5 Observations from tonight

[NersEllenson]

1) Davante Gardner can play an effective 33 minutes - probably a good thing Buzz only played him 11 at Nova.

2) The lineup of Cadougan, Mayo, Jamil, Steve/Otule and Davante caused major problems for Cuse...on both ends of the floor.

3) Time to reduce minutes to less than 5 for Juan (who is still a year away) and give more to Jamil and Steve Taylor, Derrick Wilson (give minutes only as a breather when Junior needs them)

4) Time to flip flop the minutes of Mayo and Lockett - can still start Trent - but Mayo needs to finish games and play more minutes.  Todd's quickness and rise and fire ability better fit the team - Lockett is just a step slow...but a gritty/tough player who's best attribute is rebounding.

5) One of the most fun MU games to watch in a long time...big play after big play, and kept on fighting when they fell behind...a gritty win...that erases the sting and annoyance of Villanova loss.

[bkooncy]

1) Davante Gardner can play an effective 33 minutes - probably a good thing Buzz only played him 11 at Nova.

2) The lineup of Cadougan, Mayo, Jamil, Steve/Otule and Davante caused major problems for Cuse...on both ends of the floor.

3) Time to reduce minutes to less than 5 for Juan (who is still a year away) and give more to Jamil and Steve Taylor, Derrick Wilson (give minutes only as a breather when Junior needs them)

4) Time to flip flop the minutes of Mayo and Lockett - can still start Trent - but Mayo needs to finish games and play more minutes.  Todd's quickness and rise and fire ability better fit the team - Lockett is just a step slow...but a gritty/tough player who's best attribute is rebounding.

5) One of the most fun MU games to watch in a long time...big play after big play, and kept on fighting when they fell behind...a gritty win...that erases the sting and annoyance of Villanova loss.

I agree 100% on everything you said here.  Taylor and Mayo need to see the floor more!

[Tugg Speedman]

3) Time to reduce minutes to less than 5 for Juan (who is still a year away) and give more to Jamil and Steve Taylor, Derrick Wilson (give minutes only as a breather when Junior needs them)

He played 2 minutes tonight ... done

[jzpenguin]

Honestly, I think a lot of it depends on the type of game that is being played.  It was a great move by Buzz to go big against the zone, but that might not work every game.  But it's nice to have options.

[keefe]

1) Davante Gardner can play an effective 33 minutes - probably a good thing Buzz only played him 11 at Nova.

I am confused about the youthful stamina question. I remember that at their age I could play for hours. Man, I was ready to go with my waking breath. And if I played on Saturday afternoon I often was eager to get in more playing time that night. And on Sunday morning.

Is there something you know about Gardner's stamina that makes this an issue?

[MerrittsMustache]

4) Time to flip flop the minutes of Mayo and Lockett - can still start Trent - but Mayo needs to finish games and play more minutes.  Todd's quickness and rise and fire ability better fit the team - Lockett is just a step slow...but a gritty/tough player who's best attribute is rebounding.

Let's not get carried away on Mayo. Yeah, he hit a big shot but he was only 2-6 from the floor in 16 minutes. The Lockett/Mayo minutes will likely depend on the type of game being played. Mayo is a better scorer while Lockett is better at everything else.

[bkooncy]

Let's not get carried away on Mayo. Yeah, he hit a big shot but he was only 2-6 from the floor in 16 minutes. The Lockett/Mayo minutes will likely depend on the type of game being played. Mayo is a better scorer while Lockett is better at everything else.

I disagree Mayo is a better on ball defender as well.  Which only leaves lockett as a better rebounder. 

[MerrittsMustache]

I am confused about the youthful stamina question. I remember that at their age I could play for hours. Man, I was ready to go with my waking breath. And if I played on Saturday afternoon I often was eager to get in more playing time that night. And on Sunday morning.

Is there something you know about Gardner's stamina that makes this an issue?

Did you go constantly go 100% while carrying 300 pounds on your frame and get shoved, scratched and bumped by 250-pound guys on every single possession?

[keefe]

Mayo is a better scorer while Lockett is better at everything else.

Man, I don't know about this. Lockett hustles and is all heart but he's a step slow on defense and often forces things when he gets the ball. Mayo's threes were bigger than Thomas' 4 pointer.

