I know it's only been 2 games... so I assure you that I'm not near a ledge or trying to be overly negative.
But, I'm nervous that this team might have same problem as last year.
Negative:
The team still isn't making outside shots
If MU had made a couple more 3pters last night, that game could have been a blow-out. MU had some open looks, but just missed.
Positives:
I think all of the players have improved
DJ's free throws have looked great, so hopefully his jumper will be more consistent throughout the year
Burke's production is way up
Ous has looked rough, but he was never pretty last year either... but usually effective... he will be fine
Hayward has awesome hands and the best touch inside of 10 ft. Very creative at getting his shot off.
Matthews looks good (no worries)
McNeal looks good (no worries)
Cooby looks very good... he has dribbled past a couple of defenders and got a shot off... something he NEVER did last year
Fitz looks bigger and his shot looks about the same
Acker hasn't looked great, but he is definitely solid coming off the bench
Team shot selection has been pretty good, and the majority of outside shots have been good shots to take.
The low shooting % makes me a little nervous because they are getting open looks and missing. If you can't hit open looks at home, it's only going to get tougher on the road.
I still love this team... but I hope they shoot the ball better. When MU hit jumpers last year, they were probably one of the better teams in the country... when they were missing jumpers... they got beat badly. There are obviously a lot more variables than that... but at the end of the day shooting % really sticks out.
Again, I'm not trying to be negative, just writing out what my eyes have seen in 2 games. Hopefully I'm WAY off and MU goes to Maui and shoots the lights out.
How can you say Matthews looks good? He's invisible. McNeal played horribly last night. And frankly, I think Acker looked a little overmatched against IUPUI.
It's difficult to see who this team will turn to during a scoring drought. Maybe Hayward?
Quote from: PuertoRicanNightmare on November 13, 2007, 10:58:27 AM
How can you say Matthews looks good? He's invisible. McNeal played horribly last night. And frankly, I think Acker looked a little overmatched against IUPUI.
It's difficult to see who this team will turn to during a scoring drought. Maybe Hayward?
I see what you mean, I guess I just think those guys are more of a "known quantity", so I'm not that nervous or critical of their performance.
McNeal is going to have some ups and downs... but you know he's going to be an animal every night. I don't think he played great last night... but I don't think he was way out of control or anything.
Matthews is often quiet, but efficient and therefore I don't worry too much about him. I think he could have a great year... but I'm not obsessed with his play at this point.
Acker hasn't done anything great, but as a back-up PG I think he's very good. He's the best back-up PG MU has had in a long time (since deiner in 2001-2002).
As far as the scoring drought... you might have a point... I guess that is why I'm hoping DJ's shooting is improved along with his free throw shooting.
The overall shooting just concerns me a little as it seems to be similar to last year. BUT, the sample size is awfully small at this point (2 games) so I will have to wait and see.
Matthews - I think that he is too much of a glue guy to really stand out on a stat sheet (didn't mean that as an insult, but a complement), but he showed up at the end of the game last night.
McNeil - if you average IUPUI & UVS games, still pretty good. shot selection and turnovers still need work
James - looks more consistend & taking more prudent shots. Like the new form on his jumper
Ooze - real disappointment thus far, need him to get out of his funk and start to play to his potential
Burke - nice surprise thus far, hope it continues. If we can get Ooze & Burke playing just okay, we'll be fine
Cooby - better than last year, real nice improvement. Has stepped up twice when no one else wanted to. w/ out him, we'd be 1-1 (at best)
Fitz - 'bout the same
Hayward - I can see him taking a bigger & bigger role this year, especially in the interior gaps of the many, many zones we will inevitably see this year
Acker - a good backup pg at this point, well see how he develops
The real "difference maker" for this team v. last year is on the bench w/ knee in a cast. Sucks. But I think that both IUPUI & UVS should be solid teams once everything is said & done in March & these close games will look better & better as the year goes on. Clearly disappointing that we didn't beat them more easily, but I'm certainly not hitting the panic button yet. Definitely need to hit a little more of those good open looks (especially early - then teams won't sag on us and "dare" us to hit 'em, which always seems hard to do) and Ooze needs to get his head back in the game. If we can do that, we'll be fine.
it's been said time and time again and i honestly do believe it. We have the annoying tendency of playing to our opponents level. This team is stacked with talent and I truly believe that. While it isn't reassuring to get results like we have thus far, IUPUI will be a possible tournament team and Utah Valley State will be one of the better independent teams this year once again. Once we are out of Maui, I will have a better feel for how we are going to do this year since we will be playing some better known teams that have very good pieces on each. If we actually play like we did the last two games, which I do not see happening, we will not fare well. But I believe this is just like last season. Struggle in first round of CBE and against Hillsdale but end up bringing it once we play teams that are well known on the national scale.
