E. Williams

[KipsBayEagle]

Once his defense improves, he's going to be a solid contributor.  An aggressive rebounder, not afraid to take the shot when he has it, he is going to start contributing very soon.

[Slim]

+1

[#MUBB]

I agree, he oozes athleticism. Still seems very raw though.

[KipsBayEagle]

I agree, he oozes athleticism. Still seems very raw though.

I think he's raw from a lack of playing time.  We just saw it on that shot that was too strong.  Combination of nerves and inexperience that can only be cured with playing time on the court.  He'll start getting more playing time, and as he gets it we will see him make big strides.

[CrazyEcho]

I think that was also due to trying to decide whether he should bank it or not.

[thanooj]

he looks lost on offense.  when he catches and shoots he looks good.  when he crashes the boards he looks athletic.  but dude looks terrible moving without the ball.

this could partly be lack of playing time, but he doesn't know where to go.

[WarriorHal]

Buzz just told Homer that he is playing EWill more in response to demands by "the message board people." Very cool. I doubt Buzz reads the board, but someone who has his ear does.

[HoopsMalone]

Buzz just told Homer that he is playing EWill more in response to demands by "the message board people." Very cool. I doubt Buzz reads the board, but someone who has his ear does.

I would be he does read the boards from time to time.  He probably reads MU's boards and our opponent's boards.

[mviale]

Ewill looked OK. However, he will need much more playing time to get comfortable with his stroke.  Wow, he missed as bad a Fulce on some shots.

[mu_hilltopper]

On the post-game, Buzz said EWill knows about "22%" of their offense ..gave examples of Jimmy constantly having to tell EWill what to do on the floor.

WOW.  1.9 years of practice for MU, and he knows "22%"????  That's seriously deficient.

[rocky_warrior]

Buzz just told Homer that he is playing EWill more in response to demands by "the message board people." Very cool. I doubt Buzz reads the board, but someone who has his ear does.

That was his sarcastic answer.  The "real" answer was the EWill only knows "22%" of the offense (buzz's number), so when he's out there Jimmy has to give him the plays real-time and it puts stress on Jimmy (and Buzz has to be careful who he has out there with him).  But, on the flip side, using EW for more minutes leaves Jae with some breathing room to be in during the stretch instead of sitting on the bench with too many fouls.

WOW.  1.9 years of practice for MU, and he knows "22%"????  That's seriously deficient.

That's what I was confused by too.  But alas, we'll let Buzz figure it out (hi coach!).

[NCMUFan]

On a side note, did others hear what the ESPN announcers say that Fulce does not practice but pretty much tells Buzz how much pain he is in on game day to determine how many minutes he gets?

[GGGG]

At one point in the second half, he clearly missed a rotation on defense, and you could hear "come on E!!" shouted by one of the other players.

[Bob "Big Daddy" Wild]

I don't know about anyone else, but I am super excited about E Will's sr. year.  Along with continued development of VB, JC, and the COt/DG two headed monster, we (should) have the length of EWill, JW, and JJ flying around out there on the wings.  Holy crap.

[GGGG]

Well, I haven't seen enough to suggest that he is going to "fly" out there.  I'll be satisfied with a consistant 10 pt., 5 reb. guy.

[BME to MD]

On a side note, did others hear what the ESPN announcers say that Fulce does not practice but pretty much tells Buzz how much pain he is in on game day to determine how many minutes he gets?

Joe is a warrior for suiting up on those knees of his.  I hope Marquette picks up the tab for Microfracture surgery/rehabilitation for him after the season.  He has earned it.

[Norm]

I'm one of those "message board" people Buzz was talking about calling for EWill to get more playing time. I still think EWill and Jones are poorly used and their games have atrophied because of it. If EWill or Jones got the playing time that Otule does and were allowed to play through their mistakes, I believe they would have improved like Otule has this year - Otule is much better now than he was at the beginning of the season. (And yes, I realize that Otule plays a different position and EWill is buried behinf guys like Butler and Crowder)

If Buzz says that EWill only knows 22% of the offense after almost two years, then Buzz has to look in the mirror and ask himself how that is possible. Like students, every player learns differently. Some soak up a traditional chalk talk, others learn more from game film, some like the coach to place him where he should be on the floor, others prefer going over the playbook over and over and over. I'm not saying that this all falls on Buzz, but Buzz must not be getting through if EWill only grasps 22% of the offense. He has to figure out why and get through better.

