X thoughts

[tower912]

1.   Making 3 pts shots sure makes this team look good.
2.  Bad defense, bad rebounding.   
3.   Only good part of the defense was the steals.
4.  Buzz rode that line up hard.   Kudos to Jamil, Jake, Todd, Davante, and Derrick.
5.   Jake.   Jake.  Jake.  Jake.  Jake. Jake.
6.   I do not understand the block/charge rule as called by the officials today.
7.   X is physical.
8.   Good FT shooting
9.  One more down.   Who is next?

[mileskishnish72]

Bluejays.

[PGsHeroes32]

2 was a real issue especially the rebounding.

4 is the key. That is the lineup.

They can score, make free throws, find each each other in good spots. And usually do pretty well on d because Todd and Dwil are scrappy. Today we were out matched on boards no matter what lineup.

[77ncaachamps]

Jake's threes were big. Altered Xavier's defense a bit.

But man, is he horrendous on the defensive end. He can keep his man in front of him if he's of the same speed or standing still. He got blown by and committed a stupid foul trying to block a shot. He was even targeted by Xavier, getting posted on the block if he was caught down there. One led to a Jamil foul.

[NersEllenson]

1.   Making 3 pts shots sure makes this team look good.
2.  Bad defense, bad rebounding.   
3.   Only good part of the defense was the steals.
4.  Buzz rode that line up hard.   Kudos to Jamil, Jake, Todd, Davante, and Derrick.
5.   Jake.   Jake.  Jake.  Jake.  Jake. Jake.
6.   I do not understand the block/charge rule as called by the officials today.
7.   X is physical.
8.   Good FT shooting
9.  One more down.   Who is next?

You crack me up Tower - no mention of Derrick??!  He played his best game of his MU career today...and there's been quite a few other recaps you've done where you tout Derrick in games he accomplished MUCH less!

I was thrilled with Derrick today....thought he was absolutely awesome.

[downtown85]

2.  I agree about the bad rebounding but the defense forced something like 20 turnovers.  Without those we had no hope.  

10. very few MU turnovers.  Some nice assists from our PG.

[downtown85]

You crack me up Tower - no mention of Derrick??!  He played his best game of his MU career today...and there's been quite a few other recaps you've done where you tout Derrick in games he accomplished MUCH less!

I was thrilled with Derrick today....thought he was absolutely awesome.

Derrick guarded number 0 from X really well.  He looked frustrated. 

[willie warrior]

Good team win, but it did get iffy at the end. X had 20 TO's and we had about 3. That is scary.

Jake and Derrick stepped up big today.

Gardner was huge at the line.

Our D was not good, especially Mayo and Ja. Wilson. Mayo allowed his guy to score 15 oints in the 2nd half. I was counting. That is terrible.

A good team win, and we need to keep this up.

[tower912]

I'm not so insecure that I have to make every thread about Derrick.   He played well.   

[chapman]

Derrick guarded number 0 from X really well.  He looked frustrated. 

The value of disruptive defense over simple "lockdown" defense is huge.  Last three home games for Derrick: 4, 5, 6 steals.  It drives other teams crazy and creates transition points.

[MarquetteDano]

Jake's threes were big. Altered Xavier's defense a bit.

But man, is he horrendous on the defensive end. He can keep his man in front of him if he's of the same speed or standing still. He got blown by and committed a stupid foul trying to block a shot. He was even targeted by Xavier, getting posted on the block if he was caught down there. One led to a Jamil foul.

So he has a good shooting game and now Jake is horrendous on the defensive end?  He probably is our best off the ball perimeter defender and our second or third best on the ball perimeter defender.  And he is horrendous?  We must be a horrid defensive team then.

[77ncaachamps]

So he has a good shooting game and now Jake is horrendous on the defensive end?  He probably is our best off the ball perimeter defender and our second or third best on the ball perimeter defender.  And he is horrendous?  We must be a horrid defensive team then.

Call it as I see it.

He made huge shots.

