Traci Carter

[jesmu84]

Oh god...

Please can we not do this Derrick thing again? I don't care who thinks what about him or him vs any other player.

I'm starting to have PTSD-like flashbacks of Ners' posts

[wadesworld]

Derrick was a very, very good on ball defender.  Just ask Brad Stevens if his defense was overrated.  Stevens went out of his way in the post game press conference following MU's NCAA Tourney win over Butler to comment on how Derrick "hounded" his man all over the court.  If Derrick played with better players around him he still wouldn't have been good, but he would've been fine.

Junior was vastly underrated.  Was he as good as his top 60 ranking?  No, probably not.  But he was a really solid point guard offensively.  Not a great shooter and turned it over too much against Louisville, but other than that he was a gamer.

[Anti-Dentite]

If Traci Carter is as good as Junior's senior year, MU will make a deep run. I don't understand the Junior hate, he was a baller.

[jsglow]

I actually think that The Engine will be a better PG then DJ.....he might not be a better scorer or slasher, etc. but within the role of a 1 I think Traci will be better from day 1.

It'll be interesting though, because with Luke, Henry, and Duane.....The Engine doesn't have to be great to look great if you know what I mean.

That's very high praise 03eng.  I'd hold off just a little.  If this year's team had Frosh Dom James at PG with Luke, Henry and Duane I'd expect it to not only make the NCAA but possibly get out of the first weekend.  Let's let Engine play against some skilled guards first.  I think we're in fine shape as he clearly has the tools and teachers at his disposal.

(Here's hoping that every day in the gym Travis is showing him how far he has to go.  Beat me first kid.)

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

As for Traci, I'll say if he plays 25 mpg he'll avg 5-8 ppg and 3-5 apg.  But his impact will be far greater than his stats.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

That's very high praise 03eng.  I'd hold off just a little.  If this year's team had Frosh Dom James at PG with Luke, Henry and Duane I'd expect it to not only make the NCAA but possibly get out of the first weekend.  Let's let Engine play against some skilled guards first.  I think we're in fine shape as he clearly has the tools and teachers at his disposal.

(Here's hoping that every day in the gym Travis is showing him how far he has to go.  Beat me first kid.)

I just watched the 2003 Kentucky game last night and man was Travis such a little punk. Had to be one of the most obnoxious guys on the floor that night. I'm sure you all remember this but Wade or Jackson made a great play and Deiner gets the ball and just slams it on the baseline. He is exactly the type of college player I would hate.

[tower912]

I like what I have seen of Traci.  I think he will have a nice career at MU if he stays healthy.  I think it is premature to anoint him.    I realize this is a message board, this is August, and we are all dying to talk basketball.   But let's wait to see him and the rest of the team against D1 competition. 

[jsglow]

I just watched the 2003 Kentucky game last night and man was Travis such a little punk. Had to be one of the most obnoxious guys on the floor that night. I'm sure you all remember this but Wade or Jackson made a great play and Deiner gets the ball and just slams it on the baseline. He is exactly the type of college player I would hate.

I'll bet you woulda thought the same thing about Wojo.  Travis was incredibly competitive and certainly a bit brash at 19.  The teenage assassin.

[GGGG]

I just watched the 2003 Kentucky game last night and man was Travis such a little punk. Had to be one of the most obnoxious guys on the floor that night. I'm sure you all remember this but Wade or Jackson made a great play and Deiner gets the ball and just slams it on the baseline. He is exactly the type of college player I would hate.

He was like Wojo...only better.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Brew City positions himself as some sort of basketball expert but the reality is he knows nothing more than the rest of us.

A guy like Brew criticizes Junior Cadougan's skills as a ball player when he isn't fit to wash Junior's jock strap.

I don't see the point in making things personal with a poster that brings a lot of valuable discussion to the table.  Scoop could use more like Brew, and less of another certain kind. 

[brewcity77]

Do you even watch games or just look at advanced stats?  Junior had his weaknesses but he could run an offense, distribute, control tempo and make his teammates better.  His best skill was hitting the shooter in the shooting pocket, which makes for an easier conversion rate.  Rewatch some games and see how many open 3's DJO and Crowder hit where Junior hit them right in the shooting pocket.  Or how many layups Gardner, Blue or Jamil Wilson got from Junior dropping the ball off or passing over the defense in transition.  Then watch what happens when Junior goes to the bench and Derrick is in.  How does the offense compare?

Derrick arguably made his teammates worse over his last two years since he essentially didn't have to be guarded.  And Derrick's defense was vastly overrated.  We can even use your beloved advanced stats if you don't believe me.  Hey check it out, Junior had a career D rating of 101.4 compared to Derrick at 102.7.   

