Gardner Comparisons

[GOMU1104]

Since the commitment, people have tried to find comparisons for Gardner. Names that have been thrown around include Glen Davis, Al Horford, Tractor Traylor, Dajuan Blair, Charles Barkley.

Please stop this. All you are doing by throwing those names into the conversation is creating unfair expectations...even if you dont think you are, that is what will happen. It will only make you mad next year if he isnt contributing.

If you want a comparison, Dave Telep provided a good one. Reggie Johnson of Miami. Like Gardner, Johnson was a big boy coming out of High School, a project with good hands and good feet.  He was rated slightly higher than where Gardner is, took a redshirt year, and this year had 13.6 mpg, 6.4 ppg, and 4.5 rpg. 

If that is what Gardner is doing by his 2nd year in the program, I will be pleased.

[Hards Alumni]

I completely agree here.

I understand that a lot of people take a look at the size of the kid and just make comparisons to big bangers that they know of, regardless of similarity of their actual game.

Lets tone down the expectation that DG is the second coming of some of these guys.

Let him be himself.

[esotericmindguy]

The best is when insinuated that Gardner was a complete player and was not only a  combination of Glen Davis, Al Horford, Tractor Traylor, Dajuan Blair, Charles Barkley.....but possessed the best aspects of each player.  Good lord.

[Skatastrophy]

I'm genuinely hoping that Otule can put in 25 minutes a game with Yous and Gardner spelling him this next year.  Gardner is exciting, but I'm really ready to see what Otule can do!

[Litehouse]

I'd be thrilled if he gets in the ballpark of Damon Key or Robert Jackson.  Can bang down low with a little touch for some post moves or hit the 10 ft jumper.

[damuts222]

The best is when insinuated that Gardner was a complete player and was not only a  combination of Glen Davis, Al Horford, Tractor Traylor, Dajuan Blair, Charles Barkley.....but possessed the best aspects of each player.  Good lord.

Thank you for posting this. I hate when people claim to know about recruits when they have never seen them play and form their opinion based on what random sources from the internet say. Let's wait and see I'm excited to see how all of the big men pan out.

[RawdogDX]

If someone tells me that a player has a game like Barkley i understand what he's saying and that he isn't going to be a NBA all time great. If he tell me he's a Reggie Johnson of Miami type i have no idea what he's talking about. 

If this guy puts up 6.5 and 5.5 next year, believe me, people will consider him a solid addition. 

Let people have their fun. if you don't want to read player speculation from a bunch of rabid fans than page 3 and on of mu scoop threads isn't a good place to be. 

[Canadian Dimes]

if Grdner puts up 6.5 and 5.5 during his sophomore year he will have clearly worked his ass off, bought into the system and have been a great signing.

Robert Jackson was atop 50 recruit, top 25 by some.  Key was a consensus Top 100 recruit. Both also entered situations where they would start with absolutely zero competition.  Yes, Key deserved his ranking, he was pretty good as a Freshman, however, had he been on a team that won more than 10 games and one that possessed another PF on the roster he would not have gotten the minutes or numbers he got either. 

I am realistic when it comes to the progresssion on non top 50 Bigs.  Therefore, I a m delerious that Buzz now has 3 bigs in the program matriculating towards being solid contributors during their Junior and Senior seasons.  My hope for Gardner would be avg. 4 minutes a game as a Frshman, Average 6 minutes and 3 points game as a Sophomore and then average 6pts and 6 rebs a a game and play good defense as a Junior.  If he does that MU will be really really good. 

[Ari Gold]

So he's the next Dikembe Mutombo but better?

[MerrittsMustache]

If this guy puts up 6.5 and 5.5 next year, believe me, people will consider him a solid addition. 

100% true. But if he puts up 1.5 and 1.5 in only 16 games played, will people call him a bust and claim Buzz should run him off? Hopefully not.

[Ready2Fly]

I'm assuming you started this thread in response to my post in the Gardner To Marquette thread, which was clearly in jest and making fun of the exact same thing you are cautioning against.  Does something that obvious really need to be in teal?  I haven't seen anything close to expectations that are out of proportion for Gardner.  99-100% of posters realize he is a project, but a promising project.  I really don't think there's an issue here.

[MU_Iceman]

I'd be thrilled if he gets in the ballpark of Damon Key or Robert Jackson.  Can bang down low with a little touch for some post moves or hit the 10 ft jumper.

+1

Damon Key is exactly who I believe Gardner could become...

