Two most maligned players

[tower912]

....carried the day today.    Blue and Cadougan put the team on their backs today.    35 pts, with the other 8 guys who played combining for 25.   Time to find some new scapegoats.   Right now, IMO, the two leading candidates are JWilson and Lockett.

[bilsu]

I love Jake Thomas, but he has to hit threes. Until he does that he has to be on the list.

[AZWarrior]

Agreed that Jake is out there to hit threes, and he's not ding it to my satisfaction.

However, I will give him props for his block.   

[nyg]

 Lockett had one of the worst performances of an MU player in a long time. This guy has not lived up to the hype and must start producing for this team to win.  How he even averaged 14 points a game in the PAC-10 is a mystery, since he just hasn't shown anything.

Tonight:

1 for 7 from the field

Missed two wide open threes, one with 50 seconds left.  Both misses had no defender whatsoever.

7 turnovers

4 fouls, two of which were offensive.

On two occasions, he could not even inbound the ball.

With 28 seconds left, got a rebound and dribbled it out of bounds.

Yet, he played 34 minutes.  Just don't know what else.  Hope Mayo comes back.

[tower912]

The funny thing about Jake is that he is doing all of the things we were told he couldn't.   Playing defense, getting rebounds and blocks.    He isn't showing the one skill we were told he has.....shooting the 3.    Odd.  

[forgetful]

I love Jake Thomas, but he has to hit threes. Until he does that he has to be on the list.

I think the problem is that Jake is a volume shooter.  He needs to get in a rhythm and taking 1 or 2 shots a game doesn't allow him to do that.

[RJax55]

I think the problem is that Jake is a volume shooter.  He needs to get in a rhythm and taking 1 or 2 shots a game doesn't allow him to do that.

+1. His role at MU is very different than what he did at South Dakota.

[79Warrior]

Lockett had one of the worst performances of an MU player in a long time. This guy has not lived up to the hype and must start producing for this team to win.  How he even averaged 14 points a game in the PAC-10 is a mystery, since he just hasn't shown anything.

Tonight:

1 for 7 from the field

Missed two wide open threes, one with 50 seconds left.  Both misses had no defender whatsoever.

7 turnovers

4 fouls, two of which were offensive.

On two occasions, he could not even inbound the ball.

With 28 seconds left, got a rebound and dribbled it out of bounds.

Yet, he played 34 minutes.  Just don't know what else.  Hope Mayo comes back.

So far he is the biggest disappointment.

[bilsu]

+1. His role at MU is very different than what he did at South Dakota.

You can say the same thing for Lockett. I am not that familar with Arizona St, but most teams run plays for players to score. MU runs a system that depends on players reacting. That is a hugh change from a controlled offense that I assume Arizona St. played.

[Newsdreams]

Lockett just keeps on driving out of control and the defense just waits forhim. Guess opponents have seen this on film.

[onepost]

Trent Lockett is soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo......

[onepost]

.....ooooooooooooo bad. My dear Lord. What teams saw in him is beyond me. The reason we had no video of him during the off-season to gauge his talent was because he probably went onto YouTube and deleted all of the videos himself. Making himself seem more attractive as a transfer.

[MerrittsMustache]

Wait...was this thread started to find a new player who Scoopers could "malign?"

Lockett played in a slow, deliberate system at ASU. That's very different than what MU plays. He hasn't scored a lot which means he doesn't stand out to a lot of fans but (coming into today) he was averaging 8 ppg, leads the team in steal, is second in A/TO, third in rebound, third in assists and plays very good defense.

It's very similar to Vander the last couple of seasons - far too many people are quick to claim that he's a bust because he doesn't score a ton of points but they are ignorant to all of the other positive contributions that he makes.

[Tugg Speedman]

Wait...was this thread started to find a new player who Scoopers could "malign?"

Lockett played in a slow, deliberate system at ASU. That's very different than what MU plays. He hasn't scored a lot which means he doesn't stand out to a lot of fans but (coming into today) he was averaging 8 ppg, leads the team in steal, is second in A/TO, third in rebound, third in assists and plays very good defense.

It's very similar to Vander the last couple of seasons - far too many people are quick to claim that he's a bust because he doesn't score a ton of points but they are ignorant to all of the other positive contributions that he makes.

