Earlington.........................let's discuss

Marcellus is an effort guy who developed (somewhat surprisingly) a streaky 3-point shot last season. He is a tremendously likable player because he has worked hard, made the most of his skill set, adapted to the new coaching regime, and is just generally a likeable person.

However, none of that makes him an All American. It makes him a fan favorite who comes off the bench or gets a spot start and helps the team win. For a couple of games he might even get hot and be the star of the game.

The problem is that he (and some others) mixed up "super sub who shines once in a while" with "star all the time."

Once he gets back to playing his role and trusting that if he's hot he will get run, he'll be fine.

However the odds are that he is going to have a more limited role on the team this year than last year because there are many more shooting options on the floor now.

His struggle is not all that different from some others on the team. Cole and Moore both have to learn that they now have a role to play, and that they are not the whole show as they were in JUCO. Wusu has to learn to play without fouling. Posh (who did better at playing under control last night) has to adjust to the new level of competition.

This team is a work in progress. As I posted in the game thread I sometimes get stuck between whether the issue is not enough time together or that they are collectively a low-IQ basketball team or where the needle falls between those two things. I'm inclined to think that most of it is just not enough time together for everyone to figure out their role, whcih includes Marcellus. Though they do some really stupid things, too. I give Coach A a lot of credit for not yanking guys just to yell at them. The man has a better temperment than I do, I would lose my mind at some of the things they do.
 
[quote="SJUhoopNUT" post=405692][quote="SJU85" post=405679]Had success last year coming out of nowhere.

1. Expected to do more this year and wants to be a star instead of doing what made him successful last year.
2. Star/shooter mentality without the ability.
3. Forcing things instead of letting come to him and staying in the flow of things.
4. Not syncing well when on the court at the same time with Toro or Moore giving him less room to operate and “do his thing”.[/quote]

Spot on. He has to find his role on this team. Last year he settled in because he was comfortable and he knew what to expect every game. Now he's looking over his shoulder. It's all mental. Still very early so I'm not going to panic. I think he'll find his groove and be a valuable guy as we get into Big East. I do think he should forget the perimeter right now and work from foul line in. Anderson needs to get him in position where he can score. He's taking way too many long jumpers and way too quick.[/quote]
+100
 
Hard not to be frustrated at some of the bad shots/out of control play from Marcellus over the first few games. Seems like he needs a little between game instruction/pep talk right about now. We and Marcellus need to remember how hard he's worked to make himself a very serviceable BE player and I have no doubt he'll do whatever it takes to become that player again. I do think that hot streak he had from three over the last few games last year might have raised expectations (his & some of ours) a little too much.
 
I’ve always said it. He’s a guy that should be banging inside but he’s always like to hang on the perimeter as if he’s a small forward. As a former high-level football player I thought he’d relish that role, but he clearly doesn’t. He needs to go in and just rebound and outback, that’s it. Maybe occasional jumper. This perimeter stuff is hurting us as a team.
 
Kid is coachable. He needs to be a force on the offensive boards. Three pointers should be a rarity. He has a nice stroke, but that is not his game. I like when he uses his big body to lean on opponents and tire them out. Let’s see how he is corrected.
 
Agree with most of the above. The biggest thing is getting to figure out his role with many new teammates and more talent. Remember, we have 4 new guys all in our top 7 or 8, so a lot of adjustments need to be made. The banger/rebounder/garbage man role is one we need (Toro has disappointed thus far, but not giving up on him yet). We need someone to scrap and rebound and get put backs. He seems perfect for that, if he wants to do that. It is mindboggling why he thinks he should be a 3 point shooter, but kids get ideas stuck in their heads. I think that coach can work with him to make him more comfortable in a more suitable role. Let's hope.
 
Why are we passing judgment on kids this early in the season, with essentially a brand new team who are trying to get acclimated to one another? Especially a kid like Earlington, who has proven that he can be a solid contributor at this level. Let's forget last year's stats for now. That was a far less talented team that relied a lot more on Earl for scoring and rebounding. We may never see those stats from him again, and it really doesn't matter. If he can give us 10-15 MPG of fundamentally sound and hard nosed ball, he'll be a huge asset to this team moving forward.
 
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A 4 game sample, including 1 after his face was bloodied early in the game, and another against a very tall front line, is just too small. He is shooting just over 30%. Obviously, that indicates he is not taking good shots. Outside of Posh, Williams and Champ, a number of players are finding their way. Marcellus is one of them. He needs to focus more on the little things and let the game come to him. Right now, he is forcing things, leading to some out of control drives and too much settling for 3 pointers.
 
