MU - DePaul gamethread

[IWB]

Interesting lineup - No Derrick Wilson, Davante and Chris Otule starting together. Jamil will be at the point.

Funny, Buzz ripped Davante up and down on Thursday for his lack of effort on both ends of the floor and then starts him. Hmmm...

Jamil - Jake - Juan - Davante - Chris

[IWB]

DePaul center Sandi Marcus goes against Gardner & Otule and picks up 2 fouls in 26 seconds.

This has to be the biggest starting lineup MU has gone with in a long long time with 6'11, 6'8, 6'7, 6'7, 6'3

[IWB]

Early recruit sightings - KJ Santos & Cody Schwartz - there are others, need to get a closer look.

[IWB]

A couple of questionable traveling calls on Otule early. First one was questionable, not sure about the 2nd, but the baseline ref right next to Otule did not call it, ref across the court made that call?

[TedBaxter]

Team playing way too slow.

[IWB]

First TV timeout stats - MU 0-3 from field. Up on rebounds 5-2.

MU already has 5 turnovers - ouch!

Refs John Gaffney, Michael Stephens and Mike Nance are calling EVERYTHING!

[TedBaxter]

Playing just terrible. No emotion.

[Markedman]

Brutal.....

[Awilhelmscream]

This is the most offensively inept team I have ever watched in any level of basketball.

[IWB]

On Thursday both Derrick Wilson and Buzz Williams admitted that teams have not been defending Derrick or Juan for that matter, saying it is like playing 3-5. Today is a bit different for some reason as DePaulk is covering Derrick a long ways from the hoop.

[Awilhelmscream]

The more I watch this team the more I also realize that the offensive problems with this team have a lot to do with Davante wanting to roam around the perimeter. I've seen him wave off both Jake and Derrick directing him back to the paint.

[TedBaxter]

MU looks like they are playing in quick sand.

[Markedman]

I think their are just a bunch of parts that don't mesh.....Nobody to create offense for others....no great shooters......its just a mess

[IWB]

Cleveland Melvin has 11 of DePaul's 16 - might want to stick someone on him.

MU still up on boards 9-8, but turnovers are up to 7.

[IWB]

Mayo getting it done on the run. Jake Thomas just came out of the game for the first time - may need to keep Mayo in there more as long as he is fighting hard.

[TedBaxter]

JaJuan Johnson in the doghouse? He'd be one of the quickest guys out there to get steals.

[IWB]

Willhelm - you are right. Davante might be the best player, but he causes issues. He wants to be the "Jimmy Butler" or "Jae Crowder" of this team, and he just isn't that type of player. He needs to focus on being the best player he can be, instead of trying to be the best player that he can't be.

[IWB]

DePaul shooting 35% from 2, 55% from three. Maybe they should stick to the arc.

Earnest checked out Davante briefly then sent him to the huddle - should be ok, came down and turned his ankle, left I believe.

[IWB]

Poor offensive play + poor officiating = UG-LY!

[Markedman]

Turnovers and no 3 point shooting equals ugly offense

[Markedman]

The last possession pretty much epitomizes this season.......

[mufansince72]

The last possession pretty much epitomizes this season.......

My thoughts exactly.

[TedBaxter]

The team attempted 2 three pointers in the first half and of course, they haven't made one. Melvin had made 4 himself. 12-0 difference with only one player and I think they have two other makes. 18-0 in that category. Can't compete with a stat like that.

[Markedman]

and 9 turnovers.......

[TedBaxter]

Poor coaching job this year so far.

[IWB]

With his last hoop Davante Gardner went over the 1,000 point mark for his career.

[IWB]

Widely publicized that Diamond Stone is at SMU for an unofficial visit today. Strange to say the least.

[mufansince72]

At least he doesn't have to watch this :)

[TedBaxter]

Maybe Diamond wanted to see some basketball instead of this crap we are watching?

[Markedman]

If this game isn't rock bottom I don't want to see it.....The team is playing tight....Don't want to make mistakes so they pass up good shots and end up turning it over....

Back to the drawing board

[GOMU1104]

Poor coaching job this year so far.

We have no talent at the 2 most important positions on the court. That's the problem.

[IWB]

DePaul shooting 52.9% from 3 pt (9-17). MU is 0-2.

Rebounds are all tied up at 20.

MU with 13 turnovers.

[mufansince72]

Gardner way too far from the basket and out of control after a nice 3 by Jake.

[IWB]

Anyone at home with replay on the Jake Thomas foul?

[TedBaxter]

Where is JaJuan Johnson?

[TedBaxter]

Anyone at home with replay on the Jake Thomas foul?

Either way.

[IWB]

Did they just set a screen for Jake? Wow - don't know that I have seen them do that this year!

[Awilhelmscream]

Anyone at home with replay on the Jake Thomas foul?

Yeah, it was terrible. Ole boy for DePaul was kinda pushing him outta the way.

[IWB]

I will say that the red uniforms for DePaul are so much better than the old blue & red uglys.

[IWB]

MU on an 8-0 run with a thread-the-needle pass to Gardner, BC goes up for grabs and DePaul calls a timeout to settle the crowd.

[milkbone]

Jim how big of a crowd is there?

[TedBaxter]

Just an observation, but in years past when MU would go on a run and the other team called a time out, the MU players would be jumping up and running out to meet the players and this team just goes back to the huddle. At least thats the way it looks on TV.

[mufansince72]

Good D on the shot clock violation. Where is Jajuan?

