some players receive, we don't see what goes on off the court. How does a player react when he doesn't get as much time as he believes he deserves? Does he gripe in the locker room? Does he create a positive or negative reaction with his teammates. Does he put the team first and cheer his teammates on when he's sitting on the bench or does he sit there and sulk. Attitude is a great asset for a player. If he's constantly only worried about his own playing time and not the success of the team, he's likely to get less playing time then we, who don't really know what's going on behind the scenes, believe he's entitled.

(11-30-2014 05:37 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  some players receive, we don't see what goes on off the court. How does a player react when he doesn't get as much time as he believes he deserves? Does he ***** and gripe in the locker room? Does he create a positive or negative reaction with his teammates. Does he put the team first and cheer his teammates on when he's sitting on the bench or does he sit there and sulk. Attitude is a great asset for a player. If he's constantly only worried about his own playing time and not the success of the team, he's likely to get less playing time then we, who don't really know what's going on behind the scenes, believe he's entitled.

I leave playing time to the coaches. At the moment, I think our best staring line-up, especially if we are playing a bigger team, would be James, Roger, M. Hill, Dillard, and JT. Josh is first off the bench and needs to get on the court quicker. I'd really like to see Mareik get more time, but not sure exactly where he fits in right now.

Mariek obviously doesn't fit in the plan right now. For whatever reason, he's not getting as much playing time as some would expect and like. Personally I think he has some talent, but just not as much as some believe. I think he has great potential, but he might be a season away from realizing it. James White is a far superior player this year than he even was last year. I think, if Mariek just has patience and works hard, he'll start to see the court more next year. With what we have this year, I feel he'll be a 15 minute player most nights.

We don't see what goes on in practice.

It's really sad how he finished the last 6 or 7 games last season and also heard that he have been great in practice but this is how he get rewarded. I saw a couple of players at the mall last week and asked about Mareik and I was told by a couple of players that they also didn't understand why the coaches wasn't playing him more because he have been really good in practice.
I say that Shields promised someone (James Reid) playing time and Mareik get screwed because of it. Look at the numbers this year. Mareik is only playing 11 minutes per game with hardly no touches and is at 5 points and 3 rebounds. James Reid 7 points and 2 rebounds in 26 minutes per game. Numbers don't lie, people do. Yes I'm a big fan of Mareik from the first time I met him, the most humble hard working and nicest kid ever. My son love him because he took time just to talk to my son about working hard, making good grades and trusting in what God have planned for him. He said he will also work with my son this summer. So I have a reason to be one of his biggest fans. The kid is so nice. Yall need to take time and meet him, you will see what I mean. I had a chance to meet his parents as well, mom is really sweet, dad didn't look so happy at the time. I hope things work out and the coaches play him at the 3 which is his natural position as well as the 4. We saw in the Arkansas state game what hi is capable of. Give the kid a chance to be the kid you recruited and watch what happen. #LetsgoMo

(11-30-2014 06:02 PM)outsideualr Wrote:  Mariek obviously doesn't fit in the plan right now. For whatever reason, he's not getting as much playing time as some would expect and like. Personally I think he has some talent, but just not as much as some believe. I think he has great potential, but he might be a season away from realizing it. James White is a far superior player this year than he even was last year. I think, if Mariek just has patience and works hard, he'll start to see the court more next year. With what we have this year, I feel he'll be a 15 minute player most nights.

I can think of many a year when Mo would be a starter. Nice problem to have -- depth -- if the kid can keep a better attitude about it than some fans who do NOT need to get in his ear and contribute to the ruination of his career. I think Mo has a real legitimate future role in our program if he is patient and keeps his head on straight. Right now, JR and Hill are the 5th/6th men. Josh is 7th. The others are trying to break into that rotation. A good problem to have.

You have two 3/4's = stretch 4 playing in front of him and a system that is not built for 3 pt shooters like Mo.

This just is what it is. time to work hard and play well when he gets a chance.

He will get a chance. someone always gets hurt or has grade issues and minutes open up.

(11-30-2014 10:53 PM)B. Mitchell Wrote:  It's really sad how he finished the last 6 or 7 games last season and also heard that he have been great in practice but this is how he get rewarded. I saw a couple of players at the mall last week and asked about Mareik and I was told by a couple of players that they also didn't understand why the coaches wasn't playing him more because he have been really good in practice.
I say that Shields promised someone (James Reid) playing time and Mareik get screwed because of it. Look at the numbers this year. Mareik is only playing 11 minutes per game with hardly no touches and is at 5 points and 3 rebounds. James Reid 7 points and 2 rebounds in 26 minutes per game. Numbers don't lie, people do. Yes I'm a big fan of Mareik from the first time I met him, the most humble hard working and nicest kid ever. My son love him because he took time just to talk to my son about working hard, making good grades and trusting in what God have planned for him. He said he will also work with my son this summer. So I have a reason to be one of his biggest fans. The kid is so nice. Yall need to take time and meet him, you will see what I mean. I had a chance to meet his parents as well, mom is really sweet, dad didn't look so happy at the time. I hope things work out and the coaches play him at the 3 which is his natural position as well as the 4. We saw in the Arkansas state game what hi is capable of. Give the kid a chance to be the kid you recruited and watch what happen. #LetsgoMo

