Todd Mayo starting point guard rest of the season.

[mattyv1908]

Besides the fact that Todd Mayo singlehandedly got us back into the game, here's a few thoughts

1.  For the last 15 minutes, Todd Mayo basically facilitated the offense through him.  I know Derrick Wilson brought the ball up occasionally but there was no pressure applied to him, he didn't catch the inbounds pass during the extend a game fouling by Butler, and once he passed the ball off to Mayo to start the offense he never touched the ball again.

2.  Todd Mayo is our best at feeding the post.  He does the best job getting the ball to the block.  Not just tonight, but throughout the season.  Rewatch the tape if you feel this is incorrect.

3.  He has the personality of one who wants the ball in big situations.  You can't teach this.  This is one of those intangibles where a player either has it or he doesn't  Dawson is a freshman and still developing.  Wilson isn't that type of player.  No fault to either of them.

4.  He makes Jake Thomas a better player.  The effort to guard the dribble/drive of opposing teams guarding Mayo allows Thomas to get open for free shots - something he struggles doing on his own.

5.  He's our best ball handler against pressure.  Do either Derrick or Dawson exude confidence bringing the ball up the court.  Both are guilty of bad turnovers from either traveling or poor passes.

6.  He's the only guy I want taking a jump shot.  Outside of Gardner inside or Jamil when he's on (like tonight and without his first half we're buried) he's our best perimeter player without question.

7.  Our team plays better when he's on the floor for major minutes.

On a side note, Deonte Burton is the most disruptive defender we have regardless of his overall defensive skill on the ball or in the system.  When a guy gets 5+ steals in limited minutes while disrupting several other possessions with his hands on top of his + offensive ability he has to see more playing time.

Honorable mentions to Jamil Wilson and Devante Gardner.  Gardner contributed a lot with less than his normal time and I thought Buzz asked too much from him with his defensive matchup.  Jamil had a killer first half and his foul trouble cost him from possibly his best game of the year.

Good win.  Buzz, please don't be afraid to trust Mayo at the point as he's your best facilitator, perimeter scorer, and ball handler under pressure.

Marquette loses to Georgetown, never pushes Villanova to OT, loses to Providence and still gets blown out by St. Johns without Mayo.  Like him or not, he's our best player moving forward down the stretch.

[PGsHeroes32]

Referring to point 4...I have said this all year.

A lot tougher for a team to key in on a strictly "shooter" like Jake if they have know that Todd will take a jumper or cut to the hoop at any moment.

[Class71]

Agree with most of what you said.

[Lennys Tap]

Honorable mentions to Jamil Wilson and Devante Gardner.  Gardner contributed a lot with less than his normal time and I thought Buzz asked too much from him with his defensive matchup.  Jamil had a killer first half and his foul trouble cost him from possibly his best game of the year.

Thought most of your post was good. I'll even agree on the honorable mention to Jamil. But Gardner? What game were you watching? His defense was beyond bad, giving up dunk after dunk and lay up after lay up. Mayo + our D got it done. No way the second part of that equation happens with Davante in the game.

[cheebs09]

I would have agreed with this at first, but the more I think about it, the more I don't like Mayo at point. You raise a lot of valid points, I just wonder if Mayo would be effective as a point guard. I think I'd rather him be actively looking for his shot rather than having to get everyone involved. I might be totally wrong and his mentality could work in the point guard role.

I think Derrick gives Todd a little bit of a safety valve to kick the ball out if he isn't able to create something, and then Derrick can get us into our offense.

[BallBoy]

I would prefer that Mayo play the 2G and have Thomas play the three.  

Mayo had a great game and he played 2G.  Switching him to PG is going to take him out of his natural position.  require that he focus on creating for others.  

Point 3 is a mentality of a 2G.  A point guard has a mentality of getting the ball to someone else to take a shot.    

[mattyv1908]

Here's the game I watched.  Jamil and Gardner scored 70% of our first half points.  During Butler's run, Gardner never got a post touch for long stretches of the first 7 minutes of the game.  Go back and watch up until the second TV timeout.  Nobody got him the ball.  If you're arguing that we're a better team without him getting consistent post touches than you shouldn't ever post another comment on this board.  Gardner's defensive matchup forced him to guard on the perimeter.  Besides, I counted at least 5 blow by lay ups/easy dishes given up by each D Wilson and Thomas tonight so let's not pretend Gardner was the only one who got burned tonight defensively.

