Next year

[The Lens]

Ok, for this crowd, I'm going to go out on a limb.

As much as we complain about D Wilson and Juan Anderson, Buzz is 10 times more aware of the issues both players have. With a school that spends more money on basketball than it probably does on God, there is not much room for error. Have another year like this one and the griping burns past these blogs and into the real world... where Buzz's position could potentially be under evaluation.

My view is that Buzz went with the line-up he did because he inevitably saw something in practice that made both the best options he had for their positions. We might not like it -- in fact few do -- but I suspect there is much more to Buzz's decision than ego or stubbornness often cited on this Board.

As the seasons change and we go into the off-season, I suspect correcting THIS problem will be Buzz's primary priority (perhaps with signing Diamond Stone). I'll give him credit -- he's pulled a few rabbits out of his hat and I suspect he will do so again. It's a hunch, no doubt, but it is a hunch based on past experience.

Thank you.  This board needed that post.

[mujivitz06]

Can we please get Willie Warrior off this board? He is not a Marquette fan. I don't care what you say you don't talk about our players and coach like that if you are.

[willie warrior]

It is none of our business.

I can only think of one time where a kid spoke to the media about his decision to redshirt. And all the kid said was that he knew he wasn't ready and he was going to use the off year to get ready.

There has been no muzzle on the kid. If you want to blame someone, blame Journal Setinal for not having better Marquette coverage. If they tried to interview Duane, it would be allowed.

You do not know that.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

You do not know that.

You do not know that I do not know that.

[MU82]

Can we please get Willie Warrior off this board? He is not a Marquette fan. I don't care what you say you don't talk about our players and coach like that if you are.

Although willie is a joyless drone who never has anything good to say about anybody, he has as much right to be on this board as you or I do.

And you have the right to put him on IGNORE.

That's what I've done, and my Scoop experience has become much more enjoyable as a result.

[willie warrior]

You do not know that I do not know that.

You are right--so why hasn't the Journal interviewed Wilson; or why don't interviews have to be approved by the coaching staff; or why has not Wilson confirmed that it was his decision? After you have answered these with your knowledge, advise who your sources are.

[Atticus]

Next year, the team will go as far as the sophomores take it.

[willie warrior]

Although willie is a joyless drone who never has anything good to say about anybody, he has as much right to be on this board as you or I do.

And you have the right to put him on IGNORE.

That's what I've done, and my Scoop experience has become much more enjoyable as a result.

Once again 82 has it wrong. "Joyless drone" appears to be a personal attack, so I will let the mods address that. "Nothing good to say about anybody"--I have posted here countless times about Burton, Gardner, JJJ, etc. and many past MU standouts--too many to mention. I have also praised Buzz when I felt he deserved it--just not going to gush over a poor season. So that shows that MU82 continues to utilize his logical reasoning to less than its full skill level. Now it is true that this year has been abysmal, and I have called out the biggest reasons: poor coaching decisions; poor rotations; poor player development; inconsistent play;etc. So yeah, there has not been much joy to this season. If MU 82 found joy in the season or by putting me on ignore, I am joyful for him. Criticism of the coach for such a disappointing season IMO is fair game. I apologize for offending those with a thin skin, but welcome to the real world. Obviously some people cannot handle that--that is their right. But I do stand by what I have said. Now to end this post on a joyful note: I am overjoyed at the success of the Program under Buzz up to this year; it is joyful to see many former MU players in the pros; it is joyful that the program has had such a rich history and many great players; it is joyful that we have scoop to talk and bitch about MU basketball; and it is also joyful that it is only a college basketball program, and not something more life changing for us fans.

[muwarrior69]

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. 

One of those guys won't be here, unless one pays their own way.

[WadeJFB]

I agree. Its hard for me to believe we will have 0 transfers. Either one of the freshmen is as good as gone.

[Ari Gold]

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.

