Swaggy Du

[Lighthouse 84]

In Matty V's article about last night game, Du said, "At the beginning of the season a lot of people was telling me I was going to have to take shorter minutes, but it's about the team. It's about we, not I, and I took that role."

Du could have lowered his head and sulked, or he could have pulled out and been a mid-season transfer like some we know, but he chose to be not only a great teammate, but a major contributor when he gets his minutes.  We could use a few more like Du on this team, in more ways than one.  Class act.

[GoldenDieners32]

Such a good kid

[Silkk the Shaka]

In Matty V's article about last night game, Du said, "At the beginning of the season a lot of people was telling me I was going to have to take shorter minutes, but it's about the team. It's about we, not I, and I took that role."

Du could have lowered his head and sulked, or he could have pulled out and been a mid-season transfer like some we know, but he chose to be not only a great teammate, but a major contributor when he gets his minutes.  We could use a few more like Du on this team, in more ways than one.  Class act.

Wojo straight up said pretty much the exact same thing in the post-game interview on national tv last night. Felt really good for Duane, he stepped up big time

[GB Warrior]

So happy for him - he has earned this, and he's proven (as I think KR did tonight), that no one should care if you're on the court at the start if you get to be there for the finish. Leaders can come off the bench too.

On the topic of Du, his hesitation dribble late in the 2nd to get us to 6 was a thing of beauty.

[mugrack]

DW is a warrior

[MUBurrow]

Love, love, love this guy.  Little doubt that he's a much more natural fit in Buzz's system than Wojo's, and the program owes the kid for sticking around, and for his unselfishness given how different a place he finds himself now than where he would have predicted in the spring of 2012.

He's the best pure creator on the team, and this isn't the last time that he's going to sweep in and pick an MU team off the mat. 

[ecompt]

Love, love, love this guy.  Little doubt that he's a much more natural fit in Buzz's system than Wojo's, and the program owes the kid for sticking around, and for his unselfishness given how different a place he finds himself now than where he would have predicted in the spring of 2012.

He's the best pure creator on the team, and this isn't the last time that he's going to sweep in and pick an MU team off the mat.

The program does owe Duane big-time and will owe him even more if he comes back and plays his grad student year here. He could have very easily walked away but he didn't. Thank you, sir.

[Big Daddy 84]

Slim to no chance of him going.  D will is one of my all time favorite players. He is a great Dad for someone so young and his values are so beyond his years.  He has not only bought into his role, but relishes it.

To me the play of the night was his block/jump ball.  That fired up the crowd and the team and kept a lead from getting bigger for V and set a tone for the defense.  He has done that hesitation move now in two straight games and it is devastating.

This team is coming together.  They are all getting comfortable with their roles and different players are stepping up.  Now they just need not to have a let down on Saturday.  Come on scoopers is anyone with 2 hr drive not going to the game.  Our time to step up and help this team.

[We R Final Four]

I saw the fire in DW eyes with about 4 min left and he knew. He seemed genuinely thrilled to be at the top on Brunson on D. I believe he thought he was going to make a play. Props to Wojo for recognizing DW last night and riding him.

[Oldgym]

On the topic of Du, his hesitation dribble late in the 2nd to get us to 6 was a thing of beauty.

I've watched a loop of that on someone's Twitter feed, like, seven or eight times.  Du is a baaaaad man.

[MU82]

Thrilled with Duane's attitude and contribution.

And I agree with Big Daddy about this team really starting to gel.

It's already been a fun, exciting season, and I think it's only going to get better.

[Big Papi]

He should be getting more minutes then what he has been getting.  Pretty obvious that Duane is not Wojo's type of player but with Howard struggling a little bit now (freshmen wall maybe) and Cheatham struggling, especially when the 3 is there for the taking(starting to remind me of Derrick Wilson at times), he should be getting more minutes down the stretch. 

Hopefully Wojo learns from this game and plays around more with the defensive switch and plays Duane a few more minutes.  We shall see.

[We R Final Four]

I am not sure. Wojo seems to have a great handle on the "hot hand" which also applies to defense. Sometimes it's Rowsey, sometimes it's Howard, sometimes he needs more JJ, sometimes less. Wojo saw in Duane that he wasn't coming out last night. It's a cream rises sort of thing. Duane may get more minutes, but they certainly will be earned.

[MU82]

I am not sure. Wojo seems to have a great handle on the "hot hand" which also applies to defense. Sometimes it's Rowsey, sometimes it's Howard, sometimes he needs more JJ, sometimes less. Wojo saw in Duane that he wasn't coming out last night. It's a cream rises sort of thing. Duane may get more minutes, but they certainly will be earned.

This.

I believe apportioning minutes has become one of Wojo's real strengths as a coach, and I even started a thread with that thought a week or two back.

