C Byron 'B.J.' Mullens (Levanga Hokkaido Sapporo - Japan)

[PtownBuckeye]

BJ should have got the ball more tonight...he was 6 for 8 from the field and was attacking the basket nicely. He does have to work on his hands a little though like the announces said. And I don't remeber him shooting horribly from the charity stripe but espn says he was 2 of 9. Either way, most of those were and ones... he needs to get some more feeds and minutes

 

[billmac91]

BJ probably shouldn't hush the crowd after an easy dunk while down 12 points in the first half....

 

[Mr_Burns]

BJ should have got the ball more tonight...he was 6 for 8 from the field and was attacking the basket nicely. He does have to work on his hands a little though like the announces said. And I don't remeber him shooting horribly from the charity stripe but espn says he was 2 of 9. Either way, most of those were and ones... he needs to get some more feeds and minutes

I'm a little more concerned with his output (or lack thereof) on the defensive end. I'm very happy with the progress he's made offensively, but it doesn't mean much if he's giving up more points than he's scoring. He's 7 feet tall, and I'd like to see him start making an impact defensively like a 7-footer should.

 

[LitlBuck]

I'm a little more concerned with his output (or lack thereof) on the defensive end. I'm very happy with the progress he's made offensively, but it doesn't mean much if he's giving up more points than he's scoring. He's 7 feet tall, and I'd like to see him start making an impact defensively like a 7-footer should.

I don't see how he can use his height very much and be better defensively when he has to run out to the corner out of that zone defense. That takes them away from the basket and puts smaller guys on 7' players which is not good. He would be much more effective defensively if we played man-to-man.

With that said, I agree that he needs to start to see more minutes because he is much more productive offensively than Dallas. However, they both need to shoot free throws for hours. That is just giving away points.

BJ probably shouldn't hush the crowd after an easy dunk while down 12 points in the first half....

Yup. Should have left that at Canal Winchester.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

I do believe he's made a breakthrough of sorts. He now realizes that he has to do more than just turn around and shoot over the opponent in order to score & he's getting more aggressive, which is nice. Hopefully he keeps improving and starts grabbing a few more rebounds.

i dont see "more aggressive"
i see better footwork and a tighter game. bj is playing more directly to the basket, this makes him look quicker, when in fact he is going from point a to point b in more of a direct "tighter" manner.

ive seen fundamental improvements, he still lapses. but what you are beginning to see you should see more often and more consistently.

 

[DZ83CK]

I'm a little more concerned with his output (or lack thereof) on the defensive end. I'm very happy with the progress he's made offensively, but it doesn't mean much if he's giving up more points than he's scoring. He's 7 feet tall, and I'd like to see him start making an impact defensively like a 7-footer should.

It was discouraging to see Tisdale from Illinois scoring over him with ease. Tisdale isn't exactly a physical specimen ...

 

[crazybuckfan40]

It was discouraging to see Tisdale from Illinois scoring over him with ease. Tisdale isn't exactly a physical specimen ...

Kid is just as tall and understands exactly what JO was talking about...Quick to the basket, understanding angles, and other things of that nature...

The hands is what continue to bother me...He is getting balls knocked away from him and not grabbing balls that he should get...He is still not using his body great to sheild defenders when getting the entry pass, and not comign to the ball...

 

[Trevi]

I'm not liking this - the Sporting News already posting a mock NBA draft with Mullens at No. 12:

Mock draft: Griffin is a sure thing at No. 1 - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

12. Chicago. B.J. Mullens, C, Ohio State. The way this season has gone, it?s a safe bet that the Bulls will add to their wide collection of lottery picks, and it?s also a safe bet that they?ll look for a big man. Mullens is young and raw, but he is a 7-footer who seems to improve every time out.

 

[LitlBuck]

I think he needs to stay for another year but I thought the same thing about KK last year. I think the question will be visited all about the money. This year isn't over and it's too bad that we already have to start thinking about next year with this news.

 

[LitlBuck]

I have heard many times that Mullens is going to be one and done:(. Physically and athletically I think he might be ready to go to the NBA if you do not include strength. He also is not a very good defender on a one-on-one situation in my opinion and seems to get lost sometimes even when we are playing zone. I know that the NBA is basically all offense but I just wonder with the lack of minutes that he is getting and the fact that Johnson and Tisdale really had their way with him if he is ready to go.

