JaJuan Johnson

[MarquetteFan94]

Does any other program (not named UK, Duke, UNC) have a top 30 freshman that does not see the floor?

[MU82]

Buzz sees the kid every day in practice, so I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he didn't think JJJ was right for this game.

Still ...

I would have had to throw JJJ, Dawson and Burton out there, either together or separately, at least for a few minutes just to do a change-for-the-sake-of-change thing.

Maybe they would have sucked even worse -- which sounds impossible, I know -- and maybe Buzz was worried about their psyches. But really, if you're that worried about their psyches, then you shouldn't have recruited such weak-willed kids. I'm gonna give the kids the benefit of the doubt, too, and assume that isn't the case.

So I'm still trying to figure out how JJJ and Dawson couldn't have seen at least 3 mins of PT each, just because.

[Atticus]

Does any other program (not named UK, Duke, UNC) have a top 30 freshman that does not see the floor?

I really hate recruit rankings. Would you like me to go through previous years and list players who were "top 30" and hardly saw the floor as freshmen? I'd be happy to do that for you...

[Markusquette]

I would have expected a stint for JJJ in the second half when things started to go awry.  We played well enough in the first place where Buzz probably figured we keep the 'experience' in and try to grind it out for the win at home.  

If anyone, I think Burton should have seen a few more minutes simply because he can make some plays out there.  I'm also a bit surprised Buzz didn't switch Wilson and Dawson every now and then to keep the energy levels higher and fatigue at a minimum.  IBWT I guess.  But as MarquetteFan94 said, plenty of top guys don't play much right away.  So that isn't surprising to me.  What is surprising is that they can't play a few minutes in place of Wilson and Thomas.

[Atticus]

Also, how many times under Buzz have we heard that MU "is an old team that stays old." Mayo and Otule are old. Is this the youngest team, on average, that Buzz has had? Not sure but I wouldnt be surprised.

[wadesworld]

Also, how many times under Buzz have we heard that MU "is an old team that stays old." Mayo and Otule are old. Is this the youngest team, on average, that Buzz has had? Not sure but I wouldnt be surprised.

Youngest team he's had? We have a 6th year senior, 2 5th year seniors, and another senior in our first 6 guys.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I really hate recruit rankings. Would you like me to go through previous years and list players who were "top 30" and hardly saw the floor as freshmen? I'd be happy to do that for you...

At MU or at other schools?  Seems to me most top 30 kids see the floor and see it often.  I, too, hate recruiting rankings but for other reasons. 

At MU we've had plenty of freshmen play key minutes over the years...Wes Matthews, Jerel McNeal, Damon Key, Jim MacIlvaine, Tony Miller, Dominic James not to mention the players on Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, etc.  Seems most top 30 guys play, no?

[MU82]

At MU or at other schools?  Seems to me most top 30 kids see the floor and see it often.  I, too, hate recruiting rankings but for other reasons.  

At MU we've had plenty of freshmen play key minutes over the years...Wes Matthews, Jerel McNeal, Damon Key, Jim MacIlvaine, Tony Miller, Dominic James not to mention the players on Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, etc.  Seems most top 30 guys play, no?

Hell, not to mention Vander and Mayo.

I was watching the game with about 10 other Warriors at a bar and one of my buddies confidently declares that "Buzz won't play freshmen." I say, "Well, he played Vander and Mayo about half of every game their freshmen year." Did not, did too ... you get where this is going -- to the smartphone! Look up the stats: Vander averaged 19 minutes, Mayo 21.

Buzz wants to win games. He'd rather do so with "his guys." But if he honestly thinks freshmen will help him win, he'll play them. At least, that's been his history.

[Nevada233]

Id love to be a fly on the wall when Buzz and Company recruit
These guys. Tell their parents

"Your son will practice alot. But only play against Swac competition... And My sorry juniors And seniors will get the bulk of the minutes. I know there are other schools that want your son but come ride the pine for me"

[Atticus]

At MU or at other schools?  Seems to me most top 30 kids see the floor and see it often.  I, too, hate recruiting rankings but for other reasons. 

At MU we've had plenty of freshmen play key minutes over the years...Wes Matthews, Jerel McNeal, Damon Key, Jim MacIlvaine, Tony Miller, Dominic James not to mention the players on Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, etc.  Seems most top 30 guys play, no?

I checked out the top 30 on scout for 2012.

Ricardo Ledo (#17) didnt play a single minute. 
Dajuan Coleman (#19) had 17 DNP's last year for Syracuse.
Jeremy Hollowell (#28) averaged 9 minutes with several DNPs for Indiana.

