Let's Hear it For McNeal

[willie warrior]

The last 12 seconds speak volumes. He misses the shot, and then does not play defense. His guy scores!!!!!

McNeal lost this game for MU!!!!!!

[MUBBau]

You are an idiot

[MUeng]

McNeal definitely lost this game for us, we had it.  put that ball in jimmy's hands the way he was playing today or Wes's hands.  terrible. 

[Marquette_g]

He maybe didn't lose the game for the team, but his 4-16 shooting and out of control style play was ineffective today.

[ecompt]

I was more ticked about his taking a 23-footer with 20 seconds on the shot clock with 45 seconds to go. The drive was way too early (you make that move with eight seconds left, not 18) but at least he got near the rim.

[cirella09]

Real tough loss...Yes
Missed Layup...Yes
Jerel's man scored...Yes
Sucks...Yes

BUT Mcneal led us for 4 long years and I would trust the game in his hands any day of the week. He's the best defender in the league, arguable the best player in the league untill DJ's injury so Lay off...Great comeback from a horrible half and we still got the tourney!!!! GO MARQUETTE

[thatman32]

Mcneal jacking up a three pointer with a lot of time left on the clock then forgetting to play defense - yeah lets hear it for him

[bma725]

Real tough loss...Yes
Missed Layup...Yes
Jerel's man scored...Yes
Sucks...Yes

BUT Mcneal led us for 4 long years and I would trust the game in his hands any day of the week. He's the best defender in the league, arguable the best player in the league untill DJ's injury so Lay off...Great comeback from a horrible half and we still got the tourney!!!! GO MARQUETTE

He hasn't been the best defender in the league in years.  In fact his defense has slipped quite a bit since his sophomore year and he isn't even the best defender on the team anymore.

[MUhoops12]

As much as I love Mcneal, It's pretty safe to say that he blew that game.

[jmayer1]

For a really good basketball player McNeal sure has a low basketball iq sometimes.

And why do people keep saying he is one of the best defenders in the league?  He is a really good help side defender but is only average (if not below average) on the ball defender.

I'm glad he's on MU but he needs to play within himself for MU to make a run in the tourney.

[jaygall31]

that's the thing...he isn't the best defender in the league..

he got mesmorized by the ball and cost us the game, and probably a 5 seed.

[chapman]

He maybe didn't lose the game for the team, but his 4-16 shooting and out of control style play was ineffective today.

+1.  Another poor shooting performance, mostly consisting of drives in the middle of the lane against four guys.  Instead of trying to run the offense with under a minute left he hogs the ball and puts up a contested three.  Then he drives with under 20 to go when there is no room, falls out of bounds, comes back and completely forgets his guy.  Len Elmore was actually right: the reason we came back was that other players (Butler and Acker) were allowed to get involved in the game.  When the ball hogging started back up we had a couple of pathetic possessions.

[warriorfred]

McNeal is pushing too hard.  Reminds me of James in his Sophomore year, taking poor shots, driving on three defenders, and playing half-assed defense.  Not sure where his head is at?

[WarriorHal]

McNeal has been horrible since DJ went down. Great players make great plays. He's not one of them.

[cirella09]

Jerel leads the team in steals, blocks, and is 3rd on the team in defensive rebounds...Does it really sounds like he's slipping? The only reason he hasn't won Def Player of the Yr is because a 7'3" Monster known as Thabeet is now in the league as well

[{Juggernaut}]

I am more pissed at his horrible defense... Just watching the dribble and letting his man walk to the hoop and make an easy lay up for the win.... wow

I am in absolute shock

[lab_warrior]

After today, I don't EVER want to see McNeal handling the ball with the game on the line.  EVER.  Anybody but him, his decision making is AWFUL.

[nyg]

I hope the NBA scouts have not been watching him the last five games, cause he is really hurting his draft status big time.  

We have lived and died with him, mainly lived and I have enjoyed.  But today, we died.  

[Pakuni]

Buzz probably should cut him.

The last three was a terrible shot.
I watched the final drive five times on my DVR. He got fouled. Not even close.

[AlumKCof93]

Right - McNeal is playing like DJ was his senior year.  Taking bad shots and putting himself ahead of the team.  I'm tired of feeling bad for these guys when they lose.  McNeal needs to understand its about Marquette, not about McNeal.  

With 20 seconds left, Buzz should have had someone else playing point.  McNeal made bad decisions against Syracuse and all day today, including the 3 with 40 secs left.

[Norm]

Well, the lane opened up and he took it. If he wasn't fouled he probably could have made it. The refs didn't call it, but he was fouled.

[The Lens]

You all are talking about the BIG EAST 2007 Defensive Player of the Year!!!

Just remember, DJ is a cancer.

Why does JM feel the need to go Wardle on us?  Wardle had to shoot everytime b/c that's all we had.  Does Jerel not realize that counting Butler he is always on the court with 3 solid Big East players?

[Markusquette]

It's the loss of DJ, period.  We've never had to have McNeal be a PG really, and he's trying way too much to get it done himself which results in losing the ball, taking bad shots and not finding his teammates quite enough.  While he's great and I love him on our team, he messed up at the end regardless of what people say.  It sucks, but James was glue that held our team together in these situations this year, and it's clearly showing.

[Wade4Life]

I'm not going to blame mcneal or anyone else on the team for the loss. We lost as a team.

Mcneal should of waited for another 5 seconds and threw something up with 7 seconds left. If there is a rebound we have a slim chance at getting it, but 2 seconds come off the clock. I dont think any teams can go the entire floor with 3 or 4 seconds and make a game winning basket. And if they can, well they deserve to win.

[bma725]

Jerel leads the team in steals, blocks, and is 3rd on the team in defensive rebounds...Does it really sounds like he's slipping? The only reason he hasn't won Def Player of the Yr is because a 7'3" Monster known as Thabeet is now in the league as well

Watch him play instead of looking just at the stats, because they don't tell the whole story.  His on ball defense has not been the same since his sophomore year, and the last part of this year it's been terrible.  He is routinely getting beat off the bounce, he's getting caught playing too far off his man, he's not coming around screens quickly enough or closing enough to stop open shots.