Marquette’s Otule Breaks Foot, Likely Out For the Year

Marquette received some bad news on the eve of their game against South Dakota when they learned that sophomore center Chris Otule will likely miss the remainder of the season with a broken foot he suffered in practice Monday.  In three games where Otule had been used sparingly against smaller competition, he was averaging 3.7 points and 2.2 rebounds to go along with 1.7 blocks per game.  He had played just 25 total minutes in the first three games due to the lack of height of the opponents Marquette faced, but was expected to get a heavy dose of minutes in the Old Spice Classic Tournament coming up later this week in Orlando.

This is not Otule’s first time suffering from a foot injury, as last season the 6′10″ center from Texas was lost for six weeks after injuring his foot early in November.  As a freshman on a senior-laced team, the injury set him back and he saw minimal minutes the rest of the year.

Despite the lack of production, Otule was expected to fill in for the graduating Dwight Burke as Marquette’s “big man”, and he had been preparing accordingly.  Daily workouts with trainer Todd Smith and a trip to Germany over the summer that helped him gain confidence and skill as well had Otule pegged as a breakout candidate for Marquette’s young team.

The Golden Eagles will be able to redshirt Otule if they choose to, but that is about the only positive that comes out of the injury.  This newest injury to Otule will surely set him back but the hope is that he can come back with a positive attitude and is chomping at the bit to get back on the court.

Losing center Chris Otule will hurt Marquette on the defensive end as well as putting a dent in the team's depth. (MU Athletics)

For the here and now, Marquette will need to continue on with their season down a man, and a big man at that.  While the loss of Otule will not hurt the Golden Eagles much in the box score or on the offensive end, Otule’s presence on defense and the fact that he was another body coming off the bench will.  Without Otule, Marquette has just one player over 6′7″, Youssoupha Mbao, who is more of a project than anything.

Because of this, Marquette will more than likely go back to the small lineup that they implemented last year and try to out-run teams on offense while playing aggressive defense to make up for the lack of size.  This will mean an instant increase in the minutes of freshman Jeronne Maymon and junior Joe Fulce, who is also battling a knee injury of his own.

In particular, the young Golden Eagles will have to grow up even faster than they once thought, now done one more man on the bench.  Just as it was last season, the guards will need to step up big and carry the team on both ends of the court while the front court will need to play out of position and compete while being undersized the majority of the time.

The injury to Otule probably shifts Maymon over to the 5 spot, while Lazar Hayward and Jimmy Butler could see some time there as well.  The guard rotation of Maurice Acker, David Cubillan, Dwight Buycks, and Darius Johnson-Odom helps, but expect to see some more of Buycks playing the three spot if Marquette finds themselves in foul trouble.

Even freshman Erik Williams will need to pick up the slack for a Marquette team that currently has ten healthy players on their roster, including the less-than 100 percent Fulce.

The Golden Eagles have suffered a slough of injuries over the past year and a half that have really cut into the depth of the team, including Otule, Fulce, and Dominic James last season and Junior Cadougan, Darius Johnson-Odom, Fulce, and Otule this season.  Then-freshman Liam McMorrow also left the team for medical reasons after last season.

As little silver lining as their could be to having your best big man go down for the season, at the same time it will help the young guns progress even quicker.  While throwing them into the fire right away wasn’t the game plan, things change over the course of the year and coach Buzz Williams will have to make those adjustments.

Williams recruits players who are going to fight for their team because they want to win and they want to be here, and with Marquette’s back against the wall right now after Otule’s injury, it’s time to fight.

Marquette Gets Defensive In Win Over Grambling State

Dwight Buycks had his best game as a Golden Eagle, almost recording a triple-double.

 

MILWAUKEE- The Marquette Golden Eagles (3-0) used a great defensive effort and balanced attack on offense to defeat the Grambling State Tigers (1-2), 87-41 Saturday night.

Defensively, the Golden Eagles forced 22 turnovers that led to 28 points and held the Tigers to 29.1 percent shooting from the field (14-of-48). They also won the battle of the boards, out-rebounding the Tigers 43-28 and limiting them to just four offensive rebounds and six second chance points.

To read the rest of this article, click here for a link to MarquetteHoops.com.

An American Beauty, Lambeau Field

This article originally published on www.stadiumjourney.com.  Stadium Journey judges sports stadiums around the country and rates them based on seven categories known as F.A.N.F.A.R.E.  Rankings are 1-5, meaning scores closer to 35 are better stadiums, with lower scores being poorer stadiums.   Without further adieu, here’s my review of Lambeau Field.

Review by Mark Strotman, Stadium Journey Correspondent

FANFARE Score: 30

Food and Beverage: 4

There are few things better than a bratwurst and a beer in Wisconsin, and Lambeau Field’s food is no exception.  The Gridiron Grill and Goin’ Deep Pizza feature an array of food items ranging from Johnsonville bratwursts or Italian sausages to pepperoni pizza.  The Munch Zone provides such items as pretzels and nachos, all tasty in their own way.

Beer is at a premium here and the “Leinie Lodge” is a place that all drinkers need to check out.  It sits just outside the concourse, in a heated area with TV’s to watch the game and every kind of Leinenkugel Beer on tap in a cabin-type hut.

The lines are what you would expect out of a 72,000+ seat stadium, but nothing that won’t get you back to your seat before halftime is over on most Sundays.

Atmosphere: 5

If there were any 6’s to hand out, Lambeau Field’s atmosphere would warrant one.  After driving through neighborhoods with tiny, one-story houses, the Mecca of professional sports jumps right out at you.  Tailgating and parking in backyards start the trip and bars have live bands in the parking lots that make it a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

Inside the stadium, the bowl-shaped architecture gives it a college football feel and just knowing the great players who played and the games that occurred inside the stadium give it a chilling feel as you walk up the tunnel.  It’s truly something every sports fan needs to experience before they die.

Neighborhood: 4

For the die-hard tailgater, Lambeau Field and the city of Green Bay offer an experience like none other.  Plopped down in the middle of a rural neighborhood, bars have been erected that give it a more urban feel but the majority is still parking and tailgating in backyards of people’s homes.

Kroll’s West is known as a hot spot for bar-goers and the atmosphere there is great with a crowded parking lot listening to music outside, to a great bar and restaurant scene inside.

As for the tailgating, it’s everything you could ask for.  For the most part, someone will be tailgating on either side of you and will be more than willing to lend you an item or two that you may have forgotten.  Games of catch go on everywhere and it’s an overall friendly atmosphere, even for the away fan.  Nowhere else in sports will you find a neighborhood quite like this one.

Fans: 4

Unless you live under a rock, you know that the cheeseheads are some of the most famous fans in America.  No one loves their team in the same way that Packers fans do.  In a rural city, the Packers are all that these people have and their devotion is second to none.  All the way from Saint Vincent to the Bikini Girls, to the 300+ pound guy who goes shirtless no matter what, there are some darn good characters at the games.  The only problem with the fans is that their homerism bleeds through sometimes, booing at obvious penalties and being way too hard on the coaching.

Access: 4

Access to the stadium is excellent. As I mentioned before, Lambeau Field is surrounded by a neighborhood that lets fans to park in backyards.  Because of that, the stadium is never more than a 5-10 minute walk from your car and lots cover about ¾ of the area around the stadium if you want to park there as well.

When the weather gets cold, bathrooms are heated and make for a great trip to warm up and do your business at the same time.  The new renovations increased the number of bathrooms, so outside of halftime there is rarely a wait.

Leaving the stadium can be tough because of the neighborhood setting, but nothing different than any other stadium where 70,000 people are pouring out at once.

Return on Investment: 5

The Packers are under the average for Fan Cost Index, and when you really think about the stadium you are entering, it makes it all worth the while.  The Packers rarely raise prices and good seats can be found everywhere due to the bowl structure.  Each seat is basically the same and there are no levels to obstruct views or get crowded.  The experience at Lambeau Field is worth every penny.

Etc: 4

Lambeau Field’s renovation in 2003 added a lot to the already-famous stadium, including the Lambeau Field Atrium, the Packers Hall of Fame, and Curly’s Pub, named after Curly Lambeau, the founder of the Packers.  The rich tradition is all around you in the Hall of Fame and they have Vince Lombardi’s office set up inside which is truly breathtaking for any fan.

Marquette Gets Last Minute Signing From PG Reggie Smith

Buzz Williams and received some great news at the end of Wednesday night’s early signing period, as Illinois point guard Reggie Smith signed his Letter of Intent to play for the Golden Eagles.  The signing came  unexpectedly to most despite Marquette’s involvement with Smith in the recruiting process.

