This team lacks leadership and poise

[MuggsyB]

There are no moral victories, this was a devastating loss.  Now it hurt that we didn't have Lewis and don't have a bench but when we had to execute, like many other games this year, we whiffed.  Whether it be a forced shot or careless turns.  The fundamentals on this ball-club have cost us tremendously.and we continue to struggle to create space and quality shots in the h-court.  It's really sad that we're in this situation as a program when you consider our historic greatness.

[rocky_warrior]

Disappointed in the game.  Liked the 2nd half effort.  Hope for that the rest of the year. Not worried about the last couple minutes.  More worried about the first half. 

[5DollarPitcher]

Cue BLM, Tower, and the remaining apologists correcting you on “historic greatness”. Despite what your eyes might tell you, we’ve always been a middling program.

[PGsHeroes32]

I just wish we could even get shots off in these late situations.

Down 2 we shoulda played to the win.

Erractic Koby driving erratically to the rim just hoping to tie?? Not good.

[brewcity77]

This just about put us out of the Tournament. Hard to see them getting there knowing they need to win 3/4 vs Creighton, Seton Hall, UConn, and Xavier.

So frustrating to watch this group. I feel like so many run hot and cold. Carton is at times an All-American, but only in 5-minute flashes, and otherwise he's just average. McEwen has great moments, then boneheaded ones. Cain can hit that corner three, but can't dribble. Plenty to be encouraged by, but not enough of it to believe this team can be more than what we've seen.

[Knights Commission]

Cue BLM, Tower, and the remaining apologists correcting you on “historic greatness”. Despite what your eyes might tell you, we’ve always been a middling program.

We’re on par with Richmond Spiders

[Cfollow]

Leadership and Poise, I wonder if anyone on the basketball payroll at Marquette could provide that? I will have to think about it.

[MuggsyB]

Disappointed in the game.  Liked the 2nd half effort.  Hope for that the rest of the year. Not worried about the last couple minutes.  More worried about the first half.

Yes.  But we've seen this time and time again.  And after gaining momentum twice during the course of the game we had mini-meltdowns.  Lack of poise is very apparent.

[Bad_Reporter]

I wonder why?  Look at the red faced coach.  Total basket case who’s in way over his head.  Dude can collect checks though and for that, I commend him.

[GoldenWarrior11]

We just aren't skilled, talented or deep enough. It is what it is. We have no bench.  We have too many players that cannot dribble or drive.  We don't have a coaching staff that can maximize the talent it does have.

We won't win more than three games here on out. We will finish under .500 easy. And the demands for a change will only escalate and grow louder by the game.

[MuggsyB]

We just aren't skilled, talented or deep enough. It is what it is. We have no bench.  We have too many players that cannot dribble or drive.  We don't have a coaching staff that can maximize the talent it does have.

We won't win more than three games here on out. We will finish under .500 easy. And the demands for a change will only escalate and grow louder by the game.

The lack of ball-handling on this team is a complete disaster.  It's stunning that both Torrence and Elliott are that ineffective. 

[mileskishnish72]

We have no bench. 

Well, Justin and Greg have provided some significant input and are probably the two guys responsible for our two signature wins.

Beyond that, it's an abyss. As negative as I'm getting about Wojo, can you imagine having to ponder, at some point in a game, should I put in Sy or Dex?

[Fred Garvin]

Doesn't seem the like the seniors are taking charge,they need to be running the show out there.

[Johnny B]

Are jose and oso THAT bad? akkano at least gets a look. U telling me they arent ahead or same level as him cuz woah boy

[nyg]

You mentioned "no bench".  You are correct in that at the current state, with exception of Lewis.

The bench players are usually the ones, especially the younger ones, who take the starting roles after others graduate or leave.  Today, Torrence and Akanno saw a few minutes, very few.  Oso did not play one minute, even with Lewis not playing.  Strange to say the least.

