Cadougan....again

[tower912]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/goldeneagles/114401749.html?page=1
3.33 assist to turnover in the BEast play, tied for best in the conference.   Had to learn to play hard every single day in practice.    Buzz has consistently said he will play his toughest.   I take that to mean the ones who bring it every day in practice.   Junior has apparently figured it out.   I am not worried about the PG slot next year. 

[Tugg Speedman]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/goldeneagles/114401749.html?page=1
3.33 assist to turnover in the BEast play, tied for best in the conference.   Had to learn to play hard every single day in practice.    Buzz has consistently said he will play his toughest.   I take that to mean the ones who bring it every day in practice.   Junior has apparently figured it out.   I am not worried about the PG slot next year. 

See the Revealed series, especially the version on ESPNU this week.  What struck me was the interview of JC.  He talked as if he was a leader of the team.  If fact anyone watching it that did not much about MU basketball would probably think he was the leader of the team.  He talked about "leading by example" and showing he could get better everyday in practice.  At the time, he was getting garbage points games (more now).

I was really impressed.  You need this kind of confidence (bordering on arrogance) from your PG.  After seeing this, his stock went way up for me.

[NickelDimer]

He's growing on me every week.  The Rutgers game where he was forced to log major minutes was really valuable.  His confidence and decisiveness are night and day from where they were earlier this season.

[4everwarriors]

Until Jr. locks himself in a gym 365 days/ yr. and shoots 15-18 ft. jumpers until he keels over, it don't matter.

[esotericmindguy]

Until Jr. locks himself in a gym 365 days/ yr. and shoots 15-18 ft. jumpers until he keels over, it don't matter.

Until Jr. locks himself in a gym 365 days/ yr. and shoots 20 feet, 9 inch jumpers until he keels over, it don't matter.

[NickelDimer]

Until Jr. locks himself in a gym 365 days/ yr. and shoots 15-18 ft. jumpers until he keels over, it don't matter.

I would not be surprised to see him knocking those down later this season.  I think his biggest hurdle has been confidence, which he's clearly gaining.  His ft shooting early this year vs. now is a great example of that.

[Tugg Speedman]

Until Jr. locks himself in a gym 365 days/ yr. and shoots 15-18 ft. jumpers until he keels over, it don't matter.

Is this before or after he shoots 100 FT a day?

Seriously ....

Buzz is right about this ... it is not about technique (which is what you suggest), it is about toughness and confidence.  

The last two games JC logged more than 20 minutes each.  The first time he had back-to-back 20+ minutes in MEANINGFUL games NOT due to injury.  JC broke out and his toughness and confidence are showing through.

Earlier this year JC's FT% was 43% ... which, in part, lead to MU Avenue demanding this team shoot 100 FT a day.  Well without shooting 100 FT a day, JC was 9 for 10 at the line in these two games.  Funny how confidence makes every aspect of your game better.

Once JC feels he belongs on the floor, and he is getting to that point, his 15 to 18 FT shot will appear.  

Doing what you suggest will not help and in fact could make it worse.  JC would be admitting he has no mid-range shot and feed into his lack of confidence on the floor.

Get confident first and let's see how much of his game returns.  Then after he has established himself in the rotation as a legit BE PG, then we will see what parts of his game he has to work on.

Trust Buzz!

[nyg]

Is this before or after he shoots 100 FT a day?

Seriously ....

Buzz is right about this ... it is not about technique (which is what you suggest), it is about toughness and confidence.  

The last two games JC logged more than 20 minutes each.  The first time he had back-to-back 20+ minutes in MEANINGFUL games NOT due to injury.  JC broke out and his toughness and confidence are showing through.

Earlier this year JC's FT% was 43% ... which, in part, why MU Avenue demanded this team shoot 100 FT a day.  Well without shooting 100 FT a day, JC was 9 for 10 at the line in these two games.  Funny how confidence makes every aspect of your game better.

Once JC feels he belongs on the floor, and he is getting to that point, his 15 to 18 FT shot will appear.  

Doing what you suggest will not help and in fact could make it worse.  JC would be admitting he has no mid-range shot and feed into his lack of confidence on the floor.

Get confident first and let's see how much of his game returns.  Then after he has established himself in the rotation as a legit BE PG, then we will see what parts of his game he has to work on.

Trust Buzz!

84, you are correct. In one week, JC has brought up his free throw percentage from 44% to 57% and this is probably related to his expanded playing time and getting comfortable and confident on the court.  His field goal percentage is 36% and that has to change.  In a close game, Buzz will in all likelihood take him out at the end because he will be a liability on intentional free throws.  Teams, just like Louisville did, will be looking for him. 

His ball handling skills and passing ability are pretty good, so lets see if his expanded playing time and building of confidence brings up his shooting percentages.  If it doesn't, then the excuses are running out and the PG situation next year will only bring more questions. 

[copious1218]

I saw the title of this thread and thought he tore his Achilles again.

