Bailey

[WarriorFan]

So Brendan is better than Sam and Joey sucked balls so he won't be missed. We added a C better than Theo or Morrow and a PG who's the second best player on the team in practice. Markus is a first team AA and likely POY. GE is finally healthy and Sacar is poised for that "senior leap" (see Novak, Mathews). Put it in a blender and it comes out Big East champs/3 seed. Why am I not feelin' it?

Maybe picking nits, but I have never been a Hauser basher and my post was not meant as such.  I like BB in the Sam role and think it fits him well.  That's all. 

[MU82]

Im excited about bailey's play today. Jayces as well. But just like the Wisconsin game didn't mean the season was over, today doesn't mean they are stars or even starters going forward.

And I would take Sam Hauser over Bailey every day and twice on Sunday. But that's not an option so that wish is just a fart in the wind.

Ding ding ding.

[BCHoopster]

It was nice to see BB breakout, but it is one game.  Constitency is the key, do it once lets see him do it twice, starting Wednesday.  This should
give him some confidence but you never know.  Need at least 10-12 points a game which would be great, same from Koby.  See what happens.

[Silkk the Shaka]

It was nice to see BB breakout, but it is one game.  Constitency is the key, do it once lets see him do it twice, starting Wednesday.  This should
give him some confidence but you never know.  Need at least 10-12 points a game which would be great, same from Koby.  See what happens.

Agreed on the one game extrapolation. HOWEVER, he also played very efficiently in the Davidson & Robert Morris games (120 & 125 ORtg, 8 & 10 points apiece). I would take those types of numbers in a heartbeat, and 3 out of the past 4 games at good to great level leaves me cautiously optimistic. Here's hoping for him getting into a rhythm over the rest of the cupcake schedule that takes him into a nice conference season.

[MU82]

Agreed on the one game extrapolation. HOWEVER, he also played very efficiently in the Davidson & Robert Morris games (120 & 125 ORtg, 8 & 10 points apiece). I would take those types of numbers in a heartbeat, and 3 out of the past 4 games at good to great level leaves me cautiously optimistic. Here's hoping for him getting into a rhythm over the rest of the cupcake schedule that takes him into a nice conference season.

You beat me to this, EFR. I've liked the way he has played the last couple of weeks -- even above and beyond him getting hot from 3 yesterday -- and look for more.

[Dawson Rental]

Wasn't Bailey compared to Reggie Miller as a High Schooler?

There's a reason he started at the beginning of last year.  My theory is that he was better in practice then in games.

Yesterday won't likely be the new normal, but it should be the start of a player who is dialed in to the point that he becomes a consistent offensive threat.

He always seemed to me to be close, but just a little off - like he was just a little bit short on confidence or focus.  Hopefully, the corner is turned, and he'll contribute offensively on a regular basis.

Worst case scenario, he was "playing out of his head", and he climbs back in there.

[The Sultan]

Wasn't Bailey compared to Reggie Miller as a High Schooler?

Really no one should ever pay attention to what Hall of Famer some high school kid is compared to.  It will only lead to disappointment.

[MUEng92]

Wasn't Bailey compared to Reggie Miller as a High Schooler?

You know, if he shaved his head, he would actually remind me of Reggie Miller.  Same lankiness and movements.  Of course that's where the comparison would end.  And I don't consider that an insult of Bailey.

[MU82]

Reggie averaged 5 ppg as a UCLA frosh, followed by 15, 26 and 22. If you told me today that Bailey would get to 65-75% of that, I'd take it.

I like BB's ceiling. I hope he reaches it. Would make this team much better and would be great for future editions of the Warriors.

As an aside ... the only year the 3 was in play for Reggie was his senior season, when he shot 44%.

[onepost]

He's good in the "Sam" role.  Do I dare say better than Sam?  Seems longer, better D, got to some hustle balls that maybe wouldn't have been retrieved last year.  If he can continue nailing the 3's and driving occasionally MU won't miss Sam.

Stop

[Lennys Tap]

Reggie averaged 5 ppg as a UCLA frosh, followed by 15, 26 and 22. If you told me today that Bailey would get to 65-75% of that, I'd take it.

I know was "rusty", but Bailey was also 21 as a freshman. Reggie was likely 18.

[skianth16]

Agreed on the one game extrapolation. HOWEVER, he also played very efficiently in the Davidson & Robert Morris games (120 & 125 ORtg, 8 & 10 points apiece). I would take those types of numbers in a heartbeat, and 3 out of the past 4 games at good to great level leaves me cautiously optimistic. Here's hoping for him getting into a rhythm over the rest of the cupcake schedule that takes him into a nice conference season.

I think there's a big difference between an efficient game a good game. If you're going to call the Davidson game - 8 points with 1 RB while fouling out - a good game, then the bar is awfully low. His game against Robert Morris was pretty good, and I'd be happy to have a 10 and 5 contribution from him every game. But I would hope that would leave him as our 4th option on offense.

