Burton next year

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I think he could handle the duties at the 4 simply due to his strength. Reminds me of Hassan Adams who primarily manned the 4 on a guard heavy Arizona team in 05.

Man, Hassan Adams...There a name from the past.

[Boozemon Barro]

I think he's best suited to defend the 4. He uses his hands too much against quicker players and picks up cheap fouls.

[mileskishnish72]

Wojo's specialty was defense, and apparently at Duke he worked with the bigs. I would think Bane would show a big jump playing D this year.

[SuddenSam]

Sounds like Burton is excited to play under Wojo, opportunity to learn from a better teacher.  Love his quickness, first step and explosiveness to the basket.  Wojo's got to like this opp. as well.  Looking forward to a blossoming relationship leading to good things for mubb.

[tower912]

Next year it is likely that Burton will be a focal point for opposing defenses.    He is going to have to work on his countermoves, as well as developing his right hand at least a little, to compensate for all of the 6'9 guys game planning to take away his left.   For better or worse, stopping Deonte was not a priority last season.  Going forward, it will be.   

[NersEllenson]

You seriously mean the start of your post?! 

Yeah I do....I'd rather have guys who are playmakers and disruptive defensively than great on ball defenders.  Burton had highest steal rate and 2nd highest block rate on the team - a combined 9.3% of possessions he either blocked a shot/made a steal.  No one on the team is even close to those numbers - Otule combined for 6.8%, next best was Juan at 6.2%...Mayo and Jamil 3.2%, all world defenders Derrick and Jake 2.7% and 2.8% respectively.

So yeah, you can go with Buzz's B.S. of "playing to the scouting report," but at the end of the day it's about making plays defensively and putting the ball in the basket.  Burton does both exceptionally well, Mayo better than any of the other guards on the team last year.

[Coleman]

Deonte is a beast, MUs most athletic player and our best offensive weapon, but we should probably temper the optimism. Ners, best player since Wade, really? I do think he has the best chance of anyone on our team playing in the NBA but he really needs to develop his defensive game and jumper before we start making statements like that. No one knew who he was last season and people were focused on guarding Gardner and Jamil. Defenses will now be keying up on Burton. I think he will adapt just fine, but it will be much more difficult to get some of the looks he got this year.

If he really is better than Wes Matthews, Lazar Hayward, Jimmy Butler, or Jae Crowder I will gladly eat Crow. I just think you are a little premature in your assessment.

[Let's Go Warriors]

Next year it is likely that Burton will be a focal point for opposing defenses.    He is going to have to work on his countermoves, as well as developing his right hand at least a little, to compensate for all of the 6'9 guys game planning to take away his left.   For better or worse, stopping Deonte was not a priority last season.  Going forward, it will be.   

IF Burton can hit the 15 to 18 footer.  I like the idea of 6'9" guys trying to stay in front of him off the bounce.

[noblewarrior]

Deonte is a beast, MUs most athletic player and our best offensive weapon, but we should probably temper the optimism. Ners, best player since Wade, really? I do think he has the best chance of anyone on our team playing in the NBA but he really needs to develop his defensive game and jumper before we start making statements like that. No one knew who he was last season and people were focused on guarding Gardner and Jamil. Defenses will now be keying up on Burton. I think he will adapt just fine, but it will be much more difficult to get some of the looks he got this year.

If he really is better than Wes Matthews, Lazar Hayward, Jimmy Butler, or Jae Crowder I will gladly eat Crow. I just think you are a little premature in your assessment.

Bleu, you and Tower make it sound like Bane will be the only offensive threat MU will have next season.  Dawson and JJJ didn't play because of their inability to score.  They were warming the bench because Buzz felt they weren't game changers on defense.  Oh, and Todd can fill it, and Duane will not be red shirting again.  This team will have plenty of options on offense to keep the opposing teams honest on defense.  Of course Bane needs to improve in all aspects of his game but he won't be alone out on the court.

