Maquette All-Decade team

[jmd1914]

"TC Dream Team"
Starters
PG- Marcus Jackson (Best Point Center ever!)
G- Niv Berkowitz
G- Carlton Christian
G- Matt Mortensen
F- Trevor Mbakwe

Bench
G- Karon Bradley
G- Dameon Mason
G- Brandon Bell
G- Scott Christopherson
F- Ryan Amoroso
C- Odartey Blankson

HC: Tom Crean

Pretty good, but I would put Jeronne Maymon in there with his dad as an assistant with Buzz. we would have a pretty heated bench with those 2.

[77ncaachamps]

This came up on his facebook page:

Matt Mortensen ...i have gave credit to tom crean every day of my life...by pleading w/ god every morning to help me not kill that crazy bastard...he should consider himself lucky...

Man, I was going to call your BS so I Googled him.

His FB page had a comment by a certain Amoroso (brother?)...from MN.
Who was also a friend of a certain Novak married to another certain Novak.

WTF...crazy how they all "stay in touch" despite the circumstances...

So forgive me for doubting you...LOL!

[MUBurrow]

i'm not going to pretend to be knowledgeable enough about the first couple years of the decade to compile a team, but i do have a question/philosophical concern.

it may seem like blasphemy, but is it unequivocally wrong to say I would be inclined to put jerel at the 2 over d-wade?  I mean, I appreciate the contributions of wade as much as anyone, but Jerel is the leading scorer in the history of the program.  he stayed for all 4 years.  as far as Marquette careers, his ranks as one of the best of all time.  so does Wade's of course, but without consideration for the player Wade went on to become, I think its closer than unanimous.   

It also goes without saying that this is based on the evaluation of the careers without consideration for the quality of the play/actual game of basketball considerations.

[flash]

As much as i like Jerel, I have to go with Wade.  Even though Jerel is the all time leading scorer, Wade put a stamp on Marquette basketball history more so than Jerel.  He is probably the best player ever to put on a Marquette uniform.  If Wade played 4 years he would have shattered the scoring record and we would probably have a few more NCAA tournament victories.  Wade should be a unanimous selection for the shooting guard for the MU all decade team.  Perhaps if the line up included three guards I would go with Diener, Wade, and Jerel followed by Novak and Jackson

[mugrad2006]

Smoothie Stand Operator: Terry Sanders

Unofficial Team Mascot: Freeway  (with a hat tip to the Jump Around Guy)

[Lennys Tap]

i'm not going to pretend to be knowledgeable enough about the first couple years of the decade to compile a team, but i do have a question/philosophical concern.

it may seem like blasphemy, but is it unequivocally wrong to say I would be inclined to put jerel at the 2 over d-wade?  I mean, I appreciate the contributions of wade as much as anyone, but Jerel is the leading scorer in the history of the program.  he stayed for all 4 years.  as far as Marquette careers, his ranks as one of the best of all time.  so does Wade's of course, but without consideration for the player Wade went on to become, I think its closer than unanimous.   

It also goes without saying that this is based on the evaluation of the careers without consideration for the quality of the play/actual game of basketball considerations.

 It's not unequivocally wrong to say that you would be inclined to put McNeal over Wade at the 2 since you just did. You would, however, be unequivocally wrong in doing so.

By the way, how does one evaluate a basketball career without considering the player's quality of play?

[MUBurrow]

i just meant that i wasnt talking about building an all decade team as if they would actually play on the court, more of an honorary hall of fame type thing

[Chili]

i just meant that i wasnt talking about building an all decade team as if they would actually play on the court, more of an honorary hall of fame type thing

Exactly. You are talking about a guy who was a no brainier number retirement in Wade (take out the graduating part) to a guy you will get debate from in Jerel.

[MUBurrow]

the fact that he put the ball in the hoop more times than anyone else to ever wear the jersey just sticks in my head in some sort of very basic way i guess.  i know its an overly simplistic way of looking at things, but when i see Rel on the bench, it just keeps blaring in my head.

[Skatastrophy]

the fact that he put the ball in the hoop more times than anyone else to ever wear the jersey just sticks in my head in some sort of very basic way i guess.  i know its an overly simplistic way of looking at things, but when i see Rel on the bench, it just keeps blaring in my head.

