Good John Dawson Interview...

[NersEllenson]

Pay a visit to Dodds site...take a listen...very good insight on all the guys in his recruiting class...where they are as of May 2014.  Thinks JJJ could be the best of the bunch.  Is excited for the 4 of them to be able to play together at some point.  Nice critique on everyone's game..including his.


http://marquette.scout.com/2/1392849.html

[Markusquette]

The audio isn't loading for me.  Is there any where else I can listen to it?

[brandx]

Pay a visit to Dodds site...take a listen...very good insight on all the guys in his recruiting class...where they are as of May 2014.  Thinks JJJ could be the best of the bunch.  Is excited for the 4 of them to be able to play together at some point.  Nice critique on everyone's game..including his.


http://marquette.scout.com/2/1392849.html

Everyone but Buzz could see jjj's talent.

[NersEllenson]

The audio isn't loading for me.  Is there any where else I can listen to it?

Hmm..not sure...but to summarize:

Dawson wasn't mad that Buzz left...understands it's a business..only question he really had for Buzz was "why?"  Buzz didn't really have an answer.  Said he learned from Buzz that he wasn't to be considered/or consider himself a freshman after December...Said he likes Wojo from first impressions - seems to really care about the guys as individuals...and mentioned liking that he played the game at high level...

Said he is working on his athleticism/quickness the most this offseason...along with his body in general.

Said Deonte could play linebacker for Green Bay - Dodds led him in that direction with the question.  Said Deonte is a crazy good athlete - probably 240 lbs.  Said he asked Deonte why he didn't play football...said because he just didn't play it growing up..

Asked how JJJ was doing - Said in the weight room a ton, in the gym a ton.  A gym rat.  Dodds compared him as a freshman to Vander as a freshman - Dawson feels JJJ has more upside than Vander.  Said out of all the now sophomores he has all the tools to play at next level - good shot, first step, athleticism, mid range game.

Regarding Duane - Said he's been working hard...probably has put on roughly 13lbs since arriving at MU...is a great athlete...was still recovering from his injury for most of last season..but doing really well...and was looking forward to all of them being able to play together at some point.

Mentioned the guys wanting to win a national championship - of course all players want this...yet there was almost an expectant tone in the way John said - like they genuinely believe they can be that good....so much has to break the right way...but...if all those guys stay at MU for 4 years total...as seniors...they should be really damn good.

[NersEllenson]

Everyone but Buzz could see jjj's talent.

Come on brandx - Buzz played his best guys.  No way Mayo or JJJ could have been better or deserving of more minutes than Jake.  No way Deonte could have been better or more deserving of more minutes than Juan.

Sure would have been nice if all the freshman last year would have logged a lot of game minutes...gained that additional experience...considering we missed the freaking NIT anyway....which even was a surprise to me....though I knew we didn't stand a chance at making the NCAA as early as mid December... if things didn't change with Buzz's backcourt of choice/max minutes.

But how dare you say Buzz couldn't see JJJ's talent?  Buzz got us to an Elite 8 the year before and two Sweet 16s...therefore absolving him of any possibility of making a bad coaching decision..or more properly bad coaching decisions...last season.

[AZWarrior]

Ners - thanks much for the summary.   

[SonofPianoMan]

Ners - thanks much for the summary.   

+1

[HutchwasClutch]

Everyone but Buzz could see jjj's talent.

I hope people here are right about JaJuan, because I didn't think his talent was that obvious at all.  He looked like a freshman and a very ordinary one at that.   I tend to believe all of the excitement about him is based off his reputation and top 50 status coming in. 

To me, Dawson showed way more ability to play than JaJuan, and he was the least touted of last year's freshman. 

[79Warrior]

I hope people here are right about JaJuan, because I didn't think his talent was that obvious at all.  He looked like a freshman and a very ordinary one at that.   I tend to believe all of the excitement about him is based off his reputation and top 50 status coming in. 

To me, Dawson showed way more ability to play than JaJuan, and he was the least touted of last year's freshman. 
[/quote

Tend to agree. I saw him put up a bunch in CA versus Fullerton. That was about it.

[dgies9156]

Under the Hillbilly's tutalage, Jujuan was going nowhere. Except to another university.

How much talent he has for a Division 1 level school remains to be seen. But I think the kid can play and hopefully this translates into something special.

Years ago, I thought the verdict on the Hillbilly's ability to coach was what happens with Vander Blue. Vander was a close-to-five-star recruit and one of the best the Hillbilly recruited. Vander's junior year showed the Hillbilly could coach high quality players (though the decision on the NBA draft may have been People's Exhibit I in demonstrating the Hillbilly was losing control of his team).

Wojo's ability to coach high level talent will in no small measure be contingent on the success he has with JuJuan.

[Dawson Rental]

I hope people here are right about JaJuan, because I didn't think his talent was that obvious at all.  He looked like a freshman and a very ordinary one at that.   I tend to believe all of the excitement about him is based off his reputation and top 50 status coming in. 

To me, Dawson showed way more ability to play than JaJuan, and he was the least touted of last year's freshman. 

PM Ners through Scoop to receive your complementary "Dawson Sluper" t-shirt.

[HutchwasClutch]

Wojo's ability to coach high level talent will in no small measure be contingent on the success he has with JuJuan.

