Crowder's role next year?

[77fan88warrior]

Jae has obviously made us a better player this year but has challenges down low. I think his determination to make a basket on a third chance down low tonight tells the story. His heart made the basket against the larger opposition despite giving up size. He exhumes confidence and never gives up!
I'm wondering if he will find his talent on next years team as a spot up outside shooter? I am guessing that he won't be our best slasher next year based upon  roster? He was one of our best outside shooters earlier in the year and I really think that he could stretch the defense in an outside shooter role. I also realize that we would be sacrificing a great rebounder!

[HoopsMalone]

Jae is now on a team with a lot of 4 star talent who are maturing and will hopefully have good summers.  I'd say Jae's job is to be the big brother out there and see these younger guys through tough times.

He has a lot of skill too.  I see him playing 30-35 mins.  I see him doing very well and being an All-Big East caliber player.  15 pts. 7 boards.

[Pakuni]

Jae may not be the starting four next year, as was the case down the stretch this year, but unless Erik Williams develops significantly in the off-season, he'll probably still see a majority of minutes there.
He's too versatile to leave off the court, especially when he's playing well, and he plays bigger than his size. Last night was a really bad matchup for him, going against a guy equally (if not more) athletic and four inches taller. Jae won't see that much over the course of a season.

[MUfan12]

I think just going through a 37 game season will help Jae tremendously. He hit the wall late, but got through it.

The biggest thing he needs to correct is the mental lapses he has. Soft fouls on layups/dunks, lazy passes, ballwatching on defense, that type of thing. As one of the leaders next season, he can't let those things happen.

[willie warrior]

His best position is SF.

[Pakuni]

His best position is SF.

And you're basing this on all the time you saw him manning the SF position this season?

Regardless, MU is loaded at that position for the foreseeable future (Wilson, Jones, Anderson), so don't expect to see Jae there.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Jae is the kind of player that you want on your team.  He is a winner.  When the chips are down you want Jae on the court.  He plays strong with determination and plays smart. 

[denverMU]

He needs to up his defensive game.  He invariably wanders away from his man who then gets easy shots.

[Goose]

He needs to work on being a quicker jumper. I prefer him playing inside and think once he made some three's it altered his role this season. If I ever Buzz I would have him playing inside on O. He is a 4 in my opinion.

[willie warrior]

And you're basing this on all the time you saw him manning the SF position this season?

Regardless, MU is loaded at that position for the foreseeable future (Wilson, Jones, Anderson), so don't expect to see Jae there.

And you are basing your opinion on what: Wilson is a transfer who has not played in a year, and can likely play the 4. Jones barely played at all, and Anderson would play in front of Crowder? Crowder is not a 5 or a 4, even though he had to play there a lot. Just as Hayward did.

[marquette99]

One other amazing stat from pomeroy is that jae is the best player in the country at NOT turning the ball over.  He had the lazy pass against unc, as many did, but of the various things.pomeroy tracks - I have never seen an mu playerfirst in anything.

It does make you think of just how strong he is when he rips the ball away from people underneath and doesn't let anyone rip it away from him, and he has some pretty nice passes inside that he doesn't throw away.

Sat in front of his father at the unc game and it killed me I'd decided not to wear my crowder shirt for that game.

The only thing I reall want to see him improve is skip the technicals.

No need for whatever he said after those fantastic offensive rebounds and bucketyestereday, or turning back around to go back and push the vandy guy.

[BCHoopster]

Crowder looks at best about 6'5', it would be great to find a 4.  Williams really size
wise is 3 as well.  The last scholie is to find a true 6'9' kid.

[mviale]

That makes him taller than lazar. Crowder will be huge next year

[GGGG]

People are again worrying too much about the 1-5 positions for this team.  This team basically plays a point, a post and three interchangeable players.  So Jamil and Jae can be on the floor at the same time without designating one a 3 or a 4.  Of course, they try to balance it out speed wise and size wise, and they can go small by moving Jae to the inside.

This is also the flaw in seeing Ox and CO on the floor together.  Yes it makes you very big, but it also makes you slow, and now you have two players that aren't great at dribble penetration.  Maybe Ox can transform into that, but I think you are going to see more of what you saw this year out of those two.

[NCMUFan]

I would like to see us line up against a UNC or Duke and not have to give up an inch or an ounce of athleticism.  I can see this with OX/Otule at the 5, Williams at the 4 and Crowder at the 3.  DJO at the 2 and Cadougan at the 1.  I am amazed at the athleticism of Erik Williams.  I think he is to good to sit on the bench next year.  I think J. Jones backs DJO next year at the 2.  At the 3 will be J.Wilson, J. Anderson and Crowder.

[mviale]

MU was playing in the moment against UNC. Over shooting and not playing their game. Lets not change rosters becuz of one game. Need to look at the entire body of work.  Didnt seem to matter against the size of Syracuse.

[NCMUFan]

If we were W=30 & L=2 I can see your point.  Put we put up 15 Ls this past season.  

[mviale]

Sweet 16 is the body of work I see. 2 wins in the BE Tourney and 2 wins in the NCAA.  Not bad.

[NCMUFan]

Still got to get past a UNC or Duke.  When you can do that with your lineup I will agree with you.

[Windyplayer]

Jae has obviously made us a better player this year but has challenges down low. I think his determination to make a basket on a third chance down low tonight tells the story. His heart made the basket against the larger opposition despite giving up size. He exhumes confidence and never gives up!
I'm wondering if he will find his talent on next years team as a spot up outside shooter? I am guessing that he won't be our best slasher next year based upon  roster? He was one of our best outside shooters earlier in the year and I really think that he could stretch the defense in an outside shooter role. I also realize that we would be sacrificing a great rebounder!

"Exudes," unless he's digging up confidence.

[brewcity77]

"Exudes," unless he's digging up confidence.

ROFL I totally missed that...brilliant catch