanks for stopping by - appreciate your thoughts.

Second, I shouldn't have read the part about Lazar, I'm not gonna' argue with you about it, but I'll post this article from the Chicago Tribune for your perusal...and as Lenny said....You couldn't be more wrong about Hayward.

Early life lessons drive Marquette's Lazar Hayward
As team's only returning starter, Hayward embraces leadership role

By Shannon Ryan, Tribune reporter
January 19, 2010

MILWAUKEE — After dropping off a truckload of basketball players, the assistant boys' coach pulled the vehicle over to have a heart-to-heart with the only passenger left.

"He said I don't care what you do, if you play sports or as a student, if you don't give 110 percent, you're not going to do it," Lazar Hayward Jr. remembered, recalling a rare lecture by his father about effort.

Said Lazar Hayward Sr.: "I never had to tell him again."

It's a familiar story about Hayward, a Marquette forward, who rarely needs anyone to drill home a point. Growing up as an off-the-radar athlete in basketball coldbed Buffalo with his single father, he learned to live by the lessons his dad taught him.

One of only two seniors and the only returning starter at Marquette, Hayward has embraced his leadership role in hopes of guiding the Golden Eagles (11-6, 2-3 Big East) to the NCAA tournament for a fifth straight season. Two of their conference losses have come against No. 4 Villanova by a combined four points and the other was to No. 11 West Virginia by a point.

Marquette has a chance to even its conference record on Wednesday night at the Allstate Arena against wayward DePaul (7-10, 0-5).

Hayward's name rarely arises in discussions about the league's top players. But his consistency, flexibility to play in the post despite being 6-foot-6, and proficiency in the paint or on the perimeter lead many to believe he's one of the most underrated.

"He's such a unique player," coach Buzz Williams said. "He's getting touches but not always in the same place. That's a rarity."

Hayward ranks fifth in the conference with 18.8 points per game and 12th with 7.4 rebounds per game. Other than a season-opener blowout, he has scored in double figures every game since and at least 20 points in 10 games.

But Hayward has never fit neatly into the star-athlete mold.

A burgeoning high school baseball pitcher with a 75 -miles-per-hour fastball, he didn't earn a spot on the varsity basketball team until he was a junior thanks to a 4-inch growth spurt. With only Division III showing interest, he attended Notre Dame Prep in Massachusetts and was told to expect time on the bench.

Instead, he caught Marquette's attention. Then after landing at the guard-oriented program, he's played center against Big East giants.

"These guys were like 6-9, 6-10," Hayward said. "It was an adjustment."

Williams describes Hayward as "pure."

"He has a distinct sense of fairness," Williams said. "He's never taken a selfish shot. He's never griped. It's never about 'me,' it's always about 'us.' I've never been around a better human being who played for me."

"He's a very thoughtful person," said former Marquette coach Tom Crean, now at Indiana, who recruited Hayward. "He's been raised the right way. There's no entitlement or enabling in the Hayward family."

The Hayward guys always stuck together.

"There's not really a lot of expressing emotions," Hayward Jr. said smiling.

But there is a deep loyalty and camaraderie.

Maybe it wasn't always in a cuddly manner, but Hayward Sr., closely monitored how his 11-year-old coped with the departure of his mother, a 5-foot-10-inch beauty who used to tuck in her son every night.

After a trip to Six Flags, she told him she was leaving to pursue a modeling career in New York. He hasn't seen her since.

"He was a happy kid," Hayward Sr. said. "(I told him) 'We have to make what we have work.' "

As the team's leader, Hayward visits teammates' rooms nightly for chats. After a home victory against Georgetown, for instance, junior Jimmy Butler waited for Hayward while he spoke to a reporter for about 20 minutes. An assistant coach reminded Hayward to oversee the freshmen in the weight room the next morning.

As Hayward left the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, he wasn't listening to advice. He was imparting it and hoping another player will apply it — even if he has to repeat himself to achieve his goals.

"The way we work," Hayward said, "the sky is the limit for us.

sryan@tribune.com

[tower912]

rtw, thanks for stopping by.   Lazar did not have one of his better nights.   He let your guys constant bumping get in his head.   It is the first time I can remember that happening all year.    And slapping for the ball is not dirty.   (A) It obviously didn't work.   (B) It wasn't called, although, Lord knows what those guys were calling last night.    The hack on your point guard right before he dumped down to one of your bigs for yet another dunk was indicative of what was going on all night.   I can cite 5-6 examples of calls like that on the other end.    Your guys were physical and aggressive and it worked for you.   My hat is tipped.   Dixon has turned a rebuilding year into a reloading year.  But you could not possibly be more wrong about Lazar.  And yes, the scout board does seem to be dying.

[The Pickle]

Lazar a THUG?  I realize you are a Pitt fan by your post so I will assume you haven't watched all our games this year and therefore your post about Lazar is one of ignorance.  I am not denying he may have taken cheap shots, if he did, I didn't see them.  He was having a bad shooting night, I'm sure he was very frustrated.  But c'mon, don't label the guy based on one game you have watched.  He has played for us for 4 years and has shown nothing but class.  Sorry dude, I vehemently disagree with you...