Jae Crowder

[VwArrior1]

Had one hell of a game from start to finish.  Has now cemented himself for now as my favorite player to watch on the team.

[NersEllenson]

Think Jae just seized the "Leader" role on this team that so many have been complaining about lacking.  Jae embodies MU basketball.  Flat out tough.

[Markusquette]

Looks like he's taking it from Jimmy.  It was Jimmy's team at the beginning of the season, but he's been quiet the last few game.  Love watching Jae.  Great player with a lot of passion too.

[brewcity77]

I love seeing Crowder have big days, if for no other reason than because he's become my girlfriend's favorite player. She got a big grin when she saw me online and the pic of Jae as the Stud of the game today. Keep it up, big(ish) man!

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Looks like he's taking it from Jimmy.  It was Jimmy's team at the beginning of the season, but he's been quiet the last few game.  Love watching Jae.  Great player with a lot of passion too.

Crowder played great, but today's game is why Butler is such an invaluable player on this team. He NEVER forces anything. Ever. He was not scoring at all early and continued to plug away, getting rebounds and making nice passes. He made one incredible pass in the lane in the first half. He's the smartest player on this team. 

[Stronghold]

As good of a Big East debut as you'll find anywhere.  Maybe still topped by Novak lol

[GGGG]

JFB lead the team in assists today...second in rebounds...only one turnover.  He consistently scores in double didgits, and may not have the game to be a constant 20+ ppg scorer, but you can be a leader and be an invaluable player in many ways besides scoring.

[MarquetteDano]

Crowder played great, but today's game is why Butler is such an invaluable player on this team. He NEVER forces anything. Ever. He was not scoring at all early and continued to plug away, getting rebounds and making nice passes. He made one incredible pass in the lane in the first half. He's the smartest player on this team. 

Agree 100%.  JFB is a coach's dream.  He is smart and rarely, rarely makes mistakes or forces a shot.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Jae Crowder played a great game.  He played all out and definitely leads the team with his strength and all out effort.  Crowder will lead the team more and more as the season goes on.  What a great recruit.

[Wade for President]

I don't recall the last time MU had a player with such great hands & touch around the hoop (possibly edging out R.Jackson).  Very rarely juggles a pass, and finishes with a very high percentage.

Starting to love his patented two handed back board slap on a lay-up/putback.

Incredible game by Jae.

[DaCoach]

Crowder played great, but today's game is why Butler is such an invaluable player on this team. He NEVER forces anything. Ever. He was not scoring at all early and continued to plug away, getting rebounds and making nice passes. He made one incredible pass in the lane in the first half. He's the smartest player on this team. 

Butler is an outstanding team player. But just like last year, he seems to be the role player on our team. Last year it was Hayward and sometimes DJO. This year Crowder has replaced Zar. The bottom line is that Jae was indispensable today. Without him the game isn't even close. Jae makes plays. Butler waits for opportunities to arise.

[Markusquette]

Butler is an outstanding team player. But just like last year, he seems to be the role player on our team. Last year it was Hayward and sometimes DJO. This year Crowder has replaced Zar. The bottom line is that Jae was indispensable today. Without him the game isn't even close. Jae makes plays. Butler waits for opportunities to arise.

Exactly.  Great finds to Jae inside during the game, but he was the difference maker along with DJO this morning.

[Benny B]

Jae came into Centercourt after the game... sat down at the table next to us. Happily honored a couple "future Warriors" requests for pictures and thanked every one of the 20+ people who came up to congratulate him.  Great guy, very friendly, and looked like he was on top of the world.

It's impossible to not like this guy.

[4everwarriors]

Did he tip a few with you?

[Mutaman]

After the UWM game I referred to Crowder as "disappointingly soft".  Boy has he made me eat my words.

[Stretchdeltsig]

I think we found our leader.

