ESPN: 10 Most Indispensable players

[Aughnanure]

A bit strong to say we could be in trouble if Gardner doesn't score 13 points in a game, especially considering the example they're using is a game we got destroyed in.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/86705/top-10-most-indispensable-players

9. Davante Gardner (Marquette) -- Buzz Williams' squad could win the first championship in the new Big East. Junior Cadougan, Trent Lockett and Vander Blue are all gone, but multiple veterans return and a strong recruiting class will be in the mix too. It's all there for the Golden Eagles. So much of this team's fate, however, will depend on Davante Gardner. He's a unique player. Few men his size can move the way he does. But Williams doesn't need the sluggish big man who would score 15 points one night and five the next last season. He needs the guy that tore up two of the top frontcourts in the country when he scored 14 points (5-for-7) in a win over Miami in the Sweet 16 and 14 points (6-for-9) in a loss to Syracuse in the Elite Eight. If that guy shows up, Marquette could be one of the most complete teams in the Big East and beyond. With the other version of Gardner, Marquette might be in trouble in the season's late stages.

[willie warrior]

A bit strong to say we could be in trouble if Gardner doesn't score 13 points in a game, especially considering they example their using is a game we got destroyed in.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/86705/top-10-most-indispensable-players

9. Davante Gardner (Marquette) -- Buzz Williams' squad could win the first championship in the new Big East. Junior Cadougan, Trent Lockett and Vander Blue are all gone, but multiple veterans return and a strong recruiting class will be in the mix too. It's all there for the Golden Eagles. So much of this team's fate, however, will depend on Davante Gardner. He's a unique player. Few men his size can move the way he does. But Williams doesn't need the sluggish big man who would score 15 points one night and five the next last season. He needs the guy that tore up two of the top frontcourts in the country when he scored 14 points (5-for-7) in a win over Miami in the Sweet 16 and 14 points (6-for-9) in a loss to Syracuse in the Elite Eight. If that guy shows up, Marquette could be one of the most complete teams in the Big East and beyond. With the other version of Gardner, Marquette might be in trouble in the season's late stages.

Hmmm... but...but...we need Otule to be that guy.

[bobnoxious]

Wondering why he didn't use Dede's stat line from the Feb game against cuse, we wouldn't have won that game without it

[wadesworld]

The author's point is that we'll need Gardner to be consistently good like he was in those back to back games vs. a guy who gets 1 of those games and follows that up with a game where he has 2 points.  He used an example where he shot very high percentages in 2 straight games.

[bilsu]

The author's point is that we'll need Gardner to be consistently good like he was in those back to back games vs. a guy who gets 1 of those games and follows that up with a game where he has 2 points.  He used an example where he shot very high percentages in 2 straight games.

That seems obvious, but I think this team has enough scoring options that Gardner does not need to score a lot for us to win.

[PGsHeroes32]

Big test will be going against the guy right in front of him Kirk. Get that load of crap in foul trouble and go to work Davante!!!

[willie warrior]

That seems obvious, but I think this team has enough scoring options that Gardner does not need to score a lot for us to win.

Really? Where were those options in the Elite 8 game against Syracuse? I think the entire team had 36 points.

[bilsu]

Really? Where were those options in the Elite 8 game against Syracuse? I think the entire team had 36 points.

That was last years team. I am referring to this year's team.

[WarriorFan]

We need 15 and 8 from DG - gotta have the points to win games.  I'd like to see him on the high post a bit more and some real pick/roll action.

[willie warrior]

That was last years team. I am referring to this year's team.

OK--where are they? We lost about 28 ppg in Blue, Cadougan and Lockett. Who on this year's team will make that up?
Ja. Wilson, maybe 2 more per game
Anderson; don't think so
De. Wilson: maybe 2 more per game
Otule: maybe 2 more per game
Mayo: Huge question marks
Still a lot of scoring to make up.
I do hope that McKay, JJJ, Du. Wilson and Burton, along with Taylor can make that up, but three are unproven. And giving those guys the minutes will cut down on others productivity.
Here's hoping I am wrong, but unless OX gets 5 to 8 more minutes per game to score an additional 4 plus points and Ja. Wilson steps up to 14 per game along with the newbies, we will be hard pressed to find scorers against elite teams. IMO, the only given scorer on this year's team is OX, with some potential from Ja. Wilson. Several more will have to step up.

