I actually had no problem with tonight...

[The Sultan of Silly]

Much better rotation by buzz where the freshman had ample minutes and Derick Wilson had fewer.

Shots aren't falling now but they will....it's a long season and this team is trying to find its rhythm. Once they do (and they will, as the talent/effort/coaching is there and always will be under a Buzz team) they will be fun to watch.

Patience young grasshoppers. 

[jesmu84]

I didn't get to watch the game. But I did see the box score. It appeared that yes the freshmen played, but they didn't do a whole lot to contribute. Maybe now we can chill with the freshmen talk?

[Warrior Code]

But did you have a problem with Buzz wearing BURNT ORANGE!?

https://twitter.com/MarquetteMBB/status/403667850180571136/photo/1

[tower912]

The defense was superb.   The offensive movement was much quicker, crisper, and consistent, except for Gardner.   The shooting was painful.   Eventually, something has to fall. 

[CTWarrior]

I think a lot of the "improvement" on offense had to do with New Hampshire being the team on defense as opposed to Ohio State.  We've got to start knocking down some perimeter shots.  I'm glad the freshmen got some run, but when Dawson got in the game, Jamil Wilson was playing the point.  That does not bode well.

[chapman]

Buzz had some serious problems with it...

"One way or another, without being arrogant or getting my ego involved, we're going to figure it out," Williams said. "And that doesn't mean that we're going to win. But we're going to figure out somehow to get back. Because I'm really ashamed what I have done to contribute to what we have been through four games. And I'm not concerned about who plays, or how old they are, or what position they play, or when they play, or how much they play."

Afterward, Marquette did not make any players available to the media.

"We have to get back to how we laid the foundation in the time we've been here and how we've built the foundation in the time we've been here, because somewhere along the way -- and I'm at the front of the line -- there has become a disconnect in how we function," Williams said.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Buzz had some serious problems with it...

I'm encouraged he recognizes it...they'll get after it.  Improvement will come, just how much is tbd.

[bradley center bat]

I'm encouraged he recognizes it...they'll get after it.  Improvement will come, just how much is tbd.

I'm glad he said it!

[MerrittsMustache]

I'm encouraged he recognizes it...they'll get after it.  Improvement will come, just how much is tbd.

Did you really think that the head coach wouldn't recognize that his team was struggling?

[ChicosBailBonds]

Did you really think that the head coach wouldn't recognize that his team was struggling?

Maybe a better way to put it is that he recognizes it and isn't hiding it.  Sometimes you have to do that based on your team's psyche, sometimes you don't.  I'm glad he put it out there that issues exist.  As a fan, I like to hear the recognition.

[ecompt]

problem is, he has assembled a bunch of horrific shooters. When he has Juan, Derrick, Jake, Steve and a lackadaisical Devonte (for now) on the floor, there is zero chance of any kind of offensive run.

[bilsu]

As I said before I was not convinced that Ohio St. is a top 10 team. After last nights game, I know Ohio St is not a top 10 team. The only thing that gives me hope about this team is remembering we were 0-22 from three against Uconn, when Cadougan hit a three to send the game into overtime last year. My conclusion about the talent level on this team is that we have 10 players that would start on New Hampshire and no players that would start on Ohio St. There are no stars on this team that can be regularly counted on to step up when needed. The problem is not Jake Thomas and Derrick Wilson, the probelm is that we do not have better players than Jake Thomas or Derrick Wilson.

[MerrittsMustache]

As I said before I was not convinced that Ohio St. is a top 10 team. After last nights game, I know Ohio St is not a top 10 team. The only thing that gives me hope about this team is remembering we were 0-22 from three against Uconn, when Cadougan hit a three to send the game into overtime last year. My conclusion about the talent level on this team is that we have 10 players that would start on New Hampshire and no players that would start on Ohio St. There are no stars on this team that can be regularly counted on to step up when needed. The problem is not Jake Thomas and Derrick Wilson, the probelm is that we do not have better players than Jake Thomas or Derrick Wilson.

