Just put in erik williams

[KipsBayEagle]

We have a 7 man rotation, we continually get into foul trouble, our players are tired at the end of the game, fulce hasn't done anything yet, erik williams has looked good when he has been in.  Just put him in the game!  Seriously, how bad does Buzz think this kid is?  He really can't play 1 minute?  Just to give our other players a rest?  If he can't play 1 minute, then either he is the biggest bust in college basketball or Buzz has some type of grudge against him.  I'm sorry, but people have defended this for way, saying he is a defensive liability.  Nothing from when he has played (granted it is a small time to look at) has lead me to believe such is true.  In fact, when he has been in the game, he has looked aggressive and confident.  I would be extremely pissed off if I was him, and would consider transferring if things don't pick up for him.

[Marquette_g]

The two positions in sports that receive unyielding support and unending optimism.

1. Backup NFL QB
2. High Profile Recruit in College Hoops

The grass is always greener with these folks.  Maybe, just maybe, the coaches who see and judge performance on a regular basis have some sort of rationale behind their decisions.

[rocky_warrior]

I actually thought Fulce looked much better, and was being more aggressive against NC State.  Hopefully we continue to see improvement from him.

But I also agree, I'd like to see E Williams at least get a couple minutes.

[KipsBayEagle]

The two positions in sports that receive unyielding support and unending optimism.

1. Backup NFL QB
2. High Profile Recruit in College Hoops

The grass is always greener with these folks.  Maybe, just maybe, the coaches who see and judge performance on a regular basis have some sort of rationale behind their decisions.

From how he has performed so far in games, I see no reason why Erik Williams couldn't play at least a few minutes each game.  Combine that with the fact that we have to give more people minutes to prevent our starters from burning out, and u have a pretty strong case for putting him in.

[T-Bone]

Fulce did look a lot better.  He took some mid-range shots and was scrapping ala Jimmy-B under the hoop.  He had one sequence in the second half ripping away a rebound and putting it back in that should have been the rallying point for MU early in the 2nd half.  That got the crowd going and the team perked up a bit, until the turnover next possession (if I remember).  

He brings a ton of energy when he's in.  Unfortunately we weren't able to do anything with it.

Fulce is, in every way possible, a season ahead of Williams.  Fitting in, confidence, knowing his teammates, etc.  

Agreed though, I would like to see Williams get out there.  If Buzz thinks he's not ready, he's not ready.  He sees these guys everyday.  He knows a lot more than we could ever speculate.  

[ChicosBailBonds]

From the standpoint of just having bodies, the kid needs to play....especially against bad teams. 

[Boone]

It really should be a no-brainer. You can't get away with playing just 7 guys in the shot clock age. Are we to believe that all of the 7 who allowed 52 points in the 2nd half vs. NCST played the kind of D that warranted their playing time?! I highly doubt Erik could have done worse than any of the others that half.   

[KipsBayEagle]

It really should be a no-brainer. You can't get away with playing just 7 guys in the shot clock age. Are we to believe that all of the 7 who allowed 52 points in the 2nd half vs. NCST played the kind of D that warranted their playing time?! I highly doubt Erik could have done worse than any of the others that half.   

+ 10

[Nukem2]

From the standpoint of just having bodies, the kid needs to play....especially against bad teams. 

Hopefully Erik will get a real opportunity against Presbyterian and North florida in the upcoming weeks.  Extra practice between semesters should help as well.

[TallTitan34]

There isn't a single reason why Williams shouldn't play.  Even if his practices suck he has to play.

[GOMU1104]

There isn't a single reason why Williams shouldn't play.  Even if his practices suck he has to play.

That might be the dumbest thing ever posted on MUScoop.com.

[Nukem2]

That might be the dumbest thing ever posted on MUScoop.com.

Wow, that was a silly post....

[KipsBayEagle]

That might be the dumbest thing ever posted on MUScoop.com.

I just laughed at work for a solid 15 seconds after reading this and what it responded too

[willie warrior]

I happen to agree with what seems like many here that Williams should be getting some minutes.

The really big question is, why isn't he, when the logic and our last two games performance--players getting tired--dictates it?

Perhaps there needs to be more scrutiny and discourse on the quality of Buzz's coaching decisions.

[GOMU1104]

This is just getting so old.

-Nobody really knows how Williams is doing in practice. Buzz says he is, but none of us know it for a fact.

-Just because the kid is Top 100, does not mean he is ready to contribute 8 games into his Freshman  year. Buzz said as much on his show the other day, regarding Williams and Mbao..."They are just not yet ready to help us win games" (something to that extent).

-It has been understood, pretty much since he committed, that Williams would have some development to do before he contributed in the Big East. He played inside in high school at 6'7", 200 lbs, in the middle of a 2-3 zone. He put up some nasty numbers in that role, but that doesnt mean he is ready for D1 basketball.

-With Maymon healthy, we have an 8 man rotation. We beat bigger teams in Michigan and Xavier with that 8 man rotation, and we were 1 point short of beating an even bigger team in Florida State.  We can, and will win games with that rotation.