So next year you have Lewis or Aidoo taking Theo's spot.  That's a three man rotation like MU is doing now.  Cain and Koby going to be gone, leaving Torrence, Elliott and Akanno.  Elliott has his moments, but cannot dribble and turns it over.  He comes in the games for Cain. Torrence and Akanno can't shoot and turn it over more than Elliott.  Raise you hand if you feel comfortable with two of these three players having a starting role next year.  It is apparent that the staff only has confidence in a small capacity with Elliott.  You play the bench guys for "breaks" for the starters, and mold them for the future, but they must be hesitant because they play basically two minutes a game. Torrence and Akanno have had their chances, but have not delivered in any way.  Especially Akanno, who redshirted a year. Perez?  Why is he even on the team?

Next Year:

C: Lewis/Aidoo
PF:Garcia
SF: Elliott
PG: Carton
SG: Torrence/Akanno

If you think this year is bad, wait until next.  Need help big time and who knows about the two new freshmen guards, do they turn into Akanno.

[BCHoopster]

Bad turnovers is a major problem, Carton not strong enough with the ball. Gave away at least 10 easy points off turnovers, Carton gets very lackadaisical out there.  Carton has no jump shot, how is that possible with all the games these kids play, amazing

[BCHoopster]

You mentioned "no bench".  You are correct in that at the current state, with exception of Lewis.

The bench players are usually the ones, especially the younger ones, who take the starting roles after others graduate or leave.  Today, Torrence and Akanno saw a few minutes, very few.  Oso did not play one minute, even with Lewis not playing.  Strange to say the least.

So next year you have Lewis or Aidoo taking Theo's spot.  That's a three man rotation like MU is doing now.  Cain and Koby going to be gone, leaving Torrence, Elliott and Akanno.  Elliott has his moments, but cannot dribble and turns it over.  He comes in the games for Cain. Torrence and Akanno can't shoot and turn it over more than Elliott.  Raise you hand if you feel comfortable with two of these three players having a starting role next year.  It is apparent that the staff only has confidence in a small capacity with Elliott.  You play the bench guys for "breaks" for the starters, and mold them for the future, but they must be hesitant because they play basically two minutes a game. Torrence and Akanno have had their chances, but have not delivered in any way.  Especially Akanno, who redshirted a year. Perez?  Why is he even on the team?

Next Year:

C: Lewis/Aidoo
PF:Garcia
SF: Elliott
PG: Carton
SG: Torrence/Akanno

If you think this year is bad, wait until next.  Need help big time and who knows about the two new freshmen guards, do they turn into Akanno.

Elliott has no chance of starting, no quickness, no strength, and can not play D.  One of those freshman will have to start.  Needs a wing that can score as well.  Perez is not playing now, if he plays next year well, what does that say about this coaching staff!!

[Jockey]

This just about put us out of the Tournament. Hard to see them getting there knowing they need to win 3/4 vs Creighton, Seton Hall, UConn, and Xavier.

We were out many weeks ago. This team can't play.

[4everwarriors]

Impossible to speculate about next season's lineup when you don't even know who will be on the roster or who will be the coach. I'm figurin' on a mass exodus, hey?

[Jockey]

Disappointed in the game.  Liked the 2nd half effort.  Hope for that the rest of the year. Not worried about the last couple minutes.  More worried about the first half.

As for the 2nd half "effort - that is NOT a positive. Have this team sunk so low that if it looks like they are trying for 20 out of 40 minutes that we give them credit? How about "effort" for 40 minutes? I see teams do it all the time.

[MuggsyB]

As for the 2nd half "effort - that is NOT a positive. Have this team sunk so low that if it looks like they are trying for 20 out of 40 minutes that we give them credit? How about "effort" for 40 minutes? I see teams do it all the time.

Is this officially rock bottom?  How many more wins if any do you expect?

[nyg]

Impossible to speculate about next season's lineup when you don't even know who will be on the roster or who will be the coach. I'm figurin' on a mass exodus, hey?

Not speculating at all, just going with the facts of what the roster looks like today and the status of the bench players.  I threw in the potential next year lineup to highlight the issue of no competent bench players, who are possible future starters.                                           

You are speculating all day long that entire team is going to leave, as detailed in the other threads. 

[4everwarriors]

Tell us why you disagree.

[brewcity77]

We were out many weeks ago. This team can't play.

We weren't. If the tourney starts 9 days ago, there's a very good chance we would've been in.

I know it's easy to embrace negativity, but those wins over Creighton and Wisconsin are incredibly valuable if we can get on the bubble. Almost no one there can match our top tier wins.