[tower912]

There's a reason he started at the beginning of last year.  My theory is that he was better in practice then in games.

Played better defense, moved the ball better.   Eventually, Joey got on a scoring  streak while Brendan couldn't throw the ball in Lake Michigan.   But yes, Brendan started over Joey at the start of last season.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Played better defense, moved the ball better.   Eventually, Joey got on a scoring  streak while Brendan couldn't throw the ball in Lake Michigan.   But yes, Brendan started over Joey at the start of last season.

The plan was always to start Bailey and have Joey spell Sam when he needed a breather and spell Bailey when we needed more offense. But you are right, Bailey's rough start last season trashed that plan. Good chance we would have tried that plan again at the start of this season had they stayed.

[MU82]

I know was "rusty", but Bailey was also 21 as a freshman. Reggie was likely 18.

Makes no difference to me, Lenny. If he's 23 as a junior and averages 70% of what Reggie did (25 ppg), I'd take it. That's all I said, and I stand by it.

[GoldenDieners32]

Makes no difference to me, Lenny. If he's 23 as a junior and averages 70% of what Reggie did (25 ppg), I'd take it. That's all I said, and I stand by it.

he barely played basketball the 2 years he was on his mission

[jsglow]

The plan was always to start Bailey and have Joey spell Sam when he needed a breather and spell Bailey when we needed more offense. But you are right, Bailey's rough start last season trashed that plan. Good chance we would have tried that plan again at the start of this season had they stayed.

All while VSS thought he should have been the centerpiece of the gameplan. 

[Lennys Tap]

The plan was always to start Bailey and have Joey spell Sam when he needed a breather and spell Bailey when we needed more offense. But you are right, Bailey's rough start last season trashed that plan. Good chance we would have tried that plan again at the start of this season had they stayed.

Yeah, seriously doubt that was "the plan". Bailey started 3 games (the same number as Jamal Cain), Joey 31 0f 34. Joey played 29.2 MPG, Brendan played fewer than Joe Chartouny. BTW, Markus and Sam didn't immediately start their freshman years, either. Markus started 27-31 games and Sam 28-32. Markus played 7 mpg less than Joey as a freshman and Sam played almost 3 mpg less. Wonder who M and S were supposed to back up that year.

[tower912]

I felt then and still do that giving Joey that many minutes in December and January led to him hitting the freshman wall and playing so poorly down the stretch.   Wojo would have been better served getting Bailey and Cain more run.

[Lennys Tap]

I felt then and still do that giving Joey that many minutes in December and January led to him hitting the freshman wall and playing so poorly down the stretch.   Wojo would have been better served getting Bailey and Cain more run.

I agree.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Yeah, seriously doubt that was "the plan". Bailey started 3 games (the same number as Jamal Cain), Joey 31 0f 34. Joey played 29.2 MPG, Brendan played fewer than Joe Chartouny. BTW, Markus and Sam didn't immediately start their freshman years, either. Markus started 27-31 games and Sam 28-32. Markus played 7 mpg less than Joey as a freshman and Sam played almost 3 mpg less. Wonder who M and S were supposed to back up that year.

Lenny, which three games did Bailey start? The first three. Which games did Joey start? The last 31. Do you think Wojo just started Bailey for sh*ts and giggles? The plan was to start Bailey and have Joey come off the bench. Joey outplayed Bailey and took his starting spot. If Bailey had outplayed Joey, that starting lineup wasn't changing.

You'll notice I'm saying "starting" not "play more minutes."

[Eldon]

Reggie is an all timer at UCLA, so yeah, I can see it.

[bilsu]

Wasn't Bailey compared to Reggie Miller as a High Schooler?

There's a reason he started at the beginning of last year.  My theory is that he was better in practice then in games.

Yesterday won't likely be the new normal, but it should be the start of a player who is dialed in to the point that he becomes a consistent offensive threat.

He always seemed to me to be close, but just a little off - like he was just a little bit short on confidence or focus.  Hopefully, the corner is turned, and he'll contribute offensively on a regular basis.

Worst case scenario, he was "playing out of his head", and he climbs back in there.

He was the better player in practice, but he was not producing in games while Joey was. Bailey needed to slow down as he was rushing his shots in games. I think we will see him average double figures this year.

[IrwinFletcher]

We need someone, anyone, to become a consistent threat to take some of the pressure off of Markus.  Koby showed signs early, Bailey is improving and GE is someone we are all hoping can take a couple of steps in December.

We need to make teams pay when they commit to shutting Markus down.

[real chili 83]

Yesterday, Bailey took an "extra" tenth of a second to position his feet better and square up. All the difference in the world.  And, he did it against a very, very good Maryland team.

Yesterday, Maryland played great, and our play was not cohesive. We will have better outings if we can sync.