Will Buzz choose to continue down the path that led to 9-9 in the conference, and almost assuredly will NOT win the Big East tourney - and in so doing essentially gaining nothing?
Or will he be bold and give Dawson and Burton 25 and roll the dice and see what happens? In my view, it's the only way we have a chance to win BET...too much data from conference play at this point to think we can beat either Creighton or Nova by doing the same thing.
No downside as I see it - people aren't expecting us to win BET - and if we don't with freshman taking on a bigger role...no harm done, other than getting them valuable experience. But, if by chance the freshman juice us and we went on to win BET - all is forgiven, Buzz saves face to an extent - as we still end up in NCAA tourney and everyone at that point is happy.
Doubt it will happen...but thinking about it...why not??
Ners, I've been your biggest fan, but man, you are relentless. But hey, it is what it is.
He's going to bring the same lineups out and roll with Derrick for most of the game.
Quote from: windyplayer on March 10, 2014, 05:18:06 PM
Ners, I've been your biggest fan, but man, you are relentless. But hey, it is what it is.
Thanks Windy...maybe redundant post/thread I guess....but thought it broached an interesting argument - what does Buzz have to lose at this point?
Quote from: Jamil_toMU10 on March 10, 2014, 05:21:56 PM
He's going to bring the same lineups out and roll with Derrick for most of the game.
I can't see anything different happening.
I think the nature of the BET will actually force him to play more guys because you need the fresh legs to make it for three days. It will force his hand to play guys more than he usually does, and that may benefit us (or hurt us).
Buzz will play Derrick bexause he is the best PG on the roster. That isn't saying much... but it is what I this. Hopefully next year he isn't the PG on the roster. Hope we can rattle off three in a row anyway.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on March 10, 2014, 05:30:08 PM
I think the nature of the BET will actually force him to play more guys because you need the fresh legs to make it for three days. It will force his hand to play guys more than he usually does, and that may benefit us (or hurt us).
Assuming we win the first game...
Quote from: Ners on March 10, 2014, 05:31:33 PM
Assuming we win the first game...
Yup, that's the danger
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on March 10, 2014, 05:30:08 PM
I think the nature of the BET will actually force him to play more guys because you need the fresh legs to make it for three days. It will force his hand to play guys more than he usually does, and that may benefit us (or hurt us).
Normally I would agree, but this year is different. We have to win it to get to the dance. I don't think he will open up the roster at all this week.
I can 100% guarantee Buzz will do what he believes provides the best opportunity to win, while adhering to his core beliefs and philosophy.
I have the perfect strategy. Win.
Buzz has an epiphany and turns Todd and Deonte loose. Or Not!
Quote from: brandx on March 10, 2014, 05:37:07 PM
Normally I would agree, but this year is different. We have to win it to get to the dance. I don't think he will open up the roster at all this week.
You might be right. My concern would be that by day 3 they are just exhausted doing that, but of course you have to win first. Will be interesting to see what happens. Could be that game 1 is business as usual, but game two gets expansive in the hopes you can get to game three with some gas left in the tank.
Quote from: brandx on March 10, 2014, 05:37:07 PM
Normally I would agree, but this year is different. We have to win it to get to the dance. I don't think he will open up the roster at all this week.
I agree. He's going to roll with what he has the last week (and most the season). If we lose, I do see him playing Dawson and JJJ more.
I just hope Jamil shows up.
Just win, baby.
Burton deserves 20+ minutes. Dawson doesn't.
Quote from: Ners on March 10, 2014, 05:16:15 PM
Will Buzz choose to continue down the path that led to 9-9 in the conference, and almost assuredly will NOT win the Big East tourney - and in so doing essentially gaining nothing?
Or will he be bold and give Dawson and Burton 25 and roll the dice and see what happens? In my view, it's the only way we have a chance to win BET...too much data from conference play at this point to think we can beat either Creighton or Nova by doing the same thing.
