James and Chism Co-MVP's In TN's Win

[bradforster]

It doesn't take a lengthy deduction to find the key momentum changing sequence in last night's game. Look no further than the James foul on Chism from NBA range as the shot clock whittled down to zero, followed by an equally vexing technical foul moments later.  That series of gaffes served as the igniter of an 8-0 TN run that would put Marquette in the Vols' rear view mirror for the remainder of the night.  I am mystified by the ineptitude of a supposedly savvy senior leader and his regression from year one in an MU uniform.  If you would have told me three years ago James would be nothing more than an NBA afterthought, I would have laughed at such a ridiculous notion.  As it stands now, he'll be lucky to receive a contract offer from the Turkish Basketball League. 

Last season our "veteran" point guard propelled Georgetown to victory with an inexplicable foul from three point territory and last night he outdoes himself by securing the Tennessee 6th man of the game award.  Combine horrific field goal and free throw percentages with his reckless decision making, and you have not only a substandard college point guard, but one who won't come within telescopic range of an NBA arena next year.   

[jficke13]

The optimism on this board is almost overwhelming.

James had a bad sequence, he also played pretty well for the other 30+ minutes he was in the game.

Also, I'm not sure we should be giving MVPs of losing games to our players for their contributions to the other team. James made a couple mistakes, but he in no way approached Superbowl MVP Rex Grossman who the Colts should have carried off the field on their shoulders.

[LastWarrior]

Last season our "veteran" point guard propelled Georgetown to victory with an inexplicable foul from three point territory and last night he outdoes himself by securing the Tennessee 6th man of the game award.  Combine horrific field goal and free throw percentages with his reckless decision making, and you have not only a substandard college point guard, but one who won't come within telescopic range of an NBA arena next year.   

Nice first post... welcome to the board.

[jficke13]

Also, James gamed through a split lip that the MU training staff had to glue up like he was a boxer.

[MUfan12]

Great first post chief.

I take it this was the first game you saw this year?

Dominic has been outstanding all year, just had an off night last night.

He's had an outstanding career, and we're damn lucky to have him.

[StillWarriors]

The foul was mind boggingly stupid and something you'd like to think he was beyond after GTown. BUT, I think we have come to take for granted having a point guard in control of the ball a great deal that very seldom turns it over. Pressue D is basically a non-issue b/c he handles it.

Think back to the days of Robb Logterman having to play point as a frosh and the 20 plus turnovers/game and be thankful. Has James lived up to the potential he demonstrated freshman year? No, but he's still a pretty darn good player especially considering there is no one for him to dump the ball to inside off penetration. That should be a great asset for him but it is negated with no one to catch and finish.

[reinko]

Welcome to the board Brad.  See you after the next big loss.

[bradforster]

Thanks for the response!  I have seen every game this season.  I am a huge Marquette supporter and have not missed but a very small number of games since graduating from MU.  I live in Nashville, but watch all the games on Direct TV, or in last Saturday night's case, the internet.  I truly believe James has  regressed and has some glaring imperfections in his game.  Now, I also understand that if you put him on a team with capable talent on the blocks he'd probably average 7 or 8 assists.  He still, however, would struggle to shoot the ball and continue to make decisions detrimental his team.  (ie fouling guys from three point range during crucial moments of a game)  The lack of talent in the post is certainly not his fault and I am pleased with his attempt to get his teammates more involved rather than walk up the court and whimsically toss up threes night after night like he did his sophomore campaign.

I would just have hoped by now he'd have developed a reliable shot and become an asset instead of a liability at the free throw line.  His poor shooting from both the field and the stripe severely hurt Marquette's hopes of making a deep tournament run and his own chances of landing on someone's NBA radar screen.  In my opinion, James has been a serviceable four year player for Marquette, but his freshman year led me to believe he was capable of being something special.  For a variety of reasons those expectations haven't materialized.   If they had, he'd be more highly ranked than the 18th or so best point guard in the nation.  By most accounts, that's where he currently stands, and that certainly doesn't qualify as special.

[THEGYMBAR]

Brad---Great comments on James. Agree 100% with your comments. He needs to win games like last night for us not lose them.

[RJax55]

Welcome to the board Brad.  See you after the next big loss.

Although the tone of that guy's message was a little off, I do think the points he made were certainly valid.

* IMO, DJ's foul on Chism was the turning point of the ballgame. MU had TN confused and frustrated with the zone and MU had battled back to take the lead. I don't care if your a freshman or a senior, you can't have that kind of foul ... Plain stupid.

