Should we be concerned at all about Davante?

[MU82]

SINCE JAN. 28:

9.0 ppg over 12 games. (13.2 ppg in season's first 18 games.)

7.5 ppg in 11 games other than 26-pter vs Cuse.

Single-digits in 7 of 12 games.

0, 1 or 2 FTs in 6 of 12 games.

4 or fewer rebs in 9 of 12 games.

He also looked like he was laboring a little in a few of the games.

Obviously, some of it -- maybe even most of it -- was a function of the opposing defense, jamming everybody in the lane and daring our perimeter guys to shoot. But that doesn't make the concern any less. In the NCAAs, we'll need his scoring, his free throws, his aggressiveness on offensive boards.

[Bocephys]

I think he doesn't get the benefit of the doubt on calls anymore.  He used to be able to flail his arms, look awkward, and get every call.  Now it seems as if a lot of those are being let go by the refs which limits his effectiveness.

[GGGG]

Obviously, some of it -- maybe even most of it -- was a function of the opposing defense, jamming everybody in the lane and daring our perimeter guys to shoot. But that doesn't make the concern any less.

Why doesn't it make the concern any less?

Because that is the main answer.  Defenses are doubling quickly because MU doesn't have the consistent outside shooters to keep them honest.

[muwarrior87]

I think a lot of this has to do with is offensive positioning. The first half of the year did he receive the ball at the top of the key once a game?  The second half of the BE season he is regularly coming to get the ball at the top of the key and setting screens. It might just be me but it sure seemed like he was on the low block a lot more earlier in the season.

[T-Bone]

Other teams have made adjustments?

[forgetful]

I think a lot of this has to do with is offensive positioning. The first half of the year did he receive the ball at the top of the key once a game?  The second half of the BE season he is regularly coming to get the ball at the top of the key and setting screens. It might just be me but it sure seemed like he was on the low block a lot more earlier in the season.

He does this against the zone.  Did early in the year against the zone also. 

[GGGG]

He killed Syracuse from the top of the key in that zone.  But look at St. Johns for example.  There simply was no way to get him the ball because the defenses were sagging.  He simply isn't even getting the shots.  Look at the last few games:

Nova...1/4 in 11 minutes
Syracuse...7/7 in 33 minutes
ND...2/3 in 19 min.
Rutgers....1/1 in 18 min
SJU...2/3 in 25 min

I can't recall the issue with Nova because I didn't see the game, but in the last three, he simply isn't getting the ball in a place where he can shoot.

[nyg]

No, he just needs a go to shot besides the one when he is directly under the hoop. Been blocked a few times recently since teams have the tape of him.  If he can take that shot at the free throw line, he would be so much more effective. 

[IrwinFletcher]

SINCE JAN. 28:

9.0 ppg over 12 games. (13.2 ppg in season's first 18 games.)

7.5 ppg in 11 games other than 26-pter vs Cuse.

Single-digits in 7 of 12 games.

0, 1 or 2 FTs in 6 of 12 games.

4 or fewer rebs in 9 of 12 games.

He also looked like he was laboring a little in a few of the games.

Obviously, some of it -- maybe even most of it -- was a function of the opposing defense, jamming everybody in the lane and daring our perimeter guys to shoot. But that doesn't make the concern any less. In the NCAAs, we'll need his scoring, his free throws, his aggressiveness on offensive boards.

It could also be a factor of Chris Otule getting more playing time.  I would like to see a comparison of DG's playing time

[Henry Sugar]

Against St. Johns, he still finished with 10 pts and 6 rebounds. The issue for me in that game is the five turnovers, which I will chalk up to an aberration.

I'm not concerned.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Buzz is very adept at playing the hot hand.

If you listen to his postgame from Rutgers, he talks about that specifically. If Vander gets hot, they will ride him. If Gardner is hot, they are going to go to him. When Chris got hot against ND, they ran a lot of sets for him.

When Gardner has a good match-up, he is going to get the ball early and often. If a team schemes to take that away, Buzz and the players will adjust and look for something else.

The way the roster is currently constructed, they don't have a guy who is going to get 20 every night, nor do they really need that.