+1

Lockett is starting and getting 34 minutes because Buzz believes he brings something to the game.  And no, it is not because he has no one else.

[Niv Berkowitz]

D Wilson. He is my new kryptonite.

[RushmoreAcademy]

+1. His role at MU is very different than what he did at South Dakota.

Still waiting to see that role used effectively.
I really, really, really want to like Jake on the court, and I know he has value, but he hasn't shown it yet.  Definitely not fair to make an assessment of what he'll be in February for this team, but if it's still this, then that's an issue.

[wadesworld]

Wait, so we beat our in-state rivals, and the reaction of some people/this board is to find players on our own team to hate on because the 2 players that everyone hates on from our own team played well?  I will never understand why people go out of their way to find the negative in everything.  It must suck to be so miserable...

Sad.

[Tugg Speedman]

Wait, so we beat our in-state rivals, and the reaction of some people/this board is to find players on our own team to hate on because the 2 players that everyone hates on from our own team played well?  I will never understand why people go out of their way to find the negative in everything.  It must suck to be so miserable...

Sad.

+1000000000000000000000000000000

[wardle2wade]

Wait, so we beat our in-state rivals, and the reaction of some people/this board is to find players on our own team to hate on because the 2 players that everyone hates on from our own team played well?  I will never understand why people go out of their way to find the negative in everything.  It must suck to be so miserable...

Sad.

+1.  We are only a month into the season... Lockett and Thomas will find their roles as the year progresses. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Lockett had his problems tonight without a doubt. But I still love his game and feel that as he adjust he will be fine. If we hit our goddam free throws it isnt even a game at half time. They literally may have quit.

[brewcity77]

Lockett had his problems tonight without a doubt. But I still love his game and feel that as he adjust he will be fine. If we hit our goddam free throws it isnt even a game at half time. They literally may have quit.

Agreed completely. Here's the thing...

...we won this game convincingly and everyone is ignoring that for the most part, we didn't play all that well. Our defense was very good throughout, I'll definitely say that, but we did NOT play our game. We didn't get to the line, we missed when we did, and weren't nearly aggressive enough getting to the rack (evidenced by the 13-5 foul disparity at one point of the second half). We got beat up on the offensive glass, our assist rate was way down, this wasn't what we want to do, and we still pounded the Badgers. Beating them by 10 is like beating anyone else by 18.

What I found funny was that shortly after the Buzz interview, the 540 broadcast switched over to the Badger postgame. The guys kept saying it was for both schools, but it was obvious with how they were talking (and I'm pretty sure one of the guys was from the WSJ) that they were pro-Bucky. They talked about how Bucky had a chance to win if only they hit their free throws. Hey morons, we shot our free throws just as poorly and we have been a MUCH better free throw shooting team on the year.

The Badgers are very, very, very lucky they stayed within 10. Just be glad we didn't play our game and allowed them to keep it marginally respectable.

[tower912]

It was to point out that the two guys who have been the focus of much criticism carried us today.    It was to point out that two other players  have actually played far worse.    I believe that JWilson can become the next Butler/Lazar/Jae.   So far, though, he doesn't bring it every night.   Lockett clearly isn't comfortable in the offense yet.   

[GGGG]

Agreed completely. Here's the thing...

...we won this game convincingly and everyone is ignoring that for the most part, we didn't play all that well. Our defense was very good throughout, I'll definitely say that, but we did NOT play our game. We didn't get to the line, we missed when we did, and weren't nearly aggressive enough getting to the rack (evidenced by the 13-5 foul disparity at one point of the second half). We got beat up on the offensive glass, our assist rate was way down, this wasn't what we want to do, and we still pounded the Badgers. Beating them by 10 is like beating anyone else by 18.

What I found funny was that shortly after the Buzz interview, the 540 broadcast switched over to the Badger postgame. The guys kept saying it was for both schools, but it was obvious with how they were talking (and I'm pretty sure one of the guys was from the WSJ) that they were pro-Bucky. They talked about how Bucky had a chance to win if only they hit their free throws. Hey morons, we shot our free throws just as poorly and we have been a MUCH better free throw shooting team on the year.

The Badgers are very, very, very lucky they stayed within 10. Just be glad we didn't play our game and allowed them to keep it marginally respectable.

Yep.  MU won a battle between two pretty "meh" basketball teams.  Really, really hope Mayo comes back so we have another outside shooter.