Questions for 11-12

[tower912]

I think most of us can agree on who the top 7 are going to be  (DJO, JaeC, JW, Junior, CO, DG, VB).    How cool is it to go into a new season with your top 7 set?     After that, the questions begin
1.   Who is going to be the 8th man in the rotation?   
2.  Who backs up the PG?    VB?   DJO?  DW?  (nice things being written about this least heralded of our recruits.   If his game is equal to his body and leadership skills, we stole one)
3.   Does JJ step up and seize some minutes?
4.   Did we bite off more than we can chew OOC?

My predictions:   1.   JJ.   2.   Committee   3.   yes     4.   No

[NersEllenson]

Buzz has recently said that of all the guys on the team - Derrick Wilson has the most clearly defined position/role on the team.  It sure sounds like he will be the back up to Cadougan.

[tower912]

I've seen that, too.   I hope he is up to it.   If he is, then '2'  is answered.

[GGGG]

I don't know what to think about JJ.  I have no doubt that Buzz is going to give him every opportunity to play, and with a year under his belt will have a better understanding of what is expected of him.  However, I would not be surprised if Juan passes him up.

[Hards Alumni]

I don't know what to think about JJ.  I have no doubt that Buzz is going to give him every opportunity to play, and with a year under his belt will have a better understanding of what is expected of him.  However, I would not be surprised if Juan passes him up.

I have little to no confidence in JJ.  Its too bad, he has a lot of potential... I'm just not sure he 'gets it' yet.

[tower912]

http://painttouches.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/juan-anderson-brings-versatility/

I read this article where it says that JJ has taken Juan under his wing and his helping JA avoid the mistakes that JJ made.    I can only assume that means that he recognizes that he tried to coast on his talent and that doesn't work under Buzz.    It is clear that those who work the hardest develop the most under Buzz.

[Norm]

I don't know what to think about JJ.  I have no doubt that Buzz is going to give him every opportunity to play, and with a year under his belt will have a better understanding of what is expected of him.  However, I would not be surprised if Juan passes him up.

Why do you think JJ is going to get every opportunity to play? He hardly saw the floor last year. I hope BUzz does not use JJ like he used Erik Williams last year - starting him and playing him early in the non-conference schedule, yanking him after every defensive mistake, and then barely playing him once the Big East starts.

[Benny B]

I think most of us can agree on who the top 7 are going to be  (DJO, JaeC, JW, Junior, CO, DG, VB).    How cool is it to go into a new season with your top 7 set?     After that, the questions begin
1.   Who is going to be the 8th man in the rotation?   
2.  Who backs up the PG?    VB?   DJO?  DW?  (nice things being written about this least heralded of our recruits.   If his game is equal to his body and leadership skills, we stole one)
3.   Does JJ step up and seize some minutes?
4.   Did we bite off more than we can chew OOC?

1 & 2: Derrick Wilson.  I don't think playing VB or DJO extensively at point makes any sense; their strength is at the 2.  DW is the only "natural" PG on this team outside Junior.  Maybe Jake Thomas gets some minutes at point, especially late in games with close leads (if he can handle the ball) given his FT acumen.  That said, I think JC is probably going to get Dominic James-minutes at the point this year, and the top 7 eat up 180 of 200 minutes so any answers here are probably moot any way.

3: Some, yes.  Significant, not unless he's greatly improved his defense.  If CO & DG have refined their games as advertised, those two along with Jae eat up 60-70 of the 80 minutes at the 4 & 5 and JW as an occasional 4 will probably take another 5-10.  JJ will get more opportunities, but will likely do most of his checking in at the last whistle before a media timeout.

4. Yes, but no matter.  Cupcakes are delicious but the empty calories set you up for a sugar crash on Selection Sunday.  It's about time MU starts beefing up on big steaks for dinner... nobody remembers if you passed out finishing the Ol' 96er, they just remember that you ate the whole thing.

[tower912]

Jake Thomas is ineligible this year.    Transfer. 

[Benny B]

Jake Thomas is ineligible this year.    Transfer. 

Aahhh crap.  Those late 2nd half FT's are going to be a wild ride again this year then.

[GGGG]

Not only that but thomas is not a point guard. Not even close.  Spot up shooter at best.

[GGGG]

When I say JJ will be given every chance to play I mean that Buzz will give him the playing time that he earns. That he's not in any kind of doghouse.

[brewcity77]

1.   Who is going to be the 8th man in the rotation?   
2.  Who backs up the PG?    VB?   DJO?  DW?  (nice things being written about this least heralded of our recruits.   If his game is equal to his body and leadership skills, we stole one)
3.   Does JJ step up and seize some minutes?
4.   Did we bite off more than we can chew in non-conference?

