James vs Jones

[TSmith34, Inc.]

I thought he would be that based on what the staff has been saying. Shaka was talking him up as ready to go last year. At one point, when asked about his impact another staff member pointed to Marquette having different players be back-to-back Cousy nominees (Tyler & Kam).

If you believed what the staff was saying about these guys, their self-evaluation indicated Sean would at least be an all-league caliber guy this year. Part of my concern going forward is their evaluations of many of these players and the belief this roster would be competitive based on said evaluations.

Past evidence indicates that Shaka indulges in a lot of this sort of Coach Talk. However, nothing in Sean's ACTUAL performances indicated this, and that was before coming off a major knee injury. Expecting him to leap from "energy guy that couldn't shoot and got burned on defense repeatedly despite all-world speed, then had a major knee injury" to "star" seems like a fantasy.

For all the other good things the staff says about him, I just don't think he is a guy that can consistently help achieve the V part of RGV.

[Jay Bee]

I suggested another option of going small, you must have missed that.  Weird.

Suggest? You say you "wouldn't hate" it if Zaide isn't awful.

First it was CHs mins are fine bc Royce doesn't deserve them. Now you're hinting maybe smaller would be ok, but I can't tell.

Is your stance that CH's minutes are too high or not?

[Its DJOver]

Suggest? You say you "wouldn't hate" it if Zaide isn't awful.

First it was CHs mins are fine bc Royce doesn't deserve them. Now you're hinting maybe smaller would be ok, but I can't tell.

Is your stance that CH's minutes are too high or not?

My stance is that everyone that isn't Chase, Ben and NJ's minutes are too high, but unless were going to start playing 4 v 5, 200 minutes have to come from somewhere. CH has been getting a ton of hate and I agree that he's not great, but there are no good options, and overall I'm more disappointed about true Sophomore's regressing than I am about a RSSP only improving marginally.

[brewcity77]

Past evidence indicates that Shaka indulges in a lot of this sort of Coach Talk. However, nothing in Sean's ACTUAL performances indicated this, and that was before coming off a major knee injury. Expecting him to leap from "energy guy that couldn't shoot and got burned on defense repeatedly despite all-world speed, then had a major knee injury" to "star" seems like a fantasy.

For all the other good things the staff says about him, I just don't think he is a guy that can consistently help achieve the V part of RGV.

Yeah, but they typically keep on with that coach talk until it's proven otherwise, then stop talking about the player altogether. The Sean stuff started nearly a year ago and continued until last month. I truly believe they THOUGHT he was going to be that type of player.

The other thing that gave me faith is DeAndre Haynes' track record with guards. Zavier Simpson, Ant Cowan, Eric Ayala, Tyler Kolek, Kam Jones, it was a pretty decent sample size and this staff showed the ability to get players to develop. The combination of the staff's belief and their developmental track record seemed like pretty sound rationale to believe Sean would be ready to be an all-league player this year (not necessarily first team, but someone in that top-15 players).

As much as it's starting to look like we had an awesome crop of talent on that first team that carried us for years, the way players emerged year after year gave me hope it would continue beyond the Guardians.

[MU82]

I thought Stevens played quite well yesterday. Mostly stayed with his man; made all 3 shots he took, including a 3 we desperately needed at the time; hit 2 big FTs; didn't try to force things offensively; and still had energy at the end despite having played most of the 2H and OT in place of the deservedly benched Lowery.

He obviously needs to keep getting better, but with Stevens and James, that's a nice start to a "backcourt of the future."

Sorry if that's being too positive about something having to do with Marquette basketball.

[vogue65]

I thought Stevens played quite well yesterday. Mostly stayed with his man; made all 3 shots he took, including a 3 we desperately needed at the time; hit 2 big FTs; didn't try to force things offensively; and still had energy at the end despite having played most of the 2H and OT in place of the deservedly benched Lowery.

He obviously needs to keep getting better, but with Stevens and James, that's a nice start to a "backcourt of the future."

Sorry if that's being too positive about something having to do with Marquette basketball.

The future is now.  Look at what the kid can do, not what he can't do yet.

[jesmu84]

Jones is a backup PG for 5-10 min at most. That's his role on this team.

[CountryRoads]

Jones is a backup PG for 5-10 min at most. That's his role on this team.

This year and next.

[MU82]

Huh. Jones is healthy but Shaka still started James. We were told 637 times by GE03 that wouldn't happen. Huh.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Huh. Jones is healthy but Shaka still started James. We were told 637 times by GE03 that wouldn't happen. Huh.

Because we don't want him to get mad and transfer!

[GoldenEagles03]

Huh. Jones is healthy but Shaka still started James. We were told 637 times by GE03 that wouldn't happen. Huh.

I'm happy he didn't!

I really thought Shaka wouldn't have the balls. I enjoyed that part of today.

[MU82]

I'm happy he didn't!

I really thought Shaka wouldn't have the balls. I enjoyed that part of today.

I enjoyed it, too, but it wasn't even a little surprising. What "balls" did it take?

Stevens got the start over Lowery, too, as warranted. Hopefully, Parham over Hamilton is the next decision that shouldn't be difficult.

[GoldenEagles03]

I enjoyed it, too, but it wasn't even a little surprising. What "balls" did it take?

Stevens got the start over Lowery, too, as warranted. Hopefully, Parham over Hamilton is the next decision that shouldn't be difficult.

Because I truly think Shaka doesn't want to sniff the portal. And Sean is almost certainly going to leave as a guy lined up to be a bench player in his Senior year. I'm all for it, I just think Shaka isn't going to like it. In a year that's already lost, I thought he would just play the older guy.

[MU82]

Because I truly think Shaka doesn't want to sniff the portal. And Sean is almost certainly going to leave as a guy lined up to be a bench player in his Senior year. I'm all for it, I just think Shaka isn't going to like it. In a year that's already lost, I thought he would just play the older guy.

Thanks for having the "balls" to admit you were wrong.