The 6′1″ point guard seems to fit the mold exactly for what Williams is looking in a point guard.  Smith’s speed sets him apart and his ability to play in transition will get him on the court sooner than later.  In terms of offensive sets, Smith lives off driving to the basket to get his shots.  He is still raw and has to work better at getting his teammates the ball off the dribble, but the talent is there for him to do that.

If you were on the fence on whether or not to go to Marquette Madness in 2010, Smith’s signing alone should push you over the edge.  Why?  Smith is one of the best dunkers in the 2010 class and has a knack to flush it home when he gets to the rim.  He takes his fair share of layups, but any chance he gets to throw one down, he does.

Defensively, Smith has good size for a point guard “6′1″, 175 lbs.) and uses it very well against defenders.  A high-end motor keeps him on his man and he has room to grow with the speed that he has.  That energy will get him on the court and if he continues to work hard, he could be a steal.

Overall, Smith’s game is very raw and he needs to hone in his athleticism.  Sometimes Smith’s athleticism gets him in trouble by playing out of control and trying to force things.  As he slows down his game and becomes more of a true point guard, his natural position, his value will become even greater.  If it’s not too bold to say, Smith looks a lot like Dominic James with his athleticism and ability to drive.  Like James, Smith can struggle with his outside shot at times but the talent and potential is there for him to improve on that part of his game.

Smith will play his senior year for Thornton High School in Harvey, IL.  His AAU team, Mac Irvin Fire, was considered one of the best in Illinois last year with Smith and University of Illinois recruits Crandall Head and Jerome Richmond.

Reggie Smith plays great in transition and is a huge get for Buzz Williams and Marquette.

Looking to the 2010 back court, Smith is a great compliment to redshirted freshman Junior Cadougan.  More of a pass first point guard, Cadougan will rotate with Smith at the point guard spot and create a great mismatch with the two different styles of play.  The signing of Smith most likely moves 2010 recruit Vander Blue to shooting guard, although his versatility will also allow him to handle the ball.

Ranked 105th according to Rivals.com and the 35th best point guard according to Scout.com, Smith isn’t a top-tier recruit that pushes Marquette’s recruiting class into the top five for 2010.  However, another top 100 recruit that has the potential to blossom as he molds into a point guard is exactly what Williams was looking for to fill one of the two roster spots for next year.  As usual, Williams and the Marquette staff semi-flew under the radar with the recruiting of Smith as many expected he was leaning towards USC.

After losing out on power forward Tarik Black, who ended up at Memphis, it was good to see Buzz and the staff pull out a third recruit before the early signing period was over.

With one scholarship remaining, expect Williams the Marquette staff to go hard after a big man to solidify their 2010 class.  Rumors of a junior college forward have circulated to balance out the class and avoid having four freshman on the roster.

Buzz Williams has shown again that he is a great recruiter that can bring in top-100 talent and has done it again for 2010.  Last season it was easier for Buzz to bring in the talent that he did because he had so much playing time to offer, but now the recruits are coming in packs and giving great depth to a Marquette team that should compete for a Big East title in the next couple of years.

Ten Things to Look For When Marquette Takes on UM-ES

Trying to stay unbiased, it’’s still easy for me to say that the Marquette Golden Eagles should have no problem handling the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore tonight at the Bradley Center.  Here are ten things to watch for as the Golden Eagles look to improve on their 85-62 win over Centenary last Friday.

1. Lazar Hayward staying out of foul trouble

Buzz Williams was not all too happy about Lazar Hayward’s foul trouble on Friday, as the senior picked up four fouls in 18 minutes of play and finished the game with just nine points and five rebounds.  Foul trouble against Centenary is fine as Hayward’s teammate were able to pick him up, but once the Big East season rolls around, the Golden Eagles will go as far as Hayward goes.  He can’t try to do too much and pick early fouls because it throws the whole rhythm off on offense.

2. Jimmy Butler’s response to his 27-point, 13-rebound performance

Butler was the unheralded MVP against Centenary and it will be interesting to see how he comes back against UM-ES.  Last year it seemed as though Butler was his best in spurts when his confidence would pick up, and one has to think his  confidence is soaring right now.  His tenacity on the boards makes up for his size when he plays down low and he gets after it on offense every position.

3. Dwight Buycks’ defense problems on the perimeter

Overall, the junior newcomer played quite well, but Dwight Buycks’ defense on the outside was shaky at times and Centenary got too many open looks.  Now is the time to make up for those mistakes and Buycks will get every opportunity to do so tonight against UM-ES’s bigger backcourt. It’s clear that Buycks can’t wait to get on offense where he was very efficient, but he has to do it on the defensive end as well.

4. Darius Johnson-Odom’s health and ability to drive the lane

DJO was questionable for the Centenary game but was able to play and logged 23 good minutes but stayed beyond the arc for most of the game.  All summer we heard about DJO’s ability to drive to the hoop and bring a Dominic James-like role to the offense, but 5 of his 6 shots were from beyond the arc.  Hopefully he will be more aggressive tonight and show off that speed and strength.

5. Jeronne Maymon getting acclimated sooner

Freshman Jeronne Maymon put in nine points and hauled in five rebounds but looked lost and slow at times.  While he is really the raw one of the group, his play will be vital to Marquette’s already small front court.  On defense, he was not tough enough in the paint and gave up easy layups as well as failing to rotate on passes from the post.  It’s nothing that can’t be fixed but his play on defense is something to watch for.

Keeping Lazar Hayward on the court is key for the Golden Eagles this year.

6. Erik Williams’ playing time

Williams, a top 100 recruit entering Marquette, played as many minutes as walk-on Rob Frozena and had just one more point than the jump-around guy.  Williams was slowed down by the flu a couple weeks ago but seemed healthy when he took the court, so one has to wonder why he only logged two minutes.  With a lack of depth this season, Marquette’s front court will have to use every body they have and that includes the raw Williams.  Check his minutes tonight.

7. Marquette’s three point shooting

Against a smaller team like Centenary, many expected Marquette to shoot from outside at will.  However, the Golden Eagles ended the night shooting just 3-16 from behind the arc and exposed themselves as a team that can not hit the long ball.  They have the players to do it (Hayward, Buycks, DJO, Cubillan) but must get the job done.  For a small team, not being able to shoot from outside will be the Achilles’ Heel for Marquette.

8. Keep the fast break points coming

If the Golden Eagles aren’t going to shoot well, the least they can is keep the ball moving in transition.  Maurice Acker and Dwight Buycks did an excellent job running the fast break, leading to 28 fast break points that really put the game away in the second half.  Fast break points are sure to come in bunches against weaker teams so expect more of the same tonight against MU-ES.

9. How Chris Otule will respond to his forgettable opener

For whatever reason, Chris Otule did not look like he had made any improvements over the summer.  Passes will be given because we are just one game in and Otule was bound to have one hiccup, so maybe it just came in the opener.  His hands were still all over the place and he just doesn’t look comfortable.  With Youssoupha Mbao out one more game, this is Otule’s last chance to be THE big guy for Marquette.  In my opinion this is a big one tonight for Otule.

10. Overall Improvement

For as average as a 23-point win can look, Marquette did it against Centenary.  The team is young and just two actual games into their careers with each other, but the chemistry needs to improve as a whole.  These cupcake games are scheduled so that players can get comfortable in their surroundings, yet some players still looked a little star-struck.  Tonight is another game so hopefully the perimeter defense and outside shooting will improve and the fouls will be down.

Chargers’ Tomlinson Finds New Motivation Sunday

Entering Sunday’s game against the Eagles, LaDainian Tomlinson’s 2009 had been one to forget.

Six weeks in, the Chargers were 2-3 and looking through binoculars to see the 6-0 Denver Broncos at the top of the AFC West division.

Tomlinson had missed two of those games and had accumulated just 140 yards and caught five passes out of the backfield.

Questions began to be asked on whether this was the same LT that we had been spoiled to watch the last eight seasons. After all, he had just turned 30, the breaking point for running backs, and spell running back Darren Sproles had signed a one-year tender the year before and looked as though “feature back” would be his new title.

LT contemplated retirement and spoke of how he is beginning to cherish moments more because he knows he might be on his curtain call as an NFL player.

For a guy looking to cherish the moment more, the scene at his locker before Sunday’s game against the Eagles should certainly be added to the list.

As he entered the locker room, a purple bag sat in front of his locker. Inside was a positive pregnancy test that his wife LaTorsha had put there. Pretty special, right?

Throw in the fact that LaTorsha had suffered a miscarriage four years earlier when the Tomlinsons were expecting their first child, and it becomes a tearjerker.