But Semaj blew by him and his ankles got "broke".
Another was Davis (I think) driving right by him.
He tried to contest a shot that Otule had the chance to contest (CO was the help) thereby leaving Otule's man for the put bank dunk.
And the block attempt on Davis which led to an And 1.
He also got posted, couldn't hold his ground and his man blew past him with Jamil forced to help (and got a foul called on him).

[MarquetteDano]

Call it as I see it.

He made huge shots.

But Semaj blew by him and his ankles got "broke".
Another was Davis (I think) driving right by him.
He tried to contest a shot that Otule had the chance to contest (CO was the help) thereby leaving Otule's man for the put bank dunk.
And the block attempt on Davis which led to an And 1.
He also got posted, couldn't hold his ground and his man blew past him with Jamil forced to help (and got a foul called on him).

What I see above are examples of bad defensive plays in one game.  Are you saying he HAD a horrendous defensive game or he IS a horrendous defender.   Because in an earlier post you said the latter.

[tower912]

Nobody besides Derrick played very good defense today.    All pretty atrocious.   Tough to single out any of the others as being worse, because they were all lousy. 

[77ncaachamps]

What I see above are examples of bad defensive plays in one game.  Are you saying he HAD a horrendous defensive game or he IS a horrendous defender.   Because in an earlier post you said the latter.

Today, he was bad. Other days, he can be bad.

[MarquetteDano]

Today, he was bad. Other days, he can be bad.

Not what you said earlier but I think I understand now.

[brandx]

2.  Bad defense, bad rebounding.   
3.  Only good part of the defense was the steals.
4.  Buzz rode that line up hard.   Kudos to Jamil, Jake, Todd, Davante, and Derrick.

This game pretty much showed Buzz' dilemma. We know Buzz wants defense first, and he rode it for a long time (too long in most of our opinions). Today we saw what the offensive lineup getting most of the minutes can do and also what Buzz is giving up.

[tower912]

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400504572

Box score.    Tremendous FT shooting the last two games.   30-34 and 24-27

[WarriorFan]

Call it as I see it.

He made huge shots.

But Semaj blew by him and his ankles got "broke".
Another was Davis (I think) driving right by him.
He tried to contest a shot that Otule had the chance to contest (CO was the help) thereby leaving Otule's man for the put bank dunk.
And the block attempt on Davis which led to an And 1.
He also got posted, couldn't hold his ground and his man blew past him with Jamil forced to help (and got a foul called on him).

Not every play is defense-able nor preventable.  Jake does a better job than most of preventing easy shots and defending in the team scheme.  Everyone's going to get burned, or if they don't they're going to use up fouls pretty quick.  Jake made one silly play today - the foul from behind.  Otherwise, a nice complete game.

[CoachRaymondsClass]

Jake's threes were big. Altered Xavier's defense a bit.

But man, is he horrendous on the defensive end. He can keep his man in front of him if he's of the same speed or standing still. He got blown by and committed a stupid foul trying to block a shot. He was even targeted by Xavier, getting posted on the block if he was caught down there. One led to a Jamil foul.

Go back and watch tape - 1st impressions are often wrong on everything except made baskets. Nobody is totally going to shut down Christmon. Backhanded compliment because you have to be right - I'd bet you were one of the "anybody but Jake/Derrick" bandwagon earlier. When they switched and Jake was caught in a mismatch, of course they would try to take advantage. Go back to 1977 - I think you don't really know much about BB

[rocky_warrior]

I feel the need to point out that per Ken Pomeroy's tempo free stats, since GW lost again today, this is our best win of the year (GW #42, Xavier #39 - after both losing today).

It's not much, but something to build on.  Per his site, we're 4point dogs to Creighton at home.  Though that's subject to change after their game with Villanova tomorrow.

edit: Oh and the win took us from #50 to #47 by his numbers

[PGsHeroes32]

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400504572

Box score.    Tremendous FT shooting the last two games.   30-34 and 24-27

Yup that's what's going to happen when Todd and Ox are attacking. Our two best ft shooters getting a bulk of them is huge.

Jamils are starting to get back to the norm as well.

[chapman]

Nobody besides Derrick played very good defense today.    All pretty atrocious.   Tough to single out any of the others as being worse, because they were all lousy.  

