for the love of JC.......

[muole]

can i get a shout out for Jerel McNeal?  I've been frequenting many MU basketball boards for the last several years and THIS ONE has been absolutely the roughest on Jerel's game.  yes, sometimes he takes an ill-advised shot, yes sometimes he commits a stupid turnover.  However, can anyone please name me a player that could (can) score, defend, and create like he can?  yeah, I can, and his name is D-Wade.  that's it.  end of conversation.

yet, for some reason, this guy gets no love.

as Jerry Seinfeld would say, "what's the deal.......?"

[MUrugger]

I'll give Jerel some love.  I just said on another thread that he could have a ten year pro career ahead of him.  Everything about his game is better and I would think attracting attention at the next level.  Shooting.  Range.  Shot selection.  Dribbling.  Stepping up to the Big Shot.  Defense (never left.) Court awareness. Patience.  Playing under control--Ok? but it's improving. Heart.  Guts.  Stamina.
He could play on my team anytime.  Thing is the game at the next level stinks and there is not an NBA team that I care about.

Jerel needs to stick with all the things mentioned as the date that brung him and he will have a real shot at a nice career in the pros.  Then I might have a team to watch.

[bradforster]

Jerel McNeal is the best player on the team.  He single handedly almost willed the guys to victory vs. Stanford in last year's tourney.  His deft three point shooting touch this season is a testament to his work ethic during the offseason in trying to improve his overall game.  How many clutch threes has he hit to help increase a lead during crunch time or provide an answer to an opposing team's bucket?  He's a streak preventer! 

The guy is a true gamer and has to be in the conversation for Big East Player of the Year.  His conference numbers are markedly better than his overall statistics, which means he's playing his most dazzling ball when it matters most.  Remember how Marquette looked two years ago in the NCAA tourney with an injured Jerel on the sideline?  The loss against Michigan State was one of the ugliest MU games I've watched, and it's no coincidence it unfolded in Jerel's absence. 

Jerel McNeal makes an otherwise respectable team "special."

[muole]

and all the haters are silent....... it's a cold night in LA but I'm sure it's much colder in milwaukee.

what a nice win for MU tonight.  a team effort spearheaded by you know who.

excited for saturday.  know you GT is gonna bring it.... hope buzz and the boys are ready.

[NavinRJohnson]

McNeal is a great player, and I think most have acknowledged that. He's always had tremendous talent and athletic ability, but the degree to which he has refined his game this year is amazing. Probably the best player in the BE.

[MR.HAYWARD]

Jerel played welllast night.  I dont think anyone on this board has ever knocked his abilities or effort and I as one of his biggest critics never have.  Simply his decion making at times is very bad.  I have stated at times he is a lottery pick with better deciosn making.  Last night his decison making was for the most part very good.   He did pull a couple boob moves down the stretch thought that just want to make you pull your hair out. 

 The agaonzingly slow double triple clutch telegraphed pass out front that got stolen by Nash was simply brutal we got lucky the ball went OB.  then another play late I remeber specifically because I was so frustrated wehn it happen and then rewatched  the last 5 minutes last night and bilas said"  that is simply a bad shot"   We were up 2 with the ball 2-3 minutes left Dj dribbles the ball up screen handoff to Jerel at the top of the key pullup 3.  30 seconds on the sot clock.  Terrible terrible,  Run some clocj, get  apaint touch reverse the ball. 

 Luckily our defense was awesome and a possesion or two later we reverse th ball once or twice Dj shot fakes dribble drives touches the paint and kicks out to Jerel who burys probbaly the game winner.  That is our game and we are really good when we do it,  quick threes of f the driblle 5 seconds in the shot clock are unnecessary and should not be happening it is what we did in the second half against Depaul and quite frankly Jerel would be even better if he could eliminate those decisons. 

[NavinRJohnson]

He takes some bad shots. They all do, and they always have. The difference this year is we take them with 5 seconds off the shot clock as opposed to with 5 seconds left as in past years. If you are going to take bad shots, you better get more opportunities than your opponent. We are doing that this year.

As for McNeal as it relates to the above...the "that's a bad shot" example you cite stood out for me as well because it was a bad shot. On the flip side, we were actually up 4 at the time, and if he makes it, the game is probably over at that point instead of a couple minutes later when he made the other one. Wasn't an ideal choice, but that's his game, and its that aggressiveness that makes him good. Plus, I don't care what happened in the past, this year he is the best 3-pt shooter in the Big East, with a Novak-like percentage. Let 'em fly (although they clearly play better when he's taking it to the hoop and the 3-pt shot is a complement)!