Really good post, bilsu.

Derrick and Jake are both quality role players who are being asked to carry more of the load this season. The results haven't been pretty so far but there are really no viable alternatives.

[brewcity77]

The problem is not Jake Thomas and Derrick Wilson, the probelm is that we do not have better players than Jake Thomas or Derrick Wilson.

Excellent point. Jake would be a fine bench guy as a defensive specialist to play late in close games, helping to shut an offense down while making free throws when he's fouled. Derrick is an excellent calm-things-down PG that makes the smart play and can get into the lane a bit. Neither is fatally flawed. The problem is that there are attributes this team could really use that neither brings, and as much as people wish otherwise, the freshmen haven't shown anything to indicate they would provide these attributes.

[robmufan]

As some have stated in other threads, it is November. Sure we didn't blow out UNH, we did get the win though.

I rather be ironing out problems now, and have a rotation figured out by Dec. 31 instead of the other way around. Remember CBB is more of how you finish, not how you start.

[muwarrior69]

If our perimeter shooting would improve just 20% we would be a decent team.

[MU82]

I AM THRILLED WITH BUZZ'S COMMENTS!

Let's all stop pretending that everything is OK. The coach isn't pretending.

The defense has been fine, although in the one game when it was really tested, it caved in pretty good in the second half. Ohio State did what it wanted after halftime. So even that gets a thumbs-up with an asterisk.

It's OK to be optimistic, or at least to want to be optimistic (if that makes sense), but pay attention to your coach.

Things will not "just work out" or "just be OK." This team has a lot of work to do, and the fact that Buzz recognizes that -- and recognizes that the players who had been getting lots of minutes might be major sources of the problem -- is the first encouraging thing about this team that I've witnessed in a week.

[Golden Avalanche]

Excellent point. Jake would be a fine bench guy as a defensive specialist to play late in close games, helping to shut an offense down while making free throws when he's fouled. Derrick is an excellent calm-things-down PG that makes the smart play and can get into the lane a bit. Neither is fatally flawed. The problem is that there are attributes this team could really use that neither brings, and as much as people wish otherwise, the freshmen haven't shown anything to indicate they would provide these attributes.

             

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Excellent point. Jake would be a fine bench guy as a defensive specialist to play late in close games, helping to shut an offense down while making free throws when he's fouled. Derrick is an excellent calm-things-down PG that makes the smart play and can get into the lane a bit. Neither is fatally flawed. The problem is that there are attributes this team could really use that neither brings, and as much as people wish otherwise, the freshmen haven't shown anything to indicate they would provide these attributes.

Herein lies the problem.

People are trying to blame Derrick for the lack of offense.

That's incorrect in my mind. He's a role player, and my expectations were him to be a role player. DG, Jamil, Todd, Steve Taylor, and Juan should be doing far more damage on offense. I don't care who is dribbling the ball up the floor. When the team shoots 4-40 from 3, it's going to look ugly. When guys get open shots, they miss. Then they become impatient, and take bad shots (and miss). A different PG can help, but really, making open jumpers would help far more.

Derrick will continue to start. Derrick will continue to get the majority of minutes. When everybody else starts playing better, MU will look better.

It's ugly right now though... and honestly, I think Buzz sort of loves it. He's always looking for an underdog edge. He's always looking for a way to push his guys. I think he just found it.

[ATWizJr]

Much better rotation by buzz where the freshman had ample minutes and Derick Wilson had fewer.

Shots aren't falling now but they will....it's a long season and this team is trying to find its rhythm. Once they do (and they will, as the talent/effort/coaching is there and always will be under a Buzz team) they will be fun to watch.

Patience young grasshoppers. 

  Yeah, that's what the captain of the Titanic said. 

[brewcity77]

He's a role player, and my expectations were him to be a role player. DG, Jamil, Todd, Steve Taylor, and Juan should be doing far more damage on offense. I don't care who is dribbling the ball up the floor. When the team shoots 4-40 from 3, it's going to look ugly. When guys get open shots, they miss. Then they become impatient, and take bad shots (and miss). A different PG can help, but really, making open jumpers would help far more.

