Gardner and Durley

[tower912]

When we signed DG, he was a 320 lb two-star big.   There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth and rending of garments.   He has made great strides since CO got hurt.     Ponder how far he has come since he was signed for a few seconds before you make disparaging remarks about Durley.    I am looking forward to the same kind of development from Aaron. 

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

Gardner had a ton of skill when he came to campus....much more skill than Durley.  Developing Durley will be totally different.

[brewcity77]

Honestly, both are coming in as projects. Nobody expected Gardner to contribute much as a freshman, certainly not as much as he did, and I don't think anyone expected him to be doing what he's done this quickly. He put up numbers in Virginia, but it's not exactly a hotbed, and he was a 2-3 star depending on the service. Durley hasn't done much in HS, but put up some decent AAU numbers on a team with Ridley. He impressed enough to garner other high-major interest and offers.

Let's at least see him on the court before we ride him out of town.

[Jacks DC]

Gardner was not highly recruited and has developed into a very solid player.  But Durley could just as easily be the next Roseboro or Mbao.  Hopefully he will be a contributor but I'm not holding my breath.

[ATL MU Warrior]

We need front court depth in the worst way.  Barring a serious injury, he won't be needed for two years so he's got plenty of time to develop and work on his game.  If there is an injury to Otule or Gardner, he can play spot minutes here and there while the other big guy gets a rest.  I don't see the down side. 

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

They couldn't be more dissimilar in terms of production on the HS level.  DG is the most skilled incoming post since Key and was described as the best shooter on his team by his coach.  What he accomplished on the HS level cannot be compared to Durley.

His junior year was momentous as it culminated in a state title for King's Fork. Davante was selected as a second-team all-stater.
However, it was his senior year when Davante blossomed. He surpassed the 1,000 career point mark early in the season and became the third King's Fork player to do so. He led his King's Fork basketball team to a 24-3 record. It was the Bulldogs' second straight undefeated season through the Southeastern District, third consecutive district tourney title, and fourth straight year reaching the Eastern Region Tournament.

While averaging 23 points (led all South Hampton Roads Group AAA players), 13 rebounds and two blocks per game as a senior, he finished his three-year varsity career with 1,431 points and 992 rebounds.

Davante piled up multiple accolades during his senior campaign:
Associated Press (Virginia) Group AAA boys basketball first team
VHSCA (Virginia High School Coaches Association) Group AAA All-State Team (top center in the state)
First-team All-Eastern Region
First-team All-Southeastern District

[CTWarrior]

Don't know about stars and all that, and we probably didn;t expect too much from Gardner because of how he was rated, but it was obvious he was highly skilled from the first time he stepped on the floor.  Great hands and balance and post moves.  Lack of recruiting stars obviously was because he was too heavy and lacks athleticism.  Much different kind of player from a project guy who is big and may be athletic but lacks basketball skills.  Sometimes the basketball skills never come.  Having never seen Durley, will reserve judgement until I see him.  Don't think Buzz would make as big a reach as he did for Mbao at this point.

[Lennys Tap]

Davate = All State, extremely skilled big whose conditioning was sub par.

Durley = big ? who hardly ever plays on his high school team. I'm aware he plays behind Cameron Ridley, but if he had Gardner's game he wouldn't be pulling splinters out of his backside with DNP-coaches decision next to his name in the boxscore.

[bilsu]

Gardner had a ton of skill when he came to campus....much more skill than Durley.  Developing Durley will be totally different.

I think Durley is more in the mode of Otule. I would think Otule was ranked lower than Gardner coming out of high school. Durley, if he works hard, will develope. He has two years before we need significant contribution from him

[wadesworld]

Sounds like DomJames has seen Durley multiple times. Would love a scouting report on him. Thanks in advance.

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

Sounds like DomJames has seen Durley multiple times. Would love a scouting report on him. Thanks in advance.

He is a bad comparison with Gardner.....no scouting report necessary.  Comparing his development with Otule has a lot more merit.  DG & Durley are apples to oranges.  I thought that was obvious.

[brewcity77]

Davate = All State, extremely skilled big whose conditioning was sub par.

Durley = big ? who hardly ever plays on his high school team. I'm aware he plays behind Cameron Ridley, but if he had Gardner's game he wouldn't be pulling splinters out of his backside with DNP-coaches decision next to his name in the boxscore.

If Cameron Ridley suddenly committed to Marquette, he would probably be getting 25-30 mpg at the 5 pretty much right off the bat. Durley would be pulling splinters out of his backside next year, but he'd have help from CO and Gardner due to the extra time they'd have over by the bench while Ridley took their minutes.

[Real Chilly Podcast]

one positive thing about Durley's development is that he has been a big kid for a long time... he's not some lanky guy that grew 7 inches in two years.  because of this, he is likely to be relatively agile and know how to use and balance his size (and maybe less prone to injury???).  I don't expect his hands or feet to be as good as Davante's but I believe he will physically be ahead of Otule's curve

[🏀]

Yeah. Gardner would look good playing when Nunnery has Dudley's scholarship.

[Lennys Tap]

If Cameron Ridley suddenly committed to Marquette, he would probably be getting 25-30 mpg at the 5 pretty much right off the bat. Durley would be pulling splinters out of his backside next year, but he'd have help from CO and Gardner due to the extra time they'd have over by the bench while Ridley took their minutes.

You may be right about how good Ridley is, Brew. I don't know, I've never seen him play. But being a backup is one thing. Having a bunch of DNP-Coaches Decision is another. I'm wary of that - if a high school coach can't find anything but garbage minutes for a guy with a full ride to a Big East team either the coach is bad or the kid is, at best, a major, major project.

