Vander to take on Larkin????

[MU82]

Nice MJS story on Vander here:

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/goldeneagles/burning-sensation-q29ai0l-200161661.html

Most interesting thing to me is this:

Jeff Capel was the U18 coach for USA Basketball in 2010, and during the tryouts, he could not keep his eyes off the kid from Wisconsin.

"The big reason why he made the team was his toughness, his grit, his defense," said Capel, now an assistant coach at Duke. "He was just really, really tough."

Blue started for that team because he complemented the high-scoring backcourt of Kyrie Irving and Austin Rivers. Blue was the shut-down man, assigned to the opponent's best perimeter player.

Might Buzz do with Vander against Miami's Shane Larkin what he did with Jimmy Butler in the 2011 game against Xavier's Tu Holloway?

One might think it would sap too much of Vander's energy to chase Larkin all over the place. But Jimmy had 15 pts on 5-8 shooting, 5 reb, 4 asst and 3 stl despite playing 36 minutes against Holloway, the standout who famously had only 5 pts and 5 TOs vs. MU.

Reading this story, one would think Vander gladly would accept the responsibility and take it as a personal challenge. Whether he could do it as well as Jimmy did is another argument, but it is an intriguing possibility.

[The Process]

Anyone else find it interesting that Lori Nickel has been writing more of the bigger MU pieces lately?

[GGGG]

Buzz rarely plays Junior on a defender other than the opposing team's point guard.  My guess is that Derrick gets a bunch of minutes like he did against Butler and they'll stick Vander on one of their shooters.  Vander might be the back up option.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Funny, I just posted in a different thread that while we don't have a Jimmy Butler this year, we do have 4-5 guys, including VB, that are capable of guarding Larkin.  Keep them coming at him in waves.  Switch them often, keep them fresh, keep Larkin guessing.  

He will likely still get his, but make him work for it and wear his ass down.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Nice MJS story on Vander here:

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/goldeneagles/burning-sensation-q29ai0l-200161661.html

Most interesting thing to me is this:

Jeff Capel was the U18 coach for USA Basketball in 2010, and during the tryouts, he could not keep his eyes off the kid from Wisconsin.

"The big reason why he made the team was his toughness, his grit, his defense," said Capel, now an assistant coach at Duke. "He was just really, really tough."

Blue started for that team because he complemented the high-scoring backcourt of Kyrie Irving and Austin Rivers. Blue was the shut-down man, assigned to the opponent's best perimeter player.

Might Buzz do with Vander against Miami's Shane Larkin what he did with Jimmy Butler in the 2011 game against Xavier's Tu Holloway?

One might think it would sap too much of Vander's energy to chase Larkin all over the place. But Jimmy had 15 pts on 5-8 shooting, 5 reb, 4 asst and 3 stl despite playing 36 minutes against Holloway, the now-NBA standout who famously had only 5 pts and 5 TOs vs. MU.
Reading this story, one would think Vander gladly would accept the responsibility and take it as a personal challenge. Whether he could do it as well as Jimmy did is another argument, but it is an intriguing possibility.

Holloway went undrafted and now plays in Turkey.  However, he was A10 POY and an All-American, so it doesn't diminish the accomplishment.  Jimmy's outrageously efficient offense, athleticism, and measurables piqued scouts' interests no doubt, but I think the demonstrated ability to shut down a top performer at a different position like Holloway on a big stage put him in the 1st round.  Buzz' true definition of a switchable.

[MUFC9295]

My question is, who would take on Blue?  Miami should be a little worried too.

[GOO]

Funny, I just posted in a different thread that while we don't have a Jimmy Butler this year, we do have 4-5 guys, including VB, that are capable of guarding Larkin.  Keep them coming at him in waves.  Switch them often, keep them fresh, keep Larkin guessing.  

He will likely still get his, but make him work for it and wear his ass down.

Agreed, I think Blue will get some time, but it will be 3 or 4 guys taking turns and going all out during their turn.  I dont' think we'll see just Vander.

[MU82]

Holloway went undrafted and now plays in Turkey.  However, he was A10 POY and an All-American, so it doesn't diminish the accomplishment.  Jimmy's outrageously efficient offense, athleticism, and measurables piqued scouts' interests no doubt, but I think the demonstrated ability to shut down a top performer at a different position like Holloway on a big stage put him in the 1st round.  Buzz' true definition of a switchable.

