UT - Martin Game Thread

[TSmith34, Inc.]

He did have a nice game, never meeting a shot he did not like either.

I thought he only took one bad shot (though I didn't see the first 8 minutes).  Along with one bad pass.

Only 1 TO, 0 PF, and 6-9 from the floor.  Extremely efficient.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Of course...in 3 times the amount of playing time.  Looks like Dawson will be the 9th man at this point so I won't have a lot to say on that...but for the love of God it was great to see Carlino and Duane running things in the second half.  Duane looks promising, and in my view, there is little reason as to why by conference play he's not the starting PG on this team.

Duane this season would have been an improvement over Derrick last season. I'll definitely agree to that. And I think he will be an improvement over Derrick this season as well. However, I honestly thought Duane was was the least impressive of the seven who got playing time tonight. Four fouls, took some unnecessary erratic drives, and missed some open shots. But he showed a lot of potential. I'm excited to see what he can grow into. However, based on last night, I think Carlino is our starting PG. Duane is either a backup PG or SG

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Whatever fits your narrative. I thank Buzz for what he did years 1-5 but he did a grave injustice to JJJ last year. No way he becomes that good from no game experience. I have been around basketball too long and have nevery seen a jump like that.

Steve Taylor: "F**k Buzz"

Whatever fits your narrative. Keep in mind that you have only heard Steve's side of the story. Of course, the player thinks he was benched unfairly. I also thought it was unfair when I was grounded for taking my dad's Camaro for a joyride. Depending on who you talk to, it was either the players fault or the coach's fault. What it sounds like to me personally is that Steve and JJJ deserved to be benched last season, but not for as long or as often as they were.

All that being said, I'm ecstatic we have Wojo. Because while Buzz may have had to make a tough choice whether or not to bench JJJ and Steve. Wojo did him 5 steps better and just eliminated the need for that decision in the first place. That is the sign of a great coach.  We've got a great one in the making leading our team.

[NersEllenson]

Hope so since they've had another off-season of training, etc.

I think there was even a famous quote from Al about the situation...

Give me a break.  Where was this improvement then from Derrick and Juan through even their first 3 years at MU?  That was half the point of last season...if by the end of your junior year...after getting max PT and playing more minutes than any other guy on the team, you still produced at an abysmal level - enough already.  At least you could excuse Juan's production or lack thereof as he as jerked around all 3 of his first 3 years while at MU by Buzz.  Hard to get consistent performance when you have radically inconsistent PT.

[jesmu84]

Give me a break.  Where was this improvement then from Derrick and Juan through even their first 3 years at MU?  That was half the point of last season...if by the end of your junior year...after getting max PT and playing more minutes than any other guy on the team, you still produced at an abysmal level - enough already.  At least you could excuse Juan's production or lack thereof as he as jerked around all 3 of his first 3 years while at MU by Buzz.  Hard to get consistent performance when you have radically inconsistent PT.

So you believe that derrick and Juan did not improve even 1% since they arrived at MU until this year? I don't believe that to be true.

[GGGG]

Juan and Derrick both steadily improved each year.  Neither made an impressive leap however.  It's very early but it looks like Juan might do that this year.

[MU82]

for the love of God it was great to see Carlino and Duane running things in the second half.  

It definitely was great to see a PG or two who could hit a free throw in the second half!

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Whatever fits your narrative. Keep in mind that you have only heard Steve's side of the story. Of course, the player thinks he was benched unfairly. I also thought it was unfair when I was grounded for taking my dad's Camaro for a joyride. Depending on who you talk to, it was either the players fault or the coach's fault. What it sounds like to me personally is that Steve and JJJ deserved to be benched last season, but not for as long or as often as they were.

All that being said, I'm ecstatic we have Wojo. Because while Buzz may have had to make a tough choice whether or not to bench JJJ and Steve. Wojo did him 5 steps better and just eliminated the need for that decision in the first place. That is the sign of a great coach.  We've got a great one in the making leading our team.

I'll trust the player more than the coach who told JJJ that he could be the man right away in order to get him away from Memphis.

[GGGG]

I'll trust the player more than the coach who told JJJ that he could be the man right away in order to get him away from Memphis.

