point guard

[MU82]

We cannot beat a team as good as Louisville, especially on the road, without getting exemplary play from our point guard. That obviously didn't happen yesterday.

I know that analyzing Junior's play is a popular topic on this board. I usually have defended him because he has worked hard, has made some big plays, has become a leader and has a big heart. But he wasn't good enough yesterday and it significantly reduced any chance Marquette had to stay with Louisville.

His poor play certainly wasn't the only reason we lost. I mean, I think Louisville got three more offensive rebounds while I typed this sentence! Jamil was invisible (again), Gardner was a nonfactor, Steve Taylor got a lesson in how tough life in big-time college hoops can be, etc., etc.

Still, Junior probably is our most important player just because he has the ball in his hands so much. It is his job to run the team and when he doesn't do it at a high level, well, we saw what happened.

Going forward ...

As I watched the second half, one thought that went through my mind a few times is that I sure hope Duane Wilson comes in ready to play some serious minutes at a high level, a la Dominic James. Because Derrick Wilson simply doesn't cut it as a starting major-program point guard. If in 2013-14 he averages much more than the 15 minutes he's getting this season, it will not be a good thing. He's fine as a defensive change-of-pace and as an insurance policy, but a team can't win consistently with a PG that shoots 32% from the floor and 47% from the line and is a total non-scoring threat.

OK, end of semi-rant.

[tower912]

I have defended Junior (at this point, anybody can defend Junior....), but it was not lost on me that Vander and Mayo were frequently bringing the ball up yesterday.   Siva owns Junior.   No getting around it. 

[Goose]

VB is our best point guard and he is not a point guard. Not sure what the answer is but PG is definitely a weak spot in our rotation. I simply do not understand how or why they are so sloppy with the ball. Our overall passing sucks IMO, do many lazy one handed passes.

[Nukem2]

The thing with Junior is that he is best in transition.  Siva totally takes that away from him.  Oh well, Siva is gone for next season along with Junior.  Hope we see 'Ville at the BC next year if the BB7 leaguedoes not start until 2014.

[JD]

MU82,

I agreed up until your last part about Derrick. Sure he doesn't shoot the ball the greatest, but Junior didn't shoot hardly at all until this year.  I don't think Buzz wants D throwing up a bunch of shots.  One play in particular stood out to me yesterday.  Derrick had the ball stolen from him, and he stayed with i believe it was Russ Smith through the whole break away, eventually making a difficult shot for him, and getting the rebound, which led to a quick 2 pts for MU.  I think Derrick will be much improved next year, and he will probably get about 25-30 mins a game being our starting pg.

I like Derrick a lot, and i'm excited for him.

[flash]

MU82,

I agreed up until your last part about Derrick. Sure he doesn't shoot the ball the greatest, but Junior didn't shoot hardly at all until this year.  I don't think Buzz wants D throwing up a bunch of shots.  One play in particular stood out to me yesterday.  Derrick had the ball stolen from him, and he stayed with i believe it was Russ Smith through the whole break away, eventually making a difficult shot for him, and getting the rebound, which led to a quick 2 pts for MU.  I think Derrick will be much improved next year, and he will probably get about 25-30 mins a game being our starting pg.

I like Derrick a lot, and i'm excited for him.

That was a very nice play from Derrick Wilson that you mentioned, he is a great defender and a good change of pace point guard, but if he is getting 25-30 minutes next season, I think we will be in trouble.  I don't think you can survive in the big east with a point guard that provides little to no offense.  I know Junior doesn't provide a whole lot either, but he has still shown that he can be a scoring threat (8 games so far in double figures) Junior also provides us with a much better feel for the game and passing ability than Derrick.  Hopefully  MU can find an answer next year at PG, maybe Duane Wilson?

[CTWarrior]

Junior runs the offense, DWil not so much.  DWill seems to mostly just avoid turnovers.  I felt the same way about Acker is junior year but he was much better his senior year at initiating offense, so maybe when the offense belongs to Wilson he'll rise to the occasion.  It is hard to know right now.  Junior gets into the lane, causes defense to rotate, etc. a lot more than Wilson.  The biggest problem with Junior is his total lack of a left hand.  It is amazing he is as effective as he is without using it.  It it so strange for a major college PG to be so single-handed.