[denverMU]

Before all you guys give Crowder the John Wooden Award I'd like you to take a look at the last 30 seconds of the Vandy game.  Crowder lost the game for MU.  His man was the inbounder, once he threw the ball in Crowder turned his back on him and never looked at him again and with 4.1 seconds to play Crowder's man made the game winning layup.  This is not the first time.  He regularly leaves his man and is caught out of position.  For everyone who says Gardner can't play because he is a defensive liability, if the same rules applied to Crowder, he would not get much time either.  I like Crowder and think his playing time is fine but I also think we are a better overall team when we have a big man, who can catch a pass, inside.

[tower912]

Crowder made a bad play, though I thought it looked like a switch.   Gardner can't guard Buzz. 

[Stretchdeltsig]

Don't disagree with Denver.  Crowder missed few defensive plays in the Vandy game.  However, he showed much more intensity in the West Virginia game.  He is a bigger 6'6" than Hayward.  If he continue to be more aggressive on defense he can be great.

[Daniel]

Um -I have to say that if we want to discuss how many times MU players have missed defensive assignments, I think this thread would go on for a couple hundred pages.  To call out Crowder for the Vandy loss is crazy.  If they are all missing defensive assignments, I like one of them to be a guy who could also score 29 points once in a while.

[denverMU]

I was trying to make a couple of points (probably not well).  One, yes I like Crowder, but he has defensive lapses, one of which allowed an open layup at the end of the Vandy game.  Two, MU is a better overall team when Gardner is playing.  He is averaging almost a point a minute (.68 ppm) the highest average on our team.  His presence down low causes defenses to help and gives our guards better outside shots.  He catches passes inside and can pass very well.  Finally, his defense may not be great but with the exception of JB and maybe Vander he is not that bad.  I think to be a NCAA team we need his offensive scoring ability.

[Markusquette]

I was trying to make a couple of points (probably not well).  One, yes I like Crowder, but he has defensive lapses, one of which allowed an open layup at the end of the Vandy game.  Two, MU is a better overall team when Gardner is playing.  He is averaging almost a point a minute (.68 ppm) the highest average on our team.  His presence down low causes defenses to help and gives our guards better outside shots.  He catches passes inside and can pass very well.  Finally, his defense may not be great but with the exception of JB and maybe Vander he is not that bad.  I think to be a NCAA team we need his offensive scoring ability.

His offense isn't nearly as effective if he is a big liability on defense.  While Jae has made a few mistakes (like everyone), it is clear Gardner isn't ready on the defensive end yet, and needs to improve his rebounding. 

[denverMU]

He is not "a big liability on defense".  Just because a bunch of people on this site write it, does not make it so.  Even if his defense is terrible it does not outweigh the offense for him and his teammates.  Please give me some stats which show how much he hurts us defensively.  As far as rebounding he is tied with Crowder with most rebounds per minute played.

[ATL MU Warrior]

He is not "a big liability on defense".  Just because a bunch of people on this site write it, does not make it so.  Even if his defense is terrible it does not outweigh the offense for him and his teammates.  Please give me some stats which show how much he hurts us defensively.  As far as rebounding he is tied with Crowder with most rebounds per minute played.

Seriously, go back and watch some of our games.  Like Vanderbilt.  There's a reason he only played 3 minutes.  He was absolutely abused on the defensive boards.  He gave up 3 or 4 offensive rebounds in the short time he played.  Granted, Vandy has two athletic and very mobile big guys which not all teams have, but he CANNOT match up defensively with guys like that yet.  It's blantantly obvious if you just watch the game.  If the matchups are favorable for him I'm sure he will play, but against teams that have mobile bigs he should sit. 

[denverMU]

I will go back and look at the Vandy game and get back to you.  I asked for actual stats/facts.  I know this is just a fan board made up mostly of opinions but sometimes it's helpful back up your opinions.  Gardner gets as many or more rebounds per minute than anyone on our team.  Please tell me who these great rebounders are we have on this years team.