[tower912]

Muggsy, we agree.   .500 prediction.   Remember?

[franklinjerry]

The only significance of the Creighton and Wisconsin games are how those two teams will be affected by losing to a Q3 or Q4 team in Marquette. Our only path to the tournament would be to have 15 or so teams unable to participate due to Covid, and that's not out of the question!

[Boone]

Add coaching to that header. And yet there are dumba$$ posters among us who are still on the fence about whether Wojo should be canned or not

[nyg]

Tell us why you disagree.

I don't disagree, but I will say watch what you wish for.  If you believe that the entire team and coach is departing that's your belief/opinion and you make it known on a continuous basis, mainly when there is a game and many posters are online to hear you.  No issue with that, that's sport talk. My point in this thread is what the roster consists of today and the possible projection of the bench next year.

Heck, Georgetown lost McClung, Akingo, LeBlanc and like four others.  Thank goodness they were left with Blair, Pinkett and Wahob, or they might not have won one game in the BE.  They would be worse then Depaul or even UMBC.  Well, Blair and Pinkett are gone next year and even with a top 20 recruit coming in they are going to be terrible for years.  So, let Wojo go or can him, let the players you say leave, just like Georgetown so you can start from scratch.  You have alot of posters who agree with you.  Then my speculation  starters are Akanno, Torrence, Oso, Elliott and Perez.  Freshmen Mitchell and Jones the bench.  After season discussion will be here in a month and a half when we know who is actually going to be around.

[4everwarriors]

The bench today contributed exactly 3 fouls to the cause. My contention, and has been throughout, is the talent on this team, top to bottom, has been grossly overrated. Also, a new coach may just, in fact, bring some talent with him, especially this off season. So, as I mentioned, the composition of next year's squad is a total unknown at this point, but it wouldn't stop me from making a coaching change, and not to anyone currently on Woj's staff, hey?

[Jockey]

We weren't. If the tourney starts 9 days ago, there's a very good chance we would've been in.

I know it's easy to embrace negativity, but those wins over Creighton and Wisconsin are incredibly valuable if we can get on the bubble. Almost no one there can match our top tier wins.

We may have been in the tournament, but we weren't a "tournament team", if you know what I mean.

[Jockey]

Is this officially rock bottom?  How many more wins if any do you expect?

Yeah, we are close to the bottom. I think we win 1 of the last 4 games.

I have been very hesitant over the last 2-3 year to say it is time for Wojo to go. But the last month or so has finally gotten me to accept that we need a change.

[panda]

The bench today contributed exactly 3 fouls to the cause. My contention, and has been throughout, is the talent on this team, top to bottom, has been grossly overrated. Also, a new coach may just, in fact, bring some talent with him, especially this off season. So, as I mentioned, the composition of next year's squad is a total unknown at this point, but it wouldn't stop me from making a coaching change, and not to anyone currently on Woj's staff, hey?

A lot has been made of wojos recruiting but frankly it’s just not a comprehensive effort.

Year in year out, his staff sells out to get the home run signing (great!) but really never fills out his classes with ancillary talent. Ever year we’re left with grossly unbalanced rosters which expose us one way or another and limit our ceiling.

[nyg]

The bench today contributed exactly 3 fouls to the cause. My contention, and has been throughout, is the talent on this team, top to bottom, has been grossly overrated. Also, a new coach may just, in fact, bring some talent with him, especially this off season. So, as I mentioned, the composition of next year's squad is a total unknown at this point, but it wouldn't stop me from making a coaching change, and not to anyone currently on Woj's staff, hey?

Ok, we agree on the bench issue, just as I documented earlier in the thread.  No one there except Lewis and no development of the others as I noted.  Just a bad situation.  As far as the coach, I'll worry about that after/if it happens, but I don't want Garcia to Minnesota, Lewis to Maryland, Carton to Asian League, Aidoo/Mitchell decommitting, leaving the roster bare.  Maybe that Moser guy can bring in some Loyola players, or the Drake coach bring some of his, etc.....  We will find out soon Doc. 

[Silent Verbal]

We weren't. If the tourney starts 9 days ago, there's a very good chance we would've been in.