[GGGG]

Derrick Wilson starts at the beginning of the year...but the number of minutes he plays and if he continues to start will be entirely dependent on his progress vis-a-vis someone else's.

[96warrior]

That was a very nice play from Derrick Wilson that you mentioned, he is a great defender and a good change of pace point guard, but if he is getting 25-30 minutes next season, I think we will be in trouble.  I don't think you can survive in the big east with a point guard that provides little to no offense.  I know Junior doesn't provide a whole lot either, but he has still shown that he can be a scoring threat (8 games so far in double figures) Junior also provides us with a much better feel for the game and passing ability than Derrick.  Hopefully  MU can find an answer next year at PG, maybe Duane Wilson?

You're comparing Junior's senior year performance to Derrick's sophomore year performance. I have really liked what I have seen from Derrick this year. His improvement from freshman to sophomore year was marked and significant. Buzz has said he should be starting this year. Who knows what happens next year, it'll be "a new house" so competition for minutes will be different, but I like Derrick.

And I like Junior a whole lot, too. I think we'll miss his leadership a lot more than we realize next year. Yesterday was a horrible game for him, but for just about everyone else, too. On the whole, he's been great for us.

[4everwarriors]

Better hope some of the incoming freshmen/juco are gametime ready right out of the chute. Serious lack of big time college talent on this roster.

[MerrittsMustache]

Derrick Wilson starts at the beginning of the year...but the number of minutes he plays and if he continues to start will be entirely dependent on his progress vis-a-vis someone else's.

Wouldn't be surprised to see MU play extended minutes with a line-up having no "true PG"...

Blue
Mayo
JWilson
Taylor
Gardner

[JD]

Wouldn't be surprised to see MU play extended minutes with a line-up having no "true PG"...

Blue
Mayo
JWilson
Taylor
Gardner

Fixed.

[MerrittsMustache]

Fixed.

You think they're going 4 on 5?

[frozena pizza]

I was hoping Junior would have a better showing against Siva this year but I guess not.  Just a bad matchup for Junior.

I am hoping that next year Derrick Wilson can be the style of player that Dom James and Acker became.  Note that I am not saying he will be as good as either of them as he does not have the athleticism of James or the shooting ability of Acker.  But I think he can be a solid defender that doesn't turn it over much, can hit the open shot when needed and provides leadership.  We will have guys that can penetrate, so I'm not too worried that its not a strength for DW.

[Goose]

I think very wishful thinking when it comes to D Wilson for next year. I am not even sure he is good backup let alone making any comparisons with James or Acker. We need serious upgrade in PG position next season and believe it will have to be a new guy or guys.

[MarsupialMadness]

VB is our best point guard and he is not a point guard. Not sure what the answer is but PG is definitely a weak spot in our rotation. I simply do not understand how or why they are so sloppy with the ball. Our overall passing sucks IMO, do many lazy one handed passes.

I agree with this.  Too many times a lazy pass is intercepted and taken the other way for a score. 

[jsglow]

Couple of thoughts...

Siva has owned JC throughout their respective careers.  Not Junior's fault; Siva is simply that good.  That's one reason Louisville is a national championship threat.  MU is simply not in that league.

D Wil has made HUGE strides this year as a Sophomore.  Let's recall that Junior really couldn't score much until this year.  So I'm not ready to write off D Wil as inadequate.

Our overall point guard play is probably middle of the pack for BEast play.  It's good enough to take us dancing but not to the Final 4.  Now is Duane Wilson 'the man'?  We may see next year.

[flash]

You're comparing Junior's senior year performance to Derrick's sophomore year performance. I have really liked what I have seen from Derrick this year. His improvement from freshman to sophomore year was marked and significant. Buzz has said he should be starting this year. Who knows what happens next year, it'll be "a new house" so competition for minutes will be different, but I like Derrick.

And I like Junior a whole lot, too. I think we'll miss his leadership a lot more than we realize next year. Yesterday was a horrible game for him, but for just about everyone else, too. On the whole, he's been great for us.

True, but Derrick Wilson still has not shown any sort of offensive ability. Junior Cadougan as as sophomore was at least showing some flashes of his offense that led me to believe that he could one day contribute on the offensive end.  Derrick has just not shown anything offensively. Unless he improves his offensive, he does not deserve to get the majority of the PG minutes next year.  Unfortunately it looks like our only other option is an unproven freshman Duane Wilson.

