Bright spot

[Jacks DC]

Yes, he fouled out in 10 minutes of action, but it was nice to see Gardner chip in 12 points.  Otule also had a pretty decent game.  Adding Wilson to the mix next year I feel better about our frontcourt situation for the next couple years.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Yes, he fouled out in 10 minutes of action, but it was nice to see Gardner chip in 12 points.  Otule also had a pretty decent game.  Adding Wilson to the mix next year I feel better about our frontcourt situation for the next couple years.

It was a good game.  Will Buzz play him more?  Prior to today, he's had spot action at best

USF 6 minutes
Nova 5 minutes
Syracuse 8 minutes
UCONN 8 minutes
ND 0 minutes
DePaul 4 minutes (in a 30 point blowout)
Louisville 2 minutes
Notre Dame 3 minutes (20 point blowout)
WVU 0 minutes
Vanderbilt 3 minutes

He has conditioning issues, no doubt, but he's a scorer.  He finds a way, and he's aggressive.  He forces their bigs to play defense and get some fouls on them.  He's a big reason why Vaughn was in foul trouble today.  I'd love to see this kid get 12 - 15 minutes per game.  Part of that is staying out of foul trouble...today he had 5 fouls in 10 minutes.  He has to be smarter but Buzz needs to find a way to play him more than 0 or 4 minutes a game as well.

[brewcity77]

Very good game for Gardner today. I still don't expect that he'll crack 10+ minutes on a regular basis until next season, but it bodes well that he can contribute against high-level Big East competition. Bright, bright future for the kid, and hopefully he can give us more games like this before the year is out.

[Tugg Speedman]

I'd love to see this kid get 12 - 15 minutes per game.  Part of that is staying out of foul trouble...today he had 5 fouls in 10 minutes.  He has to be smarter but Buzz needs to find a way to play him more than 0 or 4 minutes a game as well.

0 to 4 minutes a game is now history.  DG was going to get 12 to 15 minutes until he got into foul trouble.

Today DG held himself back, not Buzz.

[nyg]

For a guy his size, he has great hands.  DG actually put the ball on the floor, dribbling and backing up his man towards the basket.  Otule cannot do that and he does not have the hands of DG.  Nice to get points from the #5 spot. 

Probably needs an off season of conditioning, like non-stop, plus some defense training. 

Nice effort by Gardner today, one of the few positives.

Lets see how he matches up with SJU's Brownlee, Seton Hall's Pope and then Cincy's Gates.   

[ecompt]

The bright spot is that we are one game closer to Buzz not getting extended. He is a very nice guy and a very poor coach.

[Da 'Lanche]

The bright spot is that we are one game closer to Buzz not getting extended. He is a very nice guy and a very poor coach.

Maybe enlighten us with what, specifically and exactly, you would recommend he do differently.

The dudes are in position to win most games...even against the best opponents and in difficult environments.    I didn't see  Buzz missing many fts. today.

[Bobby Finstock]

Agree that Gardner had a very good game.  Its great to see his effort level increase each game.  Ditto with Cadougan.  His defense has been a bright spot.

Buzz can certainly coach.  His problem is he doesn't currently have a senior floor general that takes control down the stretch.  DJO disappears and then gets aggressive when it is too late.  Ditto with Butler.  The lack of good senior guard play is killing them

[Tugg Speedman]

You want to fire a guy becuase he cannot win against a top 10 team (will be next week) on the road?

If this the standard, how long until Thad Motta gets fired?  He could not beat a top 15 team on the road with the #1 team in country?

How long until Jay Wright gets fired?  He lost two games in a row in the final second (literally!)

My point is this is the most destructive kind of thinking possible.

Their was a recent article that NC State fans kept whining they were not "Duke or UNC" and they sent Sendek packing.  Now they are choking on Sidney Lowe as Sendek has ASU humming

http://www.carolinacoastonline.com/articles/2009/01/21/news-times/sports/doc49775c16680f5020153928.txt

For the older MU fans, this is the EXACT mistake we made with Majerus ... ran him out of town because he was merely good and not great and we would up with Dukiet.  It took us 10 to 15 years to recover from firing Majerus (and hiring Dukiet)

Again, if their is a worse idea/thinking among MU fans than this, I don't know what it is.

[NickelDimer]

It was a good game.  Will Buzz play him more?  Prior to today, he's had spot action at best

USF 6 minutes
Nova 5 minutes
Syracuse 8 minutes
UCONN 8 minutes
ND 0 minutes
DePaul 4 minutes (in a 30 point blowout)
Louisville 2 minutes
Notre Dame 3 minutes (20 point blowout)
WVU 0 minutes
Vanderbilt 3 minutes

He has conditioning issues, no doubt, but he's a scorer.  He finds a way, and he's aggressive.  He forces their bigs to play defense and get some fouls on them.  He's a big reason why Vaughn was in foul trouble today.  I'd love to see this kid get 12 - 15 minutes per game.  Part of that is staying out of foul trouble...today he had 5 fouls in 10 minutes.  He has to be smarter but Buzz needs to find a way to play him more than 0 or 4 minutes a game as well.