1. I'm torn between DW and Jones. If Jones understands his role, he could be a 10-15 mpg guy, the talent is there. I'm going with Jones. Even with VB, there's more 2/3/4 minutes available than there are minutes at the 1.

2. Committee. I think Junior plays 25-28 mpg. DW will pick up 5-8 minutes with the rest scattered between Blue and DJO.

3. I think so. Someone has to fill the E-Will minutes, and I think JA will need a year of seasoning. Gardner may take some, but I can't see him playing the 4 against any team with above-average athleticism.

4. We'll be okay. The big 5 are the PJ Final, UW, Washington, LSU, and Vandy. I think we can go 3-2 in those...well, we can go 5-0, but 3-2 will be okay. As long as we don't drop the ball against more than one cupcake, we'll be okay.

[westcoastwarrior]

Tower912 brings up a good point for 2011-12 season...who shoots the pressure free throws at the end? DJO I am guessing...but Jimmy was the guy last year.  Do we have anyone on the roster who is a 78% or greater free throw shooter this year?

[MuMark]

Gardner might be the best free thow shooter on the team. I would expect improvement from Jae, DJO and Junior at the line.

No reason for DJO to be anything less then a 75-80% free throw shooter with his stroke.

[Clam Crowder]

Yeah I was gonna say the same thing MuMark, Ox is definitely the best free throw shooter. I think DJO was around 70 percent last year though.

[Benny B]

Tower912 brings up a good point for 2011-12 season...who shoots the pressure free throws at the end? DJO I am guessing...but Jimmy was the guy last year.  Do we have anyone on the roster who is a 78% or greater free throw shooter this year?

Yes we do... his name is Jake Thomas (career 83%), and I thought he was the key to putting us over the top this year (i.e. no more slews of heartbreaking 1-2 point losses) until I completely overlooked the fact that he's not eligible until next year.

As MuMark said, believe it or not our best eligible FT shooter (with a reasonable sample size) is Ox at 75% although Jamil is 74%... granted both only have one year of competition.  DJO is career 69% (he has Dominic James syndrome when it comes to FT's... can't make a FT to put a game out of reach, but is take-it-to-the-bank when the game is truly on the line), Junior 64%, Jae & Vander 61%, Otule 52%.

Jamail is 100% although he only has 5 or 6 attempts.

[brewcity77]

Tower912 brings up a good point for 2011-12 season...who shoots the pressure free throws at the end? DJO I am guessing...but Jimmy was the guy last year.  Do we have anyone on the roster who is a 78% or greater free throw shooter this year?

DG shot 75% last year. Hopefully Crowder picks up the FT percentage. As good a three-point shooter as he is, you'd think he could hit 60-70% at least.

EDIT: Anyone know how Jamil Wilson is at the line? This could also be a point where Jones gets minutes. Being able to switch to a late-game zone with DJO and Jones in the backcourt and Jae, Jamil, and Gardner up front could ice leads at the line.

[6Under20]

Junior shot over 70% from the line in the BE and NCAA tournaments last year, hopefully that will carry over.

[Benny B]

EDIT: Anyone know how Jamil Wilson is at the line? This could also be a point where Jones gets minutes. Being able to switch to a late-game zone with DJO and Jones in the backcourt and Jae, Jamil, and Gardner up front could ice leads at the line.

74% in ~26 attempts.

[Jacks DC]

Gardner might be the best free thow shooter on the team. I would expect improvement from Jae, DJO and Junior at the line.

No reason for DJO to be anything less then a 75-80% free throw shooter with his stroke.

This could be weakness for us this year.  In the past we've always had someone who could get to the line and knock them down - Wes, Lazar, Jimmy.

It's pretty rare for a capable FT shooter to make a significant improvement in their FT% at this stage, so I would not expect much more than what we've already seen from those players.

[rocky_warrior]

I hope Buzz has the practicing free throws already!

/teal
/channeling chicos

[brewcity77]

If Jamil improves on his freshman season at Oregon, he could shoot close to 80%. DJO will get to the line a lot and it'd be great if he could get to 70%. Not sure what to expect from Junior and Jae, but if they are around 65% that'll be okay.

We might not have a Novak type, but I think both Jamil and Davante could be go-to guys late in games, and I have faith in DJO when the game is on the line. One positive is that our only really bad FT shooter is Otule and he still hits around 50%. Everyone else at least seems to have the potential to hit 70 or better. I can live with that.

[Brewtown Andy]

Tower912 brings up a good point for 2011-12 season...who shoots the pressure free throws at the end?

The guy who gets fouled, most likely.

[leever]

The guy who gets fouled, most likely.

Seriously, that's the answer.  Who's going to be handling the ball at the end of games?  Whoever that is had better be able to shoot pressure free throws.

And we all know that Buzz does a terrible job teaching these guys to shoot free throws.