If Davante can contribute along the same lines as Key did statistically through his freshman, sophmore, junior, and senior seasons...we'd all be thrilled!

[Jacks DC]

Give me a break.  For the record, I said in the other thread that at 6-8, 295 (per Rosiak), Gardner is reminiscent of Tractor Traylor, who was roughly 6-8, 300.  Like it or not, that physical profile creates some expectations about the role he would play.  I pointed out that Traylor was a McDonald's AA and Gardner is not (the point being that it's unreasonable to expect the same production).

If anyone read that as "Traylor was big and slow, but really good; thus Gardner, who is also big and slow, will also be really good," they are jumping to their own conclusions.  Maybe I should have compared Gardner to the fat guy who works down the hall from me and probably sucks at basketball.  

[pbiflyer]

The best is when insinuated that Gardner was a complete player and was not only a  combination of Glen Davis, Al Horford, Tractor Traylor, Dajuan Blair, Charles Barkley.....but possessed the best aspects of each player.  Good lord.

Oh great, now he have comparisons to Jesus himself.

[reinko]

Every time Tractor Traylor's name is brought up, all I think of is how the Bucks should have Dirk Nowitski.  Grrr.

[VegasWarrior77]

Every time Tractor Traylor's name is brought up, all I think of is how the Bucks should have Dirk Nowitski.  Grrr.

+1

[Golden Avalanche]

Since the commitment, people have tried to find comparisons for Gardner. Names that have been thrown around include Glen Davis, Al Horford, Tractor Traylor, Dajuan Blair, Charles Barkley.

Please stop this. All you are doing by throwing those names into the conversation is creating unfair expectations...even if you dont think you are, that is what will happen. It will only make you mad next year if he isnt contributing.

If you want a comparison, Dave Telep provided a good one. Reggie Johnson of Miami. Like Gardner, Johnson was a big boy coming out of High School, a project with good hands and good feet.  He was rated slightly higher than where Gardner is, took a redshirt year, and this year had 13.6 mpg, 6.4 ppg, and 4.5 rpg. 

If that is what Gardner is doing by his 2nd year in the program, I will be pleased.

Is it okay if I stick to my Kentrell Gransberry comparison or does that not pass your test, Dear Leader?

[Hards Alumni]

I'm assuming you started this thread in response to my post in the Gardner To Marquette thread, which was clearly in jest and making fun of the exact same thing you are cautioning against.  Does something that obvious really need to be in teal?  I haven't seen anything close to expectations that are out of proportion for Gardner.  99-100% of posters realize he is a project, but a promising project.  I really don't think there's an issue here.

If you really have that much confidence in the posters here, I have to tell you the truth about Santa Claus...

[Jacks DC]

Every time Tractor Traylor's name is brought up, all I think of is how the Bucks should have Dirk Nowitski.  Grrr.

I really don't think it's fair for you to say that Gardner is the next Nowitzki.

[AZWarrior]

I really don't think it's fair for you to say that Gardner is the next Nowitzki.

Wrong accent, for one thing.

[State Street Warrior]

Sorry to throw another name out there but with this talk of "knowing what you can do from the 3pt line" I thought of James Eayrs from UWM. Too bad he graduated I would have loved to see that match up, two players nearly 600lbs combined in a 3 pt shooting contest.

In all honesty how good is his shot from the outside?  This is not me taking a shot at him, I am just curious because we have heard some about it but I haven't seen stats or video (I also haven't looked hard)

[Tugg Speedman]

I'll be happy if he's not the next Lloyd Moore.

[Warrior]

He reminds me of a bigger and more althletic version of Damon Key. That would mean he could be one he*l of a player. Welcome to our newest Warrior!!

[willie warrior]

He reminds me of a bigger and more althletic version of Damon Key. That would mean he could be one he*l of a player. Welcome to our newest Warrior!!

He is definitely bigger than Key, but more athletic? Key was a very good player, and is in top 10 scoring all time for the Warriors, I believe.

[Litehouse]

He is definitely bigger than Key, but more athletic? Key was a very good player, and is in top 10 scoring all time for the Warriors, I believe.

I went back and looked up Key's stats, and Gardner obviously isn't going to put up these types of numbers.  But if he can get close by his Senior year and put up 10ppg and 5rpg I'd still be thrilled.

90-91 29.2mpg 13.2ppg 5.7rpg
91-92 27.0mpg 13.6ppg 5.7rpg
92-93 26.1mpg 13.6ppg 5.7rpg
93-94 33.5mpg 15.6ppg 7.9rpg