Basketball Prospectus - Top 100 D1 Players

[Henry Sugar]

Jae is ranked #64

64. Jae Crowder, Marquette (Sr., PF)
Crowder was the 2010 junior college National Player of the Year, and led his Howard College team to a national title. Nevertheless, he, like the overwhelming majority of juco prospects, entered the NCAA with very little fanfare. The Big East doesn't name an All-Defense team, but, if they did I'd have been shocked if Crowder didn't make it. On the offensive side, he hit 55 percent of his twos and 36 percent of his threes, while posting the third-lowest turnover percentage in Division I. If he wants to take his game up a notch, he'll need to either expand his role offensively or improve a so-so free throw stroke.

71-100 (http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1796)

51-70 (http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1798)

[brewcity77]

Interesting commentary, considering how much Jae's defense is maligned by the Marquette faithful. I'm fine with his offense if he can improve his FT shooting. His opportunities will go up with Butler gone, meaning he'll probably score closer to 15 ppg in 2011-12. I'm more concerned with him getting his physique more defined so he can hold up while manning up Big East PFs and improving his all-around defense.

[Canadian Dimes]

not a very intelligent commentary on Jae's defense.  No Jae would not have been all BE on Defense...just ask Vandy and Loserville. 

Now just because he forgot we were on defense on those two situations does not mean he was as bad as those two plays maybe made him look, but he was not all-conference either.  Clearly somewhere in the middle. 

I dont think he was all that good on defense last year, but i do expect him to be much better this year.  LAst year was his first season in the program and his first time playing against players or offenses of that caliber.  Add a season of maturation, experience, and strength and agility training and I think he will be a much better defender this year 

[HoopsMalone]

Vander Blue honorable mention

[Windyplayer]

I'm more concerned with him getting his physique more defined so he can hold up while manning up Big East PFs.

Really? Last time I saw Crowder on a basketball court--against Cuse--he was ripped.

[esotericmindguy]

The fact that Djo is left off the list and blue is even mentioned tells me all I need to know. Worthless

[brewcity77]

The fact that Djo is left off the list and blue is even mentioned tells me all I need to know. Worthless

He published 71-100 on July 11. He published 51-70 on July 13. He hasn't yet published 1-50. I'd guess that 31-50, 11-30, and 1-10 are still to come, and DJO is probably in there.

[Henry Sugar]

The fact that Djo is left off the list and blue is even mentioned tells me all I need to know. Worthless

Players 36 - 50 were released today.  DJO is their #41, albiet with a small writeup.

41. Darius Johnson-Odom, Marquette (Sr., SG)
DJO is just a rock solid 2-guard. He shoots good percentages (48/36/71), takes a pretty big chunk of the Eagles' shots, and is smart with the ball.

Other Big East players in this group include 50.  Gilvydas Biruta, Rutgers (So., PF), 49. Cleveland Melvin, DePaul (So., PF), and 36. Maalik Wayns, Villanova (Jr., PG)

http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1800

[brewcity77]

That DJO write-up sucks. And I hope he sees this and uses it as motivation. Personally, I'd put him higher than 41 (and certainly higher than Wayns).

[bamamarquettefan]

Interesting, as I ranked crowder 48th in the country when I ranked the top 2500 based on value add, and didn't have djo in the top 100.  This is why you balance objective statistical with subjective evaluation.  Statistically crowder was is by far marquette's best player.  If the new moneyball movie could happen in college basketball he'd be one of the first players in the country Billy bean would steal and leave all the old timers wondering why he made his new team so good. They'd focus on a couple of plays they remember with no concept of the impact a guy who never turns it over, steals and blocks shots so often, scores inside and out and pounds the glass.  I had him ranked 16 spots higher than prospectus, but they are inthe ballpark.

However, you then have to look subjectively at djo when you put him ahead of crowder - he passes him because his trajectory of improving as the season went on slightly outweighs crowder's much better stats from opening day on.  His stats aren't nearly as good as crowder's because he was so bad in the early season BUT most of those games were irrelevant.  So you have to put subjective weight on the fact that he improved so much throughout the year despite facing tougher competition that he was selected 2nd team big east.  When djo is on he can take over a game and win single-handedly, but if his shot is off and youvleave him out there he is a guy who is twice as likely to turn it over as crowder, half as likely to steal it and doesn't give you near the rebounding or shotblocking.

