Next Year Is Here

[tower912]

From the current NBA rosters, please list the 6'4 forwards.    You can't.   You are just as likely to be able to list the 6'8, 290 lb post players who can barely dunk and can't guard on the perimeter.   Deonte isn't going to the league early.   Heck, Lazar, who was much more versatile and could guard every position, tried to make a go of it as a shooting guard.   

[Wojo'sMojo]

From the current NBA rosters, please list the 6'4 forwards.    You can't.   You are just as likely to be able to list the 6'8, 290 lb post players who can barely dunk and can't guard on the perimeter.   Deonte isn't going to the league early.   Heck, Lazar, who was much more versatile and could guard every position, tried to make a go of it as a shooting guard.  

Deonte has a unique body type. I never said he was going to the NBA early. Barkley had a similar body build in college...would you have said then that a 6'5" power forward would be one of the 50 greatest NBA players of all time? And he's actually 6'4" and three quarters.

[tower912]

You are correct.   NERS said he could go early.   I get you two confused sometimes.  And after watching Barkley in college, his NBA career did not surprise me.   But if you are going to draw a more apt comparison from that era, think Roosevelt Chapman from Dayton.   A more modern comparison could be a smaller Alando Tucker from Wisconsin. (we can only hope).   Or Lazar.    If he can become more relentless on the boards, perhaps David Boone.   

[GGGG]

Height matters in the NBA.  The problem for guys like Barkley is that he could always step out and shoot over big guys, and physically overpower smaller guys.  The problem is that now big guys can guard away from the hoop, and smaller guys are physically bigger than 20 years ago.

Barkley is a player that could play in any era.  I am just not sure he is as dominant.

[Wojo'sMojo]

You are correct.   NERS said he could go early.   I get you two confused sometimes.  And after watching Barkley in college, his NBA career did not surprise me.   But if you are going to draw a more apt comparison from that era, think Roosevelt Chapman from Dayton.   A more modern comparison could be a smaller Alando Tucker from Wisconsin. (we can only hope).   Or Lazar.    If he can become more relentless on the boards, perhaps David Boone.   

I think a good comparison is PJ Tucker from Texas. Deonte is slightly more ripped but they are very similar.

[NersEllenson]

From the current NBA rosters, please list the 6'4 forwards.    You can't.   You are just as likely to be able to list the 6'8, 290 lb post players who can barely dunk and can't guard on the perimeter.   Deonte isn't going to the league early.   Heck, Lazar, who was much more versatile and could guard every position, tried to make a go of it as a shooting guard.   

You can't coach this (one of the few truly memorable and happy moments of this season - and guy was 6'9" 240 he punched on.):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kuIm86iAv0

Lazar Hayward as much as we all loved him, couldn't dream of doing what Burton did in that video, or being close to the athlete/specimen Burton his.

Deonte plays with a great rhythm..has a great feel for how to put defenders on skates, with his hesitation/shake & bake - and then has a body that just ping pongs people off of him...and he's just a freshman at this time.

Per Ken Pom - he ranks as a "go to guy" the only one on the team...he is an absolute force on the floor and will be a stud by the time he's a junior...and given what he's shown as a freshman in his limited opportunity...it shows me enough to know that he'll very likely have the opportunity to go pro by end of his junior year..and will be most exciting player we have had at MU since DWade..

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

For those suggesting that we play for the future, do you really think Buzz would not play the seniors on Senior Night? Regardless of your opinion on our hopes for this season, you let you seniors play on senior night.

I have seen enough from our team to know it is not likely that we can win either 4 in a row now or 3 in a row in NYC. However, it I still feel it is more likely that the seniors can win it for us than it is for the freshmen to suddenly get hot and carry us to the championship. Until we are officially dead, I want us to play for this season.

That being said, I don't care about the NIT. If we end up there, play the youngsters and get them some valuable postseason experience.

[brandx]

I think this is exactly the issue. I think this year has been the tale of two squads: A squad that can play pretty good, aggressive defense – but couldn't put the ball in the hole and a squad that could provide some streaky scoring – but had serious defensive liabilities.

There was no leadership that could bridge both squads. It would seem that Todd should have been able to step into that role, but I think Todd was playing for Todd. In some games, Todd was playing for Marquette. But, in other games it seems like Todd was playing for the NBA scouts and attempting to boost his resume.

