Gardner

[UticaBusBarn]

Though this blog has a tendency to dwell, if not be compulsive, on individual players, basketball is a team sport. It is all about how the pieces fit together.

So the question is not who is "better", Otule or Gardner. But, rather, how does the team work together, and in what rotation.

During the last two years, Coach Williams, after some trial and error, has had the Warriors playing as a team, and with his rotation set, by half-way through the BE schedule.

This year, even with the injury to Otule, Coach Williams had it figured out by the Georgetown game. Said in another way, Coach Williams re-set his team, got the rotation right, made the necessary technical corrections.

The easy part is getting the talented players. The hard part is making them play to their potential as a team.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Bingo - Yet we have people trying to say Gardner simply performed well last night because he was facing a 6'8 Achiuwa....Gardner has been extremely productive no matter the competition - fared very well against Duke's Plumlees, Zeller from UNC...always shows up in big games (unlike his detractors favorite - Vander - who tends to disappear against top competition).  BTW - Achiwua is no midget..he's built pretty darn well..and is a very athletic 6'8" - would have loved to have him in an MU uniform...

C'mon, Ners. Do your posts have to be inflammatory? Was the shot at Vander necessary?

DG is a good player, and you've been a vocal fan. That's awesome. Seriously, you called it.

On the season, the guy is averaging 9.5 and 5.5 which is great, and better than expected... but let's not get carried away with the self congratulations.

[Wade for President]

I've never seen a player at Marquette with his kind of size that could make so many contested shots. Whether he's in position, off-balance, or ducking under his defender and going up with it, he simply finds ways to put the ball in the hoop.

Amen.  It's uncanny how high his shooting percentage is around the hoop...especially for a guy who has less than 4 dunks in his two years on campus. 

[Stretchdeltsig]

In shoes.  He and Jamil Wilson next to each other look about the same heigh


Agree, Wilson definitely looks as tall as Gardner.  Both are 6'8".

[AZWarrior]

I give a lot of credit to DG (and  Todd) as as he went down 30 lbs and reduced his body fat index from 20% to 10%, frosh to soph.  I'm glad he's on the team and expect him to be an absolute beast his Jr and Sr years.

[Henry Sugar]

I give a lot of credit to DG (and  Todd) as as he went down 30 lbs and reduced his body fat index from 20% to 10%, frosh to soph.  I'm glad he's on the team and expect him to be an absolute beast his Jr and Sr years.

There is no way his body fat percentage is 10%. 

[AZWarrior]

Then the article I read was mistaken.

No way he ran the court, received a pass and then dunked last year, though.

edit:  (I was mistaken about the quantity of weight loss)

Gardner says he has lost between 10 and 15 pounds. He is listed this season at 290 pounds. More important, Gardner's body fat has dropped from 20% to about 10%.

http://m.jsonline.com/more/sports/goldeneagles/135839968.htm

[Hards Alumni]

DG is exciting offensively, but it's tough to be really high on a center that plays D with his hands instead of his feet.

This is exactly what I mean.

[Aughnanure]

DG is exciting offensively, but it's tough to be really high on a center that plays D with his hands instead of his feet.

Well aren't we being a little picky about our Marquette centers.

[Dr. Blackheart]

There is no way his body fat percentage is 10%. 

Or that it was 20% freshman year.   

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

Different player athletically this year.....posterized!

[Lennys Tap]

DG is exciting offensively, but it's tough to be really high on a center that plays D with his hands instead of his feet.

As opposed to other centers in recent MU history who might have a better chance catching a pass or shooting the ball with their feet.

[mviale]

Agree completely.  Wilson has been hurt as much by Otule's injury as anyone.  I think the argument is silly, MU is far better with both Otule and Gardner.  FAR better.

Of course would love to have another 6'10" 15 minute player, but I see the glass half full and see more upside with Wilson and Gardner. 

[GGGG]

But the problem is that you want Wilson at this point to soley be the forward option behind Blue and Jae since that is where he will be playing, and presumably starting, next year.  JFB got to do that with Lazar...Jae got to do that with JFB...Wilson isn't getting that chance.  I hope it doesn't hurt his development for next year.

[MattyWarrior]

I wish he'd teach the rest of the guys how to finish around the basket. He seems to really know what he wants to do and can do.

[GGGG]

The guy is so natural at using his body to post, seal, and keep defenders away.  Honestly, a result of a lot of hard work, good coaching and natural talent. 

[We R Final Four]

I heard homer say that DG's goal is to always get the and one.  He shoots every shot preparing to get fouled. He is becoming an expert at it.

[Henry Sugar]

My new favorite nickname for Gardner comes from McIlvaine's TV announcing during the UWM game.  He said Davante was an artist under the hoop.  I've been calling him the Artist, mostly because I like the paradox of calling a 6'8 280# guy "Artist".

[Dr. Blackheart]

I love watching MU games with friends unfamiliar with the roster....first comment is always:  "Who is the fat guy, he could be good if he lost 30 pounds."  I then tell them he just lost 30, and they go "oh".  The Sheeshanator is full of surprises every game, doing things fans didn't think possible.  Have to say, on every dunk, fans just become breathless as it never seemed in the realm of possibilities to most...and I think that unexpected part of his game makes him tough to defend because teams don't think he can do the athletic stuff.

[Sir Lawrence]

My new favorite nickname for Gardner comes from McIlvaine's TV announcing during the UWM game.  He said Davante was an artist under the hoop.  I've been calling him the Artist, mostly because I like the paradox of calling a 6'8 280# guy "Artist".

Because he "draws" the foul?

[ringout]

As mentioned before, Davante Gardner seems to be the reincarnation of Wes Unseld. This is being noted for those who might actually recall the nature of the game played, and the skill set, of Mr. Unseld.

When we were kids, our Wes Unseld imitation involved using your butt as a battering ram to move defenders out of the way.

[Silkk the Shaka]

My new favorite nickname for Gardner comes from McIlvaine's TV announcing during the UWM game.  He said Davante was an artist under the hoop.  I've been calling him the Artist, mostly because I like the paradox of calling a 6'8 280# guy "Artist".

Plus his name sounds like a classic painter. Davante could be the fifth ninja turtle.

[MUMac]

Because he "draws" the foul?

I was at the game and did not hear Mac use the phrase.  Presumably, though, to me, it would be for his work in the paint.

[brewcity77]

I heard homer say that DG's goal is to always get the and one.  He shoots every shot preparing to get fouled. He is becoming an expert at it.

Man, wish I had heard that before writing my CS post this morning. I took an in-depth look at DG's effectiveness on the offensive end, and his biggest problem against bigger teams is getting to the line. If he can translate what he did against St. John's (and earlier against Ole Miss -- yowza  ) into what he does against Seton Hall, UConn, West Virginia, Villanova, and GTown, our upside is very, very high.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Gardner is a highly gifted player.  I think we're seeing his talent come out with his better conditioning.  Don't think even Gardner knows how good he really is.  If he keeps working at his conditioning, he will be a dominant player for MU.