How do I say this nicely? Your post about DW defensive value is completely nonsensical? over simplistic? Silly? All of the above? It's about the TEAM scoring more points then the other TEAM. If DW guards the best player almost every game and keeps him under his average that's a net value regardless of how much he scores especially when you consider taking those assignments helps the better scorers on your team preserve their legs a little on the defensive side. Rebounds and steals can also lead to transition offense. Just because DW isn't the one putting it in the hole doesn't mean he doesn't help the offense in other ways. He also doesn't turn it over and makes good decisions on offense, again something that contributes to TEAM offense in a way that doesn't end up on the stat sheet.
Illinois 59, Northwestern 56 Postgame
I agree with you whole heartedly. However, you weren't being paid to referee in the best league in the country. They need to do a better job than they did tonight or they shouldn't be Big Ten Refs.
You're out of your element Donnie!
Much respect to you and your opinion. In response to your statement, I did not disregard his defensive value or devalue it! I said that he's a liability OFFENSIVELY! Specifically said that he's a beast defensively! But when someone tries to dispute the actual premise of basketball itself, which is to outscore your opponent to win; it's nonsensical as you said! That's literally the premise of the game! That's why there is two sides to the game. (offense and defense) You have to play both. You would not say a player who only played on the offensive end, and barely gave you anything on the defensive end, should not be asked to give more defensively! So why is that the case when it's reverse? Why is it nonsensical?
For some reason fox keeps sports replays on fox.com instead of foxsports.
I doubt if he outscored his opponent 5% of the time, but he was very valuable
I’m not going to argue rotations or DMW, but I hate when people say we’d have more wins if they did it this way. (I’m assuming that is what you mean by your third season here.). You have no way of knowing that. Everyone seems to think their “suggestions” will have a positive and the desired impact.
This is the same argument people were using with the football team and the 4th down punts versus going for it. If they went for it we’d have 2 (or was it 3) more wins. No!!!!! If they had gone for it AND made it, we would have had a much better chance of having 2 more wins. Disagree with the decision? Fine. Your argument is certainly bolstered by the result of the game. But don’t tell me with certainty that the Illini would have won if they had gone for it on 4th down — or if BU had gone with players farther down in the rotation because they were tall.
Okay, I can respect that point of view. I still say that a big on a big gives us a better chance when they are clearly abusing a smaller player only because of their height difference! And rotations are flexible, and can be altered to give advantages based on matchups. That's what coaches are looking for. Matchups that favor their team to help them win! And they will exploit that matchup. We never adjusted until the other guy for Maryland had 20 something points against! We lost, and I say that's because of not making the adjustment sooner!
I hate to defend the refs when there's been such obviously bad calls, but the BIG has to be the toughest to ref. It's murder ball compared to other leagues. We've seen it by some teams this year where fouling on every play is their strategy, "b/c they can't call 'em all." If the refs called it every time Kofi got hacked, he'd lead the nation in FTA. The games would take 3 hours. I do like the aggressive style of BIG games, and the let 'em play approach by the refs, but I don't know how they decide what to call and what to let slide.
I'm not missing that point respectfully! I've said numerous times that I'm glad he's on our team and he's a beast defensively! Based on your logic though, everyone doesn't need to score hardly, as long as they play defense. Because that is offense according to you! And the score would be what? According to the plus minus Hawkins and Payne should play more than Kofi too then? Because if I recall correctly Underwood just said the other day that they have a higher plus minus than when Kofi is in! Look, if you feel that he doesn't need to work on his offensive game then so be it... I however feel like he'd be a greater player with an offensive game as well! And our team would be greater also!
skyIdub
Winged Warrior
Good grief. You are just talking in circles now and creating strawman arguments to attempt to support your bad take on DMFW.
Hey Dude! My graduation year is right there don't lump us all in.
I agree with this to a degree, but you can bet if they got called for 25 fouls in the first half they would play different in the second.
Teams and coaches will adapt to whatever way the game is being called. If the refs are calling fouls, the teams will stop fouling. Same the other way.
frozenrope9190
- Aurora, IL
That's a lot of exclamation points.
A win is a win, but our overall performance trajectory, offensively, is pointing downward. UWood is also realizing that, given his all out search for the right rotation.
Going to come back and haunt us in the big dance if he can't get the offensive output to be more productive and consistent.
Going to come back and haunt us in the big dance if he can't get the offensive output to be more productive and consistent.
Sorry for that! I like them... not yelling. It's just expressing passion!
Turpin & Tate in 2008!
- Addison, IL
So when this guy does this, does it kind of annoy you, kind of?
Thank you! I’m so tired of the DMW haters. Does anyone really think that we would be in first place in the BIG without Damonte?
GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Just my opinion but Trent is the driver and someone has got to care that he wears down before it is permanent. Hopefully Curbelo comes back before we go there
The issue, offensively, is that outside of Kofi, they don't have a legitimate option that you can count on you to get you a tough bucket. Without Curbelo, they don't have a guard who can get into the lane, distribute or finish. When "we" were going well offensively, it was pick your poison. Either double Kofi and Plummer, Frazier and Grandison to snipe away or play Kofi 1:1 and take your chances there.
Grandison is really, really struggling, Plummer is hit or miss and Frazier is being asked to do too much. I was at the game yesterday and that guy never gets a breather.
As a sidenote, you have to go to the game and sit close to appreciate DMW. Nance towered over him, but DMW battled him for every inch. He locked him up in the last two and a half minutes. He does what no other player on the roster can do, which is guard multiple positions...including the other teams 4. I was 10 rows off the floor and I have a brand new appreciation for what he brings. He is the classic glue guy. We're fortunate to have him.