Given the usual level of speculation this board has I'm genuinely surprised this hasn't been talked about more. Someone should have a boyfriend's cousin's roommate tipping them off on a JJJ transfer.
JJJ was the freshman I was rooting for most this season. Really wish he would have had a bigger opportunity and impact. Now, I'm just trying to make peace with the potential that he'll leave. I dont have anything besides in-game observations and intuition but he might be wearing a different uni next year

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Given the usual level of speculation this board has I'm genuinely surprised this hasn't been talked about more. Someone should have a boyfriend's cousin's roommate tipping them off on a JJJ transfer.
JJJ was the freshman I was rooting for most this season. Really wish he would have had a bigger opportunity and impact. Now, I'm just trying to make peace with the potential that he'll leave. I dont have anything besides in-game observations and intuition but he might be wearing a different uni next year

If JJJ wants more playing time, and presumably, wants to go to the NBA, sitting out another year does not seem like a wise decision.  I'd be surprised if he left.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

If JJJ wants more playing time, and presumably, wants to go to the NBA, sitting out another year does not seem like a wise decision.  I'd be surprised if he left.

+1000

[bilsu]

The guard spots are to hard to predict. We really do not know, if Duane can stay healthy. We do not know if JJJ will be back. Even Mayo not coming back is a possibility, although with his recent success I feel more positive that he is coming back. I think the front court is more obvious. First semester SF Juan, C. Taylor, PF Burton 2nd semseter SF Burton, C. Taylor, PF Fischer

[Wojo'sMojo]

If JJJ wants more playing time, and presumably, wants to go to the NBA, sitting out another year does not seem like a wise decision.  I'd be surprised if he left.

I would be more surprised if he stayed. Buzz has his favorites and he has since he's been here. It's clear that JJJ isn't one of them and I'm sure he realizes it. I also think that people underestimate how much it probably irks him that Jake plays how many minutes he does and now he doesn't even get any playing time. Jake has had some decent games but he also disappears for games at a time and it is really uncalled for that JJJ can't get some playing time when this happens. Sitting on the bench as a top 40 kid when the guy playing all the minutes ahead of you disappears frequently can't sit real well with him. To his credit he has appeared to be a good teammate this year, but I guarantee you this season wasn't what he had in mind when he committed here and I think if he does leave we are going to really regret not giving him more time this year.

[The Lens]

The guard spots are to hard to predict. We really do not know, if Duane can stay healthy. We do not know if JJJ will be back. Even Mayo not coming back is a possibility, although with his recent success I feel more positive that he is coming back. 

Todd Mayo going on to become a 4 year player at MU would be the upset of all upsets.  Dude went to like 5 high schools.

[NersEllenson]

Todd Mayo going on to become a 4 year player at MU would be the upset of all upsets.  Dude went to like 5 high schools.

Which maybe explains some of his challenges academically..and perhaps behaviorally...which some have wanted to pile on him for...not a lot of stability in life with that upbringing.  I applaud Todd and Buzz for both sticking with each other...both could have quit on the other at a number of different points - but they both "toughed" it out and it appears to be paying dividends for both.  Kudos to both of them.

[brandx]

Which maybe explains some of his challenges academically..and perhaps behaviorally...which some have wanted to pile on him for...not a lot of stability in life with that upbringing.  I applaud Todd and Buzz for both sticking with each other...both could have quit on the other at a number of different points - but they both "toughed" it out and it appears to be paying dividends for both.  Kudos to both of them.

+1

College is supposed to be a learning experience.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I would be more surprised if he stayed. Buzz has his favorites and he has since he's been here. It's clear that JJJ isn't one of them and I'm sure he realizes it.

Sigh. No coach ever determines playing time based on his "favorites." If that were true, I'm pretty sure Mayo would never see the floor. And Chris would get way more playing time than Davante. This is a baseless arguement that people use when they can't accept that while our starters aren't great, our bench players aren't any better. Oh, and if Jake was a favorite, then why did he get what? 4 minutes of conference play last season?

I also think that people underestimate how much it probably irks him that Jake plays how many minutes he does and now he doesn't even get any playing time. Jake has had some decent games but he also disappears for games at a time and it is really uncalled for that JJJ can't get some playing time when this happens. Sitting on the bench as a top 40 kid when the guy playing all the minutes ahead of you disappears frequently can't sit real well with him.

One, you don't know how JJJ feels about Jake. I'm pretty sure Buzz has made it explicitly clear to him why Jake plays and JJJ doesn't. In fact, it doesn't make sense to connect the two because they play different positions. If JJJ was going to take time away from anybody, it would be Mayo. Is it any coincidence that JJJ stopped getting minutes after Mayo started to really take off? Mayo/JJJ are both slashing guards. Jake is a shooting guard. Because we are so bad at making threes, we need Jake on the floor at all times to space out the defense. Buzz would love to not play Jake, but who could replace the three point shooting that he brings?