LT called his wife as soon as he received the test and cried for five minutes on the phone, telling his wife how amazing she was. Take note, Travis Henry: This is what a real man looks like.

Forget the rap music or the pre-game chest bumps. LT had all the motivation he needed to go out and produce for his wife and unborn child. A season-high 96 rushing yards and two touchdowns later, LT and the Chargers were celebrating their fourth victory in a row and a tie in the AFC West in terms of record.

For the eight-plus years he has been in the league, Tomlinson has been one of the most likable guys on the field. It if weren’t for the fact that he has found the end zone 131 times in his career, more AFC opponents would probably like him.

The ultimate team player, LT will forever be remembered for his NFL-record 31 touchdowns in 2006. What might have gone over people’s heads was his post-game comment after he broke the record.

“Once I got over the pylon, my initial thought process was to bring every guy on the offensive unit over to share that moment,” Tomlinson said. “When we’re old and can’t play this game anymore, them are the moments we are going to remember, that we’ll be able to tell our kids, tell our grandchildren. We can talk about something special that we did. We made history today.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa…we made history? Yes, that’s the kind of guy Tomlinson is and has always been. He rarely trash talks or goes to the media to air his concerns. Rather, he speaks through that intimidating pitch-black visor and the lightning-quick cuts that we could watch for days on end.

We sometimes hate to see good things happen to bad people, and we surely hate to see bad things happen to good people, but when good things happen to great people, it makes up for it all. That’s exactly what Tomlinson’s situation was last Sunday.

LaDainian Tomlinson is everything you want in a football player on and off the field.

Losing your first child in 2005 and your father in a car accident two years later is something none of us want to go through, but how much of a reward must it have been for Tomlinson to open that bag?

With the Chargers sitting at 6-3 and a rejuvenated Tomlinson in their backfield, the Chargers look poised to make a playoff run. Turning points happen all the time for teams and players that make championships happen, and it looks as though Tomlinson just found his.

Twelfth in rushing yards and third in total touchdowns, Tomlinson is a first ballot Hall of Famer because of what he has done on the field. Before this season, he had never missed more than one game. For a running back who has carried the rock over 300 times seven out of his nine seasons, that’s not half bad.

His time might be running out, but there isn’t an organization out there that would turn Tomlinson away. The Chargers’ offensive line has struggled this season, and LT has taken some of the blame for lacking the speed he once had, but if the Chargers decide to decline the $5 million they have to pay him next season, he is sure to quickly find a new home.

It’s one of the best feel-good stories that we could have heard, especially after hearing way too much about the Larry Johnsons and Allen Iversons of the world.

Congrats on the 96 rushing yards and win over the Eagles, LT. But even more importantly, congrats on the news of your first child. To say you’ve earned it is an understatement.

Marquette Signs Blue and Jones, Waiting on Black

Wednesday marked the first day of the one-week period for recruits from the 2010 class to sign national letters of intent to their respective schools.  Marquette wasted no time in locking up their two prizes for the early signing period, receiving letters from small forward Jamail Jones and point guard Vander Blue.

Jones averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists per game playing for Green Forest Christian Academy in Decatur, Georgia.  He will play his senior year for Montaverde Academy in Florida, touted as one of the best high school teams in the nation, and Jones is a big reason why.  Coach Buzz Williams has already seen improvement from Jones from the first time he saw him play.

“He plays for arguably the best high school coach in the country.  He’s definitely, in my opinion, the best high school coach as it relates to the development of kids as players,” he said.  “[Jones] has gotten better during his time at Montaverde already. We’ve been down there a few times and he has gotten a lot better.”

Jones, or “Mellow” as he prefers to be called, fit the “Buzz Williams mold” to a tee.  At 6’6”, his physical 180-pound body will make him difficult to defend as he has improved his outside jump shot and is able to handle the ball.  Because of this, Jones will be able to play shooting guard or both forward positions.  Those traits are exactly what Williams looks for.

“We want to sign as many guys as we can that are hard to guard.  We want to sign as many guys as we can that can pass, dribble, and shoot.  We want to sign as many guys as we can that can guard multiple positions,” he said.

With the versatile Jamail Jones on the floor, Marquette will be able to use him many ways.

As big of a signing as Jones was for the Golden Eagles, receiving a commitment from a consensus top-100 player for next season, much of the hype surrounding Marquette’s recruiting class circulated around Madison, WI native Vander Blue.

After backing out of a verbal commitment from Wisconsin in May, Blue re-opened his recruitment and ultimately chose Marquette over Wisconsin, Florida, and UCLA.  Ranked as high as 22 on Rivals.com, Blue is Marquette’s third highest ranked commitment in the last thirty years and will be able to step in right away, something that Buzz Williams is grateful for.

“That’s the thing that’s probably not talked about enough is how hard it is to sign players that can have an immediate impact at this level,” Williams said.  “Where their bodies are ready, where their minds are ready, where their skills are ready to have an impact right away and I think Vander can do that.”

Blue’s decision to come to Marquette after de-committing from Wisconsin should add more fuel to the already lit in-state rivalry, but Buzz Williams said his recruitment of Blue was never anything negative towards the University of Wisconsin.

“I want people that want to be a part of who we are, and I don’t want it to be because we knocked down every other program and we were the only one left standing.  I want them to come here because, in their heart, they feel like this is where they are supposed to be.”

One thing Buzz Williams looks for in every recruiting class is having a true point guard, something he believes Blue will be able to do.  At the same time, that all-important versatility is something that attracted him to recruit Blue.

“I’ll put him wherever is best for our team for him to do what he does best.  I think he’s a guy that can play all three positions.  I think he’ll be a hard guy to get off the floor and I think he’s a guy that can guard all three positions, which makes his value really, really high.”

Vander Blue (L) will join former high school teammate Jeronne Maymon next year.

“Mellow” and Blue have vaulted Marquette’s recruiting class into the top 15 by most, including 13^th by Rivals.com’s latest rankings.  However, Buzz Williams and the Marquette staff are not done recruiting and hope to sign another player or two before the Wednesday deadline, saying Marquette will “sign as many players as we can sign that are great players and fit what it is we want to be about on and off the court.”

The main prize for Marquette would be Tarik Black, a 6’8” power forward from Memphis.  Memphis, Tennessee, and Florida are competing with Marquette for his services and he is expected to sign during the early period.  Rumors floating around the internet have pegged Marquette as the favorite but Memphis is the hometown team and Black took his official visit to Florida this weekend.

With a point guard and small forward already in his pocket, Williams understands that size should be next on the checklist for the 2010 class, but he will not pass up the opportunity to add another guard.

“We need size for sure.  I think I would always say that and I think that if you only have three dribble guys on your team, it should be because you couldn’t sign a fourth dribble guy.  And so if we can add another guard that can dribble, we’ll do that too,” he said.

Other names worth keeping an eye on include point guards Reggie Smith (IL) and Stargell Love (NC), power forward Jayvaughn Pinkston (NY) during the early signing period, and small forward Justin Coleman (VA) in the spring.

While there are still questions concerning the status of Monterale Clark, Marquette will has two remaining scholarships but Williams has shown a tendency to over-recruit, so as many as three signings could occur before the 2010 signing period is over.

Bucks’ Brandon Jennings Looks Like the Real Deal

Before rookie Brandon Jennings was making headlines for the Milwaukee Bucks, he was making negative ones for himself leading up to the beginning of the 2009-10 NBA season.  Known by just about everyone because of his decision to skip college ball and play in Europe, Jennings had question marks all around him.  His upside was immense and GM’s knew that Jennings had the potential to be a franchise-changing player unlike the majority of the players in last year’s draft class.  However, they also knew his downside was investing money into a cancerous teammate who would repeat his lackluster performance in Rome.

Before Jennings could even step on the court he was back at it, firing his mouth away about then-teammate Ramon Sessions and Luke Ridnour.  On a radio show with rapper Joe Budden, he mentioned being upset with the Knicks passing on him and deeming himself the starter over Ridnour.  He also made headlines by calling out Ricky Rubio, saying he was “overrated” and not as good as Jennings after a workout with the Kings.

Bucks’ general manager John Hammond decided that the upside of Jennings was well worth the potential of failure and he selected him with the tenth overall pick in the draft.  His cockiness and swagger is something that, to an extent, all great basketball players need to have, and Hammond believed Jennings had that.

What Hammond most likely did not think Jennings had was the ability to average over 20 points per game in his first six games, racking up four wins for the Bucks.  In many ways, Jennings is looking like the savior that is going to save the Bucks.  Rumors have floated around that have the Bucks leaving Milwaukee, but Jennings could change all that.

