[Rosiak's Blog] One week in...

[ToddRosiakSays]

One week in...
               



Among the Marquette Golden Eagles' many roster deficiencies last  season was the absence of a backup point guard.

               

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/105584583.html
               

[77ncaachamps]

Let's hope Reggie fits right in and doesn't miss a beat when he first hits the hard court.

If he works out, I hope it reopens a pipeline to the rich Thornton hoops region.

[GGGG]

"Adding Butler into the mix, the rotation looks to be nine players deep at this point: Butler, Fulce, Johnson-Odom, Buycks, Cadougan (that would be my best guess for the starting lineup if the season began tomorrow), Jae Crowder, Chris Otule, Smith and Blue."

Interesting that Fulce would start ahead of Crowder...and that EWill is not in the rotation at this point.  (The absence of Jones and Crowder isn't really a surprise.)

Regarding Crowder:

"Crowder was working hard in the paint but twice had shots thrown back in his face by Otule. He's going to have to continue to improve his footwork in order to be able to deal with facing players much bigger than he is once the games begin. He won't be able to overpower people at this level like he did in JUCO..."

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Interesting that Fulce would start ahead of Crowder...and that EWill is not in the rotation at this point.  (The absence of Jones and Crowder isn't really a surprise.)

It doesn't surprise me that Fulce is ahead of a newcomer. I think it's a HUGE adjustment to major college basketball for everybody. Fulce doesn't wow you with numbers, but he's long, active and hustles his fanny off.

I would be surprised if any of the newcomers make big contributions early. Although I didn't agree with Junior burning his redshirt season, it may have been good for us early as he's got a feel for what he'll face to start the year.

[Golden Avalanche]

I would be surprised if any of the newcomers make big contributions early. Although I didn't agree with Junior burning his redshirt season, it may have been good for us early as he's got a feel for what he'll face to start the year.

I tend to agree and that scares me a bit.

A team run by Butler and DJO with role players is not going to win at a high rate. We need one, and probably a second, newcomer to make a splash for balance sake. In my opinion, Cadougan and Otule are considered newbies so the pool is quite deep in opportunity.

[mikem91288]

I thought Buycks looked great last night. He handled the ball very well, and he was the quickest guy on the floor.  He will step up this year and be a senior leader.

Also, I thought Todd didn't give quite enough credit to EWill. Sure he didn't do a whole lot, but he had some nice scores under the basket. He has the potential to see more pt than anyone thinks.

Lastly, I hate to say it but Otule is still a project. Just doesn't have good enough hands to make plays consistently down low. I hope he improves more in time for the season, but I expect Gardner and Jae to definitely challenge him for minutes.

[GGGG]

It doesn't surprise me that Fulce is ahead of a newcomer. I think it's a HUGE adjustment to major college basketball for everybody. Fulce doesn't wow you with numbers, but he's long, active and hustles his fanny off.

I would be surprised if any of the newcomers make big contributions early. Although I didn't agree with Junior burning his redshirt season, it may have been good for us early as he's got a feel for what he'll face to start the year.

As I think about it, you are right.  It took both JFB and DJO about half the year to hit their stride, but once they did hit their stride, they certainly played at a high level. 

[Earl Tatum]

//I am Marquette true blue. I root for "Bucky" in football. It was dam nice to see Wisconsin beat Iowa and Ohio State. Couldn't have happened to better teams. Lets take Michigan. Congrats to the BADGERS.  "WE ARE MARQUETTE"

[HoopsMalone]

I think the newcomers can collectively step up and give us enough to compete.  No one player needs to have an all-Big East caliber season right away like DJO had last year I thought. 

Regarding Fulce, I do like him in the starting lineup.  He seems to be a focal leader out there in the few clips I have seen.  He and Jimmy might complement each other well as leaders.  Fulce and Otule are a wash probably and you have to go with the senior. 

If Fulce and Otule can handle the middle, and Buzz feels comfortable with a lineup with 2 guards and Jimmy, Crowder, and EWill at times, Buzz should just redshirt Gardner. 

We need to take baby steps into having good interior play and that redshirt would help the cause.

Barro would have made a huge difference the Amigos senior year and he didn't do anything Diener's senior year anyway when he was a freshman.  Likewise, Burke would have been nice to have last year.  Burke did nothing his freshman year when DJames was frosh of the year and Novak was lighting it up anyway.

[MUfan12]

//I am Marquette true blue. I root for "Bucky" in football. It was dam nice to see Wisconsin beat Iowa and Ohio State. Couldn't have happened to better teams. Lets take Michigan. Congrats to the BADGERS.  "WE ARE MARQUETTE"

Wrong thread. And treasonous.

Lifetime double ban. No chance of parole.

[mosarsour]

//I am Marquette true blue. I root for "Bucky" in football. It was dam nice to see Wisconsin beat Iowa and Ohio State. Couldn't have happened to better teams. Lets take Michigan. Congrats to the BADGERS.  "WE ARE MARQUETTE"

Not allowed in my house. Badger red is Badger red, regardless of what type of uniform they put on.

[Benny B]

I thought Buycks looked great last night. He handled the ball very well, and he was the quickest guy on the floor.  He will step up this year and be a senior leader.

Also, I thought Todd didn't give quite enough credit to EWill. Sure he didn't do a whole lot, but he had some nice scores under the basket. He has the potential to see more pt than anyone thinks.

Lastly, I hate to say it but Otule is still a project. Just doesn't have good enough hands to make plays consistently down low. I hope he improves more in time for the season, but I expect Gardner and Jae to definitely challenge him for minutes.

Honestly, I don't care how good his hands are.  As long as they stay between the ball and the hoop at least 8-1/2 feet from the ground, that would make me very happy.

[MarkCharles]

Honestly, I don't care how good his hands are.  As long as they stay between the ball and the hoop at least 8-1/2 feet from the ground, that would make me very happy.

Thats exactly his problem, he gets a rebound and brings it down to his waist, the perfect height for a guard to poke it away. When you do that, it doesn't matter how strong your hands are. He needs to keep it high, and swing his elbows around to send a message that he doesn't give up the ball easily. I'd be fine if Otule got some fouls for swinging bows.

[MUfan12]

Thats exactly his problem, he gets a rebound and brings it down to his waist, the perfect height for a guard to poke it away. When you do that, it doesn't matter how strong your hands are. He needs to keep it high, and swing his elbows around to send a message that he doesn't give up the ball easily. I'd be fine if Otule got some fouls for swinging bows.

Agreed. And that's my concern with him, and possibly the coaching staff. He's in his third year in the program, and he still makes that same mistake. Still can't make a reverse pivot post move without traveling. Either he doesn't have the ability, or there's some disconnect with the instruction.

I know he has missed considerable time with injury. But there's still been ample individual instruction time for him to develop some post skills. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm not expecting much out of him this year.

[Strokin 3s]

Lastly, I hate to say it but Otule is still a project. Just doesn't have good enough hands to make plays consistently down low. I hope he improves more in time for the season, but I expect Gardner and Jae to definitely challenge him for minutes.

He may be a project on offense, but if he can give us 20-25 minutes on the defensive side I will be happy with that.  He doesn't need to be a polished offensive big guy with this team.