To his credit he has appeared to be a good teammate this year, but I guarantee you this season wasn't what he had in mind when he committed here and I think if he does leave we are going to really regret not giving him more time this year.

He has been a good teammate. He's been a lot more engaged and excited than I have seen past transfers be. But that doesn't necessarily mean anything. He may have not realized how far behind other players he would be, but I guarantee that Buzz told him that playing time is earned in practice. All JJJ has to do in order to get more playing time is be better in practice. It is quite simple. If he transfers for that reason, then he is quitting, bowing out, and admitting that he couldn't cut it here. That is something a lot of college aged men are simply not willing to do. If he transfers somewhere else, I guarantee it will be to a lesser program and we will find someone better.

Look, we are losing someone. Either by transfer or decommit. Personally, I think Harris, Dawson, and Anderson are all more likely to transfer than JJJ. There will be plenty of minutes next season that are his to lose. Plus, he wouldn't have to sit out a year. If we lose JJJ, it will be because he has concerns about future playing time (Hill passing him on the depth chart) not past playing time.

[hairy worthen]

And I don't see Derrick and John sitting and resting on their laurels.  As hard as Duane is going to work to get into the rotation, Derrick and John are going to work hard to keep him 3rd in the depth chart.  At this point, I think the working assumption has to be that our PG situtation next year is no different that what he had this year.

I am sure this will be the case, if so, the point guard position will be better next year as a result.

[The Lens]

I love the logic of a player transferring because his coach doesn't play freshmen.

[Wojo'sMojo]

Sigh. No coach ever determines playing time based on his "favorites." If that were true, I'm pretty sure Mayo would never see the floor. And Chris would get way more playing time than Davante. This is a baseless arguement that people use when they can't accept that while our starters aren't great, our bench players aren't any better. Oh, and if Jake was a favorite, then why did he get what? 4 minutes of conference play last season?

One, you don't know how JJJ feels about Jake. I'm pretty sure Buzz has made it explicitly clear to him why Jake plays and JJJ doesn't. In fact, it doesn't make sense to connect the two because they play different positions. If JJJ was going to take time away from anybody, it would be Mayo. Is it any coincidence that JJJ stopped getting minutes after Mayo started to really take off? Mayo/JJJ are both slashing guards. Jake is a shooting guard. Because we are so bad at making threes, we need Jake on the floor at all times to space out the defense. Buzz would love to not play Jake, but who could replace the three point shooting that he brings?

He has been a good teammate. He's been a lot more engaged and excited than I have seen past transfers be. But that doesn't necessarily mean anything. He may have not realized how far behind other players he would be, but I guarantee that Buzz told him that playing time is earned in practice. All JJJ has to do in order to get more playing time is be better in practice. It is quite simple. If he transfers for that reason, then he is quitting, bowing out, and admitting that he couldn't cut it here. That is something a lot of college aged men are simply not willing to do. If he transfers somewhere else, I guarantee it will be to a lesser program and we will find someone better.

Look, we are losing someone. Either by transfer or decommit. Personally, I think Harris, Dawson, and Anderson are all more likely to transfer than JJJ. There will be plenty of minutes next season that are his to lose. Plus, he wouldn't have to sit out a year. If we lose JJJ, it will be because he has concerns about future playing time (Hill passing him on the depth chart) not past playing time.

TAMU, I enjoy reading your thoughts even though I often disagree with you. To think that coaches don't have favorites is ridiculous. Employers have favorites, teachers have favorites, and coaches have favorites. It's the way the world works. Against Xavier when Buzz ran to half court to greet Derrick and bear hugged him, I felt like it was a "we finally did it little buddy" type of a moment. The way he gushes on and on about him, he clearly is a favorite.