Let’s not give up on the Duke yet. Every year is different and this early in the year he’s trying to figure out his role. True enough the tempo is not ideal for him. I would like to see less 3 point attempts and more mid range game from him. He has a nice touch. He will always struggle against much taller players. He doesn’t elevate that well and he’s a little short so he needs to compensate with boxing out and positioning. Let’s give him some time. By all accounts he’s a hard worker as far as we’ve heard. Patience.
 
[quote="Monte" post=405719]Why are we passing judgment on kids this early in the season, with essentially a brand new team who are trying to get acclimated to one another? Especially a kid like Earlington, who has proven that he can be a solid contributor at this level. Let's forget last year's stats for now. That was a far less talented team that relied a lot more on Earl for scoring and rebounding. We may never see those stats from him again, and it really doesn't matter. If he can give us 10-15 MPG of fundamentally sound and hard nosed ball, he'll be a huge asset to this team moving forward.[/quote]

It is fair to be critical of Earlington's play so far this season. He is not a freshman or first year player. I appreciate that he's trying to take on a bigger role this year. But in a game like last night, you have to go back to doing what you do best. Just maybe we win that game.
 
[quote="sjc88" post=405729]Let’s not give up on the Duke yet. Every year is different and this early in the year he’s trying to figure out his role. True enough the tempo is not ideal for him. I would like to see less 3 point attempts and more mid range game from him. He has a nice touch. He will always struggle against much taller players. He doesn’t elevate that well and he’s a little short so he needs to compensate with boxing out and positioning. Let’s give him some time. By all accounts he’s a hard worker as far as we’ve heard. Patience.[/quote]

Marcellus needs to think more Paul Silas and less Paul Westphal. Silas had a long career using his physical strength to make life miserable for those not willing to put a body on him under the glass. Silas was an excellent rebounder overall and really good at grabbing offensive boards by fighting for position. He knew his limitations. That's the kind of player Marcellus needs to be.
 
Marcellus to me has always been a role player who can help a team, but not a BE prime time guy who takes a lot of shots/minute. Yes, he was refreshing last year, but needed to play a lot of minutes on short roster.

That timely jumper from deep he hit last year v Georgetown in BE T was fun, but perhaps a double edged sword. CMA can coach so I’m confident he can get ME back on track to play to his strengths and better understand his role on a deeper, more uptempo team. Him doing the little things and not forcing things will help this squad succeed.
 
[quote="AlexSTJ" post=405730][quote="Monte" post=405719]Why are we passing judgment on kids this early in the season, with essentially a brand new team who are trying to get acclimated to one another? Especially a kid like Earlington, who has proven that he can be a solid contributor at this level. Let's forget last year's stats for now. That was a far less talented team that relied a lot more on Earl for scoring and rebounding. We may never see those stats from him again, and it really doesn't matter. If he can give us 10-15 MPG of fundamentally sound and hard nosed ball, he'll be a huge asset to this team moving forward.[/quote]

It is fair to be critical of Earlington's play so far this season. He is not a freshman or first year player. I appreciate that he's trying to take on a bigger role this year. But in a game like last night, you have to go back to doing what you do best. Just maybe we win that game.[/quote]

I think it's fair to critique a kid's play, but not to be so critical of a kid's play while he and his teammates and the coaches are still trying to figure things out. I think this all goes back to unrealistic expectations that many(not saying you) have placed on Earl. And maybe some that Earl has placed on himself.
 
Marcellus thrives when ball movement and multiple offensive threats by STJ push opponent defense ever so slightly out of position and he can use quickness and strength to advantage. We are not yet clicking well enough as a team to create that circumstance this year against better opponents.
 
[quote="SJUNC" post=405725]And his biggest supporter on this board giving up on him is sad.[/quote]

I now know the poster who'd I'd least want to be in a foxhole with. :lol:
 
4 ft Attempts so far. I’ve said he gets reffed unfairly but this says more about his shot selection so far.
 
Not everyone improves . Could be he peaked last year. After all he was a football player who played BB because of this size. You may have seen the best of the Duke .
 
What I posted is what I have seen in three of his games (did not catch yesterday's). Not saying that he can't or won't turn it around nor am I giving up on him but he has struggled so far.

The meshing or syncing hopefully will come with time and more familiarity with each other, Knowing and excepting his role and abilities while not trying to do too much will help. I am rooting for him.
 
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