I think this article was well written and offered a fair evalution of this year's team.
While the comparision to the '96-'97 Arizona team is interesting, I tend to think that the player composition of this MU team is not intended to be as it is.
I think MU is forced to play 'small-ball' due to Crean's ineptitude in recruiting and player development.
Becasue Crean was not able to land a quality front line or develop the true post players into servicable 4s and 5s, he is forced to play some of his players out of position or not at all. Case and point: Hayward and Fitzgerald.
Lazar is a ferocious player and has great skill, but should be playing the 3 position, potentialy the 4 if they're going against a smaller team. He can play facing the basket, step out to shoot the three and attack the basket. He is not able to body up consistently against true-post players, evident in the Lousiville and UConn games.
Same goes for Fitzgerald. He was recruited to be a shooter, not the starting center. Did we all forget when Fitz was a freshman at Tulane and lit up MU at the Bradely Center? Did we also forget when Fitz was a servicable back-up point guard for Deiner? How about when he filled in for McNeal in the BE tourney last year? He's not a banger, he's a shooter. He's also arguably the best shooter on the team. But why he doesn't get shots in his natural position, I don't know.
Crean has too big of an ego to lead on to this seaosn not going as he planned. He'll continue to put all the blame on players' lack of focus, low energy and 'not wanting it enough'. But I argue that while some of that may be true from time to time, I think he's set up this team to fail...or at least reach mediocrity.
I couldn't agree more. Crean hasn't landed any post players and by default has a roster full of guards. Even with the guards he has, they haven't improved over the time they've been in Crean's system.
With a lack of development, they need to make sure they have the right players in the right positions. McNeal and James need to stop shooting threes and focus on layups, getting in the lane and setting up teammates. Barro needs to actually see the court and focus on rebounding and scoring easy buckets. Lazar should focus on his mid range game. He should be an animal around the free throw line when teams play zone against us. Cubillan and Fitzgerald need to get more minutes and need to be given the green light to shoot the ball. Those two are our best natural shooters and need to be confident that they won't be subbed out if they miss a shot. Confedence is a shooters best friend.
All this direction needs to come form the top down, but some how I doubt Crean will get it.
Great posts, but I think the issue is that Crean and staff have not developed the shooting skills (including FTs)of the players. This idea that the game plan must focus on the guards always getting into the lane is brutal plus being expected to rebound wears small guards out. Also, Crean gets into the heads of kids and ruins their confidence. The kid from Texas who transferred is a prime example.
These are smart kids with experience and the constant shouting of instructions is ridiculous.
I don't care how many guards we have. Most of them can't shoot. I wish D James would focus on being a PG first then think about shooting. McNeal has the same move every time where he crashes in the lane and usually gets blocked or throws up some crazy shot. Matthews is finally starting to play well. Fitzgerald is too inconsistent for my taste. We all realize now how good Steve Novak really was. That boy could flat out shoot!
McNeal's skillset is such that he should basically be a role player. A starter...but a role player doing dirty work. He's simply not big or athletic enough to be counted on as a scorer when we need scoring. And we all know about James shortcomings as a shooter. The problems of this team go way beyond the lack of a big man. The fact of the matter is that we've got three overhyped guards, with little offensive ability, taking a huge majority of our shots. The team was built around them. We should be looking to get the ball to our shooters (Hayward, Cubes, Fitz), not in the hands of the guys who are throwing it off the backboard or getting offensive fouls called on them. Any offensive that calls for getting shots for McNeal or James is a bad offense.
The kid from Texas was Karon Bradley. His confidence in shooting fell apart under Crean.
I hate these posts, but Crean has made no adjustments to make us think he is trying to change what he does. Don't tell me about the incoming group from Texas they are coming because of Buzz. The question remains, who coaches the big men? Hazel and his family should be ticked off. It is not as if there is loads of talent in front of him. I doubt very much that he came with a poor attitude.
Why don't we ask Marquette to coach collectively, it's obvious Crean can't do a thing correctly. How he obtained the records he has is incomprehensible.
Let's forget we have nine more games to play. Let's forget we have a Big East Tournament. Let's forget there will be an NCAA tournament. But lets remember to cry and whine about every little thing that we think isn't perfect about the team. Waa Waa Waa.
I think the main frustration right now is the consistency issue. Either you see a team that is brilliant (Dr. Jekyll for any UWM-ers out there) or a team that just ugly (Mr. Hyde). Big question is who shows up on any given day. It's either fun or frustrating to watch; it's either win big or lose big.
We can let them play and coach but it doesn't mean we have to be happy watching bad basketball. Who uses the word whambulance anyway? Sounds like you need to grow up.
No you have a right to be happy or unhappy. Admit it, some of the posts are just ragging for the sake of ragging. It gets old. We waited 7 months for the basketball season and then just to hear the constant ragging. The team has short comings. But the level of ragging is making me gag.
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I think this article was well written and offered a fair evalution of this year's team.
ReplyDeleteWhile the comparision to the '96-'97 Arizona team is interesting, I tend to think that the player composition of this MU team is not intended to be as it is.
I think MU is forced to play 'small-ball' due to Crean's ineptitude in recruiting and player development.