McNeal played for 4 years and had just under 2k points.  DWade played for two years and had 1281 points.  DWade was clearly the more adept scorer.

[Chili]

the fact that he put the ball in the hoop more times than anyone else to ever wear the jersey just sticks in my head in some sort of very basic way i guess.  i know its an overly simplistic way of looking at things, but when i see Rel on the bench, it just keeps blaring in my head.

By that logic Craig Biggio is a sure fire HOF in baseball, which he is not. The way the game has changed benefited McNeal in a big way and allowed him to put up bigger numbers than those in the rafters.

First off, McNeal was never a 1st Team All-American, Wade was (his soph/junior) year. That alone should make you go, hmmmm - that Wade cat might be better that McNeal.

[NYWarrior]

By that logic Craig Biggio is a sure fire HOF in baseball, which he is not.

That's a poor compare because Biggio is a sure-fire HOFer.  3,060 hits,  668 doubles (5th all-time), 1175 RBI, 414 steals.  More importantly his OPS+ was 111 despite playing the majority of his home games in one of the most pitcher friendly parks of all-time (and his OBP was outstanding -- better than Sandberg or Kent).

Baseball can wait though    

[Chili]

That's a poor compare because Biggio is a sure-fire HOFer.  3,060 hits,  668 doubles (5th all-time), 1175 RBI, 414 steals.  More importantly his OPS+ was 111 despite playing the majority of his home games in one of the most pitcher friendly parks of all-time (and his OBP was outstanding -- better than Sandberg or Kent).

Baseball can wait though    

We can take this debate elsewhere but I disagree. Oh what makes baseball great.

[reinko]

By that logic Craig Biggio is a sure fire HOF in baseball, which he is not. The way the game has changed benefited McNeal in a big way and allowed him to put up bigger numbers than those in the rafters.

First off, McNeal was never a 1st Team All-American, Wade was (his soph/junior) year. That alone should make you go, hmmmm - that Wade cat might be better that McNeal.

Sorry for the nitpick, but Wade was not first team all american his soph. year.

Honorable-mention All-America selection by the Associated Press ... Named by Basketball Times as that publication's Newcomer of the Year ... Also chosen as a Second-Team All-American by Basketball Times ... Third-Team All-America honoree as chosen by The Sporting News

http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/wade_dwyane02.html

[Aughnanure]

We can take this debate elsewhere but I disagree. Oh what makes baseball great.

I'm sorry, but there is no debate. 3,000+ hits gets you into the HOF every time.

[Chili]

Sorry for the nitpick, but Wade was not first team all american his soph. year.

Honorable-mention All-America selection by the Associated Press ... Named by Basketball Times as that publication's Newcomer of the Year ... Also chosen as a Second-Team All-American by Basketball Times ... Third-Team All-America honoree as chosen by The Sporting News

http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/wade_dwyane02.html

Sorry, should clarify, Sophomore year basketball wise Junior year Academically. My bad.

[Clarence]

I'm sorry, but there is no debate. 3,000+ hits gets you into the HOF every time.

+1

[Lighthouse 84]

That's a poor compare because Biggio is a sure-fire HOFer.  3,060 hits,  668 doubles (5th all-time), 1175 RBI, 414 steals.  More importantly his OPS+ was 111 despite playing the majority of his home games in one of the most pitcher friendly parks of all-time (and his OBP was outstanding -- better than Sandberg or Kent).

Baseball can wait though    

I don't care how goofy Biggio looked with his oversized helmet, he was an all star as both a catcher and a second baseman.  He also played a decent centerfield.  He may not be first ballot, but he's in the HOF at the end of the day.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

The problem with Biggio is that there are very strong whispers about both he and Bagwell using PEDs. His numbers are no-brainers, but so are Sammy Sosa's.

[TallTitan34]

Sarcasm?  I've heard of Bagwell possibly using PEDs but never Biggio.  It didn't even look like Biggio ate his Wheaties much less use PEDs.

[Ready2Fly]

Sarcasm?  I've heard of Bagwell possibly using PEDs but never Biggio.  It didn't even look like Biggio ate his Wheaties much less use PEDs.

