Matt Heldt

[Pakuni]

Wojo wasn't wrong when he said the strength of this team is the team.

[Markusquette]

I respect Matt's commitment to the team and embracing any role. For a senior that was used to playing more, he clearly cares about the team first. We needed him to step in for a lot of minutes today and he made a couple big plays when it mattered. That offensive board that led to a three was huge (Sam or Joey?).

I remember Matt made some threes in high school. He's got a nice stroke from the line. I'm a little surprised we never tried to develop him into a pick and pop big at some point.

[connie]

Let's not forget that this is a man that is used to starting, and now is on the scout team.  He stepped up big when needed.  Yes, that is what he is supposed to do, but it is another thing to actually do it.  The numbers don't show Matt's impact today.  I think his impact on the team is the type you really miss when it is gone.

[4everwarriors]

Iz grate dat Heldt puttz in an honest dayz work. Watt a novel idea especially in exchange four a $200k education. Only in Amerika, hey?

[MU82]

Thrilled about the contribution Matt made today.

I still say that the first sign that we were going to have a great season was when he was playing well under 10 mpg (or not at all).

Every program needs guys like Matt Heldt. Very good to great teams need starters and other big-minute players to be better than him.

[Jockey]

Iz grate dat Heldt puttz in an honest dayz work. Watt a novel idea especially in exchange four a $200k education. Only in Amerika, hey?

Are you actually saying most D1 athletes don't work hard?

That is beyond stupid.

[Bo Ryan's Massage Therapist]

Wojo with Homer just said.....
"How about Matt Heldt.......Matt Heldt.....Matt Heldt."
Wojo said Matt has started ~60 Big East games, and was asked to play the scout team this week. Very unselfish guy.  Wojo said he asked the team how many of them would be willing to take on that role?
He said his asst. told him 'hey coach 4 minutes left, let's get Theo back in.'
Wojo said......ahhhh let's just wait a second.
It sounded like Wojo was getting teared up.
Wojo said he was MVP today, so he agrees with me for SOTG!

I love that about this team... the glue guys/ team guys like Matt and Sacar are so key to the wins

[MUMountin]

Senior day will be pretty special.  If I'm not mistaken, Matt will be the first four year player to graduate under Wojo, right? 

[Doo]

Yeah, I could see Ed wasn't effective today, but I was still surprised  he didn't go in at the end. Thought he might be hurt.

I think Wojo knew that X was committed to fouling and put Sacar in because he is a better FT shooter and ball handler.

[vogue65]

Did I step on some over sensitive toes last night?
Is my thinking outside the box(score) acting like a name calling knuckelhead?
No need to defend myself, sorry if I distracted from the band wagon.

Nevertheless, the big three put us in a position to win and in the end, without Matt, we would have had an L and not a W.  Coach made a big time decision at the end of the game and it worked out.  If it hadn't this board would have gone bonkers. Apparently, he really knows his horses.

On to Indianapolis and another road win.  At least I'll be back in the states and can watch the game on T.V. and keep my big mouth shut.

[4everwarriors]

Are you actually saying most D1 athletes don't work hard?

That is beyond stupid.

Nope, let's not trip over ourselves giving Heldt kudos for doing the job he's paid to do.

[connie]

Nope, let's not trip over ourselves giving Heldt kudos for doing the job he's paid to do.

No wonder Scoop often falls into the well of despair.  Can't give praise to a guy who plays more big east minutes in one game than he has all year, outperforming the 2 players in front of him (at least according to the coach).

[tower912]

Nope, let's not trip over ourselves giving Heldt kudos for doing the job he's paid to do.

Somebody needs a whiff of his own laughing gas.

[1SE]

Somebody needs a whiff of his own laughing gas.

I can't possibly think why someone wouldn't (want to) feel happy for Matt after this one, but hey, to each his own...

[The Sultan]

Nope, let's not trip over ourselves giving Heldt kudos for doing the job he's paid to do.

I do think that we are going overboard. Heldt played well. But he wasn't spectacular and wasn't stud worthy.