[77ncaachamps]

Since we're talking about DWil...

He's a stout, defensive PG.
He has taken it to the rack a few times but isn't explosive by any means.
He hasn't shown a consistent j, but if Vander can show us that he can do it, so can DWil.
He's tenacious as a defender.
It drives me nuts how many of his entry passes are intercepted, tipped, are late, or just aren't on the money.
In transition, he's dangerous just not lethally deadly.

Duane is explosive, can shoot the ball well, and runs the transition.

[Goose]

I am sorry I really do not see any real upside from D Wilson moving forward. IMO that is the most glaring area to improve for next year. He looks to me to be a bit role player if on very good team. MU has limited choices at PG for remainder of year and need to ride the two guys they have. If I were Buzz I would be recruiting JUCO PG's big time right now.

[nyg]

True, but Derrick Wilson still has not shown any sort of offensive ability. Junior Cadougan as as sophomore was at least showing some flashes of his offense that led me to believe that he could one day contribute on the offensive end.  Derrick has just not shown anything offensively. Unless he improves his offensive, he does not deserve to get the majority of the PG minutes next year.  Unfortunately it looks like our only other option is an unproven freshman Duane Wilson.

Programs have given the "key to the bus" to freshman point guards, and off the top of my head I can think of this year: PITT with Robinson, Oklahoma State with Marcus Smart, UCLA with Anderson, NOVA with Archimeda (sp), etc.  Probably alot more, maybe others can chime in.

Look at the BE over the last few years and you had Siva at UL, Council at Providence, Napier at UCONN, Collins at USF Wright at Cincy, etc. The majority of them started as freshmen and continued on.

D. Wilson averages 1.8 points a game and has taken only 35 shots this year, to include one for five from three point land. Yes, some will say it is not a point guard's role to be a big scorer, but I say there has to be some more scoring than less than two ppg.  Sure D. Wilson plays good defense, but he also makes too many aggressive fouls on the perimeter.  Not to be a downer on him, but at this point is he a BE starting PG?  

I agree with some of the others that Wilson probably gets the start, but if Duane Wilson can bring some speed , height and offensive ability to the pg position, he gets the minutes going into the BE season.  It is just too important, probably the most important position on a team in college b-ball.

I don't believe MU is unfortunate to have Duane Wilson coming in and hopefully he can prove himself well. 

[4everwarriors]

Derrick Wilson is a nice 10-12 minute/game point guard. Any more than that and this team is struggling.

[MUfan12]

I agree with some of the others that Wilson probably gets the start, but if Duane Wilson can bring some speed , height and offensive ability to the pg position, he gets the minutes going into the BE season.  It is just too important, probably the most important position on a team in college b-ball.

I don't believe MU is unfortunate to have Duane Wilson coming in and hopefully he can prove himself well.  

I really think Duane Wilson is the real deal. I know that the competition level masks deficiencies, but talent is talent. That cat can ball.

It will be good for him to have Derrick there while he gets his sea legs. Once that happens, giddy up.

[MU82]

Derrick Wilson starts at the beginning of the year...but the number of minutes he plays and if he continues to start will be entirely dependent on his progress vis-a-vis someone else's.

I agree with this, Sultan. Buzz values loyalty and he'll unabashedly, admittedly favor Derrick. But Buzz wants to win, just like any coach, and if Duane deserves the minutes, he'll get the minutes. It's kind of like with Otule this year. Buzz obviously loves the guy, but Otule plays only as many minutes as Buzz thinks will help the team; Buzz doesn't play him just because he likes him.

[MerrittsMustache]

Too many fans don't give Derrick enough credit. He's currently the back-up PG. He's going to play 12-15 minutes per game and basically be in charge of not screwing up. It's like putting in a back-up QB - the gameplan and play-calling are different when he's in the game.

Derrick has played nearly 600 minutes in his MU career and has just 24 TOs, which is an incredible stat. To put that into a little bit of perspective, Junior has played 534 minutes this season and has 50 TOs, Gardner has played 421 minutes at a position that handles the ball much less than a PG and has 29 TOs. Derrick is very good at his role this year but his role will likely be different next year and he's going to surprise some people.