JP Macura for all time fave XU player

[xu koop scoop]

At 66 yrs old, been following XU since 1960. JP Macura has become my all time fave player due to his hustle, chutzpah & mischievous way
of working opponents, opposing coaches and even the refs. His "flop" to draw a technical the other night was a prime example.
His out of nowhere block late in the Marquette game inspired us. He reminds me of a Pete Rose or Cat in the Hat from Dr Seuss. Sure, we have had better players, but can't remember anybody as colorful. Jumpin Jamal Walker comes to mind, but not even close to JP. Byron Larkin
is still my fave player for pure skills due to what he, Staak & the Gardens did to propel XU bball & that #14 seed beating #3 seed Missouri game. David West was an icon with little support. JP gets a lot of steals & mentally grinds at opponents and their fans when playing on the road. We all love him at home games.
Enjoy the last 9 home games we'll get to see him play. JP & Tre are an awesome Senior 1/2 punch. JP's antics sometimes defers attention from Tre & the rest of the team.

[nuts4xu]

Steve Stricker may disagree, but good post rookie. I like the use of the word “chutzpah”, might be a first on this board.

[UCGRAD4X]

JP Macura has become my all time fave player due to his hustle, chutzpah & mischievous way of working opponents, opposing coaches and even the refs. His "flop" to draw a technical the other night was a prime example.
His out of nowhere block late in the Marquette game inspired us. He reminds me of a Pete Rose or Cat in the Hat from Dr Seuss. .

Congratulation on your tenure, SCOOP.

But, Cat in the Hat.

At 66, senility should't be setting in quite yet....but then again...

Don't forget to visit often, if you can remember how to get here.

:tumbleweeds:

[UCGRAD4X]

Nice take BTW.

Might be the first Dr. Seuss reference too.

[JTG]

I beg to differ about the flopping. JP was elbowed, and maybe oversold the blow. Flopping is what Wisconsin does because they're slow. But the definition of flopping is former Butler Bulldog Matt Howard who flopped like he was shot 5 or 6 times a game.

[XUFan09]

J.P. straight-up flops too, but yes, that was him provoking the shove and then selling it.

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

[UCGRAD4X]

JP would certainly be nearing the top five...and climbing (I would limit it to four year players). Not necessarily the BEST player but favorite.
In no particular order:
B. "Never met a shot I didn't like" Larkin
DFW
J. "We expect to win" Love
Stan the Man Burrell
Tu "Don't call me Terrell" Holloway
Brian "The Gentleman" Grant
(ok so I could't limit it to 5 , so sue me!)

Honorable Mention to:
JP "The Menace" Macura
Romain "Yes sir!" Sato
James "do it all" Posey
BJ "DO IT" Raymond
Lionel "Train kept a rollin' all night long" Chalmers

And just for fun:
Andy "Clap with your elbows" Donnelly
John "Asshole over elbows" Shimko

[MHettel]

Kevin Frey was a nuisance.

[UCGRAD4X]

Kevin Frey was a nuisance.

Definitely a player I would compare to JP (no, not because he's white!)

Attitude and nuisance factors - other teams love to hate too

[mid major]

JP would certainly be nearing the top five...and climbing (I would limit it to four year players). Not necessarily the BEST player but favorite.
In no particular order:
B. "Never met a shot I didn't like" Larkin
DFW
J. "We expect to win" Love
Stan the Man Burrell
Tu "Don't call me Terrell" Holloway
Brian "The Gentleman" Grant
(ok so I could't limit it to 5 , so sue me!)

Honorable Mention to:
JP "The Menace" Macura
Romain "Yes sir!" Sato
James "do it all" Posey
BJ "DO IT" Raymond
Lionel "Train kept a rollin' all night long" Chalmers

And just for fun:
Andy "Clap with your elbows" Donnelly
John "Asshole over elbows" Shimko
You forgot Tyrone "it's win time" Hill

[muskiefan82]

Shimko was a charge taking machine. Loved that guy.

[xavierj]

Definitely a player I would compare to JP (no, not because he's white!)

Attitude and nuisance factors - other teams love to hate too

I am not sure their is a comparison between Kevin Frey and JP other than both are white. How are they similar?