* Although DJ was fouled on the offensive end, he needs to control his emotions and not pickup that Technical. Again, not a smart play.

* Does anybody here really think that DJ is a NBA player?

Look, I'm not ripping him, just giving an honest assessment ... DJ gives great effort and is a tremendous ambassador for MU and the program. His decision making, defense and game management all have improved during his four years here. However, his shooting has gotten worse .... I don't see a NBA role for a poor shooting, sub 6'0 PG.

[nola03]

Also, James gamed through a split lip that the MU training staff had to glue up like he was a boxer.

Not only did that elbow occur directly in front of an official but there was no whistle. Seemed a missed call after they called the weaker elbow offensive foul on Hayward.

Also, James provided perhaps the greatest blocked shot in Marquette history last night.

[CTWarrior]

Our starting guards:  48 pts, 42% FG, 80% FT, 11 reb, 8 assists, 10 turnovers (many on passes that our "bigs" could/should have but did not handle).

Our starting bigs (which includes Hayward):  17 points, 33% FG, 63% FT, 11 reb, 1 assist, 4 turnovers (only 1 credited to Burke when I can think of at least 4 he really caused)

Our bench:  3 pts, 0% FG, 43% FT, 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 turnovers

Tennessee's starting guards:  17 pts (33% FG, 60%FT), 8 reb, 11 assists, 10 turnovers.

Tennessee's starting bigs:  40 pts, 71% FG, 82% FT, 14 reb, 3 assist, 2 turnovers

Tennesee's bench:  23 pts, 43% FG, 64% FT, 9 reb, 2 assists, 5 turnovers

Maybe it's just me, but I think the problem might not be with our starting guards.  

The problem is they have to play darn near perfect to make up for the 800 lb gorilla in the room which is the fact that our interior people are awful.  To nitpick things they could have done here or there is ridiculous.  Those guys are trying to carry a lot of dead weight.

[reinko]

Thanks for the response!  I have seen every game this season.  I am a huge Marquette supporter and have not missed but a very small number of games since graduating from MU.  I live in Nashville, but watch all the games on Direct TV, or in last Saturday night's case, the internet.  I truly believe James has  regressed and has some glaring imperfections in his game.  Now, I also understand that if you put him on a team with capable talent on the blocks he'd probably average 7 or 8 assists.  He still, however, would struggle to shoot the ball and continue to make decisions detrimental his team.  (ie fouling guys from three point range during crucial moments of a game)  The lack of talent in the post is certainly not his fault and I am pleased with his attempt to get his teammates more involved rather than walk up the court and whimsically toss up threes night after night like he did his sophomore campaign.

I would just have hoped by now he'd have developed a reliable shot and become an asset instead of a liability at the free throw line.  His poor shooting from both the field and the stripe severely hurt Marquette's hopes of making a deep tournament run and his own chances of landing on someone's NBA radar screen.  In my opinion, James has been a serviceable four year player for Marquette, but his freshman year led me to believe he was capable of being something special.  For a variety of reasons those expectations haven't materialized.   If they had, he'd be more highly ranked than the 18th or so best point guard in the nation.  By most accounts, that's where he currently stands, and that certainly doesn't qualify as special.

Anyone else think of major D-1 program who's all time leading scorer, 4 year starting PG was just a serviceable player?  Wack. 

I am no DJ apologist, but the kid has been the heart and soul of this team for 4 years, great student, and at times has single handidly won games.  Serviceable players are your Dwight Burkes and Dan Fitzgeralds.

Want to know what cost us the game?  Chism going off, foul trouble, and a guy that hit his 3rd 3-pointer of the season with about 1:45 to play. 

[chapman]

I don't know if it cost us the game.  But it's at least the third time this season James has given free throws to a jump shooter and then complained to the refs for calling it.  It's time he learns not to lean in and foul instead of working on the story he gives the refs afterward.

[MU B2002]

Also, I'm not sure we should be giving MVPs of losing games to our players for their contributions to the other team. James made a couple mistakes, but he in no way approached Superbowl MVP Rex Grossman who the Colts should have carried off the field on their shoulders.

+1

    I had completely blocked this superbowl memory until reading your post.

[TallTitan34]

Anyone else think of major D-1 program who's all time leading scorer, 4 year starting PG was just a serviceable player?  Wack. 

I am no DJ apologist, but the kid has been the heart and soul of this team for 4 years, great student, and at times has single handidly won games.  Serviceable players are your Dwight Burkes and Dan Fitzgeralds.

