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Hypothetical - Drew vs. Tre

N

NUCat320

Senior
Dec 4, 2005
19,469
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Objectively, Drew Crawford was a far better player than Tre Demps. He was a part of better teams, he was a better defender, he scored more, he boarded much better, he got to the bucket better, he was better from the line.

But for me, the Crawford memory that sticks out best was the game in Ann Arbor in 2012, when he just...couldn't...get off a shot late in the game when nu cleared out for him. Crawford was a great player but he seemingly shrunk a bit at the big moments.

Demps, meanwhile, is/was an incredibly flawed player. Volume shooter. Maybe a bit selfish. Again, didn't defend so well. And a great athlete but undersized at the 2.

But, sheesh, a killer late in the game. He missed in the conference tourney last week, but NU definitely and without hesitation went to him for the game winner. And while he missed that one, he hit so many big late shots earlier in his career. He had an ability to catch fire in a way that I haven't seen since I started following the program closely in 1998. (No Walters, no Geno.)

So, let's say Tre was a few years older and Drew a few years younger, and Tre was the guy who came to NU the year after Johnny Shurna. Would a Juice-Demps-Johnny Cash core have achieved what a Juice-Drew-Shurna core could not?

Basically, would Demps' late-game wizardry with a shot of inconsistency be a better fit than Drew's game-to-game consistency with far fewer moments of individual brilliance?

My thought? I have no idea, but it's interesting to consider. I feel like Tre is a bit underestimated here, probably (and accurately) since he didn't play on any really good teams.

That 2012 Michigan highlight reel is below, if I did it right, because there's some dude who posts 30+ minute Michigan clips. That was an ugly ending. (I don't know what's in the clip.)

 
T

Turk_rivals223269

Junior
May 29, 2001
45,734
386
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drew imo was much more valuable than trey although trey really surprised me.

That said, i watched drew in some israeli league last week. Good to see him playing.
 
K

Katatonic

Sophomore
Oct 23, 2004
86,854
134
0
Crawford was the all around better player.

If Cobb had been healthy, would've had a better career than Demps..

Hearn and Demps had different games, but at the at the end of their careers were comparable productivity-wise (just too bad that Hearn's 1st 2 seasons were wasted - could have used his eligibility for another year).

A few months ago, was scrolling thru radio channels and came across a sports show host (Fox Sports) who was talking about the pro prospects of Tyler Ulis.

The host (didn't catch his name) apparently had been a HS BB coach in Illinois and thought less of Ulis than others.

Interesting enough, he listed Crawford (among others like Jabari Parker) as one of the best players his team faced in the regular season and playoffs.
 
M

Medill90

Junior
Jan 30, 2011
6,910
321
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Crawford did not get to the bucket better than Tre. When Crawford had an open lane he took it and could finish with authority. But Crawford lacked the ability to drive, absorb contact and get a decent shot off.

Drew would not have had the ball if he played all four years with Shurna and Juice. He would have been the third option.

There's no way I'd give up Drew's size, excellent defense, rebounding and playing above the rim for Tre's offense.
 
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N

NJCat

All-Conference
Mar 7, 2016
21,326
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Medill90 said:
Crawford did not get to the bucket better than Drew. When Crawford had an open lane he took it and could finish with authority. But Crawford lacked the ability to drive, absorb contact and get a decent shot off.

Drew would not have had the ball if he played all four years with Shurna and Juice. He would have been the third option.

There's no way I'd give up Drew's size, excellent defense, rebounding and playing above the rim for Tre's offense.
Click to expand...

Dude, you need to proof read your stuff. "Crawford did not get to the bucket better than Drew." I can't figure out what point you are trying to make......
 
M

Medill90

Junior
Jan 30, 2011
6,910
321
0
Fitzphile said:
Dude, you need to proof read your stuff. "Crawford did not get to the bucket better than Drew." I can't figure out what point you are trying to make......
Click to expand...

....because the next two sentences weren't sufficient to clear up my typo?
 
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