I have never been more sickened by a loss than this one today because of the incredible energy expended to come back and titillate the entire fan base, only to come up on the losing end yet again. Why did McNeal go to the hoop on the last possession and even attempt that field goal? If MU puts it up with 6 seconds left on the shot clock the best Nova can do is grab the ball, scurry down the floor, and hoist up a prayer. That was an ill advised shot with too much time remaining on the shot clock. It's vexing. What an absolute gut-wrenching defeat. Is Marquette going to continue to dig huge holes, only to come back and fall short? This is getting really difficult to watch. I think I'm disconsolate!
More heartbreaking than the Stanford loss, IMO. Everyone knew crybaby was going to hoist up -- and make -- that shot. This seemed like we were really going to make something happen.
Why did he take the 3 point so left the time before. He was put in a position that does not suit his talents but I don't know who else you give the ball too at that point in time. Acker?????
Why did he not play defense on the final play is a much better question.
McNeal only know how to play one way - aggressively. If he sees an open lane, he's going to take it, he's always played that way. It cost us dearly today.
If I were an NBA scout I would cross him off my last immediately. He has a lot talent but his basketball IQ is at the third-grade level. That last minute made me sick to my stomach.
Mcneal should of waited for another 5 seconds and threw something up with 7 seconds left. If there is a rebound we have a slim chance at getting it, but 2 seconds come off the clock. I dont think any teams can go the entire floor with 3 or 4 seconds and make a game winning basket. And if they can, well they deserve to win.
Agree with ecompt...just ZERO basketball IQ there. None.
And I have a huge, HUGE problem, not so much with the shot selection, but the defense at the end, that is just an embarrassment.
One of the most common compliments I hear about Buzz is that he lets his players play.
We just saw Example A of why that's not really a good thing.
It should be a good thing when you have a senior leader making the decisions. For all his talents, Jerel's biggest weakness is his decision making. Every single thing he did in the final minute goes against every single thing a good coach would tell him to do.
Quote from: Tribby on March 12, 2009, 04:16:23 PM
One of the most common compliments I hear about Buzz is that he lets his players play.
We just saw Example A of why that's not really a good thing.
What the heck are you talking about? We were coming out of time out and knew what we wanted to do, hopefully that wasn't it. But what is your suggestion...sit our best player for the final offensive possession. This one is on the player, not the coach.
Sounds like McNeal did what Buzz wanted him to do. Its just sounds like the shot was taken a few seconds too early. Wanted a ball screen up top that was successful during the second half. McNeal had an opening and instead of passing took it to the hole.
Quote from: bradforster on March 12, 2009, 03:57:14 PM
I have never been more sickened by a loss than this one today
I was far more sickened watching a moppy hair idiot from Stanford hit a miracle shot against us in a game with more meaning one season ago.
We go to the Sweet 16 after next weekend and our loss in round 2/3 of the Big East tournament is a minor footnote on the season.
I agree with a post on another thread that McNeal mentally lapsed--and make no mistake that he did-in part because he was in shock that there was no call on his drive to the basket.
I'm still mentally lapsing. There were a lot of stops and starts at the end...team timeouts...TV timeouts...I'm still waiting for them to review the replay and send Jerel to the line for two that he makes to put us up three.
Jerel needs a pre-tourney visit with his cosmic/karma guru, whoever that is. What's Coach Crean doing these days anyway? MJ? D-Wade?
Just got back from MSG .McNeal appeared to hot dog his final 3 and then went blindly into traffic forcing a shot which was easily blocked .Anyway , it was an awesome game as I sat next to Nova and Ville fans who were great .
Quote from: ecompt on March 12, 2009, 04:18:54 PM
It should be a good thing when you have a senior leader making the decisions. For all his talents, Jerel's biggest weakness is his decision making. Every single thing he did in the final minute goes against every single thing a good coach would tell him to do.
From the postgame remarks, it sounds like Jerel did exactly what Buzz told him to do. Which, as you said, goes against every single thing a good coach would do.