I disagree with the perception that Todd is selfish. I would be interested in why you think that he is. Now, if you expect Todd to be a leader, I think you will be disappointed. that is not his personality. He is a quiet expressionless guy. Just who he is. It doesn't mean he is selfish or anything else. He just is who he is.

I don't think there is any doubt who the leaders on this team will be next year. It will be Derrick and Juan. they both have the personalities to do it. I expect neither will play more that 20 minutes or so a game next year, but they will be starters and they will set the tone for the team. And I think that will be a big improvement next year.

None of this years seniors were natural leaders other than maybe Jake, but as a guy who came as a walk-on, I don't know if he felt that the role was open to him.

[BossplayaOtto]

I think a good comparison is PJ Tucker from Texas. Deonte is slightly more ripped but they are very similar.

PJ Tucker averaged 6.8 boards in 22.5 minutes per game as an 18 y.o. frosh.  
Barkley averaged 9.8 boards in 26.8 minutes per game as an 18 y.o. frosh
Burton is averaging 2.1 boards in 11.9 minutes per game as a 20 y.o. frosh

He may be similar in height and build to Tucker and Barkley but I never understood the comparisons to those two (especially Barkley) as he simply does not rebound even close to the rate those 2 players did during their Freshman seasons and subsequent seasons.  Barkley was an exceptional rebounder, one of the best in history especially considering his stature.  Love Burton and clearly see his potential and upside, but he doesn't rebound well at this stage of his career to be considered at the level of sir charles or even Tuck who went pro after his Junior year and was drafted in the 2nd round at the same age that D-Bo is now.  (Barkley also turned pro at 20)  

With his athleticism and frame he should be more active and effective on the glass.  Hopefully with more P.T. he will improve his rebounding which is essential to help him overcome his height-issue to be considered for the next level.

[GGGG]

I don't think this team suffers from a lack of leadership.  It suffers from a lack of good, well rounded players.  

[NersEllenson]

I disagree with the perception that Todd is selfish. I would be interested in why you think that he is. Now, if you expect Todd to be a leader, I think you will be disappointed. that is not his personality. He is a quiet expressionless guy. Just who he is. It doesn't mean he is selfish or anything else. He just is who he is.

I don't think there is any doubt who the leaders on this team will be next year. It will be Derrick and Juan. they both have the personalities to do it. I expect neither will play more that 20 minutes or so a game next year, but they will be starters and they will set the tone for the team. And I think that will be a big improvement next year.

None of this years seniors were natural leaders other than maybe Jake, but as a guy who came as a walk-on, I don't know if he felt that the role was open to him.

If there were leadership on the team this year in the way of Jamil or Davante - they would have requested a closed door meeting with Buzz and vented their frustrations with the backcourt...and requested a change.  Highly doubt within the culture Buzz creates, that they would feel comfortable doing this as it could be perceived as not being a good teammate..then again...think Buzz also promotes candor as well too..but we know Wainwright was quoted in Journal Sentinel as saying he and other assistant (not Autry) were imploring Todd to go to Buzz and ask for more PT, long stretches of run..yet at the time of that quote...Todd hadn't done so.  A basketball team, like any organization...can at times have a lot of politics, and chemistry issues to navigate.

[Sir Lawrence]

I don't think this team suffers from a lack of leadership.  It suffers from a lack of good, well rounded players.  

Gardner meets your roundness suffering.  

[GGGG]

If there were leadership on the team this year in the way of Jamil or Davante - they would have requested a closed door meeting with Buzz and vented their frustrations with the backcourt...and requested a change.  

Will you just stop.  Do you really think that Davante and Jamil think the back ups are better than the current starters?  

[GGGG]

Gardner meets your roundness suffering. 

That is true....

[Eldon]

Will you just stop.  Do you really think that Davante and Jamil think the back ups are better than the current starters?  

On BE media day, didn't Davante say that Dawson was the best PG?  I can't find the link, but I'm pretty sure that he said that, which came to a shocker to all of us at the time.

[Wojo'sMojo]

Will you just stop.  Do you really think that Davante and Jamil think the back ups are better than the current starters?  

I would be willing to bet that Davante would rather have Dawson starting at pg if he had a choice. And who really cares what Jamil thinks, the only thing he should be worried about is getting his game together.