[NersEllenson]

Deonte is a beast, MUs most athletic player and our best offensive weapon, but we should probably temper the optimism. Ners, best player since Wade, really? I do think he has the best chance of anyone on our team playing in the NBA but he really needs to develop his defensive game and jumper before we start making statements like that. No one knew who he was last season and people were focused on guarding Gardner and Jamil. Defenses will now be keying up on Burton. I think he will adapt just fine, but it will be much more difficult to get some of the looks he got this year.

If he really is better than Wes Matthews, Lazar Hayward, Jimmy Butler, or Jae Crowder I will gladly eat Crow. I just think you are a little premature in your assessment.

What he said below...and yes...I believe Burton will be best player at MU since Wade...better college player anyway, than Wes, Zar, Jimmy....Jae as a senior was a beast...but still think Burton will be better.  Athletically, none of those guys have what Burton has.  He's a Charles Barkley-like force on the floor.

Bleu, you and Tower make it sound like Bane will be the only offensive threat MU will have next season.  Dawson and JJJ didn't play because of their inability to score.  They were warming the bench because Buzz felt they weren't game changers on defense.  Oh, and Todd can fill it, and Duane will not be red shirting again.  This team will have plenty of options on offense to keep the opposing teams honest on defense.  Of course Bane needs to improve in all aspects of his game but he won't be alone out on the court.

[BCHoopster]

As much as you want to say about him, he is physically gifted, but he has to understand the game better.  What is a good shot vs. just shooting.  Now in Buzz's system last year you never
were ever able to get in the flow of the game as a player.  If Deonte plays 30 minutes a game, he will understand the game better.  He will have to stop giving the other team gift fouls to
stay in the game.  The other part of his game I would like to change is how he shoots the ball, the rotation and spin of the ball off his fingers is not right, not sure if he can change that but
that is the first thing I would work on.  Needs to get his wrist straight towards the bucket, he has a little lefty turn when he shoots it which to me give him minimal consistency.  Watch his
free throws, not good.  Otherwise, he will be to quick for a 4, much like Adrian Dantley was, good comparison.

[Nukem2]

One thing for Deonte, though, is he needs better conditioning.  He asked to come out a couple games because he was gassed in the minutes he played.

[Skatastrophy]

One thing for Deonte, though, is he needs better conditioning.  He asked to come out a couple games because he was gassed in the minutes he played.

He's carrying around a big friggin frame!

I think you're right, if his conditioning can catch up with his muscle-mass he'll be a force.

Better problem to have than Butler's incoming transfer from NCState. 5'11", 170lbs.

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

One thing for Deonte, though, is he needs better conditioning.  He asked to come out a couple games because he was gassed in the minutes he played.

Gardner never figure out how to be conditioned either, after 4 years.  What in the hell is going on with the conditioning attitude in our program? 

[Coleman]

Gardner never figure out how to be conditioned either, after 4 years.  What in the hell is going on with the conditioning attitude in our program? 

Need altitude chamber and tae Kwan do

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

Need altitude chamber and tae Kwan do

P90x and a set of "shake weights" for each member of the team will be the morning work out.  In the afternoon, Richard Simmons' "Sweatin' to the Oldies" for good measure. 

I think we have the start of something here Bleuteaux....

[BCHoopster]

One thing for Deonte, though, is he needs better conditioning.  He asked to come out a couple games because he was gassed in the minutes he played.

I thought Buzz's Boot Camp did that, guess not.

[Coleman]

I thought Buzz's Boot Camp did that, guess not.

Buzzs bootcamp was PR, plain and simple. Davante Gardners condition is the exact same at graduation as when he arrived on campus

[Anti-Dentite]

What he said below...and yes...I believe Burton will be best player at MU since Wade...better college player anyway, than Wes, Zar, Jimmy....Jae as a senior was a beast...but still think Burton will be better.  Athletically, none of those guys have what Burton has.  He's a Charles Barkley-like force on the floor.

yep.

[oshkoshbgosh]

Announcers frequently commented on the Warriors intense and physical shoot-around the morning of the game. Steve Taylor Jr. also commented on the 2+ hour practices. Were the players worn out before the games even started? Just askin'.