I am sure Mariek is a fine young man. And in some years he would be a starter. But obviously at this time there is a reason for the minutes he's getting or not getting. We knew that playing time was going to be at a premium this year since we have so many talented players.
Coaches see things we don't see. And they see them every day. We only see things at game times and listen to a lot of hearsay.

I agree with Jim T. that Mariek needs to keep working hard and his time will come. Players are always injured, sick, out for various reasons, and he'll have more chances down the line. If earning a degree is his priority, which it should be, then he just needs to do what he needs to do in the classroom, control what he can on the court, and enjoy the experience of playing D1 basketball.

Everyone can't be a starter or a star. Maybe he will be in time. Maybe even this season. I see him as the logical successor to James White if he keeps working hard to get stronger. I know you and others disagree with me on this, but I don't see him as a three. And I don't believe the coaches do either. It's not just because of his height. I have seen some moves around the basket that show me he can produce there. He has good jumping ability and can rebound when needed. If I'm wrong I'm wrong, but I don't believe he'll ever play much as a three in this offense. If he plays, he'll play mostly at the four. Just my opinion, which probably isn't worth much, but unfortunately it's the best I've got. Others are certainly welcome to theirs. That's what makes this board interesting. We all see things differently, and that's the way it should be. Otherwise, it would get boring if everyone agreed with everyone else. Go Trojans!

When Mareik starts making shots in games, he will get PT. And he will start making them. But right now, do you play him ahead of James White? Not hardly. Roger? Forget it. His best chance is to be one of the swing men. But does he play ahead of Ben, a 40% career 3PT shooter? I doubt it. James Reid. There you have a possibility, but to date this year James is our best 3PT shooter, and Mareik is 2 of 8. So, Mareik keeps getting spot minutes, and when he gets hot, you would assume he will get more minutes. I figure he will.

What Mariek did last year has no bearing on his situation this year. We have new players who have come in and filled spots that we thought Kemy and Stetson would be filling this year. I know it's redundant, but I believe the majority of his playing time will come backing up James White at an inside position. Doesn't mean he can't come out and shoot the three when situation calls for it. He's playing the four on defense, and probably will on offense. Shouldn't matter where he plays. Even the five position ends up at the top of the circle at times acting as a point forward. As Pappy has stated, when he starts showing he can knock down shots consistently, he'll play more. And if he can relieve James and rebound and play inside defense, he'll get more playing time. Of course if Ben and James keep shooting the three well, and even Marius has shown some ability to shoot the three, the time for Mariek will be somewhat limited this season. Barring an injury or something else unforeseen.

How many 3's have James Reid taken and made this year. Look at the numbers Mareik is Averaging 4 points 3 rebounds in 11 minutes Shooting 41% Fg 83%Ft and 25% 3pts on how many shots.
James Reid is averaging 7pts 2 rebounds in 25 minutes shooting 42% Fg 71%Ft and 35% 3'pts
Those numbers in 11 minutes and they don't run a play for him. Numbers don't lie only Coaches. I can't wait until Mareik finally get a chance to be the player that they recruited not someone who they are trying to turn into a post just because he grew 4 inches since he got their. When that happens please don't jump on the Mareik band wagon like the end of last season because I will call you out. I have nothing against James Reid and I'm sure he is a great kid, but he is only a good back up for Ben who should be getting limited minutes. He cannot play the 3 because he is to small and to slow but Shields have promised him something. Stay tuned and watch, all I can say is that I will call you out by the end of the season. Happy Holidays Gentleman. (LOL)

(12-01-2014 07:10 PM)B. Mitchell Wrote:  How many 3's have James Reid taken and made this year. Look at the numbers Mareik is Averaging 4 points 3 rebounds in 11 minutes Shooting 41% Fg 83%Ft and 25% 3pts on how many shots.
James Reid is averaging 7pts 2 rebounds in 25 minutes shooting 42% Fg 71%Ft and 35% 3'pts
Those numbers in 11 minutes and they don't run a play for him. Numbers don't lie only Coaches. I can't wait until Mareik finally get a chance to be the player that they recruited not someone who they are trying to turn into a post just because he grew 4 inches since he got their. When that happens please don't jump on the Mareik band wagon like the end of last season because I will call you out. I have nothing against James Reid and I'm sure he is a great kid, but he is only a good back up for Ben who should be getting limited minutes. He cannot play the 3 because he is to small and to slow but Shields have promised him something. Stay tuned and watch, all I can say is that I will call you out by the end of the season. Happy Holidays Gentleman. (LOL)

If calling us out means pointing out that Mo has started to play better basketball, I hope to h*** you do. Right now, he needs to earn his time. He seems to be a great kid, too. Let's hope no grownups get in his ear and unnecessarily support discontent which would only work to his detriment. Telling him that coaches lie will not help him or our team.

