Player Outlook - Dodie Dunson

[electricmayhem]

The next in a series of player profiles -- Dodie Dunson.

https://www.examiner.com/x-7020-Bradley-Braves-Examiner~y2009m6d26-200910-Player-Outlook-Dodie-Dunson

[Da Coach]

Good job again, Joe. Let me add my kool-aid perspective-

Dodie is Bradley's 2nd leading returning scorer at 10.1 ppg, and he is almost equal to Sam Maniscalco on a per-minute-played basis. But with the return of Andrew Warren from injury, I expect to see Dodie mostly in the 6th-man role, and possible starter if injuries factor in. Dodie was Bradley's top 3-point shooter percentage-wise, and he is a good rebounder for a guard. I don't think you can put much significance on the assist/turnover numbers, since Dodie did not play point guard at all. An inordinate number of those turnovers came late in the season when he played several games with the broken hand. Your outlook doesn't mention the injury, but if not for that, Dodie might have kept his scoring average up around 12-13 ppg.
Here are his numbers per-game. Note that the injury occurred near the end of the game at Loyola, and that in only 2 of the following 8 games did he score more than 4 points because of the injury.:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/players/60091

I disagree on one thing-- I think Dodie showed very good defensive skills, and was often effective in guarding forwards and players much taller than he is. I know the coaches like his defensive abilities, and they aren't reluctant to have him guard the best players on the other teams.
Also not mentioned- Dodie was one of the team captains in his first season at Bradley, and is an outstanding leader, and a great personality.
And Dodie is an excellent student, who posted great grade-point averages both semesters last year to halp the team post record high academic numbers.

[electricmayhem]

Good job again, Joe. Let me add my kool-aid perspective-

Dodie is Bradley's 2nd leading returning scorer at 10.1 ppg, and he is almost equal to Sam Maniscalco on a per-minute-played basis. But with the return of Andrew Warren from injury, I expect to see Dodie mostly in the 6th-man role, and possible starter if injuries factor in. Dodie was Bradley's top 3-point shooter percentage-wise, and he is a good rebounder for a guard. I don't think you can put much significance on the assist/turnover numbers, since Dodie did not play point guard at all. An inordinate number of those turnovers came late in the season when he played several games with the broken hand. Your outlook doesn't mention the injury, but if not for that, Dodie might have kept his scoring average up around 12-13 ppg.
Here are his numbers per-game. Note that the injury occurred near the end of the game at Loyola, and that in only 2 of the following 8 games did he score more than 4 points because of the injury.:

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/players/60091

I disagree on one thing-- I think Dodie showed very good defensive skills, and was often effective in guarding forwards and players much taller than he is. I know the coaches like his defensive abilities, and they aren't reluctant to have him guard the best players on the other teams.
Also not mentioned- Dodie was one of the team captains in his first season at Bradley, and is an outstanding leader, and a great personality.
And Dodie is an excellent student, who posted great grade-point averages both semesters last year to halp the team post record high academic numbers.

I guess my question is this: If DD is a very good defensive player, our best three-point threat and one of the team's best scorers, why isn't he starting? Is SM that good that we can't bring him off the bench in a Hinrich-like role?

I know that I have differences with some of you on the board here, but I'd be starting EM, DD, AW, WE, and SS to begin the season, and bring SM and CR as the first two off the bench.

[tornado]

Dodie averaged 27 mpg last year, I think his minutes this year will stay in the same ball park, and can't see him
losing a full 1/4 of his playing time his senior season unless he's hobbled by injury.

[Da Coach]

I guess my question is this: If DD is a very good defensive player, our best three-point threat and one of the team's best scorers, why isn't he starting? Is SM that good that we can't bring him off the bench in a Hinrich-like role?

I know that I have differences with some of you on the board here, but I'd be starting EM, DD, AW, WE, and SS to begin the season, and bring SM and CR as the first two off the bench.

Joe- Dodie did start the first 8 games last year, which shows that the coaches must have seen something in him worthy of making him a starter immediately. Coach Les then changed his lineup around and brought Dodie off the bench as the 6th man for the next 10 games. But then he was back as a starter for every game until his injury. That's 19 of the first 29 games that he started, and I am certain he would have remained a starter except for the injury.--

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/players/60091

One more thought- You project Dodie to score 9.1 ppg this season (compared to 10.1 ppg last year). If that happens, he will be the first juco recruit of Jim Les' I can think of who's production went down his senior season compared to his junior season. I don't think that will happen.
Dodie was averaging 11.3 ppg before his injury (5.3 ppg after the injury).
I think he can do at least as well this season.

[Out of Balance]

I guess my question is this: If DD is a very good defensive player, our best three-point threat and one of the team's best scorers, why isn't he starting? Is SM that good that we can't bring him off the bench in a Hinrich-like role?

I know that I have differences with some of you on the board here, but I'd be starting EM, DD, AW, WE, and SS to begin the season, and bring SM and CR as the first two off the bench.

You got it all right BUT SM for EM No way is EM better SM As I posted on another thread, if AW had not got hurt, we may not of seen much of EM last year

[PTownHawkeye]

I guess my question is this: If DD is a very good defensive player, our best three-point threat and one of the team's best scorers, why isn't he starting?

