Positives from the game tonight

[CrazyEcho]

(1) Most importantly, it doesn't feel like an aberration.  We didn't recruit a once in a generation player to carry us there.  We'll be back on the big stage with regularity.

(2) Jae Crowder is a grown-ass man.  He doesn't back down from anyone.  He's not going to let some POS McDonald's all-american talk crap to him and get away with.  

(3) Junior played a good game.

(4) Gardner was a beast.

(6) You can see that if Vander just improves his shooting, he'll be an all-Big East player.  He's already got great instincts and superior athleticism.

EDIT: Apparently I'm too pissed to put a (5).  

[ATL MU Warrior]

(1) Most importantly, it doesn't feel like an aberration.  We didn't recruit a once in a generation player to carry us there.  We'll be back on the big stage with regularity.

(2) Jae Crowder is a grown-ass man.  He doesn't back down from anyone.  He's not going to let some POS McDonald's all-american talk crap to him and get away with. 

(3) Junior played a good game.

(4) Gardner was a beast.

(6) You can see that if Vander just improves his shooting, he'll be an all-Big East player.  He's already got great instincts and superior athleticism. 

Wher's #5 

[burger]

If you take a look at the players that are leaving other BE schools.....

You have to put us in the Top 5 min next year......

Syracuse, Louisville, Villanova, and Pitt......We are right there next year....easy.....

and may I say....In my "although it may be my home opinion".....Syracuse is the only team above us.....

[brewcity77]

My biggest positive is our age. All our losses feel well balanced. I am much more optimistic about what Jamil Wilson, Junior Cadougan, and Erik Williams can accomplish in the next 2+ years than what Butler, Buycks, and Fulce accomplished while they were here. Blue, Otule, Gardner, and Jones still have a lot of room for improvement. DJO and Crowder provide two good shooters and Crowder especially will be a great leader as a senior. And we have exciting recruits in Anderson and Mayo, along with another project point in Wilson. I don't think this will be Buzz's last Sweet 16 here by any stretch.

[brewcity77]

If you take a look at the players that are leaving other BE schools.....

You have to put us in the Top 5 min next year......

Syracuse, Louisville, Villanova, and Pitt......We are right there next year....easy.....

and may I say....In my "although it may be my home opinion".....Syracuse is the only team above us.....

Syracuse and Louisville are the favorites, but UConn will be awesome as well. Even if Walker leaves, they have a great young core and will be dark horse challengers for the top 4. I'd say we have a shot at the 4-6 range next year.

[ChicosBailBonds]

If you take a look at the players that are leaving other BE schools.....

You have to put us in the Top 5 min next year......

Syracuse, Louisville, Villanova, and Pitt......We are right there next year....easy.....

and may I say....In my "although it may be my home opinion".....Syracuse is the only team above us.....

UCONN starts 3 Freshmen and a 4th plays significant minutes

[JTBMU7]

Don't forget O'tule, i know he fumbles around a lot, but the strides he made over this year are really a good sign for next season. If he can average 8 pts and be productive on the boards, he'll be a HUGE asset.

[CrazyEcho]

Don't forget O'tule, i know he fumbles around a lot, but the strides he made over this year are really a good sign for next season. If he can average 8 pts and be productive on the boards, he'll be a HUGE asset.

Otule was awful tonight.  He was definitely not a positive tonight.  That said, I'm also excited for him for next year. 

[brewcity77]

Don't forget O'tule, i know he fumbles around a lot, but the strides he made over this year are really a good sign for next season. If he can average 8 pts and be productive on the boards, he'll be a HUGE asset.

Maybe it's just my pet peeve, but why do so many people think Otule has an apostrophe? He's not Irish. It's not O'Tule, or O'Toule, or O'Toole, or O'tule, or even Outle. Is it really that hard to spell his name? All season people have been acting like he's a long lost leprechaun. He's not a Golden Domer, he's a Warrior, and deserves to have his name spelled right.[/rant]

[hairy worthen]

Otule was awful tonight.  He was definitely not a positive tonight.  That said, I'm also excited for him for next year. 

