Next year

[mileskishnish72]

Lacking the optimism of DCWarrior. I started ruminating in my post-game funk about whether things are looking any better for next year. Unsurprisingly, I'm pessimistic.

Who do you see as our starters?

I am assuming Derrick, Todd, and Bane have to start. Is our starting center the kid from Chicago who didn't see a minute of action today? I see Juan getting the honor of starting, but he was absent today as well.

Hoping Fischer will help come half way through. Looks like pinning big-time hopes on Duane and Ahmed. Get the feeling that next year will be more like this year than the last several.

[willie warrior]

Lacking the optimism of DCWarrior. I started ruminating in my post-game funk about whether things are looking any better for next year. Unsurprisingly, I'm pessimistic.

Who do you see as our starters?

I am assuming Derrick, Todd, and Bane have to start. Is our starting center the kid from Chicago who didn't see a minute of action today? I see Juan getting the honor of starting, but he was absent today as well.

Hoping Fischer will help come half way through. Looks like pinning big-time hopes on Duane and Ahmed. Get the feeling that next year will be more like this year than the last several.

especially if Buzz continues his slurping of Derrick.

[PGsHeroes32]

Duane or next year is going to be worse than this year.

Duane, Todd, Bane, Juan(sady), Steve

JJJ, Ahmed off the bench forsure. Fishcher when eligible.

Derrick just get really good at being a good teammate.

If Derrick plays as much as this year we are losing a good player to a transfer and that is a fact.

[MUeng]

Duane, burton, mayo have to start and log big minutes otherwise we're in trouble

[forgetful]

I'm cautiously optimistic for next year.

SG:  Mayo I think will be great.
SG2: I'm hopeful that either JJJ or Hill will be very solid
PF:  Burton I think will be a star.
C:  To start the season I think a fully healed Taylor will be a nice throwback to our smaller lineups.  I think he moves to PF and Burton to SF when Fischer is ready.

Big question mark is PG.  No matter what it won't be worse than this season.  The question is can Derrick improve his shot/FTs or will Hill/Duane/Dawson be able to step up.

If the PG can be improved I see us being much better next year than this year.

[PGsHeroes32]

I'm cautiously optimistic for next year.

SG:  Mayo I think will be great.
SG2: I'm hopeful that either JJJ or Hill will be very solid
PF:  Burton I think will be a star.
C:  To start the season I think a fully healed Taylor will be a nice throwback to our smaller lineups.  I think he moves to PF and Burton to SF when Fischer is ready.

Big question mark is PG.  No matter what it won't be worse than this season.  The question is can Derrick improve his shot/FTs or will Hill/Duane/Dawson be able to step up.
If the PG can be improved I see us being much better next year than this year.

No he can't. 3 years proves it. He isn't going to all of a sudden learn to shoot.

Can those guys be able to step up? If given the chance duh. But for some reason Derrick isn't forced to step up.

Again, he needs to be back to freshman pine riding or we are screwed and that is a fact.

[Norm]

I don't see MU getting back to the NCAA's next year. Losing Gardner will be huge, as Derrick will start again next year so we will be limited offensively from our guards again and lack the same scoring from the front court.

[nyg]

I don't see MU getting back to the NCAA's next year. Losing Gardner will be huge, as Derrick will start again next year so we will be limited offensively from our guards again and lack the same scoring from the front court.

I'm with you.  Next year will be worse than this year, especially first half without Fischer.

Dwil, Mayo, Burton, Juan and Taylor starting is not a real strong lineup.  Dwil, Juan and Taylor are not going to be off season resurrections to greatness.  If Stone comes in 2015, then watch out cause the youngsters will have experience. 

[Markusquette]

I still don't see Juan playing a ton even as a Senior next year.  Fischer will start at center once he is back and Steve might move to PF.  I can see Satchel Pierce playing before Fischer returns, if he's ready.  We really need Duane to convince Buzz (by playing well) to start him at PG and Derrick would have a backup role.  If there is a year to play all our young guys, it's 2014-15.

