Juan Anderson's return and what it means to MU

[CAGASS24]

Juan coming back (as mentioned in the thread); this team is freaking stacked.  I've said before, Juan is no all star, but very successful teams typically have guys like Juan on them - a seasoned heady role player that can rebound, score without being demanding for the ball, and hustle his a$$ off while still being a high level talent in terms of athleticism and explsovie ability (i've seen enough blocks, dunks, and threes from Juan to know what he is capable of).

Literally, all we need to be National Championship legit is a point guard combo that does not turn the ball over and can get the ball to others with good space, angle, and timing.  I'm not talking a world beater NBA point guard here, but a college model dish, defend, and deny type of guy only.  With that in mind, I really do think Derek Wilson takes a majority of the minutes at hte point, with Duane and/or Dawson getting 10-15.  If you add in a dynamic punch (Duane and maybe John) to the point position in addition to Derek's great defense and very low turnover percentage, watch out baby.

We will be dominant at the 4 and 5, and will have so many options for the 2 and 3 it is ridiculous.  So, like i said, point guard is what can take us to the promised land.

WE HAVE ALL THE PIECES -

Here's to the offseason, the kid's keeping their noses clean and heads on straight, and to Buzz and the staff doing everything they can think of to keep that fire and confidence burning!!!!!  

[denverMU]

I agree completely and OBTW Todd Mayo available just makes things even better.

[klyrish]

I think I like "hog dog" better than "hot dog" now.

[Skatastrophy]

A stacked team would have a clear point guard, imo. I really hope you're right though!

[tower912]

The biggest benefit of Juan staying will be the 14-15 year.   A frontline of McKay, Juan, STjr,  and Deonte/JJJ is a really good spot to start.   It gives whatever big Buzz lands in his next class a year to get acclimated and develop.     Second, I like seeing good kids stay four years.   Third, I think he doesn't come back unless he knows Buzz is sticking around.  

Thanks for changing your mind, Juan.   And good luck.

[GoldenZebra]

JA coming back is great, glad to have a good guy back on the team!

Our success is gonna be driven by Todd though, we need him to play good for us to win the big games.

[Rockmic87]

Were not beating KU or UK, so lets just focus on getting to the sweet 16 first before this national championship talk....

[PE8983]

Derek Wilson may be a decent backup point, but we're not getting to the "promised land" with him there playing the majority of the minutes.  However, Duane Wilson is a start in the right direction.

[muwar2003]

I was glad Juan was leaving.  We could have filled his spot with someone who could maybe score, rebound or play defense.  Juan didn't do anything and I don't see him all of a sudden scoring, rebounding or playing defense.

[tower912]

Were we watching the same games?   I saw a gamer, someone who has good skills, with a great attitude.   I saw a player that if he is able to stay healthy and work on his body and his game the next two summers, will be a 12/6 guy as a senior.   I want that guy to stay at MU. 

[Dawson Rental]

I was glad Juan was leaving.  We could have filled his spot with someone who could maybe score, rebound or play defense.  Juan didn't do anything and I don't see him all of a sudden scoring, rebounding or playing defense.

I agree.  This is the worst news since it became clear that Buzz wasn't going to SMU.  Which is worse; a player who can't score, rebound or play defense, or having a coach who understands so little about basketball that he starts him?  No wonder we have five straight years of no final fours under Buzz!

[damuts222]

I was glad Juan was leaving.  We could have filled his spot with someone who could maybe score, rebound or play defense.  Juan didn't do anything and I don't see him all of a sudden scoring, rebounding or playing defense.

Juan passes the eye test, stats only tell you so much.

[GGGG]

I was glad Juan was leaving.  We could have filled his spot with someone who could maybe score, rebound or play defense.  Juan didn't do anything and I don't see him all of a sudden scoring, rebounding or playing defense.

You know very little of what you are talking about.

First off, Juan is actually a very good rebounder.  He averaged 2.8 per game.  Just a cursory glance shows that his per 40 is about the same as Jamil's and Taylor's.  And outside of the centers, is about as good as any wing player but Locketts.

