Jake Thomas

[ronald dragon]

Jake played exactly how I have wanted him to play all year tonight. He was solid on D and had, for the most part, confidence in his shot. When he is confident he is a great shooter and he will start opening up a lot more space and stretching the defense if he keeps playing this way.

[Texas Western]

Jake played exactly how I have wanted him to play all year tonight. He was solid on D and had, for the most part, confidence in his shot. When he is confident he is a great shooter and he will start opening up a lot more space and stretching the defense if he keeps playing this way.

This was the first game that Jake looked the part of a shooting guard. Hopefully he can bring more of it.

[rocket surgeon]

the guy will run through brick walls for the team.  we're gonna live and die by his shot.  let's face it, our team cannot shoot.  teams pack it in and dare us to shoot 15 footers.  until jake and mayo start cracking a few from beyond the arc, teams will just pack the paint on us.  ever notice how much trouble we have making a basic inbounds pass from under our bucket?  but it's hard to fault jake-he's a gamer, comes to play hard, his shot will continue to get more consistent and watch some of the jake-haters on this board quietly smile, but not admit they were wrong on this guy.  they will be wearing jake jerseys when all is said and done

[WarriorFan]

Best performance on the team against Xavier.  #2 was DG, but not even close.

[Goose]

Jake Thomas is far better with a running mate at guard that can score and move the ball. Possibly on a team with great PG he could be very effective more often.

[chapman]

Jake Thomas is far better with a running mate at guard that can score and move the ball. Possibly on a team with great PG he could be very effective more often.

Agree completely.  There needs to be another consistent threat from the outside as well, whether that's from the point or a wing.  The kid's shooting 41% from three, but having him chuck like we resorted to in desperation at the end last night isn't going to keep that percentage up.  He needs more legit opportunities, which come from having more threats on the floor.

[MU82]

For the second straight season, a Marquette player I didn't immediately appreciate has grown on me.

Last year it was Trent Lockett, this season it's Jake. Each had/has shortcomings, but each made/makes up for those by playing intelligently, playing hard, doing the little things well and doing a good job at his primary role.

A month ago, I thought Jake didn't belong on the floor. Now, it's obvious that we need him on the floor most of the time -- as was the exact case with Lockett last season. Two more examples of Buzz knowing his personnel better than me -- and the rest of us fans.

Now, it is not about replacing Jake with Mayo or JJJ. It is about playing Jake with Mayo and/or JJJ to help spread the floor and give us a chance offensively.

Unfortunately, the guy we REALLY needed to be the pleasant surprise was Derrick Wilson, because you can't win at this level without consistently good play by your PG. We get crushed statistically in the PG battle in every game against a good team because every good team has a good PG.

But hey, that's another post for another day. This is about Jake, and I'm thrilled to say I now am (mostly) glad when he's on the floor.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Now, it is not about replacing Jake with Mayo or JJJ. It is about playing Jake with Mayo and/or JJJ to help spread the floor and give us a chance offensively.

This. Our best chance to win is with Mayo and Jake on the floor at the same time. Jake to spread the floor, Mayo to slash to the hoop. Combine them with some decent players in support and you could have a very effective offense

[Markusquette]

So far Thomas is stud of the year.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I agree that Jake has pretty much been what we all had hoped for - an outside shooter hitting at over 40%. 

But we still need some semblance of offense besides the 3.  Jake is 2 for 16 of 2 pt FG this season. 12.5%.  We need him to be at least a threat to hit a wide open two point shot.  Last night MU had a three on one, it was Jake, Jamil and I believe JJJ (could be wrong on him) on a fast break with on X player chasing them down.  Jake had a WIDE WIDE WIDE open 10 footer, but decides to pass it to Jamil who is well-guarded closer to the hoop. Jamil misses the shot, Xavier goes down and scores.  Those types of possesions kill a team that struggles to score.

He also needs to be a bit more assertive at times.  Last night was a step in the right direction, but he still passed up 3 or 4 wide open 3's that he simply needs to take.

[MU82]

My favorite Jake moment from last night: Pump-faked a guy coming at him, dribbled once to 15 feet and nailed that rarest of rare -- a JT 2-pointer. Looked like a real SG there!

My least-favorite Jake moment: Wide, wide, wide open for a transition 3-pointer -- probably his best look of the entire season -- hesitated, pump-faked nobody and made a bad pass to Jamil, who was not in scoring position. I wish he would have shot, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt because he at least was trying to be a good teammate.

Believe me, a month ago, I didn't think I'd be saying the following sentence:

Jake Thomas is the absolute least of our problems.

[BCHoopster]

My favorite Jake moment from last night: Pump-faked a guy coming at him, dribbled once to 15 feet and nailed that rarest of rare -- a JT 2-pointer. Looked like a real SG there!

My least-favorite Jake moment: Wide, wide, wide open for a transition 3-pointer -- probably his best look of the entire season -- hesitated, pump-faked nobody and made a bad pass to Jamil, who was not in scoring position. I wish he would have shot, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt because he at least was trying to be a good teammate.

Believe me, a month ago, I didn't think I'd be saying the following sentence:

Jake Thomas is the absolute least of our problems.

On a 4 on 1 fast break, Jake pump-faked whom, the air must have been thick, I think even Buzz told him to shot the ball, that was a big play, not sure why he did not take it, and I am sure
once he sees the film, he will be laughing about how dumb it looked.  Dawson and Thomas give MU a chance to win.  Derrick no chance.

[willie warrior]

I agree that Jake has pretty much been what we all had hoped for - an outside shooter hitting at over 40%. 

But we still need some semblance of offense besides the 3.  Jake is 2 for 16 of 2 pt FG this season. 12.5%.  We need him to be at least a threat to hit a wide open two point shot.  Last night MU had a three on one, it was Jake, Jamil and I believe JJJ (could be wrong on him) on a fast break with on X player chasing them down.  Jake had a WIDE WIDE WIDE open 10 footer, but decides to pass it to Jamil who is well-guarded closer to the hoop. Jamil misses the shot, Xavier goes down and scores.  Those types of possesions kill a team that struggles to score.

He also needs to be a bit more assertive at times.  Last night was a step in the right direction, but he still passed up 3 or 4 wide open 3's that he simply needs to take.

Correction--that was 4 on 1 and we blew it. Have we had more than two fast breaks all year?

[bilsu]

A lot of people get mad at Jake when he does not score. The oddity is that his three highest scoring games all came in losses.

[chapman]

A lot of people get mad at Jake when he does not score. The oddity is that his three highest scoring games all came in losses.

Is it bad because he seems to score a lot when we lose, or is it good because we have no bad losses and no good wins, so that means he steps up are against teams that aren't bad?