Yep, the rebounding numbers are particularly terrible.  Mayo with zero in 32 minutes, Otule being subbed in on the defensive end all game and zero defensive boards in 15 minutes, Taylor and Anderson get in to rebound and combined for one in 14 minutes.  On Xavier misses they got the ball 16 times, we got it 9 times.  Biggest focus point for Creighton - they get second chances to shoot three's and it's 12/31/13 all over again.

[PGsHeroes32]

Yep, the rebounding numbers are particularly terrible.  Mayo with zero in 32 minutes, Otule being subbed in on the defensive end all game and zero defensive boards in 15 minutes, Taylor and Anderson get in to rebound and combined for one in 14 minutes.  On Xavier misses they got the ball 16 times, we got it 9 times.  Biggest focus point for Creighton - they get second chances to shoot three's and it's 12/31/13 all over again.

Luckily Creighton isn't nearly as intimidating on the glass.

[Hards Alumni]

I feel the need to point out that per Ken Pomeroy's tempo free stats, since GW lost again today, this is our best win of the year (GW #42, Xavier #39 - after both losing today).

It's not much, but something to build on.  Per his site, we're 4point dogs to Creighton at home.  Though that's subject to change after their game with Villanova tomorrow.

edit: Oh and the win took us from #50 to #47 by his numbers

Here's hoping to Creighton overlooking us after that Nova game.  But I doubt it.

[karavotsos]

I'm not certain how people can say MU was horrible on defense, or that they were all horrible except Derrick.  Even if Xavier shot over 50%, you have to start with the fact that they had 20 turnovers.  20 empty possessions plus the transition points created, is huge.  I'd say it was the biggest factor in the game.  With the lineup we had in the majority of the game, we were completely outsized, which was a problem last game as well.   Rebounding is going to be a problem with that lineup.  Plus, if guys get to their spots, they will be able to shoot over the top.

I don't know what Xavier's stats are for the season, but from what I've seen, they seem to be a very good offensive team.  They hit some tough shots in this game. With the overplaying and aggressiveness MU was had to use on defense, you're going to get burned sometimes, and it is going to look bad when you get beat.  I will trade looking bad on those handful of occasions that people have brought up in exchange for 20 turnovers.  And, from what I remember, the vast majority were forced.

The only thing that surprised me in a bad way defensively was the position that Stainbrook was getting on Otule, especially early.  But I think that says as much about how hard Stainbrook is to guard and how hard he works to get position on offense as it does about Otule.

[MarquetteDano]

I'm not certain how people can say MU was horrible on defense, or that they were all horrible except Derrick.  Even if Xavier shot over 50%, you have to start with the fact that they had 20 turnovers.  20 empty possessions plus the transition points created, is huge.  I'd say it was the biggest factor in the game.  With the lineup we had in the majority of the game, we were completely outsized, which was a problem last game as well.   Rebounding is going to be a problem with that lineup.  Plus, if guys get to their spots, they will be able to shoot over the top.

Not sure if my math is correct but I calculate X had 1.17 points per possession, which is not good defense for Marquette.  Pomeroy has X at 1.14 points per possession prior to this game, which is good for 29th in the country.

What is hard to calculate is the value of those turnovers for our offense.  To your point, outside of an empty possession, the turnovers lead to some easy baskets which is just what our offense needs.

[Lennys Tap]

You crack me up Tower - no mention of Derrick??!  He played his best game of his MU career today...and there's been quite a few other recaps you've done where you tout Derrick in games he accomplished MUCH less!

I was thrilled with Derrick today....thought he was absolutely awesome.

Derrick was great, but I thought you would be ripping him. Nine points and no 3s is a line you generally mock. Since those are the only stats that matter I'm surprised by your praise of him.

[We R Final Four]

You crack me up Tower - no mention of Derrick??!  He played his best game of his MU career today...and there's been quite a few other recaps you've done where you tout Derrick in games he accomplished MUCH less!

I was thrilled with Derrick today....thought he was absolutely awesome.

