JJJ benched for bad practice - WOJO post game

[GGGG]

I'm not going to parse Wojo's words.  I'll assume a 'bad practice' is code for something other than 1-10 in Kasten yesterday.

Exactly. 

[Lennys Tap]

So is it his attitude or his practice habits?

Bad practice habits = bad attitude. Though I think there's even more to it than that.

[MUfan12]

If anything has been consistent about JJJ in his two years, it's that he checks out mentally if he's not involved offensively. He was terrible against Creighton, so it wouldn't surprise me if his focus/effort level dropped in practice.

[The Lens]

Buzz still trying to throw the season?  Most coaches pretty similar, aina?

[jsglow]

Interesting choice to quote Lombardi.  He also said this:  "Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect."

If any coach understood how important bringing it in practice was, it was Lombardi.

+1.  Sums it up perfectly.  No coach worth his salt tolerates bad habits.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Bad practice habits = bad attitude. Though I think there's even more to it than that.

Then the coach should have left him at home.

[jsglow]

Then the coach should have left him at home.

Nope.  You do everything the team does.  Then sit there and watch it.  Wojo's only obligation is to explain it to the player like a man.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Nope.  You do everything the team does.  Then sit there and watch it.  Wojo's only obligation is to explain it to the player like a man.

Disagree if it is more like what Lenny said. No reason to travel with the team and add a further distraction. Earn your way on the road just like many of MU's other sports who don't have the travel budgets.

[79Warrior]

JJJ will be our next transfer. Said it a couple months ago and I'll say it again.

Then let him go. Buzz planted his ass on the bench quite a bit last year. The young fella needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror. Kudos to Wojo for doing what he did.
He is the coach, his call. Based on Wojo's career, I have total respect for his process. This season was a loss going in. Hopefully, some of the guys learn how tough it is to win and bring it every day.

[Class71]

I have my doubts that it was truly one bad practice.  

Agree. By saying it was a bad practice Wojo minimizes the problem publically and he keeps the door open for JJJ to come back provided he changes. No change eventually he will be toast.

[4everwarriors]

JJJ will be our next transfer. Said it a couple months ago and I'll say it again.
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So be it. Adios m'fooker

[brandx]

Amazing. Wojo basically admitted he gave the game away. Punish the team because one guy didn't practice well.

No he didn't.

[79Warrior]

Disagree if it is more like what Lenny said. No reason to travel with the team and add a further distraction. Earn your way on the road just like many of MU's other sports who don't have the travel budgets.

No way. The best message is watching your teammates work their ass off. Staying home is the cowards way out. Face the music, he let his teamates down. Feel the heat, look your teamates in the face. Wojo is right on.

[rocket surgeon]

o.k., but he had ice on his knee(s) while on the bench?  if that was the case, could he have had a "bad practice" because he is having issues with the knee(s)?  if wojo didn't think he was 100% for any reason, it's a coaches decision.  the comment about how sharp his knives are was brutal imho of course

[We R Final Four]

Interesting choice to quote Lombardi.  He also said this:  "Practice does not make perfect. Only perfect practice makes perfect."

I thought that was a Don Gosz quote. 

[RealWarriorFan]

No he didn't.

[RealWarriorFan]

This is the year Wojo sets the foundation for his " Our MU" program - not I tolerate things this year because we are short handed- this is the MZu way! I LOVE That he Is doing it! It will pay dividends in he long run!

[brandx]

This is the year Wojo sets the foundation for his " Our MU" program - not I tolerate things this year because we are short handed- this is the MZu way! I LOVE That he Is doing it! It will pay dividends in he long run!

+1000

[Loose Cannon]

If he transfers because the coach sits him for not practicing well, then good riddance.

It will be interesting to see if lesson learned and we see him in the next game.

[Loose Cannon]

I have my doubts that it was truly one bad practice.  

+1

[damuts222]

Warrior Hal please be reminded that this is College basketball not the pros.  There is much more involved than winning games at a university. If JJJ isn't giving his all in practice its shortsighted on his part.  There's playing time to be had this year.

[MU82]

Throughout the decades, coaches/managers in all sports have made decision with the long term in mind that, in the short term, have been detrimental to their teams.

Hell, Popovich had several games last season where he benched Duncan, Ginobili AND Parker -- knowing full well that doing so probably would cost him those games but believing that his decision would yield long-term benefits. And he was right.

I umpire youth baseball. I had a game last season in which the team's best player cried every time even the tiniest thing went wrong. When he pitched and fell behind 2-0 in the count, he started whimpering. When he played shortstop and made a throwing error, the tears flowed. When a teammate made an error, he wailed. It was the damnedest thing I've seen in my years as an ump. His father was the coach and threatened about a dozen times to bench his kid. "Get yourself together. Do I have to take you out of the game?" But the father/coach was too weak to do anything and he let the kid make the rules -- to the long-term (and short-term) detriment of the team. How could this father/coach possibly hope to have any discipline on his team when he couldn't handle his own son?

A couple months ago, the Carolina Panthers cut several veterans and benched several others to go young. It appeared at the time that they were sacrificing this season. Lo and behold, the young players quickly "got it" and the Panthers won every game they had to down the stretch to make the playoffs and even win a postseason game.

Baseball teams make long-term-vs-short-term decisions every season. They decide by mid-July that they have little chance to be legitimate contenders and they make trades that will hurt them in the near term but (hopefully) benefit them down the line. Were the Braves wrong to trade Doyle Alexander for John Smoltz? Were the Astros wrong to trade Larry Anderson for Jeff Bagwell?

And yes, many, many, many coaches/managers in all sports at all levels have benched players -- stars far better than JJJ, even -- for disciplinary reasons for the overall long-term good of the team.

I don't know why this is such a difficult concept for some to comprehend.

I won't drop names, but one of the greatest managers in baseball history once told me: "Sometimes you have to be willing to lose the game today to win the pennant tomorrow."

[jsglow]

I umpire youth baseball. I had a game last season in which the team's best player cried every time even the tiniest thing went wrong. When he pitched and fell behind 2-0 in the count, he started whimpering. When he played shortstop and made a throwing error, the tears flowed. When a teammate made an error, he wailed. It was the damnedest thing I've seen in my years as an ump. His father was the coach and threatened about a dozen times to bench his kid. "Get yourself together. Do I have to take you out of the game?" But the father/coach was too weak to do anything and he let the kid make the rules -- to the long-term (and short-term) detriment of the team. How could this father/coach possibly hope to have any discipline on his team when he couldn't handle his own son?

I won't drop names, but one of the greatest managers in baseball history once told me: "Sometimes you have to be willing to lose the game today to win the pennant tomorrow."

Tom Treblehorn?

[connie]

This is the year Wojo sets the foundation for his " Our MU" program - not I tolerate things this year because we are short handed- this is the MZu way! I LOVE That he Is doing it! It will pay dividends in he long run!

Strongly agree.  Wojo is the Boss.  Not some 18-21 year old college kid.  Wojo is the face of the program and whether or not I agree with his reasoning, he is enforcing his rules as he sees fit.  If (IF) that means we lose a road game that breaks my heart, so be it.  We will be much better off in the long run.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Excellent comment MU82!  Wojo is the conductor of this orchestra and the team has to play his tune.  As a side comment, I especially agree with your comment about Carolina going younger and enjoying success.  The Packers have enjoyed much success by playing younger players.  I only wish the Brewers would understand this concept and "go younger."  They can't win with old players that are set in their ways.