His situation in Milwaukee this season is eerily similar to Derrick Rose’s last season in Chicago.  The Bulls had reached the playoffs in 2006 before winning just 33 games the next year.  When the Bulls defied lottery odds and were awarded the number one overall pick, they selected Rose and went on to win 41 games and make the playoffs.

In Chicago, Rose has seemingly rejuvenated the Bulls and made everyone around him better.  Joakim Noah is finally playing up to his potential that we all saw at Florida, Luol Deng is flourishing under Rose’s lead, and he has worked to mold rookies James Johnson and Taj Gibson into role players this season.  The talent was there for the Bulls as seen by the three straight playoff appearances before 2007, but the team was growing old and John Paxson’s inability to trade for grade-A superstars had the Bulls wondering where the future would take them.

Brandon Jennings has flourished with the Bucks and his confidence could not be any higher. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

In the same sense, Jennings has done the exact same thing in Milwaukee.  The Bucks made the playoffs during the 2005-2006 campaign with rookie Andrew Bogut, but three years of injuries and inconsistency had left the Bucks with nothing to show for the talent they had.  Now, Jennings has utilized Bogut as the big man that every good point guard needs, and vice versa.

Six games into his young career might be a little early to start crowning him the savior for the Bucks, but in basketball more than any other sport, early starts become trends.  The great ones usually start that way and do not fade as compared to baseball and football.

His skill set is very raw and at times he plays like the rookie that he is.  He doesn’t seem to have picked up on the logistics of the offense yet and many times he will create for himself.  But with a big man that can shoot the outside shot, the way he moves off screens has to be considered close to the top of the league, and his closing speed while going to the basket warrants a replay on most possessions.

One of his big question marks coming into his rookie campaign was defense.  However, six games in he is averaging over a steal per game and limited Chauncey Billups to 6-16 shooting, gave up just one point to Chris Duhon, and forced Derrick Rose to commit five turnovers. No one will be forgetting about Chris Paul any time soon but positive returns this early in the season are always good.

Just about every aspect of his game is raw right now, but that can be a good thing, too.  Sometimes just letting players go out and be athletes can bring success and it seems like head coach Scott Skiles is letting Jennings do that for the most part.  It’s been an unbelievable start for a guy who, a year ago, was living out of a suitcase and traveling on a bus to foreign places in Italy to average under six points per game.

He’s got a long way to go, but Brandon Jennings is looking like the real deal.

Mid-Season Grades for the Green Bay Packers Defense

Defensive Line

Cullen Jenkins: Jenkins started the season off on fire, with two sacks and eight tackles in the first two games, but he has been non-existent the last two games.  His big mouth hasn’t helped him get anywhere, either.  GRADE: B

Johnny Jolly: Look past the personal foul call on Jolly for two seconds and you will see that he has been one of our better linemen this season.  Very good in the run game and has gotten the job done for the most part, despite struggling the last few weeks (like everyone).  GRADE: B

Ryan Pickett: The best player on the Packers’ defense this season not named Charles Woodson.  It will be interesting to see what Ted Thompson does next season with Pickett’s contract up and B.J. Raji waiting in the wings, but he might warrant another contract.  GRADE: B+

Jarius Wynn: The rookie from Georgia has played better than most thought he would and seems like he could be a solid back-up for quite some time.  GRADE: INC

Michael Montgomery: One of the many players on defense who are probably better suited for the 4-3 defense, Montgomery has failed to make an impact this season after posting a decent 2008.  GRADE: D-

B.J. Raji: Due to the play of Pickett on the inside, Raji has not seen the field much.  His ongoing ankle has had something to do with this as well, so hopefully he will come back fully healthy in 2010.  GRADE: C-

Linebackers

Clay Matthews III: Saving the best for first, Matthews has been very good this season and seems like a keeper at the right outside linebacker.  GRADE: B+

Nick Barnett: Barnett probably came back too early from his knee surgery and was not healthy at the beginning of the season, but he has picked it up as of late.  GRADE: C+

Nick Barnett has picked things up as of late. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

A.J. Hawk: A dismal start to the season from the former 5th overall selection, but he has also picked it up lately and is second on the team in tackles.  GRADE: C

Aaron Kampman: Clearly frustrated with the 3-4 defense, Kampman has done his best to keep his mouth shut and continue playing.  His play has not been all that bad, especially when he is allowed to have this hand in the dirt.  GRADE: B-

Brady Poppinga: Maybe it’s just that I wanted Matthews to start all along, but I never liked what Poppinga did at outside linebacker and am glad he is gone.  GRADE: D

Brandon Chillar: Very close to Matthews for the award of best linebacker, Chillar saw some looks at safety in the “Big Okie” package and played very well.  A broken hand will keep him out a while.  GRADE: B

Desmond Bishop: The pre-season Hall of Famer has fared well on the field thus far, but makes too many mistakes to constantly be on the field as an ILB in the 3-4.  GRADE: C

Brad Jones: The seventh rounder might see time on the field this week due to Kampman’s concussion, but he has done a good job on special teams thus far.  GRADE: INC

Jeremy Thompson: I’ll raise my hand and say I was dead wrong on Thompson becoming a stud in the 3-4 defense.  He has shown to be too slow but might also see reps this week with Kampman probably out.  GRADE: D-

Defensive Backs

Charles Woodson: What more can you say about Woodson other than that he is a probable Pro Bowler and a great player stuck on a good defense.  GRADE: A-

Al Harris: His stock has taken a tumble this season as he seems a bit slower than last year.  Hopefully he can turn it around soon or it could be his last season in Green Bay.  GRADE: B-

Tramon Williams: A personal favorite of mine, Williams plays with great tenacity and seems to have the most excitement of anyone on the field.  A future starter for sure.  GRADE: B

Brandon Underwood: Definitely a project this season, but if Pat Lee does not work out he might get his chance as a dime back in the future.  GRADE: INC

Jarrett Bush: Nothing to say here. GRADE: F

Has Al Harris lost a step from a year ago? (AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

Atari Bigby: Bigby has been injured for most of the season and he has really struggled against the pass so far.  GRADE: C+

Nick Collins: The Pro Bowler continues to shine and has become more of an all-around player this year.  He still finds himself out of position at times but is becoming a real playmaker.  GRADE: B+

Derrick Martin: The only good part about Martin is that we lost Tony Moll because of it.  GRADE: F

Matt Giordano: Strictly on the Packers for depth and special teams help, but could become something.  GRADE: INC

As a whole the Packers’ defense has been just OK.  Their stats would imply that they have been close to a top ten defense this season, but that is hardly the case.  Their defensive line has played well and the linebackers have picked it up as of late, but their inability to get off the field and not commit penalties has really hurt them.  Special teams puts them in bad positions but it is still no excuse for why they have struggled to some extent.  Hopefully Dom Capers’ 3-4 defense will pick up in the second half of the season and the Packers can rebound from their average start.  GRADE: B-

My 200th Post: A Big Thank You to Everyone!

199 posts have come and gone, and Strotty’s Blog now finds itself writing its 200^th post.  Since I did nothing all that special for my 100^th post (an article on the Packers extending Greg Jennings’ contract), I thought I would go through and thank everyone for helping me get to where I am today.

For me, it wouldn’t be fair to start a thank you note without first mentioning my dad.  Above anyone else in the world, yes that includes you Brett Favre, he has been my ultimate and absolute passion for sports.  From including me on trips to Packers games to telling me to find something I loved and pursue it to the fullest, the person I am today is because of him.

As a youngster, he would watch Monday Night Football and leave the TV room door open, knowingly or unknowingly, which let me watch the game from the hallway until my mom caught me.  He coached just about every little league team I ever played for and once took a visit to the mound just to let me know I could throw at my grade school rival.

He shares the same passion as I do for sports and is the main reason I am where I am today.

If dad is 1A, then consider my mother 1B when it comes to who I am today.  Everyone is supposed to say that they have the greatest mom in the world, but only my three brothers and I are telling the truth when we say it.  She might not completely understand what I write on, but you can bet she’s the first to read it.

When I was younger, she was the one telling me where my baseball uniform was as I frantically raced through my house before my ride came.  She was the one given the task of cleaning my football practice uniform and was truly the one behind the scenes that made the Strotman boys function on the field.

Speaking of the Strotman boys, next on the list of thanks are my three brothers.  Starting with the oldest, Jack has been my role model since before I can remember.  As my only older brother, I looked up to him and he did a perfect job of showing me the right way.  He is also credited with teaching me how to play sports by practicing with me in the backyard, so thanks for that Bigten.

