Why MU has So Much Upside This Year

[Tugg Speedman]

We have five players that score in double figures.  One is not even a starter (Blue).  Yet it is two guys that are not top scores (Outle and Gardner) that everyone thinks are the key to success.

Who is the leader?  JFB, Jae, DJO?  Could Blue assert himself as leader before the season is over?  So, who does an opposing team need to shut down?  Who does an opposing team put their best defender on?  Is the answer all five starters plus Blue because MU has so many weapons?

Maybe more talent sitting on the MU bench (at least by HS rankings) than we have seen in some time.

Bottom line ... top to bottom this is very talented team that seems to get better every game.  No great players (think Zar) but tons of "very good" players.  When we "figure it out" and play like a team, we can still be very special.  And we can figure it out before March.  Trust Buzz can get them on the same page before the BE Tourney.

Am I wrong in this thinking?

[willie warrior]

Blue will not be the step up leader this year. It will have to be Crowder, JB, and DJO. I have said from Day 1 that Crowder is a stud and should be starting. Well, he is starting now, in place of Blue, and Crowder needs to be out on the floor as much as possible. He makes too may things happen: scoring, rebounding and steals, as well as passing. And his post minutes must be minimized.

Blue's turn will come in the future.

[nyg]

No. You make a valid point, but Gardner cannot be a key to success by not playing.  

Opposing teams will probably play zone, so no requirement to shut down a specific MU player.

Talent on bench yes, but for how long?  Jones, EWill and Gardner not getting any playing time insignificant games and hopefully one of them does not get frustrated and pull a Reggie Smith.

This is a well balanced team that requires Otule to play 20 minutes at Center.  Fulce can play maybe 10 minutes. MU cannot have Crowder at Center as he did at Vandy, and expect to win against quality BE teams.

Jimmy Butler is the leader of this team.  He is the senior and he knows it.  Crowder next year. 

[willie warrior]

No. You make a valid point, but Gardner cannot be a key to success by not playing.  

Opposing teams will probably play zone, so no requirement to shut down a specific MU player.

Talent on bench yes, but for how long?  Jones, EWill and Gardner not getting any playing time insignificant games and hopefully one of them does not get frustrated and pull a Reggie Smith.

This is a well balanced team that requires Otule to play 20 minutes at Center.  Fulce can play maybe 10 minutes. MU cannot have Crowder at Center as he did at Vandy, and expect to win against quality BE teams.

Jimmy Butler is the leader of this team.  He is the senior and he knows it.  Crowder next year. 

Fulce is not a Center. Gardner should be getting 10 plus minutes per game.

[NersEllenson]

No. You make a valid point, but Gardner cannot be a key to success by not playing.  

Opposing teams will probably play zone, so no requirement to shut down a specific MU player.

Talent on bench yes, but for how long?  Jones, EWill and Gardner not getting any playing time insignificant games and hopefully one of them does not get frustrated and pull a Reggie Smith.

This is a well balanced team that requires Otule to play 20 minutes at Center.  Fulce can play maybe 10 minutes. MU cannot have Crowder at Center as he did at Vandy, and expect to win against quality BE teams.

Jimmy Butler is the leader of this team.  He is the senior and he knows it.  Crowder next year. 

Lots of good points you make..however...Crowder seems to have more of the fiery leadership qualities you like to see on the court. Think he and Jimmy are leaders 1 and 1a.  I'm not too concerned about Jones and Erik Williams pulling a Reggie or Maymon.  Both seem very engaged at the games as the team is having success, enthusiastic on the bench.  So long as MU wins a lot from here on out..they will be fine.  What gets really hard to take is riding the bench and losing games - as you think you could help.  Winning solves a lot.  Both Erik and Jamail should get a decent chance at minutes next year as Jimmy and Joe Fulce move on.

[nyg]

Fulce is not a Center. Gardner should be getting 10 plus minutes per game.

Thats my point, neither is Crowder.  But if Gardner is not playing, the only other option is Fulce.  

[willie warrior]

Thats my point, neither is Crowder.  But if Gardner is not playing, the only other option is Fulce.  

And that is my point--Gardner should be "garnering" minutes.

[nyg]

And that is my point--Gardner should be "garnering" minutes.

I agree and we are not in the minority on that point.  We'll see if Gardner plays against Rutgers, because when it comes time to play Pitt, with Taylor, Zinna, McGhee and Robinson............

[brewcity77]

I don't like seeing Gardner shut out on minutes, but he is a defensive liability. If he plays Otule's minutes yesterday my guess is we lose that game. He's not as quick up and down the floor, he doesn't defend or box out as well, and the positives Otule brought may not show up in the box score but were largely all things Gardner doesn't do particularly well.

We flourished most yesterday when we were running. Our quick start and throughout much of the first half when we built the big lead we were getting points in transition. That's where we were beating WVU. I can't blame Buzz for wanting to stick with what was working. For the type of game we wanted to play, Gardner wasn't going to be as big an asset. Especially when Otule's out there for 29 minutes and only turned the ball over twice, it's not like you'll play both of them together.

The other guys that got up at the 5 a bit were Crowder, who was going to be on the floor regardless, and Fulce, who is a more athletic rebounder and better defender. I really think that the gameplan yesterday was to be quick to the ball and the rack, and Gardner didn't fit that mold. Just my thoughts, but it makes sense why he didn't play.

[Tulsa Warrior]

The best chance of winning in the Big East is with Crowder and Butler at the forwrd positions, Otule in the post, with DJO and Buycks at the guards.  Blue and Cadougan will do nothing but improve.  Right now Fulce while not being a center gives the team energy, rebounding and a much high level of defense than anyone else available off the bench.  Erik Williams is coming on and should gets some minutes up front.

Gardner and Jones are wildcards.  Talented wildcards.  Show some D and the PT will come.

[NersEllenson]

The best chance of winning in the Big East is with Crowder and Butler at the forwrd positions, Otule in the post, with DJO and Buycks at the guards.  Blue and Cadougan will do nothing but improve.  Right now Fulce while not being a center gives the team energy, rebounding and a much high level of defense than anyone else available off the bench.  Erik Williams is coming on and should gets some minutes up front.

Gardner and Jones are wildcards.  Talented wildcards.  Show some D and the PT will come.

Think this is spot on analysis.  Agre 100%

[Stretchdeltsig]

Jae is clearly emerging as the leader of this team.  He plays much more passionately than the others and doesn't make mistakes; he makes plays and leads by his never die effort!

[79Warrior]

And that is my point--Gardner should be "garnering" minutes.

Gardner is laughable on defense. No way he gets minutes unless he learns to defend.

[tower912]

I said before KC that we could get rolled twice there and still be a dangerous team come March.   Getting all of the pieces put together correctly takes time.   If you took the MU off of the jerseys and I presented you a team with 4 players with more than 100 minutes of D1 experience at the start of the season, you would assume that team would take time to get its footing and start functioning as a unit.   There is enough talent on this team that their ceiling is higher than last year.    But playing as efficiently as last year's team is tough.   Too many people have just assumed that you can roll the ball out there and you have instant rapport, instant trust, instant understanding of where your teammates are going to be on offense and defense.  That stuff takes time.    The last two games, we have seen better ball movement, especially against a zone.    10 (?) steals against WVU because they 'played the scouting report'.   The 'getting it' process is ongoing, but we can all see that the team is closer.  Of course their is still room to improve.   Of course it would be nice to get DG, EWill, and JJ more minutes.   But Buzz has shown that if you don't play defense, you don't play.   If they want to play, they need to show they can guard, rebound, and protect the ball, not just shoot.   When they can, they will play.   I hope they get there.