[PGsHeroes32]

Derrick was great, but I thought you would be ripping him. Nine points and no 3s is a line you generally mock. Since those are the only stats that matter I'm surprised by your praise of him.

It's this sh it that I don't get. People are constantly bitching say "not this argument again" but both sides keep it going.

The guy complemented Derrick and you want to challenge it? Good lord.

[mileskishnish72]

Just when you think you've seen everything - Ners sticking up for Derick.

[We R Final Four]

You crack me up Tower - no mention of Derrick??!  He played his best game of his MU career today...and there's been quite a few other recaps you've done where you tout Derrick in games he accomplished MUCH less!

I was thrilled with Derrick today....thought he was absolutely awesome.

Seriously Ners?  Again with your man love of D Will?  Please give it a rest--WE GET IT--YOU LUV U SUM D WILL--ITS SO OBVI

lets get back to rpi predicatoralation.

[tower912]

Interesting stat.   MU had more steals than defensive rebounds.    Chew on that one for a minute. 

[karavotsos]

If 1.17 is the efficiency number, then Xavier had, what, 61 or 62 possessions (if my math is correct)?  That seems a little low but not outside the realm of possibility.  

If 1.14 is Xavier's normal efficiency number and MU gave up 1.17, then MU's defense was slightly below average against them.

Then, if you disregard Marquette's defensive possessions that ended in the best result, i.e., turnovers, and said result occurred on almost 1 in every 3 possessions.

Then if you just look at the remaining possessions, MU's efficiency number is somewhere around 1.70, which is terrible.

If that is the logic you choose to use in determining how good MU's defense was today.  I choose to look first at the 1 in 3 possessions in which MU achieved the desired result, and the effort and risk it took to do so.  Both part of a larger truth, I suppose.  Maybe MU's defensive strategy was to work as hard as possible and take the risks to create as many turnovers as possible because if MU didn't force turnovers Xavier would have scored on us all day.  

[PGsHeroes32]

I think the defense was fine. Not great but solid.

The rebounding was awful, the forced turn overs were fantastic.

Overall defense was solid.

[mviale]

We won this game because we forced 19 turnovers and only committed 4. Limited their shots

[karavotsos]

Interesting stat.   MU had more steals than defensive rebounds.    Chew on that one for a minute. 

We played small, and they are a big, aggressive, athletic team. If we cannot have Cincinnati in our league, Xavier is a fair tradeoff. The jumbo package with Otule and Gardner appears to be a thing of the past.  We didn't try to match, and instead mismatched and took the tradeoffs.  

[Lennys Tap]

It's this sh it that I don't get. People are constantly bitching say "not this argument again" but both sides keep it going.

The guy complemented Derrick and you want to challenge it? Good lord.

You don't get it? He's ripped him in literally hundreds of posts, saying he can't be any good BECAUSE he doesn't score much, can't shoot threes and is a lousy free throw shooter. So today he scores single digits, shoots 0% from 3 and 50% from the line and Ners says he's terrific. I agree he was terrific, but not (as everyone has always admitted) at the things Ners considers the necessities of decent point guard play.

So if you don't get it, I agree. You don't get it.

[PGsHeroes32]

You don't get it? He's ripped him in literally hundreds of posts, saying he can't be any good BECAUSE he doesn't score much, can't shoot threes and is a lousy free throw shooter. So today he scores single digits, shoots 0% from 3 and 50% from the line and Ners says he's terrific. I agree he was terrific, but not (as everyone has always admitted) at the things Ners considers the necessities of decent point guard play.

So if you don't get it, I agree. You don't get it.

No I don't think you get it.

He is complimenting him. Take the compliment. Everyone is always bitching about how Derrick or Jake turn into arguments. It's because of this. People go out of their way to get one going.

Derrick was great today everyone including Ners knows it. We havn't definitively heard from Dreadman yet but we'll give him the benefit of the doubt too.

Using ners what makes a good PG views against him when he admits a great game is silly and pointless. Most game people clamour for Derrick and Jake for doing little things. Tonight Jake made the big splash and it was actually a guy like Todd who did the little things. We won, Ners gave props. Let's enjoy it.

