If Dom Doesn't Play, We Win

[TallTitan34]

I've defended Dom all year but I honestly believe that if Dom doesn't play we win.  Three missed free throws, low low shooting percentage, etc.

Put the ball in someone else's hands.  David. Lazar.  Both are playing better basketball.

Crean benched Jerel in the second half of the Savanah State game.  It's time to bench Dom so he can get his head back in the game.

[TallTitan34]

Also Crean is NOT to blame!  Dom simply didn't perform.

[🏀]

I 100% agree with the tall italian kid that was mopping the court after every timeout.

[rocky_warrior]

Crean's post game comments indicated he doesn't think the team is all listening to him and executing his game plan.  Based on what I saw tonight, I don't think he's just throwing the team under the bus - but they do need a fire lit under their collective asses.

[mu_hilltopper]

Honestly, guys .. watching DJ out there tonight .. the wheels have fallen off his bus.  When he bricked those 3 FTs in a row, you could just tell, he was cooked.   I think two months ago, he was picking out the color of his Escalade, and now, he's facing the cold reality that he's played his way out of the draft.  He can react two ways to that issue .. he can fold, or be a warrior, and dig in.   I have a bad feeling it's going to get worse before it gets better.

[NYWarrior]

DJ is 1-15 from deep in his last 2 games....he doesnt drive anymore.  is he even healthy?

just doesnt look like the same player. 

[ONeills Barstool]

All of DJ's 3-jacks were fired up from WAY downtown.  Absolutely HORRIBLE and inexcusable shot selection.  Not a one of his chucks were in the rhythm of the offense.

That being said, Fitz was just as bad about not taking shots on great looks.

Turning point of the game - 5 FTs in a row missed; it went right down the crapper from there.

After watching that game I can't be too upset with Crean; this one is on the players shoulders and a significant chunk on DJ.

[MUCam]

I am not sure what is wrong with Dominique, but as my brother (who does not frequent any MU sites) stated, Dom just didn't look like he wanted to be out on the court. He looks lethargic and apathetic. I can't remember a game last year where he didn't beat at least one person off the drible. Today, I can't remember him beating even one off the dribble. I will not speculate as to what is going on through his mind, but he just does not seem to be playing with the same gusto. He looks content to force useless threes.

[NYWarrior]

That being said, Fitz was just as bad about not taking shots on great looks.

Fitz was horrible tonight....just never into the flow at all. 

[Final Four or Bust]

That being said, Fitz was just as bad about not taking shots on great looks.

Fitz was horrible tonight....just never into the flow at all. 

Frankly, he hasn't been into the flow all season.  The ONLY thing he has added to this team are some rebounds and put-backs in the paint -- the absolute last thing I thought we'd get out of him.  I would say he has 0 confidence in his shot, but frankly I can't remember him ever being effective out there.

[LastWarrior]

Crean's post game comments indicated he doesn't think the team is all listening to him and executing his game plan.

This is exactly what I said Crean needed to do after the Providence game... he needs to rip them in the media.  The team isn't getting it... they're not listening to him... since they read their press clippings (see Duke game), maybe they'll get the message through the media.

[ecompt]

but he may have to when we hit 0-6 in the BE. Seriously, IF we don't turn things around and wind up in the NIT, how big a hit does TC's reputation take? This team--except in spurts--plays with NO heart aand even less smarts.

[Final Four or Bust]

Crean's post game comments indicated he doesn't think the team is all listening to him and executing his game plan.

This is exactly what I said Crean needed to do after the Providence game... he needs to rip them in the media.  The team isn't getting it... they're not listening to him... since they read their press clippings (see Duke game), maybe they'll get the message through the media.

To be honest, I don't know.  Some of those kids are really playing hard out there.  However, there is one thing that hasn't changed -- our offense is non-existent and consists almost exclusively of passing the ball around and hoping one player hits a three.  Its been that way much of the Crean era, only in past years we've had players who can hit those shots.  I don't see it as much as players not trying, but rather they are put into a very poor offense that doesn't match their skills.  Heck, on defense how many steals did they have?  Crean can't even get them to pressure the ball on and use a skill they obviously are great at.  Crean can't get made at them for not fitting into "his" offense -- they don't have the skills to do so (not that is isn't a poor offense in the first place).  He should make adjustments but seems incapable of doing so.

[ILYBL]

DJ seems to have lost/changed his first move.  Last year his first move was almost always forward.  And he would typically be half way by the defender by then.  This year he's got this stutter-juke-hesitation move that's simply not fooling anyone and more importantly not creating any penetration.  

Why wouldn't he push it up the floor?  Every time he'd get the ball he'd either walk or hold it...

What happened to our pre-season idea of running and the goal of averaging 80pts a game?  when we push it, we look better

[bma725]

DJ is 1-15 from deep in his last 2 games....he doesnt drive anymore.  is he even healthy?

just doesnt look like the same player. 