No downside as I see it - people aren't expecting us to win BET - and if we don't with freshman taking on a bigger role...no harm done, other than getting them valuable experience. But, if by chance the freshman juice us and we went on to win BET - all is forgiven, Buzz saves face to an extent - as we still end up in NCAA tourney and everyone at that point is happy.
Doubt it will happen...but thinking about it...why not??
I completely agree. This is the only viable option, if I had my way I would add JJJ into the mix as well.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on March 10, 2014, 05:30:08 PM
I think the nature of the BET will actually force him to play more guys because you need the fresh legs to make it for three days. It will force his hand to play guys more than he usually does, and that may benefit us (or hurt us).
Excellent point, and true
Quote from: brandx on March 10, 2014, 05:37:07 PM
Normally I would agree, but this year is different. We have to win it to get to the dance. I don't think he will open up the roster at all this week.
This is my belief. In fact against SJU he didn't even play Juan, JJJ or Taylor. I'd expect to see more of the 8 we saw against SJU. Which could be a good thing...
Buzz's standard lineups handled Xavier pretty good last time. And now they are missing Stainbrook. I don't expect much to change.
However, if we do see Creighton in the second round...we gotta try something new.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on March 10, 2014, 11:36:26 PM
Buzz's standard lineups handled Xavier pretty good last time. And now they are missing Stainbrook. I don't expect much to change.
However, if we do see Creighton in the second round...we gotta try something new.
I would start with a memo to the coaching staff that having Davante get 2 FG attempts in one game and 3 FG attempts in the other game against Creighton might not cut it.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on March 10, 2014, 11:38:14 PM
I would start with a memo to the coaching staff that having Davante get 2 FG attempts in one game and 3 FG attempts in the other game against Creighton might not cut it.
Maybe a second memo stating that gving up 35 three point attempts in the 1st game and 29 in the 2nd won't cut it either.
Quote from: brandx on March 10, 2014, 11:52:16 PM
Maybe a second memo stating that gving up 35 three point attempts in the 1st game and 29 in the 2nd won't cut it either.
That one seemed way too obvious to even point out....I'm pretty sure the YMCA girls youth U-8 team coach knows that one, but you are right. Attack their weakness with Gardner, take away their strength with 3 point shooting and make them put the ball on the deck. I know Buzz knows this, for whatever reason we didn't do this.
Quote from: brandx on March 10, 2014, 11:52:16 PM
Maybe a second memo stating that gving up 35 three point attempts in the 1st game and 29 in the 2nd won't cut it either.
How about a third memo never to slack off of Wragge? MU seemed to be only program in America who didn't know Wragge is best shooter in all of the land. Open looks all day in the Bradley Center.
Quote from: Golden Avalanche on March 11, 2014, 09:20:04 AM
How about a third memo never to slack off of Wragge? MU seemed to be only program in America who didn't know Wragge is best shooter in all of the land. Open looks all day in the Bradley Center.
So do you want Gardner to play a lot or do you want Wragge covered? We will struggle to do both.
I think Otule shouldn't play much against Creighton, either. Might be Steve Taylor Jr's time to shine. I'd also want to see a lot of Burton in that possible matchup.
They are a very bad matchup for us. Juan would help stop the barrage of 3s, but then provide nothing on the other end. We probably have to end up living/dying with Gardner, pounding it into him as much as possible and hope they don't bury too many 3s when he can't out to guard them.
Who played best to the scouting report in practice = starters.
Assuming a win on Thurs. is a given, is a big mistake.
Quote from: CTWarrior on March 11, 2014, 09:27:29 AM
So do you want Gardner to play a lot or do you want Wragge covered? We will struggle to do both.
I think Otule shouldn't play much against Creighton, either. Might be Steve Taylor Jr's time to shine. I'd also want to see a lot of Burton in that possible matchup.
