Starting Lineup for next year

[mikem91288]

Whats your vote? I know this has been discussed every so often, but my opinion has recently changed.

1 - Junior
2 - DJO
3 - Jamil Wilson
4 - EWill
5 - Gardner

Crowder gets significant time along with Vander. Jae does not seem to mind coming off the bench. Chris loses starting job to Davante over summer.

[Coleman]

The only way EWill starts over Crowder is if its a similar situation to this year...that is...playing until the first media timeout so Jae avoids an early nickeldimer.

Buzz seems to emphasize who finishes more than who starts. EWill may be the "starter" but Crowder will be seeing the big time minutes.

I have no qualms with the other 4 guys you listed. I think Otule might get the starts over Gardner. That really is a toss up. I still think Chris is the better overall player (especially on the defensive side), but Gardner has more upside. Offseason development will determine who gets the spot and more minutes, although I think they'll both see plenty of time on the court. Its been said before, but Gardner has to get in shape, work on defensive movement a TON if he wants to start and play 25+ minutes in the Big East. He's not there yet. His weaknesses are much greater liabilities than Otule's.

[Coleman]

I just got excited thinking about 2 years from now when Otule is a senior and Gardner is a junior.

Assuming even just modest improvement from now until then, we are gonna have some really, really good big men. Its been a while since Marquette has had this kind of size down low.

[T-Bone]

I think Gardner will take a little longer to step in as the starter.  Perhaps at the start of the conference schedule.  But he still has a lot of conditioning to do.

I think we'll see a bunch of different starting lineups like we did this year.

Small
1 - Junior
2 - DJO
3 - Blue
4 - J Wilson
5 - E-Will

The Twin Towers
1 - Junior
2 - DJO
3 - J Wilson
4 - Gardner
5 - Otule

The Jumbo Package
1 - Junior
2 - Crowder
3 - E-Will
4 - Gardner
5 - Otule

Going into next season it's awesome that we have more talent than ever and have a lot of different players that can start.

[Badgerhater]

Otule will start because he plays his best at the opening of the game and the opening of a half.

I do foresee another 10-man rotation like we had at the end of this year.  I like that because it's easier to find a hot hand in 10 than it is for 6 or 7.

[tower912]

Unless something changes, let Otule continue to start.   Let Gardner beat up on the back-ups.   Split the minutes at the 5 fairly equally.

[GGGG]

By the start of BE season...

Point: Junior
Post: Otule
Jamil, Crowder, DJO

After that, there are so many questions that need to be answered?  Who is the back-up at point?  Who get's DB's minutes?  Where do the newcomers (Mayo, Anderson) fit vis-a-vis the returners (Jamail, EWill)?  What role does Vander play next year?

We have six months to sort this stuff out.

[Slim]

I can't wait for the start of next season. I think EWill and JJ are both going to be solid contributors. It will be a challenge for Buzz to get the talent into the game.

But T-Bone, I don't think your jumbo package will see 1 minute next year (Although VCU has convinced me, sometimes I don't know diddly)

[Stuckin1977]

By the start of BE season...

Point: Junior
Post: Otule
Jamil, Crowder, DJO

After that, there are so many questions that need to be answered?  Who is the back-up at point?  Who get's DB's minutes?  Where do the newcomers (Mayo, Anderson) fit vis-a-vis the returners (Jamail, EWill)?  What role does Vander play next year?

We have six months to sort this stuff out.

I think this is the lineup I agree with the most.

What's great though is that we have so much talent coming in/returning that there's no telling who will be starting in January.  Who knows, maybe Blue, Gardner, and Williams give these 5 a run for their money and end up stealing one or two of these spots.

[Dish]

I'm not sure how to properly phrase this, but doesn't Vander almost "have to" start next year?

Maybe I say/think this more from a perception stand point. Clearly results on the court will bear out whether he starts or not, but being a prized recruit like he was and not starting his sophomore year would seem more an indictment on Vander and the coaching staff for not being further along. College players progress most between their frosh and soph years. Hope to see Vander put himself in a position to start next year.

I might be alone in this, but I really hope Jones develops into a decent bench option over the summer. I still think there is potential for him to be a quality player.

[GGGG]

MUDish, when thinking about this, I thought the same.  Vander at least has to be the first guard off the bench right?  And Jones has to play some sort of 15-18 mpg role too.  If neither of them improve minute wise from last year, and lose time to incoming freshmen, they may never really make much of an impact here.

EWill I think at least will play a larger role.  I see him being the first forward off the bench, and I think will actually get his chance to play in front of Jamil at the very beginning of the season.  Unless Buzz goes small, the only real competition he has for the forward type spot is Juan Anderson.  (Pending what the last scholie brings of course.)

[Dish]

I'd be with you on that Sultan, if Vander was first off the bench (which my assumption would be) and with his energy level and defensive ability, he'd be (ideally) a great super sub. I'd have no problem there. Issue would just be the "buzz" (pardon the pun) around Vander before coming to MU, and by his sophomore year he can't crack the starting five, maybe it's just me buying into the hype, but I suppose I'd be a little disappointed.

[wojosdojo]

I'm not sure how to properly phrase this, but doesn't Vander almost "have to" start next year?

Maybe I say/think this more from a perception stand point. Clearly results on the court will bear out whether he starts or not, but being a prized recruit like he was and not starting his sophomore year would seem more an indictment on Vander and the coaching staff for not being further along. College players progress most between their frosh and soph years. Hope to see Vander put himself in a position to start next year.

