Game day article from Albuquerque Journal

[real chili 83]

Nice article on John Dawson.

http://www.abqjournal.com/324438/sports/marquette-is-happy-to-have-clovis-grad.html

Lobos rarely lose two in a row....

http://www.abqjournal.com/324434/sports/lobos-expecting-a-physical-battle-today.html

[WarriorFan]

Dear Michael Hunt,
Please see the linked articles.  They are what newspapers do on the day before their teams are playing.
Note also the lack of spelling and grammar mistakes.

Sincerely,
A Warrior Fan

[brewcity77]

Dawson must be really far to the left in that picture...so far that he's not in the picture. Jamil, CO, and JJJ are the only three Marquette players visible.

[wadesworld]

Gotta love that people are calling for Derrick's head because he can't score and salivating over Dawson with his season high 3 points...

In fact, without the stats in front of me, I'd go ahead and say Dawson has scored less points total than Wilson did in the ASU game alone.

[bilsu]

I thought it was Otule, but it is hard to tell for sure. Otule's number is 42 and the side view of the number shows 2(which is Dawson's number), but I do not think because of the position of the player the 4 in 42 would appear in the picture.

[Dawson Rental]

Dawson must be really far to the left in that picture...so far that he's not in the picture. Jamil, CO, and JJJ are the only three Marquette players visible.

That's not Chris Otule.  I guess you haven't heard, but Dawson has grown to 6'9", the same height as Magic Johnson.

[brewcity77]

I thought it was Otule, but it is hard to tell for sure. Otule's number is 42 and the side view of the number shows 2(which is Dawson's number), but I do not think because of the position of the player the 4 in 42 would appear in the picture.

But Otule and Dawson don't even remotely look alike. If nothing else, the goggles make it obvious it's Otule. There is no way that is Dawson.

[WarriorFan]

That's not Chris Otule.  I guess you haven't heard, but Dawson has grown to 6'9", the same height as Magic Johnson.

Then he definitely should be starting!

[barfolomew]

I would qualify the below as a meaningless stat.
Unless, of course, coach Neal wants his student section to do some big noggin drills.


COSTLY FREEBIES: So much for the pressure of the Pit.

UNM opponents – at home and on the road – haven't only been hitting their free throws, they've been doing so at an alarming rate. UNM's opponents collectively rank first in college basketball – out of 350 Division I teams – in free-throw percentage.

Lobo opponents in 10 games have hit 79.1 percent of their free throws. Those same nine teams (New Mexico State accounts for two of the 10 games), have hit just 61.8 percent of their free throws in their games not against UNM.

"I don't think I've ever been a part of a team, even in the NBA, where teams shot like that against us that aren't very good foul shooters," Neal said. "I can't figure that out. ... Maybe there's a drill we can do."

[brewcity77]

I noticed on kenpom.com that UNM was the worst team in the country at free throw defense, but as you note, that's a pretty meaningless stat. There's nothing the Lobos can do to improve or worsen that, it's all down to their opponents.

[We R Final Four]

Gotta love that people are calling for Derrick's head because he can't score and salivating over Dawson with his season high 3 points...

In fact, without the stats in front of me, I'd go ahead and say Dawson has scored less points total than Wilson did in the ASU game alone.

They play about the same minutes so far, so yeah it is really surprising that JD has not outscored DeWill. 

Hard to score when you are not on the floor.  For DeWill, it is hard to score when you are on the floor.

I believe DeWill played all 40 minutes of the ASU game............JD was a DNP.

[wadesworld]

They play about the same minutes so far, so yeah it is really surprising that JD has not outscored DeWill. 

Hard to score when you are not on the floor.  For DeWill, it is hard to score when you are on the floor.

I believe DeWill played all 40 minutes of the ASU game............JD was a DNP.

Everything in your post says everything you need to know...

[brewcity77]

They play about the same minutes so far, so yeah it is really surprising that JD has not outscored DeWill. 

Hard to score when you are not on the floor.  For DeWill, it is hard to score when you are on the floor.

I believe DeWill played all 40 minutes of the ASU game............JD was a DNP.

In the past 7 games, what has Wilson not done that you want him to do? Did you expect him to be a double-digit scorer? Because after that slow start, he's averaging 7.7 ppg. For a guy who's usually the 4th or 5th option on the floor, that's pretty darn good.

[We R Final Four]

Nothing Brew--I have no problem with DeWill.  I am not and have not said he should not be playing.

What I was doing was pointing out Wades previous post that you cant compare John Dawson's stats ( a guy who rarely plays) with DeWill's (a guy who plays all the time).

Of course DeWill scores more points than a guy who rarely plays.

[UticaBusBarn]

R. Chili, thank you very much for dutifully posting these links before every game. You save all of us a lot of work, while allowing us to anticipate the game from the perspective of the opponent.

