James and the Team...

[MUfan12]

I know I'm gonna get put over the coals for this but there is something up with Dominic. I saw a couple of things today, as well as the last couple weeks that show this

-When the students came in early, after about 25 minutes the team was doing a FT shooting drill. James saw a group with "King James" t-shirts and a sign, left in the middle of the drill, and spent the next 5 minutes signing autographs in the student section. Sounds like a nice gesture right? Maybe, but he left his team to do it while Crean smiled and laughed. Judging by the looks on the players' faces, they were not pleased at all.

-After taking a terrible shot Crean pulled him in the first half, for what ended up being about 2 minutes. He stormed back to the bench and was barking back at both assistants while they tried to talk to him. Not a good example for the team leader to set.

-Lastly, and this is the one that concerns me the most, is that there seems to be something up with him and Cubillan. He has ridden Cubillan like crazy the past couple of games. What gets me is the fact that he almost never looks for Cubillan, especially on the drive and kick. A couple of times today he would look at Cubillan on the wing, and turn his back and head left.

I could be way off and reading too much into this, but its just something I noticed while watching this week.

[Harrison]

we'll see i think winning and hitting a few shots eliminates the frustration that the team apparently has right now.  We will see what kind of character this team has it is clear they are alittle frustrated.

[ben8787]

I could be way off and reading too much into this, but its just something I noticed while watching this week.

yup

[mu_hilltopper]

Here all this time we're worrying about next year's scholarship situation, thinking DJ is going pro (chance getting lower and lower each game) .. wouldn't it be a hoot if DJ was the one who transferred out?

Ok, hoot isn't the right word.

I do remember something Crean said at his book signing .. he was talking about practice, and how Wes and Jerel bring it 100% at every practice .. not so much for DJ.  He said sometimes he goes 100%, sometimes not, and he needed to step that up.

Ugh.  What a day.

[Desert_Eagle]

-When the students came in early, after about 25 minutes the team was doing a FT shooting drill. James saw a group with "King James" t-shirts and a sign, left in the middle of the drill, and spent the next 5 minutes signing autographs in the student section. Sounds like a nice gesture right? Maybe, but he left his team to do it while Crean smiled and laughed. Judging by the looks on the players' faces, they were not pleased at all.

I was one of the guys with one of those shirts. Crean gave him the sharpey and told him to go over and sign autographs, it wasn't his deal.

[NavinRJohnson]

I don't put much stock in your examples, but I too think something is up. For me its more simple than autographs, etc. I just don't see him playing with a whole lot of energy or intensity for 40 minutes. There is a reason he is spending so much time on the bench and it isn't about talent - he simply isn't bringing the effort or leadership the team needs right now. If they don't correct that situation we may be looking at NIT games in March.

[MikeyT42]

today at the game i did notice on 2 occasions james got pulled for taking a quick 3 that wasn't in the flow of the game. On each occasion James stormed back to bench and sat inbetween 2 coaches and was obviously frusterated and ticked off. Both times he went to the bench TC ignored him and walked toward mid court.

Those of you who said there is a conflict between TC and DJ are on to something. They don't look to be on the same page at all.

After one of those benching DJ was in the very next possesion.

[MU71]

Coach Tom....DJ is a point not a 2 guard.  He was the 2 in the first half and he scores 2 and the team scores 25.  He was the point in the second and his scores 13 and the team scores 41.  Any correlation?   

[21rooster]

I could be way off and reading too much into this, but its just something I noticed while watching this week.

yup

Umm...nope...why do you think James wasn't in for much of the second half against ND St?  Might have something to do with Crean's opinion of James' help defense...we need guys willing to take the necessary fouls on defense, not guys worrying about being the superstars. 

[HoopDreams]

-When the students came in early, after about 25 minutes the team was doing a FT shooting drill. James saw a group with "King James" t-shirts and a sign, left in the middle of the drill, and spent the next 5 minutes signing autographs in the student section. Sounds like a nice gesture right? Maybe, but he left his team to do it while Crean smiled and laughed. Judging by the looks on the players' faces, they were not pleased at all.

As stated previously, Crean told Dominic to come over to us wearing the shirts and holding the sign..Crean handed him the sharpie and considering Crean loves the fans and knows how long we had waited outside there is no reason why Crean shouldn't have the players interact with the fans. There is a reason why Crean saw the shirt..because it is the best. We are all a witness...

[muhoosier260]

good for those of you who took the time with the tshirts, i saw them at the game and thought they were pretty cool, altho somewhat unoriginal, but wtvr. as far as crean giving him the green light to autograph, there's nothing wrong with that. however, DJ is a pompous prima donna who has his head so far up his own ass, that he has lost sight of his teammates. listen, i love the guy (i'm from indiana for goodness sake, of course i love him) but he needs an attitude change QUICK. obviously there's no way he's going to the L after this season, but if he doesn't change his approach to the game soon, he's going to be playing in germany, spain or even worse...asia! i want this kid to turn things around, cuz once he figures himself out, this team will come together

[SoCalstu09]

They were some kickass shirts.

[MUinOH]

wouldn't it be a hoot if DJ was the one who transferred out?

Uh....

No!

[MUshrooms]

muhoosier.....AMEN.

[MarquetteDano]

Maybe y'all are onto something.  Last year, Marquette averaged 15.7 apg and 14.7 turnovers per game.  This year, with a much easier schedule at this point in the season, Marquette averages 14.7 assists and 17.1 turnovers.

That is a BIG difference.  Especially when considering we did not lose a star guard.  I guess one could argue Novak opened up passing lanes and we are forced to push the ball now which causes more turnovers.

Either way, with a guard-oriented team you should have more assists that turnovers, particularly at this point in the season when 60% of the games have been cupcakes.

[4everwarriors]

James signing shirts BEFORE the game and Crean should have known better. But, this is very much consistent with TC's sale of the sizzle and not the steak.
Al would never have allowed that for the obvious reasons.
Crean seems to want his legacy to be having placed players in the Association. Al , on the other hand, would just win and let the rest take care of itself.
As we can all see, Crean's lack of bigmen recruiting and lack of senior leadership primary due to transfers etc. is now biting him bigtime in his tanned ass.

[TallTitan34]

Ousmane was in the tunnel to greet fans there as well.  He even signed a few Senegal flags.  It wasn't only Dominic.  I think Wesley was in our section too at one point now that I think about it. 

[MUfan12]

Hoosier nails it. He was always a confident guy but something changed, he's straight up arrogant now. I hate to say this, but the sense I get is that he's playing with one foot out of the door already.

[skyhook34]

Keep in mind, that foreverwarrior is anti-Marquette and very, very anti Tom Crean. He is certainly not an objective supporter of the basketball program. You can read him on the other Marquette 'boards', same anti hate MU, Tom Crean........

[ecompt]

The only thing negative I can find about TC is his penchant for making DJ a two guard when his ONLY position is at the point. To make him a two so that Jerel can handle the ball more is more ludicrous. Jerel should never be given that role. He should be in the game to provide defense and that's it. His decision-making is beyond absurd at times (that alley-oop yesterday, for example).
And one oither thing: if DJ thinks he's ready for the NBA after this season, he's so wrong it is sad. He seems to play only when he wants to. When he turns it on, he is great. But playing hard 15 minutes a game is no ticket toi the pros.