[bleedXblue]

JP's not even close to one of my all time favorite, but he flat out won the game today for X. Without him, we lose. One of his better games played in a Xavier uniform.

[xu koop scoop]

I started the thread & Kevin Frey does provoke fond memories as a player who could get under opponents skin. Still not comparable enough to JP.
Mentioning a favorite Trio: Tyrone Hill, Derrick Strong as Srs, with our best shot blocker Aaron Williams as a Fr, took down Georgetown with their future NBA Bigs Motumbo & Mourning to get to our 1st Sweet 16. Williams saved the day in that game after Tyrone Hill fouled out. Our trio of Bigs right now, Kanter / O'Mara & Jones reminds me of those times with a much better supporting cast. James Posey gets mentioned too as a fave for being a team player accepting his 6th man role for 2 years, plus he autographed my daughters basketball jerseys (she wore 41 to honor him) 3 yrs in a row. A true gentleman & so deserving of his NBA rings.

[xu82]

JP is in a special category. There are basketball players and people, then there are players and characters/people. It’s JP’s fire and attitude that set him apart. His skill set is versatile, but it’s the character that makes him one of a kind.

[gladdenguy]

Simply nobody I can really compare him too since I became an X fan at 6 years old in 1985. Players in the future will only compare to THE Jonathan Paul Macura.

He was an absolute warrior today but it no longer surprises me. It is what he does. I know I will shed some serious tears on Senior Day this year.

[Mel Cooley XU'81]

He reminds me of . . . Cat in the Hat from Dr Seuss.

So that makes Tyrique and Sean Thing 1 and Thing 2.

[American X]

J.P. Macura is pretty fly...for a white guy.

[Masterofreality]

At 66 yrs old, been following XU since 1960. JP Macura has become my all time fave player due to his hustle, chutzpah & mischievous way
of working opponents, opposing coaches and even the refs. His "flop" to draw a technical the other night was a prime example.
His out of nowhere block late in the Marquette game inspired us. He reminds me of a Pete Rose or Cat in the Hat from Dr Seuss. Sure, we have had better players, but can't remember anybody as colorful. Jumpin Jamal Walker comes to mind, but not even close to JP. Byron Larkin
is still my fave player for pure skills due to what he, Staak & the Gardens did to propel XU bball & that #14 seed beating #3 seed Missouri game. David West was an icon with little support. JP gets a lot of steals & mentally grinds at opponents and their fans when playing on the road. We all love him at home games.
Enjoy the last 9 home games we'll get to see him play. JP & Tre are an awesome Senior 1/2 punch. JP's antics sometimes defers attention from Tre & the rest of the team.

Outstanding post. This describes JP to a, errrrr T. The kid never stops digging on D, makes superb passes and scores. At the biggest play of the game, he outfights DePaul’s tallest player for a high ball and finds Q for the reverse slam. I’m REALLY gonna miss him.

[xu koop scoop]

Used to think Refs had it in for JP at times. Not so much anymore. Yesterday vs DePaul he drew 2 charges, which seemed correct calls - but have seen too
many of those go against the Defensive player. His steal of a lob pass against taller player near end of game may have been a foul on JP, but Refs let them play.

[xu koop scoop]

So that makes Tyrique and Sean Thing 1 and Thing 2.

:pilot: Like the Thing 1 & Thing 2 comment. More like JP is Cat in the Hat and the other starters are Thing 1 and the bench is Thing 2.
Gotta get the Things in somewhere. Or maybe the rest are Thing 1 thru Thing 8.

[X-man]

I took a friend from LA to the game yesterday, and he couldn't stop talking about JP. Loved his hustle, court smarts and leadership, along with his ability to play both ends of the floor. His recommendation: enjoy the ride for these last few games because JP's don't come along very often.

[American X]

J.P. had a great Senior Mode game against DePaul filling up the stat sheet.

- Ghost of Justin Doellman

[SemajParlor]

Used to think Refs had it in for JP at times. Not so much anymore. Yesterday vs DePaul he drew 2 charges, which seemed correct calls - but have seen too
many of those go against the Defensive player. His steal of a lob pass against taller player near end of game may have been a foul on JP, but Refs let them play.

One of those charges was right after Mack got T'd up and was irate on the sideline. JP is a very smart player. He knew to force the refs hand to make a call.