They are a very bad matchup for us. Juan would help stop the barrage of 3s, but then provide nothing on the other end. We probably have to end up living/dying with Gardner, pounding it into him as much as possible and hope they don't bury too many 3s when he can't out to guard them.
I'd have to think Burton would be the best option with regard to covering Wragge - Burton more mobile than Davante obviously - and as much as Wragge can cause problems for us - Creighton has no one that can match up with Davante. We need Davante on floor with Mayo and Jake as much as possible to help take double team pressure off...and I'd certainly like to see Dawson get run against Creighton as that would further help prevent collapsing on DG...and Creighton does not play a pressure variety of defense that has been a concern for some with regard to Dawson.
Quote from: DienerTime34 on March 11, 2014, 09:29:57 AM
Who played best to the scouting report in practice = starters.
We better get better scouting reports and/or implementation of scouting reports because it sure hasn't translated into our games very well...particularly against Creighton.
Quote from: Ners on March 11, 2014, 09:33:53 AM
I'd have to think Burton would be the best option with regard to covering Wragge - Burton more mobile than Davante obviously - and as much as Wragge can cause problems for us - Creighton has no one that can match up with Davante. We need Davante on floor with Mayo and Jake as much as possible to help take double team pressure off.
Not saying I disagree with a word of this, but then whom does Davante defend? McDermott?
I guess I'd at least try a triangle-and-2, with Jamil primarily on McDermott and Burton/Juan never leaving Wragge for even one second. The problem with this is that the players haven't done this at all this season, and it's not easy to ask your players to try something totally new in the 33rd game.
Creighton presents the single biggest conundrum for us this season because we must have Gardner on the floor against their D, but he cannot defend the opposing team's center, who has absolutely killed us from downtown.
If we get past X, of course.
Quote from: 4everwarriors on March 11, 2014, 09:33:43 AM
Assuming a win on Thurs. is a big ?
A win on Saturday is big. The rest is fodder.
Quote from: MU82 on March 11, 2014, 09:58:46 AM
I guess I'd at least try a triangle-and-2, with Jamil primarily on McDermott and Burton/Juan never leaving Wragge for even one second. The problem with this is that the players haven't done this at all this season, and it's not easy to ask your players to try something totally new in the 33rd game.
I agree that this might be worth a shot. Davante and Chris simply can't cover Wragge or McD on the perimeter. Jamil, Deonte and Juan are the players with the combination of length and quickness that would seem to give us the best chance of challenging these guys.
If either of our regular season games vs Creighton has even been moderately close, I wouldn't want to try such a dramatic change in game #33. But they handled us so easily both times that a big change might be worth a try.
Quote from: chapman on March 11, 2014, 10:07:23 AM
A win on Saturday is big. The rest is fodder.
Winning a game to get you within 2 games of an NCAA berth is big. Winning a game to get you within 1 game of an NCAA berth is really big. Winning a play-in game on Saturday is huge.
Quote from: MU82 on March 11, 2014, 09:58:46 AM
Not saying I disagree with a word of this, but then whom does Davante defend? McDermott?
I guess I'd at least try a triangle-and-2, with Jamil primarily on McDermott and Burton/Juan never leaving Wragge for even one second. The problem with this is that the players haven't done this at all this season, and it's not easy to ask your players to try something totally new in the 33rd game.
Creighton presents the single biggest conundrum for us this season because we must have Gardner on the floor against their D, but he cannot defend the opposing team's center, who has absolutely killed us from downtown.
If we get past X, of course.
Not just Gardner - I still have images burned into my brain of Otule, arms flailing, running at Wragge as he buries another one.
Quote from: 4everwarriors on March 11, 2014, 09:33:43 AM
Assuming a win on Thurs. is a given, is a big mistake.
Totally agree. Don't think anyone here thinks that. Without the big guy, the XU game is a 50/50 proposition, I think. If we do clear that hurdle, however, Creighton represents a much, much more difficult matchup for us.
