How Good Will MU Be Next Year

[Henry Sugar]

first, I loooove the scholarship table.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?page=8

Not to look too far out and detract too much from the usual BS, but I was looking at the scholarship table a few minutes ago and realized that the team next year could be really good.  Realistically, next year should be The Leap.  

Two of the top ten players in the league (DJO, Crowder)
Premium transfer-in (Wilson)
Vander as a sophomore; Otule as a junior
Not to mention any contributions from Cadougan, EWill, Gardner, Jamail, Juan, or Derrick Wilson.

How good do you think Marquette will be next year?

[lab_warrior]

We will have experience, balance, and depth at all positions (well, except for back-up PG), that's for sure.  I really think Jamil will step right into Butler's role.  I think the three critical players for next year will be Cadougan, Blue, and Gardner.  All have shown great flashes, combined with real clunker moments, this season.  All of them will have to improve--Cadougan and Blue with their shooting, and Gardner with his conditioning and defense.
As the wild card "surprise performer" for next year, my vote will go with Jamail Jones, with Derrick Wilson a close second.   

[GGGG]

We all believe that Jamil takes JFB's spot.  I think we then have three questions.

Who takes DB's spot in the guard rotation?  Jamail?

Who backs up Junior at PG?  Blue?  Or does DWill get minutes?

And finally, who plays the Fulce role off the bench?  My hope is that EWill will step up, but it could very likely be a Juan Anderson or a JUCO-to-be-named-later.

[jeffreyweee]

I really like eric williams. I think he's going to be imperative to our success as soon as he steps up and I think he will be our best rebounder his last 2 years here. I really think it will click eventually and he'll be great.

[NickelDimer]

Sweet 16 or bust. 

[Boone]

I wish I could share Jeffreyweee's optimism about Erik but I can't. While he has maybe the best mid-range shot of anyone on the team, he also seems to have the shortest leash. Erik doesn't have the footwork to defend on the perimeter or the bulk to play the post and aside from a great rebounding job versus a bunny earlier this year, doesn't have a nose for the ball. Wouldn't at all be surprised if he transferred.

[ChicosBailBonds]

PG is my biggest concern.

[Boone]

Agree. Of the starting 5, that's my #1 concern. Not sold at all on Junior's game.

[tower912]

The talent will be there.   But, Henry, I thought your numbers showed that if they can't play defense it doesn't matter.    I am not expecting much from the two freshmen.   Anything will be a gift.   So with a three guard rotation of DJO, Blue, and Cadouan, Blue has to learn to play some point.   JJ could be the 4th guard.   Up front, CO and DG will be a year better.    That leaves EWill, Jae, and Jamil and sometimes JJ to rotate between the the two forward slots.   More experience within the system than we had to start this year.    I think we could be very dangerous.  

[tower912]

PG is my biggest concern.

In 94 minutes of BEast play, Junior has 17 assists and 5 turnovers.   I will take that ratio any time.   If he can shoot just enough, he will be fine. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

In 94 minutes of BEast play, Junior has 17 assists and 5 turnovers.   I will take that ratio any time.   If he can shoot just enough, he will be fine. 

It's a very nice Assist to Turnover ratio.  I haven't seen the stats so if someone has them, please provide....how do we do when he's in there in terms of scoring, tempo, +/-, etc.

Not sure what it is, but when watching him there just seems to be something missing.  It could totally be a faux impression, but we seem more stagnant, we seem to lack some explosiveness and we appear to be less confident, especially in pressure ball situations.  Now, it may be all those views are completely bunk and the stats bear it out, I'm not sure. 

[BCHoopster]

I would be happier if MU recruited the best JC point to come in?  Is MU on any
points right now?  Or Junior has to improve his shooting.

[tower912]

Chico, check one Henry's posts from yesterday about a detailed statistical analysis and IIRC it will show that Junior was one of the few guys who had a plus rating for the game.  
http://hoyaprospectus.blogspot.com/2011/01/be-game-of-day-louisville-71-marquette.html

Edit:   Here it is. 

[NickelDimer]

I thought Jr played his best game as a Warrior on Sat, and showed the most offensively to date.  He looked much more confident and decisive thnt he had at any other point that I can remember.  I would not be surprised to see his offensive production start to increase.

[NoCheese]

I like what I see in JC as well. He just needs to work on his shot (relax!) and his free throws.

[RawdogDX]

I would be happier if MU recruited the best JC point to come in?  Is MU on any
points right now?  Or Junior has to improve his shooting.

We have a pg in the next class.  
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/54699/derrick-wilson

I don't think we want a two year player at the point with how we are set up now.


How about juan anderson at point forward?... onlly semi-teal.  Dude's got skills.

[Goose]

Really, really, really good!!!! Think Elite 8

[GGGG]

Chico, check one Henry's posts from yesterday about a detailed statistical analysis and IIRC it will show that Junior was one of the few guys who had a plus rating for the game.  
http://hoyaprospectus.blogspot.com/2011/01/be-game-of-day-louisville-71-marquette.html

Edit:   Here it is.  

Wow...he had the highest defensive rating of anyone on the team?

(Modify:  Nevermind...forgot it was a negative statistic.)

[GGGG]

I would be happier if MU recruited the best JC point to come in?  Is MU on any
points right now?  Or Junior has to improve his shooting.

Johnnie Lacy!!!  (Just kidding....)

[Boone]

Junior's plus/minus was zero vs. Louisville.

[Lennys Tap]

We have a pg in the next class.  
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/54699/derrick-wilson

I don't think we want a two year player at the point with how we are set up now.


How about juan anderson at point forward?... onlly semi-teal.  Dude's got skills.

Worries me that they're calling Wilson more of a combo guard than a true point. Reggie Smith without the hops?

Totally agree on Anderson. Great court vision and passing skills.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Chico, check one Henry's posts from yesterday about a detailed statistical analysis and IIRC it will show that Junior was one of the few guys who had a plus rating for the game.  
http://hoyaprospectus.blogspot.com/2011/01/be-game-of-day-louisville-71-marquette.html

Edit:   Here it is. 

Thank you.  Do these stats exist for the entire season by individual?  I'm curious.

[Henry Sugar]

Thank you.  Do these stats exist for the entire season by individual?  I'm curious.

I can generate them.  However, the best way to do it is to generate the net points on a game by game basis.  That way you can see which players are trending positively or negatively.

For example, I ran the cumulative stats after the Vanderbilt game and Junior was easily the least productive member of the team (something like negative 22 net points).  So an entire season's games at this point wouldn't tell you that Junior has been trending positively (this may or may not be the case) in the last few weeks.

Problem is that doing the game by game stats is a manual process so I'd need to go run the stats for ~20 games.

[Jay Bee]

Problem is that doing the game by game stats is a manual process so I'd need to go run the stats for ~20 games.

That's OK - you've got plenty of time!  It won't take too long.  What source(s) do you generally use in this manual process?

[Boone]

Will look too clunky if cut and pasted. Here's the link to Junior's game-by-game plus/minus.

http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/player/marquette/junior-cadougan/plus_minus