SOTG Tennessee

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Duane. However, I will say that he is lucky Wojo did nail his ass to the bench after those first three jumpers from way beyond NBA range. I wanted to tear my hair out each time, but he made up for them in big way.

[Nevada233]

Duane. However, I will say that he is lucky Wojo did nail his ass to the bench after those first three jumpers from way beyond NBA range. I wanted to tear my hair out each time, but he made up for them in big way.

Duane was taking Jimmer Ferdette shots last night... They were falling... But as in Carlinos 38 point game those shots not gonna fall every night...

[CTWarrior]

Duane. However, I will say that he is lucky Wojo did nail his ass to the bench after those first three jumpers from way beyond NBA range. I wanted to tear my hair out each time, but he made up for them in big way.

+1 

Shot selection may need some work, but what a well-rounded offensive game the kid has!  Can shoot deep and mid-range, can take people off the dribble and get to the rim, and appears to have court vision, though a little early to be sure about that.  Gotta tighten up the handle a little bit, but I am really excited about this kid's future (and his present) at MU.  How could you not be?

[MU82]

Duane. However, I will say that he is lucky Wojo did nail his ass to the bench after those first three jumpers from way beyond NBA range. I wanted to tear my hair out each time, but he made up for them in big way.

I thought it was great that Wojo trusted him, kept him in the game and probably even encouraged him to keep shooting.

Shooters gotta shoot.

I think he will develop into a nice all-around PG but it is his shotmaking ability that could make him one of our best players in recent years. The kid hit 52% of his 3s in high school. 52%!!!! The NCAA line is only a tiny bit farther out, and range does not appear to be one of Duane's problems. Nor does confidence!

[GGGG]

+1 

Shot selection may need some work, but what a well-rounded offensive game the kid has!  Can shoot deep and mid-range, can take people off the dribble and get to the rim, and appears to have court vision, though a little early to be sure about that.  Gotta tighten up the handle a little bit, but I am really excited about this kid's future (and his present) at MU.  How could you not be?

Absolutely.  The handle issue could be why Wojo might still be looking at guards at the Juco level.  And I am sure he will have his ups and downs, but he really is showing why he was rated so high.

[jsglow]

Du.  Let's remember that he is a Frosh and getting his first real collegiate minutes.

[Silkk the Shaka]

I thought it was great that Wojo trusted him, kept him in the game and probably even encouraged him to keep shooting.

Shooters gotta shoot.

I think he will develop into a nice all-around PG but it is his shotmaking ability that could make him one of our best players in recent years. The kid hit 52% of his 3s in high school. 52%!!!! The NCAA line is only a tiny bit farther out, and range does not appear to be one of Duane's problems. Nor does confidence!

100% agree with all of this. I love that he didn't get yanked for some of the bombs he took, it's just the nature of being a shooter. Sometimes you miss a few in a row. But you can't let that get to you, need to be thinking the next one you take is going in no doubt. Treating a missed shot as a "mistake" that needs benching can ruin that needed confidence.

Duane's game has scary good potential. He has DJames-type athleticism with shooting range and confidence like Diener. I'm really excited to see his pick & roll/pop action with Ellenson next year.

[brewcity77]

One thing I will say is I absolutely hate when an arena hosts college games with the NBA three point line on the floor. Whether it's confusion or arrogance, I'm not at all a fan of watching kids fire from behind that line. Now if you fire up a shot like Steve did against UConn not because of confusion but just because you were feeling it, fine, but I'm very against that line ever being visible in a sanctioned NCAA game.

[NersEllenson]

100% agree with all of this. I love that he didn't get yanked for some of the bombs he took, it's just the nature of being a shooter. Sometimes you miss a few in a row. But you can't let that get to you, need to be thinking the next one you take is going in no doubt. Treating a missed shot as a "mistake" that needs benching can ruin that needed confidence.

Duane's game has scary good potential. He has DJames-type athleticism with shooting range and confidence like Diener. I'm really excited to see his pick & roll/pop action with Ellenson next year.

Nothing worse as a player than being worried about making a mistake, having to look over your shoulder to the scorer's table to see if you are getting yanked.  Had a lot of that going on with Buzz last year.  A HUGE benefit of having a former player as a coach - much better understanding of feel for the game, and knowing you have to let guys (particularly playmakers) play through some mistakes.

Duane has a lot of Swag.  Not doubt the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.  His Dad, Ike, played the same way - and was a very good shooter.  Easy to see where Duane got his form/fundamentals.

[warriorchick]

Du. named BEast Rookie of the Week:

http://www.bigeast.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/120114aaa.html

[MU82]

Nothing worse as a player than being worried about making a mistake, having to look over your shoulder to the scorer's table to see if you are getting yanked.  Had a lot of that going on with Buzz last year.  A HUGE benefit of having a former player as a coach - much better understanding of feel for the game, and knowing you have to let guys (particularly playmakers) play through some mistakes.

Actually, Wojo has done quite a bit of it, too. The difference so far is that Wojo's doghouse has less of a feeling of permanence.

[tower912]

He can't have a long term doghouse.   Who else can he put in?

[brandx]

I thought it was great that Wojo trusted him, kept him in the game and probably even encouraged him to keep shooting.

Shooters gotta shoot.

I think he will develop into a nice all-around PG but it is his shotmaking ability that could make him one of our best players in recent years. The kid hit 52% of his 3s in high school. 52%!!!! The NCAA line is only a tiny bit farther out, and range does not appear to be one of Duane's problems. Nor does confidence!

I read Towers comment and was going to reply with a quick comment - "shooters gotta shoot". You beat me to it.

When shoots are falling - let 'em shoot from anywhere, anytime. Sure, some will be forced, but when they are in the zone as we saw with Carlino and Duane, just keep shooting.

[NersEllenson]

Actually, Wojo has done quite a bit of it, too. The difference so far is that Wojo's doghouse has less of a feeling of permanence.

In my opinion, Wojo has done FAR less of the quick hook substitution than has Buzz.  And obviously, guys are being given very long stretches of run so they can get into a nice flow/rhythm.  That whole team last season was mindf$cked - other than Derrick and Jake - and perhaps they even were as they may have wondered why they were playing so much.  As I recall, Derrick told Buzz to keep Dawson on the floor in the G'Town game.

[MU82]

He can't have a long term doghouse.   Who else can he put in?

Dawson, for one. Cohen for more than 2 minutes, for another.