Bluejays SOTG

[The Sultan]

I will follow up on a previous post, no one should miss a second on TK's play at MU. He is a joy to watch and should not be taken for granted. To be honest, I think too many are taking him for granted and think they are missing out.

Yep yep. He does a ton of things that don't show up in a box score.

[panda]

I agree players make mistakes and I'm a huge fan of letting players play through them (one of the reasons I hated Wojo was his quick hook with most guys).


I don't think Jop's high five was the reason ha man blew by him on the other end, but that's he wasn't locked in still reveling in the play. But all good. We won.

Oso set a great pick on Jop which didn't help.

[Goose]

Sultan

The more I watch TK the more impressed I am with his play. Hate to say it all of the time, but he is climbing the ladder of all time MU players. He is already second best post Al and in my all time top ten.

It is not often a program has a player that you know will have his number retired while he still has a lot of games still to be played. Other than Wade, I have never been so convinced on a guy's place in program history. 

Going to say this until I can't say it anymore, enjoy every second of TK's time at MU. Very likely to never see another player like him. I am sure there will be better prototypical PG in the future, but never another TK.

[The Sultan]

Sultan

The more I watch TK the more impressed I am with his play. Hate to say it all of the time, but he is climbing the ladder of all time MU players. He is already second best post Al and in my all time top ten.

It is not often a program has a player that you know will have his number retired while he still has a lot of games still to be played. Other than Wade, I have never been so convinced on a guy's place in program history. 

Going to say this until I can't say it anymore, enjoy every second of TK's time at MU. Very likely to never see another people like him. I am sure there will be better prototypical PG in the future, but never another TK.

He will be in the NBA for awhile after his time at MU is done so we will get a chance to see him in the future.

[Goose]

Sultan

You may be right, but he is a bonafide superstar as a college player.

[MuggsyB]

Jop's defense has been a bit underrated this year.  The guy is working every possession. 

[MU82]

I will follow up on a previous post, no one should miss a second on TK's play at MU. He is a joy to watch and should not be taken for granted. To be honest, I think too many are taking him for granted and think they are missing out.

Totally agree. And yet you, like me, said this about who should be SoG ...

Oso played big boy basketball against a top player and won that battle easily. My vote, Oso.

It's OK to pick someone other than Kolek as SoG; doing so doesn't mean one is taking Tyler for granted.

Aside from the TOs, he played quite well today. As he almost always does. And what a comfort it must be for Shaka to know he has a guy who will ALWAYS knock down the clinching FTs.

Hell of a player, and we're so lucky to have him.

But Oso, probably followed by Sean, for SoG.

[MU62]

Tyler as always.  So happy for Sean.  Will give him the confidence he needs taking that shot.  His pesky defense was awesome. 

[MuggsyB]

Totally agree. And yet you, like me, said this about who should be SoG ...

It's OK to pick someone other than Kolek as SoG; doing so doesn't mean one is taking Tyler for granted.

Aside from the TOs, he played quite well today. As he almost always does. And what a comfort it must be for Shaka to know he has a guy who will ALWAYS knock down the clinching FTs.

Hell of a player, and we're so lucky to have him.

But Oso, probably followed by Sean, for SoG.

Oso can't go 2-11 against the upper echelon teans.  He was great on the glass but he rushed vs Kalky today. 

[Ardmore Mug]

Sean ! ! ! 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

As much as I want to give it to Sean, this is STUD of the game. Not surprise of the game or spark of the game. Stud. Sean was at best our third best player today.

1. Oso - This game was won with defense and rebounding. Oso had 9 offensive boards. NINE. Y'all understand that is second most in program history? 16 total is nothing to sneeze at either, that's tied for ninth most in program history. Not only that, but he turned one of the best big men in the country to a potted plant on offense and the boards. Yes, he had a bad shooting game but there's more to winning than scoring.

2. TKO - Slow first half but a masterful second half. Pretty much every bucket in the second half other than Sean's buckets were engineered by TKO. 15 points (same as Sean), 8 assists (8 more than Sean), 4 rebounds (4 more than Sean) 3 steals (1 more than Sean). Schierman also stopped scoring when Tyler was switched to him.

3. Sean - He was the big spark and the big surprise, happy he had this game and hope it will break him out of his shooting slump, but his 13 minutes doesn't equate to the impact that Oso and TKO had on the game.

Honorable mention to Jopwagon. Very efficient offensive performance. Congrats on his first dunk. Loved his interior defense...but fell asleep on the perimeter multiple times leading to open Creighton threes.

[Elonsmusk]

As much as I want to give it to Sean, this is STUD of the game. Not surprise of the game or spark of the game. Stud. Sean was at best our third best player today.