I think they could go to Gardner more, but his efficiency is going to decrease if you go to him when the match-up is bad.  

[GGGG]

Here is his game log.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/player/gamelog/_/id/51395/davante-gardner

I don't see anything out of the ordinary from the beginning to end of the season...except for the TOs that Warriors Path mentioned.  

Just go back a week ago and people were asking what was wrong with Vander and he put together two huge games.  

[MU82]

I didn't really mean this as a "what's wrong with Davante?" thread. I just believe that, as the competition gets better and better, Marquette will need the best from him. And, whether it's been his "fault" -- I hate that word -- or not, that's been absent for much of the last six weeks.

Can Marquette beat good teams with the BE 6th man of the year being a non-factor? I hope we don't have to find out!

[Nukem2]

BE teams have really been hammering down on DG with no foul calls.  Hope NCAA refs won't be so loose on those calls.

[ATL MU Warrior]

I think a lot of this has to do with is offensive positioning. The first half of the year did he receive the ball at the top of the key once a game?  The second half of the BE season he is regularly coming to get the ball at the top of the key and setting screens. It might just be me but it sure seemed like he was on the low block a lot more earlier in the season.

I agree with this.  He has no business hanging out at the top of the key.  He comes out to set a ball screen and maybe reverse the ball to the other side, but he needs to get back down to the free throw line area or all the way back down to the block.  What's he going to do with the ball at the top of the key?  He's not going to shoot it or (god forbid) take his man off the dribble.  We are essentially playing four on five with him up there. 

[San Diego Warrior]

We haven't passed the ball into the post as much as we did earlier in the season.  Otule's game has improved throughout the season, eating into some of Davante's minutes.
Otule is actually an offensive threat when we get him the ball in the post - that was non-existent for the first half of the season.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Hate to say it, but, it seems that Davante has gained weight (bulk) during the season.  Love his game, but, the extra bulk slows him down.

[Sunbelt15]

He's okay. He needs to go into his shot quicker, before the double team comes. He will draw fouls.

[BallBoy]

No, I am not concerned with Gardner nor any one of our players.  If you notice Gardner is not doing anything differently.  He isn't heavier, he isn't getting picked on by the ref's, etc.  Marquette is playing match-ups and attacking what the defense gives them.  You will notice Marquette has been scoring the same number of points as their season avg.  In the games where they were under the played a slower pace of play.  The points just shift from one player to the next.  If you notice there has been a pickup of points from Jamil and Chris during that time.  There are only so may shots in a game and MU has shifted those to others.

In the game against St John's Gardner and Otule were coming to the outside for two reasons:
1.  Get the shot blocker out of the lane
2.  Set a screen to get the guard free to the hoop

Just because someone isn't scoring doesn't mean that something is wrong.  There isn't anything abnormal with his stat line. 

[tower912]

If the defense is geared to stop Gardner, then it is open for somebody else.  If the defense is focused on stopping dribble penetration, dump it down to Gardner.    If Syracuse is guarding the low post, move him to the high post.     If the game dictates that he needs to get the ball, he will get the ball. 

[bilsu]

When one player is up another is down. Blue plays well and defenses are designed to stop Blue, which makes it easier for Gardner. Blue slumps and defense start keying on Gardner, which helps Blue get out of slump. Then the cycle starts all over again.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

HeBeChillinDoe

[brewcity77]

The NCAAs will likely be even better for him than anyone else because of all the contact he draws and initiates.

[MU82]

The NCAAs will likely be even better for him than anyone else because of all the contact he draws and initiates.

Here's hoping, brew. More than anybody else on the team, he is affected by the way games are called.

[wardle2wade]

The NCAAs will likely be even better for him than anyone else because of all the contact he draws and initiates.

Was thinking the same thing... I think he'll get a few more whistles in the Tourney.

Would be brutal in the NCAA's if the Big East ref tells the [INSERT OPPONENT CONF] official, "Hey, you see the big guy?  He flails a lot."  I can see Cahill, Gaffney, or Burr doing that.  Hess and Driscoll like their whistles too much to do that.

//endconspiracytheory