Expectations for 2012-2013

[jsglow]

Lockett really improves next year's team and gives us offense we didn't have.  We already looked very good defensively.  I'm going to peg us as 4th-6th in the BEast and a one game winner (round of 32) in the NCAA.  But a great March could certainly propel this team to a third consecutive Sweet 16.   The good news is that we'll call that a 'rebuilding year' long forgetting the horrors of Mike Deane or Bob Dukiet basketball when an NIT bid would have been welcome in many years.

[bilsu]

I think we will be better than last year's injured team. The one that played in the NCAA tournament without Otule and a Gardner that could not jump with his bad knee. We will not be as good as last year's team, if it had no injuries. The NCAA is a crapshoot as to how far a team goes. We could be a better team, but lose in the first round. We could be a team not as good and get to great 8. I think Lockett starts at small forward, which makes me feel very optimistic. Blue is not big enough to play the three in the Big
East. Blue and Mayo will fight for DJO's spot. As for Cadougan being pressed, he had trouble when the other team could press him and fill the lanes with long quick players, which resulted in him having passes stolen. Assuming Blue starts at the two, he is a better ball handler than DJO and Lockett also can handle the ball, which will take a lot of pressure off Cadougan.

[jsglow]

I'm excited about the suffocating trap defense that DWil, Mayo, Blue, Lockett and JWil can terrify opponents with.  Picture the ball jetting down court in about 2 seconds after a steal to a tomahawk (get the Warrior reference?)  thunderdunk!

(And if the Heat are in town the next night, more DWade photo ops.)

How long to hoops season? 

[AZWarrior]

Maybe, but if both our 5s stayed healthy last year then Jamil plays far less and is far less assertive when he is on the court.  You could see how much he progressed throughout the season.  He got more and more comfortable every single game after OTule got hurt, and especially after Gardner went down.  The experience, even if it was at the 5, was invaluable to Jamil's growth as a player.

In retrospect, regarding Jamil, good logic and valid points - you're right on. 

I stand erected....   

[MUfan12]

Three point shooting and rebounding are still a concern, though Lockett will help. Jae just did so much for that team last year, they were reliant on him. Sometimes that void can be filled by committee, I'm just not sure that the returning group can do it.

I will feel a lot better about next year if there's no more 5PM Friday press releases between now and the end of the month.

[Blackhat]

I expect buzz to work his azz off this year to make these guys good, in hopes of landing an equivalent or better job so he can hot foot it from "ivy" Larry and pilarz next off season.

[BM1090]

I expect buzz to work his azz off this year to make these guys good, in hopes of landing an equivalent or better job so he can hot foot it from "ivy" Larry and pilarz next off season.

I think Buzz will leave in a few years but to do it next year would be dumb. The 2013-14 team will be stacked

[Dawson Rental]

don't we have to hedge our bets with the forthcoming Hiroshima / Chernobyl...

Are you familiar with the term: broken record?

[DomJamesToTheBasket]

I think Buzz will leave in a few years but to do it next year would be dumb. The 2013-14 team will be stacked

I also believe he'll stay for at least the stacked season.....then again,  TC left when the Amigos were seniors,  but I just really doubt Buzz wouldn't want to do some steamrolling with that roster.

[Hards Alumni]

I think a lot of people are getting ahead of themselves here.

We are losing Jae Crowder.  BEAST POY.  We won't be replacing his double double every night. 

While we do have a lot of young guys with another year under their belts... what have we really seen from them?  Blue can play basketball really well... except for getting the ball in the cylinder.  Cadougan was totally disappointing last year.  Jamil Wilson looked better every game, but we aren't quite sure what he can do when he is back in his natural wing position.  Otule is what he is; a big shot altering guy who can't rebound that well and can't pass/take a pass.  Gardner is what he is as well; a sneaky good offensive forward with an insanely fast release... who can't play a lick of defense.  Mayo can shoot, but he needs to be consistent.  Juan Anderson is a mostly unknown but hopefully he can have a shot playing his natural position.  People who say we have a more 'balanced' scoring team really mean that we don't have a guy who can take over the game.

While there are a lot of things about MU's game that I am bullish about, I think we need to temper our expectations.

I'm going with 6th in the BEAST, a 7 seed in the tourney and out in the first round next year.  Our best player will be Vander Blue, but he won't be our leading scorer.

