[PaintTouches]Synergy: Where does Junior Cadougan struggle most?

[PaintTouchesSays]

Synergy: Where does Junior Cadougan struggle most?
      

Written by: Andrei Greska
            

Junior Cadougan has been an integral part of back-to-back Sweet 16 teams. He has started 58 of Marquette's 60 games the past two seasons and led the Golden Eagles to 44 wins in that time frame. His field goal and ... Continue reading →


            

http://painttouches.com/2013/02/22/synergy-where-does-junior-cadougan-struggle-most/
      

[jsglow]

More great work by Paint.  Junior's biggest challenge is his entry pass relatively early in the shot clock, especially, and not suprisingly against quality point guards (think Siva who has 'owned' JC from day 1) or rangy, quick-handed interior players that cut down passing angles.

I also think that JC tries to make the very difficult pass too often.  He's cut down on that some since early in the year when I had a sense that he felt the need to put the team on his back at times and didn't allow the game to come to him naturally.

I like JC very much as a person and think he's a very hard nosed Senior leader.  I appreciate the fact that he's certainly stepped up his game this year especially in terms of his leadership and scoring.  But I think that even he would admit that he's not Dominic James.

[4everwarriors]

On the court

[jsglow]

On the court

+1

[Lennys Tap]

On the court

Clearly you've never heard him try to sing.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Great stuff...if you throw in loose dribble, it is 62% basically unforced.  I would like to see the numbers split between a man vs. zone defense as well if possible...and maybe road vs. home. No question the book is out on Junior and it is being shared.

[TheButlerDidIt]

I read the subject line too quickly and initially thought it read, "Where does Junior Cadougan snuggle most?

[jsglow]

Great stuff...if you throw in loose dribble, it is 62% basically unforced.  I would like to see the numbers split between a man vs. zone defense as well if possible...and maybe road vs. home. No question the book is out on Junior and it is being shared.

We appropriately consider you an expert here Dr. B.  If you were coach, what one thing would you try to get JC to focus on here in his final 10ish games wearing the uniform?  What extends our season the most?

[Bocephys]

I read the subject line too quickly and initially thought it read, "Where does Junior Cadougan snuggle most?

You must have been very disappointed when you clicked through to the story.

[Dr. Blackheart]

We appropriately consider you an expert here Dr. B.  If you were coach, what one thing would you try to get JC to focus on here in his final 10ish games wearing the uniform?  What extends our season the most?

Not sure about being an expert...but Buzz has already started making adjustments within the zone that will help Junior's numbers.  Going to get a bit pedantic as usual....First, Buzz's offense is really based on geometry, starting with that solid line he has taped down the center at Kasten.  He wants to create space and angles off of that line.  Space is created with movement through that zone, whether with the ball or people.  Angles are created via energy--either dribble drives down a seam, moving the ball cross court via diagonal dribbling or passing over.  Moving the ball around or over the zone or the movement of players through the zone are critical as it forces the defense to move, thus creating space and angles.  Buzz's offense has certain entry points against the zone he prefers to attack with a dribble drives down open seams.  If those aren't there in the first or secondary breaks, MU falls into the east-west offense trying to probe for a pass entry for the remainder of the shot clock.

Junior is key to all this.  Teams like UL have studied and shared this within the Pitino coaching tree, for example.  Pitino knows where Buzz likes Junior to get the ball in the backcourt on the one side of that middle line, knowing Junior is primarily right handed with the dribble, so he camps out defenders to steal it or delay it via a press.  Similarly, other teams know that when Junior clears the backcourt, Buzz wants him to dribble it diagonally to the other side past that middle line so they move up defenders to disrupt it (UWGB went to a 3-2 zone for instance).  They also know he is a high dribbler, so when Junior is on the top left or right of the key, they know a high pick from our centers is right at that center line at the top of the key, allowing Junior to pass that pick and find that seam down the free throw box for a drive or pull up.  Defenders know it is coming, so you see help defense reaching low for a steal on his loose dribble.

This is why so many of Junior's turnovers come out high, especially against the zone.  He rushes the play, which works magnificently when he pushes it against a man defense in an open court game...the difference is against a zone, two or three defenders are focused on disrupting his tendencies and weaknesses....and speeding it up causes him to not see the whole court, so the turnovers occur in spades out high.  You have seen Vander and Todd bring up the ball more recently as an example of an adjustment.  More so, Buzz is moving more cutters through the zone (see Pittsburgh game).  You also have seen Buzz put in a bigger line up with Otule, Gardner and Wilson in order to go over a zone.  This prevents teams doubling down on Gardner in the blocks.  Other looks with Taylor flashing and facing the zone at the free throw line causes a reaction within the zone.  Jamil is finding other open spots for his great mid-range game, but also he is finding the corners for his sweet three stroke.  Gardner is taking and making face up jumpers, causing defenders to move out of the paint to defend him which has opened space for Lockett. It is no surprise our outside shooting has improved recently.