There will always be reasons (some even legit) to whine about any coach's substitution patterns and/or rotations. Buzz caught quite a bit of heat at times. But I really like how Wojo will ride a hot hand and will not worry about a player's feelings that day. I like to think that if egos need to be massaged some, he (and his assts) are good at doing so on non-gamedays.

We've seen it at least a dozen times already this season. Rowsey goes bad and doesn't play much but then comes right back and plays major minutes a few days later. Duane, JJJ, Luke, and so on. I wouldn't be surprised to see Markus get a huge run and make a major contribution Saturday.

Point being, in the context of this thread, I think Duane has gotten about the right number of minutes. Maybe he could get a few mins more some days, but it's not as if he's getting hosed.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I love Du.  Kid's a stud.  I hope he can take this a grow from him, cause I'd love to see him get more minutes. 

[mileskishnish72]

Everybody's gotta love Swaggy. He has been energetic and impressive and really made a difference multiple times. Maybe going small would get him more minutes (thought there was a typo in the box when I saw JJJ only had 5 TO's). I think the big thing for DW is accepting his changed role and thriving in it - hard to do for most high-rated kids.

[Marcus92]

When a reporter at the postgame press conference asked Wojo about Duane accepting a "lesser role" on the team this season, coach was quick to clarify that it's not a lesser role — it's merely a different role. We don't beat #1 Villanova without Duane. Plain and simple. He's as essential to Marquette's success this season as Markus, Luke, Haanif, Katin or anybody else.

Good coaches work to bring out the best in every player on the roster, forging a team that's greater than the sum of its parts. Last night was the best example of that we've seen.

[HoopsterBC]

I love Du.  Kid's a stud.  I hope he can take this a grow from him, cause I'd love to see him get more minutes.

Duane played a vital role in winning that game, but it still looks like he is dragging his leg around.  Get better young fella',  lost his ability to explode to the rim, and
had 2 shots blocked yesterday.  I think before the injury that would not have happened.   I can see him getting more time against teams with bigger guards.  Howard
and Rowsey have trouble defending,  I liked Katin and Wilson at the guards.  Gives the team a little length.

Nice to see him hit those free throws at the end,  did that last year as well, has confidence for sure.  He will be a big part of the team next year.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

it still looks like he is dragging his leg around.  Get better young fella',  lost his ability to explode to the rim, and
had 2 shots blocked yesterday.  I think before the injury that would not have happened.

[muwarrior69]

When a reporter at the postgame press conference asked Wojo about Duane accepting a "lesser role" on the team this season, coach was quick to clarify that it's not a lesser role — it's merely a different role. We don't beat #1 Villanova without Duane. Plain and simple. He's as essential to Marquette's success this season as Markus, Luke, Haanif, Katin or anybody else.

Good coaches work to bring out the best in every player on the roster, forging a team that's greater than the sum of its parts. Last night was the best example of that we've seen.

Yup! It sure is nice when you have 9 guys that can all contribute.

[wadesworld]

I was a critic of Duane's last year.  He had such a monster freshman year that I thought with the addition of Hank, those 2 could carry the team to a really good season.  It looked to me like Duane was a shoot first, second, and third guy last year.  Glad to see I couldn't have been more wrong.  It's not easy for a kid to go from major minutes and major shots as a freshman to nowhere near that kind of use as a sophomore and junior, but he is thriving in his role.  To add to it, his comments on Twitter after the clown Hayes talked about needing to get paid about being a father and the value of an education were wise beyond his years.  Hard not to root for him.

[Herman Cain]

Duane is a tremendous young man. I had listed him for a breakout season earlier this year. I think is is happening but not in the conventional sense . He has become the leader of the team by embracing his role, which by example has gotten others such as JJJ to embrace their roles.  He is also a very supportive teammates. I have noticed he has very good relationships with guys like Rowsey and Howard who have different skill sets and thus soak up some of his previous minutes. I think Duane has long term potential in coaching.

[Aughnanure]

On the topic of Du, his hesitation dribble late in the 2nd to get us to 6 was a thing of beauty.

That was the best.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I've watched a loop of that on someone's Twitter feed, like, seven or eight times.  Du is a baaaaad man.

He literally faked out the entire Villanova defense. Three of them were looking each other after the bucket with shoulders raised like "huh?"

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Love, love, love this guy.  Little doubt that he's a much more natural fit in Buzz's system than Wojo's, and the program owes the kid for sticking around, and for his unselfishness given how different a place he finds himself now than where he would have predicted in the spring of 2012.

He's the best pure creator on the team, and this isn't the last time that he's going to sweep in and pick an MU team off the mat.

Hes fine for wojos sytem too.  Turnovers hurt his minutes early in the season n fouling has hurt him lately.  If he can play defense without fouling he will get more time its there for the taking.