[Tums Festival]

The only players on the team next year with proven scoring ability will be Mayo followed by Burton and the only certainty is Derrick will start and probably lead the team in minutes played. After the way Buzz treated the freshmen this season, I can't rely on anything from Hill or Cohen. The best thing we'll have going next season is low expectations because of all the unknowns and maybe, just maybe, that'll put a chip on their collective shoulders.

[brandx]

I'm cautiously optimistic for next year.

SG:  Mayo I think will be great.
SG2: I'm hopeful that either JJJ or Hill will be very solid
PF:  Burton I think will be a star.
C:  To start the season I think a fully healed Taylor will be a nice throwback to our smaller lineups.  I think he moves to PF and Burton to SF when Fischer is ready.

Big question mark is PG.  No matter what it won't be worse than this season.  The question is can Derrick improve his shot/FTs or will Hill/Duane/Dawson be able to step up.

If the PG can be improved I see us being much better next year than this year.

But it can be just as bad. Derrick led this team in minutes played. If that happens again, we are an NIT team again.

And no, his shot will not improve. If you can shoot by now, it will never happen.

[tower912]

Mayo and Burton start.   Probably Juan and STjr, too, until Fischer returns.   I don't think Pierce gets more than token time.    The big question is at PG.   Somebody is going to have to take the job from Derrick.   That hasn't happened this year.    I thought Duane would be starting at PG this season by conference season.   I will stick with that and say Duane starts at PG next year.    

[NotAnAlum]

I can't live the next 8 months being pessimistic so here's the road map of how things are better next year.
Duane Wilson outplays Derrick and wins the starting job.  The problem with PG this year was Dawson simply was not good enough to beat out Derrick.  Next year Duane is and Dawson backs him up.
Todd, Hill and JJJ shoot the 3 well enough that there are always 2 guards on the court to stretch the defense; AND those 2 guards can also drive the ball getting back to what looks like the Marquette offense before 2013-14.
Burton becomes savvy enough to play the 4 and is the beast we all know he can be.  STJ healthy for a year plays like he did as a freshman.  Luke comes in at the 2 half and together they make a serviceable center.  This is a guard oriented team like Nova is now and like the pre-2013 MU teams were.  We run up tempo and play for steals.
The Schedule isn't as difficult in the first half.  We get a few non con wins and make the tourney.

[tower912]

When Fischer becomes eligible, it becomes possible to start him alongside Burton up front with Todd, whoever beats out Derrick at the point, and whichever of the freshmen wings emerges.    Juan, STjr, and Derrick off of the bench for stability and defense.   

[willie warrior]

I can't live the next 8 months being pessimistic so here's the road map of how things are better next year.
Duane Wilson outplays Derrick and wins the starting job.  The problem with PG this year was Dawson simply was not good enough to beat out Derrick.  Next year Duane is and Dawson backs him up.
Todd, Hill and JJJ shoot the 3 well enough that there are always 2 guards on the court to stretch the defense; AND those 2 guards can also drive the ball getting back to what looks like the Marquette offense before 2013-14.
Burton becomes savvy enough to play the 4 and is the beast we all know he can be.  STJ healthy for a year plays like he did as a freshman.  Luke comes in at the 2 half and together they make a serviceable center.  This is a guard oriented team like Nova is now and like the pre-2013 MU teams were.  We run up tempo and play for steals.
The Schedule isn't as difficult in the first half.  We get a few non con wins and make the tourney.

Duane could be the second coming of Butch Lee and he will not start under Buzz. Buzz Williams will never, ever start a new guy over Derrick. It will not happen.

[Bo Ryan's Massage Therapist]

For once I'd love to go into a season without any unexpected departures/transfers.  I'd especially like to go into a season without any departures immediately before the start of the season (McKay) or shortly after the start of the season (Reggie smith, maymon).  If we avoid this I actually feel pretty good about next year.

