Lazar Getting Love

[teddycoke]

ALL-SENIOR TEAM...........

http://collegebasketball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=949586

[HoopsMalone]

Should get 20 pts and 10 boards next year.  Points will go up with more shots, boards will go up with having other big guys on the floor to box out the opponents so that he is not always fighting others to get a rebound.  Also, the talent level is down in the Big East in my opinion, making Lazar's ability to get starts easier.  Great honor for Lazar and deserving.

Not that Lazar is there, but who is the last MU player to average 20 points and 10 rebounds?

[77ncaachamps]

Chones?

"The following season Chones led Marquette to a perfect 21-0 start by averaging a team-high 20.5 points and 11.9 rebounds before being selected in the first round of the 1972 ABA Draft by the New York Knicks."

Does the MUWiki know all?

[VegasWarrior77]

Chones?

"The following season Chones led Marquette to a perfect 21-0 start by averaging a team-high 20.5 points and 11.9 rebounds before being selected in the first round of the 1972 ABA Draft by the New York Knicks."

Does the MUWiki know all?

ABA NY Nets?

[Brewtown Andy]

Not that Lazar is there, but who is the last MU player to average 20 points and 10 rebounds?

Because it's fun to think about exactly what kind of career Lazar is putting up, if he averages exactly 20-10 for a season that has as many games as last years, Lazar will finish 42  points behind Jerel on the all time points list, 3rd on the all time rebounds list, and he would be just the 3rd player in MU history (Don Kojis, Bo Ellis) to post 1000 points & 1000 rebounds.

[Keeyan Half Court Dunks]

I just don't see Lazar having the opportunity to grab 10 reb a game if he is going to be playing his natural 3 spot instead of playing out of position at the 4/5.

[ErickJD08]

I just don't see Lazar having the opportunity to grab 10 reb a game if he is going to be playing his natural 3 spot instead of playing out of position at the 4/5.

Completely agree.  Lazar is going to have a great season.  I would guess 20pts 8 rebs and I think he will be right around 45% from behind the arc. 

[pillardean]

Completely agree.  Lazar is going to have a great season.  I would guess 20pts 8 rebs and I think he will be right around 45% from behind the arc. 

I mean we are talking about 20/10 or 20/8 with 45% from behind the arch.  That is obscenely good--and I don't doubt it for a second. 

But we should also be cautious with what we are going to expect out of Lazar.  Last year he was the sleeper, this year he will be the stud.  Teams will know that, he will know it and he may put too much pressure on himself.  That being said, I will be a little bit more cautious in my predictions...

18.7 pts/gm
9.3 rbs/gm
4.2 assts/gm
.97 blocks/gm
5.7 yells/gm

ok, I wasn't that cautious-but what the hell.

[ErickJD08]

I mean we are talking about 20/10 or 20/8 with 45% from behind the arch.  That is obscenely good--and I don't doubt it for a second. 

But we should also be cautious with what we are going to expect out of Lazar.  Last year he was the sleeper, this year he will be the stud.  Teams will know that, he will know it and he may put too much pressure on himself.  That being said, I will be a little bit more cautious in my predictions...

18.7 pts/gm
9.3 rbs/gm
4.2 assts/gm
.97 blocks/gm
5.7 yells/gm

ok, I wasn't that cautious-but what the hell.

The prediction is fine.  I'll pray for the 4.2 assist/gm but I COMPLETELY disagree about the sleeper notion.  Two seasons ago, (I think, not sure) he would have gotten the award for BE Most improved player if it wasn't for Gody.  I think there might have been one other player in the running.  Regardless, to say teams weren't aware of Lazar would be wrong.  BUT, I think most teams focused on stopping the three amigos.  It will be interesting how he responds with the target on his back (which will add to his yells/gm). 

If the other players on our team turn out to be losers, then Hayward will be forced to make difficult plays and will have a bumpy season.  I truely believe our players will complement him well and help him get drafted next year. 

[pillardean]

I'll pray for the 4.2 assist/gm but I COMPLETELY disagree about the sleeper notion.  Two seasons ago, (I think, not sure) he would have gotten the award for BE Most improved player if it wasn't for Gody.  I think there might have been one other player in the running.  Regardless, to say teams weren't aware of Lazar would be wrong.  BUT, I think most teams focused on stopping the three amigos.  It will be interesting how he responds with the target on his back (which will add to his yells/gm). 

That is what I meant by sleeper.  I guess I should have used a different term than sleeper.  But you are right about teams knowing who he was but what I meant to say is that he was not the FOCUS of other teams (as you corrected my with the focus on three amigos). 

This year he will be the focus of not only other teams but his own as well.  I still feel that he was one of the emotional leaders of the team, even as a sophomore, now he will have to be the emotional and mental leader of a very young team--unless Ack can help him out in that regard. 

Most of the kids on the team don't know what it's like to play a full season in an Elite Conference, he is the only one.  He's the only one that knows what it's like to get out of bed bruised and soar after losing an OT game, he's gonna have to show that leadership on the court, in practice, in film session or game planning meetings (not sure exactly what they do).  That is what I meant as the focus being on him and the pressure, it probably won't only be other teams putting pressure on him but also his coaches, himself and other teammates. 

But I do believe he will flourish.  I am looking forward to the yell count. Man, do I love his yells--they get me pumped up!  Lazar should change his name to Lazer, that'd be Bad azz.

[Murffieus]

I just don't see Lazar having the opportunity to grab 10 reb a game if he is going to be playing his natural 3 spot instead of playing out of position at the 4/5.

Lazar won't be playing #3------he'll probably be our #5, as he was a great deal this past season alternating with Burke.
When he's not at #5 (probably will alternate with Otule there)-----Lazar will be at #4.

[bilsu]

I still say Roseboro starts at center. Because he can shoot the 15 foot jumper, which will keep the lane open for the forwards to drive in. At this point we do not know when or if Mbao will be eligible and even if he is until he puts on weight he is just another Craig Butrym. Given that Otule could not even get token time last year, I just do not see him as a major factor. Besides that he wants to post up down low which clogs the lane. Based on last year, Buzz's style is to keep the lane open.

[NCMUFan]

I think a great deal of Lazar's success next season will be directly related to his supporting cast.  Just as DJ enhanced Jerel's and Wes performance, if the new players are lethal enough for other teams not to be able to only focus on Lazar, Lazar will have an awesome year.

[79Warrior]

Chones?

"The following season Chones led Marquette to a perfect 21-0 start by averaging a team-high 20.5 points and 11.9 rebounds before being selected in the first round of the 1972 ABA Draft by the New York Knicks."

Does the MUWiki know all?

Chones was not drafed by the Knicks. He was selected by the NY Nets, who played at Nassau Coliseum