Derrick Wilson

[Windyplayer]

Agree with this completely, except for the Noskowiak part. He'll be a senior in HS next year.

Oops, I meant Cohen. I know he's a SG coming out of high school, but who knows what Buzz will do with him.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Oops, I meant Cohen. I know he's a SG coming out of high school, but who knows what Buzz will do with him.

I'll allow it.

[PistolPete]

Tried to pick off an inbound pass, liked the aggression, he played to win the game.

I'm not discounting his aggression, but it was a bonehead play and it cost us. As soon as Derrick committed to the ball, you knew the result would be a foul. He really wasn't close to intercepting the pass. Just a critical error. You've got to know better than to lunge towards a kid that shoots 85% from the stripe with the game on the line.

The simple fact is that Derrick hurts us more than he helps us. It's time to cut our losses and move on with Duane, JD, and Sandy.

By the way, for those lauding Derrick's defensive efforts against Bryce Cotton (who dropped 25/9/7), get a grip. If you want to know what a praise worthy defensive effort looks like, see:

Jimmy Butler v. Tu Holloway 3.18.11 (38 min, 1-8 FG, 1-5 3P, 5 TO, 5 Pts)

[Silkk the Shaka]

I'm not discounting his aggression, but it was a bonehead play and it cost us. As soon as Derrick committed to the ball, you knew the result would be a foul. He really wasn't close to intercepting the pass. Just a critical error. You've got to know better than to lunge towards a kid that shoots 85% from the stripe with the game on the line.

The simple fact is that Derrick hurts us more than he helps us. It's time to cut our losses and move on with Duane, JD, and Sandy.

By the way, for those lauding Derrick's defensive efforts against Bryce Cotton (who dropped 25/9/7), get a grip. If you want to know what a praise worthy defensive effort looks like, see:

Jimmy Butler v. Tu Holloway 3.18.11 (38 min, 1-8 FG, 1-5 3P, 5 TO, 5 Pts)

Exactly. That has been the familiar stat line for far too many of the opposition's PGs this year in a loss we could have won. If you're going to be a defensive specialist for 30+ minutes, you need to have games where you completely shut down your man. It doesn't matter how hard he has to work for his points if he still ends up scoring/distributing in the end.

[We R Final Four]

I'm probably the biggest Buzz apologist in the world, but it's on him for playing Derrick so much. After the first half evidence, it was patently obvious that this was a night you ride Dawson down the stretch like the @Georgetown game. I just wish Derrick had the guts to tell Buzz it wasn't his night again. No shame in that. In fact it's what I'd expect a player as smart and team-first as Derrick to do.

You were EXPECTING that Derrick was going to go up to Buzz at halftime or early in the second half and say " Hey Coach......its not my night....again.  Being the team first guy that I am, I think that I should sit down."??????

That is absurd.  If any player told Buzz that he isnt going to fight with everything that he has in the second half in a game that MU desperately needs, that would be the last time that he or anyone wore an MU uniform for Buzz.

[Windyplayer]

You were EXPECTING that Derrick was going to go up to Buzz at halftime or early in the second half and say " Hey Coach......its not my night....again.  Being the team first guy that I am, I think that I should sit down."??????

That is absurd.  If any player told Buzz that he isnt going to fight with everything that he has in the second half in a game that MU desperately needs, that would be the last time that he or anyone wore an MU uniform for Buzz.

Guy, it happened in the Gtown game. So not as absurd as it may seem.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Guy, it happened in the Gtown game. So not as absurd as it may seem.

What he said.

[We R Final Four]

Wow--I stand corrected if true. 

Now I am more disappointed than ever.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Guy, it happened in the Gtown game. So not as absurd as it may seem.

Mostly true. Derrick did not say it was not his night. He said it was Dawson's night.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

How has nobody brought this up yet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHtgKIFoQfE

[Windyplayer]

Mostly true. Derrick did not say it was not his not. He said it was Dawson's night.