[GGGG]

Id love to be a fly on the wall when Buzz and Company recruit
These guys. Tell their parents

"Your son will practice alot. But only play against Swac competition... And My sorry juniors And seniors will get the bulk of the minutes. I know there are other schools that want your son but come ride the pine for me"

Are you seriously bitching about this after the *third* game?

[Nevada233]

Are you seriously bitching about this after the *third* game?

You must not have seen the game.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Are you seriously bitching about this after the *third* game?

I agree. Pretty foolish.

[GGGG]

You must not have seen the game.

I did...and I wanted them to play...but might I suggest you calm down a little?  It was one DNP...in the third game of the season....against a top 10 opponent.  A little perspective would be wise.

[willie warrior]

Buzz sees the kid every day in practice, so I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he didn't think JJJ was right for this game.

Still ...

I would have had to throw JJJ, Dawson and Burton out there, either together or separately, at least for a few minutes just to do a change-for-the-sake-of-change thing.

Maybe they would have sucked even worse -- which sounds impossible, I know -- and maybe Buzz was worried about their psyches. But really, if you're that worried about their psyches, then you shouldn't have recruited such weak-willed kids. I'm gonna give the kids the benefit of the doubt, too, and assume that isn't the case.

So I'm still trying to figure out how JJJ and Dawson couldn't have seen at least 3 mins of PT each, just because.

Buzz gets no benefit of the doubt after today's lackadaisical farce.

[Nevada233]

I did...and I wanted them to play...but might I suggest you calm down a little?  It was one DNP...in the third game of the season....against a top 10 opponent.  A little perspective would be wise.

If one cant have a laugh and voice there opinion than what can they do. You tellin me calm down and you using the word B!txhing.. Im not debating with you... It was a horrible game all around and that back court is gonna get outplayed often. Anyone with a functioning brain can see that.

[Nevada233]

Buzz gets no benefit of the doubt after today's lackadaisical farce.

Exactly

[bradley center bat]

Wasn't the door open to play JJ when the game was 40-26?

[Atticus]

I did...and I wanted them to play...but might I suggest you calm down a little?  It was one DNP...in the third game of the season....against a top 10 opponent.  A little perspective would be wise.

Exactly. This wasnt a cupcake game. Unfortunately, OSU didnt look very impressive either.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Exactly

When does the NIT start?

[GGGG]

If one cant have a laugh and voice there opinion than what can they do. You tellin me calm down and you using the word B!txhing.. Im not debating with you... It was a horrible game all around and that back court is gonna get outplayed often. Anyone with a functioning brain can see that.

In multiple threads you have suggested that Buzz doesn't play freshmen.  He does if they deserve to play.  (See Vander, Davante and Todd).  Apparently these freshmen don't yet deserve to play in his eyes.

And the idea that Buzz doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt is short sighted and laughable.

[Nevada233]

When does the NIT start?

Ha ha ha

Jake From State Farm > Jake Thomas....

[Nevada233]

In multiple threads you have suggested that Buzz doesn't play freshmen.  He does if they deserve to play.  (See Vander, Davante and Todd).  Apparently these freshmen don't yet deserve to play in his eyes.

And the idea that Buzz doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt is short sighted and laughable.

Your right.... So can I ask you this. Where did this game go so horribly wrong... What happened to Gardner, why did he only get 6 shots? Why could we barely inbound the ball?

I just think Burton in particular could have had an effect on this game im a positive way...

Hope no one takes anything the wrong way. I see everyone is passionate about MUBB and just wants to see us win. So I thank you for your insight. Honestly

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Ha ha ha

Jake From State Farm > Jake Thomas....

I have no idea what you are talking about....who is this state farm guy....from Iowa?

[GGGG]

Your right.... So can I ask you this. Where did this game go so horribly wrong... What happened to Gardner, why did he only get 6 shots? Why could we barely inbound the ball?

I just think Burton in particular could have had an effect on this game im a positive way...

Hope no one takes anything the wrong way. I see everyone is passionate about MUBB and just wants to see us win. So I thank you for your insight. Honestly

We can't shoot.  It's not just Derrick, but Todd, Jamil and Jake were horrid from the outside.  Defenses are going to pack it in until shooting can loosen them up.  It was very similar to the E8 game against Syracuse.  Bigs aren't going to see the ball if you can't "unpack" the defense.

And things have gone "horribly wrong" in previous years.  Look at last year v. Florida.  Buzz is a great coach and deserves the benefit of the doubt here.  His teams have gotten better as the season has gone on each of his years here.  The season is a marathon...not a sprint.