[wadesworld]

Nothing Brew--I have no problem with DeWill.  I am not and have not said he should not be playing.

What I was doing was pointing out Wades previous post that you cant compare John Dawson's stats ( a guy who rarely plays) with DeWill's (a guy who plays all the time).

Of course DeWill scores more points than a guy who rarely plays.

But you can, because if John Dawson was the better player and could help us win games he would be in the game in place of Derrick Wilson, thus evening out the minutes (or giving Dawson more minutes than Derrick).  They play the same position on the same team.  If John Dawson was even CLOSE to the player some people here like to try to make him out to be (he's been compared to Magic Johnson, for Christ's sake) we would not have Derrick Wilson playing 38 minutes/game.

[jeffreyweee]

But you can, because if John Dawson was the better player and could help us win games he would be in the game in place of Derrick Wilson, thus evening out the minutes (or giving Dawson more minutes than Derrick).  They play the same position on the same team.  If John Dawson was even CLOSE to the player some people here like to try to make him out to be (he's been compared to Magic Johnson, for Christ's sake) we would not have Derrick Wilson playing 38 minutes/game.

The amount of circular logic employed by this post is mind numbing.

[NersEllenson]

But you can, because if John Dawson was the better player and could help us win games he would be in the game in place of Derrick Wilson, thus evening out the minutes (or giving Dawson more minutes than Derrick).  They play the same position on the same team.  If John Dawson was even CLOSE to the player some people here like to try to make him out to be (he's been compared to Magic Johnson, for Christ's sake) we would not have Derrick Wilson playing 38 minutes/game.

I love how a select few have taken and run/ridiculed my statement that Dawson made some Magic Johnson caliber passes against Grambling.  I never said Dawson would be as good as Magic Johnson, but just that he's shown a special sense of court vision and creativity with his passes Magic possessed.

Perhaps, as evidenced by the minute distribution, Derrick is a much better PG option at this time - though I'm not completely sold on that - This, however, does not mean its wrong to be excited about the flashes of potential a player shows you, as Dawson has shown me in his limited minutes.  Think he'll be a really good PG when all is said and done after his MU career.

[Jay Bee]

I feel good about an MU win tonight.

Disclaimer: I do eat grains.

[wadesworld]

I love how a select few have taken and run/ridiculed my statement that Dawson made some Magic Johnson caliber passes against Grambling.  I never said Dawson would be as good as Magic Johnson, but just that he's shown a special sense of court vision and creativity with his passes Magic possessed.

Perhaps, as evidenced by the minute distribution, Derrick is a much better PG option at this time - though I'm not completely sold on that - This, however, does not mean its wrong to be excited about the flashes of potential a player shows you, as Dawson has shown me in his limited minutes.  Think he'll be a really good PG when all is said and done after his MU career.

Good post. I can get on board with all of this (although even though I know you're not saying Dawson is as good as Magic, even suggesting he possesses the same court vision is ridiculous, but I know what you're getting at).

[4everwarriors]

I feel good about an MU win tonight.

Disclaimer: I do eat grains.

Then you obviously aren't feelin' as good as you possibly could.

[rocky_warrior]

Interesting from the preview:

PAYDAY: UNM is receiving $35,000 to play in today's event, money already earmarked to pay for the August exhibition tour the team took to Australia.

Do early season tourneys usually pay teams, or is it just the nature of this event (more exhibition)?  If it's usual, that helps explain why MU is willing to ditch more buy games, and do an annual tournament instead.

Bonus question.  Does pay vary per team?  In the case of tournaments would it go up the better you perform?

[Jay Bee]

Interesting from the preview:

PAYDAY: UNM is receiving $35,000 to play in today's event, money already earmarked to pay for the August exhibition tour the team took to Australia.

Do early season tourneys usually pay teams, or is it just the nature of this event (more exhibition)?  If it's usual, that helps explain why MU is willing to ditch more buy games, and do an annual tournament instead.

Bonus question.  Does pay vary per team?  In the case of tournaments would it go up the better you perform?

Some pay, some do not. Some that pay do reward for performance. MU likely pays more than $35k to crap schools to visit Milwaukee.

The dollars involved in most aren't significant.. I think $ is way down on the list of reasons to play in tournaments (if there at all as more than a small consideration)

[real chili 83]

R. Chili, thank you very much for dutifully posting these links before every game. You save all of us a lot of work, while allowing us to anticipate the game from the perspective of the opponent.

No sweat.  It's kinda fun looking up this stuff.

At my BIL's house in Madison.  He's prez of the Bucky natl alum association. Down in his basement with the game on.  Kinda have to plug my nose, if you know what I mean.   

He's actually a great guy.  Love the fact that he's had to buy me a bottle of crown 2 out of the past 3 years.  . Wish more Bucky alum were like him.