[MU82]

A few Burton observations/predictions:

++ He is an outstanding low-post player and will be our best there by far next season. When he and Gardner played at the same time, I was amazed at how often Gardner deferred to Burton. Sometimes, they got in each other's way, which obviously won't happen next season.

++ I can see Burton and Taylor being used in various high-low situations, with one being low and the other high on one possession and vice versa on the next. At this point in both of their careers, Burton is a better scorer from both the low post and high post than Taylor.

++ Burton made 4 of his 8 attempts from 3-point range and showed absolute confidence stepping into the shot when he had it. (Confidence is one of his strong suits; he never met a shot he didn't like!) I don't expect him to be our major 3-point threat, but I wouldn't be surprised if he attempted an average of 2 per game.

++ I'm hoping that the combination of good coaching and his own maturity will help him get a better idea of which shots are good shots for him. Also, he only shot 65% from the FT line last season -- his shooting form is too good for that to be his norm. If he hikes that pct to 75% or better, takes higher percentage shots in general and stays in control, he can be a 17-20 ppg scorer.

++ Burton is not yet a very good defender, and those who try to claim he is just weren't watching closely enough. Advanced stats simply don't work for defense because steals and blocks skew everything. He often lost his man or simply forgot where he was supposed to be. (Taylor has the same problem, BTW.) HOWEVER -- and this is a big however -- he has excellent instincts for the ball. We scored shockingly few points on opposing turnovers last season, and it was one reason why our offense was so bad. If Deonte improves his basic defense even a little and stays out of foul trouble (allowing him to play 30 mpg), he can lead the Big East in steals and fastbreak points. The rare occasions in which he and JJJ played together last season, we actually took advantage of other teams' mistakes. We need FAR more of that.

++ I'm not sure he can guard the 4 consistently, but I'm not sure he can't. I think it will depend upon the opponent. He certainly would not have been physically overmatched by the 4s at Villanova, Creighton, Butler and several other opponents last season. Burton might not be tall but he is ridiculously strong. And even if he has a little trouble defending a taller 4, those same opponents will have a hell of a time guarding him!

++ I'm trying to take off my blue-and-gold glasses, but I can't help but think Burton can be All-Big East next season. I never saw him in high school, and he was even more talented than I expected him to be.

[MarquetteDano]

A few Burton observations/predictions:

++ He is an outstanding low-post player and will be our best there by far next season. When he and Gardner played at the same time, I was amazed at how often Gardner deferred to Burton. Sometimes, they got in each other's way, which obviously won't happen next season.

In terms of the low post, Burton could, depending on the matchup, be effective.  If a team has good positional defenders or shot blockers, he might better served in that kind of "wide post" area.  The ability to score from mid-range and his ball handling skills will serve him well just outside of the low post; kind of like how McDermott did it.

[MU82]

In terms of the low post, Burton could, depending on the matchup, be effective.  If a team has good positional defenders or shot blockers, he might better served in that kind of "wide post" area.  The ability to score from mid-range and his ball handling skills will serve him well just outside of the low post; kind of like how McDermott did it.

I wouldn't argue with this at all.

The Bulls' best low-post player for years was Jordan. The Lakers' was/is Kobe. The Heat's is James. You don't have to be a center to be a great low-post player. But I like the notion of "wide post," and one could argue the three I just named played just that when they were posted near the block.

[brandx]

What he said below...and yes...I believe Burton will be best player at MU since Wade...better college player anyway, than Wes, Zar, Jimmy....Jae as a senior was a beast...but still think Burton will be better.  Athletically, none of those guys have what Burton has.  He's a Charles Barkley-like force on the floor.

Not even close to Barkley. Maybe an Adrian Dantley like presence.

[MikeDeanesDarkGlasses]

I wouldn't argue with this at all.

The Bulls' best low-post player for years was Jordan. The Lakers' was/is Kobe. The Heat's is James. You don't have to be a center to be a great low-post player. But I like the notion of "wide post," and one could argue the three I just named played just that when they were posted near the block.

That's what made/makes all of those players elite.  They can play multiple positions.