[mattyv1908]

I would prefer that Mayo play the 2G and have Thomas play the three.  

Mayo had a great game and he played 2G.  Switching him to PG is going to take him out of his natural position.  require that he focus on creating for others.  

Point 3 is a mentality of a 2G.  A point guard has a mentality of getting the ball to someone else to take a shot.    

What did Mayo do the last 15 minutes of the game other than play the point?  The offense ran through him.  He did look for his shot (as all offensive point guards to) but he passed out to the better shot when the defense called for it.  Derrick Wilson did not operate at the point guard for the majority of the second half.  He never faced full court pressure (whenever Butler applied any type of press Mayo took control), he never had the ball in his hands when Butler was fouling, and he never facilitated the offense at the top of the key.  Todd Mayo ran the offense for the last 15 minutes of the game and we had our best offensive output since Grambling.  He may have been the 'shooting' guard by default because Derrick Wilson was on the floor, but he was our 'point' guard by any sense of the word traditionally.

[bilsu]

Mayo was great tonight, but he is not a point guard.

[jesmu84]

What did Mayo do the last 15 minutes of the game other than play the point?  The offense ran through him.  He did look for his shot (as all offensive point guards to) but he passed out to the better shot when the defense called for it.  Derrick Wilson did not operate at the point guard for the majority of the second half.  He never faced full court pressure (whenever Butler applied any type of press Mayo took control), he never had the ball in his hands when Butler was fouling, and he never facilitated the offense at the top of the key.  Todd Mayo ran the offense for the last 15 minutes of the game and we had our best offensive output since Grambling.  He may have been the 'shooting' guard by default because Derrick Wilson was on the floor, but he was our 'point' guard by any sense of the word traditionally.

That's what I thought I saw too.

[Lennys Tap]

Here's the game I watched.  Jamil and Gardner scored 70% of our first half points.  During Butler's run, Gardner never got a post touch for long stretches of the first 7 minutes of the game.  Go back and watch up until the second TV timeout.  Nobody got him the ball.  If you're arguing that we're a better team without him getting consistent post touches than you shouldn't ever post another comment on this board.  Gardner's defensive matchup forced him to guard on the perimeter.  Besides, I counted at least 5 blow by lay ups/easy dishes given up by each D Wilson and Thomas tonight so let's not pretend Gardner was the only one who got burned tonight defensively.

Guess it was just coincidence that our defense turned it up (steals, forced TOs leading to easy baskets) once Gardner went to the bench. And it was just a coincidence that Butler had 5 lay ups/dunks and 6 free throws in the 6 or 7 minutes he played at the start of the second half. He's a poor defensive player anyway, but when he's not getting the ball on O he pouts and is even worse. Watch the first 6 or 7 minutes of the 2nd half again.

[MU82]

Guess it was just coincidence that our defense turned it up (steals, forced TOs leading to easy baskets) once Gardner went to the bench. And it was just a coincidence that Butler had 5 lay ups/dunks and 6 free throws in the 6 or 7 minutes he played at the start of the second half. He's a poor defensive player anyway, but when he's not getting the ball on O he pouts and is even worse. Watch the first 6 or 7 minutes of the 2nd half again.

Gardner can be dominant offensively, we know that. And for an offense-challenged team like ours, we need him out there a lot. But Lenny is absolutely right about this particular game. It wasn't until Otule replaced Gardner that Butler's dunk and layup parade ended.

I am NOT saying Gardner stinks or that Otule is better than Gardner! What I'm saying is that Buzz deserves credit for having a good feel for what the Warriors needed in this particular game midway through the second half.

