Jake

[79Warrior]

yeah... Ive seen enought to know... one of them can get quality minutes... elsewhere....

Dawson stays. JJJ, who knows.

[MU86NC]

The Good news is Jake is gone next year.  The minutes he got today was ridiculous along with the sorry ass point guard Wilson... we will never win anything with that combo...

[WarriorFan]

Just stop, please.  Jake was the best defender again today, and got more respect from Villanova on defense than any of our other players. To his credit, he also didn't force anything.  The problem is - unlike most other teams in college basketball - MU sets no screens in the course of it's regular offense, so we don't get ANYONE open for an outside shot.  If we ran Villanova's offense, Jake would have had 20.

[MU86NC]

Just stop, please.  Jake was the best defender again today, and got more respect from Villanova on defense than any of our other players. To his credit, he also didn't force anything.  The problem is - unlike most other teams in college basketball - MU sets no screens in the course of it's regular offense, so we don't get ANYONE open for an outside shot.  If we ran Villanova's offense, Jake would have had 20.

What rose colored glasses r u looking thru - he got burned time and time again.  Jake couldn't find a single shot the entire day and when he did they bricked us into a LOSS...

[Wojo'sMojo]

Just stop, please.  Jake was the best defender again today, and got more respect from Villanova on defense than any of our other players. To his credit, he also didn't force anything.  The problem is - unlike most other teams in college basketball - MU sets no screens in the course of it's regular offense, so we don't get ANYONE open for an outside shot.  If we ran Villanova's offense, Jake would have had 20.

Are you Jake?? That could be the only rationale behind this post.

[jesmu84]

What rose colored glasses r u looking thru - he got burned time and time again.  Jake couldn't find a single shot the entire day and when he did they bricked us into a LOSS...

Did you just say Jake's 2 misses caused us to lose? Ok...

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Wow....on Tuesday Scoopers were commenting that Jake was one of the best players we had this year (including at least one on this thread)

One overtime loss to a top 10 team later....he's the worst and should never sniff the floor.

[NersEllenson]

Wow....on Tuesday Scoopers were commenting that Jake was one of the best players we had this year (including at least one on this thread)

One overtime loss to a top 10 team later....he's the worst and should never sniff the floor.

Yeah...what was the difference?  In one game he's actually playing with a PG that can play the position how it's supposed to be played. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Yeah...what was the difference?  In one game he's actually playing with a PG that can play the position how it's supposed to be played. 

Ners,

Most of us have jumped on the bandwagon. We want to see more Dawson. You've won. Find a new topic. At least talk about a few other issues because this team has a bunch of them. From what I can see (didn't get to watch the game) defense seemed to be a much bigger issue than offense this game.

[Lennys Tap]

Yeah...what was the difference?  In one game he's actually playing with a PG that can play the position how it's supposed to be played. 

So Dawson is a better point guard for Jake but Derrick is a better point guard for Davante and Todd? Really that simple, huh?

[NersEllenson]

Ners,

Most of us have jumped on the bandwagon. We want to see more Dawson. You've won. Find a new topic. At least talk about a few other issues because this team has a bunch of them. From what I can see (didn't get to watch the game) defense seemed to be a much bigger issue than offense this game.

I probably won't drop the topic until I see either:  A) Us winning basketball games with Derrick getting 30+ at the point, or B) Until Buzz finally decides to make the decision that is beyond painfully obvious to virtually everyone.

Our offense basically was Mayo creating all kinds of looks on his own, and Davante being the brilliant player that he is..and some nice play by Steve Taylor, who then got his minutes limited in the 2nd half!

[NersEllenson]

So Dawson is a better point guard for Jake but Derrick is a better point guard for Davante and Todd? Really that simple, huh?

Uh No - Derrick has been credited with an assist on I believe now 15 of Davante's FG's for the entire year...which is ridiculous.  Davante backed his guy down repeatedly over and over and over today...it wasn't Derrick driving and dishing a la Junior Cadougan used to do getting DG easy looks.  Nor did Derrick get Todd any GOOD looks today - that was all Todd using his gifted offensive skills...

Many here have said Davante and Todd have been disappointments this year - because people are frustrated with our losing...and some want to look for scapegoats other than the real culprit...you of course are in that some faction.

[jesmu84]

Yeah...what was the difference?  In one game he's actually playing with a PG that can play the position how it's supposed to be played. 

I think the zone might have had something to do with it too...

[royceda5 9]

Jake...sucks

[MU82]

Just stop, please.  Jake was the best defender again today, and got more respect from Villanova on defense than any of our other players. To his credit, he also didn't force anything.  The problem is - unlike most other teams in college basketball - MU sets no screens in the course of it's regular offense, so we don't get ANYONE open for an outside shot.  If we ran Villanova's offense, Jake would have had 20.

Villanova's guards torched us, but Jake (and, according to many, Derrick) are stout defensive players.

Given that those two combined for 65 minutes (and contributed 6 whole points), something doesn't seem right with this assertion.

Villanova runs Villanova's offense and believe me, Jake wouldn't be playing for that team. Like pretty much every other high major, Villanova has a handful of guards far better than Jake Thomas.

