Todd Mayo

[GGGG]

Honestly, I know he had a big game against Wisconsin, but he has absolutely blossomed the last couple games on both ends of the court.  It seems like the speed of the game has slowed down for him and he isn't just trying to attack at full-speed, but breaking out all sorts of shots and playing within himself.  Furthermore, his defense has improved quite a bit.

Incredible recruiting coup by Buzz.  Second April signing in a row where he has unearthed a gem.  (Gardner the year before.)

[Silkk the Shaka]

Honestly, I know he had a big game against Wisconsin, but he has absolutely blossomed the last couple games on both ends of the court.  It seems like the speed of the game has slowed down for him and he isn't just trying to attack at full-speed, but breaking out all sorts of shots and playing within himself.  Furthermore, his defense has improved quite a bit.

Incredible recruiting coup by Buzz.  Second April signing in a row where he has unearthed a gem.  (Gardner the year before.)

And Crowder, and Jimmy B. It's almost like the best player from every class has been a spring signing.

[dw3dw3dw3]

Another thing about him I like is that he knows when he screws up and Buzz doesn't have to say anything to him. If he shoots too quick or loses his man on D for a layup, you sense he takes it personally and it won't happen again.

[mu89]

He's definitely out there to prove something. It's almost as if he plays with anger, but I love it. Personally, I'd start Mayo over Blue. I'm not a Blue hater, but I feel Mayo brings a lot to the table scoring wise. JC & Blue out there makes me uneasy at times.

[dw3dw3dw3]

Anyone see the defense rebound where he had position on Dieng late in the game. He had him boxed but couldn't have been more than 8 inches in front of the rim, Dieng has at least a foot on him with his reach. Ball comes off the rim and he just exploded straight up to grab the board, out jumping Dieng who was stretched all the way out to get the ball. That was a wow moment for me.

Eventually he's going to time an offensive rebound tip attempt correctly and bring down the house.

[GGGG]

He's definitely out there to prove something. It's almost as if he plays with anger, but I love it. Personally, I'd start Mayo over Blue. I'm not a Blue hater, but I feel Mayo brings a lot to the table scoring wise. JC & Blue out there makes me uneasy at times.

Last two games, Mayo has had more minutes than Blue by a fairly significant margin.  I think Buzz likes to have offense coming off the bench.

[mviale]

The Kids defense is really impressive.  Lock down. 

[nyg]

Last two games, Mayo has had more minutes than Blue by a fairly significant margin.  I think Buzz likes to have offense coming off the bench.

And it will continue.  Last two games MU has made significant runs with Mayo on floor and Blue on bench in second half.  Very nice.

[ErickJD08]

And it will continue.  Last two games MU has made significant runs with Mayo on floor and Blue on bench in second half.  Very nice.

I'm shocked.

[GGGG]

And it will continue.  Last two games MU has made significant runs with Mayo on floor and Blue on bench in second half.  Very nice.

Where can I find the +/- stats for the game?

[MUMac]

Incredible recruiting coup by Buzz.

Ted Baxter is the one who called it.  Many laughed and criticized, but Ted knows basketball and Ted knows MU recruits.

Mayo hit the freshman wall a few weeks back.  Usually lasts 2-3 weeks.  Mayo started coming out of it against Pitt.  Now I look for him to only get better as the season progresses.  He will make 4 real offensive threats that defenses will need to be aware of.

[MU82]

I love having such a nice contributor off the bench, but given the way we have started games, Buzz has to at least consider starting Mayo.

My only quibble against Mayo is that every time he hits a 3, on our very next possession, he takes a bad, rushed jumper. Pretty small quibble, though. We can live with a few freshman mistakes when he brings so much else to the table.

[MerrittsMustache]

Where can I find the +/- stats for the game?

Mayo a game-high +15

http://statsheet.com/mcb/games/2012/01/16/louisville-63-marquette-74

[Marqus Howard]

Mayo a game-high +15

http://statsheet.com/mcb/games/2012/01/16/louisville-63-marquette-74

Mayo was also second against Pitt at +10. Only Junior was higher with +13.

http://statsheet.com/mcb/games/2012/01/14/pittsburgh-57-marquette-62

[fanofTR]

He has sold me totally. Was a skeptic at first but the kid is an all around great player. Maybe, just maybe has a chance at BE Newcomer of the Year. He has been that good on both sides of the court. And like others on here have said and soemthing that I am now just starting to believe, don't be shocked at all if Mayo is not around to celebrate his senior night 4 years down the road. If he works on his PG skills, no doubt about it, he is an NBA player. Another great get by Buzz on the recruiting trail.

[Dawson Rental]

He has sold me totally. Was a skeptic at first but the kid is an all around great player. Maybe, just maybe has a chance at BE Newcomer of the Year. He has been that good on both sides of the court. And like others on here have said and soemthing that I am now just starting to believe, don't be shocked at all if Mayo is not around to celebrate his senior night 4 years down the road. If he works on his PG skills, no doubt about it, he is an NBA player. Another great get by Buzz on the recruiting trail.