[Halo]

Ted is spot on. This team has little chemistry. We have a long way to go.

[bleedbluegold03]

The only two that I've seen notable chemistry on and off the court is Deonte and JJJ

[IWB]

MU takes first lead since 18:20 left in first half.

Brought some life back into the BC.

[mufansince72]

Then Jamil puts his hands on a guys chest and starts pushing him backward and get called for a foul.

[IWB]

Last offensive foul was given to Jamil Wilson - should have been on Mayo - that puts Wilson with 4.

[mufansince72]

No, it was defiently on Jamil. Clear as day. Maybe they both were fouling.

[IWB]

The team has been running out to meet the guys, but Jujaun Johnson has not been, hasn't even been high fiving guys - must be in the dog house for some reason.

Good crowd, packed in lower bowl, upper bowl a little less than 50%

[mufansince72]

Nice anticipation and finish by Jamil

[mufansince72]

The team has been running out to meet the guys, but Jujaun Johnson has not been, hasn't even been high fiving guys - must be in the dog house for some reason.

Good crowd, packed in lower bowl, upper bowl a little less than 50%

Don't like to hear that about Jajuan.

[IWB]

I know people like Jamil Wilson at the PG spot, but he does have 7 turnovers and counting...

[mufansince72]

I don't like him there. It takes away from what he does best.

[IWB]

Why was that not goaltending on the other end?

[mufansince72]

Mayo with the 3. However. Derrick one foot from the basket uncontested and could have just put it in for a layup.

[IWB]

Derrick Wilson gets the ball under the hoop unguarded, and feeds Mayo on the edge for three. That was Mayo's first points since his 6 point run in the first half.

[mufansince72]

Davante with a hoop and 1

[IWB]

Gardner just abuses Sandi Marcus time and time again - too bad he fouled out in 11 minutes, MU had their way with him.

[mufansince72]

Jim, your inbox is full by the way.

[IWB]

Official Michael Stephens has got to be the king of calling offensive fouls.

[mufansince72]

Davante taking over

[dubs98]

not sure what all the griping is about. just turned on the game with about 7 to go and I am not sure DePaul has scored:) Glad I missed the rest.

[IWB]

Thanks for the heads up on the in-box, will clear.

Davante just tied his career high of 36.

[mufansince72]

Davante ties a career high with 26

[mufansince72]

Just exceeded the career high, 28 now

[Markedman]

Welcome back Davante Gardner....wow what a game....he has carried the load today

[IWB]

Just exceeded the career high, 28 now

I guess I can't type as fast as he can score.

[mufansince72]

I guess I can't type as fast as he can score.

You had him for 36 though :)

[Awilhelmscream]

These refs are absolutely terrible.

[IWB]

Sorry - I meant 26 - I can't type fast or well.

[mufansince72]

First 31 minutes ugly, but played some good ball the last 9 minutes to pull out a badly needed victory.

[Awilhelmscream]

First 31 minutes ugly, but played some good ball the last 9 minutes to pull out a badly needed victory.

Coincidentally, during the last 9 Davante spent more time under the basket and less around the perimeter. As a result, he also scored 21 pts in the 2nd half as well. Todd showed great effort throughout and I can't wait till the game slows down for Deonte, he's gonna be a beast.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

I just shook my head as we fell behind 40-30. A 30-9 run solved that nicely.

[WindyCityGoldenEagle]

Coincidentally, during the last 9 Davante spent more time under the basket and less around the perimeter. As a result, he also scored 21 pts in the 2nd half as well. Todd showed great effort throughout and I can't wait till the game slows down for Deonte, he's gonna be a beast.

I've been writing about this for a while. The otule/gardner combo doesnt work as Davante drifts to the perimeter too often. He needs his arse going from block to block. Although Chris has played very well this year, he should only be used to give Ox a blow from time to time.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

I've been writing about this for a while. The otule/gardner combo doesnt work as Davante drifts to the perimeter too often. He needs his arse going from block to block. Although Chris has played very well this year, he should only be used to give Ox a blow from time to time.

The problem is Davante does that even when Chris isn't out there. For the first 14 games of the season, Chris has generally outworked Davante and been far better at fighting for and getting position. When things don't go Davante's way early, he can sulk. Chris doesn't seem to have that tendency as he knows he has to fight for every chance he gets simply because he doesn't have the offensive gifts Gardner does.

I would love to see Davante continue to play like this and earn more minutes, and I agree that his tendency to drift to the perimeter is a huge problem. But if he isn't going to work his ass off to get position even when some calls go against him and shots don't fall, he doesn't deserve to be getting minutes over Otule.

[WindyCityGoldenEagle]

Good point Brew.

[TedBaxter]

This team is going to have to find ways to win and it's literally one game at a time from now on.

[DowntownSweeney]

Well I learned from the other board that depaul is awful, mu is almost as bad, and jjj will transfer. Wow.

[Nukem2]

Official Michael Stephens has got to be the king of calling offensive fouls.Just back from the game. I can't remember ever seeing so many offensive fouls off the ball.

MU had Davante paying to the left ( toward the MU bench ) a lot and also had him in motion m,ore Surely helped in getting him the ball.

[BLT]

JJJ was up at one point ready to go in...but then a time out and he sat.

[IrwinFletcher]

For the record, watching on TV and with the benefit of rewinding, JJJ was up and cheering, even when Mayo drilled his 3. He is fine.