[BallBoy]

What did Mayo do the last 15 minutes of the game other than play the point?  The offense ran through him.  He did look for his shot (as all offensive point guards to) but he passed out to the better shot when the defense called for it.  Derrick Wilson did not operate at the point guard for the majority of the second half.  He never faced full court pressure (whenever Butler applied any type of press Mayo took control), he never had the ball in his hands when Butler was fouling, and he never facilitated the offense at the top of the key.  Todd Mayo ran the offense for the last 15 minutes of the game and we had our best offensive output since Grambling.  He may have been the 'shooting' guard by default because Derrick Wilson was on the floor, but he was our 'point' guard by any sense of the word traditionally.

I agree the offense ran through Mayo.  The offense strategy was to keep screening until Mayo got a good matchup and then have him go to the hole. That doesn't mean Mayo was the point guard but the focal point of the offense.  Mayo was the offense so of course it had to go through him.  The offense was initiated when we started to set the screens for him not when he started his drive.  Mayo played the scorer and the receiver but not the distributor


Also note that 4 of Mayo's baskets during that stretch came off of Wilson assists.  He would have had a fifth but Mayo lost it on the way up.  I would say Mayo played the two.

[MU82]

I agree the offense ran through Mayo.  The offense strategy was to keep screening until Mayo got a good matchup and then have him go to the hole. That doesn't mean Mayo was the point guard but the focal point of the offense.  Mayo was the offense so of course it had to go through him.  The offense was initiated when we started to set the screens for him not when he started his drive.  Mayo played the scorer and the receiver but not the distributor


Also note that 4 of Mayo's baskets during that stretch came off of Wilson assists.  He would have had a fifth but Mayo lost it on the way up.  I would say Mayo played the two.

Mayo didn't so much play PG. He played more like Vander did when Vander was going great in games last season.

It's all semantics, anyway. The offense certainly went through Mayo tonight, just as it went through Vander so often last season.

I don't care what position Mayo is called just as long as his number is called for more minutes the rest of the season.

[🏀]

DB is horrid on defense. His disruption comes from constantly being out of place.

Hell of a scorer, but he needs huge improvement defensively and needs to learn an offensive role.

[TallTitan34]

FWIW it wasn't just tonight.  Todd has taken over the last two or three home games in the final 10 minutes.

He brings it in crunch time.

[mattyv1908]

Look guys, I'm not trying to start a Ners thread regarding the point (although I think some of what Ners has to say is spot on).  I'm simply trying to say that our offense runs most effectively all the way around with Mayo touching the ball consistently early and often in the possession at the top of the key.

Wouldn't you want our point guard to look for the best offensive shot whether it come from someone else or HIMSELF?  Todd Mayo made better decisions than anybody who has played that role this season. (D Wilson, J Wilson, Dawson and even Gardner).

I don't think Todd forces the offense as much as he has taken heat for.  He is our best guard in transition.  He is our best guard off the dribble.  He is our best guard to knock down the outside shot.  He is our best guard at getting his team good shots.  Call it what you want.  Prior to Siva arriving in Louisville, I recall a pretty impressive point forward running the show for Pitino.

And for what it's worth, our scorer at home is very generous with assists if D Wilson is being credited for dishing the ball off at the top of the key only for the guy he hands it off to to then go on to make a great penetrating shot after 3 or 4 dribbles.  No knock on Derrick but that's not an assist other than at the Bradley Center.

[Wojo'sMojo]

Look guys, I'm not trying to start a Ners thread regarding the point (although I think some of what Ners has to say is spot on).  I'm simply trying to say that our offense runs most effectively all the way around with Mayo touching the ball consistently early and often in the possession at the top of the key.

Wouldn't you want our point guard to look for the best offensive shot whether it come from someone else or HIMSELF?  Todd Mayo made better decisions than anybody who has played that role this season. (D Wilson, J Wilson, Dawson and even Gardner).

I don't think Todd forces the offense as much as he has taken heat for.  He is our best guard in transition.  He is our best guard off the dribble.  He is our best guard to knock down the outside shot.  He is our best guard at getting his team good shots.  Call it what you want.  Prior to Siva arriving in Louisville, I recall a pretty impressive point forward running the show for Pitino.

And for what it's worth, our scorer at home is very generous with assists if D Wilson is being credited for dishing the ball off at the top of the key only for the guy he hands it off to to then go on to make a great penetrating shot after 3 or 4 dribbles.  No knock on Derrick but that's not an assist other than at the Bradley Center.