JJJ wasn't being recruited by Memphis.  He chose MU over Alabama and Miami.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'll trust the player more than the coach who told JJJ that he could be the man right away in order to get him away from Memphis.

Of course. Because Buzz is gone and he was losing last season. If he had been winning, you would have been telling JJJ to take a hike.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Of course. Because Buzz is gone and he was losing last season. If he had been winning, you would have been telling JJJ to take a hike.

I'm just repeating what I hear.

[GGGG]

I'm just repeating what I hear.

So you heard that Buzz gave JJJ a line to get him away from Memphis...even though he wasn't being recruited by Memphis?

Perhaps the people you are hearing this stuff shouldn't be believed.

[Wojo'sMojo]

Juan and Derrick both steadily improved each year.  Neither made an impressive leap however.  It's very early but it looks like Juan might do that this year.

How has Derrick steadily improved in your opinion, in all seriousness? I think offensively he has regressed.

[GGGG]

How has Derrick steadily improved in your opinion, in all seriousness? I think offensively he has regressed.

Shoots better.  Handles better.  Defends OK.  Marginal improvements.

[Wojo'sMojo]

Shoots better.  Handles better.  Defends OK.  Marginal improvements.

But does he really shoot better? His ft% has went down every year and his 3pt% regressed last year as well.

[GGGG]

But does he really shoot better? His ft% has went down every year and his 3pt% regressed last year as well.

His overall FG% has gone up.

[jsglow]

Juan and Derrick both steadily improved each year.  Neither made an impressive leap however.  It's very early but it looks like Juan might do that this year.

I think that's right.  And I believe that Wojo's coaching is the reason.  Juan has looked very good in the two games I've seen.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

So you heard that Buzz gave JJJ a line to get him away from Memphis...even though he wasn't being recruited by Memphis?

Perhaps the people you are hearing this stuff shouldn't be believed.

Straight from the horses mouth. May have gotten the schools mixed up but there was a pry.

[GGGG]

Straight from the horses mouth. May have gotten the schools mixed up but there was a pry.

Sure.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Sure.

I have a job on campus where I can get a lot of info. Glow and chick can confirm.

Edit: Sorry to put you on the spot like this glow and chick. I'll take it down if you request.

[GGGG]

I have a job on campus where I can get a lot of info. Glow and chick can confirm.

Edit: Sorry to put you on the spot like this glow and chick. I'll take it down if you request.

I'm not doubting you hear stuff.  I am doubting that JJJ told you flat out that Buzz lied to him. 

[real chili 83]

I have a job on campus where I can get a lot of info. Glow and chick can confirm.

Edit: Sorry to put you on the spot like this glow and chick. I'll take it down if you request.

Your parents?

[NersEllenson]

So you believe that derrick and Juan did not improve even 1% since they arrived at MU until this year? I don't believe that to be true.

Okay - you got me.  Maybe they improved by 3%.  But it was minimal, and in Juan's case I can at least understand partially why - he has always been yanked around with his PT/role.  For Derrick, he got as good of opportunity as a college player could ever ask for last season, he his numbers actually regressed as far as 3 pt shooting and FTs...and I can't put much value on FG percentage when the only FGs you take as a guard are within 2 feet of the basket.

You essentially were trying to downplay the big step up we saw from JJJ last night.  A guy doesn't simply be non-worthy of getting into games at the end of his freshman year, when he's playing behind a highly ineffective senior - to being the star of the first game of sophomore year.

And I suspect Juan will continue to play solidly with consistent playing time and good/normal coaching by Wojo.

[jesmu84]

You essentially were trying to downplay the big step up we saw from JJJ last night.  A guy doesn't simply be non-worthy of getting into games at the end of his freshman year, when he's playing behind a highly ineffective senior - to being the star of the first game of sophomore year

I wasn't. I was a fan of jjj last year and wanted him to see th court more. I will acknowledge that wojo could have improved jjj beyond what buzz was able to do. I was merely stating that it is not uncommon for players to make a big leap between freshmen and sophomore years.

[Wojo'sMojo]

FIFY

I don't understand why you keep saying Mayo blocked JJJ instead of Jake. You keep saying we needed Jake to stretch the defense. Pretty sure JJJ was a threat from 3 last night and he would've been last year too. JJJ is a shooting guard, same as Jake.