I might be alone in this, but I really hope Jones develops into a decent bench option over the summer. I still think there is potential for him to be a quality player.

First off, I really like the energy the JJ brings. When he got the minutes in the BET he was giving it his all on the floor, even though the stats may say different. As far as Vander starting, obvoiusly Buzz will say the five toughest guys will play but Van needs to become a smarter player just as much as he needs to become better. He'll be putting up hundreds of shots over the summer and getting stronger. I really don't want to hear Vander saying that he needs to work more on his defense to establish himself because he knows that everyone can score,his shot is in a need of help. I have fith in him, he is Buzz' first freshmen to do what he has done and it looks to be a bright future. Look at JFB his Sophmore year averaging about 6ppg (with 3 amigos) coming off the bench, shortly later he became something really special.


2011-12
1. Junior
2. DJO
3. E-Will
4. Crowder
5. Otule

Its all about experience.

[monkeyman34]

I'm going to guess something like Junior 30m/g, DJO 30, j. wilson 30, ewill 10, otule 20, blue 20, jones 10, crowder 30, gardner 20.   I hope that when Junior is out, DJO/Blue/Wilson are able to bring the ball up.  To me, it looks like there's a lot more talent, than minutes to go around.  Buzz is going to have to do an amazing job of being able to spread minutes around while also keeping people happy and keeping on developing everyone.  I really hope one or two players redshirt next year unless an injury happens.

[wojosdojo]

If neither of them improve minute wise from last year, and lose time to incoming freshmen, they may never really make much of an impact here.

the only real competition he has for the forward type spot is Juan Anderson.  (Pending what the last scholie brings of course.)

Honest question. Do you really see Buzz playing his freshmen next year, significantly? What makes you believe this is any different from the past three seasons?


Ox has played LIMITED amount of game over 10mpg.
Van has played many more but wasn't productive after DePaul game (defensivly, sure).

Also, what does J. Wilson bring to the table? What did he do at Oregon? I've been hearing good (optimistic) things but have never seen him play.

[Badgerhater]

Vander will be fine.  This summer he will be in Milwaukee and not part of the National Team.  Being part of that team was indeed a great thing, but it's more important for him right now is to be in the AL everyday and start the process of becoming a leader on the team.

[bilsu]

Vander should get Rob Frozena minutes. That is all he deserves.

[Stuckin1977]

Vander should get Rob Frozena minutes. That is all he deserves.

Completely disagree.  He's shown flashes of greatness throughout the season, especially on defense.  He needs to work on knowing when to drive to the rack and when to pass it back to the perimeter.  He got burned quite a few times this season when he drove into traffic because it almost always ended in a turnover.

[MerrittsMustache]

I would imagine that Junior, DJO and Otule will be in the starting line-up for most of the season and that Junior, DJO and Crowder will be in the "finishing" line-up for most of the season. The other 2 spots on the floor will depend on match-ups and who's playing well in each game and who has been practicing well. Honestly, I don't think the actual starting line-up matters all that much. Besides the guys mentioned above, Blue, Jamil, EWill, Jones and Gardner are all going to get minutes, but they might not consistently get the same number of minutes each night (i.e. 25 minutes one game and 8 minutes the next). Anderson could see some spot minutes from time to time but I can't imagine Derrick and Mayo will get off the bench all that often.

As for Blue, I could see him starting/playing alongside Junior and DJO in a 3-guard set along with Crowder/Jamil/EWill and Otule/Gardner. He could also see some minutes at 2-guard with DJO at the point. Most intelligent fans would understand if Blue comes off the bench considering he plays the same position as a guy with NBA-ready skills.

[kmwtrucks]

I dsagree with Bilsu as well, even when he did very little on the OFF end, he was defending, getting deflections, grabbing rebounds and multiple times was just out hustling people.  The Biggest thing that happened to him is his Confidence on OFF got shot last year.  When he gets that back he will be much better.  Did JR become a much better OFF player from JAN to MARCH (no) he was the same player just playing with more confidence.  

[lab_warrior]

Crowder will start, book it.

Cadougan
DJO
Wilson/Blue
Crowder
Otule

big min. off bench:
Wilson/Blue
Gardner
EWill
Jamail Jones
D. Wilson

[Stuckin1977]

As for Blue, I could see him starting/playing alongside Junior and DJO in a 3-guard set along with Crowder/Jamil/EWill and Otule/Gardner. He could also see some minutes at 2-guard with DJO at the point. Most intelligent fans would understand if Blue comes off the bench considering he plays the same position as a guy with NBA-ready skills.

I don't see DJO playing at the point anytime soon.

[MerrittsMustache]

I don't see DJO playing at the point anytime soon.

Why not? He played it at times this past season. I don't know why he wouldn't occasionally do it next season as well.

[DrDestiny911]

Maybe its just me but I don't see D. Wilson getting much time off the bench. He and Todd Mayo will be pulling JJ and EWill duties from this year's team

[MUMac]

Vander will be fine.  This summer he will be in Milwaukee and not part of the National Team.  Being part of that team was indeed a great thing, but it's more important for him right now is to be in the AL everyday and start the process of becoming a leader on the team.

You mention something that get's overlooked here when talking about Vander.  The national team.  He played on the team all summer and then the season started.  Not much time to acclimate and develop.  A high school season is from late Nov. to early March.  That may, in part, explain the wall he hit late in the season.

I agree that the offseason in Milwaukee will be a big help to Vander. 

Looking forward to his proving some of you, who have given up on him, wrong.