I thought the assist total was a little suspect myself and have noticed they are far more liberal giving out assists at the BC. I actually watch for these types of stats and I thought he had 5 for sures and a questionable...so I can see 6 but not the 8 that the scorer gave him credit for.

[MU82]

I thought the assist total was a little suspect myself and have noticed they are far more liberal giving out assists at the BC. I actually watch for these types of stats and I thought he had 5 for sures and a questionable...so I can see 6 but not the 8 that the scorer gave him credit for.

Yeah, and I think the United Center official scorers just gave Rodman ANOTHER rebound.

In other words, this happens everywhere.

[willie warrior]

mayo definitely had a great 2nd half and there are times/matchups where he can play the point. Just not for the majority of the minutes. Burton also had a great 2nd half. This is the best lineup for most of the minutes going forward:
PG Derrick--not for 35 minutes. About 20 is about right.
2G Mayo
SF Jamil
PF Burton
C Gardner
Jake and Dawson along with JJJ can pick up minutes behind the 2 guards and/or when we go the 3 guards depending on matchups. Taylor picks up minutes backing Gardner and Burton. Otule behind Gardner. Anderson can sit. No room for him.

[Sunbelt15]

Before making him the point, I would like to see him penetrate and dish more. Let me know he can use his talent to make others better. Don't want him with the "shoot first" mantality knowing he's handling the ball majority of his playing time. The bigs will suffer.

[connie]

Look guys, I'm not trying to start a Ners thread regarding the point (although I think some of what Ners has to say is spot on).  I'm simply trying to say that our offense runs most effectively all the way around with Mayo touching the ball consistently early and often in the possession at the top of the key.

Wouldn't you want our point guard to look for the best offensive shot whether it come from someone else or HIMSELF?  Todd Mayo made better decisions than anybody who has played that role this season. (D Wilson, J Wilson, Dawson and even Gardner).

I don't think Todd forces the offense as much as he has taken heat for.  He is our best guard in transition.  He is our best guard off the dribble.  He is our best guard to knock down the outside shot.  He is our best guard at getting his team good shots.  Call it what you want.  Prior to Siva arriving in Louisville, I recall a pretty impressive point forward running the show for Pitino.

And for what it's worth, our scorer at home is very generous with assists if D Wilson is being credited for dishing the ball off at the top of the key only for the guy he hands it off to to then go on to make a great penetrating shot after 3 or 4 dribbles.  No knock on Derrick but that's not an assist other than at the Bradley Center.

The problem I have with this is that it is based entirely upon "good Todd."  What happens when Todd the turnover machine that jacks up shots and commits stupid fouls as well as breaking down defensively shows up?  I don't think we have anyone on the team this year that has been totally consistent, and I would love for this Todd to be here all the time, but we just haven't seen that.  Instead, we have seen flashes of both extremes.  That's why we are 13-10.  (Plus, can't get the fact that this was 2-8 Butler out of my head).

[CAGASS24]

"When the chips are down for whatever reason, you can count on him," Marquette coach Buzz Williams said. "When the chips are down, he seems to show up. I'd like him to show up all the time."


Perfect summation buzz; with Gardner and Wilson, he's easily one of our 3 best players; but he needs to be more consistent

[GGGG]

Guess it was just coincidence that our defense turned it up (steals, forced TOs leading to easy baskets) once Gardner went to the bench. And it was just a coincidence that Butler had 5 lay ups/dunks and 6 free throws in the 6 or 7 minutes he played at the start of the second half. He's a poor defensive player anyway, but when he's not getting the ball on O he pouts and is even worse. Watch the first 6 or 7 minutes of the 2nd half again.

This is 100% accurate.  Furthermore, Otule deserves credit for sealing off defenders when Mayo would take the ball in the lane.  For as good as Davante is offensively, he is horrible as a rim defender.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

II don't like Mayo at point. You raise a lot of valid points, I just wonder if Mayo would be effective as a point guard. I think I'd rather him be actively looking for his shot rather than having to get everyone involved.

I dunno, to me it looked like he was both running the point and looking for his shot.