I said a month or two ago that he could be our next NBA player. I agree he is a great talent and needs to get more time. Still I'm not sure what his best position is, and Maurius' improvement has caught me by surprise. He will get more minutes, I'm just not sure at who's expense they will come.

(12-01-2014 07:10 PM)B. Mitchell Wrote:  How many 3's have James Reid taken and made this year. Look at the numbers Mareik is Averaging 4 points 3 rebounds in 11 minutes Shooting 41% Fg 83%Ft and 25% 3pts on how many shots.
James Reid is averaging 7pts 2 rebounds in 25 minutes shooting 42% Fg 71%Ft and 35% 3'pts
Those numbers in 11 minutes and they don't run a play for him. Numbers don't lie only Coaches. I can't wait until Mareik finally get a chance to be the player that they recruited not someone who they are trying to turn into a post just because he grew 4 inches since he got their. When that happens please don't jump on the Mareik band wagon like the end of last season because I will call you out. I have nothing against James Reid and I'm sure he is a great kid, but he is only a good back up for Ben who should be getting limited minutes. He cannot play the 3 because he is to small and to slow but Shields have promised him something. Stay tuned and watch, all I can say is that I will call you out by the end of the season. Happy Holidays Gentleman. (LOL)

Like Jim T., I would love for Mariek to come on and play terrifically.
If he's doing that, the team is probably winning. I would think there could be certain matchups where Mariek might get more playing time.
And as for James Reid, the kid is around 6'3" tall. That's plenty tall for any of our three guard positions. The coaches have obviously figured out that Ben, James and Josh are the best suited to play the most minutes at the guard spots.

From what I've seen so far, I don't believe Mariek's competition is James Reid or Ben Dillard. It's James White and Marius Hill. And they've both been playing really well. Those of you who have been at our games so far, is that a fair assessment? And moving on to Josh Hagins, I'd like to see him play more minutes, but he's the perfect sixth man. That can be more important than being a starter. The sixth man is the guy that can come in and provide instant offense and defense. When you have pretty equal talent down through the ninth or tenth man, some good players aren't going to get as much time as if you only had five or six good players, and the bench doesn't see as much time. I don't really care who plays as long as we win. And that's in the coaches hands. There's an old saying that the cream always rises to the top. There's plenty of time for several players to prove their worth prior to conference play. It's an exciting time. And for Mariek, I don't believe he'd be proving us wrong because most of us have thought from last year that he'd have a good season this year. And he could still. And if you want to call us out, feel free. Go Trojans!

LOL

If I'm correct, Mariek has three years (counting this one) to play. He'll get his chance if he chooses to be patient. There's plenty of time for him to succeed. Sometimes you're just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I think of NFL quarterbacks who were behind a great quarterback in college, so they transferred and became successful at another University and eventually became starters in the NFL. Jeff George comes to mind. I think it was John Elway he was behind at Stanford, so he transferred to Indiana, did well, and had a good, if not great, NFL career. I think I got the players and the schools straight. Anyway, a person has to make a decision that fits him. If he's not happy somewhere, for whatever reason, maybe he should try somewhere else. But if he likes his school and his friends, even though he doesn't get a lot of playing minutes, then he should stay. Gus is a great example. He knows he's not going to play in the NBA, but he has stuck around for five years, getting his degree, and according to a recent post, has a job waiting for him at Stephens Investments. I'm sure he'd like more playing time, but he gives it all he has to give in the minutes he gets. I believe Mariek is that kind of young man also. Whether or not he'll ever play in the NBA, I can't say. But he'll probably have a chance to play at some level when he finishes school. I see him averaging around 15 minutes a game this year, but more next year if he continues to improve his all around game. If you think that's bad, think of how Andre Brown and Jerron Washington feel. We knew competition for playing time would be tough this year. And with the addition of Roger Woods and James Reid, and the vast improvement of Marius Hill, it changed the landscape. I predict Mariek will see more action Thursday, since Mo State usually have some pretty tall players, and we'll need his size to match us with some of them on defense. Let's see how good my predictability is in this case. Go Trojans!