As we get closer to Big East play, How do we solve our perimeter shooting concerns. As we have seen quality teams sag on defense, clogging the lane, and making it difficult to score inside. jake Thomas is clearly not the answer and even if mayo comes back, he is streaky. Thoughts?
If I am Buzz, as we move into Big East play I would start pressing more. We need to keep games up tempo and I think we are deeper than most. Thomas and Lockett should start shooting better at some point. Mayo gives us another guy you have to guard out to the line and if Blue keeps up his shooting the scouting report on him will change.
Thomas was disappointing today. He had several open shot opportunities and failed to score. He shoots well in warm ups but can't score in games. Savannah State played a tight defense. If Thomas can't shoot well in the preseason, he won't be able to help the team much in the Big East.
Quote from: Stretchdeltsig on December 15, 2012, 07:29:24 PM
Thomas was disappointing today. He had several open shot opportunities and failed to score. He shoots well in warm ups but can't score in games. Savannah State played a tight defense. If Thomas can't shoot well in the preseason, he won't be able to help the team much in the Big East.
Just don't see all the hoopla with Thomas. He missed some wide open looks today. If Todd comes back Thomas moves down the bench.
Agree to everything above, but how do we cure our lack of outside shooting?
Quote from: goldeneagle91114 on December 15, 2012, 04:36:26 PM
As we get closer to Big East play, How do we solve our perimeter shooting concerns.
Bring Todd Mayo back.
The sky isn't falling. We're only 9 games in. And while this may not be one of MU's best outside-shooting teams, a look at past seasons suggests that it's not that bad.
3PT%
2012-13: 34.7% (before today's game)
2011-12: 33.7%
2010-11: 34.9%
2009-10: 41.9%
2008-09: 34.7%
2007-08: 35.8%
2006-07: 33.5%
2005-06: 39.5%
2004-05: 36.6%
2003-04: 40.6%
2002-03: 40.1%
If I'm concerned about anything with the offense at this point, it's turnovers.
Quote from: Stretchdeltsig on December 15, 2012, 07:29:24 PM
Thomas was disappointing today. He had several open shot opportunities and failed to score. He shoots well in warm ups but can't score in games. Savannah State played a tight defense. If Thomas can't shoot well in the preseason, he won't be able to help the team much in the Big East.
Jake is a very good practice shooter because he has time to shoot. He has a slow release and in games he doesn't have enough time to set and shoot. He's been off because that's not his natural shot "pace" so to speak.
We simply are not a very good shooting team. Not just from 3-point range but also from mid-range. It will haunt us all season. It's just who we are. We need to win games other ways.
As for Jake Thomas, if he can't hit wide-open 3-pointers, he cannot play basketball at this level.
Quote from: MerrittsMustache on December 15, 2012, 09:46:29 PM
Jake is a very good practice shooter because he has time to shoot. He has a slow release and in games he doesn't have enough time to set and shoot. He's been off because that's not his natural shot "pace" so to speak.
Disagree. I have been a fan of his potential to this point, but he is missing wide open shots with plenty of time to set.
Quote from: LloydMooresLegs on December 15, 2012, 09:54:10 PM
Disagree. I have been a fan of his potential to this point, but he is missing wide open shots with plenty of time to set.
I guess I should have been clearer. Even when he's wide-open, his shot looks rushed because he's used to having to get his shot up quickly.
I agree with that (I'm sure you're relieved) - he does look rushed.
its not just the percentage of threes we make, its the number we take. We are currently 340th in the nation at 3 point attempts per field goal attempt. You can't make what you don't take. And as I am sure you all know, 3 pointers are worth more than 2 pointers. This team will need to learn to shoot the ball if they want to be any better than a fringe NCAA team this year. I am afraid a fringe NCAA team is just about right. a scary 11/12 seed.
Right now we're averaging 71 ppg versus 75 ppg last season. Not bad, considering this team had to replace half its scoring punch playing without Jae and DJO (both All-Big East first teamers).
That said, I'd have to agree that Marquette looks like a bubble NCAA team. At least right now. There's definitely room for improvement on both ends of the court. What excites me about this team is the depth and athleticism. And I think Buzz has proven that he knows how to have a team playing its best in March.
We'll have to see what the conference season has in store.
the depth and athleticism excite me for next year. For this, we need to fill the bucket from range, and we just can't. remember the Lazar + Butler and cubillan and acker team? We are at that level, but without the shooters those shorties were. It is a major hurdle I don't see this team clearing and i just thank the lord that even with this major flaw we are still good enough to make the NCAA tourney.
Quote from: Marcus92 on December 15, 2012, 08:56:32 PMIf I'm concerned about anything with the offense at this point, it's turnovers.
FWIW, Savannah State is very good at turning people over. Defensively, they've been better than us this year in most facets despite their record and definitely at turning the opposition over.
I agree that while shooting is a concern, it's not as major a one as people fear. It will become a problem against teams like Syracuse if we can't get the ball into Davante. I'm far more concerned with the combination of that and lack of free throws. Buzz has always said he wants to take more FTs than the opponents take. Yesterday was only the 4th time we managed that feat this year (SE Louisiana, USC, and UMBC the others). Pomeroy has us rated #150 at free throw attempt/field goal attempt ratio. This team needs to be more aggressive. I think that comes down primarily to Jamil Wilson. He NEEDS to be getting to the line. Since the season opener when he went 5/6 from the stripe, he's gone to the line 12 times total in 8 games, an average of 1.5 FTA per game. That's not enough. He should be getting to the line 4+ times every single game.
A bit more consistency from Lockett, Gardner, and Blue in that regard would also be nice, but really Jamil is the guy who needs to be doing a bit of slashing in as well as posting up some guys to make sure he's getting freebie points to go along with his shots.
We have a 3 point shooter that hardly ever shoots.
Quote from: Marqevans on December 16, 2012, 07:59:18 AM
We have a 3 point shooter that hardly ever shoots.
Who's not used to the speed of the game at this level.
Quote from: Marcus92 on December 15, 2012, 11:08:49 PM
Right now we're averaging 71 ppg versus 75 ppg last season. Not bad, considering this team had to replace half its scoring punch playing without Jae and DJO (both All-Big East first teamers).
That said, I'd have to agree that Marquette looks like a bubble NCAA team. At least right now. There's definitely room for improvement on both ends of the court. What excites me about this team is the depth and athleticism. And I think Buzz has proven that he knows how to have a team playing its best in March.
We'll have to see what the conference season has in store.
At this point last season, with games at Wisconsin against a much better Badgers team, a good Mississippi State team and Washington on a neutral court, we were averaging 83 points. This team is well behind last year's team in efficiency and I'm not bullish that it will be as good as next year's team once we hit the Big East part of the schedule.
Quote from: MU82 on December 16, 2012, 01:17:23 PM
At this point last season, with games at Wisconsin against a much better Badgers team, a good Mississippi State team and Washington on a neutral court, we were averaging 83 points.
Good point. From another perspective, we're 5th in the Big East (41st nationally) in offensive efficiency. Good, but obviously not great — and clearly below the high standard set in recent years.
Buzz has his switchables and plenty of talent, possibly the most during his tenure at MU. With another new starting lineup yesterday, seems like he's still figuring out exactly how this team fits together. A lot can happen in the next 3 months. I won't be surprised if we're performing at a Top 25 level by March and earn a 6 or 7 seed.