You are much more likely to see a lot of minutes out of Burton than you are Dawson.
I think in the game against X, nothing will change especially with Derrick since he's kept Christon in check both games.
If we play Georgetown nothing will change. If we play Creighton, I think we will see a relatively significant change. Probably more Dawson and Deonte than any other match up and a lot less Otule.
Quote from: CTWarrior on March 11, 2014, 12:43:15 PM
Totally agree. Don't think anyone here thinks that. Without the big guy, the XU game is a 50/50 proposition, I think. If we do clear that hurdle, however, Creighton represents a much, much more difficult matchup for us.
Yep. As fans, we have the luxury of looking past as many games as we want without it having one iota of impact on the team. X will be a difficult game - Mack is probably preaching to them that they still need to win to be a lock - but I like our chances with Stainbrook out.
I'd be a lot more worried if Buzz was the one talking today about how to guard McD and Wragge.
Quote from: mu03eng on March 11, 2014, 12:57:54 PM
You are much more likely to see a lot of minutes out of Burton than you are Dawson.
I think in the game against X, nothing will change especially with Derrick since he's kept Christon in check both games.
If we play Georgetown nothing will change. If we play Creighton, I think we will see a relatively significant change. Probably more Dawson and Deonte than any other match up and a lot less Otule.
I haven't chimed in on the whole Derrick debate but he did not keep Christon in check during the first game. I'm going off memory here, but I think he put up something like 26 points on us and laced 3 or 4 dagger 3s right in Derrick's face in the last 5 minutes. The second game he played great defense; the first not so much.
Quote from: swoopem on March 11, 2014, 01:46:27 PM
I haven't chimed in on the Derrick debate but he did not keep Christon in check during the first game. I'm going off memory here, but I think he put up something like 26 points on us and laced 3 or 4 dagger 3s right in Derrick's face in the last 5 minutes. The second game he played great defense; the first not so much.
If the threes were "right in derrick's face", then he played good defense. Some games guys hit tough shots.
Quote from: MUEagle1090 on March 10, 2014, 08:20:31 PM
Burton deserves 20+ minutes. Dawson doesn't.
The pros/cons of this can be summed up in about 8 seconds.
http://www.youtube.com/v/PmEvxswn4IY
I think Burton is a guy that Buzz can tell him that he's staying in the game as long as he's inside either Wragge or McDermott's jersey.
He's actually not a bad one on one defender and his anticipation and first step quickness creates a lot of deflections/steals on passes.
Plus he likes to score, and tying his offensive time on the court to a specific defensive task would keep him motivated.
Quote from: MUEagle1090 on March 11, 2014, 02:19:57 PM
If the threes were "right in derrick's face", then he played good defense. Some games guys hit tough shots.
He played bad defesne that game. Christon went 8-10 from the field, 3-3 from 3, and put up a career high 28 points. He had an "on night" while Derrick had an "off night". It happens.
X is currently favored by a point.
Quote from: Atticus on March 12, 2014, 11:45:33 AM
X is currently favored by a point.
Given our last two losses have been in double OT by a point, it would be foolish to predict anything else.
Quote from: brandx on March 11, 2014, 12:28:47 PM
Not just Gardner - I still have images burned into my brain of Otule, arms flailing, running at Wragge as he buries another one.
Wragge is about 6'6". This is not tough to figure out. You put Jamil on McBuckets and either Burton, Juan when in, or Mayo on Wragge. Otule/Gardner guards one of the other players. Other than Otule/Gardner and Derrick, all the rest are switchables anyway, right?
Quote from: willie warrior on March 12, 2014, 11:59:57 AM
Wragge is about 6'6". This is not tough to figure out. You put Jamil on McBuckets and either Burton, Juan when in, or Mayo on Wragge. Otule/Gardner guards one of the other players. Other than Otule/Gardner and Derrick, all the rest are switchables anyway, right?
