McDuffie

[WheatShock]

I'm sure we needed Nurger last year because of injuries, and it's also possible we don't win certain games without him, but can you imagine if he had redshirted and he were just a sophomore this year?

I'm not sure I've ever been more wrong in terms of believing a player had a fairly low ceiling with their potential and then seeing that player take off.

Gregg has said several times that he wishes he would've been able to keep the redshirt on last year.

I find myself hoping that McDuffie will become the leader this team is lacking.

[Kel Varnsen]

I'm sure we needed Nurger last year because of injuries, and it's also possible we don't win certain games without him, but can you imagine if he had redshirted and he were just a sophomore this year?

I'm not sure I've ever been more wrong in terms of believing a player had a fairly low ceiling with their potential and then seeing that player take off.

Same here. That back down move and either a hook shot or an up and under has become somewhat unstoppable, especially against Valley teams.

[Cdizzle]

Same here. That back down move and either a hook shot or an up and under has become somewhat unstoppable, especially against Valley teams.

I'm excited to see if he can do it against not Valley teams. He loses the advantage of playing Valley teams, but gains the advantage of not being well-scouted.

I'm not sure we get any wins in the NCAAs last year without Nurger. He outplayed 2 1st Round NBA picks.

[WheatShock]

I'm excited to see if he can do it against not Valley teams. He loses the advantage of playing Valley teams, but gains the advantage of not being well-scouted.

I'm not sure we get any wins in the NCAAs last year without Nurger. He outplayed 2 1st Round NBA picks.

His performance in the Bahamas leads me to believe he can and will be effective against non Valley teams wherever we end up in the post season.

Looking back to last season, Rauno played his best ball against quality big men out of conference. He did very well defending not only Vanderbilt & Arizona's bigs, but also played well against Poetle & Zimmerman from Utah & UNLV. Where he struggled was against the smaller quicker centers in the Valley, I would say he is much improved in this area this year.

[lmor1971]

McDuffie is turning into an all around Player. He is finding his way at this level I expect some monster performances very soon and certainly next season.

[lmor1971]

Just wanted to boost this thread. I was listening to the talk angry podcast earlier and they were discussing how everyone has overlooked McDuffie in alot of conversation. He leads the team in scoring and rebounds. His consistency is something alot of us tend to overlook since we have so many weapons who explode at different times throughout the season and become the topic of the day.

I truly believe he is the most well balanced player on both sides of the court (just needs to work on ball handling this off season).

We may see a real superstar the next 2 years above what has been seen in the past. (I just put this thread in my calender for this time next year to either say see or to do the walk of shame, pretty sure it will be brag I was right)

[AndShock]

It's weird to me that McDuffie is our leading scorer and rebounder. He probably would've been my 4th guess for leading scorer and I feel like he hasn't really done that much this year. Someone on MVCfans said he took a step back this year which is obviously not true but I can definitely see how someone would think that. I've watched all of our games and I don't even feel like McDuffie has been doing great. Most of his scoring has been done so quietly but he definitely gets his points.

[shoxlax]

Best thing about Duff is he is 19! Josh Jackson the so called Fr phenom is 20---love the fact no one mentions that. Lots of room to grow physically. Great mind, love for the game, the rest of his talent and gifts will follow and will do so with a suddenness that will blow us away.

[jdshock]

It's weird to me that McDuffie is our leading scorer and rebounder. He probably would've been my 4th guess for leading scorer and I feel like he hasn't really done that much this year. Someone on MVCfans said he took a step back this year which is obviously not true but I can definitely see how someone would think that. I've watched all of our games and I don't even feel like McDuffie has been doing great. Most of his scoring has been done so quietly but he definitely gets his points.

We've definitely had players with "quiet" double-digit performances before. It happened with Baker a lot where I'd think he had a sub-par game or something offensively but when I looked at the box score he actually had 15 points or something.

MM has had a lot of quiet double-digit performances.

[lmor1971]

Best thing about Duff is he is 19! Josh Jackson the so called Fr phenom is 20---love the fact no one mentions that. Lots of room to grow physically. Great mind, love for the game, the rest of his talent and gifts will follow and will do so with a suddenness that will blow us away.

Suddenness i like that phrase. I think you are exactly right. People forget he was just 17 when he got here.

[lmor1971]

Actually if he stays on the pace he is on (assuming athat least too Ncaa games each year). He will make this list.

Rank Points Player Seasons
1 2164 Cleo Littleton 1951–55
2 2152 Xavier McDaniel 1981–85
3 1936 Dave Stallworth 1962–65
4 1911 Antoine Carr 1979–83
5 1907 Cheese Johnson 1975–79
6 1839 Jason Perez 1996–2000
7 1765 Aubrey Sherrod 1981–85
8 1636 Ron Baker 2012–16
9 1599 Randy Burns 2001–05
10 1571 Jamar Howard 2001–05

[im4wsu]

MM takes what the game gives him, and attempts to take over if the team is floundering. Examples of the former are his high-teen point games, and then less-than-two-point games but with 14 rebounds or 8 assists. Taking over, I don't remember which game, but he scored the first 8 points or so to begin a second half after the the team floundered in the first half.

[ShockingButTrue]

MM takes what the game gives him, and attempts to take over if the team is floundering. Examples of the former are his high-teen point games, and then less-than-two-point games but with 14 rebounds or 8 assists. Taking over, I don't remember which game, but he scored the first 8 points or so to begin a second half after the the team floundered in the first half.

Runs the court pretty good too.

[GottliebHater]

We've definitely had players with "quiet" double-digit performances before. It happened with Baker a lot where I'd think he had a sub-par game or something offensively but when I looked at the box score he actually had 15 points or something.

MM has had a lot of quiet double-digit performances.

This year is definitely a big step forward for MM. I think Landry may be a little more consistent and polished, but MM has more potential than any Shocker IMO. He is much more efficient this year, just look at his FG and 3FG percentages. Also, he gets to the line more than anyone else, and he makes them consistently. That is not to mention his improvement in rebounding, defense, and hustle plays.

As it has been said, sometimes he has quiet scoring days. He doesn't force shots as much as you would expect for his talent and youth. He also seems okay when it is someone else's night. Fix that full-speed, deer in the headlights thing where no one (including MM) knows where the ball is going to end up, and the sky is the limit

[lmor1971]

I still truly believe that we have not seen anything from McDuffie yet. Keep in mind that he is a young sophomore and the fact that he was probally only at 85 to 90 percent all season coming off his meniscus surgery earlier in the year. I can see easily averaging 15 or more per game with 10+ rebound average next year. I'm guessing he will put on another 15 pounds minimum and could still grow another inch or two.