Wojo's job isn't to give blunt assessments of player's performance. His job is to build and motivate a team. Him saying the things he said about Matt was not only about his obvious care about him as an individual, but it's also about sending messages to his team that everyone needs to be ready to perform.

[Loose Cannon]

Nope, let's not trip over ourselves giving Heldt kudos for doing the job he's paid to do.

Yeah, I don't think he was crazy about Wojo either.

[4everwarriors]

What's so hard, unusual, and noble about doing the job you're hired to do?

[The Sultan]

What's so hard, unusual, and noble about doing the job you're hired to do?

A sports team dynamic, where the best players are allowed to perform while the rest watch them and rarely perform, is a little different than the normal workplace dynamic.

[Goose]

I am happy that Matt did a nice job yesterday, but I do agree not going overboard. Liking and pulling for a guy is natural and many here adopted Matt long ago and I am fine with that.
Seriously, the way it comes across to me is simple, expectations are very low for Matt, and the Matt fan club loves when exceeds that bar. That is fine, but not worthy of excessive praise.

[Nukem2]

I am happy that Matt did a nice job yesterday, but I do agree not going overboard. Liking and pulling for a guy is natural and many here adopted Matt long ago and I am fine with that.
Seriously, the way it comes across to me is simple, expectations are very low for Matt, and the Matt fan club loves when exceeds that bar. That is fine, but not worthy of excessive praise.

Yep.  Matt is what he is.  He can do fine when playing against strictly low post guys like X has.  He has had a few of those games in his time.   But, do have to give him kudos for being a great program guy.

[MU82]

Yep. Matt did his job yesterday. He was ready despite barely playing the entire BEast season, he gave us minutes and fouls when we needed him, and he made two big plays on offensive rebounds. But he is what he is, and it's possible he goes another half-dozen games before being asked to contribute again. Or maybe he'll be asked next game.

Most of us here are pretty knowledgeable about basketball, and I think most of us here realize we are a better team if Theo stays out of foul trouble and stays on the court for 30 minutes.

I will say that it's nice to see Doc acknowledge that athletes are employees and should be entitled to the same treatment and benefits that employees such as coaches are. One day in the not-too-distant future, courts might acknowledge the same.

[Daniel]

Ed has been dominated down low since returning from his ankle sprain.   It would not surprise me a bit if he is not 100%.    He is an undersized 5 to begin with.   If he is still a little gimpy, it only makes sense that the athletic bigs of the BEast have beat up on him lately.    I thought Wojo should have played Heldt more against Providence and DePaul.    Matt didn't post big numbers today.   But we all see how hard he worked.
Get Ed healthy and confident by March.

Might be right about Ed not being 100%.   But he has problems with atheistic 6' 9+ centers. He really is only 6'7" isn't he?  Hope he gets back on track and wish him the best.  Great attitude out on court

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

[Herman Cain]

Two key points relating to Matt.

First, Consistency and reliability is something coaches value highly. Matt can consistently put out up to 25 serviceable Big East minutes.My definition of serviceable is that a player is not a liability or weak link . Matt has also shown steady progression each year and during the year. Even in the limited appearances he has made this year , he has shown improvement in many of the little things that make him valuable.  For example his boxing out work is textbook and has been cited by announcers and demonstrated in replays. 

Second, Theo has improved significantly to the point that he is a game changing player. Ed demonstrates skills that Matt does not have. Hence, Matt is now our third string Center and a role player. This entire circumstance is highly beneficial to the team.  I think this depth will give us an edge in the tournament.

Typically when players are in Matts situation they see the hand writing on the wall in terms of playing time . They  will bail out and transfer in order to get maximize their eligibility.   Matt has stayed the course , and the team benefits from him every day in practice.   

[We R Final Four]

I don't see Ed as head and shoulders above Matt. Especially in their offensive back to the basket sets. Ed is more active and more aggressive on the boards, but Matt plays smarter. I think there is room for both for the remainder of the season.