Biggio's forearms looked absolutely gigantic by the end of his career, and he avoided the steep drop-off that most players see in their late 30's.  Innocent or not, those kinds of things make you wonder about anyone who played in the steroid era, and that's why the steroid era sucks looking back.

[DJO's Pump Fake]

threadjack?

[Ready2Fly]

Glad someone put James as a starter. Scoring numbers are even, but Dominic's defense is more important than 3 point shooting. Here's mine-

PG- James, Diener, Henry
SG- Wade, McNeal, Wardle
SF- Novak, Matthews
PF- Hayward,  Nnamaka
C- Jackson, Merritt

I love James, and I think he was a better fit for the team he played on (in real life) than Diener would have been.  That team was built on athleticism and pressure D from the guards.  However, for the all-decade team I think Diener would be a better fit.  We've seen first hand this year how devastating an inside-out game/drive and kick for the three pointer can be.  Imagine this starting lineup:

Diener at point
Wade at 2G
Matthews at 2G/SF
Hayward at PF
Jackson at C

I think that line-up would be the most cohesive.  Against man defense, Diener would be able to allow Wade and Matthews to slash to the hoop, creating dish-off opportunities to Jackson on the block or Hayward in the short corner.  The kick-out options for Wade as he drove to the hoop would be Hayward, Matthews, and Diener, all deadly with their feet set and in rhythm.  Against a zone, there are two players tailor made to flash to the middle in Hayward and Matthews, and three players that can that can hit the zone-busting three in Hayward, Matthews, and Diener.  On the fast break, I don't think anything more needs to be said about Diener at point with Wade and Matthews on the wing.

Rebounding-wise, Jackson and Hawyard would own the boards, and Wade and Matthews were both above-average rebounders for their position.


Defensively, Jackson could guard true C's, Hayward for sure a 4, Matthews a 2 or 3, Wade a 2 or 3, and Diener the 1.  The only player that wouldn't be an above-average defender is Diener, but his strengths in other areas more than make up for it.

McNeal would be a super sub for Wade and Matthews, with Wade sliding over and guarding the 3 when they're in the game at the same time.  The only reason I have Matthews in the starting line up ahead of McNeal is that there is already a player to force the issue on offense in Wade, wheras Matthews took more advantage of situations as they came to him, which would be pleantiful with this lineup.  Plus he's better option to guard the 3.

I would bring in James and Novak at the same time for Diener and Hayward, and they would play all of their minutes together.  I'm not sure if any two players' skill sets complemented each other better in the last decade.  James is a better defender and penetrator than Diener but not as good of an outside shooter, and it's splitting hairs on passing but I'll give James the slight edge.  James would also FINALLY have a big man in Jackson to dump it down to off of penetration.

Butler would be another super sub at the 3/4.  He was PERFECT in that role at the end of last year.

DJO would be used sparingly if we were in dire need of instant offense, in a similar but lesser role that Novak played freshman year.

Barro and Merritt would be insurance policies for frontcourt foul trouble/injuries.

Also, I picked Hayward to start at PF because his rebounding and defense are superior to Novak's, and his drop-off in 3p shooting isn't as dramatic in comparison, especially at the 4 spot.





I will now spend the rest of the day dreaming about that team.

[flash]

wow... very impressive, I see you put a lot of thougt into this. 

[MDMU04]

Here's a depth chart for my all 00's team

1 - Diener, James, Henry
2 - Wade, McNeal, Wardle
3 - Hayward, Matthews, Townsend (2003 vintage)
4 - Jackson, Novak
5 - Merritt

That's a pretty solid team right there.  

Think about a lineup with Diener, Wade, Hayward, Novak and Jackson on the court at the same time.  A real-life aircraft carrier down low...two players that could get to the basket whenever they need to, and three that are absolutely deadly from behind the arc.  Spread the court out and go to the basket, bang down low with Jackson, or drive and kick.  These guys would score a little.

Need some D?  A lineup of McNeal/James, Wade, Hayward, Jackson and Merritt would look pretty good.  With that back-court and Hayward at the 3, I'm not sure how often the ball would get past the free-throw line.  They could also play a pretty mean 2-3 with that lineup.