What happened to Lockett?

[MerrittsMustache]

Uh...no.  Lockett is actually shooting OK.  I mean, his spot three point shooting is enough to be a threat.

Trent can rebound.  And he defends fine.  Certainly better than Jake does.

And how do you know he isn't "leading?"

MU lost to GB and has some ugly wins against inferior teams, all while Lockett isn't scoring a bunch of points. That adds up to a lack of leadership on his part.

[GGGG]

From watching every minute of every game with the exception of the GB game, I would start Mayo over Lockett.   I would play Thomas over Lockett.    Based only on watching all of the games.  I am not so closed minded that I discount everything he does and am not willing to change my opinion if he picks it up.    It has become clear we disagree on this and are going to keep harping the same points over and over without changing the other's opinion, which is also the muscoop way.   So, happy new year to you, sultan.

Fine.  I just have no clue what you think Jake Thomas accomplishes on the court.

[Skatastrophy]

Fine.  I just have no clue what you think Jake Thomas accomplishes on the court.

+1

I think he will cease seeing the court once conference season starts.

[MerrittsMustache]

Fine.  I just have no clue what you think Jake Thomas accomplishes on the court.

Fills a quota?

[tower912]

Fine.  I just have no clue what you think Jake Thomas accomplishes on the court.

That pretty much sums up my feeling toward Trent at the moment.   To my eyes, Jake has been better defensively and quicker.    Instead of being a drag on the offense, if he doesn't have an open shot, he moves the ball quickly rather than making a slow motion, usually futile drive. 

[Blackhat]

I'd give Trent more time.   Although his time to shine is running low, he's proven he can put the ball in the hoop at an ok percentage in the past.

[GGGG]

That pretty much sums up my feeling toward Trent at the moment.   To my eyes, Jake has been better defensively and quicker.   

Inexplicable. 

[tower912]

Right back atcha.    Again, this is based purely on watching the games.   I see Jake Thomas playing Austin Thornton style basketball (last year Sparty) and to my eyes Lockett is playing like a 6'5 Merritt.  But it doesn't matter.   We are watching the same thing and seeing it differently.

[GGGG]

Right back atcha.    Again, this is based purely on watching the games.   I see Jake Thomas playing Austin Thornton style basketball (last year Sparty).

Holy crap.  You need to watch better.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Holy crap.  You need to watch better.

No kidding. Lockett has not been good, but to compare his level of play to that of Jake Thomas is comical.

[JD]

Starting rotation of JR, Blue, Mayo, Juan, Gardner would be my dream. 

Sit Jamil until he gets his head right, maybe it will send the same message Donvoan sent to _______ (I forgot his name from Florida)

Otule just seems to be running through the motions, i hope Jamil and him get things squared away quickly otherwise i fear we will be sub 500 in conference this year.

[nyg]

Starting rotation of JR, Blue, Mayo, Juan, Gardner would be my dream. 

Sit Jamil until he gets his head right, maybe it will send the same message Donvoan sent to _______ (I forgot his name from Florida)

Otule just seems to be running through the motions, i hope Jamil and him get things squared away quickly otherwise i fear we will be sub 500 in conference this year.

It was Patric Young from Florida.

Otule not going through motions, but probably more of the knee injury lingering.  Just not the same player.

Thomas played 3 minutes and Lockett 11 with the return of Mayo.  Lockett's minutes may go abit higher, but Thomas's stay around the same. 

[79Warrior]

That pretty much sums up my feeling toward Trent at the moment.   To my eyes, Jake has been better defensively and quicker.    Instead of being a drag on the offense, if he doesn't have an open shot, he moves the ball quickly rather than making a slow motion, usually futile drive. 

Jake Thomas? Really? Wow, not sure what you have been watching.

[NersEllenson]

Jake Thomas has a higher offensive efficiency rating than does Lockett, and turns the ball over significantly less.  Lockett has 24 turnovers to 18 assists, Jake has 12 assists to 3 turnovers...Lockett rebounds the ball better than Jake, and is a better power player in and around the basket.  Neither have been stellar and both are definitely behind Vander and Todd in terms of quality of play.  Think there will be games where Lockett is the better choice, and games where Thomas is the better choice with regard to doling out the spare minutes left over behind Vander and Todd.

[Golden Avalanche]

That pretty much sums up my feeling toward Trent at the moment.   To my eyes, Jake has been better defensively and quicker.    Instead of being a drag on the offense, if he doesn't have an open shot, he moves the ball quickly rather than making a slow motion, usually futile drive. 

Holy unnatural carnal knowledge is this a wild opinion I never thought I'd read.

What is it with the walk-on Thomas that engenders the myth? Is it the decent performance he had against MU in a blowout? Is it the year off from competition that creates disillusion relative to his talents? Is it that he's from Wisconsin?

[tower912]

None of the above.   I had next to zero expectations from Thomas.   Strictly from watching.   I get it.   I am seeing the game differently than most of the people here.   Neither has been stellar.    But Lockett's 24 turnovers in 277 minutes when he isn't a primary option vs Thomas's 4 turnovers in 174 minutes probably affects my watching.   

[brewcity77]

Starting rotation of JR, Blue, Mayo, Juan, Gardner would be my dream.

why, Why, WHY would anyone EVER want Gardner to start over Otule? Why? Otule is 11-1 when it comes to winning the tip-off this year. He is a near-lock for ensuring we at worst tie the number-of-possessions battle. Gardner is abysmal at winning tip-offs. There is absolutely no reason to have him out there in the starting lineup. It is stupid and senseless.