1. Oso - This game was won with defense and rebounding. Oso had 9 offensive boards. NINE. Y'all understand that is second most in program history? 16 total is nothing to sneeze at either, that's tied for ninth most in program history. Not only that, but he turned one of the best big men in the country to a potted plant on offense and the boards. Yes, he had a bad shooting game but there's more to winning than scoring.

2. TKO - Slow first half but a masterful second half. Pretty much every bucket in the second half other than Sean's buckets were engineered by TKO. 15 points (same as Sean), 8 assists (8 more than Sean), 4 rebounds (4 more than Sean) 3 steals (1 more than Sean). Schierman also stopped scoring when Tyler was switched to him.

3. Sean - He was the big spark and the big surprise, happy he had this game and hope it will break him out of his shooting slump, but his 13 minutes doesn't equate to the impact that Oso and TKO had on the game.

Honorable mention to Jopwagon. Very efficient offensive performance. Congrats on his first dunk. Loved his interior defense...but fell asleep on the perimeter multiple times leading to open Creighton threes.

Sean Jones was SOTG.  15 points and 2 steals in 13 minutes of action and a 125 O-Rating, not to mention absolutely dominating Creighton's guards while defending.  Sean also woke that team up from an awful first half performance with his energy.

Oso?  His backtap O "rebounds" were very helpful, and he was active.  Kalkbrenner was a non-factor and Oso deserves some credit, yet our perimeter D was so disruptive that Creighton had a hard time getting the ball into Kalkbrenner.  Oso's 2 of 11 shooting night wasn't very studly either.

[BLWarrior91]

Goose

I completely agree with your comments about TyKo.  He is special. 

When his playing days are done, I'd love to see him as an assistant coach for Shaka, eventually taking over as HC.  Guy's basketball IQ and competitiveness is off the charts.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Sean Jones was SOTG.  15 points and 2 steals in 13 minutes of action and a 125 O-Rating, not to mention absolutely dominating Creighton's guards while defending.  Sean also woke that team up from an awful first half performance with his energy.

Oso?  His backtap O "rebounds" were very helpful, and he was active.  Kalkbrenner was a non-factor and Oso deserves some credit, yet our perimeter D was so disruptive that Creighton had a hard time getting the ball into Kalkbrenner.  Oso's 2 of 11 shooting night wasn't very studly either.

Why are you putting "rebounds" in parantheses? You're not bringing back "easy assists/rebounds" again are you? 2nd most offensive boards in a game in program history. 9th most total rebounds in a game in program history. Both studly numbers and more than make up for a poor shooting night IMHO. And Oso deserves a lot more than "some" credit for negating Kalkbrenner on offense and keeping him off the glass.

As for the rest, you and I have different criteria for "stud" which is fine. Your criteria I would categorize more as being the "spark of the game", he made the most of a smaller amount of playing time. I think Oso and Kolek impacted the game a lot more overall.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Why are you putting "rebounds" in parantheses?

Why are you calling quotation marks "parantheses"?

[CountryRoads]

Why are you putting "rebounds" in parantheses? You're not bringing back "easy assists/rebounds" again are you? 2nd most offensive boards in a game in program history. 9th most total rebounds in a game in program history. Both studly numbers and more than make up for a poor shooting night IMHO. And Oso deserves a lot more than "some" credit for negating Kalkbrenner on offense and keeping him off the glass.

As for the rest, you and I have different criteria for "stud" which is fine. Your criteria I would categorize more as being the "spark of the game", he made the most of a smaller amount of playing time. I think Oso and Kolek impacted the game a lot more overall.

Oso was fantastic today and was more aggressive than usual. It's fair game per the rules, but I think the tap out rebounds are at least somewhat controversial from a statistical standpoint. Not a hill I'd die on either way by any means, but it's essentially a loose ball and it's not like they give him a turnover when the other team gets the ball. In any case, hope they keep it up as it's gotten the team a lot of second chances recently.

[1SE]

Why are you putting "rebounds" in parantheses? You're not bringing back "easy assists/rebounds" again are you? 2nd most offensive boards in a game in program history. 9th most total rebounds in a game in program history. Both studly numbers and more than make up for a poor shooting night IMHO. And Oso deserves a lot more than "some" credit for negating Kalkbrenner on offense and keeping him off the glass.

As for the rest, you and I have different criteria for "stud" which is fine. Your criteria I would categorize more as being the "spark of the game", he made the most of a smaller amount of playing time. I think Oso and Kolek impacted the game a lot more overall.