Thanks. Less disappointed, We R Final Four?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

By the way, for those lauding Derrick's defensive efforts against Bryce Cotton (who dropped 25/9/7), get a grip. If you want to know what a praise worthy defensive effort looks like, see:

Jimmy Butler v. Tu Holloway 3.18.11 (38 min, 1-8 FG, 1-5 3P, 5 TO, 5 Pts)

I don't think anyone is saying it is the best defensive performance MU has ever seen (the one you quoted is one of the top 10 in MU history IMHO), they are just saying he was solid.

Cotton averages 22 points in 40 minutes. Last night he got 25 in 50, pretty much his season average. He was held to 5-16 shooting (32%) which is 10% lower than his season average. All those misses is why we had so many defensive rebounds. AND, as was already noted, at least 3 of Cotton's FGs occurred while Derrick was not guarding him. So while Derrick was guarding him, he was shooting worse than 32%. Cotton also had 4 turnovers and Derrick had 2 steals.

Say all you want about Derrick's offense. It was abysmal last night and negatively impacted us for sure. But without his defense we don't even sniff OT. If only we could put Dawson's offensive ability into Derrick's body...

[madtownwarrior]

Holy slurperness - "missed A contested layup?"    The next contested layup he makes may be his first.  Said before - he should not go to the hoop if a defender is within 3 feet of him.

Really?  We are going use the elementary/middle school girl can make a layup?  Yea because in the history of college basketball, Derrick is the only player to have ever missed a contested layup.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Mostly true. Derrick did not say it was not his night. He said it was Dawson's night.

As it was again last night. This changes nothing about what I said, but I sincerely thank you for the clarification. It was a carbon copy of the Georgetown game in my mind with Derrick & John. Buzz & Derrick had a template to go by; a path that led to victory had been set. Both chose to ignore it, and now the season depends on three nights in New York. Hope we can pull it out!

[MU82]

I don't think anyone is saying it is the best defensive performance MU has ever seen (the one you quoted is one of the top 10 in MU history IMHO), they are just saying he was solid.

Cotton averages 22 points in 40 minutes. Last night he got 25 in 50, pretty much his season average. He was held to 5-16 shooting (32%) which is 10% lower than his season average. All those misses is why we had so many defensive rebounds. AND, as was already noted, at least 3 of Cotton's FGs occurred while Derrick was not guarding him. So while Derrick was guarding him, he was shooting worse than 32%. Cotton also had 4 turnovers and Derrick had 2 steals.

Say all you want about Derrick's offense. It was abysmal last night and negatively impacted us for sure. But without his defense we don't even sniff OT. If only we could put Dawson's offensive ability into Derrick's body...

PG is not a defensive position. Nobody ever said, "Boy, that Magic Johnson, what a defender!" or "Wow, Chris Paul sure is a lock-down defender!" or "How 'bout the defense Nash played tonight?!?!"

A defense-first PG is like a defensive-minded first baseman. Sure, it's nice if the guy can scoop a few errant throws, but I (and every GM in baseball) really want a guy who can hit 40 HRs.

Any defense the PG plays is a bonus. I love your positive attitude, but saying "without his defense we don't even sniff OT" doesn't work for me. Because if he had just scored 2 or 3 points instead of 1 -- one!!! -- maybe we don't have to sniff OT!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

A defense-first PG is like a defensive-minded first baseman. Sure, it's nice if the guy can scoop a few errant throws, but I (and every GM in baseball) really want a guy who can hit 40 HRs.

I think this a very good comparison. Unfortunatley we are stuck with James Loney instead of Miguel Cabrera (or even Corey Hart for that matter)

[Eldon]

I don't think anyone is saying it is the best defensive performance MU has ever seen (the one you quoted is one of the top 10 in MU history IMHO), they are just saying he was solid.