You also keep saying that JJJ and JT don't play the same position. Are they not both shooting guards? In all honesty I have come around on Jake and find him to be a valuable member of out team. He is prone to disappearing for long stretches at a time where he offers very little however. To not get JJJ time when this happens is very disappointing. These highly ranked kids hear from everybody all the time how great they are throughout high school. To come into a team that is 17-14 on the year and basically get zero playing time lately must be a very tough pill to swallow for him. He has a little swagger to him and I guarantee he thinks if he was out there he would be helping this team be better than what we've shown. He doesn't look as engaged to me lately as I have previously mentioned. Earlier this year he was one of the first guys jumping up and down on the bench. Also, I have watched him during timeout huddles e past 3 games and he is the furthest guy from Buzz and is often looking up at the scoreboard while the huddle is going on. Possibly nothing, but it stands out to me.

[bilsu]

I think Buzz likes JJJ. He talked glowingly about him before the season started.  He is not in the rotation, basically because Thomas and Mayo are getting all the minutes. We have not won a blowout game the whole conference season, so there are no garbage minutes.

[MU82]

Coaches are human. They obviously have favorites. Al famously had several favorites, including his son.

Coaches still are pragmatic, though. Buzz threatened numerous times to start Derrick over Junior but didn't because Junior simply was better. Buzz loves Otule and often criticizes Gardner, but he still gives Gardner nearly twice as many minutes.

So yes, coaches have favorites. Always have, always will. Mostly, though, coaches want to win. If Buzz thought Dawson or anybody else would help him win more than Derrick, he'd play Dawson more than he plays Derrick. Maybe Buzz has been wrong all season about this, but he isn't losing on purpose just because Derrick is his favorite. Like all other coaches, Buzz isn't wired to lose.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

TAMU, I enjoy reading your thoughts even though I often disagree with you. To think that coaches don't have favorites is ridiculous. Employers have favorites, teachers have favorites, and coaches have favorites. It's the way the world works. Against Xavier when Buzz ran to half court to greet Derrick and bear hugged him, I felt like it was a "we finally did it little buddy" type of a moment. The way he gushes on and on about him, he clearly is a favorite.

Absolutely he has favorites. Hell, I have favorite employees. I don't treat them differently however. My only argument is that Buzz doesn't assign playing time based on who his favorites are. As MU82 and I pointed out, Juan and Chris still get bench player minutes despite being "favorites." Jake barely played last season despite being a favorite. Derrick was 12 mpg guy last season despite being a favorite. Buzz will always play those who give us the better chance to win. The one exception (and its not really an exception) is if the player is having off the court issues (ala Mayo).

You also keep saying that JJJ and JT don't play the same position. Are they not both shooting guards? In all honesty I have come around on Jake and find him to be a valuable member of out team. He is prone to disappearing for long stretches at a time where he offers very little however. To not get JJJ time when this happens is very disappointing.

Not really no. If you look at our most played lineups, most effective lineups, and the players that get the most time, you get:

1: Derrick
2: Mayo
3: Thomas
4: Jamil
5: Gardner

Mayo and Thomas play at the same time in a three guard lineup. We don't have a true small forward. In a three guard lineup you typically have a point guard (Derrick), shooting guard (Thomas), and a slashing guard (Mayo). Mayo and JJJ can shoot the three, but not nearly as effectively as Jake can. With a PG like Derrick (who is not even remotely a shooting threat) you need a bona fide three point threat out their to balance him out. Putting JJJ in for Thomas would collapse the defense even more. There would be no room to drive and no room for the posts to operate. JJJ was never labeled as a shooter, he is a slashing guard and a scorer. Unfortunately, his game is almost identical to Mayo. Mayo takes his minutes, not Jake.

These highly ranked kids hear from everybody all the time how great they are throughout high school. To come into a team that is 17-14 on the year and basically get zero playing time lately must be a very tough pill to swallow for him.

I think that this is the first thing Buzz attempts to cure his players of. I can't imagine Buzz taking on a player who truly thought he was all that. Buzz talks these kids down for a reason. He doesn't say things like "we suck" and "we're not a very good team to keep these players egos in check.

If JJJ was truly better than the players in front of him on the depth chart, he would play. All he needs to do is be better than the people in front of him. If truly thinks he is better than the people in front of him after being unable to earn it, I'm not sure it' an attitude I want on the team.

Fortunately, I don't think he actually has this attitude. I think he is a tough kid who will be hungry to prove himself next season. He will be a great player. But he isn't a great player right now. He needs to earn his way there.