Marek is my biggest surprise

[Newhouser]

I think we know what Battle and Frank are and I think Oshae is what he is too so the player I was must excited about seeing improve this year was Marek, and last night may have been his nadir. What has - or has not - happened to his game and feel for the game?

 

[Trueblue25]

He’s not noticeably improved his stength and he’s inconsistent between games where he chooses to step up and be a presence on offense and games where he’d rather hover around and be a semi-liability on defense.

Hopefully the reduced PT will encourage him to make the most of when he’s on the court. He’s a much better player than he shows every other game or 2 of every 3 games

 

[Eric15]

Marek played 9 minutes last night. I played 0 minutes last night. We had the same exact number of points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. I also had two fewer fouls and missed two fewer front ends.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I think fans here expected him to be Tyler Lydon and he wasn't even that as a freshman.

 

[br801]

I think fans here expected him to be Tyler Lydon and he wasn't even that as a freshman.

But he's made himself a more efficient scorer by becoming an even more reluctant shooter and playing himself into fewer minutes.

 

[AZOrange]

MD is a team player with Euro skills. He’s great when we’re passing like against a zone but in a dribble drive and kick offense not so much. He’s a player that needs to play 30 min though. Should be able to clear that roster spot next year

 

[MGDCuse]

Is he even playing forward anymore? Seems like he's the backup to the backup center.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

He’s not noticeably improved his stength and he’s inconsistent between games where he chooses to step up and be a presence on offense and games where he’d rather hover around and be a semi-liability on defense.

Hopefully the reduced PT will encourage him to make the most of when he’s on the court. He’s a much better player than he shows every other game or 2 of every 3 games

He spent last summer fishing.

 

[SoBeCuse]

His ‘cerebral’ play last year masked sort of what he is. A P5 role player at best. The IQ and offense was so bad last year and he helped a little there. Euros can pass and move the ball. They are naturals at it. But, Dolezaj, especially at his physique, shouldn’t be counted for much of anything, IMO. I don’t think he would see the floor much on most power programs when they are in good shape and not having chronic offensive problems.

 

[Trueblue25]

I think fans here expected him to be Tyler Lydon and he wasn't even that as a freshman.

There’s not a player I’d really compare him to. I just expect him to touch the ball on most possessions, we’re better for it. He does not seem to be looking for the ball on offense though, often.

I also expect him to pull up when he’s open, he often hits the shot or gets a soft bounce off the rim that’s an easier second chance opportunity. However he still defers too much, which sometimes results in turnovers.

 

[Newhouser]

His ‘cerebral’ play last year masked sort of what he is. A P5 role player at best. The IQ and offense was so bad last year and he helped a little there. Euros can pass and move the ball. They are naturals at it. But, Dolezaj, especially at his physique, shouldn’t be counted for much of anything, IMO. I don’t think he would see the floor much on most power programs when they are in good shape and not having chronic offensive problems.

I think that might be underselling him - he has (or had) good defensive instincts on blocks and rebounds, he was an excellent facilitator, and all teams need guys who can contribute without requiring shots. He has just turned into a disaster.

 

[newmexicuse]

His play has really regressed. He is making fewer and fewer of the non-box score plays. The positive box score plays are almost non-existent. Frankly, i would prefer to put Bras on the court right now and at least see what happens.

This team badly needs a shake up.

I do not think there are any magic bullets, but here are some things that will at least provide shake up:

1. Give Oshae some time at the five
2. Give Bras some of marek's diminishing minutes
3. Turn the keys over to carey, frank can play more 2G, make the lineup smaller and faster.
4. Limit minutes for Sid and Chuk, make them D specialists in situations when we can afford to have a d specialist on the court.

 

[Cheriehoop]

I think fans here expected him to be Tyler Lydon and he wasn't even that as a freshman.

Not me - I was hoping that his bb IQ would make him the team’s facilitator, the passer who would continue to help make the players around him better, have hustle plays, bring energy, continue getting rebounds with his seemingly innate ability to be in the right place while hopefully continue improving his aggressiveness, consistency on offense. I was hoping he would be averaging around 8 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists a game. Not Lydon like expectations but just improvements from last year’s 5.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.5 assist averages. This year he’s not shooting the ball much at all but is shooting it better while missing all 5 of his free throws this season. Sadly he has had little impact at all in his minutes (18.5) on the court this year. Tough to determine whether his decreasing minutes this year are the result of his marked regression on the court or a purposeful disinterest in his role this year. Disappointing regardless from a player who was such a bright spot last year.