The only problem with that strategy is that leaves Oxtule guarding either Chatman, Manigat, or Gibbs. All three of those players are perimeter guards who are much faster than our bigs. Unless they were having awful nights, we would get burned all night.
There isn't a good answer. We either play the right defensive personnel (3 guards, 2 forwards, no center) and take away our biggest advantage on offense or play our dominant bigs and get burned on defense.
I think our best chance is to stick Davante on Wragge. He's a spot up shooter and doesn't do well when challenged. He is quick and will make Davante work to guard him.
I'd expect a lot of offense/defense switches if we do play Creighton
Quote from: swoopem on March 12, 2014, 11:35:48 AM
He played bad defesne that game. Christon went 8-10 from the field, 3-3 from 3, and put up a career high 28 points. He had an "on night" while Derrick had an "off night". It happens.
Not to get nitpicky but Derrick wasn't guarding Christon for most of the game, especially the first half when Jamil was on him(and why Jamil got into foul trouble...in addition to that's just what Jamil does ;D).
Having said that, Derrick had a less than stellar game against Christon and Christon had an outstanding game, as you said it happens, we'll see what the strategy is tomorrow.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on March 12, 2014, 01:25:11 PM
I think our best chance is to stick Davante on Wragge. He's a spot up shooter and doesn't do well when challenged. He is quick and will make Davante work to guard him.
Your heart is in the right place, TAMU, but that is exactly what we did last time.
Oh wait ...
I think Wragge just hit
another 3!
Quote from: mu03eng on March 12, 2014, 01:28:42 PM
Not to get nitpicky but Derrick wasn't guarding Christon for most of the game, especially the first half when Jamil was on him(and why Jamil got into foul trouble...in addition to that's just what Jamil does ;D).
Having said that, Derrick had a less than stellar game against Christon and Christon had an outstanding game, as you said it happens, we'll see what the strategy is tomorrow.
Are you 100% sure this was the case? I don't recall Jamil chasing Christon around..? Yet, if it was, why on God's green earth, when you have in Buzz's words - an elite, lockdown, best defender I've coached PG in Derrick...would you not assign him to their best guard?? Makes ZERO sense, or was this just another case of Buzz having an off year/thought process?
Quote from: Ners on March 12, 2014, 04:09:24 PM
Are you 100% sure this was the case? I don't recall Jamil chasing Christon around..? Yet, if it was, why on God's green earth, when you have in Buzz's words - an elite, lockdown, best defender I've coached PG in Derrick...would you not assign him to their best guard?? Makes ZERO sense, or was this just another case of Buzz having an off year/thought process?
According to some posters, it is because Derrick gets tired at the end of games if he has to guard the other PG. Wonder why Bryce Cotton who only come off the floor in BE play for ONE minute this year doesn't have the same issue
Quote from: brandx on March 12, 2014, 04:15:18 PM
According to some posters, it is because Derrick gets tired at the end of games if he has to guard the other PG. Wonder why Bryce Cotton who only come off the floor in BE play for ONE minute this year doesn't have the same issue
Well in the case of Cotton playing MU/Derrick...he doesn't need to expend a lot of energy defending Derrick all over the court...often can camp out in the lane in a stationary position...
But, let's get real...every excuse has been come up with by those who've taken the Derrick is the best option approach - to defend their position and his poor play...including Buzz!
Quote from: Ners on March 12, 2014, 04:09:24 PM
Are you 100% sure this was the case? I don't recall Jamil chasing Christon around..? Yet, if it was, why on God's green earth, when you have in Buzz's words - an elite, lockdown, best defender I've coached PG in Derrick...would you not assign him to their best guard?? Makes ZERO sense, or was this just another case of Buzz having an off year/thought process?
I'm 100% sure that Wilson was guarding Christon in the first 10 minutes of the 1st half. I'm also 100% sure that Christon hit two clutch threes when Wilson was guarding him in the back half of that game. Not one of Wilson's best performances for sure.