OOOZE IS SOFT

[oneilera]

All of our interior play stinks of sissy soft defense. what in the hell will we do when we go against Pitt ,Georgetown,etc.
Add in Fitz who can't guard his own shadow and Hayward,hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
No toughness to this team at all. 0-1 in the BE and blown out.
This team has no baksetball IQ watching them. Talent yes,but IQ no.
Would not be surprised to see a Cinncy issue here.

[Eye]

Yeah, but he's a bull compared to the rest of MU's forwards and centers. At least he showed a little spunk for a stretch in the second half. Not sure I can say that about anyone else.

[SGWarrior]

With Ooze and the rest of the frontcourt they need to play tough defense and solid basketball. All I'm asking is for someone to contribute down there! Thats it.  As Danny Ainge said last night in a second half interview, 'The Providence frontcourt is dominating the game.'  I like what Oooze started to do in desperation towards the end of the game, but we need Lott, Kinsella, or Burke to step up and provide a presence on the defensive end.  Personally I would like to see more Burke and more Blackledge.  I cringe everytime Kinsella enters the game or even see him dressed during warmups. And he's a senior!  Burke and Blackledge can provide some defensive intensity and hopefully contribute mop-up type baskets on the O-end.  It seems like we have a lot of post players at the same skill level.  Do we resort to hack-a-shaq type play to avoid an opposing team's frontcourt from dominating?  At least we wouldn't be consider soft down low.  I'm not sure what else we can do.

[MU71]

We are what we are and it's going to be tough to work with it.  In our front court we have 2 retreads from poor programs (Kinsella and Fitz), two projects (Burke and Barro) and tow JC transfers who were never highly recruited or even stars of their JC teams.  We can't expect a ton out of them.  This goes back to recruited front court talent.

[downtown85]

MU71, other than Mbakwe, we get more of the same next year with Hazel and Saunders.  Projects.   I wonder when Crean will be able to reel in a decent front court player again who won't transfer. 

[CTWarrior]

Ooze isn't soft, he's still learning the game.  He's mechanical rather than feeling the flow of the game.  An example, last night he was way late rotating on a three point shooter a couple of times.  Well after the shot went off he still kind've ran out to the shooter and jumped in the air with an outstretched arm headed out of bounds to block a shot that was long since gone.  All he was accompishing was taking himself out of the rebounding action.  He does what he is coached to do even if it doesn't make sense in the situation.  Or he boxes out well but doesn't go get the ball.  That's the kind of issues you have when you get a kid who hasn't just "played" since he was young.  Not much feel for the game.  I think he has progressed tremendously, but still has a ton of room to improve.

[muball]

You are right on target with Ooze, He hustles his butt off and gives 100% all the time. Just watch how he runs the court and beats his man down the floor quite often for layins. If he would have played in HS and had no dead time before coming to MU with a redshirt year he would be a very good post player by now. His developement has been strong considering his situation.

[State]

We recruited a kid that never played ball seriously prior to high school.  What else can be expected of the kid??  Sure he puts in all the time required but I bet his family and friends still are laughing about how their son/friend duped a 'premier' basketball program into giving him a full scholarship!!  Plus, really he never can do anything wrong because, "he has never played basketball before!!!"  Absolutely ridiculous!!   

Almost makes you feel bad for Bries and Kuphall...'if I was a little bit taller, if I was a baller....'

[Murffieus]

Not only is Barro "soft"----but he's also slow----which caps his production!

[mviale]

Look,  PC had 3 good big men and MU had one big guy will tons of potential.  great way to judge Ooze.

[SoCalwarrior]

To be honest, I think ooze is meeting expectations.  We all wanted this completely raw player to be much better, but maybe he is what he is.  You can't blame Ooze.  After all, he was an unknown without any track record what so ever.  Crean made the decision to go small and it's not currently paying off.  I hope to God it does, but I'm leaning toward pessimism.

[MU71]

Big difference between going small and having no one up front!  Ooze is progressing nicely but he's coming from too far back (why didn't he redshirt?)  He's not the problem - it's the fact that people are hoping he's the solution.  He can't be expected to be based on his experience.  But where are the other recruits with credentials in the front line?  I don't see any - all projects

[ecompt]

Ooze is the best of a mediocre--to be kind--lot. Kinsella has very little ability, Burke would be an average Division II player, and Lott and Blackledge don't belong at the Big East level. Unless Trevor is a stud, this team will continue to struggle. How will things change next year? DJ will be in the NBDL but Acker and Cubes will take his role.

[4everwarriors]

After essentially acknowledging his shortcomings, how much longer are you willing to give Crean a pass?

[mviale]

If you were riding our success this season on the Ooze, I have a land investment for you.

[oneilera]

Crean has given him more chances @ the 5 than other players @ their positions and just gets eaten alive on defense and has absolutely no outside shot @ all. Dodds and his lovefest with Ooze and a Dennis Rodman waiting inside is why I can't stand reading his board anymore.

Ooze has no fundamentals and if some say he is the most improved,excuse me I have to go PUKE. His numbers are awful against the elite players and his backups are Lott,Burke ,and a 25 year old in kinsella. How old will they be when they graduate? 

[ecompt]

Tom will be given a pass for the foreseeable future. But his inability to recruit talent over 6-8 is frustrating. If his idea of "stud" Division I talent is Burke or Lott or Blackledge, we're in trouble.

[mviale]

cracks me up - Crean is one of the best around. MU is a top 20 program

Proof is in your presence here.

[4everwarriors]

I've seen some of the best. I've met some of the best. I've worked with some of the best. Tom Crean, mviale, is not one of the best.

[mviale]

whatever, your opinion differs from the world of college bball.

[Murffieus]

Anyone who doubts my conclusion that Barro is not only "soft" but slow-----should recall his efforts inside defending against those Providence studs the other night----they'd get him moving into the middle on the drag dribble and come back quickly to the opposite side and finish------"ooze" couldn't recover------happened time and time again.

He's got decent mechanics though!

[MUCHI814]

MU is not a Top 20 program