I love Matthews. He's got a ton of ability and by all accounts is an upstanding kid. But he has not lived up to his potential as much as his ballyhooed teammates and for some reason everybody seems to give him a pass by lumping him in with the other two. He's far too content to fade into the background, which is a shame because I think he's more talented than either McNeal or James. He too talented to be a role player, that's for sure.
I'm very worried about the shooting issues .. BUT .. on the plus side, we've got a slew of guys who can hit double digits on any night. DJ, Wes, McNeal, Cube, Lazar, Fitz. Having those guys eat up 160 minutes/game and the other team better score 70 points. Throw in a few from Acker, Ooze and Burke .. we're ok on getting buckets.
It'll be frustrating, though.
Agree with most of the comments here. Although it seems early, what is frustrating is that...
1) We don't have a new player that is an true impact player. Acker, I'm sure, will be making an impact as the season goes on, and he adds to our depth at guard, but he isn't that 20 min a game impact guy. And a lot of teams in the Big East this year have NEW impact guys. It really is a shame about Mbakwe.
2) We still are not a good shooting team. I am sure we will have good nights, but we need a shooter to play 25 minutes a game who is lights out. Cubliian and Fitz are our best options, but they have their limitations.
3) We are still not a great rebounding team. We are good. Just not great. The fact that Crean expects the guard to board tells me there will be some easy transition baskets that we will give up since there will be no one "guard"-ing the opponents basket.
4) We don't have a post presence. Again, this may go along with point #1. Barro and Burke are nice but not low post, scoring threats. They could be strong when dished to, but they will not be creating a lot of their own shots.
Every team has weaknesses, it is just frustrating because with everyone returning and having Acker/Cristopherson/Mbakwe, i thought we could shore up points 1-4. Alas, two of them (SC/TM) probably wont play a single game this season.
Hopefully by the end of the season, one or a couple of the four points above will be resolved, or partially resolved. Then March could be interesting.
The only players who have improved "significantly" are Hayward, Burke, and Blackledge. DJ and Barro have regressed over a year ago and the rest are about the same.
DJ is 28% FGs, 26% on treys, has only one reb/game, and 2 apg-------I think the coaches have put the hook on him as he isn't taking the initiative like last year-----please recall that as DJ went last year----so went MU!
Quote from: Murffieus on November 13, 2007, 12:13:09 PM
The only players who have improved "significantly" are Hayward, Burke, and Blackledge. DJ and Barro have regressed over a year ago and the rest are about the same.
DJ is 28% FGs, 26% on treys, has only one reb/game, and 2 apg-------I think the coaches have put the hook on him as he isn't taking the initiative like last year-----please recall that as DJ went last year----so went MU!
I respectfully disagree. I don't think his stats have been great, but DJ has been solid and has a better looking stroke so far.
Also, even if he doesn't really improve, he was still an all-conference performer... so he definitely shouldn't be benched.
I think James is playing MUCH better this year than last. He certainly has not regressed. He looks poised against the zone and has made some very creative passes that have not been converted to points (i.e. feeding Burke for a wide-open dunk that he practically airballed). He's doing exactly what everyone begged of him last year. That has led to his scoring stats being down, but the team is better off for it. He's letting the game come to him, and nothing seems particularly forced. I couldn't be happier with the way he's played.
did anyone see ESPN special on college unis? MU was prominently featured in the piece.
I'm a little concerned. Returning our top 7 or 8 players from last year PLUS the practice from that swing through Canada should put this team WAY AHEAD of other teams which are just getting to know each other in November. Beating a couple of mid majors by around 10 in games where the outcome was still in doubt with 2 minutes to does not give me a bunch of confidence. On offense it seems to me that there are 3 ways to score. You can have a low post threat, a threat to drive to the hoop or outside shooting threat. Great teams have all 3 and good teams excel at atleast 2. Based on the first 2 games I'd say we excel at one and one only the drive. Maybe we can add a 4th by converting defense into offense but I'm afraid that our suspect outside shooting is going to limit this team just like last year. DJ's 3 pt shoot is inconsistant again, and both Acker and (despite the fact that he has played well down low) Hayward do not appear to be an option.
Right now I see this team losing to a couple teams they shouldn't by playing them close and getting unlucky at the end.
Maui will tell a lot more but right now we are not where I hoped we'd be.
hello - we have 3 of the best impact guys in the country. Have you ever worked in a business where there are too many smart people? Nothing gets done. Same in Bball - you need role players after our big 3. Hayward , Barro, Cube and Fitz are huge role players. Acker, Trend and Burke are great add ons.
Dont be overwhelmed by these early games.