Second, he isn't a bad perimeter defender.  He isn't a good interior defender, but that is why IMO he is making a switch.

And finally, I love how people continue to discount the ability of players to improve.  Buzz wants him...and Buzz knows more than you do.

[Skatastrophy]

...and Buzz knows more than you do.

Pshh

[GGGG]

JA coming back is great, glad to have a good guy back on the team!

Our success is gonna be driven by Todd though, we need him to play good for us to win the big games.

The success of next year's team isn't necessarily driven by Todd.  There are a number of options for that label.

[bilsu]

I was glad Juan was leaving.  We could have filled his spot with someone who could maybe score, rebound or play defense.  Juan didn't do anything and I don't see him all of a sudden scoring, rebounding or playing defense.

That of course is your opinion. However, posting it on the internet for our team to see makes you an *** and that is my opinion. I be glad if you transferred elsewhere. There I posted on the internet that I be happy if you transferred elsewhere. How, do you like it?

[Hards Alumni]

You know very little of what you are talking about.

First off, Juan is actually a very good rebounder.  He averaged 2.8 per game.  Just a cursory glance shows that his per 40 is about the same as Jamil's and Taylor's.  And outside of the centers, is about as good as any wing player but Locketts.

Second, he isn't a bad perimeter defender.  He isn't a good interior defender, but that is why IMO he is making a switch.

And finally, I love how people continue to discount the ability of players to improve.  Buzz wants him...and Buzz knows more than you do.

Hey now, around here we don't let little things like facts get in the way of gut feelings.

[ATWizJr]

I was glad Juan was leaving.  We could have filled his spot with someone who could maybe score, rebound or play defense.  Juan didn't do anything and I don't see him all of a sudden scoring, rebounding or playing defense.

Welcome back, Juan and please don't take this post as being representative of how the MU family feels about you.

[slack00]

With Anderson's return, I think it just continues the shift to a bigger lineup.  In years past, the Juan Anderson and Jamil Wilson type players were forced to play and guard the opposing team's 5s.  This year I think we'll see both of those players defend the opposing 3s.  Gardner and Otule will continue to split the minutes at the 5, McKay and Taylor will split minutes at the 4, and Wilson and Anderson will split the minutes at the 3 vacated by Lockett.

[jsglow]

With Anderson's return, I think it just continues the shift to a bigger lineup.  In years past, the Juan Anderson and Jamil Wilson type players were forced to play and guard the opposing team's 5s.  This year I think we'll see both of those players defend the opposing 3s.  Gardner and Otule will continue to split the minutes at the 5, McKay and Taylor will split minutes at the 4, and Wilson and Anderson will split the minutes at the 3 vacated by Lockett.

Exactly how I see it as well.  One other point on this.  The entire group you've just described will be upperclassmen with the exception of STjr.  All but two will be in at least their 3rd year in the program.  (And I'm pretty sure CO was a Frosh back when I was in school 30 years ago!)  That's a great deal of BEast maturity brought to the table.  All those kids know how to play the game at a high level.

Mix in some veteran leadership at the #1 and #2 to go along with 4-star incoming talent and we might just have something here.

[CAGASS24]

Derek Wilson may be a decent backup point, but we're not getting to the "promised land" with him there playing the majority of the minutes.  However, Duane Wilson is a start in the right direction.

By national champ legit I mean a contender; a team that can be considered to have a reasonable chance.  If we stay healthy and increase open shoot making consistency from last year, I absolutely think d Wilson is the right kind of point guard to have.  You don't need to have elite talent at every position, you need to be a me to dominate in a few and elite depth.

[tower912]

With Anderson's return, I think it just continues the shift to a bigger lineup.  In years past, the Juan Anderson and Jamil Wilson type players were forced to play and guard the opposing team's 5s.  This year I think we'll see both of those players defend the opposing 3s.  Gardner and Otule will continue to split the minutes at the 5, McKay and Taylor will split minutes at the 4, and Wilson and Anderson will split the minutes at the 3 vacated by Lockett.