Junior led the Big East in +/- last season.  He is a great playmaker, leader and distributor.  It is no accident that MU has gone to two Sweet 16's in a row with him as a PG.  He has his limitations, of course, as any player does.  But, he is being keyed on, so he needs to use his court awareness to know when to use his speed and when not to.  Similarly, his coach needs to continue to make adjustments.

[Goose]

4ever

Is it safe to say you do not have Jr. ranked as one of our all time great PG's?

[tower912]

Dr. Blackheart, you can be pedantic like that all day long.   Well done.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Not sure about being an expert...but Buzz has already started making adjustments within the zone that will help Junior's numbers.  Going to get a bit pedantic as usual....First, Buzz's offense is really based on geometry, starting with that solid line he has taped down the center at Kasten.  He wants to create space and angles off of that line.  Space is created with movement through that zone, whether with the ball or people.  Angles are created via energy--either dribble drives down a seam, moving the ball cross court via diagonal dribbling or passing over.  Moving the ball around or over the zone or the movement of players through the zone are critical as it forces the defense to move, thus creating space and angles.  Buzz's offense has certain entry points against the zone he prefers to attack with a dribble drives down open seams.  If those aren't there in the first or secondary breaks, MU falls into the east-west offense trying to probe for a pass entry for the remainder of the shot clock.

Junior is key to all this.  Teams like UL have studied and shared this within the Pitino coaching tree, for example.  Pitino knows where Buzz likes Junior to get the ball in the backcourt on the one side of that middle line, knowing Junior is primarily right handed with the dribble, so he camps out defenders to steal it or delay it via a press.  Similarly, other teams know that when Junior clears the backcourt, Buzz wants him to dribble it diagonally to the other side past that middle line so they move up defenders to disrupt it (UWGB went to a 3-2 zone for instance).  They also know he is a high dribbler, so when Junior is on the top left or right of the key, they know a high pick from our centers is right at that center line at the top of the key, allowing Junior to pass that pick and find that seam down the free throw box for a drive or pull up.  Defenders know it is coming, so you see help defense reaching low for a steal on his loose dribble.

This is why so many of Junior's turnovers come out high, especially against the zone.  He rushes the play, which works magnificently when he pushes it against a man defense in an open court game...the difference is against a zone, two or three defenders are focused on disrupting his tendencies and weaknesses....and speeding it up causes him to not see the whole court, so the turnovers occur in spades out high.  You have seen Vander and Todd bring up the ball more recently as an example of an adjustment.  More so, Buzz is moving more cutters through the zone (see Pittsburgh game).  You also have seen Buzz put in a bigger line up with Otule, Gardner and Wilson in order to go over a zone.  This prevents teams doubling down on Gardner in the blocks.  Other looks with Taylor flashing and facing the zone at the free throw line causes a reaction within the zone.  Jamil is finding other open spots for his great mid-range game, but also he is finding the corners for his sweet three stroke.  Gardner is taking and making face up jumpers, causing defenders to move out of the paint to defend him which has opened space for Lockett. It is no surprise our outside shooting has improved recently.

Junior led the Big East in +/- last season.  He is a great playmaker, leader and distributor.  It is no accident that MU has gone to two Sweet 16's in a row with him as a PG.  He has his limitations, of course, as any player does.  But, he is being keyed on, so he needs to use his court awareness to know when to use his speed and when not to.  Similarly, his coach needs to continue to make adjustments.

We need better players.

[4everwarriors]

4ever

Is it safe to say you do not have Jr. ranked as one of our all time great PG's?

Not a position of strength on this team. Seen enough elite 1 guards, particularly at MU, to simply wish Jr. well goin' forward.

[Goose]

4ever

With you on that. What were your bthoughts on Tony Miller?

[4everwarriors]

Honestly, didn't appreciate him while he was here. Looking back now, he was a Warrior.

[jsglow]

Thank's so much Doc.  Great read.

[Goose]

To me Tony Miller got too much loving. One great game against Kentucky made his career IMO. Only ask because Tony Miller received and receives more praise than I think deserved.

[warriorchick]

I read the subject line too quickly and initially thought it read, "Where does Junior Cadougan snuggle most?

In Humphrey.

[Henry Sugar]

Brilliance

*slow clap*

[NotAnAlum]

To me Tony Miller got too much loving. One great game against Kentucky made his career IMO. Only ask because Tony Miller received and receives more praise than I think deserved.

Tony Miller owns the assist record at MU by so many that it is the ONE career record that will likely never be challanged.  But I guess you're right, he really only had one good game. 

[karavotsos]

On the court

If that's true, then he has a tremendously successful life ahead.