[MU B2002]

Does anyone know if I can watch this game online? 

Not that anyone cares but...
My local news (Jacksonville, FL) cut in with 8 min left in the first half and proceeded to discuss a local murder trial verdict for 2 unnatural carnal knowledgeing hours. 

[Class71]

I'll leave it to all of the experts on this board to work the details. Although, we were crushed on rebounding  and X shot lights out, more than enough to win, we somehow won since we aggressively forced turnovers, drove on the basket, Derrick/Jake had their best games  and the team played with heart against a respectable foe. The picture of Buzz hugging Derek after a great play tells me the chemistry is finally there. Let's savor the win and go on to kick Creighton's ...

[BenCat12]

You crack me up Tower - no mention of Derrick??!  He played his best game of his MU career today...and there's been quite a few other recaps you've done where you tout Derrick in games he accomplished MUCH less!

I was thrilled with Derrick today....thought he was absolutely awesome.

+1  Very strange.  Derrick's most impactful game of his career and not a mention.....
Most disruptive, best defensive game of Derrick's career.  He has really gotten better the last several games....I no longer despise the time he is on the floor.

[Class71]

+1  Very strange.  Derrick's most impactful game of his career and not a mention.....
Most disruptive, best defensive game of Derrick's career.  He has really gotten better the last several games....I no longer despise the time he is on the floor.

Agree. He is moving to another level and building confidence will only help. I also questioned if he would get there but he is on the right track. Good for him!

[4everwarriors]

Derrick guarded number 0 from X really well.  He looked frustrated. 

Oh, you mean Jamil Wilson, hey?

[Newsdreams]

Oh, you mean Jamil Wilson, hey?

As per Stockton:
Otule = Davante
Derrick = Mayo
We have a very versatile team, we can decoy players at will

[4everwarriors]

OJ Mayo also was on the floor for MU today.

[Lennys Tap]

As per Stockton:
Otule = Davante
Derrick = Mayo
We have a very versatile team, we can decoy players at will

Stockton is terrible.

[keefe]

Stockton is terrible.

No kidding. Announcers, like athletes, have a prime. Stockton's has long since passed. He was truly awful.

[Hards Alumni]

Here's the thing, if Ners is going to fellate Dawson for one or two good games all year, I want him on his unnatural carnal knowledgeing knees for games like these.  Derrick is a work in progress, but he is totally putting it together.

If you can't understand why people want to give Ners crap about Dwill playing well... I don't know.  You haven't been paying attention.

[NersEllenson]

Here's the thing, if Ners is going to fellate Dawson for one or two good games all year, I want him on his unnatural carnal knowledgeing knees for games like these.  Derrick is a work in progress, but he is totally putting it together.

If you can't understand why people want to give Ners crap about Dwill playing well... I don't know.  You haven't been paying attention.

I have ZERO problem giving a guy credit who plays well...ever...was truly happy for Derrick and the team today...and as a huge MU fan.  But, I don't sugar coat and try to polish what generally has been very poor PG play all year long int0 something it wasn't - good/effective.  Derrick was GREAT today, because he was absolutely disruptive defensively -with the steals, along with limiting Christian - and he was able to convert many of the steals in transition into buckets.  I don't care that he took and missed a 3...and I don't say he had the best game of his career at MU due to the 9 points he scored - I say it because he was truly elite defensively today, and that played a HUGE part in this team beating X.

Derrick also had a really nice bounce pass, clever, assist to Gardner at one point that was a thing of beauty.  He's showing signs of progress the last 3-4 games...also think it helps having Mayo out there 30+ minutes per game for Derrick and Jake's benefit as well..as he helps space the floor really well.

[Blackhat]

Lack of defense/rebounding in second half was worrisome..but they did create turnovers and had good pressure.

Like how the guys are playing on O right now, good ball movement. 

[MU82]

We won because we scored 27 points off 19 X turnovers and because we outscored our opponent by 12 points from 3-point range (which rarely happens) and 9 points at the FT line.

