13-14 Love

[tower912]

http://www.bracketologyexpert.com/2013/03/31/2013-2014-college-basketball-top-50-march-29-2013-kentucky-louisville-1-2/

I hope they are right.   IMO, a lot of that is contingent on who comes back.   The rest depends on how quickly the freshmen PG's are ready to go.   If DuWilson or Dawson turns out to be an high-level, immediate impact frosh that can play defense, then MU's ceiling is very high.

[ChicosBailBonds]

http://www.bracketologyexpert.com/2013/03/31/2013-2014-college-basketball-top-50-march-29-2013-kentucky-louisville-1-2/

I hope they are right.   IMO, a lot of that is contingent on who comes back.   The rest depends on how quickly the freshmen PG's are ready to go.   If DuWilson or Dawson turns out to be an high-level, immediate impact frosh that can play defense, then MU's ceiling is very high.

To me, this is biggest key.

[Marqus Howard]

Awesome.

Also nice to see that they have 6 Big East teams ranked in the top 50.

[Goose]

Very exciting stuff. We have been talking about it for months and cannot wait until October.

[Chili]

Awesome.

Also nice to see that they have 6 Big East teams ranked in the top 50.

Actually 7..

MU
GU
Nova
Creighton
SJU
Provo
Butler

[brewcity77]

The biggest question is definitely PG. I still feel Derrick Wilson can become a solid player. His defense is excellent and he doesn't turn the ball over. As long as we put playmakers around him there's no reason he can't be a guy that gets 5 ppg and 4 apg. That would be enough with the guys surrounding him.

I think the most realistic alternative is hoping Vander can transition to the point, but I really hope it doesn't come to that. I hate the idea of moving our best player to a different position. I also don't think we want to count on either Duane or Dawson to carry heavy minutes. I know Du Wilson is the popular pick, but he's still a freshman.

Maybe Jamal Ferguson can start at the point.

[Goose]

Brewcity

To be fifth in country we need Duane Wilson and VB to carry the load to PG. Returning DWislson is not a top ten team type point guard. VB return is the key to taking it to next level. Homer's post last night, while I diasgree when he said he doubted Blue would be drafted this year, gave me hope. Homer should know his stuff and hope he is right.

[brewcity77]

Brewcity

To be fifth in country we need Duane Wilson and VB to carry the load to PG. Returning DWislson is not a top ten team type point guard. VB return is the key to taking it to next level. Homer's post last night, while I diasgree when he said he doubted Blue would be drafted this year, gave me hope. Homer should know his stuff and hope he is right.

There's quite simply no way to know that about Derrick. In 2009-10, there was no way Marquette was a NCAA team with Acker and Cooby at the point and Jimmy Butler as your second best player. In 2010-11, there was no way Marquette could replace a first round pick in Hayward with an unknown JUCO kid. In 2012-13, there was no way Marquette could finish in the top half of the Big East or make the tournament with Vander Blue as our best player.

Guys make strides. Derrick was a scorer in high school. He hasn't had to do that here yet. But he has shown he can drive. If he improves his drive and finishing, he can become enough of a scoring threat that he has to be guarded. I'm not saying he has to get to Vander levels, but even if he can drive like Junior does, he'll be light years better. If he can protect the ball, lock down the other team's point guard on defense, and do enough on offense to keep the defense honest while putting the ball in the hands of Vander, Jamil, Taylor, and Gardner, why on earth can't we be a top-5 team with him at the point?

[Goose]

Brew

Wilson might great strides and hope so. The thread has ranked 5th in the country and that is different level of ball. I think Wilson has long way to go before he is starting PG on highly ranked team. Easily could be wrong, but that would be awfully big jump. In addition, speed is the name of the game and our PG this year not having any speed hurt the team.

[brewcity77]

Don't underestimate Buzz's ability to adapt his tactics to his team. In 2009-10 behind Cooby and Acker, Buzz stressed ball control and we averaged only 63.7 possessions per game, 304th in the country. Two years later with Junior, DJO, and Jae leading the break we were averaging 71.4 possessions, 16th in the country. If we need to play slower because of Wilson, we will do so and we will do so effectively.

In addition, I hate to say it, but next year is a completely different animal than any of the past 8 years. Taking Louisville, Syracuse, UConn, and the rest of the old Big East off the schedule and replacing them with Butler, Creighton, and Xavier changes things. I think Derrick is fully capable of managing the game against those teams, and quite simply our talent level is at a different level than the rest of the league. I may take flack for this, but it won't take the same level of talent to be a top-5 team next year as it would have this year simply because the level of competition won't be the same. Just ask Gonzaga.

[GGGG]

We aren't going to necessarily need scoring from the point from next year's team.  That being said, he is going to have to show more when he simply runs the offense.  Too many times last year the offense stagnated when he was on the court.

[forgetful]

Don't underestimate Buzz's ability to adapt his tactics to his team. In 2009-10 behind Cooby and Acker, Buzz stressed ball control and we averaged only 63.7 possessions per game, 304th in the country. Two years later with Junior, DJO, and Jae leading the break we were averaging 71.4 possessions, 16th in the country. If we need to play slower because of Wilson, we will do so and we will do so effectively.

In addition, I hate to say it, but next year is a completely different animal than any of the past 8 years. Taking Louisville, Syracuse, UConn, and the rest of the old Big East off the schedule and replacing them with Butler, Creighton, and Xavier changes things. I think Derrick is fully capable of managing the game against those teams, and quite simply our talent level is at a different level than the rest of the league. I may take flack for this, but it won't take the same level of talent to be a top-5 team next year as it would have this year simply because the level of competition won't be the same. Just ask Gonzaga.

