Mbao's First Practice Basket

[TallTitan34]

Did anyone catch Buzz's postgame comments last night after the game?

He said that Mbao scored his first basket of the season in practice the other day and the team went crazy with support. When it is a player's birthday, the team gets down on a knee in a circle and prays for that player in the middle. Buzz said they prayed for Mbao as it was his birth as a college basketball player.

Moments after his first basket of the year he score again.

Buzz went on to say that Mbao is begining to start to get a feel for what's going on.

[tower912]

My second bit from last night's game.    My favorite (from the Scout board.   Sorry) is that Chris Otule missed the game because he had to be in class.   Take a sukothat, buckyland.

[chapman]

I thought Yous was ten times better last night than any other game.  It's still not saying a whole lot, but he at least looked like he knew what sport he was playing. 

[avid1010]

Perhaps if Buzz would have played him more in games he would be scoring more in practice!

[mu_hilltopper]

It really floored me that Mbao hadn't scored in PRACTICE all year.    How many minutes of practice?  Say 20 practices at 60 minutes .. 1200 minutes .. the equivalent of thirty 40 minute games.  And not one bucket?  Not one rebound tip-in?  Not one, oops, someone is out of position guarding Mbao and he gets a dunk?

[MauraDay]

Agreed. I was shocked. How is that even possible?

While I am glad that he is getting game time experience, it's not good when the other team doesn't even have to guard your 7'2'' player and they can basically play you four on five.

[Blackhat]

it's probably hyperbole or they may not let Mbao shoot till he gets other things down, etc.


some of the stuff Buzz says is over the top like Mbao being the most polished (?) freshman he's ever coached, etc.  

[lurch91]

That story makes me say that Buzz will have a very hard time choosing to leave MU.  Can you imagine the uproar that a coach would cause by leading his players in praying for a student/player would have at a State University?

[bamamarquettefan]

Obviously I loved the rejection, and then to have him come back and almost get another one, and then come down from the defensive point to grab a rebound.  That was three times with him moving to the right spot, and if he can just do that and be a presence for up to 10 minutes a game that would be huge.  First two games Williams-Fulce-Mbao averaged 11 minutes a game, and last night it was 21 minutes.  I think we need that.  I think Fulce looks great ripping down rebounds the last few games.

[MR.HAYWARD]

It really floored me that Mbao hadn't scored in PRACTICE all year.    How many minutes of practice?  Say 20 practices at 60 minutes .. 1200 minutes .. the equivalent of thirty 40 minute games.  And not one bucket?  Not one rebound tip-in?  Not one, oops, someone is out of position guarding Mbao and he gets a dunk?

why would that surprise you?  what game was it where he caught the ball in the paint and was the only one there and kicked it out.  From where they have him playing offensively in games how many times do you think he is even going to be in the paint or bein a position to catch and /or finish? 

[HoopsMalone]

some of the stuff Buzz says is over the top like Mbao being the most polished (?) freshman he's ever coached, etc.  

The polish could refer to his intelligence or social skills.  Buzz is probably impressed with the amount of languages Mboa speaks.  Maybe he is polite and mature for someone his age.

There is no way Buzz is saying that Mbao's basketball skills are polished.  Buzz has coached very few freshman, though, so Mboa only has to beat out Otule, Junior (if Buzz even ever coached him), EWill, and J-May.

[Freeport Warrior]

Can you imagine the uproar that a coach would cause by leading his players in praying for a student/player would have at a State University?

Buzz wears his faith on his sleeve. I see him doing this kind of thing for his entire career, it's who he is.

I can also "imagine" him doing it at a place like Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State, etc. when the opportunity presents itself over the next 4-6 years.

[MR.HAYWARD]

it's probably hyperbole or they may not let Mbao shoot till he gets other things down, etc.


some of the stuff Buzz says is over the top like Mbao being the most polished (?) freshman he's ever coached, etc.  

so you think Buzz made that whole story up?  if you really do then you are completely out of touch.

[The Lens]

That story makes me say that Buzz will have a very hard time choosing to leave MU.  Can you imagine the uproar that a coach would cause by leading his players in praying for a student/player would have at a State University?

Buzz will probably leave us for the south.  Either SEC or Big 12.  I think his prayers will play well there.  

[HoopsMalone]

Buzz wears his faith on his sleeve. I see him doing this kind of thing for his entire career, it's who he is.

I can also "imagine" him doing it at a place like Oklahoma, Texas, Oklahoma State, etc. when the opportunity presents itself over the next 4-6 years.

A state employee cannot preach his religious views in his capacity as a state employee.  He would have to show that his players really had a choice not to participate in that particular prayer with no consequences at all to their non-participation. He can chat with players about faith on the side, but in the locker room and in practice where he is acting as a state employee, a player has a legitimate complaint. The courts have ruled that even non-denominational invocations at a public schools' graduation are unconstitutional.  Buzz would have to change his ways significantly if he wants to coach at a public school.

People may tolerate that more in the South than in the North, but it only takes one person to complain. 

Buzz's faith is a big part of his life, so outside of Baylor, I do not see any team where he can continue to operate in the way that he does.  Besides geography, Marquette is perfect for him.  Hopefully, he will stay. 

[MU gimp ONE]

It really floored me that Mbao hadn't scored in PRACTICE all year.    How many minutes of practice?  Say 20 practices at 60 minutes .. 1200 minutes .. the equivalent of thirty 40 minute games.  And not one bucket?  Not one rebound tip-in?  Not one, oops, someone is out of position guarding Mbao and he gets a dunk?

pretty sure buzz was referring to the first basket for him in a scrimmage setting.  the kid obviously makes baskets in the layup lines.  With that said, last night atleast showed progress in the kid.  i have hopes for what he can develop into with some time in the program. 

i loved that he said mbao and e wills have been lifting 7 days a week and eating every meal with todd to get stronger.

