Month Away Observations

[GGGG]

I think you two are watching games in some alternate universe.  I haven't noticed JJJ getting any shorter a leash than any of the other guards.  Of the remaining players, he is seventh in the team in minutes.  But that is still 20+ mpg.  I think that's about right given his production. 

[Texas Western]

I think you two are watching games in some alternate universe.  I haven't noticed JJJ getting any shorter a leash than any of the other guards.  Of the remaining players, he is seventh in the team in minutes.  But that is still 20+ mpg.  I think that's about right given his production. 

He definitely got a shorter lease in the Creighton. For example, when JJJ first came in the game we were behind, he hustled got some boards and good things happened. He makes a hustle defensive play gets called for a goal tending and his butt was back on the bench. Similarly, later in the game, he gets wide open on a fast break, Derrick holds the ball way too long and passes it to him practically under the hoop, he makes an athletic play to in an attempt to save the ball back to Derrick. Who comes out? Not Derrick, JJJ did.

As to his production, in recent games he has been hustling hard on the boards and doing lots of other things to help the team. The 20 plus minutes of playing time are where he needs to be. Not 12 and not zero. 

I can't really speak to what he is doing in practice , it may be that the coaches say things to him and he continues to repeat them in games. I truly can't imagine him not working hard.

[jesmu84]

Ners, TW, Mojo vs the world

[#UnleashSean]

Really?  Any roster with Wade on it had more talent on it.  The sweet 16 2011-2012 team had more talent as well with DJO, Crowder, Blue, Gardner, Jamil, and freshman Mayo.

Neither of those teams had more talent.

They had Dominic James, Wesley Matthews, Jeral McNeal, Lazar Hayward, Jimmy butler, Dwight Burke and two very capable backups in Acker and Cubillan. It was a very beast team and the one that was easily the most competitive, they just had some tough luck in the tournament.

[brewcity77]

Really?  Any roster with Wade on it had more talent on it.  The sweet 16 2011-2012 team had more talent as well with DJO, Crowder, Blue, Gardner, Jamil, and freshman Mayo.

I'd take 2008-09 over any of those when you factor in timing. Wade's best team was 2003, but while I'd take him over Jerel, I'd take James, Matthews, and Hayward as upperclassmen over Jackson, Merritt, and Diener as a soph. I'd also take Jimmy as a sophomore over Novak as a freshman off the bench. Wade is a huge factor, but I'm not sure he was that much better than McNeal as a college player that it'd offset the other positions.

When it comes to 2011-12, the argument is basically that Crowder and DJO were so much better than McNeal and Matthews as seniors that it offsets how much better James and Hayward were than anyone else on the 2011-12 team. 2011-12 was deeper, but it wasn't better.

If James stays healthy, we probably win the Big East regular season title and get a #1 seed in the NCAAs. That was our best chance at a title since 1977 had we been able to go into the tournament healthy.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Welcome back.

I agree with 3,4,5 and 6 and was going to post to the effect. Your words were well stated.

So you disagree with his two positive points and agree with all of his negative points? What happened to you TW? Why so cynical this season?

[connie]

Glad to have you back. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

TW, you have brought up JjJ getting sent to the bench because of goaltending.

1. Goaltending is an unforgivable basketball sin, any player would get sent to the bench for that.
2. Right before that, he also made a poor play on offense. So it was two bad plays in a row, not 1.
3. Other players don't have longer leashes. They don't make as many boneheaded mistakes as JjJ does.
4. JjJ has been about our seventh best player this season, but he is still getting about 20 minutes a game. He has no right to complain about playing time.