I'll trust Wojo

[jsglow]

About how Derrick can lead this team.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/goldeneagles/mus-derrick-wilson-valued-for-his-leadership-b99403045z1-284825791.html

[tower912]

tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick...........

[jsglow]

tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick...........

LOL. Can I preemptively declare this a Ners Free Zone?

[tower912]

You can try.   I suspect we know how it will turn out.   

[buckchuckler]

About how Derrick can lead this team.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/goldeneagles/mus-derrick-wilson-valued-for-his-leadership-b99403045z1-284825791.html

Why would you even do that to us?

[jesmu84]

Oh come on... #coach'spet

[Wojo'sMojo]

Oh come on... #coach'spet

Sure sounds like it to me. His on court performance sure as hell isn't going to "lead" us anywhere worthwhile. It's funny, you get all riled up when people critique his play, but yet you love to instigate with your sarcastic comments.

[GooooMarquette]

No need for sarcasm.  Wojo is simply saying what several of us have been saying since last season.

[NersEllenson]

...

[Nevada233]

Oh come on... #coach'spet

pretty much...

At least graduation is Sunday, May 17, 2015 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center....

[MU82]

I absolutely can see why a coach would find comfort in a player like Derrick, who actually has played better than I expected this season.

Still ...

I guess Wojo's definition of "terrific" differs from mine.

[Nevada233]

I absolutely can see why a coach would find comfort in a player like Derrick, who actually has played better than I expected this season.

Still ...

I guess Wojo's definition of "terrific" differs from mine.

We might as well petition for him to be added to the Wooden Award Watch List.

[wadesworld]

Some people must've missed out on their English classes in college...and high school...and middle school. Reading comprehension isn't a strong suit of many posters here.

[🏀]

Way to go Ners!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Sure sounds like it to me. His on court performance sure as hell isn't going to "lead" us anywhere worthwhile.

C'mon man. The kid is coming off a great tournament in Orlando. He's earned a spot in the rotation. Even Ners thinks so. I personally wouldn't ride him for 30 minutes a night, but he's a least having a positive contribution out there.

It's funny, you get all riled up when people critique his play,

I haven't seen anyone get riled about this. Its when people make hyperbolic statements, or misrepresent facts, or hurl insults at him, or use lovely gems like:

pretty much...

At least graduation is Sunday, May 17, 2015 at the BMO Harris Bradley Center....

that get people fired up.

but yet you love to instigate with your sarcastic comments.

This I'll agree with. Posting a new article about Derrick's leadership is not instigating. But titling the thread this way and some of the subsequent comments are definitely baiting for a certain poster. We have no right to get upset about this topic getting rehashed if we are baiting like this.

However, I will say that I am much more comfortable with a forty something year old poster getting trolled than a college kid getting trashed.

[Shark]

He's exceeded my expectations honestly. I'm not a huge fan of his play over the years but he seems like a good kid and he's been a much more poised player this year. With Cohen playing horrendous defense and Dawson relegated to bench time I don't know who else would play for him anyway.

[Nevada233]

He's exceeded my expectations honestly. I'm not a huge fan of his play over the years but he seems like a good kid and he's been a much more poised player this year. With Cohen playing horrendous defense and Dawson relegated to bench time I don't know who else would play for him anyway.

Is prolly subliminally being encouraged to Transfer to free up a schollie..... It doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to see that...

[Marquette_g]

He's exceeded my expectations honestly. I'm not a huge fan of his play over the years but he seems like a good kid and he's been a much more poised player this year. With Cohen playing horrendous defense and Dawson relegated to bench time I don't know who else would play for him anyway.

How is Wilson's terrible offense any worse than Cohen's horrendous defense?  At least one is a freshman with upside. I'm not saying Derrick shouldn't play at all, but he contributes on only one end of the floor himself.

[mu03eng]

How is Wilson's terrible offense any worse than Cohen's horrendous defense?  At least one is a freshman with upside. I'm not saying Derrick shouldn't play at all, but he contributes on only one end of the floor himself.

