Worst starting backcourt at Marquette in ... how long?

[MU82]

I'm not a guy who is prone to hyperbole. I'm just trying to recall a less-imposing, less-effective, less-skilled, less-productive starting backcourt in Warrior Land.

And I'm drawing a blank.

Even most of our mediocre or bad teams over the years had a guard who could knock down a shot or take his guy off the dribble.

Thomas and DeWilson were far from the only reasons we lost this game, but everything in college hoops starts with the backcourt. It's impossible to beat a good team (or even a decent one) when you have no production -- and not even a threat of production -- from guards who combined to play 67 minutes.

[wadesworld]

Marcus Jackson started point guard for us...

[79Warrior]

I'm not a guy who is prone to hyperbole. I'm just trying to recall a less-imposing, less-effective, less-skilled, less-productive starting backcourt in Warrior Land.

And I'm drawing a blank.

Even most of our mediocre or bad teams over the years had a guard who could knock down a shot or take his guy off the dribble.

Thomas and DeWilson were far from the only reasons we lost this game, but everything in college hoops starts with the backcourt. It's impossible to beat a good team (or even a decent one) when you have no production -- and not even a threat of production -- from guards who combined to play 67 minutes.

Since Fitz was taking the ball up during the TC era?

[tower912]

Marcus Jackson and Joe Chapman?    If not then, one of the Dukiet combos before Tony Smith got good?

[MU82]

Marcus Jackson and Joe Chapman?    If not then, one of the Dukiet combos before Tony Smith got good?

See, we're already starting to scrape the bottom of the barrel pretty good ... and I don't think any of those teams were picked to win the conference championship.

[MarquetteDano]

I agree that our backcourt is not a strength this year.  However, lets not pretend the frontcourt was amazing today:

6-22 from the field.  0-5 from 3pt.  11 of the 20 turnovers (despite not being ball handlers).

An overall pathetic performance from EVERYONE.  Gardner was the only player who did not hurt us today.  And even he has had much better games.

[Dreadman24]

JT and De Wilson wouldnt even start for Grambling.  Yea I said it.

[tower912]

JT and De Wilson wouldnt even start for Grambling.  Yea I said it.

You said it.   That doesn't mean it has any connection to reality, but you sure said it. 

[4everwarriors]

I'm not for sure Jake Thomas fits the Gramblin' culture.

[brandx]

I'm not a guy who is prone to hyperbole. I'm just trying to recall a less-imposing, less-effective, less-skilled, less-productive starting backcourt in Warrior Land.

And I'm drawing a blank.

Even most of our mediocre or bad teams over the years had a guard who could knock down a shot or take his guy off the dribble.

Thomas and DeWilson were far from the only reasons we lost this game, but everything in college hoops starts with the backcourt. It's impossible to beat a good team (or even a decent one) when you have no production -- and not even a threat of production -- from guards who combined to play 67 minutes.

But at least they each took more shots than Gardner 

[Norm]

I'm surprised Anthony Candelino's name has not been mentioned in this thread yet.

[77ncaachamps]

I'm surprised Anthony Candelino's name has not been mentioned in this thread yet.

It's a much younger crowd here, Norm.
Think 1990+

[MUMBA]

I recall being a little uncertain when Acker and Cubillian comPrised our starting backcourt, but they really overachieved and we made the tournament in what in thought would be a rebuilding year. That was one of my favorite MU teams, perhaps bc my expectations were so low to start with. Every game was close, and every conference win seemed critical. "Team Bubble Watch" reversed the ball fast on the perimeter and shot 3's at a high percentage. Hopefully this years backcourt finds their stride like cuby and mo did.  Hopefully they build with each game as buycks did (and continues to do).  Fingers crossed here and hoping for the best.

[Goose]

Norm,

Right on. Worst backcourt since Dukiet's final year. Not bashing the guys, just stating the obvious.

[brewcity77]

JT and De Wilson wouldnt even start for Grambling.  Yea I said it.

Pretty sure Jake Thomas wouldn't start for any SWAC team.

[MU82]

I recall being a little uncertain when Acker and Cubillian comPrised our starting backcourt, but they really overachieved and we made the tournament in what in thought would be a rebuilding year. That was one of my favorite MU teams, perhaps bc my expectations were so low to start with. Every game was close, and every conference win seemed critical. "Team Bubble Watch" reversed the ball fast on the perimeter and shot 3's at a high percentage. Hopefully this years backcourt finds their stride like cuby and mo did.  Hopefully they build with each game as buycks did (and continues to do).  Fingers crossed here and hoping for the best.

3's? What are those? I vaguely remember what 3-pointers look like. I hear we hit a few big ones against Davidson in the NCAAs, but it's such a foggy memory now ...

[Dreadman24]

Pretty sure Jake Thomas wouldn't start for any SWAC team.

yea the skin color I get it! But u all know what I mean! Maybe I should of said a naia team

[Galway Eagle]

Pretty sure Jake Thomas wouldn't start for any SWAC team.

Well the guy started on a Summit league team so I'm confident he'd start on a SWAC team. 

[brewcity77]

Well the guy started on a Summit league team so I'm confident he'd start on a SWAC team. 

You clearly didn't get my comment.

[Galway Eagle]

You clearly didn't get my comment.

Nope must've been all sorts of over my head. 

[Dreadman24]

Nope must've been all sorts of over my head. 

+10000

[Dawson Rental]

Worst starting backcourt at Marquette in ... how long?


and the correct answer is:

Since this time last year.

[MU82]

Worst starting backcourt at Marquette in ... how long?


and the correct answer is:

Since this time last year.

Ridiculous.

Junior went into last year having already made numerous contributions to Marquette's success. He was inconsistent as a soph and junior, but we had evidence that he could be a top-half-of-the-BE point guard.

Vander was frustrating his first two years in the program but he showed great athletic ability and also had some nice games. In his third game of his third season, he lit up Butler and showed the first signs of him being a different, more reliable, more effective player.

Now, compare that to Derrick Wilson, who has shown nothing, and Jake Thomas, who has shown less than nothing.

Please.

I am not a crazy, sky-is-falling kind of guy, and my history proves it. What I am is a fact-based guy. And the facts support a major cause for concern about our backcourt this season.

[MUfan12]

Now, compare that to Derrick Wilson, who has shown nothing, and Jake Thomas, who has shown less than nothing.

Please.

I am not a crazy, sky-is-falling kind of guy, and my history proves it. What I am is a fact-based guy. And the facts support a major cause for concern about our backcourt this season.

You're absolutely right, 82.

I see a lot of people clinging to optimism that they'll improve as the year goes on. And I'm sure they will. But their respective starting points are so far behind a starting, high-major level. I'm not sure MU can afford to wait on them to come around, because there's a good chance they won't.

[Golden Avalanche]

You're absolutely right, 82.

I see a lot of people clinging to optimism that they'll improve as the year goes on. And I'm sure they will. But their respective starting points are so far behind a starting, high-major level. I'm not sure MU can afford to wait on them to come around, because there's a good chance they won't.

This is the sentiment that gets ignored the most by many in this forum. People can cling to optimism, can cling to Buzz getting a team better, can cling to horrible losses in every year he's been coach that didn't derail a season. But clinging to hope on Wilson/Thomas suddenly turning it around to the point of being, at the least, a serviceable high major backcourt seems unrealistic.

Wilson is what Wilson is. I like his game but not for 38 minutes and not when one of his "stars" was pathetic. Thomas is just horrendous. I understand people get sensitive and lovey-dovey when it comes to Thomas but it's cringeworthy that he's a starting guard for Marquette. Under a different coach, there would be foaming at the mouth on this development.