Maybe I am being selfish because I would like for him to stay another year and show people how good he really can be on the college level.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

I have heard many times that Mullens is going to be one and done:(. Physically and athletically I think he might be ready to go to the NBA if you do not include strength. He also is not a very good defender on a one-on-one situation in my opinion and seems to get lost sometimes even when we are playing zone. I know that the NBA is basically all offense but I just wonder with the lack of minutes that he is getting and the fact that Johnson and Tisdale really had their way with him if he is ready to go.

Maybe I am being selfish because I would like for him to stay another year and show people how good he really can be on the college level.

johnson is a tough matchup for a big. in a perfect situation you wouldnt have dallas or mullens on him. but i also wouldnt be allowing ten minutes for the entry, you have to pressure the entry and make it some what difficult.

how many times have you seen him in "one on one" situations? weve played zone all year. if anything ive been impressed with his ability to move, come out and play from the three line to the opposite block. can he work on things sure, but i think sometimes you need to sit back and realize what you have. then appreciate that...

right now hes averaging 9 pts 5 rbs while shooting 63% from the floor on the year. in 8 of the last 9 hes had 12+ pts and hasnt played more than 28 mins in one of those games...

 

[LitlBuck]

johnson is a tough matchup for a big. in a perfect situation you wouldnt have dallas or mullens on him. but i also wouldnt be allowing ten minutes for the entry, you have to pressure the entry and make it some what difficult.

totally agree with that. Johnson is very difficult to defend in the low post or even up high.

how many times have you seen him in "one on one" situations? weve played zone all year. if anything ive been impressed with his ability to move, come out and play from the three line to the opposite block. can he work on things sure, but i think sometimes you need to sit back and realize what you have. then appreciate that...

I think you know that I know we are playing the zone defense but every once in awhile he will be caught girding a player down low and is unable to stop him. I agree that more ball pressure from the top would certainly help him along with helping Dallas.

right now hes averaging 9 pts 5 rbs while shooting 63% from the floor on the year. in 8 of the last 9 hes had 12+ pts and hasnt played more than 28 mins in one of those games...

I am not knocking what he has done for us offensively but many of those shots have been high percentage shots. In fact, I would like to see him on the floor more sometimes because I think offensively he brings more to the table then Dallas. However, I also think that he needs to improve some of his offensive moves in the low post. I guess I would just like for him to stick around for one more year.

 

[Buckeye Nut]

He was exposed defensively big time last night by Johnson. All the NBA is is one on one matcups, if he can't handle Johnson, I can't even imagine what an NBA player would do to him. I understand if he leaves because of the money and all, but he's not anywhere near ready to contribute to an NBA team.

 

[LitlBuck]

He was exposed defensively big time last night by Johnson. All the NBA is is one on one matcups, if he can't handle Johnson, I can't even imagine what an NBA player would do to him. I understand if he leaves because of the money and all, but he's not anywhere near ready to contribute to an NBA team.

Remember we were saying the same thing about KK at the same time last year and look what happened.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

totally agree with that. Johnson is very difficult to defend in the low post or even up high.


I think you know that I know we are playing the zone defense but every once in awhile he will be caught girding a player down low and is unable to stop him. I agree that more ball pressure from the top would certainly help him along with helping Dallas.

the matchup vs a guy like johnson is a mismatch. we dont have a four. johnson isnt a center. granted mullens got some buckets on the other end dropping what 17? 18?


I am not knocking what he has done for us offensively but many of those shots have been high percentage shots. In fact, I would like to see him on the floor more sometimes because I think offensively he brings more to the table then Dallas. However, I also think that he needs to improve some of his offensive moves in the low post. I guess I would just like for him to stick around for one more year.
a good entry into the post is a 55+% shooting percentage. you forget mullens is converting 63% from the field. i dont have his low block numbers in front of me but id better they are greater than the 63%

how many times did he get the ball in offense last night? twice? and it was two or three vs iu.

i agree about sticking around. but i really think that oden, conley, cook and kk all could have done better but they made tough choices and have done ok in the league.. heck ill toss in redd, i thought he should have stayed also.

He was exposed defensively big time last night by Johnson. All the NBA is is one on one matcups, if he can't handle Johnson, I can't even imagine what an NBA player would do to him. I understand if he leaves because of the money and all, but he's not anywhere near ready to contribute to an NBA team.

he wouldnt guard a 3-4 in the nba. hed play against guys like oden, yao etc not the likes of a sheed or josh howard.

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