Otule is better than Burke right now

[ErickJD08]

Somewhere on this board said (I think I said it too) that Otule will be starting over Burke by the end of the season.  I think that will happen.  The guy is a "project" and he does look rough around the edges but he looks 100% more compentent with the ball in his hands than Burke does.  Its obvious that Burke is in over his head.  I hope we can get a few more blowouts like today to get guys like Otule and Fulce some playing time. 

[MR.HAYWARD]

i assume you have never played bball.  minutes are earned on Defense and Burke had an oustanding game defensively, far far far better than otule.  our big 4 are scoring about 7o points agamae on avergae that alone is enought to win.  scoring a few more points on o yet giving up more than that on D makes us apoorer team.  Please otule shows promise and we will see what happens come MArch but i have more than a hard time seeing otule pass Burke on the defensive end. 

[forzaitalia]

Agreed, Burke is playing very well defensively.  imo otule still has some work to do, but has a much higher ceiling than burke, but Burke should continue to play just from what he has shown defensively.

[MR.HAYWARD]

exactly, will otule be better than burke is by the time he is a second semester soph or a junior?...most likely.  Does he make Mu bettr right now...ah, not even close.

[strobl2]

Burke should still be the starter and play more minutes but i think we need to get otule in there more. The coaches imo have done a good job with otule so far, and now he needs to just get in the game and get some experience.

[Mayor McCheese]

exactly, will otule be better than burke is by the time he is a second semester soph or a junior?...most likely.  Does he make Mu bettr right now...ah, not even close.

I could make the argument that Otule makes Marquette a more deadly offense, and that his presence down low of having a person down low that shows promise to put the ball in the hoop (unlike Burke), forces the man guarding Otule to have to stick to him more instead of doubling a James, Matthews, McNeal off of a pick.

It actually happened in the game where Otule just got into the game, and he went and set a pick for one of the three(think Matthews) and Otule's defender was use to Burke's lack of a scoring option, so went out and hedged way to far away and left an easy pass to Otule for an easy dunk... that actually turned into a foul and Otule to the charity stripe(regardless if he missed both).

However my call is for still more Hazel... the man plays D like Burke, and can score on the offense.  The only problem is I think Burke has so much leadership that he brings to the team, and due to this leadership I am ok with him starting.  But I would enjoy a three player rotation at that position.

[Badgerhater]

Otule did have a nice one footer where he simply used his height to drop it in on a 6'8 guy.  It was nice to finally see an MU center be able to do that.  However, an elite big man like Thabeet would stuff that weak BS right back into his face.  He hung with his guy on D in the first half, but looked lost with his role on team D.  He is also going to pick up fouls by the boatload if he doesn't learn how to hide his grabs or learn to throw his hips around.

If he can improve to the point where he can play a consistent 10 minutes a game and not hurt the team, then MU should be quite happy with that.

[ErickJD08]

I could make the argument that Otule makes Marquette a more deadly offense, and that his presence down low of having a person down low that shows promise to put the ball in the hoop (unlike Burke), forces the man guarding Otule to have to stick to him more instead of doubling a James, Matthews, McNeal off of a pick.

It actually happened in the game where Otule just got into the game, and he went and set a pick for one of the three(think Matthews) and Otule's defender was use to Burke's lack of a scoring option, so went out and hedged way to far away and left an easy pass to Otule for an easy dunk... that actually turned into a foul and Otule to the charity stripe(regardless if he missed both).

However my call is for still more Hazel... the man plays D like Burke, and can score on the offense.  The only problem is I think Burke has so much leadership that he brings to the team, and due to this leadership I am ok with him starting.  But I would enjoy a three player rotation at that position.

Burke brings leadership??? You are joking right? 