I know it's easy to embrace negativity, but those wins over Creighton and Wisconsin are incredibly valuable if we can get on the bubble. Almost no one there can match our top tier wins.

Are they really that valuable anymore, though?  Creighton hasn't beaten anybody this year and the Badgers lost to Penn State yesterday.  Those teams could both be out of the Top 25 by season's end.

[MuggsyB]

Yeah, we are close to the bottom. I think we win 1 of the last 4 games.

I have been very hesitant over the last 2-3 year to say it is time for Wojo to go. But the last month or so has finally gotten me to accept that we need a change.

I think the last few games have gotten to everyone.  Ty for your honesty Jockey.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Time to recruit a junkyard dog to take over in crunch time    Pls forward picture of scars and tattoos to Scoop

[MUfan12]

I'm tired of hearing about how athletic these guys are. Yeah, they can run and jump. But in terms of making basketball plays they're slow as hell.

Buzz said he wanted guys who can pass, dribble, and shoot. Who on this team can do all three? Garcia, maybe? Jamal, who was sold as a great athlete, still dribbles like an eighth grader. Koby can't execute a ball fake and drive half the time.

It's ugly-ass basketball and I'm sick of watching it.

[skianth16]

Ok, we agree on the bench issue, just as I documented earlier in the thread.  No one there except Lewis and no development of the others as I noted.  Just a bad situation.  As far as the coach, I'll worry about that after/if it happens, but I don't want Garcia to Minnesota, Lewis to Maryland, Carton to Asian League, Aidoo/Mitchell decommitting, leaving the roster bare.  Maybe that Moser guy can bring in some Loyola players, or the Drake coach bring some of his, etc.....  We will find out soon Doc.

My rub with this line of thinking is that all schools basically have to keep their current coach forever. Or until the coach leaves on his own. It's not like Marquette would be setting some new precedent by letting go of an underperforming coach. Sure, it's a tough band aid to pull off, but it's not an impossible situation to overcome.

[brewcity77]

Are they really that valuable anymore, though?  Creighton hasn't beaten anybody this year and the Badgers lost to Penn State yesterday.  Those teams could both be out of the Top 25 by season's end.

The Top 25 is meaningless. Creighton is a Q1A win, Wisconsin is barely outside Q1A (17, cutoff is 15).

Look at my latest Cracked Sidewalks article. I looked at the resumes of 20 teams on the bubble, 8 that are in, 12 that are out. Of those 20 teams, only Maryland has top-of-the-resume wins that compare to the ones Marquette has. Hell, 12 of the teams don't even have 2 Q1 wins period, much less wins of the quality Marquette has.

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2021/01/wins-losses-on-bubble.html

[DoctorV]

In this month alone, this team has been down by nearly 15 points in games to all three of Georgetown, DePaul, and StJohns...

That’s not a well coached team, that’s not a tournament worthy team.

On paper the talent is there, on the court it hasn’t been good enough.

[f/k/a humanlung]

I have said this many times.

Wojo cannot game plan.  He cannot make in game adjustments.  And I cannot remember more than one or two players who showed significant development under Wojo during their time at MU.

That said, there is a lot of talent on this team.  It is just being horribly under exploited.

No coherent offensive strategy, unless chucking up shots as the clock winds down counts as strategy.

And someone please tell me what our core defensive beliefs are because I sure cannot figure it out.

The problems with this team would largely be corrected by a coaching change.

[panda]

I have said this many times.

Wojo cannot game plan.  He cannot make in game adjustments.  And I cannot remember more than one or two players who showed significant development under Wojo during their time at MU.

That said, there is a lot of talent on this team.  It is just being horribly under exploited.

No coherent offensive strategy, unless chucking up shots as the clock winds down counts as strategy.

And someone please tell me what our core defensive beliefs are because I sure cannot figure it out.

The problems with this team would largely be corrected by a coaching change.

Ohio state DJ vs MU DJ are two totally different players.

We saw OSU DJ for about 4 and a half minutes today and spurts throughout the season. For the most part, he’s been playing with handcuffs this season as Wojo tells him to stop trying to push tempo from the sidelines.

[Keithtisbarf]

Of course you do

[AlphaBanguara]

Of course you do


Who??

[brewcity77]

Of course you do

Why you hoopin'?