First Take on 2014 Squad

[onepost]

It took me a few times, but I now see what you did there.

I can't do any more Keefe-like "beat around the bush" haikus/conjecture.
Just give us the details!!!

[wadesworld]

I can't do any more Keefe-like "beat around the bush" haikus/conjecture.
Just give us the details!!!

There may be some *silent* messages going on.

[tompopsicle]

DW must be reading what his critics have posted.  This is the first picture of the "official posed player photos" on MUBB's facebook site:

Either that or he wants to go back to playing football...

[Dawson Rental]

So, Big Daddy as far as 2015 goes... which of the four top 100 freshmen do you think has the best chance to start?

[BM1090]

It took me a few times, but I now see what you did there.

It took me a a few more times after reading your post. I'm slow.

[Big Daddy 84]

Which 2015 Freshman will start?


The highest rated  

I know that is a little cheap to say, but lets say this.

If you are a Top 20 5 star HS Senior and pretty much could go to the school of your choice, and you have already decided where you are going, but you have all of the blue bloods taking to you and you have the ability to develop relationships that can last a lifetime with very influential folks, what would you do, announce you decision now or wait and at least go through the whole process.  Also if you know one of these TOP 20 kids and they know where they are at and they want to have one of these ceremonies to pick the hat from the table shouldn't we let them do it.  So why do I say anything, 1) The  the number of calls, emails, texts I am getting on this subject is stupid.     2) I like messing with the Badger fans.

We are in great shape and we need to just relax.  D Wade did not make MU, MJ did not make UNC and UConn won the National Championship without Diamond Stone and probably wont win one with him (that is not a dig on DS, just that winning a NC is even harder now with the parity in college basketball, except maybe Kentucky).  

[jesmu84]

Whoa, whoa, whoa... Are you telling me playing time can be determined by one's ability to play good defense?! Holy crap! If Wojo has that coaching philosophy, at least one poster is going to lose their mind.

[jesmu84]

Which 2015 Freshman will start?


The highest rated  

I know that is a little cheap to say, but lets say this.

If you are a Top 20 5 star HS Senior and pretty much could go to the school of your choice, and you have already decided where you are going, but you have all of the blue bloods taking to you and you have the ability to develop relationships that can last a lifetime with very influential folks, what would you do, announce you decision now or wait and at least go through the whole process.  Also if you know one of these TOP 20 kids and they know where they are at and they want to have one of these ceremonies to pick the hat from the table shouldn't we let them do it.  So why do I say anything, 1) The  the number of calls, emails, texts I am getting on this subject is stupid.     2) I like messing with the Badger fans.

We are in great shape and we need to just relax.  D Wade did not make MU, MJ did not make UNC and UConn won the National Championship without Diamond Stone and probably wont win one with him (that is not a dig on DS, just that winning a NC is even harder now with the parity in college basketball, except maybe Kentucky).  

Ellenson to MU. Stone to UConn. Interesting.

[mu-rara]

Whoa, whoa, whoa... Are you telling me playing time can be determined by one's ability to play good defense?! Holy crap! If Wojo has that coaching philosophy, at least one poster is going to lose their mind.

almost had milk come up my nose.

[4everwarriors]

All:

These are only my thoughts and what I have heard. Matt may start versus Duane, but my guess is that without LF to start  with we need to maximize our punch early in games. But I agree nothing is written in Ellenson.    JA and STJ will both start, no choice.

Wojo and players are tight and there is an us vs them attitude and that he is one of the us.

I see what ya did here

[NersEllenson]

Whoa, whoa, whoa... Are you telling me playing time can be determined by one's ability to play good defense?! Holy crap! If Wojo has that coaching philosophy, at least one poster is going to lose their mind.

LOL - Nice try.  I know this is directed at me.  I'll indulge you:  I've never said playing good defense wasn't valuable, nor have I said a guy being a very good defender isn't worthy of playing time.  I've simply said that if a player is going to be a total and complete liability and void on the offensive end, and there is a more talented offensive player behind that person - the kid with the major offensive limitations better be an elite level defender.  Even the best shooters fail 50% of the time regardless of who is guarding them.  A guy who is an offensive liability - well, that is present 100% of the time on the offensive end.

In the Blue/Gardner debate and not the Derrick/Dawson -  I've also said that Gardner was an offensively elite player, to where his limitations defensively were worth the value he brought on the O end.  As for Vander Blue - he wasn't elite offensively or defensively....and you can't find ONE stat to suggest otherwise.  Sorry.