This is the first game in a long time he's "earned" additional minutes.  Too many times he was inserted this year, picked up a foul, gave up a rebound and gave up an easy score. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

This is the first game in a long time he's "earned" additional minutes.  Too many times he was inserted this year, picked up a foul, gave up a rebound and gave up an easy score. 

Oh, I get why he's yanked but I also question if that doesn't kill a kid's confidence.  Sometimes you have to play through those things.  Furthermore, there have been other players that have made some really boneheaded plays that don't get yanked but are allowed to play through it.

[ecompt]

Where exactly did I say we should run Buzz out of town? His contract has, what, three years left?

[79Warrior]

The bright spot is that we are one game closer to Buzz not getting extended. He is a very nice guy and a very poor coach.

I thought the game plan in the first half worked well. Pressure with lots of fresh legs. Second half.......................

[warriors1965]

Agree that Gardner had a very good game.  Its great to see his effort level increase each game.  Ditto with Cadougan.  His defense has been a bright spot.

Buzz can certainly coach.  His problem is he doesn't currently have a senior floor general that takes control down the stretch.  DJO disappears and then gets aggressive when it is too late.  Ditto with Butler.  The lack of good senior guard play is killing them

Buzz can certainly coach?

IMO, MU often looks very confused and disoriented in the last minutes of a close game.  And that falls on the head coach. 

And his record on defense is hardly something to be proud of.

But he does get them ready to play for the most part.

As a whole, MU plays very nervous and skittish when it gets to crunch time.  Is that the coaches fault?  Or does MU just have a bunch of players who tighten up under pressure?

[NickelDimer]

Oh, I get why he's yanked but I also question if that doesn't kill a kid's confidence.  Sometimes you have to play through those things.  Furthermore, there have been other players that have made some really boneheaded plays that don't get yanked but are allowed to play through it.

The fact that he's a freshman big who's not in top physical condition and not very strong certainly doesn't earn him the benefit of the doubt as it may for some.  There's a difference between making a boneheaded play and getting physically dominated to the point where you're hurting your team for a stretch.

I think Buzz has handled his minutes pretty well actually.  Buzz showed today that if Ox contributes he'll continue to get minutes.

[HoopsMalone]

Buzz can certainly coach?

IMO, MU often looks very confused and disoriented in the last minutes of a close game.  And that falls on the head coach. 

And his record on defense is hardly something to be proud of.

But he does get them ready to play for the most part.

As a whole, MU plays very nervous and skittish when it gets to crunch time.  Is that the coaches fault?  Or does MU just have a bunch of players who tighten up under pressure?

They don't have a true PG.  That is the difference at the end of the games.  

MU also does not have as much developed talent on the team.  I have said this many times, Buzz had no 2007 class and we lost Tyshawn Taylor.  With developed seniors, we are a different team.  


Not sure if someone has specific substitutions or plays that they would like to run at the end of the game, but I am not sure what else Buzz could do.  Jimmy and DJO need to score points in crunch time.  It's really that simple.  Maybe a pick and roll with Crowder and DJO?  I am not sure how that would work but worth trying maybe.  What should Buzz specifically do on offense?

We don't have the lockdown defenders this year.  We all thought Blue would be that guy, but he just does not have a good enough offensive game to be out there.  Cadougan can't defend and Buycks is decent but out of position.  What should Buzz do differently on defense at the end of games?

Are there specific things or are people just frustrated in general and looking for someone to blame?

[Blackhat]

MU frequently over extends pressure in the half court leaving spacing terrible for help defense, our rotations are usually very slow to occur and way too much confusion on what guys are supposed to be doing this far into the season.


And the numbers bear out our continuing mediocrity on defense.   now 78th in adjusted defensive efficiency.


  I really want Buzz to succeed and enjoy watching his offense for the most part but his defense makes it hard to win games especially if your offense stalls for periods.

How we finish this season and next year will shape a lot of people's view of Williams as a coach and developer as this team is almost all his guys now.

[Markusquette]

Gardner's looks and mannerisms on court signal that he always seems frustrated.  Do you think he's putting a lot of pressure on himself to do everything he can to stay in the game and contribute?  It's hard to tell what he's thinking obviously, but I can't help but imagine he knows what's happening if he makes even some of the slightest mistakes.  I think he really wants to help contribute.  I love his aggressiveness on offense.  I feel like we should get it to him even more down low when he's in to see what happens.

[Bobby Finstock]

Buzz can certainly coach?

IMO, MU often looks very confused and disoriented in the last minutes of a close game.  And that falls on the head coach. 

And his record on defense is hardly something to be proud of.

But he does get them ready to play for the most part.