[bkooncy]

Man, I don't know about this. Lockett hustles and is all heart but he's a step slow on defense and often forces things when he gets the ball. Mayo's threes were bigger than Thomas' 4 pointer.

Agree 100%

[MerrittsMustache]

Man, I don't know about this. Lockett hustles and is all heart but he's a step slow on defense and often forces things when he gets the ball. Mayo's threes were bigger than Thomas' 4 pointer.

Statistically speaking, per 40 minutes played...

Lockett: 40.8% FG, 33.3% 3pt, 75.9% FT, 6.9 reb, 2.7 ast, 0.6 blocks, 1.2 steals, 2.7 TO, 1.0 A/TO, 11.4 PPG

Mayo: 40.0% FG, 31.8% 3pt, 81.6% FT, 3.4 reb, 1.8 ast, 0.3 blocks, 1.3 steals, 2.9 TO, 0.6 A/TO, 18.3 PPG

[AZWarrior]

The thing I notice (and appreciate) about Mayo is that he can effectively feed the high post vs a zone.  He'll be at the top of the key extended, and he will fake like he's passing to his right, causing the zone to shift a bit to Mayo's right, opening up a passing lane into the high post, which Mayo utilizes.

I can't say I never see any other MU players employ this (pretty damn basic, really) tactic against the zone, but it's rare.  I see Mayo do it regularly.  I'd really like to see it from the rest of the team as well.

[keefe]

Did you go constantly go 100% while carrying 300 pounds on your frame and get shoved, scratched and bumped by 250-pound guys on every single possession?

You mean, parachuting at night behind enemy lines then carrying my 210 pounds PLUS another 120 on my back on 10-12 day missions behind the lines in Tora Bora while guys who didn't like us were trying to put an end to our distinguished service? Shoved, scratched, and bumped? How about taking two 7.62mm rounds in the leg and side, getting smoked by an IED in Diyala, bitten by a viper, stung by a scorpion in Anbar province?

Yea, I would say Air Force TACP JTACs give at least 100%. If not more.

[WarriorHal]

My observation is that it is a real pleasure to have a coach once again who makes in-game adjustments that work!

[AZWarrior]

You mean, parachuting at night behind enemy lines then carrying my 210 pounds PLUS another 120 on my back on 10-12 day missions behind the lines in Tora Bora while guys who didn't like us were trying to put an end to our distinguished service? Shoved, scratched, and bumped? How about taking two 7.62mm rounds in the leg and side, getting smoked by an IED in Diyala, bitten by a viper, stung by a scorpion in Anbar province?

Yea, I would say Air Force TACP JTACs give at least 100%. If not more.

How did you come to be bitten by a viper?  

[akmarq]

Before we start calling for Mayo to get more minutes, let's all go watch the Seton Hall tape again.

Buzz uses Mayo exactly how he ought to. He gets a chance to come on and show that 'good Todd' has shown up and if he can't, then he rides the pine in favor of more consistant contributors.

[MerrittsMustache]

You mean, parachuting at night behind enemy lines then carrying my 210 pounds PLUS another 120 on my back on 10-12 day missions behind the lines in Tora Bora while guys who didn't like us were trying to put an end to our distinguished service? Shoved, scratched, and bumped? How about taking two 7.62mm rounds in the leg and side, getting smoked by an IED in Diyala, bitten by a viper, stung by a scorpion in Anbar province?

Yea, I would say Air Force TACP JTACs give at least 100%. If not more.

Thank you for your service. However, what does that have to do with Gardner's stamina in a college basketball game vs your stamina in pick-up games?

[jesmu84]

I can't say I never see any other MU players employ this (pretty damn basic, really) tactic against the zone, but it's rare.  I see Mayo do it regularly.  I'd really like to see it from the rest of the team as well.

No joke, in the gameday chat I pointed out how refreshing it was to see Jake Thomas do this in the game tonight.

[MUSF]

You mean, parachuting at night behind enemy lines then carrying my 210 pounds PLUS another 120 on my back on 10-12 day missions behind the lines in Tora Bora while guys who didn't like us were trying to put an end to our distinguished service? Shoved, scratched, and bumped? How about taking two 7.62mm rounds in the leg and side, getting smoked by an IED in Diyala, bitten by a viper, stung by a scorpion in Anbar province?