[lurch91]

Not sure if anyone else has already said it, but his block with about 3 minutes left sealed the game for us.  If ND made the layup, it's a tie game.  But it was blocked, MU went the other way and Wes hit the pull up jumper in the lane for a 4 point, two possession lead.

Play of the game in my book.

[GoldenWarrior]

Without a doubt the most consistent player over the past 4 years that we've had at Marquette.  Jerel always brings it on the defensive end, which sparks out transition offense.  The trio have been absolutely awesome for us, but Jerel in my mind has really emerged as the true star of the bunch due to his consistency.  His offense has really come along beautifully, especially his outside shot this year and big play ability (made the two most important plays last against ND:  the blocked layup, and the 3 pointer).

The crowd better be crazy Saturday for the Hoyas, you know they are chomping at the bit to get a shot at a quality win!!

WE ARE MARQUETTE!!!

[nola03]

I've come to accept that Jerel will take two bad shots and make two bad passes in crucial situations in most games. 

He will also win those games with his heart, determination, and skill. 

He will be the deserved scoring leader of a proud program in two weeks. 

[GoldenWarrior]

Another thing I want to point out is that I feel that Jerel will make some mistakes here and there as noted by others above, but I think James makes way more than Jerel.  If James hits one three all of a sudden he thinks he's Steve Novak and shoots at least 3 more within the next six possessions, when it's completely unnecessary and will airball or just completely brick at least one of those three.  I think Jerel's mistakes are WAY more understandable than James'.

[Chicagobball]

Its about time Jerel gets some love. Everybody loves to critique his game from top to bottom but the bottom line is that he averages 23ppg in Big East play and always steps up in big time games. When he goes off like he did last night its amazing how people try to down play it like "Jerel was good tonight but so and so was the unsung hero"...thats nice and all but to me that was a lost if Jerel didnt play like he did or got in foul trouble. I think some people just dont want to admit that he is the best and most consistent player on the team. With that said DJ, Wes, Reese, and Lazar played well because they understood their roles and when that happens we are a dangerous team.

[MR.HAYWARD]

He takes some bad shots. They all do, and they always have. The difference this year is we take them with 5 seconds off the shot clock as opposed to with 5 seconds left as in past years. If you are going to take bad shots, you better get more opportunities than your opponent. We are doing that this year.

As for McNeal as it relates to the above...the "that's a bad shot" example you cite stood out for me as well because it was a bad shot. On the flip side, we were actually up 4 at the time, and if he makes it, the game is probably over at that point instead of a couple minutes later when he made the other one. Wasn't an ideal choice, but that's his game, and its that aggressiveness that makes him good. Plus, I don't care what happened in the past, this year he is the best 3-pt shooter in the Big East, with a Novak-like percentage. Let 'em fly (although they clearly play better when he's taking it to the hoop and the 3-pt shot is a complement)!

Navin in General you are correct, but after that miss ND scored 4 staright and tied it.  If we work for a better shot maybe we go up 6 or 7 and really put our foot on their throat, instead we let them off the hook by not valuing that possesion. 

Additionally, yes Jerel is shooting th ball well.  But i do not have the technology.  I know pition at Lousiville charts and and I hope Mu does too, but i would love to know Jerels percentage off the drive and Kick like the one he mad late from Dj...versus his percentage on the quick off the dribble shots.  Hitorically per Pitiono it is about 40% to 20%.  That is my point, no problem with the three it swhat type of threes are you taking.  Infact if we are going to take a three like he did on his "bad shot"  up four late were are better off taking it late in the clock you can get that shot at anytime better off burning 30 more seconds.

[MR.HAYWARD]

Its about time Jerel gets some love. Everybody loves to critique his game from top to bottom but the bottom line is that he averages 23ppg in Big East play and always steps up in big time games. When he goes off like he did last night its amazing how people try to down play it like "Jerel was good tonight but so and so was the unsung hero"...thats nice and all but to me that was a lost if Jerel didnt play like he did or got in foul trouble. I think some people just dont want to admit that he is the best and most consistent player on the team. With that said DJ, Wes, Reese, and Lazar played well because they understood their roles and when that happens we are a dangerous team.

I think you are wrong...I dont believe their are many people that would say Jerel is not the best player on a very very good team.  I know I would never say he wasnt.  But like anything you can always get better and with him I think the thing that frustrates peoplel are his mistakes are mental and repetive and at times not so subtle.  My comment has been he will get drafted ,  if he would eliminate those mental mistakes like that silly silly careless pass and the "badshot" that was referred to and I think he has lottery potential. 

