Thomas

[jesmu84]

Kid had the stones to take that shot in the 1st half. Biggest single play of the season (so far) for MU. He won't get many accolades for his time here, but that shot was HUGE for this game and this season. Gotta believe his transfer was all worth it just for that.

[rocky_warrior]

Hoping (for his sake) he can get a few more off like that this season. 

[WarriorHal]

We won by 3 and he scored 4. Huge contribution -- huge win!

[Windyplayer]

Kid had the stones to take that shot in the 1st half. Biggest single play of the season (so far) for MU. He won't get many accolades for his time here, but that shot was HUGE for this game and this season. Gotta believe his transfer was all worth it just for that.

+1. Who would have ever guessed? Simply unreal.

[nyg]

Plus, Thomas taking Mayo's minutes also put a fire under Todd in second half. 

[tower912]

I'm just glad Buzz finally came to his senses and played Thomas in front of Lockett.       Reminiscent of Christopherson hitting one shot (figuratively) as a freshman and turning that game around. 

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Really did his part tonight. Wanted him to hit the 2nd so bad.

[GGGG]

Buzz turns to him almost in desperation...and he hits what might be the shot of the year.

[SonofPianoMan]

was chatting that play up walking out of the stadium... it changed the entire complexion of the game/team! Wow!

[brewcity77]

Buzz said in the postgame "I just needed someone to hit a shot. Homer, if you'd been on the bench, I might've put you in."

[Stronghold]

It sure got the student section going.

[MauraDay]

Play of the game

[jesmu84]

Buzz turns to him almost in desperation...and he hits what might be the shot of the year.

It is entirely possible that if Thomas doesn't make that shot or get in the game, that MU goes on to win tonight anyway. However, it was such a huge momentum swing and really got us back into the game in the first half to make the second half possible.

Hyperbole coming.... without that shot, after a bad loss to Nova, we could easily have gotten blown out tonight, then faced a hot ND team on Saturday... and who knows how the rest of the season ended. Huge, HUGE shot for our season...


HUGE!

[T-Bone]

Biggest impact may be on his confidence. I hope so.

[WayOfTheWarrior]

My buddy and I were talking before the game about how Jake usually shoots really well in warm up but that the team seemed to have a system where everyone (for the most part) has settled into what their role is and his is very small now. Obviously he made most of the opportunity that he got. Not saying his minutes will go up, but I wish he could be the sharpshooting specialist we all want him to be. It's a HUGE deal come tournament time to have a pure 3-point shooter to get you back into a game like tonight. Time will tell I guess. He still needs to work on creating a shot for himself though.

[keefe]

Biggest impact may be on his confidence. I hope so.

Would it help his confidence if they put girders and beams in the way of the basket?

[Goose]

Big shot and kudo's to the kid. It was needed badly and he delivered.

[ATL MU Warrior]

thought he played pretty solid D as well.  kept Carter-Williams in front of him and challenged a couple of jumpers as well.  Overall a very solid effort for a guy who hadn't played in a long time.

Also agree on the confidence angle.  It would be a huge help for this team for him to come in and be a threat from outside.

[tower912]

For as little as he has played during the conference season, the way he came in and understood and competed in the man and zone defenses as well as 'the shot' was impressive.    Syracuse actually paid attention to where he was on the court in the second half. 

[DoggyDaddy]

He will see time on the floor if MU is facing an opponent that sags in the middle and when everyone else is missing threes.  Seems to me that may happen again.
By the way, my comment in the game thread last night called for Jake in advance of Buzz's actual move.
Assist anyone? 
   

[Niv Berkowitz]

Thomas' job is to shoot. Plain and simple. Obviously, he has to play D too. But offensively, if he gets an open look, he has to have a green-light every time. I'm not saying he gets 10 shots a game, but for limited minutes, you find a gap in the defense, get him an open look. Otherwise, there's no point in him out there.

Like Buzz said postgame, the key to that shot was MU did that off of transition and a Syracuse miss. They didn't have time to set the D and he was wide open. I thought there were two other times he should have shot during the game, actually.

Totally agree, though. That was the turning point of the game. That possession, followed closely by the turnover by SU when they chucked it 30' into the stands up 7. They get a 2 or 3 there, it could be lights out.

[jsglow]

Beyond the shot itself, Jake's presence on the floor noticably opened up the spacing of the 'Cuse 2-3 zone during that critical first half run.  Instantly, there was just an inch of additional room for Gardner.  I hope somebody gets Jake a copy.  He'll tell his kids and grandkids about 'the shot'.

[BCHoopster]

There was  a lot of discussion about Jakes worth on this board, all I said is that if he can shoot he might help against Syracuse.  I think he hit the biggest shot of the year for MU, got
them back in the game and just might help his confidence to get in and make a shot, because he did it once and maybe can do it again.  You need players like him on the bench, it was
nice to see him do his job.

[T-Bone]

Would it help his confidence if they put girders and beams in the way of the basket?

Probably not.  I think we all know he *can* shoot. 

After the UWGB game, it seemed like that miss sucked the wind out of him - that shot is what he was here for.  Him having confidence to go out there an shoot will be huge for us down the road.  Having a guy that can go nail a three when we get flummoxed by a zone and break a lifeless drought is key for us.  We seem to hit those lulls and rely on a mistake by the other team to get out of them.  We had a huge lull in the 1st half - pass, pass, pass, travel - pass, pass, pass, travel - pass, pass, pass, bad shot - pass, pass, pass, turnover.  We were breaking out of that pattern by the time he got the 4 point play, but it kept the momentum going.

[Daniel]

Jake lead the rally back withthat shot.  A 4 point play, then on the next Syracuse possesion he pokes the ball loose around midcourt and gets it to Junior who got another two.  Jake had a huge impact on the game and would love if he could come in once in a while and hot more of those. 

I'm sure Boeheim was saying, "who the ^$&& is that?"