Otule

[tower912]

We need him to be better, agreed.    But look at what he has gone through.   Started HS guard sized.    Grew a lot late and really only spent one year as a HS big.   Missed two years due to injury.    This is literally only the second year he has competed as a big.    Like everyone else, I would like his hands to be better, for him to play better post defense and rebound better.   But to give up on him ever getting better, like implying that this team is doomed and can't get better, is silly.    Bigs take time.   Just like team chemistry takes time.   Unfortunately, we need both now.  Get well soon, DG!

[Markusquette]

Of course, I'm actually pretty happy with Otule's progress.  He's more competent on both ends of the court, he is getting some blocks and becoming more of a defensive force.  He's actually able to score a few baskets down low.  If he can improve his hands and rebounding more it would certainly help. 

[brewcity77]

The biggest problem right now is how much we're relying on him. With both Fulce and Gardner out, we pretty much need him to be Mr. Everything up front, both offensively and defensively. Crowder is trying, but he's also being forced to adjust to a different role at times, playing more like a 5 than his natural position, which seems to be sort of a 3-4 hybrid.

My thought is Otule is well-suited for about 20 mpg, getting blocks, and shutting down guys on the interior. His hands may be bad, but he seems to do a pretty decent job when he is actually calling for the ball. It's when passes come in that he's not expecting that he seems to flounder with it. The positive is that for our purposes, he's still a sophomore. He'll improve as the next 3 years go on, and once Fulce and Gardner get back, the burden on him will be lifted significantly.

He's clearly not a 5-star center, but he's very serviceable and has come a long way in his time at Marquette. Considering he scored 15 points in one game, which was more than he scored total in either of his first two years at MU, I think saying he's improved markedly is an understatement.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Otule is definitely better this year.  I think he can be a strong factor on this team.  If he continues to develope this year, Mu will be a better team and force to be reckoned with.  Combined with a healthy Gardner and Fulce and if Crowder plays tougher underneath, MU will be a good BE team.  We are still a work in progress that's in Buzz's hands.

[denverMU]

My issue isn't with Otule (although his hands suck).  My problem is with Buzz, he keeps yanking him too quickly and he never puts him back in.  His blocked shots are enough to keep him in.  We were out rebounded by UW fricken M.  For all the hype, Crowder needs to start rebounding.

[CTWarrior]

He is a fine defensive center who can't catch the ball.  He has been playing basketball and working hard for many, many years.  I don't know how much better his hands are going to get.

[brewcity77]

He is a fine defensive center who can't catch the ball.  He has been playing basketball and working hard for many, many years.  I don't know how much better his hands are going to get.

Not likely that they will really get much better. Otule will continue to be a defensive specialist who can probably contribute 5-8 ppg on putbacks on the times when he gets good enough position to call for the ball. He'll have the occasional 12-15 point game, but I doubt that will ever become the norm.

What he really needs is support up front. Time from guys like Fulce and Gardner to spell him and provide offense inside, or a reliable scoring 4 that can bang a bit on the offensive end, hopefully Crowder can develop into that. I think the biggest drawback for him right now is that he is pretty much shouldering the entire load at the 5, because let's be honest, Crowder isn't a 5 even when he's playing the 5. Get Gardner's offensive bulk and Fulce's workman-like minutes and the downsides to Otule will be less detrimental to the team.

[mug644]

My issue isn't with Otule (although his hands suck).  My problem is with Buzz, he keeps yanking him too quickly and he never puts him back in.  His blocked shots are enough to keep him in.  We were out rebounded by UW fricken M.  For all the hype, Crowder needs to start rebounding.

One thing about this team is that you really gotta consider the whole team on the floor at any given time. Too many guys can hold their own on defense but don't offer much on offense (Otule, Blue for example). Some are the opposite (Gardner and even DJO). Then there's Cadougan who helps the offense, but doesn't score, and is just okay on defense. While we might want to see individuals like Cadougan, Blue and Otule on the court more often, we can't have those three together much, as our offense then is basically playing 2 on 5.

[GOMU1104]

My issue isn't with Otule (although his hands suck).  My problem is with Buzz, he keeps yanking him too quickly and he never puts him back in.  His blocked shots are enough to keep him in.  We were out rebounded by UW fricken M.  For all the hype, Crowder needs to start rebounding.

People need to remember that Chris Otule is coming off of 2 separate significant foot injuries over the past 2 seasons. Even though he is finally healthy, they need to limit his minutes as to lessen the risk of reinjury...something that is very common for big men with foot/leg injuries.

[MUHoopsfan6]

Although these players are from the previous regime.  I think it is important to point out how totally lost and absolutely terrible players like Chris Grimm and Dwight Burke were as underclassmen.  CG & DB were for the most part completely useless until their Junior years.  I think Otule is quite a ways ahead of either of those guys at this stage in his career.  Burke wound up being a very important player his Sr year and Grimm had some very good games as well.  I think Otule will outperform both of them by a large margin.  We knew going in the Otule was a bit of  project big man coming out of high school since he had such a huge growth spurt.  Otule has improved by a huge margin vs when we first saw him.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Tower - Thanks for starting this thread.  All of the bashing of Otule (and others) is unwarranted.  He's not perfect but he's the best post player we've had in a very long time.  About time somebody gave him his due.   

[NersEllenson]

Tower - Thanks for starting this thread.  All of the bashing of Otule (and others) is unwarranted.  He's not perfect but he's the best post player we've had in a very long time.  About time somebody gave him his due.   