As a whole, MU plays very nervous and skittish when it gets to crunch time.  Is that the coaches fault?  Or does MU just have a bunch of players who tighten up under pressure?

Syracuse has lost a few tough games this year to good teams that played well in the second half.  Boeheim should be fired...

The point is, GU's senior point guard took control of the tempo and the game down the stretch...Dwight did not...instead he missed two free throws, had no assists, and turned the ball over.  Pointing fingers at the floor-coaching is a mistake....this year, the team just doesn't have the game experience and depth when it matters most...crunchtime.  JFB has the experience.  But Dwight was only a backup last year, and not a productive one at that. There are going to be good years and bad in every program, depending on the game experience of the roster.    That is why I would like to see Junior play more now...to have the experience in years to come.

[cheebs09]

Gardner's looks and mannerisms on court signal that he always seems frustrated.  Do you think he's putting a lot of pressure on himself to do everything he can to stay in the game and contribute?  It's hard to tell what he's thinking obviously, but I can't help but imagine he knows what's happening if he makes even some of the slightest mistakes.  I think he really wants to help contribute.  I love his aggressiveness on offense.  I feel like we should get it to him even more down low when he's in to see what happens.

I think Gardner puts a lot of pressure on himself just in general, regardless of how quick Buzz's trigger is with him. The main example I see is when he shoots free throws. If he misses a free throw he usually yells a certain four letter word or just looks very upset with himself.

I agree though, that he just wants to really contribute and stay in as long as possible. Also, I think he's best when playing with Cadougan who will usually get the ball into him. In a year or two when his conditioning improves, he could be a real force.

[ChicosBailBonds]

The fact that he's a freshman big who's not in top physical condition and not very strong certainly doesn't earn him the benefit of the doubt as it may for some.  There's a difference between making a boneheaded play and getting physically dominated to the point where you're hurting your team for a stretch.

I think Buzz has handled his minutes pretty well actually.  Buzz showed today that if Ox contributes he'll continue to get minutes.

Well, it seems then the only way Ox can contribute is if the very first thing he does is positive.  If his first move is negative, he's toast on the bench.  We have other freshmen that have a much longer leash.  I get what you're saying, but this kid whenever he's been given legit chances to play has put the rock in the basket.  He has a positive +/- ratio for the season, but negative for conference play...as does Vander Blue, JC, Fulce and others

[NickelDimer]

Well, it seems then the only way Ox can contribute is if the very first thing he does is positive.  If his first move is negative, he's toast on the bench.  We have other freshmen that have a much longer leash.  I get what you're saying, but this kid whenever he's been given legit chances to play has put the rock in the basket.  He has a positive +/- ratio for the season, but negative for conference play...as does Vander Blue, JC, Fulce and others

True, but on the other hand some freshmen and sophs don't even get token opportunitites.  I think it's clear Buzz wants Ox to contribute, hence the number of opportunities he's given him.  But the tricky dance for Buzz is letting him learn on the floor while not hurting his team.

Even a kid like Van who may hurt his team offensively at times is usually contributing in other ways.  When Ox has been bad he's usually been really bad and bad on both ends.

I think today he earned a longer leash from  Buzz.

[ChicosBailBonds]

You want to fire a guy becuase he cannot win against a top 10 team (will be next week) on the road?

Again, if their is a worse idea/thinking among MU fans than this, I don't know what it is.

You guys are totally over reacting to his comment.  Nowhere did he say he wanted Buzz fired.  If I had to guess, Ecompt fits into the category of let's see if he's the real deal with his own players, etc, and evaluate after multiple years.  So instead of rewarding him with an extension now, wait another year and see how he does.  Afterall, this is his first year with all his guys.

I may be wrong, but that was my interpretation of his remarks...nothing about firing at all.

[Lennys Tap]

You guys are totally over reacting to his comment.  Nowhere did he say he wanted Buzz fired.  If I had to guess, Ecompt fits into the category of let's see if he's the real deal with his own players, etc, and evaluate after multiple years.  So instead of rewarding him with an extension now, wait another year and see how he does.  Afterall, this is his first year with all his guys.

I may be wrong, but that was my interpretation of his remarks...nothing about firing at all.

He says "He's a very nice guy and a very poor coach". If you interpret that as a neutral, let's wait and see post about Buzz I know where our disagreement comes from vis-a-vis the tenor of your posts on the same subject.

[ATL MU Warrior]

You guys are totally over reacting to his comment.  Nowhere did he say he wanted Buzz fired.  If I had to guess, Ecompt fits into the category of let's see if he's the real deal with his own players, etc, and evaluate after multiple years.  So instead of rewarding him with an extension now, wait another year and see how he does.  Afterall, this is his first year with all his guys.

I may be wrong, but that was my interpretation of his remarks...nothing about firing at all.

At the end of the day, there ain't a whole hell of a lot of difference between "not getting extended" and getting fired.  He clearly wants him gone...it's just a matter of when and the particulars.