Then there is Matthias.  Because of some circumstances two summers ago, Matthias and I became best friends through spending every day with each other.  We played countless games of catch in the backyard, browsed ESPN.com for hours, and watched as many Brewers games as we could.  Two years later, he could probably beat me in fantasy sports and knows just as much, if not more, about sports than I do.  Watch out Batting Stance Guy…

The last of the Strotman brothers that I have to thank is 14-year-old Luke.  Where do I even start?  I guess I’ll begin by saying that he is my hero and has been the inspiration for everything I do in life.  Until you meet Luke or hear his story of being a two-time cancer survivor at age 14, you can’t understand what I mean.

Being his bone marrow donor has given us a special bond that will never be broken and I could not feel more honored.  “Small but mighty” were the words on a shirt given to Luke, and it’s the perfect slogan for him.  Yes, he’s small in size because of the effects the cancer had on him, but the true amazement is that his huge heart fits inside that small of a body.  I hope he knows I’ll always be there for him whenever he needs it and that, yes, he can keep the blood I gave him even if the Cubs win the World Series.

My family has been amazing in their support of my work so I’d also like to thank my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins who have supported me through everything.  There’s no substitute for family and I’d be nowhere in life without all of you.

Leading the way for my friends is my go-to guy, Chris Rogers.  We push each other in everything we do and that Deerfield Review article that mentioned me throwing my arm around his shoulder after a 9-year-old baseball game that “seemed to scream, ‘I love this guy’”, still rings true today.  His hilarious aliases on Examiner also make my day.  1 for life…

Other friends that I need to thank include Mike Fowler, my partner in crime for countless years in Holy Cross Basketball and CYO.  HC’s finest backcourt if I do say so myself.  Kevin Shanley and Greg Smith, my future roommates, are a big part of why I love Marquette.  Sports debates are a common occurrence with them, but it’s part of why I love sports.  I wouldn’t trade those guys for the world.

Friends and family have been instrumental to where I am today, but the blog still had to be written!  I started the blog on February 10^th on my iPod Touch while in Sociology of the Family class.  Sorry, Mrs. Williams.  I literally typed in “how to start a blog” on Google and clicked the first thing that came up, WordPress.com.

From there, Max Tcheyan found my blog on WordPress.com about a month later and asked me to begin writing for Bleacher Report.  I found a lot of success on B/R and it seems to have grown every month since I have been there.  The majority of people reading my work find it on Bleacher Report.

From B/R, Larry Garot of PackerChatters.com and BrewerChatters.com stumbled upon my work and asked me to begin writing for them.  There are a lot of opinionated fans on the site who like to discuss, debate, and argue my work and it has given me a lot of insights on the Green and Gold.

After writing for those three sites for a while, Garot approached me and said that Examiner.com was looking to fill a paid position for the Packers on their website.  I did not hesitate to take the job and received my first paycheck from them about two weeks ago.

After Examiner.com, ESPNMilwaukee.com asked me to submit my work to them and they posted it as a link for their Packers Updates in the off-season.  It was truly an honor to write for them and I hope to continue my work with them in the future.

As the Marquette basketball season rolled around, I was then approached by John Dodds from MarquetteHoops.com, a FOX Sports affiliate, to join their staff.  This has been my first real “media” action as I have attended media day, press conferences, and will get to sit court side for a few games this season.

That’s pretty much the story of how I got where I am today, so I’d like to thank Max Tcheyan, Larry Garot, Steve Harbula (of Examiner.com), and John Dodds, amongst others who have helped me get to where I am today.

I also want to thank Pat Lawton, a good friend of my dad, who really “recruited me” to Marquette.  When he found out I was interested in Marquette, Mr. Lawton brought me along on Marquette’s NCAA Tournament trip to Anaheim and showed me a wonderful time.  A lot of the reason I am at Marquette and having an unbelievable time is because of him.  He has gotten me in touch with a lot of people at Marquette and helped my blog grow.  He is a great contact to have, helping me whenever I need it, and I hope to have him there for a long time.

The last thank you I want to give is to Steve “The Homer” True, voice of the Golden Eagles basketball team and a radio host for ESPN Radio.  I visited him as a senior in high school for a school project, and as we talked about what it meant to be a great sports analyst he mentioned that if I didn’t have passion for what I was doing, I had nothing.

From that point on, I kept in contact with him and sent him my work.  He gave me constructive criticism and a boatload of confidence that I have continued to use in everything I do.  I hope to have him as a mentor for as long as I write and talk about Milwaukee sports, so thank you Homer.

I had to keep this thank you somewhat short, so if I forgot to mention someone in this let me know.  Even if your name is not in here, I thank you.

To date, Strotty’s Blog has 28,951 views, my work on Bleacher Report has 75,036 views, and my Packers material on Examiner.com has generated 6,737 views.  These numbers are humbling and I am beyond grateful for everyone who reads my work.  I still have a lot of work to do before I consider myself a great writer, but the people mentioned in this thank you are a big reason why I know I can accomplish the goals I have set for myself.  Thanks to all the fans and people who read my work and I hope you continue to do so.

Thank you,

Mark Strotman

Local Media Outlets Taking Unfair Shots at Packers

With two straight losses to the Vikings and Bucs, respectively, most fans in Green Bay have become impatient with the team.  More so, players have started to air their concerns to the media and people wonder whether or not the season has been lost already.  At 4-4, the Packers have their backs against the wall and are not in great shape to make a playoff run, but hardly out of it.

Recently, media sources have started to poke at Packers’ players, trying to pry comments out of them that would put the Packers’ coaching staff and Packers in a bad light.  Why?  Is asking players whether or not the loss of Brett Favre has the Packers in a “hangover state of mind” going to produce legitimate answers?  No one in that locker room cares about Brett Favre when they put that yellow helmet on and strap up to go fight for their team.

Asking Nick Collins how many pro bowlers Ted Thompson has drafted throughout his tenure brings nothing to positive to the table.  The answer is one and yes, Collins himself is the only player Thompson has drafted that has been to Hawaii.  Thompson also drafted Aaron Rodgers, Greg Jennings, and Clay Matthews while signing Ryan Pickett, Charles Woodson, and Atari Bigby and trading for Ryan Grant in exchange for a seventh round draft pick.

Look Packers media outlets, blame Thompson all you want for not spending all that cap money (have we forgotten where Mike Sherman got us by doing that?) but don’t bring the players into this.  I understand that you have to ask so you can get your answers and write an article to get responses…just like I am doing right here by responding, but the Packers have not given up on anyone, including Mike McCarthy or Thompson.

Don’t even try to compare Ron Wolf, one of the greatest general managers in football’s history, to Thompson.  Their results through their first five years in terms of drafting players has been pretty much the same, but the results on the field have not.

On Twitter, Packers’ beat writers are basically making a mockery of McCarthy and the Packers’ offensive line.  Who exactly is this helping?  When McCarthy says that the Packers’ problems are correctable, I believe him.  Maybe this is just me being an optimistic Packers’ fan, but the season is not over.

It’s true that maybe McCarthy’s run as Packers head coach will be over at the end of this season, but as long as he is in charge players will back him and listen to what he has to say.  The problem is when the media looks for stories where there are none, asking if Favre is the reason for the record (other than the two losses), whether or not Rodgers was the right choice two years ago, or if Thompson is the right guy for the job.

Some of the bashing is warranted because the Packers have failed to live up to expectations, but the local media printing garbage is not going to get anyone anywhere.  Like I said, maybe they actually did do their job by getting a response out of me, but it sure wasn’t a positive one.

The Packers are struggling right now but attempting to get players to react in a way that would put the coaches or management in bad light makes little sense.  The 2009 Packers are not the 1996 Packers and Ted Thompson is not Ron Wolf.  It’s a different team with different talent levels.  Put the blame somewhere but don’t look for something that isn’t there.

Mid-Season Grades for the Green Bay Packers Offense

The Packers’ 2009 regular season is officially half way over and it is time to hand out grades for the 53 players currently on the active roster.

