Pitt game thread

[Mutaman]

For the Vander bashers.

Blue did not play since the 13 minute mark until the last few seconds.  He had no points and three turnovers.  MU went on the run with Mayo.
I always liked the kid and his hustle, but maybe Buzz is seeing that might not be working out.  He needs to step it up real soon.  Come on Vander. 

Isn't this season going exactly the same as last year for him?

[DCWarriors04]

FYI 7 pts and 6 boards would be a career day by another center.  That was a bad game for DG

Not Gardner's best game, but it was obvious early in the game that Pitt was going to try and take him out of the game. Early on we looked sloppy and lost. As the game progressed it looked like we did a great job of adjusting and using that determination to not let Gardener beat them to open up the game from the outside.

[ErickJD08]

For the Vander bashers.

Blue did not play since the 13 minute mark until the last few seconds.  He had no points and three turnovers.  MU went on the run with Mayo.
I always liked the kid and his hustle, but maybe Buzz is seeing that might not be working out.  He needs to step it up real soon.  Come on Vander. 

I would say the Vander bashers are realists. The guy has no offensive game. A kid who can simply play defensive and bring up the ball should be coming off the bench. There is always next year Blue. Until he learns how to finish and make better decisions, he will be a marginal player.

[GGGG]

I would say the Vander bashers are realists. The guy has no offensive game. A kid who can simply play defensive and bring up the ball should be coming off the bench. There is always next year Blue. Until he learns how to finish and make better decisions, he will be a marginal player.

He had good games against Syracuse and St. Johns.  Today he clearly was awful.

I realize that you believe the only way a basketball player can impact a game is by scoring, but it is more than that.

[Boone]

Great performance by JR. Blue, on the other hand...

[ErickJD08]

He had good games against Syracuse and St. Johns.  Today he clearly was awful.

I realize that you believe the only way a basketball player can impact a game is by scoring, but it is more than that.

The funny thing about this is what was the difference between this game and St johns. Really nothing except he played fewer minutes and thus his stats went down. He frequently makes the same bad decisions and frequently misses easy shots. Today, he had 3 TOs and he missed a easy layup. Its the basically the same thing game in and game out.

[GGGG]

The funny thing about this is what was the difference between this game and St johns. Really nothing except he played fewer minutes and thus his stats went down. He frequently makes the same bad decisions and frequently misses easy shots. Today, he had 3 TOs and he missed a easy layup. Its the basically the same thing game in and game out.

It's like you are trying to prove my point.  He was fantastic defensively against St. Johns and had five assists.  Again, focus on something more than scoring. 

And believe me, I know, he was HORRID today.  There was absolutely nothing positive he did today.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

Geez lighten up on VB. We're going to need him against L-Ville.  He's a young kid and could use some positive motivation, not all this negativity. (Channeling Donald Sutherland from Kelly's Heroes here!)

[ErickJD08]

It's like you are trying to prove my point.  He was fantastic defensively against St. Johns and had five assists.  Again, focus on something more than scoring. 

And believe me, I know, he was HORRID today.  There was absolutely nothing positive he did today.

Did Mayo have a great game?

[GGGG]

Did Mayo have a great game?

He had a very good game.  9 pts, 7 rebs, 2 assts.  He struggled defensively but had a tough assignment that should have gone to Blue if he didn't have his head up his ass.  Why do you ask?

[tower912]

Mayo played well.   Vander didn't.   Gardner didn't.   We need to play somebody.   Going only 7 deep today and probably for the foreseeable future, we don't have a lot of options other than to keep running the 7 we have out there.  

[ATL MU Warrior]

FYI 7 pts and 6 boards would be a career day by another center.  That was a bad game for DG

Huh?  This is totally uninformed.

[ErickJD08]

He had a very good game.  9 pts, 7 rebs, 2 assts.  He struggled defensively but had a tough assignment that should have gone to Blue if he didn't have his head up his ass.  Why do you ask?

For me, Mayo had a great game for a freshmen. Removing the names from the jerseys, I thought he had an average game. He made some bad decisions and missed some open shots but made some plays too. Took a couple of charges (which actually nullified his turnovers).

Mayo had rebounds. He played decent defense. He had points. Mayo should be playing over Blue. That is the point. The huge upgrade in offense that you get with Mayo outweighs the slight downgrade in defense. I think maybe today's game is a sign of things to come.

[tower912]

7 man rotation, 200 minutes.    Taking foul trouble out of the equation, I expect that both Blue and Mayo will play 26-28 mpg going forward.   So why bag on the guy?

[GGGG]

For me, Mayo had a great game for a freshmen. Removing the names from the jerseys, I thought he had an average game. He made some bad decisions and missed some open shots but made some plays too. Took a couple of charges (which actually nullified his turnovers).

