Draft Express holds steady with Jae going 40th and DJO 42nd in the draft today

[bamamarquettefan]

Also interesting that Kyle O'Quinn of Norfolk State is moving up.  I hear he was initially dropped because he is not really 6-10, but then that his wingspan was something like 7-5 so he is back on the radar.  There are 7 guys projected that we beat this year (give us the total points tie breaker against Gtown), and 7 guys who beat us.  Here is where they are all picked:

The home team
40   Jae Crowder  SF/PF   Marquette, Senior
42   Darius Johnson-Odom  SG   Marquette, Senior

Guys DJO and Crowder beat this year:
2   Andre Drummond  C   Connecticut, Freshman
12   Jeremy Lamb  SG   Connecticut, Sophomore
22   Moe Harkless  SF   St. John's, Freshman
35   Kevin Jones  PF   West Virginia, Senior
57   Hollis Thompson  SF   Georgetown, Junior
59   Henry Sims  PF/C   Georgetown, Senior
47   Kyle O'Quinn  PF/C   Norfolk State, Senior

Guys who beat us this year:
5   Bradley Beal  SG   Florida, Freshman
20   Jeff Taylor  SF   Vanderbilt, Senior
23   Dion Waiters  SG   Syracuse, Sophomore
28   Fab Melo  C   Syracuse, Sophomore
31   Festus Ezeli  C   Vanderbilt, Senior
32   John Jenkins  SG   Vanderbilt, Junior
52   Kris Joseph  SF   Syracuse, Senior

http://www.draftexpress.com/nba-mock-draft/2012/

[UticaBusBarn]

It is interesting to note that there are only two seniors indicated to be picked in the first round, and 16 over-all. One, two and make $ome money $eems to be the rule for the truly talented.

So much for the old rule of the before you can become good you have to pass through so-so ... at least for a select few who will be taken in the first round.

[LAMUfan]

anyone want there favorite NBA team to draft Fab Melo?  pass

[reinko]

Kidd-Gilchrist will be the gem of this draft 5 years from now.

Bank it.

[bilsu]

There is something wrong with NBA, if Jermy Lamb goes ahead of Moe Harkness.

[Sharpie]

There is something wrong with NBA, if Jermy Lamb goes ahead of Moe Harkness.

I agree. The scouts must really see something I do not see in Jeremy Lamb. I don't know if it's his surprise freshman season where he was an intergral piece in the NC team but he didn't impress me whatsoever last year.

I don't get his high evaluations. I could be very wrong on him but if my team were to take him over someone such as dion waiters at SG, I'd be pissed.

[bamamarquettefan]

Although after watching how sweet his flow and touch was last year when they killed us in the Bradley Center, I thought Lamb was a lottery pick.  Obviously when we went into their place and got revenge, and then beat them again this year, he looked much more human.

Based purely on stats, he ranks as the 7th most valuable freshman in the country his first year (85th best player overall), and 9th most valuable sophomore this year (34th overall), so while college value doesn't equate to NBA value completely he is certainly in the range that he could be a 12th pick.

However, we do look at several NBA Indicators as well, and I will tell you there are red flags there that 12th could be too high for him, so everyone's instinct may be correct.

[Sharpie]

Thanks for the analysis. I always appreciate the efficiency numbers behind each player.

I was basing my opinion purely on my own eye test and just didnt seem
To care for his demeanor with his teammates and how hard he played at times. Something just seems a bit off about him. Like I said, he may be a 10 time all star but I just don't think as highly of him as others out there.

[bamamarquettefan]

intuition is often right.  Stats are great because they give us some kind of comparison of 4000 players at once who we don't see play, but watching a player in your conference can lead to more accurate conclusions, and you may be right based on what you've observed.

[BrewCity83]

Remember, Buzz passed on Jeremy Lamb out of H.S.  Lamb came in here one summer, said he wanted to play for MU, and after watching him scrimmage with the team said he couldn't play.  Buzz probably saw the same things you are.

[RushmoreAcademy]

anyone want there favorite NBA team to draft Fab Melo?  pass

I was thinking the same thing before I read your post.   I think that is a sea of red flags.

[cheebs09]

So we can pencil in the Bucks taking Melo then.

[brewcity77]

I think both UConn lottery picks will be busts. Lamb is at best a supporting cast member while Drummond is a guy who dominates those not as big and strong as he is but hasn't impressed against high-level competition.

[tower912]

Remember, Buzz passed on Jeremy Lamb out of H.S.  Lamb came in here one summer, said he wanted to play for MU, and after watching him scrimmage with the team said he couldn't play.  Buzz probably saw the same things you are.

Legend according to IWB is that Lamb couldn't figure out which station he was supposed to go to next and really did not show up during scrimmages. 

[Bocephys]

Legend according to IWB is that Lamb couldn't figure out which station he was supposed to go to next and really did not show up during scrimmages. 