-I hope like hell that Williams can improve, and contribute this year, it would really help us out. I am not ruling it out either. It is possible that he can keep improving and get 5-10 minutes per game. At the same time, I dont want Buzz to send him, or Mbao,  out there, just for t he sake of making it a 9 or 10 man rotation.  Those that say "he needs to play NO MATTER WHAT" just dont get it.

[MUeng]

with how coveted they are, id expect a top 100 kid to be able to contribute 8 games into the season

[Boone]

Right. I don't think that's too much to expect.

[bamamarquettefan]

I'd like to see him get a few minutes, but as a documented in an analysis a month ago, 4-star freshman typically produce a win or two by the end of their freshman season, but 3-star freshman typically don't account for any years their freshman year in Big East play.

Of course, that is an oversimplification, because Maymon is actually among the top 4-stars and Williams is among the lower 4-stars, so closer to a 3-star.  In short, I am completely confident Maymon will produce a couple of wins at least this year, but Williams is more of a borderline.  Both should be excellent  their sophomore seasons, and potentially dominance their junior year.

That's why for me it all points to a decent year this year in which an NCAA bid would be a huge victory but an NIT is more likely.  However, with those two improving as sophomores, and the backcourt upgrading with Vander and Junior, we will be right back as a 4 or 5 seed and have a real shot at the Sweet 16.  However, unless Vander is so good that he is a one-and-done, I believer Maymon, Williams, Blue, Junior and hopefully one new big man will be part of a Final Four team in 2012.  Let's not talk about how Williams should transfer, when he could be part of such a special team by his senior season.

[ChicosBailBonds]

This is just getting so old.

-Nobody really knows how Williams is doing in practice. Buzz says he is, but none of us know it for a fact.

-Just because the kid is Top 100, does not mean he is ready to contribute 8 games into his Freshman  year. Buzz said as much on his show the other day, regarding Williams and Mbao..."They are just not yet ready to help us win games" (something to that extent).

-It has been understood, pretty much since he committed, that Williams would have some development to do before he contributed in the Big East. He played inside in high school at 6'7", 200 lbs, in the middle of a 2-3 zone. He put up some nasty numbers in that role, but that doesnt mean he is ready for D1 basketball.

-With Maymon healthy, we have an 8 man rotation. We beat bigger teams in Michigan and Xavier with that 8 man rotation, and we were 1 point short of beating an even bigger team in Florida State.  We can, and will win games with that rotation.

-I hope like hell that Williams can improve, and contribute this year, it would really help us out. I am not ruling it out either. It is possible that he can keep improving and get 5-10 minutes per game. At the same time, I dont want Buzz to send him, or Mbao,  out there, just for t he sake of making it a 9 or 10 man rotation.  Those that say "he needs to play NO MATTER WHAT" just dont get it.

I don't disagree with most of what you've said, but the other problem is that we are severely limited in the bodies category right with a gauntlet of games coming up.....so whether he's getting it or not, I would be shocked if we can't find 2 to 3 minutes per half to spell some guys with him.  If MU was healthy and had more bodies, I would TOTALLY agree with you.  But that's not the case.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

I'm a Buzz fan, but I agree that EW should have gotten some minutes against NC St.  7 man rotation is too short.  (I also think Mbao needs WAY too much work to see meaningful PT & was happy to hear that Fulce made a positive contribution.)

[kmwtrucks]

He also missed 2/3's of his JR year and most of he summer AAU circuit his Senior year. 

[bma725]

with how coveted they are, id expect a top 100 kid to be able to contribute 8 games into the season

And yet, many Top 100 kids don't contribute at all as freshman...or in some cases at all in their entire career.

A top 100 label is not a guarantee of immediate(or any) success.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

And yet, many Top 100 kids don't contribute at all as freshman...or in some cases at all in their entire career.

A top 100 label is not a guarantee of immediate(or any) success.

That can't be true.

I heard the MU will routinely compete for a big east crown and final 4's after these 2 recruiting classes. (the one that inculdes vander)

[77champs]

There is a big difference between Mbao and EW when u see them out on the court.  Mbao looks slow and confused and Ew takes the ball and puts it in the hoop.   Al used to say there were practice players and game players.   Some guys were great in practice but clammed up in games and some guys would not work in practice but came to play when the lights are on.

Buzz seems to be wanting to teach Eric a lesson that you have to work in practice to get playing time.   While that may be the case, he is missing an opportunity to put EW in to see if he can help and if in fact he may be a game player as I suspect.   He has a real spark in his eye when he is in and the team seems to feed on it.   Little harm in the last 2 minutes of the half or for a longer rest for a starter just before a TV timeout.    I would love to see if he is a gamer as I sense he might be and it just might help him mature (and practice) more quickly while squeaking out some close ones.

[Hards Alumni]

I can't wait for everyone here to watch EW play and then piss and moan about how he is terrible on defense or 'looks lost out there'.

no, really, I can't wait.