I think next year we start to see more of the aggressive full court press, run and gun style, like we had before last year.  With the athleticism of the incoming class that becomes a strong option again.

[avid1010]

The biggest question is definitely PG. I still feel Derrick Wilson can become a solid player. His defense is excellent and he doesn't turn the ball over. As long as we put playmakers around him there's no reason he can't be a guy that gets 5 ppg and 4 apg. That would be enough with the guys surrounding him.
Maybe Jamal Ferguson can start at the point.

that's too simple, imho.  right now i'm not sure he can even be on the floor at the end of the game because of his free-throw shooting...not sure he could play starter minutes without being in foul trouble...can't keep his defender honest from the 3pt line...on occasion could penetrate and kick/finish, but not at a high level. 

everyone jumped on the buzz comment about how junior only was starting because he was a senior, etc...that was buzz being buzz...anyone who seriously believes that is a fool.

[esotericmindguy]

PG just has to be adequate. MU just won the big east with one of the worst PGs in the conference. Junior hit some big shots but he was very average at best.

Brew, De Wilson has trouble hitting the rim on 3 point shots...he's not a high level PG.

[dwaderoy2004]

http://www.bracketologyexpert.com/2013/03/31/2013-2014-college-basketball-top-50-march-29-2013-kentucky-louisville-1-2/

I hope they are right.   IMO, a lot of that is contingent on who comes back.   The rest depends on how quickly the freshmen PG's are ready to go.   If DuWilson or Dawson turns out to be an high-level, immediate impact frosh that can play defense, then MU's ceiling is very high.

They don't even think Otule is coming back.

[avid1010]

PG just has to be adequate.

the history of pg's who won national championships is pretty strong....far better than adequate.

[GGGG]

PG just has to be adequate. MU just won the big east with one of the worst PGs in the conference. Junior hit some big shots but he was very average at best.

Brew, De Wilson has trouble hitting the rim on 3 point shots...he's not a high level PG.

Don't over do it.  Junior was hardly one of the worst PGs in the conference.

[Dawson Rental]

They don't even think Otule is coming back.

No one seems to have told them that Tarik Black isn't going to return to Memphis, either.

[willie warrior]

Don't over do it.  Junior was hardly one of the worst PGs in the conference.

Agreed. Junior was not adequate with the three, but Wilson was atrocious. One of the big criticisms I saw of Cadougan was that he dribbled the ball too high, but guess what? Wilson dribbled it as high. Jr. was a better passer and driver than Wilson. Wilson was a better defender, although Jr. significantly improved his D the last year. Wilson will have to significantly improve his 3 point shot and FT's to be in in tight games near the end in conference. For Marquette to advance further next year, they will need a consistent 3 point shooter. Currently they do not have that. Hopefully J. Wilson will become more consistent or triple J and Du. Wilson will need to be that guy.

[nyg]

Agreed. Junior was not adequate with the three, but Wilson was atrocious. One of the big criticisms I saw of Cadougan was that he dribbled the ball too high, but guess what? Wilson dribbled it as high. Jr. was a better passer and driver than Wilson. Wilson was a better defender, although Jr. significantly improved his D the last year. Wilson will have to significantly improve his 3 point shot and FT's to be in in tight games near the end in conference. For Marquette to advance further next year, they will need a consistent 3 point shooter. Currently they do not have that. Hopefully J. Wilson will become more consistent or triple J and Du. Wilson will need to be that guy.

Every shot needs improvement for Derrick Wilson.  Against Syracuse and their zone, Cuse was just letting him stand there saying" go ahead, take it" and he didn't.

For the year he shot: 

Field Goal %      27%
Three Point %    14%
Free Throw %    45%

In 35 games, he had a total of 40 points.  Sorry, but these stats are terrible and he has been here two years to work on it.  Don't see it improving offensively for the fella. 

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Peyton Siva is an atrocious three point shooter and the Cardinals seem OK at the point. You guys are nuts about Derrick Wilson. He will start and he will be an upgrade.

One of the best PGs in MU history, Tony Miller, was a terrible shooter. So was James for that matter. Wilson didnt shoot because he was told not to, just as Butler was told not to as a sophomore. Incidentally, IMO Junior was our worst late game FT shooter, although I have no stats to back that up.

[Marqevans]

Has us 5 with Otule leaving.  Wonder what we are if he stays?

[Skatastrophy]

Peyton Siva is an atrocious three point shooter and the Cardinals seem OK at the point. You guys are nuts about Derrick Wilson. He will start and he will be an upgrade.

+1, I love DWil's game

[brandx]

I expected us to be in the 10 - 15 range, so I'm happy about this. I think Wilson and Wilson are the key to success next year.

I've always been a fan of Junior for his toughness, but I thought PG was a position where we consistently were outplayed against the better teams.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I agree with PRN that our PG doesn't have to be a great shooter.  However, someone has to step up and hit them.  He is right about Siva being a below average 3 point shooter at 29%.  But, Louisville has three guys that are over 33% and a fourth player at just under 32% from deep.  MU, on the other hand, currently has 2 guys over 33% and one of those just graduated, leaving us with one guy over 33% for next year. I know some good shooters are coming in, but they will have to prove it at the DI level...this isn't high school. 

If the PG isn't going to nail a few from outside to keep teams honest, someone else is going to have to.  I'd prefer our PG to be a pass first PG anyway, followed by a penetrator that can shoot FT's great, especially at the end of the game because the ball will be in his hands.