As a for instance, Kevin Ware of Louisville was ranked 96th by ESPN, and he played five minutes today and scored one point.    Of course, Chane Behanan also is a freshman and he's averaging 8.4 points and 7.5 rebounds in 24 minutes of play.

[GGGG]

Mayo was also second against Pitt at +10. Only Junior was higher with +13.

http://statsheet.com/mcb/games/2012/01/14/pittsburgh-57-marquette-62

The worst +/- was DJO at 0...and he had 19 points!  And Blue was +7 despite scoring only 2.  And Jamil was 10...while Gardner was 4.

Tells you something about the value of defense.

[Dawson Rental]

The worst +/- was DJO at 0...and he had 19 points!  And Blue was +7 despite scoring only 2.  And Jamil was 10...while Gardner was 4.

Tells you something about the value of defense.

I find it kind of hard to fault DG's defense today.  A 4+ doesn't make him look very good, but if Russ Smith happens to be beating the perimeter defense for three pointers when DG is in the game, how much can you hold him accountable?  I'm not sure that's what happened, but as a for instance.  However, I didn't see Louisville trying to exploit Davante when he was in the game by switching to a post up game.

[Lennys Tap]

The worst +/- was DJO at 0...and he had 19 points!  And Blue was +7 despite scoring only 2.  And Jamil was 10...while Gardner was 4.

Tells you something about the value of defense.

True, but as much as I like +/- it also tells you to beware of coincidence and small samples.

[ATL MU Warrior]

I find it kind of hard to fault DG's defense today.  A 4+ doesn't make him look very good, but if Russ Smith happens to be beating the perimeter defense for three pointers when DG is in the game, how much can you hold him accountable?  I'm not sure that's what happened, but as a for instance.  However, I didn't see Louisville trying to exploit Davante when he was in the game by switching to a post up game.

He was awful trying to guard the pick and roll on at least two occasions.  

[MerrittsMustache]

I give a lot of credit to Buzz. Mayo could obviously score and he was a decent on-ball defender but he struggled with playing off the ball, rotations, etc. In the last 2 games, Buzz has put him on the other team's top perimeter player had him deny the ball and given him no help side responsibilities. Basically, he's responsible for his man and nothing else. There was one point in the first half where he was off the ball, in the jersey of Smith and there was a loose ball rolling about 2 feet behind him. The crowd got on Mayo a little bit for his lack of awareness but he was simply doing his job.

I believe Buzz is doing something similar with Crowder. Jae has been SO out of position SO often recently that I actually think it's by design. Crowder isn't great off the ball and he can't really go down low and D up on guys 4-5" taller than him like Zar and Butler could do. Therefore, Buzz is basically giving him Polamalu-like responsibilities and he's just running wild when MU extends pressure. Sure, he's going to give up an easy one on occasion but he's also going to get a lot of steals, force a lot of TOs and make the other team work for their points. In the past 5 games, Jae has 19 steals. In the previous 14, he had 17 steals. I don't think that's just a quirk. I think that's excellent execution of Buzz's gameplan.

[GGGG]

True, but as much as I like +/- it also tells you to beware of coincidence and small samples.

I do understand that.  But is it a coincidence that DJO was on the floor when UL scored all but two of their points?  While at the same time, MU scored 13?

It is interesting...

[El Duderino]

He's definitely out there to prove something. It's almost as if he plays with anger, but I love it. Personally, I'd start Mayo over Blue. I'm not a Blue hater, but I feel Mayo brings a lot to the table scoring wise. JC & Blue out there makes me uneasy at times.

Given how quickly and often that Buzz subs in/out guys besides DJO and Crowder, i think it's largely irrelevant who starts the game.

In the end, i think it's much more important and telling the amount of minutes each guy plays and who is on the court in crunch time of a close game.

Hell, sometimes Buzz will start subbing in guys within 2-3 minutes after the opening tip. It's not like the NBA where starters will often be out there most of the whole first quarter and will also play 35-40 plus minutes a game. With Buzz, besides DJO and Crowder, the rest of the guys in the rotation sub in and out a lot to varying degrees, to the point that who is technically a starter doesn't really matter much IMO.

[Wade for President]

There was one point in the first half where he was off the ball, in the jersey of Smith and there was a loose ball rolling about 2 feet behind him. The crowd got on Mayo a little bit for his lack of awareness but he was simply doing his job.

Great point (and thanks for helping me understand that situation better).  I was in the camp that wondered how someone could be clueless that a loose ball is hitting him in the back of the leg. That play alone definitely illustrates the intensity of Mayo's face guarding defense.

[esotericmindguy]

True, but as much as I like +/- it also tells you to beware of coincidence and small samples.

Yup, hate the +/- stat.