Jamal Ferguson = Pat Hazell

[GGGG]

What ever happened to freshmen not playing.

You mean by NCAA rule?  That went away 40 years ago.

[dwaderoy2004]

Just saying, MU is a prestigious basketball program. I he can get a scholarship here and not play for 2 years, he can get one somewhere else and play. I hope he stays and play cause I see potential. But if he leaves, I can't fault him.

I was joking about your name.  I personally have no problem with transfers and agree with this sentiment.

[thehammock]

I fully expect Ferguson in the rotation ahead of Burton and Johnson next year. The year of experience will be valuable come next season.

[GGGG]

I fully expect Ferguson in the rotation ahead of Burton and Johnson next year. The year of experience will be valuable come next season.

I don't know....

I think JJJ is going to be the best in this class.  He's moved up to #31 in Scout, and can really score.  He's the best freshman Marquette has seen in awhile.

[Bocephys]

I don't know....

I think JJJ is going to be the best in this class.  He's moved up to #31 in Scout, and can really score.  He's the best freshman Marquette has seen in awhile.

Easy Sultan, it's talk like that that leads people to want to run him off after his freshman year because he "only" averaged 5 points and 15 minutes a game.

[BCHoopster]

The way it looks right now, MU will have enough veterans to play with, Johnson will get some time, but will probably not start.  Juan Anderson will start as well as Vander.  There is some
back-up minutes behind Juan but that might go to Burton.  If Mayo is back, Johnson might have a hard time getting minutes as well.  The following year, Vander is gone so minutes will
be easier to get.  Come to practice, play like a Warrior, time will come.  Good problem to have.  Duane Wilson might be the only freshman who might get significant minutes, even there
we will have to beat out a junior in Derrick Wilson.  I am assuming tht JWill or McKay will start at the 4.

[bradley center bat]

You mean by NCAA rule?  That went away 40 years ago.

No, I mean freshmen not getting many minutes and learning the game for their junior and senior season.

[GGGG]

Easy Sultan, it's talk like that that leads people to want to run him off after his freshman year because he "only" averaged 5 points and 15 minutes a game.

And don't think that didn't go through my mind when I typed it.

[bradley center bat]

I fully expect Ferguson in the rotation ahead of Burton and Johnson next year. The year of experience will be valuable come next season.

Funny thing is Ferguson is playing better in his spots mintues, that what many of us saw at the pro-am.

[GGGG]

No, I mean freshmen not getting many minutes and learning the game for their junior and senior season.

That concept is a pretty outdated one too.

Seriously, name the last Marquette player that didn't get "many minutes" for their first two years, only to be a solid contributor later on?  Usually if players are good, they get minutes as a freshman...and almost certainly as a sophomore.

We were having some of these same conversations about Juan last year...and he has clearly improved heading into this year.  If you can't contribute by then, you probably simply don't have the talent.

[GGGG]

Funny thing is Ferguson is playing better in his spots mintues, that what many of us saw at the pro-am.

Really?  Because I think he doesn't have much of a clue on defense right now.

[Tugg Speedman]

I just like how the original comparison is to Hazel rather than someone more recent like Jones or Williams.  Thanks for reminding me Patrick Hazel even played for MU.

Ok here is Ferguson's freshman year versus Jamail Jones and Erik Williams when they were Freshman.

http://statsheet.com/mcb/players/compare?add=erik-williams&erik-williams=2009-2010&jamail-jones=2010-2011&p1=jamal-ferguson&p2=jamail-jones

While Ferguson's season is not over, he appears to be on track for less playing time and production than either Jones or Williams.

[Tugg Speedman]

Really?  Because I think he doesn't have much of a clue on defense right now.

How can you tell?  He ha played 3 minutes in the last 10 games.

[GGGG]

How can you tell?  He ha played 3 minutes in the last 10 games.

Well, it was obvious against Seton Hall.  But honestly, most of my memories of his play seem distant at this point.

[dwaderoy2004]

That concept is a pretty outdated one too.

Seriously, name the last Marquette player that didn't get "many minutes" for their first two years, only to be a solid contributor later on?  Usually if players are good, they get minutes as a freshman...and almost certainly as a sophomore.

We were having some of these same conversations about Juan last year...and he has clearly improved heading into this year.  If you can't contribute by then, you probably simply don't have the talent.

Dwight Burke?  Terry Sanders?  Depends on the definitions of "many minutes" and "solid contributor".  If anything, though, this shows it is more likely to occur with post players, which makes sense.  Don't see it much with perimeter players, at least at MU.

[MUBasketball]

I think JJJ is going to be the best in this class.  He's moved up to #31 in Scout, and can really score.  He's the best freshman Marquette has seen in awhile.

Best freshman Marquette has seen in awhile. Hmmmm, based on what? He hasn't even stepped foot on campus yet. Hey, I'm thrilled he's coming. Let's just pump the brakes a bit and stop heaping so much praise on kids before they even have their first college practice. We wonder how expectations on freshman reach ridiculous levels?

[GGGG]

Best freshman Marquette has seen in awhile. Hmmmm, based on what? He hasn't even stepped foot on campus yet. Hey, I'm thrilled he's coming. Let's just pump the brakes a bit and stop heaping so much praise on kids before they even have their first college practice. We wonder how expectations on freshman reach ridiculous levels?

I'm the last person on this board you need to have this conversation with.  But I should have said "highest rated in recent memory," not best.

I just think he's going to end up being ahead of Ferguson not too far into the season.

[ATL MU Warrior]

That concept is a pretty outdated one too.

Seriously, name the last Marquette player that didn't get "many minutes" for their first two years, only to be a solid contributor later on?  Usually if players are good, they get minutes as a freshman...and almost certainly as a sophomore.

We were having some of these same conversations about Juan last year...and he has clearly improved heading into this year.  If you can't contribute by then, you probably simply don't have the talent.

When is the last time MU had the kind of depth it has now?

[GGGG]

When is the last time MU had the kind of depth it has now?

With Jake Thomas playing ahead of him, Jamal sitting on the bench isn't a "depth issue."

[Sunbelt15]

I would like to know what system Buzz is running that is so complicated that any high school player couldn't learn quickly. They set very few screens. The screens are always high and by the 4. And, they run no backdoor or pick and roll. It's basic b-ball rotation. Buzz just has his favorites and that's the norm with any coach.

[GGGG]

I would like to know what system Buzz is running that is so complicated that any high school player couldn't learn quickly. They set very few screens. The screens are always high and by the 4. And, they run no backdoor or pick and roll. It's basic b-ball rotation. Buzz just has his favorites and that's the norm with any coach.

It's not the offense, it's the defense.  (Which is exactly why Vander played as a freshman.  He understood the defense.)  College defenses are much more complex than anything these guys have seen in high school.

And it has absolutely nothing to do with "his favorites."

[dwaderoy2004]

And it has absolutely nothing to do with "his favorites."

Well, it does.  It's just that "his favorites" coincide with who best helps the team win.

[Tugg Speedman]

With Jake Thomas playing ahead of him, Jamal sitting on the bench isn't a "depth issue."

+1

And I would add that Jamal played as much as Dylan Flood in the USF game (even though Jamal does not show up in the stat line as playing).

[GGGG]

Well, it does.  It's just that "his favorites" coincide with who best helps the team win.

OK sure....I just get tired of people writing off lack of playing time for non-basketball reasons.

[MU82]

I'm trying to think about one issue I care less about than Jamal Ferguson's minutes ... and I'm drawing a blank.

That this thread has gone on for 3 pages means we all need lives. And that includes me, because I just took the time to comment on it!!!