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers has been under some scrutiny for his inability to get rid of the ball and throw to check downs, resulting in some sacks, but he is a huge reason the Packers have four wins to their name.  GRADE: A-

Matt Flynn: He has seen little time but rumors flew around that while Rodgers was held out of practice, Flynn played exceptionally well with the first team.  It’s too early to tell, but Flynn could still be something more than a back-up quarterback in the NFL.  GRADE: INC

Running Backs

Ryan Grant: While he has done the majority of his damage on poor teams, he is still a serviceable running back that has a few more years of mileage in him.  GRADE: B-

Ryan Grant has quietly put together a nice season for the Packers. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Brandon Jackson: Some people forget that Jackson was a second round draft pick.  Regardless of where he was drafted, all he has done this year is pick up the blitz decently for a team that leads the league in sacks allowed.  GRADE: D

Ahman Green: Saving Jackson’s behind somewhat this year has been Ahman Green, a fresh of breath air when Grant comes out of the game.  He also passed Jim Taylor as the Packers’ leading rusher this season.  GRADE: C+

Wide Receivers

Greg Jennings: It’s a fact that teams have doubled Jennings on most plays and Donald Driver’s successes can be attributed to that somewhat, but Jennings really needs to improve on getting open.  GRADE: B

Donald Driver: By far the Packers’ MVP on offense half way through the season, Driver has come up in big situations and showed no signs of slowing down at age 34.  GRADE: A

James Jones: Jones has filled in nicely for the injured Jordy Nelson and caught a long touchdown pass last week in Tampa Bay.  He seems to be progressing back towards his rookie season.  GRADE: B-

Jordy Nelson: Nelson was expected to be the third wideout in the Packers’ deadly passing attack, but a knee injury has limited him.  GRADE: C

Jake Allen: Allen was put on the roster when Brett Swain went down for the year.  He does not have a catch in the two weeks he has been on the roster.  GRADE: INC

Biren Ealy: Ealy was signed to the roster due to Nelson’s injury and the questionable status of Allen and Driver last week.  GRADE: INC

Fullbacks

John Kuhn: One of the pleasant surprises for the Packers this season, Kuhn has established himself as the “skill position” fullback with three touchdowns.  GRADE: B+

Korey Hall: Hall has not been used as much as he was last year but has still blocked well and played decent special teams.  GRADE: C

Quinn Johnson: The bruiser of the three fullbacks plays the least, but when he is in he crushes linebackers.  Also had a nice catch against Minnesota.  GRADE: INC

Offensive Line

Chad Clifton: Clifton has not been able to stay healthy, and when he is in the results have not been good at all.  This could be Clifton’s last year in Green Bay.  GRADE: D

Daryn Colledge: The experiment of Colledge at left tackle is officially over, but improvements can be made at left guard as he has struggled over the last few weeks.  GRADE:C-

Scott Wells: Wells was not expected to see much playing time this season (rightfully so), but he has stunk up the place since taking over for Jason Spitz at center.  GRADE: D

Aaron Rodgers has had little to no time to find open receivers this season. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

Josh Sitton: Finally!  The bright spot in the offensive line has been Sitton, who has pass protected very well for the Packers and is arguably their best run blocker.  GRADE: B

Allen Barbre: For as bad as he was against Chicago and Cincinnati, he had a span of a few weeks where he played very well.  Unfortunately, he has been back to his old ways lately.  GRADE: C-

Jason Spitz: Spitz’s injury really hurt the offensive line, and his future in Green Bay is now in question with a season-ending back injury.  GRADE: B-

Mark Tauscher: Tauscher got his first start in 2009 against the Buccaneers but was injured and is expected to miss a couple of weeks.  GRADE: INC

T.J. Lang: Lang has been another bright spot for the Packers on the offensive line.  In his brief stint at left tackle, he handled his own for the most part and is the potential left tackle of the future for the Packers.  GRADE: B-

Evan Dietrich-Smith: EDS has not seen any playing time this season but provides good depth on a shaky, injury-prone offensive line.  GRADE: INC

Breno Giacomini: One has to wonder just how poorly Giacomini must have played in the pre-season to not have warranted a start after Barbre’s first two starts.  GRADE: INC

Tight Ends

Jermichael Finley: A knee has forced Finley to the sidelines the last couple of weeks, but he is clearly the future at tight end and has become a favorite target of Aaron Rodgers down the seam.  GRADE: B

Donald Lee: Lee has taken a back seat to Finley as the go-to guy, but still finds himself on the field in blocking situations and has recorded a reception in all but one game.  GRADE: B-

Spencer Havner: “Duct tape” has done it all this year and has really come on as a tight end that can make things happen.  He’s not half bad on special teams, either.  GRADE: B+

The Official Marquette Basketball Season Preview

A New Era

One era of Marquette Golden Eagles’ basketball ended in Boise last March, while another will take flight Friday at the Bradley Center.  Six newcomers will take the court Friday night along with the rest of Buzz Williams’ roster as they get ready for a season full of mystery that will be solved as the season progresses.

Any talk of Marquette playing basketball past the first week of March is due to senior Lazar Hayward.  Playing outside the spotlight for his first three years, the senior from Buffalo will finally get his chance to show off his talents as Marquette’s go-to player.  At 6′6″, Hayward will see playing time at both forward positions and get touches on offense everywhere on the court. With an unmeasurable heart, one can expect to see Hayward guarding the opponent’s best big man night in and night out.

Two other key pieces to Marquette’s puzzle this season are the oft-forgotten about seniors, Maurice Acker and David Cubillan.  With Marquette sporting one of the youngest teams in the Big East, the two-experienced filled guards will surely carry the load early on while the youngsters get their feet wet.  At the very least, the two senior guards give Buzz Williams some depth on an injury-plagued team.

One of last year’s biggest surprises was then-sophomore Jimmy Butler and the energy he provided off the bench.  A summer full of jump shot practice with Hayward and maturing has Butler geared up for a leadership role on and off the court.  As one of the most efficient players in the country last season, Butler will need to be even more aggressive on the offensive end and continue his stellar defense.  Buzz Williams has praised Butler, calling him the team’s best defender, but he will have to improve even more if Marquette is going to shut opponent’s big men down.

While it’s true that the injury bug strikes just about every team at some point in the season, it could not have happened at a worse time for then-freshman Chris Otule and then-sophomore Joe Fulce.  The pair of 2008 newcomers missed significant action last season with injuries and, now fully healthy, are primed for comeback seasons.

Otule took a trip to Germany this summer where he improved his confidence and postgame while Fulce rehabbed his knee and showed off his health with a stunning dunk contest performance in front of Vander Blue, Tarik Black, and the Marquette faithful at Marquette Madness.  Depth is the key to Marquette’s success this season and both Otule and Fulce have the potential to start and, at the very least, be contributors off the bench.

Marquette has a core of returning players that will keep Marquette in games early in the season, but the buzz on the Golden Eagles has been the arrival of six newcomers, five of whom will get their feet wet in Divison One Basketball for the first time on Friday.

Leading the way is junior Dwight Buycks who is expected to take on a major scoring role and log major minutes.  The 6′2″ combo guard has impressed just about everyone who has seen him play and should start out of the gates for Marquette.  With a pretty jump shot and a knack for getting to the basket, it would not come as a surprise to see Buycks rank second in scoring this season behind Hayward.  In Marquette’s exhibition blowout over MSOE Saturday, Buycks poured in 15 points and played solid defense.

Right behind Buycks in terms of importance this season is true freshman Jeronne Maymon, a local product from Madison Memorial High School.  The 6′7″ power forward is sure to see big minutes as part of a frontcourt rotation, and the DeJuan Blair look-a-like is hoping to crash the boards at all costs.  His range extends out to the three point line, but look for Maymon to do his damage inside, bullying the opposition to get rebounds.

If Darius Johnson-Odom can stay healthy, it would do wonders for the Marquette backcourt.

Darius Johnson-Odom, DJO, has struggled with a nagging foot injury that kept him out about six weeks early in the fall.  After being deemed ready for action, he re-aggravated the injury against MSOE, leaving a big question mark next to his name as to when he will be caught up.  As Marquette’s best athlete available, the combo guard will be sorely missed if he is not healthy to start the year.

Erik Williams and Youssoupha Mbao are two projects that will see the court this season but not make a huge impact.  Mbao, the 7′2″ center from Senegal will have to put on weight (215 pounds) and is still raw in talent.  Williams, a Buzz Williams dream at 6′6″ and able to handle the ball, will struggle to see minutes with a frontcourt rotation including Butler, Maymon, Fulce, and Hayward.  However, he was arguably Marquette’s best recruit from last season and has the potential to bust out in the next couple of years.

Marquette has dropped off from last season, and as talented and as full of potential as the new recruits can be, it will be a struggle this year.  Growing pains will happen and players will hit mental and physical walls at some point during the season.  However, the unknown can be a good thing when gauging the ceiling that some of the newcomers have.

Combined with the senior leadership and talent of Hayward, and it’s anyone’s guess as to how Marquette could finish this season.  Early predictions have them ranked 12th in the Big East, but it’s hard to tell when no one has seen almost half the roster play a D-1 game.

