2019 recruiting

[Aircraftcarrier]

Jalen Wilson and DJ Carton up to number 15 and 38 respectively in latest 247 rankings.Wow

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

If I could have any two of the players that we realistically have a shot at, those would be the two.  Thinking about what the 19-20 roster could be if these two sign up...gives me chills.

Some other guys we have been mentioned with:

#15 Jalen Wilson (currently 1/1 crystal bowels to MU)
#17 Tyrese Maxey (Relative just got hired to coach at SMU IIRC, probably a long shot)
#23 Isaiah Stewart
#36 Josh Green
#38 DJ Carton (Mark Miller's crystal bowel says MU)
#55 Nobal Days
#58 EJ Liddell
#60 Josh Nickelberry
#64 Harlond Beverly
#71 Rocket Watts
#85 Mario McKinney
#143 Calvin Fleder
#170 James Bishop
#208 Samuell Williamson

Big game hunting for Wojo in 2018

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

(Mark Miller's crystal bowel says MU)

bowel -Mark M have some colon issues going on?

[Tha Hound]

That's what i like to hear.

[Stretchdeltsig]

How about recruiting a coach who can teach bigs how to defend the rim and stop layups.  We also need a coach to teach defense, because we have none right now. 

[GGGG]

How about recruiting a coach who can teach bigs how to defend the rim and stop layups.  We also need a coach to teach defense, because we have none right now. 

Good lord.  People should stop thinking that changing the coach is going to solve problems.  It would create dozens more. 

And it doesn't matter because Wojo's seat is nowhere near warm.  Good thing the administration isn't made up by a bunch of frantic lunatics like the fanbase is.

[tower912]

How about recruiting a coach who can teach bigs how to defend the rim and stop layups.  We also need a coach to teach defense, because we have none right now.

Wojo did that at Duke and with the US Olympic team.   

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

How about recruiting a coach who can teach bigs how to defend the rim and stop layups.  We also need a coach to teach defense, because we have none right now.

Brotger Stretch, I feel like the Xavier have broke you. Youve been nothing but sunshine and confidence until Wednesday. Keep the faith!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Good lord.  People should stop thinking that changing the coach is going to solve problems.  It would create dozens more. 

And it doesn't matter because Wojo's seat is nowhere near warm.  Good thing the administration isn't made up by a bunch of frantic lunatics like the fanbase is.

I think he might have meant an assistant coach who is a defensive specialist,  not replacing Wojo.

[skianth16]

I think he might have meant an assistant coach who is a defensive specialist,  not replacing Wojo.

That's how I took it as well. And since it seems like there is a pretty regular shuffling of assistant coaches, this doesn't seem like it's all that unrealistic to me.

[We R Final Four]

Nobal Days still a Wisky lean or has he seen the light?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Nobal Days still a Wisky lean or has he seen the light?

Bucky fans certainly think so and I haven't seen anything linking him to MU in awhile....but I also haven't see anything linking him to Bucky since the Herro decommitment. Both he and his dad tweeted support for Herro and a gaggle of Bucky fans attacked them on twitta. No he probably brushed it off and won't let some crazy fans influence his college decision...but you never know

God, fans are stupid sometimes.

[wadesworld]

I'll be interested to see how the defense is next year.  We've lacked size almost every year Wojo has been here, and when we've had size we've still had 2 sub 6' guards on the court for most of the game together.

Wojo's first year with a roster that was picked for him his defense was okay.  He was willing to switch up defenses to zone, etc.

Next year I'd imagine if lineups like Howard, Elliot/Cain, Hauser, Hauser, and Theo/Morrow are seeing a lot of minutes together the defense will be a lot better both from an individual defensive ability standpoint and a length and athleticism/being able to carry out the scheme standpoint.  I think with a lineup like that on the court you'd see a lot more of the 3/4 "trap press" which would cause the offense to get into their offense with 20-24 seconds left on the shot clock and let your defense only have to defend in the half court for that long.

[LAZER]

I'll be interested to see how the defense is next year.  We've lacked size almost every year Wojo has been here, and when we've had size we've still had 2 sub 6' guards on the court for most of the game together.

Wojo's first year with a roster that was picked for him his defense was okay.  He was willing to switch up defenses to zone, etc.