Marek Dolezaj College Stats | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com

 

[FRANKIEFAN]

The second missed front end with a chance to tie up the game followed by the UB 3 was what lost it.

Hes better than this and I think will improve but its time to give Braswell 10 minutes of first half PT.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

MD is a team player with Euro skills. He’s great when we’re passing like against a zone but in a dribble drive and kick offense not so much. He’s a player that needs to play 30 min though. Should be able to clear that roster spot next year

Some guys need to start and get into the rhythm of the game to play their best.

I think that's him.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Some guys need to start and get into the rhythm of the game to play their best.

I think that's him.

Interesting thought. You might be onto something.

His lack of progression has been very concerning. I wonder how much time he actually spent this off-season attempting to get better. It appears to be very little.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Interesting thought. You might be onto something.

His lack of progression has been very concerning. I wonder how much time he actually spent this off-season attempting to get better. It appears to be very little.

Maybe.

The thing is, he made a lot of in season improvement last year.

If he was playing now at the level he ended at last year, that's a pretty good, productive player.

I'd take that.

 

[Louie and Bouie]

The biggest surprise is why he has become the A-1 "whipping boy" this year for JAB which has led to quick hooks and decreased minutes.

He has the 2nd highest True shooting % and effective FG% on the team and altho his "hustle" stats are down he's rarely allowed to play through mistakes like Hughes, Brissett and Howard.

Imo, the failure for Brissett to get better in the offseason (offensive stats are abysmal) and Howard's inability to play like he did pre-injury have been this team's biggest surprises to me.

I feel strongly that Marek should be getting more minutes as the roster currently stands.

 

[CuseFaninVT]

The biggest surprise is why he has become the A-1 "whipping boy" this year for JAB which has led to quick hooks and decreased minutes.

He has the 2nd highest True shooting % and effective FG% on the team and altho his "hustle" stats are down he's rarely allowed to play through mistakes like Hughes, Brissett and Howard.

Imo, the failure for Brissett to get better in the offseason (offensive stats are abysmal) and Howard's inability to play like he did pre-injury have been this team's biggest surprises to me.

I feel strongly that Marek should be getting more minutes as the roster currently stands.

But he won't shoot. Who cares about shooting percentage when you pass up so many shots?

People need to stop looking at stats and actually watch the players play.

He fouls people 80' from the basket. He didn't get 1/10 of a percent stronger in the off season. He's kind of phoning in this year.

I was hoping he would take his tremendous improvement from last year and build on that. But right now he seems to be even less than where he started last year.

 

[br801]

The second missed front end with a chance to tie up the game followed by the UB 3 was what lost it.

Hes better than this and I think will improve but its time to give Braswell 10 minutes of first half PT.

Braswell won't be the answer right now, I'm afraid. Dolezaj just needs to become the player he was at the end of last season. It's obviously in him somewhere.

 

[SUFan44]

Still don't understand why Boeheim has made the decision to start Hughes instead of Marek.

Makes no sense for this team and probably has a lot to do with why Marek is struggling to fit in, in my opinion.

 

[br801]

But he won't shoot. Who cares about shooting percentage when you pass up so many shots?

People need to stop looking at stats and actually watch the players play.

He fouls people 80' from the basket. He didn't get 1/10 of a percent stronger in the off season. He's kind of phoning in this year.

I was hoping he would take his tremendous improvement from last year and build on that. But right now he seems to be even less than where he started last year.

Yeah, but imagine what his true shooting percentage would be if he had actually made some free throws this season! But seriously, apart from his reluctance to shoot, as you and others have pointed out, he has stopped doing the little things that help, and started doing some of the little things that get you beat. It's puzzling.

 

[UnknownOrange]

I'd rather him play 30 minutes at the 5 than Chukwu and Sidibe. The line up needs to be shaken up a bit

 

[br801]

Still don't understand why Boeheim has made the decision to start Hughes instead of Marek.

Makes no sense for this team and probably has a lot to do with why Marek is struggling to fit in, in my opinion.

He didn't start most of the time last season, so that's probably not it. And I think Hughes starts because this team needs his offense badly. Carey is probably best suited in the role as offensive spark off the bench for this team.

 

[Fat tire 13]

If Marek played the entire game, he would have 12 fouls. Unfortunately you don't get 12 fouls in college. We can debate his offense, but I find all the petty fouls the most infuriating part of his regression. Learn to control yourself just a little bit