The difficult road - and Wes has made it

[MU82]

The Charlotte Observer annually ranks the top 100 players based on stats and conversations with NBA executives.

Exactly one undrafted player made this year's list: Wes Matthews. They have him ranked 71st, just ahead of Tyson Chandler (the No. 2 overall pick in 2001). Others ranked behind Wes include former top-5 picks Andrew Bogus, Tyreke Evans, Derrick Favors, Ricky Rubio, Jonas Valanciunas and Ray Allen.

The list - in which 99 of the 100 were drafted, most in the first round and most of those in the lottery - drove home what most of us already know: It is so very, very difficult for all but the best college and international players to become impact players in the NBA.

Wes really beat some incredibly long odds. He was one of my faves during his time at Marquette, and I'll tune into Blazers games just to see him play.

[We R Final Four]

Wow '82, high praise and I don't even think he is Jewish!

[MU82]

Wow '82, high praise and I don't even think he is Jewish!

Well, I've never seen him naked ...

[4everwarriors]

But, you've seen miniature kosher dills, hey?

[Lennys Tap]

If Wes hadn't been forced to "play three years with a blanket over my head" (his words) he would have been MU's best college player in the last 35 years not named Dwyane Wade.

[MU82]

If Wes hadn't been forced to "play three years with a blanket over my head" (his words) he would have been MU's best college player in the last 35 years not named Dwyane Wade.

Yep, we'll never know, of course, but it would have been interesting to have seen him be allowed to have realized his potential at least a year or two earlier.

I always said the same of Rivers. Hank definitely held him back.

[leever]

If Wes hadn't been forced to "play three years with a blanket over my head" (his words) he would have been MU's best college player in the last 35 years not named Dwyane Wade.

Can't believe this has been posted for over 2 hours and Chicos hasn't chimed in yet!!!

[4everwarriors]

It's early in CA, aina? He's probably stuck on the 10 or 405. Ya can't text and drive out there hey?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Can't believe this has been posted for over 2 hours and Chicos hasn't chimed in yet!!!

It was such a stupid statement Lenny made, I figured let it marinate on its own. 

The biggest irony, Wes wouldn't have come to MU without that coach we had, but that nuance is lost on some.

Makes you wonder why Brent didn't "unleash" Burton last year....cough, cough.

[Nukem2]

It was such a stupid statement Lenny made, I figured let it marinate on its own. 

The biggest irony, Wes wouldn't have come to MU without that coach we had, but that nuance is lost on some.

Makes you wonder why Brent didn't "unleash" Burton last year....cough, cough.

Actually, I believe it was Dale Layer who helped open up Wes's game in their only year under Buzz..

[Lennys Tap]

It was such a stupid statement Lenny made, I figured let it marinate on its own. 

The biggest irony, Wes wouldn't have come to MU without that coach we had, but that nuance is lost on some.

Makes you wonder why Brent didn't "unleash" Burton last year....cough, cough.

Wes is the one who said "I feel like I was forced to play with a blanket over my head my first 3 years at MU".

Wes was the one who vociferously thanked Buzz on Senior Day in front of a packed Bradley Center for "taking the chains" off of him.

Is Wes stupid? Is Wes a liar? If Wes is the 70th best player in the NBA that undoubtedly makes him the 2nd best player to come out of Marquette (other than Wade) in a very long time. Yet he was (by design) the third option (or worse) through his junior year. The "stupid" position here is that the offense was more efficient with the ball almost exclusively in Dom and Jerel's hands and out of Wesley's.

As for "unleashing" Deonte, my guess is his usage % was off the charts last year. He shot the ball too MUCH, not too little. That, along with confusion on D and a really high foul rate limited his minutes. Oh, and he was a freshman. The third wheel thing for Wes went on for three years - only ended because the Bronze Beast migrated south...cough, cough...sigh, sigh.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Wes is the one who said "I feel like I was forced to play with a blanket over my head my first 3 years at MU".

Wes was the one who vociferously thanked Buzz on Senior Day in front of a packed Bradley Center for "taking the chains" off of him.

Is Wes stupid? Is Wes a liar? If Wes is the 70th best player in the NBA that undoubtedly makes him the 2nd best player to come out of Marquette (other than Wade) in a very long time. Yet he was (by design) the third option (or worse) through his junior year. The "stupid" position here is that the offense was more efficient with the ball almost exclusively in Dom and Jerel's hands and out of Wesley's.

As for "unleashing" Deonte, my guess is his usage % was off the charts last year. He shot the ball too MUCH, not too little. That, along with confusion on D and a really high foul rate limited his minutes. Oh, and he was a freshman. The third wheel thing for Wes went on for three years - only ended because the Bronze Beast migrated south...cough, cough...sigh, sigh.

