[Enlund's Blog] Life without Otule

[TomEnlundSays]

Life without Otule
               




               

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/136442933.html
               

[nyg]

Gardner picks up two quick fouls and Buzz states he was not prepared to play.  Is that why he only played five minutes after that?  Seems alittle harsh seeing that MU was undermanned at the center position.

[avid1010]

i don't know if i like how buzz handled it, but i'm with him on gardner not being prepared.  those two fouls were dumb, lazy, etc. 

[UticaBusBarn]

Whether, or not, Davante Gardner was prepared, is for Coach Williams to decide. After all, that is his job. However, to be critical of player, in the press (even if he is not named), does not seem to be wise to this fan. When coaches begin to publicly criticize players in the press, it can often be corrode the concept of the team. The timing of the comment, with the BE season to begin on Sunday, makes one wonder.

[dgies9156]

Sorry to be harsh, but every team loses players due to injury. Good teams respond and overcompensate. Mediocre teams whine and play poorly. Look at the St. Louis Cardinals in baseball. They lost Albert Pujos for a month and were still World Champions (and we'll find out how well they can fare forever without Pujos next year)

Let's face it, we may be without Chris for a long time, possibly the rest of the year. Yeah, we may not match up as well against Festus Ezeli, but we have to carry on. Period.

I'm reminded of what happened to us in 1972 when Jim Chones left for the NBA late in the season. The next game out, Dick Vitale and the Detroit Titans handed us our backsides 70-49. We never recovered and made a quick exit from the Mideast Regional.

Here's hoping that does not happen this year.

[strotty]

Whether, or not, Davante Gardner was prepared, is for Coach Williams to decide. After all, that is his job. However, to be critical of player, in the press (even if he is not named), does not seem to be wise to this fan. When coaches begin to publicly criticize players in the press, it can often be corrode the concept of the team. The timing of the comment, with the BE season to begin on Sunday, makes one wonder.

Huh? The question was:

"Buzz, Kevin seemed to think you guys were really missing Chris Otule, especially when Davante gets in early foul trouble. Do you agree with that assessment and how much of a role did that play?"

How exactly is he calling out or publicly criticizing Gardner, who was mentioned directly in the question and played five minutes against the tallest team Marquette has faced all year?

[chapman]

Sorry to be harsh, but every team loses players due to injury. Good teams respond and overcompensate. Mediocre teams whine and play poorly. Look at the St. Louis Cardinals in baseball. They lost Albert Pujos for a month and were still World Champions (and we'll find out how well they can fare forever without Pujos next year)

Let's face it, we may be without Chris for a long time, possibly the rest of the year. Yeah, we may not match up as well against Festus Ezeli, but we have to carry on. Period.

Agree.  Hell, it happened two years ago - Otule was lost for the season.  We had the "midgets" in the backcourt and a 6'5" center, but that team toughed it out, sucked it up, many played out of position, and they were a treat to watch.  Now we even have taller, more talented players all around.  Pretty sad after four weeks if we hear anyone blame Otule's absense for a loss.

[avid1010]

Sorry to be harsh, but every team loses players due to injury. Good teams respond and overcompensate. Mediocre teams whine and play poorly. Look at the St. Louis Cardinals in baseball. They lost Albert Pujos for a month and were still World Champions (and we'll find out how well they can fare forever without Pujos next year)

Let's face it, we may be without Chris for a long time, possibly the rest of the year. Yeah, we may not match up as well against Festus Ezeli, but we have to carry on. Period.

I'm reminded of what happened to us in 1972 when Jim Chones left for the NBA late in the season. The next game out, Dick Vitale and the Detroit Titans handed us our backsides 70-49. We never recovered and made a quick exit from the Mideast Regional.

Here's hoping that does not happen this year.

That's a ridiculous statement.  I understand that CO isn't Michael Jordan, but MJ played on the best teams ever, when he was gone they sucked.  So by your logic they weren't a good team?  There's a ton of reasons why MU is struggling, but injuries can kill and have killed good teams when they strike a star or in an area where a team is thin. 

[rocky_warrior]

There's a ton of reasons why MU is struggling, but injuries can kill and have killed good teams when they strike a star or in an area where a team is thin. 

That might be the first, and last time anyone ever refers to Gardner as being thin 

[tower912]

Agree.  Hell, it happened two years ago - Otule was lost for the season.  We had the "midgets" in the backcourt and a 6'5" center, but that team toughed it out, sucked it up, many played out of position, and they were a treat to watch.  Now we even have taller, more talented players all around.  Pretty sad after four weeks if we hear anyone blame Otule's absense for a loss.