Any coach should be judged on how much they develop and improve their players, but I'm sure not going to tie whether Wojo can coach or not to Johnson.   There are hits and misses all over the place in recruiting, and he wasn't even Wojo's recruit.  If it becomes a trend of highly recruited guys not improving under Wojo, then we're talking about something different.  But the litmus test won't be Johnson.

[HutchwasClutch]

PM Ners through Scoop to receive your complementary "Dawson Sluper" t-shirt.

A lot to like about Dawson, a lot. 

[NersEllenson]

PM Ners through Scoop to receive your complementary "Dawson Sluper" t-shirt.

Haha Murs...no doubt I'm a HUGE Dawson fan...and President of his Scoop Fan Club.  Might want to jump on board for that Dawson Slurper T-Shirt you mention, as demand will be stiff for them soon.

John will be a very good player at MU when all is said and done.  Don't know if we'll get to see it as much as I'd like this upcoming season...but have zero doubt as a Junior John will be a key player on the team.  He's a lot like Jerel McNeal...but with much better court vision...though perhaps not quite as quick as Jerel.  Has a great feel for the game too.

[Knight Commission]

Sign me up for the pro Dawson club.

Politics or high major D1 coaching may be a solid backup career for this kid.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Everyone but Buzz could see jjj's talent.

Buzz saw it. He and JJJ didn't get along though

[NersEllenson]

Buzz saw it. He and JJJ didn't get along though

Probably because when you make somebody playing time promises during their recruitment and tout them all throughout boot camp as being the toughest guy....and then barely play the kid....not surprised the 18 year old kid would lose respect for the adult who made promises he didn't keep.

[Markusquette]

Hmm..not sure...but to summarize:

Dawson wasn't mad that Buzz left...understands it's a business..only question he really had for Buzz was "why?"  Buzz didn't really have an answer.  Said he learned from Buzz that he wasn't to be considered/or consider himself a freshman after December...Said he likes Wojo from first impressions - seems to really care about the guys as individuals...and mentioned liking that he played the game at high level...

Said he is working on his athleticism/quickness the most this offseason...along with his body in general.

Said Deonte could play linebacker for Green Bay - Dodds led him in that direction with the question.  Said Deonte is a crazy good athlete - probably 240 lbs.  Said he asked Deonte why he didn't play football...said because he just didn't play it growing up..

Asked how JJJ was doing - Said in the weight room a ton, in the gym a ton.  A gym rat.  Dodds compared him as a freshman to Vander as a freshman - Dawson feels JJJ has more upside than Vander.  Said out of all the now sophomores he has all the tools to play at next level - good shot, first step, athleticism, mid range game.

Regarding Duane - Said he's been working hard...probably has put on roughly 13lbs since arriving at MU...is a great athlete...was still recovering from his injury for most of last season..but doing really well...and was looking forward to all of them being able to play together at some point.

Mentioned the guys wanting to win a national championship - of course all players want this...yet there was almost an expectant tone in the way John said - like they genuinely believe they can be that good....so much has to break the right way...but...if all those guys stay at MU for 4 years total...as seniors...they should be really damn good.

Thanks for the summary!  I'd be interested to hear the reactions now since that audio was from a few months ago.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Probably because when you make somebody playing time promises during their recruitment and tout them all throughout boot camp as being the toughest guy....and then barely play the kid....not surprised the 18 year old kid would lose respect for the adult who made promises he didn't keep.

Honestly don't know any of the details. It is either Buzz' or JJJ's issue depending on who you talk to. Probably truth to both

[keefe]

PM Ners through Scoop to receive your complementary "Dawson Sluper" t-shirt.

[dgies9156]

Any coach should be judged on how much they develop and improve their players, but I'm sure not going to tie whether Wojo can coach or not to Johnson.   There are hits and misses all over the place in recruiting, and he wasn't even Wojo's recruit.  If it becomes a trend of highly recruited guys not improving under Wojo, then we're talking about something different.  But the litmus test won't be Johnson.

Theoretically, I agree. But Jujuan was a high-level recruit and a highly visible one. If he grows and becomes a leader on our team, a Lloyd, a Butch, a Doc, a Tony Smith etc., Wojo will be visible and demonstrate his worth with high level recruits. If he doesn't, then the questions will start.

Bring in two or three five star recruits, make them NBA ready and no one will care about any failure with Jujuan. But I think Jujuan is a talented young man and can mean a lot to our team, now.

[GGGG]

Probably because when you make somebody playing time promises during their recruitment and tout them all throughout boot camp as being the toughest guy....and then barely play the kid....not surprised the 18 year old kid would lose respect for the adult who made promises he didn't keep.

How do you know that Buzz made "playing time promises" to JJJ?

[NersEllenson]

How do you know that Buzz made "playing time promises" to JJJ?

I have several sources very close to the program who have indicated as much.  #donedeal.  But your boy Ganzer isn't one of them.

[GGGG]

I have several sources very close to the program who have indicated as much.  #donedeal.  But your boy Ganzer isn't one of them.

I just asked a question.  Not sure why you needed to take a shot at IWB in the process.

[bilsu]

I have several sources very close to the program who have indicated as much.  #donedeal.  But your boy Ganzer isn't one of them.

Who knows what was promised or not. McKay certainly thought he was going to be used differently. Did Buzz promise him he would play small forward or did he talk about how he like to use him at small forward? Right now Wojo is selling his vision for the MU program. Telling a player how he envisions him being used in the program is not necessarily the same as a promise although I could see a young player could taking it that way.