End of Regular Season thoughts.

[MuMark]

Good stuff Tower.

I would also add that when Rowsey Duane and Heldt moved into the starting lineup we saw a little chipiness......a little attitude. Especially from Rowsey and Duane.

Rowsey has got a little Travis in him.......every team needs some fire.....a little cockiness.....a guy who will get under the opponents skin a little

I think Andrew brought that......hard to quantify but I think it was something this team needed.

[#UnleashSean]

Plus the lineup of MH, DW, KR, SH And MH-Neenah has quickly become my all time favorite.  They play D and can essentially select their three point shot

Excuse me your missing the #1 player. ROWSEY

[radome]

Biggest decision by Wojo all year. We wouldn't be dancin' otherwise.

I understand why he was hesitant and it took so long. We struggled so bad on defense that you couldn't afford 2 mini-guards. He finally realized the trade-off in skills and basketball smarts was worth it.

... and couldn't keep them both on the floor since both were in foul trouble at times.

[MerrittsMustache]

Biggest decision by Wojo all year. We wouldn't be dancin' otherwise.

I understand why he was hesitant and it took so long. We struggled so bad on defense that you couldn't afford 2 mini-guards. He finally realized the trade-off in skills and basketball smarts was worth it.

Agree on this being Wojo's biggest and best decision this season. He finally accepted the fact that this team can't defend and they were going to need to outscore people to win.

Going into the season, I said that if Rowsey put up senior year Cubillan-type numbers I'd be happy (7 pts, 2.7 ast, 1.7 reb, 0.8 steals, 1.2 TOs and 41.2% from 3). Rowsey obviously scored more (11.2) and shot a better 3 pt percentage (45.5%) but the other numbers are pretty similar. He's still bad defensively but he got smarter as a defender by playing slightly less aggressively and avoiding silly perimeter fouls. I'm very pleased with his performance this season. Definitely a pleasant surprise.

[Lennys Tap]

Positives I'll take from this season:

1. Markus - sometimes he's a little loose with the ball, he small and not uber athletic and his on ball D needs work BUT, and it's a big, big but - he shoots it like Novak AND can get his own shot (a problem for Steve even at 6'10"). Will become MU's most dynamic scorer not named Wade in my memory.

2. Sam - solid at everything, exceptional at shooting. Again, not a great athlete but smart, a quick study. Needs an off season in the weight room but (like Markus) his game developed during the season and right now he's playing his best basketball.

3. Duane - forgotten man who went through a long stint on the bench due to physical problems but when Haanif struggled he stepped into the breach and showed great attitude/leadership. Once a go to guy on offense, he's no longer needed (or maybe able) for that. Instead, he's become the closest thing we have to a defensive stopper on a team that really needs one.

4. Rowsey - instant offense, our own little Vinnie Johnson. Fearless with an attitude - something the team had been short on. Get's abused on D due to size but never backs down.

5. Luke - for all the abuse he takes here (some of it deserved) he can be a force on both ends. His post up game is very good and he benefits from our great perimeter shooting (rarely gets doubled)

6. JJJ - he makes me pull out my hair but he also makes me get out of my seat. Putting the ball behind his back in traffic, launching from 5' beyond the 3 point line early in the shot clock, losing his man on D or pouting over a mistake unfortunately is who he is - but so is the guy who can score outside or get to the basket, come up with the big steal, etc. Despite mental lapses, his overall game has come a long way.

7. Katin - streaky, can take over a game when he's on. Tried too hard early to be "the man" but has gotten better at picking his spots. Brings the same kind of attitude as Rowsey, has developed as a leader.

8. Matt - has made big strides on both ends of the court. Tough kid, though limited.

9. Wojo - I think on balance he's had a really, really good year. Most coaches (to some degree) play "favorites". Wojo plays the hot hand or the guy giving the most effort. I love that. Also love his offense - fits our talent and hides our weaknesses. And I love that we're playing our best basketball of the season in March! B+ from me, only a few defensive stops away from an A-.

[GoldenDieners32]

Positives I'll take from this season:

1. Markus - sometimes he's a little loose with the ball, he small and not uber athletic and his on ball D needs work BUT, and it's a big, big but - he shoots it like Novak AND can get his own shot (a problem for Steve even at 6'10"). Will become MU's most dynamic scorer not named Wade in my memory.

2. Sam - solid at everything, exceptional at shooting. Again, not a great athlete but smart, a quick study. Needs an off season in the weight room but (like Markus) his game developed during the season and right now he's playing his best basketball.

3. Duane - forgotten man who went through a long stint on the bench due to physical problems but when Haanif struggled he stepped into the breach and showed great attitude/leadership. Once a go to guy on offense, he's no longer needed (or maybe able) for that. Instead, he's become the closest thing we have to a defensive stopper on a team that really needs one.