So when you add to that that for the year as a whole crowder was a better shooter than djo (54.9 to 51.1 eFG) and was even slightly better at getting to the line, you realize there is no way a statistical book can rank djo close since the only stat he topped crowder on was assist rate.

Djo will get his kudos when the preseason big east comes out and our opponents in the big east remember djo torching them.

As fit as davante looks, I believe we are even better offensively with junior feeding crowder-djo-Gardner,  but for my money, crowder is the guy you never take off the court except to keep him from fouling out.

[Henry Sugar]

Players 21-35 are listed here

http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1803

Nothing really notable, except for Mbakwe showing up at #33.  Oh, and evidently Vanderbilt has two Top 10 players on their list.

[Henry Sugar]

Players 11-20

http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1804

Notables:  19. Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt (Sr., SF), 17. Jeremy Lamb, Connecticut (So., SG), 16. Ashton Gibbs, Pitt (Sr., PG)

Players 1-10

http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1812

Notables:  9. Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt (Sr., C), 8. Austin Rivers, Duke (Fr., SG), 7. John Jenkins, Vanderbilt (Jr., SG), 5. Tu Holloway, Xavier (Sr., PG), 3. Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin (Sr., PG)

Anyone else more nervous about that Vanderbilt home matchup?

[brewcity77]

And people thought I was crazy/paranoid when I called that a terrifying match-up. Not saying we can't win, but that Vandy team on paper should he one of the best teams in the nation. I'm really glad we're at home against them this year. Hope enough students show up to give us a legit home-court advantage.

[Brewtown Andy]

And people thought I was crazy/paranoid when I called that a terrifying match-up. Not saying we can't win, but that Vandy team on paper should he one of the best teams in the nation. I'm really glad we're at home against them this year. Hope enough students show up to give us a legit home-court advantage.

4 days after Christmas isn't going to help that.

[4everwarriors]

I'm figurin' a win vs. Vandy gives us a confidence boost right before BE play. Nervous, come on, it's just a basketball game. BFD

[MUfan12]

I'm figurin' a win vs. Vandy gives us a confidence boost right before BE play. Nervous, come on, it's just a basketball game. BFD

And it's a non-conference game. Vandy will be tough. So will MU. I'm most excited about that game on the non-conference slate. Big opportunity.

[NersEllenson]

On a side note, DJO was said to have dominated Austin Rivers pretty well in the NC Pro Am.  Rivers showed his talent for sure, but reports were DJO harassed him into a number of turnovers, and had his way with him offensively.  Not surprising considering one is 22 years old, the other 18...

Vandy will be tough, but I see no reason why MU can't beat them at home.  I look for a much improved Cadougan, Otule, Gardner and home court to tip the scales in MU's favor, despite losing Jimmy B.

[77ncaachamps]

On a side note, DJO was said to have dominated Austin Rivers pretty well in the NC Pro Am.  Rivers showed his talent for sure, but reports were DJO harassed him into a number of turnovers, and had his way with him offensively.  Not surprising considering one is 22 years old, the other 18...

Vandy will be tough, but I see no reason why MU can't beat them at home.  I look for a much improved Cadougan, Otule, Gardner and home court to tip the scales in MU's favor, despite losing Jimmy B.

Looking for video of DHO in NC vs Rivers (couldn't find any of DJO "owning" Rivers) and I stumbled upon "Rivers highlights."

We know the talent DJO is, but Rivers is sick, sick, sick.

Rivers fancy dribbling on DJO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8p7x4OPlYA

Game highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjrAeaOxe_w

Wasn't on DJO, but damn that was nasty: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFyjE5SzLDs

[Stronghold]

Really? Last time I saw Crowder on a basketball court--against Cuse--he was ripped.

I agree,  I've never had any doubts about Jae's strength.

[Henry Sugar]

commentary on the list (HT: Tim)

http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2011/07/26/ive-got-some-issues-with-the-list-of-the-top-100-players-in-college-basketball/