And he couldn't hold Vander's jock.

[MU82]

I think both UConn lottery picks will be busts. Lamb is at best a supporting cast member while Drummond is a guy who dominates those not as big and strong as he is but hasn't impressed against high-level competition.

I couldn't be less impressed with Drummond. A big guy with limited skills, a questionable work ethic and an extremely high opinion of himself. He reminds me of Eddy Curry, but without the offensive game. And he's only one year older than Curry was on their respective draft days.

He's my pick as the guy we'll look back on as bust of the draft.

As to another poster's comment about Kidd-Gilchrist being the best player down the road, I wouldn't doubt it. What an athlete, plus he's like the Energizer Bunny. If he develops a mid-range game, look out. Still, hard to say Davis isn't going to be the stud -- as long as a bad pro organization like the Bobcats doesn't ruin him.

[Otule's Glass Eye]

Article on ESPN about the draft

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/7946671/there-no-close-second-drafting-kentucky-davis-college-basketball

Katz pointed out in the article that MU has had players the last 2 years (Lazar, Jimmy) move up into the first round, and this year he says it is Crowder.

[77ncaachamps]

Article on ESPN about the draft

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/katz_andy/id/7946671/there-no-close-second-drafting-kentucky-davis-college-basketball

Katz pointed out in the article that MU has had players the last 2 years (Lazar, Jimmy) move up into the first round, and this year he says it is Crowder.

Sure the kid is older than most rookies but he's more mature, grateful for what he has, is in a right place, has over-achieved, continues to work hard, and delivers the goods.

Lock Jae in the draft. Just not sure if he's a late 1st rounder, though.

[brandx]

I couldn't be less impressed with Drummond. A big guy with limited skills, a questionable work ethic and an extremely high opinion of himself. He reminds me of Eddy Curry, but without the offensive game. And he's only one year older than Curry was on their respective draft days.

He's my pick as the guy we'll look back on as bust of the draft.

As to another poster's comment about Kidd-Gilchrist being the best player down the road, I wouldn't doubt it. What an athlete, plus he's like the Energizer Bunny. If he develops a mid-range game, look out. Still, hard to say Davis isn't going to be the stud -- as long as a bad pro organization like the Bobcats doesn't ruin him.

I agree MU82. A big, extremely athletic guy, but I don't see the basketball skills. If you struggle to score in double-figures in college, how does it translate to the pros?
I'd take Kidd-Gilchrist in a heartbeat over anyone but Davis in this draft. A skilled baller who never takes a play off. Those are the kind of guys that take teams to the top.

[cheebs09]

Twitta Tracker for NBADraftExpress:

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress

2nd session turning out much better than the 1st. Some good moments from Darius Johnson-Odom. Showing a real competitive streak #NetsCombine


Hopefully we can get a 100 page thread on positive things said about Jae and DJO during the draft process.

[bamamarquettefan]

I think both UConn lottery picks will be busts. Lamb is at best a supporting cast member while Drummond is a guy who dominates those not as big and strong as he is but hasn't impressed against high-level competition.

As I've said before, personally I'd put the house on crowder being drafted an being on a roster new year, but I know the guy most hoping I'm wrong is andre Drummond.  That dude is counting on never seeing crowder in an opposing jersey again.

I am hopeful on djo too. Bin retrospect, I really wish buzz had moved djo to point and kept buycks at shooting guard.  I think it would have better prepared both for their best shot at the NBA.

[cheebs09]

Jared Zwerling ‏@JaredZwerling

Just wrapped up watching Day 1 of the NBA pre-draft combine in NJ. Darius Johnson-Odom from Marquette most impressed me.

Jared Zwerling ‏@JaredZwerling

Johnson-Odom: Lefty, explosive, fearless, talks a lot, motivates his teammates, gets after it on D, has a little Harden/Shumpert in him.


Jared Zwerling ‏@JaredZwerling

Darius Johnson-Odom also had the highest vertical with a step (40 inches) ...

[brewcity77]

EDIT: What he said

Bodes well for DJO. I really think he's the sort to impress in a Combine environment. He definitely has the strength and atleticism NBA scouts are looking for.

[Otule's Glass Eye]

Jared Zwerling ‏@JaredZwerling

Just wrapped up watching Day 1 of the NBA pre-draft combine in NJ. Darius Johnson-Odom from Marquette most impressed me.

Jared Zwerling ‏@JaredZwerling

Johnson-Odom: Lefty, explosive, fearless, talks a lot, motivates his teammates, gets after it on D, has a little Harden/Shumpert in him.


Jared Zwerling ‏@JaredZwerling

Darius Johnson-Odom also had the highest vertical with a step (40 inches) ...

Good news, could we potentially see 2 MU players sneak into the first round?

[77ncaachamps]

Which NBA teams has DJO tried out/will try for?




And Jae's list?