Mayhem, thanks for the continued coverage of BU! A couple comments...

First of all, Dodie does not start because as Coach Les said himself midway through the season, Dodie is a spark off the bench. No player was able to give the team the type of spark that DD has off the bench and Dodie is such a team guy that he doesn't care whether he starts of comes off the bench (again, this was said by DD himself). If you look at many of the top teams in college basketball, often times their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th leading scorer often is a bench player. Coaches like having the option of knowing that production will not drop significantly when they begin subbing. And also as JL has said in the past "it's not who starts, its who finishes." DD finished a lot of games.

As far as the defensive comment, I think DD is an effective defender. He won the hearts of many in the opening game vs UIC when he shut down Josh Mayo, who put up 30+ points against us in the opener a season before. He didn't have another lockdown performance like that as far as I can remember, though.

Either way, I don't honestly think JL would have played DD at all down the stretch with that broken hand which impeded his ability to shoot the ball at all if he wasn't contributing significantly on defense.

[Samd2]

The way i see it is dd has earned his minutes and they are his to lose. i think hes a class act and hard worker and thats just not going to happen. Hes everything a coach like jl wants and needs. dd has shown that he will play whatever role he is asked. We have seen him run the point and get in the paint when needed. DD is a team leader, he might come off the bench this year but if he does he will be one the best guys off the bench in the valley.

Im really looking forward to the next two seasons, we will be tough

[Braveman]

I agree with some of what others have said...

Dodie is a good defender- the best players know their roles- and DD is a spark for us off the bench...

Also- While its fun to start, its probably more important who is there in the guts of the game that tells you what coaches think of their abilities- I would take Dodie any day of the week!

[electricmayhem]

I agree with some of what others have said...

Dodie is a good defender- the best players know their roles- and DD is a spark for us off the bench...

Also- While its fun to start, its probably more important who is there in the guts of the game that tells you what coaches think of their abilities- I would take Dodie any day of the week!

I agree with this, but usually a team starts their best all-around players, and has a one-dimensional guy off the bench for offense. This seemed to work for the Bulls with Ben Gordon, who doesn't play good defense.

I know some of you like Dodie's defense, but I guess my question still remains that if he's not just an offensive spark, why wouldn't he start?

I have read your answers... I suppose I don't think as highly of his defense as everyone else.

[scout4126]

I agree with this, but usually a team starts their best all-around players, and has a one-dimensional guy off the bench for offense. This seemed to work for the Bulls with Ben Gordon, who doesn't play good defense.

I know some of you like Dodie's defense, but I guess my question still remains that if he's not just an offensive spark, why wouldn't he start?

I have read your answers... I suppose I don't think as highly of his defense as everyone else.

He was usually always assigned to the oppositions best offensive guard. I personally don't see how you could claim there was a better defensive guard or player on the team.

[tornado]

I fully agree with your assessment, scout....

[Bradleyguy10]

You got it all right BUT SM for EM No way is EM better SM As I posted on another thread, if AW had not got hurt, we may not of seen much of EM last year

I agree why does everyone think EM is better than SM??? He is a none factor on offense and I know that people say he needs to be a pass first type of guy anyway since he's a point guard and I would agree with that if we played that type of offense...where our point guard dribbled around everyone made things happened and got it to the open man. But the thing is is that we don't do that....we do a weave or we try to dish it down low to a big and then let him push it and turn and shoot and usually miss. With the weave or w/e else it might be your point guard is just another shooter. With the JL offense we need our pg to be a shooter. Besides its not like EM is even better at passing or turnover ratio than SM.

I hope it goes like this SM, DD, AW, TB, WE based on the JL way

If the MK or JP can handle themselves they'll be getting good time behind TB. CR and DD behind AW @ #3. Then SM and AW behind DD @ #2. Then EM behind SM @ #1. That's how I think it should be...a relatively bigger lineup but still quick. There's no reason for SM and EM to be starting the same time...it wouldn't make sense at all.

[SFP]

Bradleyguy10 I can agree with you with just about everything in your quote except the fact I can see SM and EM on the floor at the same time. They both give you different looks and SM is definitely an offensive threat at the 2 and if AW is playing hot then that will leave the shooting guard wide open to hit a set shot which SM can hit at a very high percent. If EM starts to shoot and hit that top of zone shot then I believe he'll be our best play maker. Imagine when an opposing guard can't play off of him? He'll go right by them and open up all kinds of shots. He is quicker then SM and can play a much better pressing game.

[electricmayhem]

Bradleyguy10 I can agree with you with just about everything in your quote except the fact I can see SM and EM on the floor at the same time. They both give you different looks and SM is definitely an offensive threat at the 2 and if AW is playing hot then that will leave the shooting guard wide open to hit a set shot which SM can hit at a very high percent. If EM starts to shoot and hit that top of zone shot then I believe he'll be our best play maker. Imagine when an opposing guard can't play off of him? He'll go right by them and open up all kinds of shots. He is quicker then SM and can play a much better pressing game.

However you look at it, this can't be a bad problem to have. It just doesn't look like our freshmen guards will see the floor.