[naginiF]

yet another thread that started intelligent, pleasant, and insightful dragged into primitive chest thumping.  let's stick to the DW is the type of student athlete we want representing our University and not jump to defensive posturing.

[raul]

DE. Wilson and Carlino to start. Seniors rule.

[Johnny B]

DE. Wilson and Carlino to start. Seniors rule.

Du and matt

[Dawson Rental]

Du and matt

[THRILLHO]

I share my initial thoughts on this year's squad.


3) Starting line up until LF is eligible to play:
     A) Duane Wilson
     B) JJ
     C) JA
     D) DB
     E) STJ
4) After LF is Eligible
     A) Duane Wilson/Matt C
     B) JJ
     C) JA/DB
     D) STJ
     E) LF

Thanks BigDaddy for the big time knowledge drop. With the previous coach, listing starters wasn't as meaningful as listing how many expected minutes a player would get, as he would start some people just to use up a foul or keep other people out of foul trouble. Does anyone have any guesses as to what Wojo's strategy for picking starters might be? Do you expect the starter lists BigDaddy posted to broadly reflect minutes played? I guess I'm kind of expecting a more old school approach where starters would play more minutes and a starting spot is truly earned but that's just a guess based on Wojo's kind of old school reputation as a player.

[tower912]

nm

[GGGG]

LOL - Nice try.  I know this is directed at me.  I'll indulge you:  I've never said playing good defense wasn't valuable, nor have I said a guy being a very good defender isn't worthy of playing time.  I've simply said that if a player is going to be a total and complete liability and void on the offensive end, and there is a more talented offensive player behind that person - the kid with the major offensive limitations better be an elite level defender.  Even the best shooters fail 50% of the time regardless of who is guarding them.  A guy who is an offensive liability - well, that is present 100% of the time on the offensive end.

In the Blue/Gardner debate and not the Derrick/Dawson -  I've also said that Gardner was an offensively elite player, to where his limitations defensively were worth the value he brought on the O end.  As for Vander Blue - he wasn't elite offensively or defensively....and you can't find ONE stat to suggest otherwise.  Sorry.

Ners, you know you can just let sh*t go occasionally right?

[Skatastrophy]

Ners, you know you can just let sh*t go occasionally right?

[NersEllenson]

Ners, you know you can just let sh*t go occasionally right?

Yes...and I do on occasion...when it is either funny, or a good point.  But when it lacks humor, and is simply a false/bad point - not so much.  Much the same as you do.

[Henry Sugar]

I enjoyed BigDaddy's post, but I would like to point out that STJ should be correctly spelled FST.

#FREESTEVETAYLOR

[GGGG]

BTW, thanks Big Daddy.

I see that you have Juan starting in both situations.  I am assuming that is due to his defense more than anything, or do you have reason to believe that he has progressed offensively as well?

[Lennys Tap]

I enjoyed BigDaddy's post, but I would like to point out that STJ should be correctly spelled FST.

#FREESTEVETAYLOR

Hope whatever acronym Steve goes by this year he produces better results than last year. To me, he was among the biggest disappointments in a season full of them. Other than a game or two he was awful - looked totally lost, missed no-footers in bunches (how can a big shoot 32% from the field?). I thought McKay left in part because Steve stood between him and any significant PT. Assuming McKay can play at all that certainly wasn't the case last year. Fingers crossed for better health and a big bounce for Steve this season.

[NersEllenson]

Hope whatever acronym Steve goes by this year he produces better results than last year. To me, he was among the biggest disappointments in a season full of them. Other than a game or two he was awful - looked totally lost, missed no-footers in bunches (how can a big shoot 32% from the field?). I thought McKay left in part because Steve stood between him and any significant PT. Assuming McKay can play at all that certainly wasn't the case last year. Fingers crossed for better health and a big bounce for Steve this season.

McKay left primarily due to Buzzaro. 

[NersEllenson]

BTW, thanks Big Daddy.

I see that you have Juan starting in both situations.  I am assuming that is due to his defense more than anything, or do you have reason to believe that he has progressed offensively as well?

Good question.  I suspect if Juan starts it will be due to us being very undersized initially, and will need all the help we can get rebounding.  I don't think Juan is as bad of offensive player as he showed last year - yet don't think he can be very effective scoring going to the basket - think he can be a more effective scorer shooting midrange and 3's.

Whatever the case - you know with Juan you are going to get all out effort - some good rebounding, loose ball "wins," etc.  His hustle does show up and help the team.  See him playing a Fulce-like role.