There were many fine individual performances, especially by a backcourt that looked like a real, live, high-major backcourt, but I don't need any fancy stats to tell me that forcing a bunch of turnovers and actually making a few shots is what won this game.

If we can do the same against Creighton, we will win again.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Great, great win!  So good to see Marquette dominate!

[NavinRJohnson]

Like how the guys are playing on O right now, good ball movement. 

This is on the money. The last three games, roughly 60% of the baskets have come off assists. Now, I don't know how many of those were Basic Assists that don't really count, but certainly indicative of pretty good ball movement.

[PGsHeroes32]

Here's the thing, if Ners is going to fellate Dawson for one or two good games all year, I want him on his unnatural carnal knowledgeing knees for games like these.  Derrick is a work in progress, but he is totally putting it together.

If you can't understand why people want to give Ners crap about Dwill playing well... I don't know.  You haven't been paying attention.

I have been. My point stands. NEXT.

[willie warrior]

I have ZERO problem giving a guy credit who plays well...ever...was truly happy for Derrick and the team today...and as a huge MU fan.  But, I don't sugar coat and try to polish what generally has been very poor PG play all year long int0 something it wasn't - good/effective.  Derrick was GREAT today, because he was absolutely disruptive defensively -with the steals, along with limiting Christian - and he was able to convert many of the steals in transition into buckets.  I don't care that he took and missed a 3...and I don't say he had the best game of his career at MU due to the 9 points he scored - I say it because he was truly elite defensively today, and that played a HUGE part in this team beating X.

Derrick also had a really nice bounce pass, clever, assist to Gardner at one point that was a thing of beauty.  He's showing signs of progress the last 3-4 games...also think it helps having Mayo out there 30+ minutes per game for Derrick and Jake's benefit as well..as he helps space the floor really well.

Derrick did play well yesterday and is improving. One area where he continues to do poorly at is the pick and roll. Have noticed that there are numerous times where Ox picks for him, he rolls and Derrick does not even attempt to pass to him. Now, those can be tough to execute because of spacing and vision, but he does not even attempt it. Don't know if that is because he is too conservative or does not have the vision--maybe some of both. But a good PG will make some of those passes.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Does anyone know if I can watch this game online? 

Not that anyone cares but...
My local news (Jacksonville, FL) cut in with 8 min left in the first half and proceeded to discuss a local murder trial verdict for 2 unnatural carnal knowledgeing hours. 

Wow. I would have lost it.

[goan]

Buzz is a great coach with a lot of patience. The team and the players have finally learned what he has been teaching them over the course of the season.The team played very very well yesterday against X.

Let us not be negative on the team . We need to support the team and let us hope they get into the big dance.

Go warriors!

[barfolomew]

As per Stockton:
Otule = Davante
Derrick = Mayo
We have a very versatile team, we can decoy players at will

I don't so much mind the announcing duo of Brevin Knight / Dick Stockton, but REALLY hope they don't get our game on Wednesday.
1.) Dick, it's the "Beemo" Harris Bradley Center, not B-M-O. (seriously, do you own a television or radio?)
2.) Brevin, it's not "Cray-in"; pretty sure there is "T" in there somewhere

Regarding the actual game, if someone had told you the shooting percentage for both teams (XU= 54.2% and MU= 46.2%) and also told you MU got outrebounded by 12, you would have been pretty pissed. I loved the active hands by everyone to start the game. Really set the tone on defense, though some big lapses as the game wore on. If STJ wants to get minutes this year, he needs to be a rebounding machine when he's in there.

[keefe]

2.) Brevin, it's not "Cray-in"; pretty sure there is "T" in there somewhere

So, wa 'ave ya agin the Sco'ish, laddie?

[ChicosBailBonds]

The Xavier SB nation boys are raving
http://www.bannersontheparkway.com/2014/2/16/5417962/sunday-conversation-2-16-xavier-chris-mack-tournament

[PGsHeroes32]

The Xavier SB nation boys are raving
http://www.bannersontheparkway.com/2014/2/16/5417962/sunday-conversation-2-16-xavier-chris-mack-tournament

God those guys are clueless. Something tells me they don't know that St. Johns is read hot.