The top 6 could all put it on the floor, beat their man off of the dribble, get into the lane, and shoot the 3.    Other than DJO and Mayo, please list the players on our team that can do that?   Jae and Jamil are not creating mismatches, they are getting dominated down low and their defender does not have to worry about getting beat off of the dribble.   DWilson, Junior, and Blue aren't going to get in the lane, pass opposite to a 3 pt shooter, pop out to the top, get a return pass, go into the lane again and dish to an even more open 3 pt shooter.     This is a team with traditionals.    Unfortunately we have a pair of traditional 3's and a traditional 15 MPG 6th man big rotating between the 4 and 5 right now.      And everyone accepted the fact we were giving up a high shooting percentage, because we were hitting an insane percentage of 3's.   And we forced other people to adapt to us.    This team is not making anyone adapt to it.  I still have high hopes, but brewcity77 is beginning to look like a freaking psychic.   The whole defense and subbing pattern is messed up without Chris.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Agree.  Hell, it happened two years ago - Otule was lost for the season.  We had the "midgets" in the backcourt and a 6'5" center, but that team toughed it out, sucked it up, many played out of position, and they were a treat to watch.  Now we even have taller, more talented players all around.  Pretty sad after four weeks if we hear anyone blame Otule's absense for a loss.

That team also started out 2-5 in the Big East with a loss to DePaul. They looked horrible for quite some time before it clicked. People were convinced that was an NIT team as late as February.

[avid1010]

Pretty sad after four weeks if we hear anyone blame Otule's absense for a loss.

I don't think blame is the word...I think it makes it more difficult for MU to win.  I don't believe he's worth 20 pts to MU, but a healthy Otule would change the point spread on any given day.  That's just the reality. 

[Earl Tatum]

We miss Otule. Thought DG was better than that. Had enough of the same mistakes from JC,  and DJO. With our current roster, Juan, and DW should be given a chance. Vander just can't shoot but I think as a PG or defender, not to bad. Think let Jamil and JJ start and
see what they can do. Hopefully JJ can help us. Thought Jamil would open up offensively more than he has.  Let these guys get into the flow. So that leaves Mayo and Crowder.  Like Sultan says lack of a quality big and and PG has or is killing us.

[77ncaachamps]

Were gonna need Jamil to step up more than ever: to play his height, to play bigger than he would underneath, to sheriff the paint.

Unfortunately, he loves the outside game.

[bilsu]

You have to realize that Gardner's game is an offensive game where he can dominate if the opposing center is not both big and athletic. He is in trouble defensively against any opposing team center that wants to be agressive on offense. Gardner's defense is basically holding his position and hoping to get the rebound on a miss. He is not going to rotate quickly or block a shot. Any center that can run the floor is going to make Gardner look foolish. Gardner has to be in position before the other player gets the ball or he is toast. Gardner can play well against a team like Wisconsin, because UW does not want to play fast. That allows Gardner to get down the floor and get into position. 

[MU82]

Excellent observations, bilsu.

All those who seemed ready to proclaim Gardner a stud in the making were guilty of extremely wishful thinking. And those who thought he actually should be starting ahead of Otule ... well, I won't even go there.

Doesn't mean Gardner can't play better than he has lately. We sure need him to!

[Stretchdeltsig]

Shocked to read the comment that Buzz said that Gardner was not prepared to play the game.  What does that mean?  The coach is responsible to have every player ready to play.  Buzz is responsible for every player on this roster.  He has hand picked this team and must live and die with them.

[Dawson Rental]

"It was the most one-sided loss at the Bradley Center since an 86-63 defeat to UAC on Feb. 2, 2005."

Who the hell is UAC???

Utah Association of Counties?

Maybe he meant User Account Control, I could understand that, they give me lots of trouble too.

[strotty]

Shocked to read the comment that Buzz said that Gardner was not prepared to play the game.  What does that mean?  The coach is responsible to have every player ready to play.  Buzz is responsible for every player on this roster.  He has hand picked this team and must live and die with them.

Buzz didn't say that.

[Murffieus 1]

The only way we miss Otule is on the depth chart. Without Otule Gardner has to be prepared and ready to play 25-30 mpg.

When gardner sits for a rest-----J Wilson needs to be our co-#4 with Crowder also playing a 4.
Defensively however crowder has to guard the opposition center.

MU has seldom had trouble containing centers as it has a great double down scheme as was evidenced vs Valpo-----Crowder guarded him, but got help on the double down with the result that Exeli had six (6) TOs and took two (2) off balanced shots off the postup.

[tower912]

We haven't played Valpo in years.