IMO for 14/15, it means bigger switchables.    This coming season, with JWilson, Otule,  and Gardner, there are going to fairly clearly defined positions.   In 14-15, when the projected starting lineup of McKay, STjr, Juan, JJJ, and DuWilson goes 6'9, 6'7, 6'7, 6'5, 6'3, Buzz will have a team where his each of his starters can defend at least 3 positions on the floor. 

[GOO]

By national champ legit I mean a contender; a team that can be considered to have a reasonable chance.  If we stay healthy and increase open shoot making consistency from last year, I absolutely think d Wilson is the right kind of point guard to have.  You don't need to have elite talent at every position, you need to be a me to dominate in a few and elite depth.

We were probably a shooter away from being a contender last year (or maybe two guys shooting reasonably well).  Not saying we'd win it, but we'd have been in the discussion, as mentioned above.  If Blue had come back we'd be a contender and one of the top teams in the discussion.

So looking at it that way, we have to replace 3 players in Blue, Junior and Tent:

  Junior:  I guess the issue is can Derrick Wilson and Duane replace what he brought.  I was never a hugh fan of Junior, so the answer is probably yes from my  perspective.  The intangibles and ability to hit that wide layup when we needed points and things weren't going well will be missed from Junior.  But Derrick probably gives us better defense.  Can we rely on Derrick due to him seemingly having no offensive game?  No.  So hopefully Duane and Derrick together will allow us to elevate the point guard position.  This is an IF position, but not an area of strength last year and I bet we are as good or better at the point this year.

  Trent:  Rebounding.  Played well down the stretch.  I think we will be a good or even great rebounding team.  Plus Jamil Wilson playing more at the 3 gives us more scoring.  Juan can rebound and will probably elevate his game going into his junior year with his first full summer of work at MU.  This could be a big upgrade, especially offensively.  We will have height and be long.  Trent's rebounding may be replaced somewhat by our power forward.

 Blue:  He carried us at times, but still couldn't shoot.  I am hopeful that JJuan Johnson will be stud.  But that is hope and ifs.  Maybe Mayo can help out or will surprise me (as I have my doubts on Mayo's desire to not take bad shots and do what he wants).  I can't see us being better at the 2, especially on defense, but if we have a couple of shooters on the court, the drive and kick and be an option... and if so, it will help open some driving lanes.  This will probably be a down grade at this position.

So, my conclusion:  Point guard is a question mark, but even if it isn't a area of strength, this position has been a weakness for years under Buzz, and we've been able to win. We have a potential stud in Duane Wilson, so there is hope.  We don't have a lot to replace here in my opinion, and should be fine from that perspective.

Trent, we will miss his rebounding, but over all, I think we will be better off.  Jamil Wilson can shoot it and post up.  He will have a big height advantage over most of this competition.  

Blue and the 2 guard spot is a question mark and the big IF in my opinion.  But we do have candidates to step up.  

Since we should be long and tall, it will be interesting to see if Buzz mixes up he defenses more and plays more zone.  
 

[bilsu]

Common sense would tell us that point guard is the weak spot. However, I am not sure that is true. We know at a minimum we have Derrick Wilson. To me the biggest area he needs to improve in is not scoring but distributing the ball. I think we have enough players and options to be considered solid at the 3, 4 & 5 spots. The weak spot might actually be the two. We have Mayo and I just do not know what that means based on his first two seasons. We have JJJ, but he is a freshmen who at this point is way to thin. We also have Thomas and he has not shown the ability to hit the three like I thought he would. The reality is the best two on the team might be Duane Wilson, but he is probably going to play point.

[seakm4]

I'm just happy to have Juan Back.  He's the best teammate on the bench and a great hustle guy. 

Apparently I missed the things the sconnie troll pointed out he can't rebound, score, or defend.