He gets 20+ mpg. He gets more minutes than Otule. And yes, he's been excellent in those minutes. But there is no earthly reason why he should be starting. Let him get the minutes and let Chris win the tip. That's one part of our team that is working and that Buzz clearly has right.

[MU82]

What is going on here in this thread is what always goes on in Scoop.  Seriously having Mayo back is wonderful, but we are going nuts with the predictions here.  Last year he was just percentage points a better shooter than Blue, and the *fourth* best three point shooter on the team.  And now people are acting like he is the Messiah after a solid outing against North Carolina Central?

Look, he is another piece.  A significant piece.  But crazy predictions are what leads to people being inevitably disappointed in performance.

Agree completely, Sultan.

Mayo, to me, is a major "we'll see." His body of work is thin, at least to all of us who watched the Big East portion of last season's schedule.

I want Mayo to be wonderful. We'll see if he can be.

As for Lockett, here's hoping he can be an effective change-of-pace, a nice piece to a deep backcourt and a decent 15 min/game player.

[NersEllenson]

Agree completely, Sultan.

Mayo, to me, is a major "we'll see." His body of work is thin, at least to all of us who watched the Big East portion of last season's schedule.

I want Mayo to be wonderful. We'll see if he can be.

As for Lockett, here's hoping he can be an effective change-of-pace, a nice piece to a deep backcourt and a decent 15 min/game player.

Ugh did you watch the Wisconsin game last year, or any of the NCAA games?  If Mayo were a stock, you'd want to buy right now...though it is unfortunate he missed most of the summer and first half of this year due to his issues.  Even with those self inflicted handicaps, Todd will be the 2nd best player on the team by year's end after Gardner...though to my surprise, Vander Blue could also be in contention for 2nd best player on this years team.

[Golden Avalanche]

None of the above.   I had next to zero expectations from Thomas.   Strictly from watching.   I get it.   I am seeing the game differently than most of the people here.   Neither has been stellar.    But Lockett's 24 turnovers in 277 minutes when he isn't a primary option vs Thomas's 4 turnovers in 174 minutes probably affects my watching.   

One of those guys has been handling the ball at a much higher rate than the other guy. I'd also like to see the turnover breakdown regarding how many of Lockett's are offensive fouls rather then just passes to the third row. On a team devoid of driving options, no shock Lockett has tried too hard to become one.

[GGGG]

None of the above.   I had next to zero expectations from Thomas.   Strictly from watching.   I get it.   I am seeing the game differently than most of the people here.   Neither has been stellar.    But Lockett's 24 turnovers in 277 minutes when he isn't a primary option vs Thomas's 4 turnovers in 174 minutes probably affects my watching.   

Last year DJO committed a turnover every 14 minutes.  Mayo just under every 13.  Blue about 12.5. 

Jamail Jones committed a turnover every 23 minutes.

Turnovers are bad, don't get me wrong.  But they are a necessary evil if you are being aggressive.  Jake doesn't turn the ball over because he isn't doing anything.  I would prefer to have players that are at least attempting to be aggressive.

[MU82]

Ugh did you watch the Wisconsin game last year, or any of the NCAA games?  If Mayo were a stock, you'd want to buy right now...though it is unfortunate he missed most of the summer and first half of this year due to his issues.  Even with those self inflicted handicaps, Todd will be the 2nd best player on the team by year's end after Gardner...though to my surprise, Vander Blue could also be in contention for 2nd best player on this years team.

Of course I saw the Wisconsin game, when Mayo had some huge plays but also went 6-for-15 from the floor and 0-for-4 from 3-point range. And yes, I saw all three tourney games and was thrilled that he finally shook off a slump during which he had gone 2-for-19 on treys over 12 Big East games going into the NCAAs.

In other words, like you, I saw the best of Todd and the worst of Todd.

Here's hoping last game was a sign we're going to see lots of the best of Todd.

I probably wouldn't buy MAYO right now, but I wouldn't sell, either. I'd hold until I could see how his 50-day moving average looks!!

[NersEllenson]

Of course I saw the Wisconsin game, when Mayo had some huge plays but also went 6-for-15 from the floor and 0-for-4 from 3-point range. And yes, I saw all three tourney games and was thrilled that he finally shook off a slump during which he had gone 2-for-19 on treys over 12 Big East games going into the NCAAs.

In other words, like you, I saw the best of Todd and the worst of Todd.

Here's hoping last game was a sign we're going to see lots of the best of Todd.

I probably wouldn't buy MAYO right now, but I wouldn't sell, either. I'd hold until I could see how his 50-day moving average looks!!

Fair enough..no doubt Todd had some mid season struggles last year, though I tend to think a lot of that was a by product of off the court issues/struggles he was having...that affected his focus.  Think a focused Todd Mayo (here's to hoping he can be, and has grown through the difficult past 8 months), would give an early adopter/investor a great return on their investment

[MU82]

Fair enough..no doubt Todd had some mid season struggles last year, though I tend to think a lot of that was a by product of off the court issues/struggles he was having...that affected his focus.  Think a focused Todd Mayo (here's to hoping he can be, and has grown through the difficult past 8 months), would give an early adopter/investor a great return on their investment

I'm rooting for Mayo ... and I'm rooting for you to triple your investment!