Mayo had rebounds. He played decent defense. He had points. Mayo should be playing over Blue. That is the point. The huge upgrade in offense that you get with Mayo outweighs the slight downgrade in defense. I think maybe today's game is a sign of things to come.

That would be fine with me.  Who starts has never really mattered to me as much as who plays. 

7 man rotation, 200 minutes.    Taking foul trouble out of the equation, I expect that both Blue and Mayo will play 26-28 mpg going forward.   So why bag on the guy?

Yeah, the depth of this team has proven not to actually be there.  With Otule hurt, and three DNPs, there isn't much leeway.

[tower912]

Juan, JJ, and DWil helped us tread water against St. John's.   I have a feeling going forward that unless there is foul trouble or a specific matchup opportunity, we will not be seeing them do much other than cheer.    Buzz has a history of shortening his bench.    Man, we miss CO.

[ErickJD08]

7 man rotation, 200 minutes.    Taking foul trouble out of the equation, I expect that both Blue and Mayo will play 26-28 mpg going forward.   So why bag on the guy?

Maybe it's because I am not from wisconsin or something. I don't put him on a pedestal. He is like any other player. And I am just trying to be realistic about his play.  If he puts up 6 point, 4 boards, 2 assists, and 2 TOs, people claim he had a solid game even though he might go, 1-4 FG and 2-4FT and he missed two layups. This is a poor game IMO.

Why bag on the guy? It's my opinion. His board isn't simply here so that MU fan can $hit rainbows. I just hope Blue get downgraded a bit and becomes a pure backup point this year. Maybe another summer in the gym will do the trick.

[JTBMU7]

Juan, JJ, and DWil helped us tread water against St. John's.   I have a feeling going forward that unless there is foul trouble or a specific matchup opportunity, we will not be seeing them do much other than cheer.    Buzz has a history of shortening his bench.    Man, we miss CO.

I think almost all coaches shorten their bench as the season progresses, it just makes sense as most teams only have 5-7 guys who can honestly contribute. teams like Cuse, with 10 high level guys, are the extreme exception.
Buzz is notorious for tinkering with this all the way through the year, so i wouldnt count out any one of our 3 cheerleaders growing into some type of back up role like EWill did last year.

[jmayer1]

Why bag on the guy? It's my opinion. His board isn't simply here so that MU fan can $hit rainbows. I just hope Blue get downgraded a bit and becomes a pure backup point this year. Maybe another summer in the gym will do the trick.

We get it, you don't think Blue is very good. Do you really need to post about it time after time after time after time? Some people don't think he is as bad as you do and no amount of posts are going to change anybody's opinion.

[tower912]

Maybe it's because I am not from wisconsin or something. I don't put him on a pedestal. He is like any other player. And I am just trying to be realistic about his play.  If he puts up 6 point, 4 boards, 2 assists, and 2 TOs, people claim he had a solid game even though he might go, 1-4 FG and 2-4FT and he missed two layups. This is a poor game IMO.

Why bag on the guy? It's my opinion. His board isn't simply here so that MU fan can $hit rainbows. I just hope Blue get downgraded a bit and becomes a pure backup point this year. Maybe another summer in the gym will do the trick.

I'm not from Wisconsin, either.   I see him as another young player who is a work in progress.    Like JJ.   Like DG.   Who also stunk today.   But we need him, so I am not going to crap on him.   

[MU B2002]

Did everybody know Mike Kelley is a former University of Wisconsin?  It was like that phrase was sponsoring today's broadcast.

[MUMac]

Was at the game and just reading this thread for the 1st time.  A couple of comments:

1. Some questioned why Buzz did not challenge the 3 call on the foul.  He was complaining about it and trying to get the officials to correct it.  One official turned and motioned with his hands that he was a foot beyond the arc.  Buzz did not push it after that.

2.  The time out late in the shot clock.  DG was blocking DJO's way to the basket.  There was 10 seconds on the clock.  DJO dribbled in space for 3 seconds.  Buzz starts to call a TO.  The officials make the call 2 seconds later, when DJO makes his move.  Can't fault Buzz.  At the time he was making the call, it seemed like all MU would get is a long, contested 3 attempt.  DJO got free after Buzz started to signal TO.

[AZWarrior]

Geez lighten up on VB. We're going to need him against L-Ville.  He's a young kid and could use some positive motivation, not all this negativity. (Channeling Donald Sutherland from Kelly's Heroes here!)

Positive waves, Moriarty.  Positive waves.

I expect Blue will realize must dedicate himself to redesigning his jump shot.  Given his physical skills, it's realistic he can accomplish this over the off season and become an offensive force his junior and senior years.