Yea, I would say Air Force TACP JTACs give at least 100%. If not more.

Alright dude give it a rest. Beating everyone over the head with your service on a message board isn't very befitting of a true operator IMO. I wonder if a CCT would be so quick to blow his own horn.

It's also a completely apples oranges comparison. Two completely different types of fitness.

[Silkk the Shaka]

The thing I notice (and appreciate) about Mayo is that he can effectively feed the high post vs a zone.  He'll be at the top of the key extended, and he will fake like he's passing to his right, causing the zone to shift a bit to Mayo's right, opening up a passing lane into the high post, which Mayo utilizes.

I can't say I never see any other MU players employ this (pretty damn basic, really) tactic against the zone, but it's rare.  I see Mayo do it regularly.  I'd really like to see it from the rest of the team as well.

Jamil does this frequently as well

[79Warrior]

Man, I don't know about this. Lockett hustles and is all heart but he's a step slow on defense and often forces things when he gets the ball. Mayo's threes were bigger than Thomas' 4 pointer.

No way. Thomas four point play turned the tide. Led to another turnover and we had six points in 20 seconds. We were about to go into half time down double digits. We end up down three. Huge turnaround.

[NersEllenson]

Statistically speaking, per 40 minutes played...

Lockett: 40.8% FG, 33.3% 3pt, 75.9% FT, 6.9 reb, 2.7 ast, 0.6 blocks, 1.2 steals, 2.7 TO, 1.0 A/TO, 11.4 PPG

Mayo: 40.0% FG, 31.8% 3pt, 81.6% FT, 3.4 reb, 1.8 ast, 0.3 blocks, 1.3 steals, 2.9 TO, 0.6 A/TO, 18.3 PPG

Thanks for basically proving the point that Mayo would give you more than Lockett - sorry, I'll take 7ppg more in 40 minutes over 3.5 rebounds.  Todd has had very few extended runs - where he gets to play 7-10 minutes straight - he's been on a pretty short leash, and its harder to get in a rhythm when your minutes are hard to come by, or you get pulled fairly quickly.  Todd is a much better on ball defender than Lockett as well.  This is not me hating on Trent or anything either - Todd is simply the more dynamic player.

[MerrittsMustache]

Thanks for basically proving the point that Mayo would give you more than Lockett - sorry, I'll take 7ppg more in 40 minutes over 3.5 rebounds.  Todd has had very few extended runs - where he gets to play 7-10 minutes straight - he's been on a pretty short leash, and its harder to get in a rhythm when your minutes are hard to come by, or you get pulled fairly quickly.  Todd is a much better on ball defender than Lockett as well.  This is not me hating on Trent or anything either - Todd is simply the more dynamic player.

If MU gets 3.5 fewer rebounds a game, that could be an average 7 more points per game for the opposition 

[77ncaachamps]

Honestly, I think a lot of it depends on the type of game that is being played.  It was a great move by Buzz to go big against the zone, but that might not work every game.  But it's nice to have options.

This.

Big ups to Buzz for knowing his personnel.

He sat the players who needed to sit: Juan (after his forced TO), Lockett (general ineffectiveness toward zone), the rest of the gang who were inexperienced (sans StevieT), but utilized the players who were getting things done (Otule/Gardner screening off inside; Mayo/Blue/Gardner defensively; StevieT/Jamil for quick zone flashes).

[keefe]

How did you come to be bitten by a viper?  

We were calling in A-10 air strikes between Tikrit and Samarra in support of some Stryker units that were doing a sweep of the highway along the Tigris River. This was the heart of the Baathist insurgency when Salah Al-Din was hotter than a pistol. That day the Tangos figured out our tactical position and we started getting our asses kicked, we were getting hammered with some heavy crew served stuff, so we beat feet and took cover in the reeds along the river. One of the guys kicked open a nest of the suckers. There were 6 in our JTAC team and four of us got bitten. Hurt like a mother but our corpsman was on it with needles and rubber hose. Meanwhile our ROMAD, despite having been bitten on his hand, had the presence of mind to call in two F 16 CJs to lay down a load of Snake and Nape that made the bad guys keep their heads down and we hitched a ride on a passing Black Hawk to Balad AB which was only about 12 minutes away. I still have the two fang hole scars in my thigh and the skin looks as if I have a bruise.