This is exactly right. I love how everyone jumps on Derrick as though they expected him to be a 12/6/4 guy. That's not his game. That's never been his game. He's not Dominic James, he's not Travis Diener, yet somehow all the problems are his fault? Guys not named Derrick Wilson are 84/213 from the floor, good for 39.4%. And thank god for Otule, the other guy no one really expects points from, because if you take him out of the mix the team is averaging 35.8% from the floor.

Derrick keeps the ball moving, makes smart passes, hits guys in stride, and shuts it down at the back. He's not a scorer, never was, and likely never will be. Yet somehow, it's his fault that Juan, Jake, Jamil, and Davante can't find Lake Michigan from Bradford Beach.

[Dawson Rental]

I AM THRILLED WITH BUZZ'S COMMENTS!

Let's all stop pretending that everything is OK. The coach isn't pretending.

The defense has been fine, although in the one game when it was really tested, it caved in pretty good in the second half. Ohio State did what it wanted after halftime. So even that gets a thumbs-up with an asterisk.

It's OK to be optimistic, or at least to want to be optimistic (if that makes sense), but pay attention to your coach.

Things will not "just work out" or "just be OK." This team has a lot of work to do, and the fact that Buzz recognizes that -- and recognizes that the players who had been getting lots of minutes might be major sources of the problem -- is the first encouraging thing about this team that I've witnessed in a week.

Ohio State only "wanted" to score 33 points in the second half?  Including four point that we gave them by throwing our inbounds pass to them?  The defense in the second half of the Ohio State game was solid.  It only pales compared to a dominant showing by the defense in the first half.

[chapman]

Derrick keeps the ball moving, makes smart passes, hits guys in stride

Derrick picks up his dribble at the first hint of defense, makes extremely safe passes, and rarely ever hits a guy to make a legit play.  I agree it's not his fault, he is what he is.  Just not going to kid myself and pretend he has any talent beyond knowing where to be to grab boards.

[bilsu]

Ohio State only "wanted" to score 33 points in the second half?  Including four point that we gave them by throwing our inbounds pass to them?  The defense in the second half of the Ohio State game was solid.  It only pales compared to a dominant showing by the defense in the first half.

The defense in the second half was not solid. We led 21-19 and went down 8 points very quickly as Ohio St repeatedly drove to the rim. The biggest reason they scored only 33 points in second half is from the 7 minute mark on they ran the clock down to almost zero, before they scored. That to me was very frustrating. The chance of winning the game was very small at the 7 minute mark, but the only way we were going to have a chance to win was to foul a team that was shooting under 50% from the free throw line in that game. Instead we spent the last 7 minutes letting Ohio St. use 35 seconds on every possession.

[Freeport Warrior]

I'm a big fan of JJJ and am looking forward to him playing more and showing the outside stroke he displayed in HS.  But man, I've got to say, I focused on him when MU was on defense last night and he had no clue where to be most of the time. Just simple shell drill positioning, head on a swivel kind of stuff was not there. And for a shooter, you can't even sniff the word intensity if you have no confidence on where to be half the time. Once the D becomes second nature and he stops thinking, I believe the rim will get bigger and he will shoot like we know he can. My gut is his that his success will come later in the year when he simply gets more comfortable. That's why I really liked Buzz's comment about not being focused on winning, focusing on getting better. Obviously, you want to win, but as long as we stay tourney relevant (which certainly isn't a given), I think now is the time to tinker and figure this out. I do like the bigger defensive line-ups some have suggested. The only huge concern I have is that we have seen how ugly we can be now twice at home. We have typically had a plan B that's been effective. Not shooting well from outside -- dump it in to DG. Inside game bogged down — run in transition and get points that way, etc. Just knowing this kind of play is possible is going to lead to some interesting bball this year.