[MU B2002]

I think we will finish around 24-9   +/-5


A pretty broad spectrum yes, but we have some BIG unanswered questions.

[Lennys Tap]

If everyone returns and we're healthy, (two big ifs, I know), I think we'll be very solid. In the backcourt we lose DJO and gain Lockett. In the frontcourt we lose Crowder and gain Otule. I see the former as a slight dropoff, the latter a decided one. On the plus side, a year of added experience for Blue, Junior, Jamil, Gardner and Mayo. Assuming improvement from these five makes our top 7 close to last year's. Any real help from the rest of the roster could mean we're even slightly better, especially by the end of the season.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

MU should be deeper, but not as much talent at the top.

I expect inconsistency early in the year, and hopefully they will improve a lot as the year goes on.

[LAZER]

While there are a lot of things about MU's game that I am bullish about, I think we need to temper our expectations.

I'm going with 6th in the BEAST, a 7 seed in the tourney and out in the first round next year.  Our best player will be Vander Blue, but he won't be our leading scorer.

I agree with your outlook, except I'd replace Vander with Jamil.  I think Wilson has a really nice year, his numbers will probably be great too, maybe a little inflated.

[madtownwarrior]

99% of the topics on this site are a broken record (kind of like the same 6 plots on the 10 seasons of Deadliest Catch):

Here are the topics:

1)  Crean is a douche / no we should be thankful for Crean
2)  Bo is evil & Badgers are slow-tempo'd  / no they are well coached and a model program
3)  MU can never replace their departing senior class (for the past 6 seasons)
4)  Hoopaloop is Chicos
5)  Vander is not liked or not living up to expectations

and recent entries:
1) Pilarz and Willimas are driving Buzz out
2) Pliarz and Williams are raising the academic standard resulting into Hiroshima

The next insightful post that is not one of these topics should win a prize...

Are you familiar with the term: broken record?

[Bocephys]

99% of the topics on this site are a broken record (kind of like the same 6 plots on the 10 seasons of Deadliest Catch):

Here are the topics:

1)  Crean is a douche / no we should be thankful for Crean
2)  Bo is evil & Badgers are slow-tempo'd  / no they are well coached and a model program
3)  MU can never replace their departing senior class (for the past 6 seasons)
4)  Hoopaloop is Chicos
5)  Vander is not liked or not living up to expectations

and recent entries:
1) Pilarz and Willimas are driving Buzz out
2) Pliarz and Williams are raising the academic standard resulting into Hiroshima

The next insightful post that is not one of these topics should win a prize...

The next post from you that isn't just mindless whining should win a prize... 

It's the off-season, topics will be repeated often.

[lab_warrior]

I expect buzz to work his azz off this year to make these guys good, in hopes of landing an equivalent or better job so he can hot foot it from "ivy" Larry and pilarz next off season. compete at a high level in the Big East, get to and win games in the NCAA tournament, and go out and get a couple big time recruits for the 2013 class.

Fixed... I mean, de-broken-recorded.

[RushmoreAcademy]

Lockett will be our best player.  Lock it.

I hope you're right Wade.
Actually, I don't, in the fact that I hope someone steps up and plays out of their mind, but Lockett exceeding my expectations would make me thrilled.

[Blackhat]

Fixed... I mean, de-broken-recorded.

You can never have enough cow bell, toots.

[MU82]

Expectations? Championship, my friend. And dat's with mini-Buzz coaching da team.

[Canadian Dimes]

Top 15, best defensive team in at least 15 years

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Top 15, best defensive team in at least 15 years

That's a good point.

You might see them just wear some teams out.

It will be interesting to see if they have a significant advantage in the last 10min. of games given their depth and defense prowess.

[PGsHeroes32]

Top 15, best defensive team in at least 15 years

This is another reason why 2013-2014 looks to be real juicy....

Were only losing Cadougan who lets be honest is not a huge piece in making up that "best defensive team"

So that whole defense will be back again, with a year of experience and more talent.

[Silkk the Shaka]

This is another reason why 2013-2014 looks to be real juicy....

We're only losing Cadougan who lets be honest is not a huge piece in making up that "best defensive team"

So that whole defense will be back again, with a year of experience and more talent.

And Lockett