What else did Wes say a few days later?  Was Wes a liar then?  This should be good....

If only Brent had not put that blanket over Jamil Wilson last year as well.  


The good news is that this has been hashed here over and over again.

In 2009  http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=14765.msg135760#msg135760

You have already gone down this path in 2011   http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=24140.msg275299#msg275299

Again in 2012.  Again in 2013.  Each time, one quote used and not the other.  Weird.   

[Lennys Tap]

What else did Wes say a few days later?  Was Wes a liar then?  This should be good....

Please enlighten us.

[Lennys Tap]

If only Brent had not put that blanket over Jamil Wilson last year as well. 

I think Jamil had plenty of usage last year. No blanket, just not a great performance. Think he'll surpass Wesley's numbers in the NBA...cough, cough.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Please enlighten us.

I've enlightened you on it each year you have brought it up, I just edited the post above.  Apparently it takes, what, 5 times before it sinks in?  Weird.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I think Jamil had plenty of usage last year. No blanket, just not a great performance. Think he'll surpass Wesley's numbers in the NBA...cough, cough.

No, I don't, despite Brent telling us he was the most talented player on the team prior to the season.  I guess, he regressed under Brent, because surely that's the definition you have given if your prom date wasn't the coach.

[Lennys Tap]

I've enlightened you on it each year you have brought it up, I just edited the post above.  Apparently it takes, what, 5 times before it sinks in?  Weird.

Yes, without a source or an actual quote, you have insisted that three days after Wes publically ripped TC for how he was misused and underused for 3 years that he "retracted". I can imagine the conversation prior to it (if there was actually any apology):

Buzz: Jesus Christ, Wesley. "Forced to play with your head under a blanket?" "Put in chains?" I know you hate the guy, but damn...

Wes: Sorry, coach. I got a little carried away. Those three years - all the frustration of being under the thumb of Tan Dad just came out all at once. But I didn't say anything that wasn't true...

Buzz: Yeah, well, leave the brutal honesty stuff to me. You're gonna be playin' ball for 15 years - don't want to get a rep as a guy who rips his coach...

Wes: But Buzz, you were here. You saw it last year. The guy's a moron.

Buzz: Yeah, yeah...I'm not sayin' you're not right. Hell, any guy ever watched a basketball game knows you're right. But you got a career to think about. Here's the retraction/apology/explanation the staff wrote for you.

Wes: But, Buzz...

Buzz: No buts, Wesley. I had to listen to his senseless clichés and BS for an entire year. Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Memorize this, Rosiak will be in tomorrow morning to take your statement. Don't worry, Wesley, after you retire from the NBA you can write a book about the tanned turd.

Wes: OK, coach.

[ChicosBailBonds]

What's old is old and never gets old.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=17617.0

[MU82]

What's old is old and never gets old.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=17617.0

I know, Chicos. It seems some people will beat something into the ground until it bleeds and asks for mercy! I guess that's why Scoop is such a crapshoot!!

[ChicosBailBonds]

I know, Chicos. It seems some people will beat something into the ground until it bleeds and asks for mercy! I guess that's why Scoop is such a crapshoot!!

[ChicosBailBonds]

Yes, without a source or an actual quote, you have insisted that three days after Wes publically ripped TC for how he was misused and underused for 3 years that he "retracted". I can imagine the conversation prior to it (if there was actually any apology):

Buzz: Jesus Christ, Wesley. "Forced to play with your head under a blanket?" "Put in chains?" I know you hate the guy, but damn...

Wes: Sorry, coach. I got a little carried away. Those three years - all the frustration of being under the thumb of Tan Dad just came out all at once. But I didn't say anything that wasn't true...

Buzz: Yeah, well, leave the brutal honesty stuff to me. You're gonna be playin' ball for 15 years - don't want to get a rep as a guy who rips his coach...

Wes: But Buzz, you were here. You saw it last year. The guy's a moron.

Buzz: Yeah, yeah...I'm not sayin' you're not right. Hell, any guy ever watched a basketball game knows you're right. But you got a career to think about. Here's the retraction/apology/explanation the staff wrote for you.

Wes: But, Buzz...

Buzz: No buts, Wesley. I had to listen to his senseless clichés and BS for an entire year. Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do. Memorize this, Rosiak will be in tomorrow morning to take your statement. Don't worry, Wesley, after you retire from the NBA you can write a book about the tanned turd.

Wes: OK, coach.

Will you do the prologue for the book?  Note, I didn't say foreward....for a reason. 



Search a little harder, the quote was provided.