4. Rowsey - instant offense, our own little Vinnie Johnson. Fearless with an attitude - something the team had been short on. Get's abused on D due to size but never backs down.

5. Luke - for all the abuse he takes here (some of it deserved) he can be a force on both ends. His post up game is very good and he benefits from our great perimeter shooting (rarely gets doubled)

6. JJJ - he makes me pull out my hair but he also makes me get out of my seat. Putting the ball behind his back in traffic, launching from 5' beyond the 3 point line early in the shot clock, losing his man on D or pouting over a mistake unfortunately is who he is - but so is the guy who can score outside or get to the basket, come up with the big steal, etc. Despite mental lapses, his overall game has come a long way.

7. Katin - streaky, can take over a game when he's on. Tried too hard early to be "the man" but has gotten better at picking his spots. Brings the same kind of attitude as Rowsey, has developed as a leader.

8. Matt - has made big strides on both ends of the court. Tough kid, though limited.

9. Wojo - I think on balance he's had a really, really good year. Most coaches (to some degree) play "favorites". Wojo plays the hot hand or the guy giving the most effort. I love that. Also love his offense - fits our talent and hides our weaknesses. And I love that we're playing our best basketball of the season in March! B+ from me, only a few defensive stops away from an A-.

You forgot Haanif

[Lennys Tap]

You forgot Haanif

Didn't forget him - couldn't think of anything positive to say.

[MerrittsMustache]

Didn't forget him - couldn't think of anything positive to say.

Seriously? No, Haanif didn't have the big jump in production that many were expecting but to say that you couldn't think of anything positive is either weak or just plain dumb.

Led the team in minutes, 3rd on the team in rebounding, 3rd is assists, one of the few players who could defend. For all the talk of his offensive woes, he still shot 45.8% from the floor (40.4% in BE). He had some struggles in BE play, but he was also hurt by the fact that Wojo shifted gears a month ago and emphasized offense over defense.

[forgetful]

Seriously? No, Haanif didn't have the big jump in production that many were expecting but to say that you couldn't think of anything positive is either weak or just plain dumb.

Led the team in minutes, 3rd on the team in rebounding, 3rd is assists, one of the few players who could defend. For all the talk of his offensive woes, he still shot 45.8% from the floor (40.4% in BE). He had some struggles in BE play, but he was also hurt by the fact that Wojo shifted gears a month ago and emphasized offense over defense.

This, it has been a long tradition on these boards to forget there is more to the game than offense.  Haanif didn't perform on offense like we hoped (decreased production), but he improved in every other facet of the game.

[Loose Cannon]

Positives I'll take from this season:

1. Markus - sometimes he's a little loose with the ball, he small and not uber athletic and his on ball D needs work BUT, and it's a big, big but - he shoots it like Novak AND can get his own shot (a problem for Steve even at 6'10"). Will become MU's most dynamic scorer not named Wade in my memory.

2. Sam - solid at everything, exceptional at shooting. Again, not a great athlete but smart, a quick study. Needs an off season in the weight room but (like Markus) his game developed during the season and right now he's playing his best basketball.

3. Duane - forgotten man who went through a long stint on the bench due to physical problems but when Haanif struggled he stepped into the breach and showed great attitude/leadership. Once a go to guy on offense, he's no longer needed (or maybe able) for that. Instead, he's become the closest thing we have to a defensive stopper on a team that really needs one.

4. Rowsey - instant offense, our own little Vinnie Johnson. Fearless with an attitude - something the team had been short on. Get's abused on D due to size but never backs down.

5. Luke - for all the abuse he takes here (some of it deserved) he can be a force on both ends. His post up game is very good and he benefits from our great perimeter shooting (rarely gets doubled)

6. JJJ - he makes me pull out my hair but he also makes me get out of my seat. Putting the ball behind his back in traffic, launching from 5' beyond the 3 point line early in the shot clock, losing his man on D or pouting over a mistake unfortunately is who he is - but so is the guy who can score outside or get to the basket, come up with the big steal, etc. Despite mental lapses, his overall game has come a long way.

7. Katin - streaky, can take over a game when he's on. Tried too hard early to be "the man" but has gotten better at picking his spots. Brings the same kind of attitude as Rowsey, has developed as a leader.

8. Matt - has made big strides on both ends of the court. Tough kid, though limited.

9. Wojo - I think on balance he's had a really, really good year. Most coaches (to some degree) play "favorites". Wojo plays the hot hand or the guy giving the most effort. I love that. Also love his offense - fits our talent and hides our weaknesses. And I love that we're playing our best basketball of the season in March! B+ from me, only a few defensive stops away from an A-.

I think very Honest. well Done.

[MU82]

I'm usually not all that much into body language and into worrying about how guys on the bench react, but ...