Next year I'd imagine if lineups like Howard, Elliot/Cain, Hauser, Hauser, and Theo/Morrow are seeing a lot of minutes together the defense will be a lot better both from an individual defensive ability standpoint and a length and athleticism/being able to carry out the scheme standpoint.  I think with a lineup like that on the court you'd see a lot more of the 3/4 "trap press" which would cause the offense to get into their offense with 20-24 seconds left on the shot clock and let your defense only have to defend in the half court for that long.

I think the D will get better (Rowsey leaving will be significant addition by subtraction) but I still think the defense will hold us back next year. I think its worth blowing up the whole scheme and starting from scratch.

[Floorslapper]

I think the D will get better (Rowsey leaving will be significant addition by subtraction) but I still think the defense will hold us back next year. I think its worth blowing up the whole scheme and starting from scratch.

This may be true from a defensive perspective, yet losing Rowsey will be a significant blow to the offense.  So, while we should be better defensively, I suspect we will regress offensively with Andrew gone. 

Having 3 elite shooters on the floor creates major problems for opposition defense.  Rowsey is absolutely elite.  Markus and Sam will find open looks even more difficult to come by.

[We R Final Four]

Didn't seem to be even a minor problem for X, much less a major one.

[GGGG]

This may be true from a defensive perspective, yet losing Rowsey will be a significant blow to the offense.  So, while we should be better defensively, I suspect we will regress offensively with Andrew gone. 

Having 3 elite shooters on the floor creates major problems for opposition defense.  Rowsey is absolutely elite.  Markus and Sam will find open looks even more difficult to come by.

I don't think MU is going to miss Rowsey in the long run.  Yeah he can score and yeah he has his moments.  But I also think he (and Howard) stop the ball from moving at times.  And I think that causes players like Sam, and others, to not be involved. 

I mean in theory you are correct.  But in practice it oftentimes doesn't happen.

[Floorslapper]

Didn't seem to be even a minor problem for X, much less a major one.

This is true.  However we are 13 in the country in Offensive Efficiency.  That's near elite territory.  Furthermore in Xavier game we saw how much Sam Hauser was missed (not having one of the Big 3 on floor), AND our offense devolved into Markus vs Xavier.  I mean 27 shots launched by Markus?  Our offense was completely out of sorts against X - much to the credit of Xavier's D.

[DCHoopster]

I'll be interested to see how the defense is next year.  We've lacked size almost every year Wojo has been here, and when we've had size we've still had 2 sub 6' guards on the court for most of the game together.

Wojo's first year with a roster that was picked for him his defense was okay.  He was willing to switch up defenses to zone, etc.

Next year I'd imagine if lineups like Howard, Elliot/Cain, Hauser, Hauser, and Theo/Morrow are seeing a lot of minutes together the defense will be a lot better both from an individual defensive ability standpoint and a length and athleticism/being able to carry out the scheme standpoint.  I think with a lineup like that on the court you'd see a lot more of the 3/4 "trap press" which would cause the offense to get into their offense with 20-24 seconds left on the shot clock and let your defense only have to defend in the half court for that long.

I am not sure it is the players as much as the style of D they are playing, none of the centers should be playing 35 feet from the basket.  They play the pick and roll
way wrong.  Since the majority of the players are slow afoot, why not play a 3/2 or 2/3 zone, that might stop the lay-up drill going on.  Next year, they still need a guard, much like Anim physically.  Wish he could shoot the ball but so far he has not shown the ability to do it.  Somebody like that, as you could see the X guards, chopping at the bit when they saw those skinny runts out there.  Elliott and Cain are 2 years away physically.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I am not sure it is the players as much as the style of D they are playing, none of the centers should be playing 35 feet from the basket.  They play the pick and roll way wrong.  Since the majority of the players are slow afoot, why not play a 3/2 or 2/3 zone, that might stop the lay-up drill going on.  Next year, they still need a guard, much like Anim physically.  Wish he could shoot the ball but so far he has not shown the ability to do it.  Somebody like that, as you could see the X guards, chopping at the bit when they saw those skinny runts out there.  Elliott and Cain are 2 years away physically.

I do find it a bit interesting that Wojo has been so against variations of zone defense.  Its obvious he much much prefers man to man, but what the heck....why not try a zone?  I love how he threw a 2/3 zone out with like 90 seconds left in the X game.  Why not try that sooner?

I have no doubt he understands his personnel far better than I, and obviously knows the game far better than I. But I just find it odd that he hasn't been willing to other defenses.