[hairy worthen]

OK--where are they? We lost about 28 ppg in Blue, Cadougan and Lockett. Who on this year's team will make that up?
Ja. Wilson, maybe 2 more per game
Anderson; don't think so
De. Wilson: maybe 2 more per game
Otule: maybe 2 more per game
Mayo: Huge question marks
Still a lot of scoring to make up.
I do hope that McKay, JJJ, Du. Wilson and Burton, along with Taylor can make that up, but three are unproven. And giving those guys the minutes will cut down on others productivity.
Here's hoping I am wrong, but unless OX gets 5 to 8 more minutes per game to score an additional 4 plus points and Ja. Wilson steps up to 14 per game along with the newbies, we will be hard pressed to find scorers against elite teams. IMO, the only given scorer on this year's team is OX, with some potential from Ja. Wilson. Several more will have to step up.

Every year we lose players and others step up,  that is what college basketball is and every team goes through it. You could have made the same argument when we lost the three amigos, Hayward, JFB, DJO and Crowder. The incoming players look like scorers and some of the existing players have potential to score more, Anderson, Wilson, Mayo, Taylor will all play more and score more than last year.

[MerrittsMustache]

OK--where are they? We lost about 28 ppg in Blue, Cadougan and Lockett. Who on this year's team will make that up?
Ja. Wilson, maybe 2 more per game
Anderson; don't think so
De. Wilson: maybe 2 more per game
Otule: maybe 2 more per game
Mayo: Huge question marks
Still a lot of scoring to make up.
I do hope that McKay, JJJ, Du. Wilson and Burton, along with Taylor can make that up, but three are unproven. And giving those guys the minutes will cut down on others productivity.
Here's hoping I am wrong, but unless OX gets 5 to 8 more minutes per game to score an additional 4 plus points and Ja. Wilson steps up to 14 per game along with the newbies, we will be hard pressed to find scorers against elite teams. IMO, the only given scorer on this year's team is OX, with some potential from Ja. Wilson. Several more will have to step up.

Gardner: 15 ppg (+4.5)
Jamil: 14 ppg (+4.3)
Anderson: 6 ppg (+3.3)
Derrick Wilson: 4 ppg (+3)
Otule: 7 ppg (+2)
Mayo: 12 ppg (+6.9)
Taylor: 7 ppg (+4)

There's your 28 ppg and that's not even including the newbies.

Jamil and Mayo are the key. They combined to average 15 ppg last season. This season I wouldn't be surprised if they each average 15 ppg.

[willie warrior]

Gardner: 15 ppg (+4.5)
Jamil: 14 ppg (+4.3)
Anderson: 6 ppg (+3.3)
Derrick Wilson: 4 ppg (+3)
Otule: 7 ppg (+2)
Mayo: 12 ppg (+6.9)
Taylor: 7 ppg (+4)

There's your 28 ppg and that's not even including the newbies.

Jamil and Mayo are the key. They combined to average 15 ppg last season. This season I wouldn't be surprised if they each average 15 ppg.

Not buying Mayo with that big of a leap--hope he proves me wrong--but he has been way too inconsistent to do that. He could just as easily slip. Taylor: maybe but it will have to be at the expense of minutes for Otule/Gardner/Mckay, so their points could be affected. If Jamil Wilson's production goes to 14, then that will affect Burton/JJJ/Anderson IMO. Oh well, we will have to wait until the season unfolds to see who will step up.
My prediction: Ox, but only if Williams plays him 25 plus minutes per game; Ja. Wilson; Du. Wilson; McKay; JJJ and Burton. I would be surprised if Anderson does much; shocked if De. Wilson does much; not expecting what others do out of Mayo; and hope Taylor continues to improve.

[MU82]

Gardner: 15 ppg (+4.5)
Jamil: 14 ppg (+4.3)
Anderson: 6 ppg (+3.3)
Derrick Wilson: 4 ppg (+3)
Otule: 7 ppg (+2)
Mayo: 12 ppg (+6.9)
Taylor: 7 ppg (+4)

There's your 28 ppg and that's not even including the newbies.

Jamil and Mayo are the key. They combined to average 15 ppg last season. This season I wouldn't be surprised if they each average 15 ppg.

I'd be stunned if Mayo averages 15 ppg.

I'd happily settle for him being in control, being a good teammate, playing some decent D and knocking down a few shots. He has never consistently shown the ability to do any of those things.

Here's hoping he's ready to rock and roll this season, or he'll lose most of his minutes to freshmen and find his keister firmly planted on the bench again.

[forgetful]

I'd be stunned if Mayo averages 15 ppg.

I'd happily settle for him being in control, being a good teammate, playing some decent D and knocking down a few shots. He has never consistently shown the ability to do any of those things.

Here's hoping he's ready to rock and roll this season, or he'll lose most of his minutes to freshmen and find his keister firmly planted on the bench again.

I think Mayo could go for 12, but I wouldn't be on it.  I figure Mayo will be closer to 7.  No strong reason for this, but I have an odd feeling Juan is going to have a break out year.  Feeling like he could go for 9 pts 6 rbs per game next year, a slightly better Trent Lockett type of player.