One thing is for sure: Marquette basketball has turned over a new leaf and the future looks bright for Buzz Williams and the Golden Eagles.

Key Games

November 26th, vs. Xavier (Old Spice Classic in Orlando)

Marquette’ s first true test of the season will come over Thanksgiving weekend when the team travels to Orlando to play in the Old Spice Classic.  They meet up with Xavier in the first round, who received some votes close to the top 25 in preseason polls.  By the time this game comes around, they could very well be in the top 25.  Xavier returns just one starter, Jason Love, and lost Sean Miller to Arizona last off-season, but their talent will probably be too much for Marquette early in the season.

Trevon Hughes will surely want revenge on the Golden Eagles after last year's defeat at the Bradley Center.

December 12th, @ Wisconsin

The annual in-state rivalry game will be that much bigger now that Vander Blue has committed to Marquette.  As for the game itself, Wisconsin seems to be the exact same every year.  They put together a solid roster full of players perfect for their offense and make the NCAA Tournament.  However, their style of play also allows for potential upsets.  Last year’s 1-3-1 zone look from Marquette really messed the Badgers up.  Trevon Hughes leads a talented group of players up against the Golden Eagles, and the Kohl Center is one of the toughest places to get a win.

January 6th, vs. Georgetown

Georgetown, currently ranked 21st, will be better than they were last year…or at least one would think.  Ranked in the top ten at one point last season, the Hoyas failed to make the NCAA Tournament with freshman phenom Greg Monroe.  One year later, Monroe is back with a stacked class and looking for revenge on the Golden Eagles.  However, the Hoyas will have to travel to the Bradley Center and with a showdown on national television just three days later against UConn, don’t be surprised to see Marquette catch the Hoyas looking ahead.  This could be a huge win for Marquette in the eyes of the selection committee come March.

February 18th, vs. Pittsburgh

Outside of Providence and Marquette, no team in the Big East lost more talent than the Panthers of Pitt.  Levance Fields, Sam Young, and DeJuan Blair are all gone and Pittsburgh is in re-building mode.  They compare to Marquette in a lot of ways, with a fantastic recruiting class coming in and a few veteran pieces still in tact.  Marquette and Pitt should end the Big East season in roughly the same area, so the winner of this game could leapfrog the other in the standings by year’s end.

March 6th, vs. Notre Dame

Not only will this game be senior night for Hayward, Cubillan, and Acker, but it will also mark a rivalry game against a potential Player of the Year candidate in Luke Harangody.  You can bet the whole team will pour out their heart and soul for the seniors, just like they did against Syracuse last season.  Just like the Georgetown game, Notre Dame should be ranked at this point and this game could go a long way to determining Marquette’s fate in potential post-season play.

Player Predictions

*Note* Starters indicate who I believe will start for the majority of the season

PG: Dwight Buycks- 25 minutes per game, 12.3 points per game, 4 rebounds per game, 3 assists per game

Buycks will be asked to do a lot this season and, while it may not always be pretty, he should get the job done.

SG: Darius Johnson-Odom- 18 mpg, 8.3 ppg, 2 rpg, 4 apg

DJO will start the year off slow as he becomes acclamated to the speed of the game, but once he’s there he will be special.

F: Jeronne Maymon- 25 mpg, 12.2 ppg, 7 rpg, 1 apg

Maymon will be a vacuum on the boards and play a lot like Jimmy Butler did last season, expect with more looks at the basket.

F: Lazar Hayward- 35 mpg, 22 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 apg

He will have to be Mr. Everything this season and if you know him, there isn’t a better guy equipped for that job.

C: Chris Otule- 17 mpg, 4.5 ppg, 4 rpg, 0.5 apg

He will start the majority of the games, but look for him to rotate just like Dwight Burke did last season.

Jimmy Butler: 30 mpg, 12 ppg, 8 rpg, 2 apg

Butler will be the glue that keeps the team together and be Marquette’s defensive MVP by year’s end.

Maurice Acker: 15 mpg, 4.5 ppg, 1 rpg, 1 apg

Acker will begin the year in the starting lineup but be taken over by the more talented newcomers soon enough.

Joe Fulce: 15 mpg, 3.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2 apg

Fulce is the biggest mystery this season as he could play well enough to start, but could struggle enough to never see the court.

David Cubillan: 10 mpg, 3 ppg, 1 rpg, 1 apg

A strong outing against MSOE has some people excited, but this team has too much talent for Cubi to get big minutes.

Erik Williams: 5 mpg, 2.5 ppg, 2 rpg, 0.5 apg

He just doesn’t seem up to speed quite yet and is more of a project for next year once Hayward is gone.

Youssoupha Mbao: 5 mpg, 1.0 ppg, 2 rpg, 0.5 apg

He is too raw and not strong enough at this point, and will probably only be used when the frontcourt is in foul trouble.

Junior Cadougan: Medically redshirted, will be healthy next season and have four years of eligibility remaining

Predictions

Marquette’s team will have five new faces take the court Friday night against Centenary, and it’s anyone’s guess as to how they will fare.  On one hand, Lazar Hayward and Jimmy Butler could take hold of the reigns and guide this young team to an NCAA Tournament bid.  On the other hand, inexperience could overwhelm the Golden Eagles and the NCAA Tournament could be an afterthought.  Here’s how I see it playing out.

Lazar Hayward holds the key to success for Marquette this season. If he fails, so will the team.

Marquette should wind up in the 17-19 win total this season, but the big question is who those wins will come against.  If Marquette fails to pull any upsets and just beats who they are supposed to beat, then the NIT would be a gift.  If Marquette can have their hiccups early in the season and beat a team like Georgetown, Lousiville, or Notre Dame, it will go a long way.  Throw in more than one win the Big East Tournament and they would be sitting pretty.

Lazar Hayward will be a first-team All Big East Team selection at the power forward position and garner All America votes as well.  He’s going to be that good.  Jeronne Maymon is going to give us a sneak peak of what to expect for the next four years as he bangs inside with the best of the best.  Dwight Buycks and Darius Johnson-Odom will need to learn to play well with each other because they will be on the court together a lot.  Jimmy Butler seems like a different person this season and knows his role is to be a scorer and a leader on the court.  I have faith he will succeed on both fronts.  Chris Otule will show flashes of greatness at times and also struggle at times, and when he does people will need to remember he is just a sophomore.  At season’s end, the Marquette Golden Eagles will be 17-13 and headed for the NIT due to a lack of big wins.

We are Marquette!

The 4-3 Packers: 4 and 3 Reasons They Will and Will Not Make the Playoffs

Seven games into the season for the Packers, they stand at 4-3 and in relatively good position to make a playoff run.  Their schedule matches up favorably compared to other teams and the talent is there for them to make it to the second season.  In honor of their current record, here are four reasons the Packers will make the playoffs and three reasons they will not.

Why they will make the playoffs

1. Remaining Schedule

When one takes a look at the NFL playoff picture, it’s safe to assume the Saints (South), Vikings (North), and Cardinals (West) will win their respective divisions.  The NFC East is a little cloudy with the Cowboys, Giants, and Eagles all in contention.  In the North, the Packers and Bears stand at 4-3 and in the South the Falcons are very much alive as well.

The Falcons have the easiest schedule moving forward, playing just three teams with records above .500 the rest of the way.  The Bears, Cowboys, and Giants play six teams with records above .500 while the Eagles play a brutal seven games against winning record teams.

As for the Packers, they play just five teams with winning records, but the best record they currently play is 5-2.  They have gotten the Vikings out of the way and lost to a very good Bengals team.  The Bears still have to play the Vikings twice, the NFC East is going to beat up on each other, and the Falcons have another matchup with the Saints looming.

There are games on the Packers’ schedule that are relatively easy wins (Detroit, Tampa Bay) and games which are probably going to be losses (at Pittsburgh), but the big games are the ones the Packers play against other playoff contenders in Dallas, Chicago, and Arizona.  Those will be deciding games in the Packers’ season.

2. Aaron Rodgers

Football is a team game and everyone knows that.  It’s impossible to win with just one guy, but if you are going to attempt to do so, start with a quarterback.  Rodgers has been the highest rated passer in the league this season and has thrown just two interceptions, a big reason the Packers lead the league in turnover differential.

The Packers’ defense is not good enough for Rodgers to be average the rest of the way and expect to make the playoffs.  If they earn a Wildcard spot, it will be because Rodgers gets them there.  Question marks are still there of him holding on to the ball too long or being afraid to throw an interception but any way you slice it, he has played well.