Cotton averages 22 points in 40 minutes. Last night he got 25 in 50, pretty much his season average. He was held to 5-16 shooting (32%) which is 10% lower than his season average. All those misses is why we had so many defensive rebounds. AND, as was already noted, at least 3 of Cotton's FGs occurred while Derrick was not guarding him. So while Derrick was guarding him, he was shooting worse than 32%. Cotton also had 4 turnovers and Derrick had 2 steals.

Say all you want about Derrick's offense. It was abysmal last night and negatively impacted us for sure. But without his defense we don't even sniff OT. If only we could put Dawson's offensive ability into Derrick's body...

Man, you Derrick guys act as though Dawson rolls on his back on the defensive end.

So if Derrick "the glove" Wilson doesn't play, Cotton goes all LeBron and drops 61 on us? Give me a break.

Look, Derrick plays better D than he does O. He also plays better D than Dawson, but is it THAT much better? Especially when he plays extremely long stretches with no break?

It is very difficult to measure the counterfactual so this argument could go on forever (you: wo Dwil, cotton drops 61, me: wo Dwil cotton drops 28).

[WarriorFan]

Come on man. I'm not a Derrick hater on this board, but his primary responsibility went for 25 & 9 and combined the backcourt went for 40 & 12. He put forth max effort which I can appreciate, but at a certain point it doesn't matter if you can't stop the guy from putting the ball in the hoop, or from helping his teammates do the same.

I'd rather give him 30 and 12 and have our guy score 12 with 8 assists and 5 boards.

[We R Final Four]

Thanks. Less disappointed, We R Final Four?

Depends how you look at it , I guess.  I am more disappointed that any player would step aside and say "take me out coach, its not my night."  However, as you eluded to......not all that disappointed when DW is on the bench and JD is driving the lane.

[Sunbelt15]

PG is not a defensive position. Nobody ever said, "Boy, that Magic Johnson, what a defender!" or "Wow, Chris Paul sure is a lock-down defender!" or "How 'bout the defense Nash played tonight?!?!"

A defense-first PG is like a defensive-minded first baseman. Sure, it's nice if the guy can scoop a few errant throws, but I (and every GM in baseball) really want a guy who can hit 40 HRs.

Any defense the PG plays is a bonus. I love your positive attitude, but saying "without his defense we don't even sniff OT" doesn't work for me. Because if he had just scored 2 or 3 points instead of 1 -- one!!! -- maybe we don't have to sniff OT!

What about Gary Payton.......just saying.

[Silkk the Shaka]

What about Gary Payton.......just saying.

Gary Payton averaged 20+ ppg & 7 apg during a 9 year NBA span. He also averged 25 & 8 his senior year of college. So I'm not sure exactly what you're just saying.

[MU82]

Gary Payton averaged 20+ ppg & 7 apg during a 9 year NBA span. He also averged 25 & 8 his senior year of college. So I'm not sure exactly what you're just saying.

Exactly!

Some folks act like offense and defense have to be mutually exclusive.

This just in: Some guys are good at both!!!!!

And most high-major PGs aren't god-awful at the more important of the two.

[NersEllenson]

Exactly!

Some folks act like offense and defense have to be mutually exclusive.

This just in: Some guys are good at both!!!!!

And most high-major PGs that get more minutes than any other player on the team aren't god-awful at the more important of the two.

Fixed.

[starting5]

Also look at the effect his lack of offense has on the opposing PG.  They can basically rest on d and save energy for offense.  They do not have to work nearly as hard as they would guarding someone who is a threat to score.
They also never have to worry about foul trouble.  They can go to the hoop hard the entire game and know the refs will never call 5 offensive fouls on them in one game. 

[Sunbelt15]

Gary Payton averaged 20+ ppg & 7 apg during a 9 year NBA span. He also averged 25 & 8 his senior year of college. So I'm not sure exactly what you're just saying.

He said PG is not a defensive position. Gary was known as "The Glove" because of his defense. All positions are defensive positions.