Want to know what cost us the game?  Chism going off, foul trouble, and a guy that hit his 3rd 3-pointer of the season with about 1:45 to play. 

+1

It always amazes me when people call Dom a below average point guard.  That below average point guard will be our all-time scoring leader in addition to being in the top 5 in steals, and second or third all-time in assists.  And that is all without a big man to feed.

Please don't call Dom a below average point guard.  I think Dom's freshman year made some people think he was going to be the next Dwyane Wade as he improved each year.  Having Steve Novak that year really helped Dom.

[cheebs09]

I feel that James could be top 5 at worst in the nation in assists if he had guys that could finish around the hoop. He has lost so many assists because guys have fumbled the ball around the basket, where on most other teams the big man catches and dunks it. People are hard on James, but the lack of a person to finish his passes makes his spectacular passes that he does many times, go for nothing because no one scores.

[mu_hilltopper]

This thread will be really "funny" in March when DJ becomes MU's all-time scoring champion.  Needs to average 10.2 ppg.

Yeah .. funny isn't the right word.

[NYWarrior]

This thread will be really "funny" in March when DJ becomes MU's all-time scoring champion.  Needs to average 10.2 ppg.

Yeah .. funny isn't the right word.

Jerel is actually on pace to pass DJ and become the all-time leading scorer.

[MU B2002]

My question is, how good would Marquette be if Dom had jumped to the draft after his freshman season?  Not very, maybe a mid tier BE team, at best. Who would be running the point?  Acker or Cubes?  I think some of the mistakes that happen can be partially attributed to what all of these players are having to compensate for.  I am guessing we will see teams pack the lane all season because we don't have a legitimate threat from outside or a solid post presence.  This hurts the style of play that both Dom and Jerel excel at.


IMO... 

[THEGYMBAR]

MU_hilltopper---I would rather a four year starting point guard left here with 100 wins, a FF and 2 Sweet 16 apearances. Leaving here as all-time scorer with the worst shooting % of anyone in the top 5 does not impress me. Back in the day when SR. left they gave the team's accomplishments on Sr. night. DJ is not an all-time great by any means.

[rugbydrummer]

Jerel is actually on pace to pass DJ and become the all-time leading scorer.

Krystal Ellis is actually on pace to whoop both their numbers, let the games begin!

[reinko]

MU_hilltopper---I would rather a four year starting point guard left here with 100 wins, a FF and 2 Sweet 16 apearances. Leaving here as all-time scorer with the worst shooting % of anyone in the top 5 does not impress me. Back in the day when SR. left they gave the team's accomplishments on Sr. night. DJ is not an all-time great by any means.

GYMBAR talk about unreasonable expectations.  Sweet Jesus.  At the end, Dom will leave with a record around 93-40, 4 NCAA appearances and being the leader of a team in the toughest basketball conference known to man.  Back in your day, whenever that was Conference USA, the Great Midwest or even when MU was independent, MU never faced this type of competition.  We are not or ever will be a UNC, Kansas, or UCLA.

So go back to ranting about how Jamil Wilson is the next MJ.

[DJO's Pump Fake]

4 NCAA appearances

Thats nice....but only 1 NCAA win since the FF.  This has a lot to do with Crean and with how beat up we are in March, but, God forbid, we do not win our first round game this year.......the 3 amigos will have only 1 NCAA win in 4 years.  I would trade all time leading scorer for some March success in a heart beat.

[mu_hilltopper]

MU_hilltopper---I would rather a four year starting point guard left here with 100 wins, a FF and 2 Sweet 16 apearances. Leaving here as all-time scorer with the worst shooting % of anyone in the top 5 does not impress me. Back in the day when SR. left they gave the team's accomplishments on Sr. night. DJ is not an all-time great by any means.

Who wouldn't?  You know what it takes for 100 wins, two S16s and an FF??

Good teammates.  A good bench.  Good coaching/game plans.  Good health.  And jesus .. two S16s and an FF takes three boatloads of luck.  These elements in combination brings success, which unfortunately, we've been shorted in one category or another, every year since 2003.

The amount of disrespect DJ gets is unbelievable.   He has extraordinary skills and has personally won a number of games for MU, ON TOP OF being a damn fine student athlete and ambassador in the public eye.   

Gosh, if only he could get the all-time scoring record with another 10 points of shooting FG, then you could give him his due.  Too bad for him.