I admit it was very nice to see that as we were making our big run to put Saturday's game away, JJJ (who had been benched for 10+ minutes) was the biggest cheerleader and Haani (benched, period) also was getting into it big-time.

I believe Wojo has really fostered great team spirit and a bit of a chip-on-the-shoulder mentality. This team is very tough in its own way.

And I really, really, really think it is a blast to watch.

Those who still think Wojo is a bad coach ... go to your room!

[DienerTime34]

Seriously? No, Haanif didn't have the big jump in production that many were expecting but to say that you couldn't think of anything positive is either weak or just plain dumb.

Led the team in minutes, 3rd on the team in rebounding, 3rd is assists, one of the few players who could defend. For all the talk of his offensive woes, he still shot 45.8% from the floor (40.4% in BE). He had some struggles in BE play, but he was also hurt by the fact that Wojo shifted gears a month ago and emphasized offense over defense.

Pretending Haanif is the same player he was at the beginning of the season until now by highlighting his statistics for the whole year is disingenuous, and makes your insults towards another board member ring even more hollow. The guy has looked downright uncomfortable even holding a basketball in his hand over the last five games.

[MUDPT]

Rewatched end of nova last night, end of game we went with katin, Sam, Duane, Cheatham, JJJ. Crazy how the lineup changed over a month, shows the depth.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

I love how Rowsey gets under the skin of the people he is guarding. Way to get into their heads.

  I feel like Reinhardt is the catalyst for the way the offense has matured. Seems to me he has settled everybody down to move the ball and find the open man.

[MerrittsMustache]

Pretending Haanif is the same player he was at the beginning of the season until now by highlighting his statistics for the whole year is disingenuous, and makes your insults towards another board member ring even more hollow. The guy has looked downright uncomfortable even holding a basketball in his hand over the last five games.

Using statistics to say that his season contained some positives is somehow hollow and disingenuous? Interesting. Also, when did I say that he was the same player?

I pointed out that he was still a contributor and that it's not hard to find positives regarding his season even though he struggled in BE play, especially offensively. With the shift from "offense first" to basically "offense only," Haanif has found himself all but out of the rotation at this point. Despite what you seem to believe, that doesn't discount his first 25 games of the season. After all, this thread is "End of Regular Season Thoughts," not "Last 5 Games Thoughts."

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I love how Rowsey gets under the skin of the people he is guarding. Way to get into their heads.

  I feel like Reinhardt is the catalyst for the way the offense has matured. Seems to me he has settled everybody down to move the ball and find the open man.

Rowsey has the best (on purpose) double pump fake on a 3-point shot that never seems to fail to draw a foul.  You know he's shooting three FTs before he even leaves the ground.

[Lennys Tap]

Using statistics to say that his season contained some positives is somehow hollow and disingenuous? Interesting. Also, when did I say that he was the same player?

I pointed out that he was still a contributor and that it's not hard to find positives regarding his season even though he struggled in BE play, especially offensively. With the shift from "offense first" to basically "offense only," Haanif has found himself all but out of the rotation at this point. Despite what you seem to believe, that doesn't discount his first 25 games of the season. After all, this thread is "End of Regular Season Thoughts," not "Last 5 Games Thoughts."

Some sad but true "positives" about Haanif:

I'm positive that (along with Luke) Haanif began the season as our "go to" guy. From there I'm positive that he has played himself out of the rotation, the last guy off the bench other than the walk ons. I'm also positive that when he does play he looks lost or (when he tries to assert himself) is out of control.

I'm not discounting "the first 25 games of the season". "Bad Haanif" showed up well before game 26. I'll continue to root for him to be a contributor again - he certainly has the ability and has proven it. But  when you start the season as the team's "star" (or at least one of them) and play yourself out of the rotation there is simply nothing positive to say about it.

[MerrittsMustache]

Some sad but true "positives" about Haanif:

I'm positive that (along with Luke) Haanif began the season as our "go to" guy. From there I'm positive that he has played himself out of the rotation, the last guy off the bench other than the walk ons. I'm also positive that when he does play he looks lost or (when he tries to assert himself) is out of control.

I'm not discounting "the first 25 games of the season". "Bad Haanif" showed up well before game 26. I'll continue to root for him to be a contributor again - he certainly has the ability and has proven it. But  when you start the season as the team's "star" (or at least one of them) and play yourself out of the rotation there is simply nothing positive to say about it.

[CTWarrior]

In the simplest terms, we are better than I thought we'd be because all of Rowsey, Howard, Hauser and to a lesser extent Reinhardt are much better this season than I thought they'd be.  Not a knock on Reinhardt, but I expected him to be pretty good based on his history at UNLV/USC.  I never expect much of freshmen and I underestimated how good Rowsey would be simply because of the school from which he came.  Happy to be so wrong.

[Lennys Tap]

Fair enough, Stache - hard to argue with the esteemed Mr Burgandy.