The whole "You obviously haven't played basketball before.." such a stupid comment. (by Mr. Hayward)  Based on your comments, you OBVIOUSLY did not watch the game.  Otule had 2 blocks.  Cincy's F's had decent games.  In the first half, Otule made a nice roll to the basket that forced a force.  When has Burke EVER done that?  I would venture to say never.  I am not saying Otule is amazing right now but at least the guy doesn't look clueless on the offensive end and Otule is just as good as Burke on defense if not better because he can block shots.  There is no way that Burke is "hands down" better than Otule on the defensive end.  And as the season moves forward, it will be obvious that Otule is the better option.

[Badgerhater]

Burke is playing 100 percent better than the first 5 games of the season.  Again, his game is not going to show up in stats.  He isn't going to score because they won't pass to him.  If he scrapes up a few boards and pushes his guy out from the rim on D he is doing exactly what Buzz wants him to do.  Hazel has a better offensive touch so he will get the ball once in awhile.  However, if he were to slip on D he will ride the pine because MU needs D from the 5 more than it needs O.

Otule still doesn't grasp his role on D other than simply guarding his man.  He doesn't not yet know when to help or not help or when to switch.   That only can come with experience and practice.   Like I said before, he has an upside, but its a ways off.

[ErickJD08]

Badger...
I just want to know where you are seeing this leadership by Burke.  I don't see him getting in his teammates' heads to make them play better or flat out making plays.  In my perception, I see leaders either filling the stat sheets, emotional leaders, or "johnny-on-the-spot" (making big plays).  If a leader doesn't do one of the three, you might as well call everyone a leader on the team.

[mu_hilltopper]

Most here disagree with you, ErickJD08, but the only guy that really matters, Coach Buzz, galacticly disagrees with you.   As he's said a number of times, and mentioned again on the post-game today, he's said Otule is terrible, lost, floundering, etc.     It's highly doubtful he will start this year, let alone have more than garbage minutes over the next 90 days. 

That's a far cry from "better than Burke" a senior starter.

The answer to your question will be given as the main guy, Coach Buzz, decides to put him in, or more likely, NOT, as the season progresses.

[ErickJD08]

I guess I am wrong.  Burke is AWESOME.  He is the leader of the team.  Sorry for even posting such a silly comment.  I have been paying attention to MU ball for 10 years now and he is the worst player I have seen start on our team.  But that too is a silly comment because Burke is AWESOME.

[tower912]

Otule still doesn't have his wind to play big minutes.   And you NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, replace a starting senior with a freshman while the team is playing well.  Burke is playing to his ceiling right now and has been for the last 4 weeks.   Otule is going to continue to get minutes and we need him to contribute, particularly against quality bigs.  Otule will be better as a sophomore than Burke is as a senior.   But right now, the team is better with Burke as the starting 5.  To argue differently means you aren't paying attention.   

[bs4173]

However my call is for still more Hazel... the man plays D like Burke, and can score on the offense.  The only problem is I think Burke has so much leadership that he brings to the team, and due to this leadership I am ok with him starting.  But I would enjoy a three player rotation at that position.

Burke can't score, and he hasn't been consistently reliable, but right now he is definitely better at D down low than the others. However, the point is Buzz should definitely be giving Hazel and Otule a few more minutes per game. Burke's always in foul trouble anyway. By sitting Burke, he can rest, you build the younger guys' confidence levels, force the other team to adjust to a scoring "threat" down low for a few minutes, and save Burke from fouling so that if he's needed for a big defensive stop late in the game--like at NC State--he hasn't fouled out yet.

On another note, does anybody know of a link to see or hear the post-game from today? I'd like to hear what Buzz had to say.

[Badgerhater]

Erick

Please find the post where I said Burke was a leader.

Pay more attention to both the board and the game and your comments won't be so ridiculous.

[ErickJD08]

Crap... My bad Badger... It was Mayor McCheese

"However my call is for still more Hazel... the man plays D like Burke, and can score on the offense.  The only problem is I think Burke has so much leadership that he brings to the team, and due to this leadership I am ok with him starting.  But I would enjoy a three player rotation at that position."

[Badgerhater]

apology accepted   

If you replace mayor McCheese's word of leadership with experience then I would agree in general with his point.

