Not all are down on Marquette

[AlexJesswein]

http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/26/conference-catchups-villanova-rules-again-in-the-big-east/

[bleedbluegold03]

Most Important Player (in league play): JaJuan Johnson and Duane Wilson, Marquette

The Golden Eagles have one of the best front lines in the country. Davante Gardner, Jamil Wilson and Chris Otule are as good as anyone. But Marquette needs to find consistency on the perimeter. They need shooters and scorers and people that can break down a defense. Johnson and Wilson, who is still working his way back from a leg injury, can do that.

Can already rule out Duane Wilson for the "knight in shining armor" award for conference play and will Buzz allow JJJ enough minutes to excel? In our 3 games against ranked opponents this season Buzz has played JJJ a total of 19 minutes, with a no show against Ohio State.

When given 15+ minutes (5 times this season), JJJ has contributed to the pace of 12 ppg in an average of 23 minutes. Jake averages 7 points in 25.

[TheSultan]

When given 15+ minutes (5 times this season), JJJ has contributed to the pace of 12 ppg in an average of 23 minutes. Jake averages 7 points in 25.


Well of course 4 of the 5 times he has gone 15+ were blowouts against bad teams. (Grambling, ASU, Fullterton, IUPUI, Ball State) So the fact that he scored more against bad teams isn't all that surprising.

But he has disappeared against good teams, and not just because Buzz isn't playing him. He went 10 min. against Wisconsin...didn't do much of anything. Ditto for his nine minutes v. SDSU and 7 v. New Mexico and 11 min v. GW.

Those minutes are plenty to show *something* and outside of a couple rebounds and assists, he didn't show anything.

[bleedbluegold03]

So in those games he's averaging roughly 1 rotation per half. Hard for any player to get into a rhythm when they're seeing the floor for one tv timeout per half.

One of our biggest issues is the ability of defense to sag off our backcourt to help on our front court. JJJ is shooting 15% better from the floor than Jake Thomas.

[TheSultan]

You don't need to play more than 7-10 minutes to show you can do something. I mean, he had a 7 million against NM. No shots, no points, no assists, no rebounds, no personal fouls. He was non-existent. He wasn't much better against the other teams I listed. Buzz isn't going to play him more if he can't do more.

Look, I think he has all sorts of talent and would love to see him play more. But let's not make false equivalencies by saying "hey, when he plays more, he scores more" without acknowledging that its largely because he has played more against poor competition.