[muole]

MR.HAYWARD - don't you realize that if you take away those two "bad shots" and two "bad decisions" per game, you probably also take away 3-4 baskets MU wouldn't have and 3-4 creations/defensive gems that MU wouldn't have?

it's a philosophical things.  you can't change the "nature" of his game, nor should you want to.  just sit back and enjoy it.  and try critiquing some of "stupid" plays by other players.  you'll see jerel makes no more than Wes, DJ, etc.

[NavinRJohnson]

Additionally, yes Jerel is shooting th ball well.  But i do not have the technology.  I know pition at Lousiville charts and and I hope Mu does too, but i would love to know Jerels percentage off the drive and Kick like the one he mad late from Dj...versus his percentage on the quick off the dribble shots.  Hitorically per Pitiono it is about 40% to 20%.  That is my point, no problem with the three it swhat type of threes are you taking.  Infact if we are going to take a three like he did on his "bad shot"  up four late were are better off taking it late in the clock you can get that shot at anytime better off burning 30 more seconds.

No question he takes some ill-advised shots, but the percentage is the percentage, and if he's making half of all of them, using the numbers above, he is taking exponentially more good ones than bad ones.

Now, there's also bad shots, and then there are bad shots. If Acker, or James or someone takes the same shot for instance, it is a far worse shot. McNeal simply has to be more aggressive and make the scoreboard blink, and you are gonna get some 'bad shots' as a result. Harangody is no different - he fired up many bad shots last night and lots of them went in.

Bottom line as I said before, we are a team that will take bad shots, as we have been in the past. That being the case, we gotta make sure we take more than the other guy.

Where guys like McNeal and Harangody are concerned...bad shots often turn into daggers on the way down.

[StillAWarrior]

I see on ESPN that McNeal (19.4 ppg) is ahead of Wes (19.0 ppg) now.  He just passed him last night, right?  It's great having four guys who can go off and score 20 on any given night.  Jerel has done it 11 times; Wes has done it nine times (including on 30 point game); Lazar (16.3 ppg) has done it five times; and DJ hasn't done it yet this year, but everyone knows that he's capable of it (five or six times last year).  I love how DJ seems to have embraced a new -- but crucial -- role on this team.

[MR.HAYWARD]

Muole you are dead wrong.   looking at the two plays I discussed the bad pass and the bad shot.  No if he had not done those two things it would not have eliminated 3-4 baskets.  Winning is about eliminating mistakes.  Jerel would be even betetr as would our other players if they eliminated more mistakes, jerels tend to be mental,  you CAN eliminaye mistakes without eliminating the good that is flawed thinking.  

[Chicagobball]

Mr. Hayward I agree Jerel sometimes takes some questionable shots like when we were up 4 and he took that three-pointer off the screen but the thing is you cant name a great shooting guard in the country that doesnt take questionable shots. Some people believe that Stephen Curry is the best guard in the country and most of the shots he takes are questionable shots. I can also say the same thing for Jodie Meeks. If you have a great scorer on your team you have to live with some of the shots they take because when it matters the most they will make them.

[mcnealfan1]

its hard to eliminate mistakes when your aggressive like mcneal is, obviously you dont understand that, im pretty sure you cant name me 1 other player who is aggressive as mcneal is, whos not averaging at least 2 turnovers and taking at least 2 bad shots, the 1 three pointer your talking about, off the screen at the top of the key may have been a bad shot but it was a shot that he can make, and if you notice, mcneal is the type of player who loves to go for the kill when he smells blood, he looks for the perfect opportunity to make a big shot and pretty much finish the game strong,   i love it

[sigep80]

Jerel is so good that Trevor Mbakwe had to flee the state.......

[muole]

MR. HAYWARD - you sound like a badger fan - lets try to value a players' worth with stupid basketball nerd stats like PPS and OE and see where that gets us.  It gets you saying things like Joe Fulce is the best player on the team b/c he had a good FG% and didn't commit any TOs in his limited minutes.

again - if you try to take the heart and soul out of a player like jerel (as it seems you want to do) then you lose the thing that made him special in the first place.

i seriously don't know what this cat has to do to get some love from you.

AGAIN - look at wes' and DJs' (and Lazars' for that matter) overall stats and tell me where Jerel is more of a detriment than any of those dudes.   AGAIN, maybe next year when Lazar is looking at double and triple teams you'll realize what a gift jerel is to this team.