Gardner To Marquette

[bamamarquettefan]

Obviously we want Junior and DJO on the court a lot, but if we need to go big against UConn or Syracuse, or just to protect the basket on a final possession, I honestly think we can play this line=up:

PG - Vander Blue, 6-foot-4 180, 5-star point guard
SG - Jimmy Butler, 6-foot-6 215 super athlete
SF - Jae Crowder, 6-foot-5 210 stud, national juco player of the year who can play the arc
PF - Davante Gardner, 6-foot-8 280, hopefully down to 260, great footwork and a rock
C - Chris Otule, 6-foot-10 250, vastly improved and apparently shut down Dieng in scrimmage

Wow!  Don't think anyone will push that team around or count on lobbing it into three feet from the basket for an uncontested shot.

[Skitch]

how about the next Damon Key. I would be ecstatic with that.

[ATWizJr]

Wait a minute...we got a big?  Where's that Willie guy?

[NersEllenson]

how about the next Damon Key. I would be ecstatic with that.

Bingo - My thoughts exactly.

[chapman]

A Devonte and a Davante on the same recruiting class. 

[GOMU1104]

Telep compares him to Reggie Johnson of Miami.  He was of similar build (6'9", 300) when he arrived at Miami. He was a project that had good hands and good feet, and red shirted his freshman year.  This year, Johnson went for 13mpg, 6.4 ppg, and 4.6 rpg.

[MarkCharles]

I'd have to say I'm happy with the signing. If we had a more complete roster, I'd rather have Noreen as I think he could be a real weapon, but Gardner fill the more immediate need of a low post enforcer. I really hope the report that he modified his diet and is down to 280 is correct...
The longer we go without hearing about Luke Cothron the more it makes me think there is an issue there.

[willie warrior]

Wait a minute...we got a big?  Where's that Willie guy?

Right here! OK, he is a big and I sure hope he works out. I will take 6'9" and 280 if he can run the floor half ass decently and be a space eater down low and he rebounds. Two big time concerns--

1. Can we get him--we have no scholies available? Somebody has to be out!
2. The last time we recruited a guy similar, Lloyd Moore, he was a big bust. Hopefully Gardner is motivated. Moore was rated much higher

I do love the idea of a two headed monster of Otule and this guy--we should not be dominated in the paint!

[Litehouse]

I'd say Damon Key was also similar and he worked out great.

[willie warrior]

Big Ox is OK, but how about Gargatuan Gardner?

[mosarsour]

OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[Boone]

What do you mean "can we get him?" He's signed. He's in.

[wadefan#1]

Who is leaving?

[MarkCharles]

Todd Rosiak on jsonline is reporting from a source within the program that one of our six recruits will attend a prep school, but didn't know which one. Gardner or Reggie Smith seem most likely.

[MarkCharles]

Looks like idiot Badger trolls won't be able to use their lame "Buzz cut" line

[wadefan#1]

I hope Buzz whips that kids into shape. I don't know if he will be able to play fast tempo.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Keep him out of REAL CHILI

Exciting addition

[Markusquette]

Good get I think, can't wait to see this big boy in action haha

[bilsu]

Todd Rosiak on jsonline is reporting from a source within the program that one of our six recruits will attend a prep school, but didn't know which one. Gardner or Reggie Smith seem most likely.

It would have to be a fall signee who is going to prep school. They would not sign Gradner, if he was going to prep as the LOI would be meaningless. So we are losing either Smith, Jones or Blue. Now it will be interesting to see if Buzz is done recruiting. He said after the other players signed he wanted add one, maybe two more. I love the nickname "Big Ox".

[Clam Crowder]

I agree with alot of people on this board. It seems like Reggie Smith might be the odd man out for some reason now. Vander and Jones are going nowhere. Newbill was here like 2 weeks ago, wasn't he?

[Daniel]

It would have to be a fall signee who is going to prep school. They would not sign Gradner, if he was going to prep as the LOI would be meaningless. So we are losing either Smith, Jones or Blue. Now it will be interesting to see if Buzz is done recruiting. He said after the other players signed he wanted add one, maybe two more. I love the nickname "Big Ox".

_____

IWB says his nickname is either Ox, or Big Self.  But not Big Ox!

[MUCrew]

_____

IWB says his nickname is either Ox, or Big Self.  But not Big Ox!

Too late.  I think Big Ox will stay.

[GB Warrior]

I think this benefits us. We don't really play the fast-style offense that we played with the 3 amigos, but more of a pass-around-for-the-open-look game. Where this helps is whereas we may have been passing around the perimeter this year, we can hopefully get some touches inside with him, Crowder and Jimmy.  And I hope one of the latter two can hit jumpers with some range consistently. Both have shown they are able to. IF Gardner keeps his weight down (and it'll be easier as he is surrounded by support of a Major D-I training program), this could develop into a good signing.

[NCMUFan]

Those picks he sets will send some guards to the floor.  ouch!

[Dawson Rental]

Scout lists him as 6'9 and 305 pounds?  305?  I realize that article has him at 280.  Big difference.

305 was his weight his junior year.  A big reason why he wasn't on anyone's top 100 list this year.