Is anyone else worried that Buzz is relying on the Big 3 to play too many minutes. So far, in our two competitive BE games James, McSteal and Wes have averaged 36 min. I think that this may be a couple of minutes too much and could cause these guys to wear out by the end of the BE. This obviously creates a serious dilema for Buzz with the severe drop-off we get with Cubes this year and the drop-off we get with Acker. Last year Acker improved during the season to the point where he could give some valuable minutes but has regressed thus far - hopefully he will get better. I have no hope for Cubes this year.
I think that fatigue (except Wes) was partially to blame for the comeback that we allowed Rutgers last night but it was masked by the lousy play that we got from Cubes/Acker at about the 10 min mark in the second half.
even Wes looked bushed.
I think the road games certainly take more out of the guys...
it would be great to get a bit more of a player rotation out there- but with such a drop off, what can Buzz do?
more player combinations perhaps, keeping 2 of the 3 guards in at a crack- but that might hurt chemistry.
lots of work to do in practice, that's for sure.
great win against an up and comer.
Great win against an up and comer? Blowing a 21 point lead?
As for fatigue, if these guys can't recover from a game in 3 days at age 21....
I hope buzz has learned something from this game about when to take a TO and what combinations work.
I think what we have here is a rookie coach learning when/when not to use TO's. I completely agree he's botched a few. But as for the rotation...that's going to be something he figures as he goes along (and as Fulce and Otule get back to full strength).
A lot of this isn't on Buzz. I don't know what's wrong with Cube's. It has to be his shoulders, or...is it the fact that since he's no longer hitting threes, we are focused more on the fact that he doesn't appear to be as good a player/defender as we thought he was. The guy's an enigma.
But yeah...as for fatigue this early in the season? The guys are 21 years old. I think they'll survive. But, come mid-Feb, this could all come back to bite MU. Which is why Buzz is so intent on finding two subs that can hang with three starters for 5-10 minutes and not see a huge drop-off.
We got a big boost from Butler last night but he was the only one off the bench to contribute anything. Acker was invisble and Cubes was worse. I said to my wife when he came in, "Here comes Rutgers." Two minutes later a 21-point lead was 11 and it was a different game. Since the shoulder woes, Cubes can't be trusted to play at all. Otule had an awful night and Hazel was a non-factor. I don't see why fatigue should have been a big factor. We rested our starters the last six minutes against Cincy and we had three sdays to recover. Makes me wonder what kind of problems we'll have in the BE Tourney, when Acker and Cubes and Fulce (if he's ever healthy) will have to contribute meaningful minutes.
yes there is no doubt we are tired down the stretch but what is the alternative? Does not help when LAzar has not shown up to play for 2games now and Jerel was terrible, his points were ft's at the end he played very poorly. Good news is we got a road win with jerel and LAzar playing very pporly. Big nights by wes, dj, burke, and Butle.
Quote from: MR.HAYWARD on January 08, 2009, 11:25:06 AM
yes there is no doubt we are tired down the stretch but what is the alternative? Does not help when LAzar has not shown up to play for 2games now and Jerel was terrible, his points were ft's at the end he played very poorly. Good news is we got a road win with jerel and LAzar playing very pporly. Big nights by wes, dj, burke, and Butle.
I don't think anything major needs to be changed. Just figure out a way to steal a couple minutes more rest for the big three. I am most concerned with Mcneal - I think his play last night was because he lost his legs a little.
Quote from: 1990Warrior on January 08, 2009, 07:05:40 AM
Is anyone else worried that Buzz is relying on the Big 3 to play too many minutes. So far, in our two competitive BE games James, McSteal and Wes have averaged 36 min. I think that this may be a couple of minutes too much and could cause these guys to wear out by the end of the BE. This obviously creates a serious dilema for Buzz with the severe drop-off we get with Cubes this year and the drop-off we get with Acker. Last year Acker improved during the season to the point where he could give some valuable minutes but has regressed thus far - hopefully he will get better. I have no hope for Cubes this year.
I think that fatigue (except Wes) was partially to blame for the comeback that we allowed Rutgers last night but it was masked by the lousy play that we got from Cubes/Acker at about the 10 min mark in the second half.
Fatigue 3 games into the BE? Wow.
By the way, he relies on the Big 3 because that is all he has. The amigos and Lazar is it my friend. That should hardly be a revelation.
It occurred to me a couple of games ago that we were back to the McGuire years were there was a heavy reliance on the starters. We looked tired when the momentum turned against us. I am not sure it would have turned, if Buzz had not subbed. Either way the team still had enough experience to avoid a loss. To me it hurt when they called a charge on the Rutgers' player and gave him the basket. The problem was that James went to the line and missed the front end of the bonus, which gave the ball back to Rutgers without using any time up. James played a really good game last night, but we cannot have our point guard shooting under 50% from the free throw line.
Quote from: bilsu on January 08, 2009, 06:38:33 PM
It occurred to me a couple of games ago that we were back to the McGuire years were there was a heavy reliance on the starters. We looked tired when the momentum turned against us. I am not sure it would have turned, if Buzz had not subbed. Either way the team still had enough experience to avoid a loss. To me it hurt when they called a charge on the Rutgers' player and gave him the basket. The problem was that James went to the line and missed the front end of the bonus, which gave the ball back to Rutgers without using any time up. James played a really good game last night, but we cannot have our point guard shooting under 50% from the free throw line.
Al's time had no shot clock. The pace was slower.
There is a TV timeout every four minutes and the second half is always slower because there are more fouls and time outs taken. Lots of opportunities to catch a breather.
These guys are superior athletes and can play hard a whole game...but what is really hard to do is play hard for a 3/4 of the game....taken out because you think the thing is iced and then having to go out and get back in the groove.
I'm not too worried because I don't think it will happen again.
Having Hayward in foul trouble compounds this problem. He need to be smarter w/ his fouls so can be out on the floor and contribute.
The more physical teams in the Big East, that pound and pound on you the entire game, will be a greater challenge for our starters if they have to take the pounding for the entire game almost. That's why Buzz is trying to find subs he can rely on to be productive on the floor - not blow the lead, ir help get one - which will refresh ours starters.
I hope our bench rises to the occasion - Butler played a great game yesterday - was more confident than ever and more comfortable.
GO MARQUETTE!
Rosiak just posted this:
"-- McNeal and James both did it against West Virginia, becoming the first Golden Eagles in more than five years to do so. The last was Travis Diener, who went the distance in a 52-45 victory over St. John's in MU's season opener on Nov. 13, 2003.
James actually has played 42 minutes in a game previously, but that was in an overtime affair at Louisville on March 1, 2006. McNeal's previous high was 39 minutes, set against Wisconsin earlier this year.
For comparison's sake, in a 55-51, 2OT victory at Saint Louis on Jan. 29, 2005, Marcus Jackson played an incredible 48 minutes, Dameon Mason 47 and Steve Novak 45 minutes.
Williams said he learned a lesson from the game Wednesday at Rutgers.
"I think I was probably a little more hesitant than I've been in the past (to substitute) because we were up 21 against Rutgers, then I started trying to give Jerel an extra 30-second gametime break, tried to do that with Dominic," he said. "Then they out-scored us by 19 points over the next nine minutes. That was my mistake. I wanted confirm that I didn't make that mistake again.""
Looks like fatigue is going to be a real factor later this season.