I mean if that's how they're scored, that's how they're scored - but a lot of those back taps were 50-50 balls that were secured via the hustle of a teammate

[DoctorV]

Sean Jones' 13 minutes won Marquette that game. 

Full stop.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

SOTG: Jae's Slap of Five

[MU82]

I mean if that's how they're scored, that's how they're scored - but a lot of those back taps were 50-50 balls that were secured via the hustle of a teammate

There is no 50-50 ball or opportunity to hustle without the back taps. They are simply Creighton rebounds, possibly turning into Creighton fast-break baskets.

Sean Jones' 13 minutes won Marquette that game. 

Full stop.

So if Oso or Kolek gets hurt on the first play and can't return, we still win the game? If Stevie and Joplin go 0-fer on their 3-point attempts in the second half, we still win the game?

Lots of reasons we won the game. Sean certainly was one the big reasons. But it's not the He Came Off The Bench and Surprisingly Hit a Few Threes award.

Though again, Sean would be a perfectly fine choice for SoG, even if he's not my first choice.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Rocky will decide this one next year.

[Lennys Tap]

As much as I want to give it to Sean, this is STUD of the game. Not surprise of the game or spark of the game. Stud. Sean was at best our third best player today.

1. Oso - This game was won with defense and rebounding. Oso had 9 offensive boards. NINE. Y'all understand that is second most in program history? 16 total is nothing to sneeze at either, that's tied for ninth most in program history. Not only that, but he turned one of the best big men in the country to a potted plant on offense and the boards. Yes, he had a bad shooting game but there's more to winning than scoring.

2. TKO - Slow first half but a masterful second half. Pretty much every bucket in the second half other than Sean's buckets were engineered by TKO. 15 points (same as Sean), 8 assists (8 more than Sean), 4 rebounds (4 more than Sean) 3 steals (1 more than Sean). Schierman also stopped scoring when Tyler was switched to him.

3. Sean - He was the big spark and the big surprise, happy he had this game and hope it will break him out of his shooting slump, but his 13 minutes doesn't equate to the impact that Oso and TKO had on the game.

Honorable mention to Jopwagon. Very efficient offensive performance. Congrats on his first dunk. Loved his interior defense...but fell asleep on the perimeter multiple times leading to open Creighton threes.

TAMU

I'm very much in general agreement with you. I watch games and ask myself who was our most impactful player. It's usually Kolek, sometimes Oso and occasionally Kam. As you say, other's provide spark - but over 40 minutes the big 3 are our keys.

I almost picked Oso yesterday but talked myself out of it due to 2-11 shooting. Could have picked Tyler but talked myself out of it due to 4 TOs. So I picked "The Spark" - Sean. But given more time to think about it, the two guys most responsible for us winning were the usual suspects - Oso and Tyler.

[Lennys Tap]

Oso was fantastic today and was more aggressive than usual. It's fair game per the rules, but I think the tap out rebounds are at least somewhat controversial from a statistical standpoint.

I assume the rule re stats is if your own player taps a loose ball off of a missed shot and a teammate secures it the guy who tapped it gets credit for the rebound. If the opposing team comes up with that same ball the player who recovers it gets credit. Arbitrary, but they were big plays nonetheless.

[The Sultan]

I assume the rule re stats is if your own player taps a loose ball off of a missed shot and a teammate secures it the guy who tapped it gets credit for the rebound. If the opposing team comes up with that same ball the player who recovers it gets credit. Arbitrary, but they were big plays nonetheless.

Yep. According to the NCAA stats manual, that's exactly how it is credited.

"An individual rebound (player rebound) is credited to a player who recovers a live ball that has missed scoring a goal (field goal or free throw). The recovery may be accomplished:

(1) By gaining control of the ball.
(2) By tipping or batting the ball in an attempt to score a goal.
(3) By tipping or batting the ball to a teammate so that the teammate or another teammate is the first to gain control.
(4) By retrieving a rebound simultaneously with an opposing player and having his or her own team be the first to be entitled to the ball."

[Dr. Blackheart]

Yep. According to the NCAA stats manual, that's exactly how it is credited.

"An individual rebound (player rebound) is credited to a player who recovers a live ball that has missed scoring a goal (field goal or free throw). The recovery may be accomplished:

(1) By gaining control of the ball.
(2) By tipping or batting the ball in an attempt to score a goal.
(3) By tipping or batting the ball to a teammate so that the teammate or another teammate is the first to gain control.
(4) By retrieving a rebound simultaneously with an opposing player and having his or her own team be the first to be entitled to the ball."

MU won despite hitting their deflections goal. Now I can tell my grandson why he won't be getting his free Taco Bell:  Because John Dodds credited those deflections as rebounds.