Certainly our level of talent on the perimeter is increasing tremendously with Duane Wilson and Hill. this will put Derek Wilson as our seventh option where he should be. Hopefully Buzz and the assistants get hungry and can improve because their decision-making was terrible this year. I have to believe Buzz learns from this year and learns that Derek is nothing more than a backup point guard.  I look forward to finally seeing Mayo and Burton get as many minutes as they deserve.  Hopefully JJJcan earn the coach's confidence and play more.  Hopefully Steve Taylor can get healthy and produce.  

[brandx]

I can't live the next 8 months being pessimistic so here's the road map of how things are better next year.
Duane Wilson outplays Derrick and wins the starting job.    Next year Duane is and Dawson backs him up.
Todd, Hill and JJJ shoot the 3 well enough that there are always 2 guards on the court to stretch the defense; AND those 2 guards can also drive the ball getting back to what looks like the Marquette offense before 2013-14.The problem with PG this year was Dawson simply was not good enough to beat out Derrick.
Burton becomes savvy enough to play the 4 and is the beast we all know he can be.  STJ healthy for a year plays like he did as a freshman.  Luke comes in at the 2 half and together they make a serviceable center.  This is a guard oriented team like Nova is now and like the pre-2013 MU teams were.  We run up tempo and play for steals.
The Schedule isn't as difficult in the first half.  We get a few non con wins and make the tourney.

Yeah, and Burton was not good enough to beat out Juan. We all know that our best players don't start.

[NotAnAlum]

Duane could be the second coming of Butch Lee and he will not start under Buzz. Buzz Williams will never, ever start a new guy over Derrick. It will not happen.

Think you're wrong.  I wouldn't have started Dawson over Derrick either and that was really his only choice.  Remember the Jamil experiment at PG, that was even worse.
It would sure be nice if we could get some info out of The AL about Duane's progress.

[Tums Festival]

Duane could be the second coming of Butch Lee and he will not start under Buzz. Buzz Williams will never, ever start a new guy over Derrick. It will not happen.

Buzz would start Derrick over Magic Johnson.

[Lennys Tap]

Duane Wilson, Todd  and Ahmed Hill in our three  guard offense. Burton and Steve Taylor Jr up front to start, Luke joins the rotation 2nd semester. If Ahmed can play the point, that's another option. Derrick will get at least 15 minutes. How things shake out with JD, JA, JJJ and the other freshmen we will see. I hope JJJ is back, but I have a bad feeling. We'll be small and young next year.

[Stretchdeltsig]

If Buzz doesn't play the most talented guys next year we are screwed again.

[thehammock]

Derrick gets the minutes at pg...duane will be used more at the 2.

[Tums Festival]

Anyone who thinks Derrick Wilson isn't starting and playing major minutes next year is setting themselves up to be majorly disappointed...again.

[downtown85]

Here is what I hope:

Most minutes:

PG  Du. Wilson
SG  Todd
SF Burton
PF Steve
C Fisher (obviously after he is eligible)

Back up minutes:
PG Dawson, De. Wilson
SG JJJ, Hill
SF Shayok, Cohen
PF Harris, Anderson
C Pierce

Here's hoping. 

[WayOfTheWarrior]

Personally, for next season to be successful, I'm putting a lot of stock in Duane Wilson to save the PG position. Before this year I thought he was the best recruit for us coming in. Unfortunately, he is behind the curve in terms of experience obviously. Also Buzz seems reluctant to pass the reigns over. We'll see.

Next year's team should play at a much higher tempo and capitalize on transition opportunities, ideally. Realistically, Derrick isn't going to improve in shooting BUT he could develop that sense of urgency to push the ball down the court like we have seen him struggle to do lately. That would help facilitate a higher octane offense.

I think we will have the usual challenge of most of our games being close down the stretch. Will we be able to overcome or come up short like several of the games this year?

We will probably be missing a strong defensive presence in the paint so we'll have to turn up the intensity a bit to make up for our deficiencies.