Quite honestly, to me he's looked that way since the Valpo game.  There was that whole thing at that game about DJ and Crean hugging after the game, DJ crying, and Crean saying something about how that week had been very tough for DJ.  But ever since then he's looked different.  He looked very bad against Northwestern State, the team seemed to flow better without him, he hasn't done anything in the first half of the games, and he was awful the entire game against ND State, Morgan State and Cuse. 

[Final Four or Bust]

Question:  When does second semester officially start?

[spartan3186]

Classes start Tues Jan 16th

[Final Four or Bust]

So if there are any academic issues w/ the team, we wouldn't know until that day, right (ala the Badgers last year)?

[marquette09]

DJ seems to have lost/changed his first move.  Last year his first move was almost always forward.  And he would typically be half way by the defender by then.  This year he's got this stutter-juke-hesitation move that's simply not fooling anyone and more importantly not creating any penetration.  

Why wouldn't he push it up the floor?  Every time he'd get the ball he'd either walk or hold it...

What happened to our pre-season idea of running and the goal of averaging 80pts a game?  when we push it, we look better

I think one of the big problems is the lack of a great three point shooter.  Last year, though Novak did not have a great insided game, just his presence on the perimeter would open up the lane.  Now since we lack a great outside shooter the defenses can collapse around the paint and really prevent DJ from effectively getting to the basket.  I think this is going to be a problem until someone steps up and proves to be an effective 3PT shooter.  Unfortunately I dont see that happening this year.

[spartan3186]

It seems to me that DJ is about an inept at attacking a zone as Crean is in coaching it. He never really had to face true zones last year with Novak on the wing. Novak forced teams to either play a matchup zone or man to man. As soon as DJ learns to attack a zone like he can attack man he will again be a force to be reckoned with but until then teams are going to keep throwing zones at us.

[MUDPT]

Exactly right with the Novak thing.  He did sit for a long time in the second half.  I was calling for him to go back in, because who ever was in at that time wasn't getting it done either.

I also the defensive pressure was pretty good.  The killer shot was that stupid pull back 3 (was it Wright?). He had no business taking that, and he nailed it, putting them up four.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

So if there are any academic issues w/ the team, we wouldn't know until that day, right (ala the Badgers last year)?

It has already been reported that DJ has a 3.2, if that is what you are getting at.

[CWSKeith]

The offensive gameplan tonight vs the zone was absolutely brutal.  In the first five minutes of the game, coming off of a Syracuse basket, Dominic pushed the ball up and hit Matthews with a 30 foot pass coming down the sideline and Wes was able to finish for a layup, beating the zone down the floor.

I think that's the only time I could remember that happening.  I'm not talking about a fast-break; I'm just talking about one of our guys beating their guys down the floor, and our guards pushing the ball down their throats.

Instead, Marquette seemed VERY content to run a half-court offense.  What that offense was supposed to do is anyone's best guess.  For the most part, they would dribble at half-court till about 15 seconds on the shot clock, and then they would pass around the permeter.  They were content taking semi-contested threes.  Of course, they were most successful when a.)they attacked the middle of the zone, ie got a guy to the free throw line, b.)they got a guy to the short corner, and c.)were able to penetrate the zone.

I'm really worried about James.  I wasn't able to watch him for most of last year -- I'm just a freshman, so I saw very few games last year -- but he doesn't seem like half the 'penetrater' that he was last year.  Hell, even going back to the Duke game this year -- no one could guard him one-on-one.  Now, he seems okay with shooting threes, despite the fact that he's one of the worst three-point shooting guards in the BE. 

If this doesn't get fixed quickly, I would not at all be opposed to starting Cubillan over James.  Cubillan quite obviously doesn't have anywhere near the 'potential' that James has, but he can bury open threes, brings intensity on defense every possession, and generally doesn't make as many stupid decisions as James does (or has been making).

[MUFanInGreenBay]

I think your right. TC might have to start Cubillian. He's the only guard on the team that when he shoots a 3 it has better than a 10% chance of going in. I mean if James is not going to try to attack more, and just stand out beyond the arc to throw up wild shots what good is he helping us? James looks like he might be hesitant out there to attack. Like as if he doesn't feel confident that he can get by the defender off the dribble. I mean he just doesn't look aggressive at all. When you watch him move without the ball he doesn't look to be moving as quick either. MU played well with DC in the game tonight I thought.

[AlumKCof93]

I thought DJ was terrible at Wisconsin.  He had just won the game for us at Valpo and he seemed to shoot everytime he touched the ball against Wisc.  To me, he has way too big a head right now and is concerned his status in the NBA draft.  Someone needs to talk to him and tell him that for a 5-10 guy to make it in the NBA game, he needs to have a great all around game.  Right now, not only is his outside shooting a problem, but his decision-making has been poor as well.