Greg Jennings has yet to get going as a true number one receiver but we all expect that a breakout is looming.  Rodgers has the poise and consistency to match his talents this season and it has really shown in his stats.  Now it’s time for it to show in the win column.

3. Talent

Whether you blame Ted Thompson or Mike McCarthy for the Packers’ struggles this season, the fact is this team has a ton of talent that has showed flashes of greatness over the last three seasons.  When healthy, they have the deepest receiving corps in the league, a top five secondary, a fantastic up-and-comer in Clay Matthews III, and a defensive line playing very well.

Putting everything together is a completely different story, but the talent is there for the Packers to make a run.  If McCarthy and Capers can put their team in the best position to win based on the talents they have to work with, there’s no reason the Packers can’t win 11 games this season.

There are weaknesses on the offensive line and defense that we will get to later, but you don’t need to be the New Orleans Saints to earn a playoff spot.  Those weaknesses will have to clean up if the Packers ever want to become Super Bowl contenders, but as of now there’s enough talent on the team to win games.

4. Time

The best part about the Packers is that they have time to get better.  While it will be on the go and during a potential playoff run, the offensive line is settling down and is at least looking more in unison than the first couple weeks.  Rodgers has developed good chemistry with Jermichael Finley and his consistency is back.

Even more so, the 3-4 defense continues to be taught by Dom Capers and hopefully picked up by the players.  Coming into the season, everyone spoke of how the transition to the new defense might take more than training camp and pre-season.

For the majority of players on the team, the defense is a new wrinkle that everyone is adjusting to.  It’s not as easy as Madden to just switch the formation and have three down linemen instead of four.  Time will allow the Packers to continue getting comfortable in the scheme, and hopefully better results will form because of it.

Why they will not make the playoffs

1. Team Rifts

It might not seem like a huge deal at first glance, but it is somewhat concerning that players on the Packers are going to the media to air their concerns.  When Ted Thompson took over as GM, he explained how he wanted “Packer people” who were going to not only make the team better, but the organization better as well.  This meant staying out of trouble and not throwing players and coaches under the bus to the media.

However, this has begun to happen more times in the last couple weeks than it has in the past couple of years.  Cullen Jenkins, Charles Woodson, and Aaron Kampman have been spotlighted for this and seem to be opponents of the new defense.

Understand it was a big loss to the Vikings and played with people’s emotions after, but there’s no reason to call out a coordinator to the media.  Capers is highly specialized in the 3-4 defense and knows what he is doing more than any of the players on the Packers roster.  He is doing everything he can to make sure the Packers’ defense is playing the best it can.

If this kind of garbage continues, the playoffs will be a distant memory and we will have to start wondering who will get picked off the team next season.  Relationships are huge in the NFL and a player must be able to trust his coordinator and vice versa.  Let’s hope they resolve this soon.

2. Offensive line

Watch one, maybe two possessions for the Green Bay Packers’ offense and you will understand why this is such a concern.  Musical chairs is the latest game to be played on the Packers’ offensive line and it looks as though Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher will get starts this week.  Hopefully they can make things manageable for Rodgers when he drops back to pass more than three steps, but don’t count on it.

The theory of building an offensive line through the draft has fallen flat on its face and the Packers have no back-up plan…unless you count Tauscher.  Unless the offensive line can pull something together during these last nine games, Rodgers is not going to make it through a full season.  He can not keep taking the hits he has been taking and be expected to stand upright for 16 games.  What’s more, he can’t be expected to put up these numbers if he has a man in his face three steps into his drop.

The run game has been average at best as it just feasts on the worst of the worst in the NFL, but then again the Packers seem to always be playing from behind against legitimate teams and must pass the ball.  The Packers will play some pretty good pass rushers in the coming weeks, so let’s hope they find the answer soon or the Matt Flynn era might start a lot sooner than we all want.

3. Youth

It’s not fair to say the Packers do not have the hunger to win a championship or earn a playoff spot, but one has to wonder if they actually understand what it’s all about yet?  They have failed their tests against good teams so far and do not seem to have the discipline that a championship team needs.  Part of this could fall on the coaching staff, but youth might have something to do with it.

The Packers are the league’s youngest team and have a lot of youngsters seeing a lot of playing time this season.  The veteran leadership is there and is helping, but the Packers still have a lot of players who have not yet reached their potential.

When fighting to the death for a playoff spot, being cool under pressure is important and the Packers might not have that this season.  They have a head coach who has been to the playoffs and coached big games before, as well as a defensive coordinator who has experienced just about everything a football coach can.

Time will tell if the undisciplined, young Packers can grow up in time to not lose out on the playoffs.  The penalties, especially the bone-headed ones (listen up, Johnny Jolly), will get a team nowhere.  Unless that changes, the Packers will watch the playoffs from their coach instead of the sidelines.

Three Quick Thoughts on Wisconsin Sports

1. Brandon Jennings is going to be one heck of a talent when he hones in all his skills

After only catching a couple of box scores to start the year, I was able to catch my first Milwaukee Bucks game of the season.  While they handed the game away after blowing an 18-point lead in the third quarter to the Chicago Bulls, one guy stood out amongst the rest.  Brandon Jennings.  Wow, this kid is going to be one special talent.  Because there are only a few I’ll start off with the negatives that include a little too much dribbling and some lazy defense that has him trailing off screens.

Now on to the fun stuff.  Jennings’ jab shot might not look pretty but he has shot lights out with it.  He works so well off the screen and his quickness makes it impossible to guard.  I’m going to throw out some big superlatives in the form of players in the NBA, but this is just what his game reminds me off.

His passes have a little bit of Steve Nash to them as he loves to fit the ball in tight spaces.  His drive to the lane reminds me of Chris Paul’s: a lot of dribbling and making something out of it at the end.  When it comes to his jumper, Allen Iverson comparisons are the first thing that comes to mind.  His size is small but his quickness is second to none, and I believe he is already one of the fastest players in the league.

He still acts like a rookie at times and gives the ball away at times, but let’s remember he has played three games in the NBA.  The good has outdone the bad tenfold, and for a rookie that’s more than you can ask for.  Look out for Jennings in about two or three years when he is able to hit the weight room, adjust to the offense more, and receive more coaching.  A spot in the “top five point guards club” might not be too far away.

2. The Packers defense needs to shut their mouth and go play football

Rarely do I ever step out of the Green Bay Packers’ corner, but for the life of me I can not figure out why three well-respected defensive players are freaking out.  Charles Woodson, Cullen Jenkins, and Aaron Kampman have all expressed displeasure with the 3-4 defense and feel “handcuffed” by it.

I realize it can be hard to enter a defense where one knows they are not going to be the focal point.  In Jenkins’ defense, he would be a stud at the 4-3 defensive end spot and would have many more sacks.  Same with Kampman.  But Jenkins’ job is to eat up linemen and let linebackers flow in, while Kampman now has some responsibility in pass coverage.

Look, neither are going to go the Pro Bowl even though both have the talent to do so.  But when everything is broken down, wins are the most important thing at the end of the day.  It’s an extremely humble thing to accept and easy for me to type it out here, but it’s true.

Cullen Jenkins needs to accept his role, whatever that may be, and just play football.

Everything is for the greater cause and in the 3-4 defense there are many spots on the field that are important but will not show up in the box score.  What will show up in the box score is the final score.  Those defenders need to realize that and shut their anger up.

If they think the defense is the problem and something better could be done, keep it in house and talk to defensive coordinator Dom Capers about it.  Don’t cry to the media about how coaches won’t let you loose.  That’s not who the Packers are.

3. The Brewers should not trade either Ryan Braun or Prince Fielder

Rumors have swirled, more about Fielder, that one of the Brewers’ 3-4 hitters could be on the move this off-season or in the near future.  I can’t believe I am hearing this and hope that it does not come true.  Fielder would be more acceptable a loss because he would garner more trade value and his contract is soon up, but the Brewers need to work on an extension.

Breaking the bank for a stud pitcher will be hard to do given the Brewers’ financial restraints, but moving one of your foundation pieces surely isn’t the answer.  Fielder is hitting the prime of career and Braun is right on the brink of it as well.  It’s the best 3-4 in baseball and kept the Brewers in countless games all year.

Unless they can get a top five pitcher in all of baseball in return, losing Braun or Fielder makes little sense right now.  In a year, if Fielder has signaled he will not re-sign then try to go get something.  But right now these two players are putting fans in the seats and handing out free baseballs to those in the outfield seats.

Sucks to think that J.J. Hardy more than likely could have been had for someone like Clay Buchholz.