Becasue Crean was not able to land a quality front line or develop the true post players into servicable 4s and 5s, he is forced to play some of his players out of position or not at all. Case and point: Hayward and Fitzgerald.
Lazar is a ferocious player and has great skill, but should be playing the 3 position, potentialy the 4 if they're going against a smaller team. He can play facing the basket, step out to shoot the three and attack the basket. He is not able to body up consistently against true-post players, evident in the Lousiville and UConn games.
Same goes for Fitzgerald. He was recruited to be a shooter, not the starting center. Did we all forget when Fitz was a freshman at Tulane and lit up MU at the Bradely Center? Did we also forget when Fitz was a servicable back-up point guard for Deiner? How about when he filled in for McNeal in the BE tourney last year? He's not a banger, he's a shooter. He's also arguably the best shooter on the team. But why he doesn't get shots in his natural position, I don't know.
Crean has too big of an ego to lead on to this seaosn not going as he planned. He'll continue to put all the blame on players' lack of focus, low energy and 'not wanting it enough'. But I argue that while some of that may be true from time to time, I think he's set up this team to fail...or at least reach mediocrity.
I couldn't agree more. Crean hasn't landed any post players and by default has a roster full of guards. Even with the guards he has, they haven't improved over the time they've been in Crean's system.
ReplyDeleteWith a lack of development, they need to make sure they have the right players in the right positions. McNeal and James need to stop shooting threes and focus on layups, getting in the lane and setting up teammates. Barro needs to actually see the court and focus on rebounding and scoring easy buckets. Lazar should focus on his mid range game. He should be an animal around the free throw line when teams play zone against us. Cubillan and Fitzgerald need to get more minutes and need to be given the green light to shoot the ball. Those two are our best natural shooters and need to be confident that they won't be subbed out if they miss a shot. Confedence is a shooters best friend.
All this direction needs to come form the top down, but some how I doubt Crean will get it.
Great posts, but I think the issue is that Crean and staff have not developed the shooting skills (including FTs)of the players. This idea that the game plan must focus on the guards always getting into the lane is brutal plus being expected to rebound wears small guards out. Also, Crean gets into the heads of kids and ruins their confidence. The kid from Texas who transferred is a prime example.
ReplyDeleteThese are smart kids with experience and the constant shouting of instructions is ridiculous.
I don't care how many guards we have. Most of them can't shoot. I wish D James would focus on being a PG first then think about shooting. McNeal has the same move every time where he crashes in the lane and usually gets blocked or throws up some crazy shot. Matthews is finally starting to play well. Fitzgerald is too inconsistent for my taste. We all realize now how good Steve Novak really was. That boy could flat out shoot!
ReplyDeleteWho is the "kid from Texas"?
ReplyDeleteMcNeal's skillset is such that he should basically be a role player. A starter...but a role player doing dirty work. He's simply not big or athletic enough to be counted on as a scorer when we need scoring. And we all know about James shortcomings as a shooter. The problems of this team go way beyond the lack of a big man. The fact of the matter is that we've got three overhyped guards, with little offensive ability, taking a huge majority of our shots. The team was built around them. We should be looking to get the ball to our shooters (Hayward, Cubes, Fitz), not in the hands of the guys who are throwing it off the backboard or getting offensive fouls called on them. Any offensive that calls for getting shots for McNeal or James is a bad offense.
ReplyDeleteThe kid from Texas was Karon Bradley. His confidence in shooting fell apart under Crean.
ReplyDeleteI hate these posts, but Crean has made no adjustments to make us think he is trying to change what he does. Don't tell me about the incoming group from Texas they are coming because of Buzz. The question remains, who coaches the big men? Hazel and his family should be ticked off. It is not as if there is loads of talent in front of him. I doubt very much that he came with a poor attitude.
Why don't we ask Marquette to coach collectively, it's obvious Crean can't do a thing correctly. How he obtained the records he has is incomprehensible.
ReplyDeleteNY Warrior,
ReplyDeleteAn interesting (worrisome)poll question before THE game particularly for those critical of DJ.
Would DJ be having the same issues if he had gone to nd?
Very interesting!
Apparently Jerel McNeal plays twice in the same line up. (see second paragraph)
ReplyDeleteLet's forget we have nine more games to play. Let's forget we have a Big East Tournament. Let's forget there will be an NCAA tournament. But lets remember to cry and whine about every little thing that we think isn't perfect about the team. Waa Waa Waa.
ReplyDeleteI agree - call a whaambulance.
ReplyDeleteYou people need to grow up and let the players play and the coaches coach.
Jekyll and Hyde, Jekyll and Hyde...
ReplyDeleteI think the main frustration right now is the consistency issue. Either you see a team that is brilliant (Dr. Jekyll for any UWM-ers out there) or a team that just ugly (Mr. Hyde). Big question is who shows up on any given day. It's either fun or frustrating to watch; it's either win big or lose big.
We can let them play and coach but it doesn't mean we have to be happy watching bad basketball. Who uses the word whambulance anyway? Sounds like you need to grow up.
ReplyDeleteNo you have a right to be happy or unhappy. Admit it, some of the posts are just ragging for the sake of ragging. It gets old. We waited 7 months for the basketball season and then just to hear the constant ragging. The team has short comings. But the level of ragging is making me gag.
ReplyDelete