[jmayer1]

If you realize he's behind those guys, where do you think the minutes are going to come from? Somebody has to be the 10th and 11th guys on the bench.

[GGGG]

(And yes, I realize that Otule plays a different position and EWill is buried behinf guys like Butler and Crowder)

OK...then you will also realize that this is *the* reason that EWill doesn't play right?  This isn't some middle school training ground.  Buzz basically plays 9 guys now.  That is about what most teams play.  EWill and JJ's games have "atrophied"...they simply haven't developed to where they can make greater contributions than the alternatives.

[Norm]

If you realize he's behind those guys, where do you think the minutes are going to come from? Somebody has to be the 10th and 11th guys on the bench.

How about how he's been used the past 2 games as opposed to the previous 14 Big East games? I don't think his 7-10 minutes in the past two games have hurt the team. I think he could have been used more to give Butler and Crowder a rest so they are better able to finish games and MU doesn't melt down in the 2nd half because they basically run out of steam.

[Norm]

OK...then you will also realize that this is *the* reason that EWill doesn't play right?  This isn't some middle school training ground.  Buzz basically plays 9 guys now.  That is about what most teams play.  EWill and JJ's games have "atrophied"...they simply haven't developed to where they can make greater contributions than the alternatives.

Yes, I realize that is why his playing time is limited, but I don't think that should translate into EWill only playing in 5 out of 16 Big East games thus far this season. He has only played in 2 more games than Frozena. How would 5-7 minutes a game to spell Butler and Crowder to keep them fresher in the 2nd half hurt MU?

[NotAnAlum]

How about how he's been used the past 2 games as opposed to the previous 14 Big East games? I don't think his 7-10 minutes in the past two games have hurt the team. I think he could have been used more to give Butler and Crowder a rest so they are better able to finish games and MU doesn't melt down in the 2nd half because they basically run out of steam.

EWill was sub-ed into the Louisville game with about 10 minutes left in the game.  As I recall he missed a rebound and then blew a defensive assignment that lead to a basket.  But I suppose that didn't end up "hurting the team"

[El Duderino]

Yes, I realize that is why his playing time is limited, but I don't think that should translate into EWill only playing in 5 out of 16 Big East games thus far this season. He has only played in 2 more games than Frozena. How would 5-7 minutes a game to spell Butler and Crowder to keep them fresher in the 2nd half hurt MU?

This isn't 6th grade basketball where everyone should have to play each game.

Marquette plays Division 1 basketball in arguably the best conference in college basketball. Buzz has shown that he'll play guys new to the program and/or freshman, so if he wasn't playing EWill, i'm quite sure he has real reasons for it that he felt limited the team from best case chances to win games. Guys across major college basketball programs get limited minutes as freshman and even sophomores.

Obviously something has finally clicked with Williams in practice that has made Buzz more comfortable with playing him as of late. Watching him today, it was refreshing to see him be aggressive when he got the ball a few times instead of him looking scared to have the ball in his hands.

Kids coming into college programs all have varying skill sets and personalities. EWill struck me as a kid early on who was kinda passive and didn't have the same kind of aggressive personality that guys like say DJO and Butler have. Watching him lately and especially today, Williams didn't look awkward and lost on the court as he's seemed to me in the past.

[BCHoopster]

EWill probably is playing harder in practice and is finally getting the idea of playing
hard everyday.  But what I see, is taking some minute from Jae who still makes dumb fouls
early in the game and is in trouble in the second half of games when MU really needs him.
He definitely has some talent, just needs some playing time.  I really believe Buzz made a
big mistake not giving him PT time in December.  I wonder what EWill is thinking?  I sit for
12 or 14 games, then he plays me?  One thing I do know is that is legs are very active.  All
I hope is that he comes back next year and gets some serious PT time.  I see Jae, EWill and
Wilson playing alot next year up front.  I would like to see Otule, EWill and Jae up front.

[Norm]

EWill was sub-ed into the Louisville game with about 10 minutes left in the game.  As I recall he missed a rebound and then blew a defensive assignment that lead to a basket.  But I suppose that didn't end up "hurting the team"

Ah yes, the downfall to the Louisville debacle was the 1 minute that EWill played, because he was the only one who missed a board and a layup. To recap some highlights of the boxscore of that gem:

DJO was 3-13
Otule 0-3 and had 1 rebound
Buycks had 5 turnovers
Crowder was 0-3 from the line