Jimmy Butler can be a god....

[ecompt]

First minute in the game today two rebounds and an assist.

[IAmMarquette]

I was just talking about this with MWBauer7. I'll admit it: I've developed a bit of a man-crush on Jimmy Butler. Quickly becoming one of my favorite MU players.

[T-Bone]

Jimmy-B, should adopt Visa's old slogan.  He's Everywhere You Want To Be.

[Big Papi]

They are calling some questionable fouls on us.  FIrst McNeal on the legit block and now Matthews down low when he did nothing wrong.

Only way we lose this game is if one or both get into foul trouble.

[ecompt]

It would help if we could hit a shot every now and then. 4-of-14 is the only thing keeping St. John's in the game.

[MUWeb7]

Jimmy is the man. We're looking a bit off on offense (shooting), but I like how our D is looking. They are including Burke a bit more though...I like. Maybe Buzz will take the cuffs off Butler from three? Prob not, but it'd be nice to see.

[Markusquette]

I also like Burke's aggressiveness on offense, despite his last jumper

[mwbauer7]

I'll admit it: I've developed a bit of a man-crush on Jimmy Butler. Quickly becoming one of my favorite MU players.

+1

We, as a team, need to continue the dribble penetration.

[Big Papi]

And there is McNeal's 2nd foul.

[ecompt]

JB is by far our best player today

[jtsanto]

This game should be over already. They have got to make some shots and get a lead so we have an easier second half. I  agree about Butler major man crush on him, he is Dyno-mite!!

[Big Papi]

Cooby showing some aggressiveness.  Man I wish he could nail a 3 and get his confidence back and rolling but what a crazy shot that he made.

[mwbauer7]

And there is McNeal's 2nd foul.

And he should be done for the half

[Big Papi]

I dont want to jinx anything but was our defense really bad these last 4 games and we found it today or was it because we played against 4 extremely talented teams with quickness and height that we just don't matchup well against and most others would not.

[MUWeb7]

I think we look a little more active on defense compared to the last 4 games. We stood around a lot during the Pitt game. IMO today you see us challenging their guards further out and putting the pressure on.

[jtsanto]

I am not sure if it is great D or St. Johns is just that bad. They have had a lot of open looks that have not fallen for them.

[ecompt]

It really helps that St. John's sucks.

[lab_warrior]

JB can be a big contributor next year, along with Hayward and the trio of Maymon,  Cadougan, and Buycks.

[AZWarrior]

It really helps that St. John's sucks.

They beat Georgetown.   

No bad teams in the BEAST.

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

I dont want to jinx anything but was our defense really bad these last 4 games and we found it today or was it because we played against 4 extremely talented teams with quickness and height that we just don't matchup well against and most others would not.

I think it's a little of both.  We played 4 teams with top 10-caliber talent (not necessarily rank) close (well, with the exception of the last 8 minutes of Pitt).  Also, I think having a couple of days rest certainly helped in terms of working on defense and the offensive rotations.  Everything looked much more crisp today.

St. John's has the talent IMO to be very good next year.  Most of those guys are freshmen and sophomores.  But to lay a beating on them today was HUGE for our confidence going forward. 

[MarqGold17]

Jimmy Butler-Stud of the Game?¿

I know he didn't have the most points, or the most rebounds for that matter, but this game, in my opinion at least, was a break out game for him.

[SCdem@MU]

And yet I was called insane and/or an idiotic 17 year old who must have just started watching basketball a few weeks ago for stating that Butler was playing better basketball than James.

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

And yet I was called insane and/or an idiotic 17 year old who must have just started watching basketball a few weeks ago for stating that Butler was playing better basketball than James.

Uh, keep telling yourself that.  You must have missed the previous 4 games where we couldn't stop AJ Price, Andre McGee, Levance Fields, and Johnny Flynn even if Acker was permitted to carry a firearm. 

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

And yet I was called insane and/or an idiotic 17 year old who must have just started watching basketball a few weeks ago for stating that Butler was playing better basketball than James.

Keep in mind though that playing better basketball and being a better basketball player are often two different things.

Jimmy's a solid player, no doubt, but he reminds me of Ousmane Barro or Joe Chapman more than Dominic James. If he starts, he seems like a player who can toss in 6-10 points and grab a couple boards, but he's not the kind of player who can singlehandedly change the course of a game.

[SCdem@MU]

Uh, keep telling yourself that.  You must have missed the previous 4 games where we couldn't stop AJ Price, Andre McGee, Levance Fields, and Johnny Flynn even if Acker was permitted to carry a firearm. 

And you can keep telling yourself that James would have made a difference.

Butler is a good player who plays efficient basketball and makes few mistakes. When he starts getting some confidence to take the open jumper, he will be really dangerous.