Will Fitz starting at the 5 work?

[SoCalEagle]

So I guess Fitz is now starting at the 5.  Does this move make sense?

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No. 17 Marquette looks toward Fitzgerald to man the middle
By COLIN FLY, AP Sports Writer
January 28, 2008

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Dan Fitzgerald's role is changing for No. 17 Marquette. The senior sharpshooter's blackened right eye proves it.

The 6-foot-9 forward is the Golden Eagles' latest man in the paint as they search for another presence down low after being outrebounded in six consecutive games.

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For Fitzgerald, it's nothing new.

"Since I've been here I've been changing positions. When I sat out a whole year, I played point guard and practiced against Travis Diener every day. That helped me out tremendously," said Fitzgerald, who transferred from Tulane in 2004. "My role changes every year, but I'm just happy to be out there. Whenever anybody's name is called, you've got to be ready to do whatever is needed."

That's because Marquette (14-4, 4-3 Big East) has yet to figure two things -- how to get consistent production inside and how to win on the road.

Ousmane Barro, Dwight Burke and Lawrence Blackledge have all spent time playing center, but none of the three have excelled in Marquette's guard-oriented offense, averaging a combined nine points and nine rebounds this season.

In steps Fitzgerald.

He's a career 41.7 percent 3-point shooter and not a big, banging body, but he'll have to adjust quickly against South Florida (10-10, 1-6) on Tuesday night.

That's because he'll match up with 6-9 center Kentrell Gransberry, who appears a few pounds heavier than the listed 270 that gives him a 50-pound advantage on Fitzgerald.

Gransberry is averaging 17.1 points and 10.8 rebounds for the Bulls.

"The quickness and speed that he plays with is I think what really separates him and makes him such a legitimate draft pick at the next level," Marquette coach Tom Crean said.

At least Fitzgerald already has the wounds to prove he'll play in the paint after being knocked around a few days ago.

"Somebody told me, 'You look pretty ugly' after practice," said Fitzgerald, who isn't sure how he got the shiner. "But, it's part of the job."

And one that didn't earn him any sympathy from his teammates.

"They were laughing. I'll get them back," he quipped.

Point guard Dominic James said Fitzgerald takes everything in stride.

"Dan is asked to do a lot of different things, especially with his shooting," James said. "Now we're asking him to be a defender and guard down low and things like that as we're trying to still run up and down the floor."

James, playing through a sprained right wrist, came out of a deep shooting slump in Marquette's 79-71 win over DePaul on Saturday night by going 7-of-11 from the field as the Golden Eagles improved to 11-0 at home.

"We can't allow any team coming in here, regardless of what the record says, get a win," James said. "We've got to protect our home court and we're trying to get on a roll ourselves."

James said the wrist isn't bothering him anymore, even though he acknowledged he was "nursing" it the first few games after he fell hard after a flagrant foul against Seton Hall on Jan. 8.

James said he shunned a cortisone shot, and even aspirin.

"I'm not even big on medication. I'm just out there playing, the adrenaline rush is good enough for me," he said.

While the rush of playing has helped James, it hasn't helped the Golden Eagles figure out how to win on the road in the Big East yet.

Crean said he's even talked about the New York Giants' 10 straight road wins in an effort to spur his team, which next heads to Cincinnati on Saturday.

"We've certainly referenced what they've done with winning 10 in a row on the road, showing different things that have been said about their team," said Crean, who is friends with Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy.

Crean said he thinks his Golden Eagles understand what's gone wrong, and it's a simple explanation.

"The bottom line is we just haven't played as well," he said. "I think they're pretty smart to realize they haven't played up to their capabilities on the road." 

[1990Warrior]

I think that we have gotten the answer in the last two games and it is NO.  This is by far the most suspect coaching move of the season and Fitz hasn't helped with his poor shooting to start off the last two games.

Start Barro and bring in Trend off of the Bench more.

[77fan88warrior]

Fitz has to start canning 3's to make it work.

[CTWarrior]

Crean can't say we have trouble with defense and rebounding in one story and then talk about Fitzgerald starting at the 5 in the next, seeing as how he offers neither adequate interior defense nor rebounding.  Well, I guess he can, but it is certainly contradictory.

[MarquetteVol]

I don't know. On offense, it can draw the opposing center out of the middle and open it up for the guards to rebound. But, that only works when we're facing man-to-man, and that's becoming less and less frequent. On defense, it's going to require a lot of double-down situations. If our guards can create havoc like they did against Harangody when he posted up, then it has a chance. Tonight will be a good case study on this strategy.

I still think Barro needs to be on the court for 25 to 30 minutes. He's the best shot we have at a double-double type post player.

[NavinRJohnson]

I suspect this move is not necessarily designed primarily to get production out of Fitzgerald, but perhaps more so to get the attention of a few other guys on the team. We've seen both Ooze and Burke play better than they have of late, and in some cases, significantly better. However, the way they have played, this is a fairly risk free move - how much is he really giving up? I am guessing Crean is hoping to open the eyes and get a reaction out of ooze and Burke in particular, but others as well. If you were those two guys how would you feel being benched in favor of Dan Fitzgerald knowing how badly your team has struggled inside. My assumption is that he is simply going with the guy from which he is seeing the best effort.

[bilsu]

It will work really good if he is hitting from 3. However, I think MU would be best if they just gave the job to Barro. I think Crean did not start him to send a message. Some players respond and some don't. I do not think he responded at all. However, we do not have any other realistic options so Crean should just go with him and see if he responds as a starter. Otherwise, if we are going to be bad at center, than play Blackledge. He is at least exciting to watch.

[4everwarriors]

 

[scooter]

I missed the first half.  So did he start at the 5?  If so, Iassume it didn't really work out becasue he wasn't there in the second half was he?

[MUshrooms]

Fitzgerald sucks.  Whether it be the 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1.  He sucks

[bma725]

I missed the first half.  So did he start at the 5?  If so, Iassume it didn't really work out becasue he wasn't there in the second half was he?

He didn't start and barely played because he hurt his back.  He spent most of the game holding a heating pad up to his lower back and whenever they put him in, he had to come out pretty quickly because he couldn't take it.