I am too, but I get the feeling that he is much closer to his ceiling than gardner is to his.

[MountainCreekHouse]

Crowder is a grown-ass man
+1977

[4everwarriors]

Maybe only half the country watched this debacle.

[mufvr]

Otule's positive strides were huge this year but his starting point was very low.  I trust he will continue to get better but he is a mid-major caliber player.  Buzz needs to get a high profile PF and C to move this team to the next level.  My biggest concern next year is the SG spot unless Vander can develop a shot over the summer.  While DJO shows flashes of brilliance, he is painfully mistake proned and creates way too many turnovers.  His shooting is also too inconsistent.  

[82fanatic]

Crowder is a grown-ass man
+1977

He made more "non cerebral" plays tonight that he ever has.  Bad night for him.  Will be good and an asset next year, but terrible tonight!

[Mutaman]

I like Cadougan a lot wheras as recently as the St john's game I had little use for him. I think he made a huge improvement since then. I see him as a big time point guard next year. He can run this team.

[Stronghold]

Otule's positive strides were huge this year but his starting point was very low.  I trust he will continue to get better but he is a mid-major caliber player.  Buzz needs to get a high profile PF and C to move this team to the next level.  My biggest concern next year is the SG spot unless Vander can develop a shot over the summer.  While DJO shows flashes of brilliance, he is painfully mistake proned and creates way too many turnovers.  His shooting is also too inconsistent.  

I want DJO taking a shot before anyone else on our team.  I'll take him next year to be our #1 man.   Inconsistent, sure, but the games he is on he allows us to win many we might not otherwise.

[MUMac]

but the games he is on he allows us to win many we might not otherwise.

That is what I really thought would happen tonight.   I thought he would be lazered in, being from NC himself.  Really thought he would be the difference tonight.  surprised that he was so off and ineffective.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Otule was awful tonight.  He was definitely not a positive tonight.  That said, I'm also excited for him for next year. 

Wrong! Otule's night was not his fault.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

(2) Jae Crowder is a grown-ass man.  He doesn't back down from anyone.  He's not going to let some POS McDonald's all-american talk crap to him and get away with.  

Thank you for saying this. I don't know how many times I said out loud duriing this awful game, "Good for him!" I was seriously hoping one of our guys would get in a fight...could have used Mo Lucas tonight, that's for sure.

I have very high hopes for Crowder next year. He has got at attitude we haven't had for a long time and me likey.

[Jacks DC]

and me likey.

You ruined your whole tough guy post with this.

[Jacks DC]

I like Cadougan a lot wheras as recently as the St john's game I had little use for him. I think he made a huge improvement since then. I see him as a big time point guard next year. He can run this team.

Do you realize how deadly he would be if he had an outside shot that defenders had to respect?  He still gets to the rim but if he could knock down a three or a jumper once in a while with his passing ability he could really dominate.  I hope he starts practicing tomorrow.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

You ruined your whole tough guy post with this.

You're damn right I did!!

Seriously, I loved his passion tonight!!

[CTWarrior]

I'd also say that a positive is that we didn't roll up into the fetal position in the second half like we did at the FF.  When Gardner got that foul after the obvious goal tend that led to a 4 point play, we were getting in a position to cut the lead to 10.  Now, I never thought we were going to win, and we were wound way too tight in the first half, but I like that they competed in the second half and didn't give up.

[Fullodds]

One thing we need to work on is the entry pass to the post. If we plan on developing a post-offense with Otule and Gardner I suggest actually getting them the ball on a regular basis.

[ATL MU Warrior]

One thing we need to work on is the entry pass to the post. If we plan on developing a post-offense with Otule and Gardner I suggest actually getting them the ball on a regular basis.

+1  This was a juge problem all year and was really bad last night.  Does no good to have decent post players if you can't get them the ball.  Otule had 3-4 dunks last night if the post-entry passes were any good.