[MUCrew]

Mbao looked really good off the ball.  There were a few times where he would be open off a ball-screen, diving towards the basket.  He also did a great job of sealing his man deep in the paint in transition.  Mbao would have him sealed for 2 of the 3 seconds allowed in the paint.  Only thing is that we didn't give him the ball during those times.  We can of course attribute that to him not being ready to score...or ready to do anything when he has the ball for that matter, but progress is definitely being made and you can see it from a offensive movement aspect. 

Defensively, he's doing a little more than just jumping jacks at the top of the key.  Again off the ball is where he's showing growth, imo. He had a nice weakside block last night but easily got scored on in the post when one-on-one (Freeman I think).  1% everyday.

[lurch91]

A state employee cannot preach his religious views in his capacity as a state employee.  He would have to show that his players really had a choice not to participate in that particular prayer with no consequences at all to their non-participation. He can chat with players about faith on the side, but in the locker room and in practice where he is acting as a state employee, a player has a legitimate complaint. The courts have ruled that even non-denominational invocations at a public schools' graduation are unconstitutional.  Buzz would have to change his ways significantly if he wants to coach at a public school.

People may tolerate that more in the South than in the North, but it only takes one person to complain. 

Buzz's faith is a big part of his life, so outside of Baylor, I do not see any team where he can continue to operate in the way that he does.  Besides geography, Marquette is perfect for him.  Hopefully, he will stay. 

This.

I could see him fitting in at Baylor, Oral Roberts, another catholic/jesuit school - but that's about it.  His religion IS who he is.  I can see his religion wearing thin on most fans at a state school from the get-go.

[Brewtown Andy]

The reason why I have season tickets for MU and care more about this basketball team than I care about any other team I cheer for was shown last night.

Two of the biggest pops from the crowd last night were for Mbao pulling down a rebound and for getting a block.  Everyone there was just THRILLED to see that kid showing development.

[HoopsMalone]

This.

I could see him fitting in at Baylor, Oral Roberts, another catholic/jesuit school - but that's about it.  His religion IS who he is.  I can see his religion wearing thin on most fans at a state school from the get-go.

Right.  His religion is his identity and he probably sees himself as an agent of something higher before Marquette's coach.  This attitude is a big reason many seem to love him because that is what the school stands for and it contrasts Crean who did not demonstrate that attitude.

Right now, Buzz is at a school where he can get 4 and 5 star recruits, plays in a major conference, essentially gets unlimited funds to operate the program, and MU allows him a great deal of freedom to express his religious views with the team.  This job might be perfect for Buzz. 
If Buzz continues to get impressive recruits and has some tournament success for 8-10 years, southern private school Duke may give him a look when Coach K retires and Buzz might see that as a place where he can continue his religious life as well as move up in the bball world.  We should have Buzz for a few years to come, and who knows, maybe we are overestimating him as a coach right now and he may never be considered anywhere else. 

[wadesworld]

As for Mbao, it's been mentioned on here before, but is there any chance that he (or Williams) will redshirt next year?  Obviously that is not an option this year simply because of the numbers, but I think it would really help either one of those two to redshirt (probably Mbao more, I think Williams is closer to doing things next year than Mbao is).  If Mbao does not redshirt, I can't see him being a solid contributor until his senior year.  If he did redshirt I feel like he could have 2 years of being solid.

[mug644]

Two of the biggest pops from the crowd last night were for Mbao pulling down a rebound and for getting a block.  Everyone there was just THRILLED to see that kid showing development.

I didn't see the game, but according to another thread, the two biggest pops were located right behind Buzz. 

[avid1010]

This.

I could see him fitting in at Baylor, Oral Roberts, another catholic/jesuit school - but that's about it.  His religion IS who he is.  I can see his religion wearing thin on most fans at a state school from the get-go.

His religion wears thin on me, but I just have a hard time with people that put religion in the media.  I was at a couple of things MU related where TC had everyone pray...typically with the bs talk of how you couldn't do this at a public school, but you sure can here.  Everyone at MU ate it up, I saw someone using religion for personal gains, and TC left for a state school.  In time we'll find out if Buzz is true to his religion or not. 

[Marquette84]

That story makes me say that Buzz will have a very hard time choosing to leave MU.  Can you imagine the uproar that a coach would cause by leading his players in praying for a student/player would have at a State University?

Roy Willams at UNC (a state school) leads his team in the Lord's Prayer before every game.  I'm sure there are more--that's just one high-profile example.  My guess is that this is far more prevalent than not.

And the last MU coach that "wore his religion on his sleeve" left us and spent most of his career at Ball State and Utah--both state schools.  I understand Majerus was semi-forced out, but there were plenty of Catholic or Jesuit schools that would have gladly taken him--especially after his success at Ball State.  Instead, he went for the public option.

 

[Benny B]

Methinks it is way too early to be speculating about Buzz's next move.  But since it's been brought up, it appears as though some have either 1) resigned themselves to the fact that Buzz will move along when the opportunity arises or 2) assume that every coach is looking to "move up."  Don't let the ego-driven motivations of recent coaches taint the value of Marquette as a "destination."  Sure, some coaches will not see Marquette as the pinnacle of achievement, but that's not to say that every coach sees Marquette that way or even desires to reach the top.

I don't know what the future has in store for Buzz, but keep in mind that one of the greatest coaches ever retired from MU.  That has to mean something.