Agree - and though Otule's hands may leave a little to be desired..he is far from a "stiff" offensively.  He's shooting 76% from the field..averaging 5ppg in 13 minutes of play.  If Chris catches it..he has been very good at putting the ball in the bucket.  Definitely more skilled offensively than a Burke or Grimm...

[SalsaMan]

Thank the Lord Sweet Jesus we have a healthy Chris Otule on this year"s roster

[SqueallyDRyan]

I think that Otule is getting better each game.   I look forward to seeing what he can do each game.  Can't wait to get DG back out there too.

[mikem91288]

Asking for rebounds from Crowder is not the answer here. Sure it's great if he pulls more down, but that's not what we brought him here for. I honestly feel like Erik Williams is a better rebounding option than Crowder. Going to KC and watching the Duke game told me how much confidence Buzz has in Otule, absolutely zero. He would rather have the Plumlees eat up Crowder down low, then put Otule in and watch him drop passes and kick them out of bounds at the end of the game when it still mattered. He was pathetic.

[El Duderino]

Not likely that they will really get much better. Otule will continue to be a defensive specialist who can probably contribute 5-8 ppg on putbacks on the times when he gets good enough position to call for the ball. He'll have the occasional 12-15 point game, but I doubt that will ever become the norm.

What he really needs is support up front. Time from guys like Fulce and Gardner to spell him and provide offense inside, or a reliable scoring 4 that can bang a bit on the offensive end, hopefully Crowder can develop into that. I think the biggest drawback for him right now is that he is pretty much shouldering the entire load at the 5, because let's be honest, Crowder isn't a 5 even when he's playing the 5. Get Gardner's offensive bulk and Fulce's workman-like minutes and the downsides to Otule will be less detrimental to the team.

Besides support up front, it would be nice if Buzz can bring in one more guy 6' 10 to 7' foot tall to at least just be a solid defender and rebounder to help in those games when MU faces a team with a skilled big man or two in that 6' 10 to 7' range.

That way Buzz would have two tall bodies to provide size inside in case Otule was struggling or in foul trouble. In the Duke and Gonzaga games, we played both very tough, but in both games we got hurt badly in the 2nd half each time because of struggles to prevent offensive rebounds. We couldn't keep 6'11 Mason Plumlee off the offensive glass and the 7' footer on Gonzaga either got offensive boards in the 2nd half or tipped them around until a teammate secured the offensive board.

It's such a kick in the gut in close games when your defense gets a stop, but to often give up an offensive board that leads to a basket. Of course a player doesn't have to be 6'10 to 7' to get rebounds, but when other teams have guys that size, they can keep rebounds alive simply via their length even when they don't grab the board themselves.

Gardner and Crowder need to help on the glass, but one is 6'8 and the other is 6'6. Both need to block out better, especially Crowder, but even if they do, sometimes they still won't get the board simply by not being tall/long enough compared to taller guys on the other team.

[El Duderino]

Asking for rebounds from Crowder is not the answer here. Sure it's great if he pulls more down, but that's not what we brought him here for. I honestly feel like Erik Williams is a better rebounding option than Crowder. Going to KC and watching the Duke game told me how much confidence Buzz has in Otule, absolutely zero. He would rather have the Plumlees eat up Crowder down low, then put Otule in and watch him drop passes and kick them out of bounds at the end of the game when it still mattered. He was pathetic.

What do you mean by the "that's not what we brought him here for" comment about Crowder and rebounding?

Sure it's true that Crowder is only 6'6, so he shouldn't be expected to be some 8-9 rebounds per game guy. That said, it's not asking to much of Crowder to simply block out when he's in the paint after a shot goes up and then to attack rebounds to the best of his ability. It's not like he's playing 35mpg and is to gassed to really attack every potential rebound very hard.

I like a lot of what i've seen from Crowder overall, but my only real complaint was his poor rebounding fundamentals when we faced Duke and Gonzaga. In both games we got killed on the offensive glass in the second half and a few times i focused on Crowder. On more than one occasion, Crowder was just standing there in the paint watching the shot and not looking for a body at all to block out. That by Crowder wasn't the sole reason MU got killed on the offensive glass, but it didn't help either.

[brewcity77]

Asking for rebounds from Crowder is not the answer here. Sure it's great if he pulls more down, but that's not what we brought him here for.

Really? I would have to disagree with this. It may not be the only reason we brought him here, but he averaged over 9 rpg at Howard College last year. I simply can't believe that his rebounding ability wasn't a factor in him being recruited to Marquette. Yes, he also scored 18 ppg and shot 36% from 3-point range, but I have to believe that he was viewed as a guy who could shoulder a large part of the Lazar Hayward role, considering how similar their numbers were. Part of Lazar's role here was rebounding. Why wouldn't the same hold true for Jae and his 9 rpg average?

Besides support up front, it would be nice if Buzz can bring in one more guy 6' 10 to 7' foot tall to at least just be a solid defender and rebounder to help in those games when MU faces a team with a skilled big man or two in that 6' 10 to 7' range.

Exactly why I'm hoping we add God's Gift Achiuwa in the Spring. We have a point guard and switchable in the upcoming class, add a competent big man and I think we will be able to view this as a very successful class.

[kmwtrucks]

We also have a glaring need for good outside shooting.  He might go for a Juco or Prep Guard that can shoot the rock.