I think if MU can consistently get 20-10-10 from Burke, Hazel and Otule by the end of the year....the minute spread with the one playing best that particular game, then I think Buzz will be quite happy.  If it is interchangable parts, then let the senior start.

[TallTitan34]

Offensively Otule > Burke

Defensively Otule < Burke

I am excited to see how Otule develops but for now you have to stick with Burke.  If Otule can improve his D, then will he get the nod.

[jos7287]

I guess I am wrong.  Burke is AWESOME.  He is the leader of the team.  Sorry for even posting such a silly comment.  I have been paying attention to MU ball for 10 years now and he is the worst player I have seen start on our team.  But that too is a silly comment because Burke is AWESOME.

Come on dude... Jamil Lott... there have been worse Burke is a good defender.  Stop crying and enjoy the discussion

[MR.HAYWARD]

erickdj....

I am not sure if you understand defensive concepts or what Mu is trying to do in defnding the post as individuals and collectively as a team.  

If you do then you are off to a good start.  watch the Mu / cincy game again and dont watch the ball watch burke and otule play defense and then rethink your comments.

if you do not understand what Mu is trying to do it will not help anyway and the same comments and thoughts will continue.

also i dont think anyone is posting that Burke is awesome, just better than Otule.  and do you not remember Jamil lott?

[Daniel]

Burke has been playing very good defense lately - very good.  Otule provided a spark when he entered the game, and he does present an offensive threat - and that threat will get greater as he matures.  Hazel was awesome today too - so it's nice to have that 3rd option with Otule.  Start? No.  I think Burke starts - we actually got our second jump ball to start the game against Cinccy!

Nice to have 3 guys to go too - excited about getting Otule in the mix

[CAINMUTINY]

Otule may be better than burke but still needs to get PT and some practices under his belt.  I would not expect him to start this season but could see him getting major mins towards the end of the season.  I agree that the senior should start but that doesnt mean he has to play the majority of mins.  I just hope we get a big who can play D and score to take pressure off the back court.

[bilsu]

Burke should start the rest of the year. Otule's playing time should increase. In the post game conference Buzz said that the other four players had to cover for Otule. At first blush, I thought he was being hard on Otule, but then I realized that Buzz is going to push him to the max. It made me wonder how good Barro would have been, if he had been coached by Buzz and his staff for four years.

[Pardner]

1.  What a simple pleasure in life this is just to have this argument about MU Bigs.
2.  I agree with Haywire.  We can all see what Burke ain't.  But, what is he is, ain't on the stat sheet.  He won the NCST game and shut down two Bigs to start the BE who had considerable advantage over him.
3.  Otule is a great change of pace for us...and to have other BE teams prepare for.  When he came in today, UC had no idea what to do...which opened up shots for the Fantastic Four.  Otule will be good to insert against a zone D to post him and create spacing.  
4.  Hazel is by far the Most Improved.  Again, with his energy and his ability to put it in the hole, it is a third completely different match-up that our opponents have to prepare for...totally different look.
5.  I think Fulce is the most talented of them all.  Like with Otule, they will have to earn their minutes.

[muhoops1]

On another note, does anybody know of a link to see or hear the post-game from today? I'd like to hear what Buzz had to say.

Coach Buzz raved about Dominique's Defense.  He spoke at length about how far he has come and that people are acknowledging the changes to his offensive game, but his D is even better.

Interestingly enough he was brutal on Otule.  He said that he was horrible on offense and even worse on Defense.  I think the direct quote was "he meanders on defense".  Buzz said that the reason he looks good is because the other 4 starters cover for his obvious short comings.

He said the only bench player right now that can play with 3 starters and not have a significant drop off is Jimmy Butler.  Buzz sighted the fact that the Bearcats didn't have an offensive rebound until the 13 minute mark in the 2nd half.   Then when he pulled his starters they scored on almost every possesion @ the end of the game.

He is remarkably candid.  I don't know if it is good or bad.  Otule must have thick skin because he doesn't have a problem calling him out at all.