Villanova Thoughts

[tower912]

I only saw the last 4 minutes.     By that time, it was all but over.    So I have nothing.   Talk amongst yourselves.

[jesmu84]

I only saw the last 4 minutes.     By that time, it was all but over.    So I have nothing.   Talk amongst yourselves.

Lol.

[rocky_warrior]

Not a lot, but way more than the nothing you promised.  Decent game.  Just couldn't slow them down enough.

[LloydsLegs]

Nova daughter on way to spring service trip so she couldn't watch. Texted her periodic updates.  Last exchange:

Me:  ugh. Just fouling and free throws w you guys up 10 under a minute.

Her:  doable?

Just evil.  Yet I'm proud.

[WarriorFan]

Can never operate at your level Tower, but my thoughts:
1.  Wally is better than Cohen.
2.  JJJ needs the ball more
3.  2nd half Traci was not bad
4.  Henry was shut down... doubled every time he got the ball, but still 13/6
5.  Luke..... Luke?    Where are you Luke?
6.  We got Bad Duane today
7.  Big East refs suck
8.  Villanova is REALLY good. 
It was a great game to watch. 

[CountryRoads]

Think wojo should consider benching Fischer and having him come off the bench at the 16 min mark or so. He just gets in foul trouble too frequently. Kind of like what they did with Erik Williams a few years back.

[ChicosBailBonds]

As expected, their guards way better and seasoned than our guards.  Clutch shooters.  Too many turnovers on our end.  We had our moments on defense, then typically forced a shot we didn't have to.

[amen426]

The ref's really emphasized the "travel" call in this game. More than I've seen whistled in any game this year. The one on JJJ at the end, down 8 was a nail in the coffin.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Statistically we matched them in almost every area. They beat us in FG% 30-52 to 27-52 and shot an absurd 22-25 from the line. We shot a normal 18-25.

[MattyWarrior]

Watched most of it,I wish they all played as hard as Cheatham. I think the coaches should
have tweaked our offense a little by not having the ball always go through Ellenson first.
So many empty possesions, it seems most of the wings hesitate with the ball before making
a decision to shoot or drive, leading to turnovers. Even if we had won,the refs sucked..

[nyg]

1) Fischer picked up 4th foul with ten to go.  Never saw floor again, strange....Maybe matchups, but what?
    If he continues this foul trouble aspect next year, MU in big trouble with out Henry.

2) Henry took three shots thru eleven minutes, had six total.
    Fischer took three shots
    Wally took six shots. 
    Anytime Wally has the same as Henry and more than Fischer, well.

3) Duane was 1 for 8 with two turnovers and not his best

4) Carter played tough with seven points, ten assists, three steals, but five turnovers.

5) JJJ and Cheatham showed up, but not enough.  Great effort there.

6) Cohen with minimal minutes again, looks like Wally is now getting his time.

Nova can play with best of them, play as a team and well rounded.  22 for 25 from free throws is excellent.     Still like Xavier to win BE, but Nova just a tough matchup for MU.

[tower912]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=400840293

I see that Luke never shot and that Duane shot poorly.   Congrats to Wally on an 11 pt game.     I did see traveling calls on JJ and Traci in the last 3 minutes when trying to come back.   

[The Lens]

Even without Henry, we're going to be good next season.  Our guards continue to improve.  And our defense has gotten so much better since Iowa.  Would love to get to 9-9. And make a run at MSG.  It's been 19 years, we're due!

[TSmith34, Inc.]

-- Love what JJJ is becoming
-- Duane, ugh.  Forget the offensive woes, the kid can't play a lick of defense
-- Cheatham was a fantastic recruit
-- Once Traci cuts down on the TOs he will be a fantastic recruit as well

[brewcity77]

• Villanova came in #1 for a reason.
• Nova did a great job on Henry. Virtually a non-factor by his standards.
• We should have gone zone earlier, but Nova made their shots.
• Great crowd, and 7th largest in Marquette history.
• The Marquette Lights intro was awesome.
• Honestly, we played well. But that's not enough against Villanova.
• Haanif and Jajuan were very good. Had the comeback happened, those were the SOTG candidates.
• Too many turnovers again. We limited them in the last 10 minutes, but the damage was done by that time.
• Luke's foul trouble was a killer. We needed to attack Ochefu but couldn't with him on the bench.
• I think Josh Hart just scored again.
• Any NCAA hopes ended today, barring a BET title.
• The atmosphere was great for recruits. Hopefully it plays well with Howard and Joey.

[GGGG]

Simply put.  A young, inexperienced team lost to a really good one.  JJJ and Haanif played very well.  There are seeds of a good team there.  They continue to grow.

I don't understand the complaints about the refs.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

I don't understand the complaints about the refs.

Agreed, I thought they actually called a good, and consistent, game today.  Not a factor in the result

[amen426]

6) Cohen with minimal minutes again, looks like Wally is now getting his time.

You do realize Cohen missed last game, and was a GTD all week?

Nevertheless, Wally played well off the bench. But I wouldn't go as far to say that he took Cohen's minutes. If anything, he took Fischer's minutes - since he missed half of the game in foul trouble.

[mileskishnish72]

1. My dream is to see an MU team that can defend the pick and roll.
2. Traci showed me some grit today. Still not the greatest press-breaker, and needs to learn how to stay on the floor.
3. HE looked gassed 2nd half, shortarming FT's even. Wonder how healthy he was. Once again, a good defensive team limited his impact.
4. Hani could go by Jerel.
5. JJJ good effort, esp. on D. Not that he was bad on O.
6. Luke pretty much got schooled.
7. The thought I had was nailed by WarriorFan - today we got Bad Duane. The airball early in the possession was ugly.
8. Good for Wally - he always busts his ass.
9. Sandy - MIA. Gotta wonder about his future here.
10. Good effort, they are a better team than we are - not #1 for nothing.
11. Disappointed in early part of second half after we had kept it close - it opened right back up at a time when one would hope the coaches would have had them better prepared.
12. Let's get to 9-9!

[mileskishnish72]

Are we 0-for-Archie?

[nyg]

You do realize Cohen missed last game, and was a GTD all week?

Nevertheless, Wally played well off the bench. But I wouldn't go as far to say that he took Cohen's minutes. If anything, he took Fischer's minutes - since he missed half of the game in foul trouble.

Very well aware.  Cohen played five minutes in the previous game, suspended last game and probably played 6 to 7 today.  Prior to this, when Fischer got in trouble, Cohen would play majority of Fischer's time with Henry at center, and Heldt a minute or so.  Today it was Wally, not Sandy.  Lets see what happens vs Georgetown. 

[wadesworld]

Offense was good (outside of the turnovers) but defense was really bad.  Some of that has to do with Nova being a really hard team to defend.  Of all the years, I think this is the year they might make a nice run in the Tourney.  They shoot well, but they play off of that even better.

[VegasWarrior77]

We finish 0-6 against the "big three" (Villanova, X and Seton Hall).  Bummer.

JJJ, HC, Traci & MH looking very improved!  Another year of experience...!

Let's see if we can finish 9-9 and get hot in NYC!

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Wish we would have attacked the corners more. They, along with the baseline were both wide open all game long.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Offense was good (outside of the turnovers) but defense was really bad.  Some of that has to do with Nova being a really hard team to defend.  Of all the years, I think this is the year they might make a nice run in the Tourney.  They shoot well, but they play off of that even better.

I see what wojo wants to happen with the pressing man to man. We got a ton of steals and points in transition. But until we can do that and keep the other team from shooting over 50% from the floor, Im not sure it's the best plan. Give this team a year to mature and it could be deadly