LOL

Junior was better offensively (though advanced stats give the edge to Derrick) and Derrick was better defensively (again, regardless of advanced stats). Junior could never stay with quick point guards. Guys like Napier, Siva, and Starks destroyed him regularly. Did the offense he provide offset the offense he allowed? Debatable. By the same token, did the defense Derrick provide offset how much easier he made it for opposing defenses? Again, debatable.

Bottom line, the last four years have been the absolute worst four years of point guard play we have had at Marquette in the past 28 years. Whether you like or hate Derrick, like or hate Junior, these past four years have been the cellar of Marquette point guard play and that includes the Piano Man era.

I fully believe Traci will be an upgrade over either of them. But again, neither Derrick nor Junior set that bar very high.

[jsglow]

He was like Wojo...only better.

And that still pisses Wojo off.  But not being a dummy, Wojo has assigned himself #2 guard duty at noon and wins every day.  It's good to be boss.   

[PGsHeroes32]

We had quite a few opposing guards go off with Derrick on him too.

I just remember Junior for winning games. Winning plays. They guy got it done.

Wasn't our first Sweet 16 run basically thanks to Junior against WVU?

That's all I'll say on the topic. Since both are gone now. But one made winning plays.

[brewcity77]

I just watched the 2003 Kentucky game last night and man was Travis such a little punk. Had to be one of the most obnoxious guys on the floor that night. I'm sure you all remember this but Wade or Jackson made a great play and Deiner gets the ball and just slams it on the baseline. He is exactly the type of college player I would hate.

Honestly, these are some of my favorite types of players. The guys that the fans of the team absolutely love and the opposition absolutely hates. Travis definitely fit that mold. Guys like Wojo, Noah, Laettner, and Rodman also fit that mold. Nothing wrong in my mind with a little swagger.

[Spotcheck Billy]

I just watched the 2003 Kentucky game last night and man was Travis such a little punk. Had to be one of the most obnoxious guys on the floor that night. I'm sure you all remember this but Wade or Jackson made a great play and Deiner gets the ball and just slams it on the baseline. He is exactly the type of college player I would hate.

This is one of the best things about the Italy trip to me (besides getting to watch these games) - finally watching Youtube on my big screen only to see that so many games like that one ^ are available to watch again - I did not know that, never checked Youtube for archived complete games.

[wadesworld]

We had quite a few opposing guards go off with Derrick on him too.

I just remember Junior for winning games. Winning plays. They guy got it done.

Wasn't our first Sweet 16 run basically thanks to Junior against WVU?

That's all I'll say on the topic. Since both are gone now. But one made winning plays.

We didn't play WVU in the NCAA Tournament.

[GGGG]

He had a big game against WVU in the BET his sophomore year.

[BM1090]

We didn't play WVU in the NCAA Tournament.

But we played WVU in the BET quarters and we're squarely on the bubble before that win, which I'm guessing he was referencing.

[PGsHeroes32]

But we played WVU in the BET quarters and we're squarely on the bubble before that win, which I'm guessing he was referencing.

Correct. Many thought we only needed that providence win.

But considering we got a 11 even with beating WVU.

I think that game was do or die. And Junior did.

[Herman Cain]

8 ppg, 3.7 apg, 1.3 spg, 2.5 tpg, .333 3p% is my guess for the moment. Will do better in non con and end of the year. Will struggle at the beginning of conference play

I agree with this analysis. Only thing I would add, is we haven't seen Haanif play and they may split time so the numbers may be split as well.

Needs to demonstrate it against better competition , but the skills are there.

After the pain of the last two years at PG . this is a much welcome ray of sunshine.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Correct. Many thought we only needed that providence win.

But considering we got a 11 even with beating WVU.

I think that game was do or die. And Junior did.

Those were some of the most intense transition layup finishes I've ever witnessed. Excellent performance.

[bilsu]

Traci is much better than I waqs expecting. However, until we actually play a really good team the jury is still out.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

I just remember Junior for winning games. Winning plays. They guy got it done.

Exactly.  UConn, Wisconsin, Murray St, West Virginia just to name a few.  Not saying Junior was elite but he was a serviceable starting PG.  Derrick Wilson, uh, no.

[Blackhat]

Traci is much better than I waqs expecting. However, until we actually play a really good team the jury is still out.

I agree but just watching his free throws not clank made me smile.

[chapman]

https://youtu.be/nOaLTQcocute one?t=1401

The moment The Engine was born.

edit: dammit.  replace "cute one" in above URL with the South Park word for annoying inconsiderate Harley rider.