This simply isn't true, Derrick contributes on the offensive end, some statistically identifiable, some not.  To claim otherwise is disingenuous.  Also we don't have to have Wilson bearing the brunt on offense that's what Duane, Carlino, JjJ, and Juan are for.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

How is Wilson's terrible offense any worse than Cohen's horrendous defense?  At least one is a freshman with upside. I'm not saying Derrick shouldn't play at all, but he contributes on only one end of the floor himself.

Have you watched the games this season? Derrick lead us in points scored in one game and we would have lost the Tennessee game without his offensive contributions. Is he a good offensive player? No. But saying he only contributes on one end of the floor is false. If defenses start sagging off him in conference play and he can't make them pay with a three, then I will reevaluate my statement.

[WarriorInNYC]

How is Wilson's terrible offense any worse than Cohen's horrendous defense?  At least one is a freshman with upside. I'm not saying Derrick shouldn't play at all, but he contributes on only one end of the floor himself.

He's actually shown great ability this year to get to the basket and finish.  He's had I believe 4 or 5 games this year with 7 or more points including 2 in double figures.  His FT shooting is still extremely frustrating, especially at the end of game situations when some of the other guys make the mistake of passing it to him.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Is prolly subliminally being encouraged to Transfer to free up a schollie..... It doesn't take a Rocket Scientist to see that...

There is a big difference between "encouraging someone to transfer to free up a schollie" and being honest with a kid and saying "unless your game improves drastically, you will probably never earn consistent playing time here. If playing time is your priority, you might want to try transferring to a mid-major."

I may be naive, but everything I have learned about Wojo makes me believe he is a players first coach. He wouldn't cut somebody out just for the scholarship. But he is here to win games. He's not going to play a player who he thinks will hurt his team's chance to win a game. Besides UT Martin, all of our games this season have been close. I'm sure once we have another cupcake game (and actually handle the game like we should), all of our players will get some playing time.

If Dawson transfers, it won't be because he was unjustly nailed to the bench. It will be because he simply wasn't good enough to earn playing time here and doesn't want to wait until he is good enough (or may think he will never be good enough).

[jsglow]

However, I will say that I am much more comfortable with a forty something year old poster getting trolled than a college kid getting trashed.

Thanks for making me so much younger.  Chick will appreciate that!

Gentlemen, I for one see a material improvement in Derrick's game this year.  I'll first attribute that to all the hard work he put in this summer but I will also attribute that to the mix of players he's surrounded by when he's on the court.  Everything from his 3 point shooting to his solid box out rebounding is better.  Add to that his penetration and ability to finish at the rim and his help defense from the weak side.  It's all better.  And in my judgement we're a better team when he's on the floor.  We all saw it in Orlando where MU truly played 3 very solid games.  Let's hope we see it the rest of the season especially as we watch our young guys start to develop into something special.

I think Derrick would be the first to admit that his game last year left a lot to be desired and that MU's performance suffered as a result.  Now it's time for us to man up and acknowledge that if he continues to play as he did this past weekend that he's a valuable cog in an ever improving wheel.  I cheer for Derrick.  And if I happen to see him tonight at the dinner I'm going to tell him how much I appreciate him.  

[jsglow]

How is Wilson's terrible offense any worse than Cohen's horrendous defense?  At least one is a freshman with upside. I'm not saying Derrick shouldn't play at all, but he contributes on only one end of the floor himself.

You must have been away from your TV this past weekend.  I believe that in the UT game Derrick was the only player in double figures except Duane.  With shooters like we have and without 'the big fella' down in the low block clogging things up, Derrick is going to be able to penetrate.  And he won't lose the ball on the way to the hoop either.

Last year he simply couldn't make the entry pass to DG, couldn't shoot (and therefore wasn't covered), and couldn't get past a sagging defense.  The offense and his skill set are different now.

[slingkong]

Derrick is doing this season exactly what he needs to do - playing decent defense and penetrating, while taking (and even making!) the occasional 3. It's what everyone wanted from him last season but he didn't have the players around him to do it, which is why Jake should not have played nearly as much as he did. Now Derrick just has to continue to do what he's done this year. If he reverts back to pounding the ball at the top of the key for 20 seconds or if defenders start to sag too much, he needs to be benched except to provide a breather for Carlino and DuWilson.