Our big-man woes

[MU Avenue]

We have been outrebounded seven games in a row, including tonight against a team that is now 1-7 in conference.

Dwight Burke is weak and Ousmane Barro weaker. I only hope each of the other guys can keep or find his form and carry us through the remainder of the season.

[muwarrior87]

at the end of the game when Crean came over to the students he said, 'thanks for the support tonight, we ain't playing to well right now though.'

[reesiecup210]

at the end of the game when Crean came over to the students he said, 'thanks for the support tonight, we ain't playing to well right now though.'

Okay, we get it, you sat close in the student section. No need to put that up in two different threads.

[mviale]

We have been outrebounded seven games in a row, including tonight against a team that is now 1-7 in conference.

Dwight Burke is weak and Ousmane Barro weaker. I only hope each of the other guys can keep or find his form and carry us through the remainder of the season.

Is it Mbakwe ? My god how do we do it ~ 5-3

[bs4173]

in related news, this AP article was posted on yahoo sports BEFORE the USF game. it talks about how fitz is supposedly slowly filling ousmane and dwight's shoes. (Perhaps it has already been discussed here. if so, sorry!)

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaab/news;_ylt=Amxvc1Z_C2XCLnz.0SnSwv5w07YF?slug=ap-t25-markedmarquette&prov=ap&type=lgns

[muwarrior87]

some people don't read all the threads, just getting the word out, and in the student section actually.

[reesiecup210]

some people don't read all the threads, just getting the word out, and in the student section actually.

Well I'm glad we have a coach who's smart enough to figure out that we're not playing well right now. That's comforting.

[muwarrior87]

just letting those who think Crean is inept at his job know that he actually does know when there's a problem. Now let's see if the team and the coaching staff can work their way out of it.

[Doctor V]

maybe its just me, but it seems that since both burke's and esp barro's playing time have decreased, MU has been constantly outrebounded. dont take this as an anti crean comment cause i like him, but the worst thing about him seems to be that he holds grudges against players throughout the season. He needs to do whats best for his team and play barro and burke when he needs the rebounding

[mviale]

felt Barro was going to average a double double this year with 30 min a game, but he is lucky to get 15 min a game

[MU Avenue]

felt Barro was going to average a double double this year with 30 min a game, but he is lucky to get 15 min a game

Ousmane Barro is playing so little this season because he is playing so poorly.

I know he has his fans and defenders here, but Barro is plain awful much of the time. He is clumsy, he misses layups and even dunks, he is often not ready for quick passes and he has greased bricks for hands.

Yes, Barro has moments when his play is OK. He even has those moments when he plays pretty well. Overall, however, Barro does not have the stuff of a starting big man at a Top 25 collegiate basketball program.

His play speaks for itself. I wish Barro had developed into the player who some people think he has become. He has not. Poor, inconsistent play are his only constants.

[Big Papi]

We have had major struggles with our big men this year yet I think both Burke and Barro stepped up early on in this game that kept us in it early on when it was looking very grim.  Also Barro did step up in the Depaul game.  Just wish they could do it a bit more consistently.  If they did we would be a lot more of a consistent team

[sean980]

Having been at the game last night and at other games this season, I am still perplexed as to why Crean refuses to use Blackledge as more of a spark when the team is struggling like it has in the last 4 games.  Blackledge seems to bring a level of energy to the court that is lacking when Burke, Oze, or Fitz is in. 

For instance last night Blackledge came in and within 30 seconds had a block that made the crowd go nuts.  Getting the crowd into the games is a huge deal when the team is struggling as bad as it has.

I completely understand that Blackledge's fundamentals are not at the level of Oze, Fitz, etc. but Crean could do a better job of strategically using Blackledge.