So...
Quote from: Tribby on March 12, 2009, 04:16:23 PM
One of the most common compliments I hear about Buzz is that he lets his players play.
We just saw Example A of why that's not really a good thing.
This has absolutely NOTHING to do with "letting the players play". Not playing scared does not equate to not playing smart. Jerel has an extremely low basketball IQ and it's been on display his entire career at MU. I suppose it's Buzz's fault JM followed up his offensive gaffe by watching the dribbler and losing his man on defense.
Your broken record mantra of Buzz bashing has grown as tiresome and predictable as it it foolish. Give it a rest.
I dunno about anyone else, but why not give Jimmy the ball at the end? The way he was playing today, driving under control, getting to the line. He really earned it. oh well....
the bigger play came before that. Marquette had just gotten the lead, Jerel brought the ball up the court. then stayed up at the top of the key and hoisted a 24ft that clanked with like 15sec left on the clock. didn't make a move, just fired away. Elmore even said why take a shot like that. he can hoist that up anytime, wait and work for better shot. THAT my friends was a key part to the beginning of the end.
Quote from: Tribby on March 12, 2009, 04:36:35 PM
From the postgame remarks, it sounds like Jerel did exactly what Buzz told him to do. Which, as you said, goes against every single thing a good coach would do.
So...
If that is the play Buzz wanted, we are in big trouble!
Buzz could just be covering for Jerel. Either way it falls on the coach.
.
Quote from: WarriorHal on March 12, 2009, 04:53:54 PM
If that is the play Buzz wanted, we are in big trouble!
I cant blame buzz yet; but could this be his lack of coaching ability?
Quote from: Tribby on March 12, 2009, 04:36:35 PM
From the postgame remarks, it sounds like Jerel did exactly what Buzz told him to do. Which, as you said, goes against every single thing a good coach would do.
So...
RIGHT...b/c Buzz is going to say that his best player is at fault. Buzz might be honest but he's not an idiot. He's not going to throw JM under the bus.
I don't necessarily have a problem with that shot, he drove, that's what I wanted, initiate contact, be aggressive. What I cannot fathom is how he has turned his defensive game into nothing but free-lancing for steals. If he stays with his man Nova takes a tough, contested shot. I'll also excuse his 3 with :50 left b/c maybe he was thinking 2 for 1 but the bottom line is what has hurt us most is JM is nowhere near the defender he or others think he is this year.
Hey, we had the lead , we had two timeouts to their none, we had the possession arrow NO WAY we take a shot with 12 seconds still left make them foul us or run down the clock and shoot at the last second. ball should have been in point guards hand. Jerel has to realize we needed to run out the time in that situation. Poor coaching by Buzz if he didn't make that clear AND JEREL has to realize he ain't the second coming of MJ
Maybe Buzz doesn't have enough faith in Mo, but he could take a page from cough, cough Crean. Remember in '03 Wade was not the smoothest with the ball either and turned it over a bunch. Two different times in the tournament, late in games (Mizzou and Pitt), he ran that same play where Diener drove and handed off to Dwyane dribbling right into the lane from the left wing. Once he barely missed the shot (at the end of regulation against Mizzou) and the other one he made (Pitt). I don't have a problem with Jerel taking the shot, but maybe someone else can instigate off the dribble.
Once again, w/o DJ to run the show, we were screwed. Jerel tried to put it all on his shoulders, but he's not that good. The results speak for themselves. Just F-ing infuriating!
My girlfriend went to KU...she has been give'n me hell all season re BUZZ. She says he couldn't coach himself out of a paper bag! He's turning his brain to "OFF" w 2 min to go and giving away every close game...pathetic. HORRIBLE!!!!!!! He needs to put Bill Self on a conference call w 2 min left.
Quote from: soloWarrior on March 12, 2009, 05:44:03 PM
He needs to put Bill Self on a conference call w 2 min left.
How'd that work out for Bill today? With 2:48 left they were down by 1 65-64. They didn't score another point.