[4everwarriors]

Why don't we compare Gardner to Chones?

[brewcity77]

You may be right about how good Ridley is, Brew. I don't know, I've never seen him play. But being a backup is one thing. Having a bunch of DNP-Coaches Decision is another. I'm wary of that - if a high school coach can't find anything but garbage minutes for a guy with a full ride to a Big East team either the coach is bad or the kid is, at best, a major, major project.

I have no idea where Durley is at, but I'm amazed at how many people are overlooking his AAU productivity. Let's be honest, AAU is probably more important these days than HS ball is. I also don't know why Ridley gets virtually every HS minute and Durley gets DNPs. Maybe his coach is hoping that Ridley will be his eventual meal ticket to bigger jobs or training opportunities.

What I do know is that Durley was a very solid backup for Ridley and spot starter for
the same AAU team (Houston Hoopst*rs), and Buzz and company seem to be good evaluators of talent. Sure, some big projects haven't worked out (Roseboro, Mbao), but some have (Otule, DG). I think it's worth the flier, especially since guys like Frank Martin and Sean Miller were also at least showing interest.

Worst case scenario, he can't cut the Big East and transfers after a year or two. But I'd rather find out in person if ge can make the grade...who knows, maybe he's another Otule with a shorter learning curve. An maybe he could be even better than that. I just don't think we have enough 6'10"+ guys to turn our noses up at the ones that do commit.

[Markusquette]

I have no idea where Durley is at, but I'm amazed at how many people are overlooking his AAU productivity. Let's be honest, AAU is probably more important these days than HS ball is. I also don't know why Ridley gets virtually every HS minute and Durley gets DNPs. Maybe his coach is hoping that Ridley will be his eventual meal ticket to bigger jobs or training opportunities.

What I do know is that Durley was a very solid backup for Ridley and spot starter for
the same AAU team (Houston Hoopst*rs), and Buzz and company seem to be good evaluators of talent. Sure, some big projects haven't worked out (Roseboro, Mbao), but some have (Otule, DG). I think it's worth the flier, especially since guys like Frank Martin and Sean Miller were also at least showing interest.

Worst case scenario, he can't cut the Big East and transfers after a year or two. But I'd rather find out in person if ge can make the grade...who knows, maybe he's another Otule with a shorter learning curve. An maybe he could be even better than that. I just don't think we have enough 6'10"+ guys to turn our noses up at the ones that do commit.

True that.  What I'm more amazed about is that it seems everyone acts like they've seen all these recruits play many times when in reality probably very few have seen them play outside of a few youtube highlights.  I've learned to simply wait it out and see what happens, because we all know how many surprises this team has had each year (good and bad). 

[Canadian Dimes]

****Just want to make sure I am clear after reading this thread************

The posters that for years have complained that MU is not signing any bigs are now ...sight unseen... complaining about the bigs that MU has signed?

OK...just wanted to be sure I was following this lunacy accurately.

[ATL MU Warrior]

****Just want to make sure I am clear after reading this thread************

The posters that for years have complained that MU is not signing any bigs are now ...sight unseen... complaining about the bigs that MU has signed?

OK...just wanted to be sure I was following this lunacy accurately.

That about sums it up.

[brewcity77]

****Just want to make sure I am clear after reading this thread************

The posters that for years have complained that MU is not signing any bigs are now ...sight unseen... complaining about the bigs that MU has signed?

OK...just wanted to be sure I was following this lunacy accurately.

+1,000,000

It absolutely amazes me that we have a 6'11", 270-lb center coming in and it honestly sounds like half of the Marquette online world doesn't even want the guy here. Are you kidding me?

Here's what baffles me. The mere thought of Roseboro and Mbao seem to have half of Marquette nation in a tizzy. My question is...what negative effect are they having on the program? Roseboro never suited up for us! Mbao is at Marshall! We gave them a shot, it didn't work, all parties involved moved on. Why is it such a horrible notion that we do the same with Durley? We also gave a shot to Otule and Gardner and both worked out just fine. We gave a shot to JUCO guys like Jimmy Butler and DJO and that seems to have worked out okay as well. We don't lose anything if it doesn't work. But what if Durley develops as well as Otule did? What if he's better than CO? No one here can say he won't be. Let's just be happy that Buzz is getting bigs. I'd rather give a shot to an unheralded big (that is producing at the AAU level) than add another tweener wing player that will be stuck on the bench.

[MUMac]

Gardner had a ton of skill when he came to campus....much more skill than Durley.  Developing Durley will be totally different.

So, since you have seen Durley play, give us some insight.  Strengths, weaknesses, etc.

[GGGG]

****Just want to make sure I am clear after reading this thread************

The posters that for years have complained that MU is not signing any bigs are now ...sight unseen... complaining about the bigs that MU has signed?

OK...just wanted to be sure I was following this lunacy accurately.

Exactly...based on nothing but boxscores.  Showing no faith in the coaching staff that wants to bring him here.

[MUeagle05]

I have no idea where Durley is at, but I'm amazed at how many people are overlooking his AAU productivity.

What is his AAU productivity?  There are several references to the fact that Durley played well in AAU but I've never seen any numbers to back it up.

[Stretchdeltsig]

It's really difficult to understand why we have so much trouble recruiting two or three good big men.  We have to scrap and fight against taller teams every week.  "Other" teams have good big men, why not Marquette?  And, when we do recruit a big man he's not on the charts.

It's also hard to understand why Durley doesn't play much on his high school team.  Can understand that he plays behind Ridley, but still, if has talent, he should deserve minutes.  Why didn't he change to a high school that would appreciate his talent and play him?  There are a lot of questions that should be answered.