[willie warrior]

Uh No - Derrick has been credited with an assist on I believe now 15 of Davante's FG's for the entire year...which is ridiculous.  Davante backed his guy down repeatedly over and over and over today...it wasn't Derrick driving and dishing a la Junior Cadougan used to do getting DG easy looks.  Nor did Derrick get Todd any GOOD looks today - that was all Todd using his gifted offensive skills...

Many here have said Davante and Todd have been disappointments this year - because people are frustrated with our losing...and some want to look for scapegoats other than the real culprit...you of course are in that some faction.

The people that have said that Gardner has been a disappointment/regressed this year are delusional and know nothing about basketball.

[g0lden3agle]

If Jake isn't part of the offensive game plan, can anyone justify playing him? He's slow footed, defensively challenged against quicker players who can drive, can't get his own shots because he goes soft around his picks and honestly takes playing time away from better players.

On the other hand, he's a swell guy who works hard in practice and is a senior. i'd like to think this year is over and with 4 seniors starting along with a subpar PG, we'd be better served getting more playing time for our returning players.

I totally see your point on why play the guy if he's not in the game plan, except I think the game plan did call for him to be a dedicated decoy for most the game.  Instead of running the double screens for him to get him open, he was more out there to spread the floor and leave space for Davante and Steve to dominate the paint.  I agree it's tough to see someone out there that isn't doing much, but Jake still played an important role that coach felt gave us the best chance to win the game.

[DaCoach]

I totally see your point on why play the guy if he's not in the game plan, except I think the game plan did call for him to be a dedicated decoy for most the game.  Instead of running the double screens for him to get him open, he was more out there to spread the floor and leave space for Davante and Steve to dominate the paint.  I agree it's tough to see someone out there that isn't doing much, but Jake still played an important role that coach felt gave us the best chance to win the game.

Dedicated decoy? If that was Buzz game plan it would been the most bizarre plan ever devised. While I agree that the reality of Jake's presence on the court might lead one to believe his only asset is that of a spacer, the fact that our starting guards pose the most inept offense in the Big East, our record attests to the failure to succeed. It makes me wonder who Buzz is recruiting now for the future decoy.

[PGsHeroes32]

Ners,

Most of us have jumped on the bandwagon. We want to see more Dawson. You've won. Find a new topic. At least talk about a few other issues because this team has a bunch of them. From what I can see (didn't get to watch the game) defense seemed to be a much bigger issue than offense this game.

Agreed about defense. Which is actually the hilarious part.

People point to Dawson, Deonte, JJJ, Steve being poor on D as a reason they don't play more.

Our "d specialists" are letting 94 points occur.

[jesmu84]

I totally see your point on why play the guy if he's not in the game plan, except I think the game plan did call for him to be a dedicated decoy for most the game.  Instead of running the double screens for him to get him open, he was more out there to spread the floor and leave space for Davante and Steve to dominate the paint.  I agree it's tough to see someone out there that isn't doing much, but Jake still played an important role that coach felt gave us the best chance to win the game.

This. If Gardner is working inside and not being doubled, and Jake forces a defender to be within arm's length at all times, why wouldn't Buzz want Jake in the game all the time?

[forgetful]

The people that have said that Gardner has been a disappointment/regressed this year are delusional and know nothing about basketball.

People that say Jake is useless and wouldn't play for a D2 team are delusional.  There are two players on MU that teams design their whole defensive strategy against, Jake and Gardner.

Yesterday, Nova decided they would let Gardner get his and focus on shutting Jake down.  That led to 29 pts 13 rebounds for Gardner, but Jake being shut down.  Other teams, focused on Gardner and let Jake partially run free.  Jake scores big in those games. 

The difference is on offense when they game plan to stop Gardner (zone with Georgetown), we redesign our offense to help Gardner out (move him to the high post).  When teams try to shut down Jake, we let them have that and feed it into the post to take advantage of what they give us.  Not Jakes fault, we are playing the right way.

If the number 4 team in the nation designs their entire defensive strategy to shut you down (Jake), you are clearly a high D1 talent.  When the team still manages to take the number 4 team in the nation to overtime, that makes Jake a high D1 talent on a good basketball team....just one that struggles with consistency.

[PE8983]

Whole defensive strategy was to shut down Jake.  #4 team in the country scared of a Marquette walk-on, a Division 2 level caliber player.  Wow, that is comical.

[Nukem2]

Whole defensive strategy was to shut down Jake.  #4 team in the country scared of a Marquette walk-on, a Division 2 level caliber player.  Wow, that is comical.

Nah.  Nova simply kept someone in front of him.  Jake has taken 2 (!) shots inside the arc in BE play.  Not his fault. But, itis what it is.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Jake would be draining the threes were he on Butler , Creighton or Nova

[forgetful]

Whole defensive strategy was to shut down Jake.  #4 team in the country scared of a Marquette walk-on, a Division 2 level caliber player.  Wow, that is comical.

Whole defensive strategy was a bit of an exaggeration.  But he is one of only 2 players on our team that teams gameplan for.  Nova made sure that he was never left alone, no help off him, stay in his pocket the entire time.

You don't do that for a non high D1 talent.