[MUBurrow]

I disagree with the optimism on JC's jumpshot.  I certainly hope its well founded, but I just think that the parallels being drawn to his FT% don't really work.  FT's are entirely mental, and Buzz is right when he talks about toughness, etc.  Granted some guys are better than others, but once a guy gets a routine and a stroke down that works for him, its just a matter of executing that.  Jump shots during live play are a different thing.  There is no reason that JC's FT% shouldn't go up with the mental traits Buzz talked about.  But he's never had a good jumper.  JC literally has to learn and get comfortable with a stroke.  Until he does that, no matter how you coach him up, a Buick just ain't a Cadillac.

[NickelDimer]

I disagree with the optimism on JC's jumpshot.  I certainly hope its well founded, but I just think that the parallels being drawn to his FT% don't really work.  FT's are entirely mental, and Buzz is right when he talks about toughness, etc.  Granted some guys are better than others, but once a guy gets a routine and a stroke down that works for him, its just a matter of executing that.  Jump shots during live play are a different thing.  There is no reason that JC's FT% shouldn't go up with the mental traits Buzz talked about.  But he's never had a good jumper.  JC literally has to learn and get comfortable with a stroke.  Until he does that, no matter how you coach him up, a Buick just ain't a Cadillac.

Did you see DJO's jumper earlier this season compared to the last several games?  There's a mental aspect there as well.  I don't know that we've seen Jr's jumper enough to have drawn any conclusions about his inability to hit them.

[MUBurrow]

but DJO's a shooter from the time he was recruited.  sure there is a mental aspect once a guy is "a shooter"  DJO knocked it down last year and even in a drought, knew he could this year.  I dont think JC knows that, because he's never done it. From when he was recruited, JC was never a shooter.  Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but i thought that even as he was recruited his outside shot was suspect.   Sure there is a mental block to get over, but I'm saying that with JC, i dont think its the type that forecloses drastic improvement with shooting jumpers in the AL till it gets dark. 

I also don't want this to read as anti JC or like I dont think he can or will improve. I'm just saying that the corollary to FT% and mental aspect is not something that I think explains his jumpshot woes. He's never competitively made a lot of J's, which means the first place he's going to have to start knocking them down and getting confidence and a reliable stroke and all the things a shooter needs is the gym.

[77ncaachamps]

He still dribbles too high and out of control (ball way too far ahead of him).
His shot from the YouTube prep videos seem like a universe away.

[mviale]

Junior is developing and he is really a FROSH.  Buzz has a way of pushing players beyond their natural talents.

[Lennys Tap]

Until Jr. locks himself in a gym 365 days/ yr. and shoots 15-18 ft. jumpers until he keels over, it don't matter.

ratio
Junior's 2 point field goal and free throw shooting right now are on a par with Tony Miller's. His Big East assist to turnover this year is superior to Miller's in any of his years. He's not Miller defensively and may never be, but I suspect that if teams don't cover him at the 3 point line (as they didn't Miller), he'll become adequate there also. Assuming some improement with maturity and experience, I'm not worried - I'm excited.

[Sharpie]

I agree with Lenny.

I really don't care how jr dribbles the ball as long as he isn't getting it stolen. Usually he dribbles away from his body and high when he's pushing the ball. I'm excited about his continued improvement. There seems to be a decent learning/confidence curve with buzzs players once they start playing more minutes but try seem to continually improve. (I.e. Butler, cubillan, buycks, and even crowder to an extent). I'm not worried but excited for juniors future. His shot will come with more experience and getting used to the desired tempo of big east play. Go warriors. Hope we can pull this one out today. It's a tall order though.

[mviale]

I was reading some of the recruiting reviews of Junior and the knock on him was weight and shoot first mentality.  I think those issues are being resolved.

[MU B2002]

J caddy, solid dime to butler and then quick burst for the and one.  Love it

[Daniel]

J caddy, solid dime to butler and then quick burst for the and one.  Love it

Confidence is building for Junior!  GO MARQUETTE!!

[chapman]

Three nice drives to the hoop already.  If he can slash to the basket and finish that tells me he's starting to get it more than making a jumper.

[Pakuni]

Looking good, but his defense - especially his off-the-ball defense - needs to get a lot better. If I'm not mistaken, he's allowed three uncontested baskets so far.

[nyg]

Looking good, but his defense - especially his off-the-ball defense - needs to get a lot better. If I'm not mistaken, he's allowed three uncontested baskets so far.

Correct.  Adkins has been the one.

[chren21]

Looking good, but his defense - especially his off-the-ball defense - needs to get a lot better. If I'm not mistaken, he's allowed three uncontested baskets so far.

Yes, his recovery from help side is slow

[Fullodds]

Junior gets lost off the ball.  He has allowed drives to the hoop and an open three.  He can tighten that up as we move along.  He is running the team beautifully right now..getting the ball to the right guy at the right time and taking it to the hoop when they sag.  

[NersEllenson]

I'll take a few lapses defensively from Junior if he can keep playing this way offensively...he definitely is getting more confident, and it is showing up.  I've been critical of him...and he's shown me a lot these last 3 games.  Hope he keeps improving...in just 3 games he's really turned around my perception/opinion of his ability.