D'oh! Got him confused with somebody else. Thanks for the catch. I made the correction in the original post.

And you are right. It still doesn't diminish what Jimmy did.

[Nukem2]

Anyone else find it interesting that Lori Nickel has been writing more of the bigger MU pieces lately?

She is writing articles on individual players.  She is much better at that than Hunt.

[Warriors10]

For 38 minutes it will be DWil/Jr on Larkin.  If nobody else is hot for Miami and its all Larkin, I'd expect Blue to take him for the final couple of possessions.

[The Process]

She is writing articles on individual players.  She is much better at that writing articles in general than Hunt.

FIFY.

[MU82]

My biggest worry if not using Vander on Larkin is that Derrick's increased playing time will significantly hurt our offense ... as it almost always does.

Whether you like Junior or merely tolerate him, few would argue that the offense doesn't run much more smoothly when he's on the floor.

We need to defend Larkin, that's for sure. It might even be Job 1. But we might actually need an offense that's efficient for most of the game -- rather than only in the final 2 mins vs Davidson and the second half vs Butler -- to beat Miami.

Fact is, in quite a few of our biggest wins the last few years, Junior was the catalyst.

[MerrittsMustache]

D'oh! Got him confused with somebody else. Thanks for the catch. I made the correction in the original post.

And you are right. It still doesn't diminish what Jimmy did.

Jordan Crawford, perhaps? Also an IU to Xavier guy.

[MU82]

Jordan Crawford, perhaps? Also an IU to Xavier guy.

No. Embarrassing to admit, but I was thinking about Jrue Holiday!

[Pakuni]

My question is, who would take on Blue?  Miami should be a little worried too.

Durand Scott was ACC Defensive Player of the Year. He'll be a tough matchup.

[gmhfordham1015]

My question is, who would take on Blue?  Miami should be a little worried too.

Durand Scott- Acc Defensive Player of the year.

[shoothoops]

Marquette will likely rotate guys on Larkin.  And, as the game progresses, the more effective MU defenders will stay on Larkin.  Blue, D Wilson, Cadougan, J Wilson for length, etc...

[MU82]

Marquette will likely rotate guys on Larkin.  And, as the game progresses, the more effective MU defenders will stay on Larkin.  Blue, D Wilson, Cadougan, J Wilson for length, etc...

The way Jamil moves laterally, I could see him picking up 1 foul per minute that he attempts to defend Larkin. I'd rather see Mayo or Juan if we had to see somebody other than Vander, Junior or Derrick.

[brewcity77]

My question is, who would take on Blue?  Miami should be a little worried too.

My money's on Durand Scott. I'll be curious to see if they try to throw a zone at us at all.

[Eldon]

#freelorinickel

[Big Papi]

We will rotate defenders on Larkin and we will do everything possible to make him exert energy on the defensive end as well. 

Also, like Brian Wardle mentioned in MJS, I believe we will have some success taking the ball in the paint.  With taking the ball in the paint we will hopefully draw some fouls and get Miami in foul trouble and expose their lack of bench.  Hopefully Larkin makes it easy on us and gets a cheap foul or two early in that game.

[Goose]

I would put Vander on Larkin and see what happens. He can play D against anyone and might be best bet to slow Larkin down.

[4everwarriors]

I like the size differential of Blue vs Larkin, though I wouldn't start the game that way to protect Vander from picking up a quick couple of fouls.
Blue in foul trouble = MU SOL

[MarquetteMAN]

Buzz rarely plays Junior on a defender other than the opposing team's point guard.  My guess is that Derrick gets a bunch of minutes like he did against Butler and they'll stick Vander on one of their shooters.  Vander might be the back up option.

Derrick should be glued to larkin with vander as a complement. now that reggie johnson is out, there wont be any giant bodies down low to keep us from moving around quickly.

[MU82]

Derrick should be glued to larkin with vander as a complement. now that reggie johnson is out, there wont be any giant bodies down low to keep us from moving around quickly.

So this means what? Junior plays 10 minutes while Derrick plays 30?

I don't know about you, but I'd like at least a chance for the team to score 50 points in the game.