And I agree the pick and roll thing with our centers is just crazy.  Every game they're late recovering and every game they give uncontested dunk after dunk and dunk.

[Stretchdeltsig]

I think he might have meant an assistant coach who is a defensive specialist,  not replacing Wojo.

Thank you.  That is what I meant. That So no should hire an assistant coach who specializes in coaching bigs.)

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I do find it a bit interesting that Wojo has been so against variations of zone defense.  Its obvious he much much prefers man to man, but what the heck....why not try a zone?  I love how he threw a 2/3 zone out with like 90 seconds left in the X game.  Why not try that sooner?

I have no doubt he understands his personnel far better than I, and obviously knows the game far better than I. But I just find it odd that he hasn't been willing to other defenses.

And I agree the pick and roll thing with our centers is just crazy.  Every game they're late recovering and every game they give uncontested dunk after dunk and dunk.

How quickly we forget. Wojo did try zone for an extended period last season. After beating Nova with the zone last year, Wojo decided to switch to playing zone as our base defense. The result was our 1-4 stretch with the 1 win being against DePaul. After getting beatdown at Georgetown Wojo switched back to man to man and we won 4/5 to get to the tourney.

Zone would improve our defense. It's a great way to improve mediocre defensive teams. But the improvement is minimal and doesn't make up for how much it damages our offense. We just have to accept it, our team sucks at defense but is elite at offense. That isn't going to change. Best way  for this team to win is to maximize our offense as much as possible.

What I would like to see more of is junk defenses. That's how we were so good against Seton Hall. Wojo threw junk defense after junk defense out there to keep the Pirates guessing and confused. They'd switch where the double team was coming from, sometimes they would double, sometimes they wouldn't, they ran at least four different kind of traps thorughout the game, there was even a few possessions of zone. It was a quantity over quality of defense. Haven't seen that as much since.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

How quickly we forget. Wojo did try zone for an extended period last season. After beating Nova with the zone last year, Wojo decided to switch to playing zone as our base defense. The result was our 1-4 stretch with the 1 win being against DePaul. After getting beatdown at Georgetown Wojo switched back to man to man and we won 4/5 to get to the tourney.

Zone would improve our defense. It's a great way to improve mediocre defensive teams. But the improvement is minimal and doesn't make up for how much it damages our offense. We just have to accept it, our team sucks at defense but is elite at offense. That isn't going to change. Best way  for this team to win is to maximize our offense as much as possible.

What I would like to see more of is junk defenses. That's how we were so good against Seton Hall. Wojo threw junk defense after junk defense out there to keep the Pirates guessing and confused. They'd switch where the double team was coming from, sometimes they would double, sometimes they wouldn't, they ran at least four different kind of traps thorughout the game, there was even a few possessions of zone. It was a quantity over quality of defense. Haven't seen that as much since.

Regarding the bolded....sure.  Whatever....just try something different.  Throw different looks at them.  If zone kills our offense, only use it in spurts. 

[NorthernDancerColt]

I don't think MU is going to miss Rowsey in the long run.  Yeah he can score and yeah he has his moments.  But I also think he (and Howard) stop the ball from moving at times.  And I think that causes players like Sam, and others, to not be involved. 

I mean in theory you are correct.  But in practice it oftentimes doesn't happen.

Excellent Post, but I would amend it by excusing Howard, whose green-light is more than warranted. And he is usually moving so much, stepping back and creating his own wicked shot, that LOL, the ball is moving. Rarely does he miss spotting an open shooter. With Rowsey, the ball sticks, fails to find Hauser's open hands and then often doesn't go down when his shot is not in rhythm. Andrew can still be a stud for us....just needs to remember he's now at Marquette, not UNCA, where he absolutely needed to be a monster scorer.

[NorthernDancerColt]

I don't think MU is going to miss Rowsey in the long run.  Yeah he can score and yeah he has his moments.  But I also think he (and Howard) stop the ball from moving at times.  And I think that causes players like Sam, and others, to not be involved. 

I mean in theory you are correct.  But in practice it oftentimes doesn't happen.

Hope people understand Sultan and I are not discounting AR...he has been, after all, 2nd leading scorer in the BigEast.  It's  just that Howard doing his thing on offense is a somewhat necessary evil. Rowsey doing his #Thing is ok, but not having to constantly do his "thing" and forget his teammates, we'd be better served.