[NersEllenson]

PJ Tucker averaged 6.8 boards in 22.5 minutes per game as an 18 y.o. frosh.  
Barkley averaged 9.8 boards in 26.8 minutes per game as an 18 y.o. frosh
Burton is averaging 2.1 boards in 11.9 minutes per game as a 20 y.o. frosh

He may be similar in height and build to Tucker and Barkley but I never understood the comparisons to those two (especially Barkley) as he simply does not rebound even close to the rate those 2 players did during their Freshman seasons and subsequent seasons.  Barkley was an exceptional rebounder, one of the best in history especially considering his stature.  Love Burton and clearly see his potential and upside, but he doesn't rebound well at this stage of his career to be considered at the level of sir charles or even Tuck who went pro after his Junior year and was drafted in the 2nd round at the same age that D-Bo is now.  (Barkley also turned pro at 20)  

With his athleticism and frame he should be more active and effective on the glass.  Hopefully with more P.T. he will improve his rebounding which is essential to help him overcome his height-issue to be considered for the next level.

Good stats and numbers...obviously Burton's minutes are way limited compared to those guys as freshman..and Deonte (didn't realize he was already 20), does have more age on Tucker/Barkley as freshman....and of course Sir Charles was an all time great, Top 50 NBA player...so that's a long way to go....and I certainly don't want to suggest Deonte would ever have that kind of NBA career...but the combination of size, strength, and explosiveness is hard to find in players..and Barkley was a reference a commentator made earlier in the year that I thought was great.

I do think we'll see more rebounding from Deonte as he gets good minutes..and would think that as a junior if he's getting 25-30 minutes, he'll pull down 8 rebounds + per game..

[Eldon]

If there were leadership on the team this year in the way of Jamil or Davante - they would have requested a closed door meeting with Buzz and vented their frustrations with the backcourt...and requested a change.  Highly doubt within the culture Buzz creates, that they would feel comfortable doing this as it could be perceived as not being a good teammate..then again...think Buzz also promotes candor as well too..but we know Wainwright was quoted in Journal Sentinel as saying he and other assistant (not Autry) were imploring Todd to go to Buzz and ask for my PT, long stretches of run..yet at the time of that quote...Todd hadn't done so.  A basketball team, like any organization...can at times have a lot of politics, and chemistry issues to navigate.

I'm curious about this.

I wonder to what extent the assistants and others are yes-men

[NersEllenson]

On BE media day, didn't Davante say that Dawson was the best PG?  I can't find the link, but I'm pretty sure that he said that, which came to a shocker to all of us at the time.

He was asked which freshman impressed him the most - and he said Dawson...

Will you just stop.  Do you really think that Davante and Jamil think the back ups are better than the current starters?  

Absolutely...without question...to the extent that Dawson's ability/willingness to shoot from distance (and be a threat to shoot and slash with a midrange game in the way of Todd)  would open up the floor a great deal for Jamil and Davante to operate...

You can see the frustration written all over the face of Davante and Jamil at many points this season...that simply wasn't there last year...

[GGGG]

nm

[GGGG]

Absolutely...without question...to the extent that Dawson's ability/willingness to shoot from distance (and be a threat to shoot and slash with a midrange game in the way of Todd)  would open up the floor a great deal for Jamil and Davante to operate...

I think you are out of your mind.  They see practice.  They see who's winning the battles.

You continue to act if there aren't legitimate, on court reasons why Buzz plays the players he does. 

[Wojo'sMojo]

I think you are out of your mind.  They see practice.  They see who's winning the battles.

You continue to act if there aren't legitimate, on court reasons why Buzz plays the players he does. 

Do you honestly think when the team is watching film, Davante doesn't think about the extra attention he gets from Derrick's defender?

[GGGG]

Do you honestly think when the team is watching film, Davante doesn't think about the extra attention he gets from Derrick's defender?

I honestly think that he sees the difference every day in practice. 

This is just getting ridiculous.  Now the line is "If this team had senior leadership they would ask for a change in the backcourt."

Really, really pathetic fanbase.

[GGGG]

Seriously, I love this narrative.  How can I possibly rip everyone for not playing the freshmen....

The backcourt sucks....Buzz is too stubborn...and the seniors are crappy leaders for not standing up to Buzz.

Are you f*cking for real???

[bilsu]

I have pretty much given up on our NCAA streak, but I still have hope that we can continue our 20 win season streak, so the season is not over.