http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/cs-061122myslenski,1,1290376.column?coll=cs-college-utility
Marquette proceeds with guarded optimism
Nov 23, 2006
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Comparisons can be tricky and are often too facile to be truly meaningful. But after watching Marquette topple Texas Tech and Duke in the CBE Classic, this one cannot be ignored.
These Golden Eagles are the linear descendents of Villanova-2006 and Illinois-2005.
The Illini, of course, roared into the national title game with a perimeter-oriented lineup augmented by underappreciated big men. The Wildcats fell one step short of last season's Final Four with a group that was eerily similar. Now comes Marquette, which derives its fiery personality and so much of its attacking offense and defense from the estimable trio of Dominic James, Jerel McNeal and Wesley Matthews.
They are interchangeable sophomores who are able to play on the point or off the ball. In their team's two victories in Kansas City, their brilliance was revealing. They combined for 105 of its 160 points. They collected 25 of its 71 rebounds. They handed out 23 of its 27 assists and, just as importantly, they keyed a defense that created 37 turnovers—19 by Duke, 18 by Texas Tech.
Their relentlessness was unending, their fearlessness unwavering, their quickness unnerving and they outperformed all the matchups thrown at them. Those turnovers they caused resulted in a killing 52 points. The pressure they applied held Duke to 37.7 percent shooting. Their skills continually broke down their foes' half-court defenses and that often resulted in easy baskets down low, which is why the Golden Eagles totaled half (80) of their points in the paint.
"Their guards were definitely strong, mature players," Duke guard David McClure said after Marquette had destroyed the Blue Devils. "It was the first time we had seen guards with that strength and maturity and physicality. It took us a little off guard."
"Their whole thing is set up for their perimeter," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski added. "So they have the green light, the freedom and the ability to use their athleticism. And they're strong. They're not just quick. They're strong, so they can take bumps, get into areas and make plays.
"Until you play against that quickness, you can't practice [against it]. We don't have that. You're playing against something you're seeing for the first time, so you're half a step too late. ... Their guards are good rebounders too.
"In college, when you have a perimeter like that you can win big."
The 6-0 Golden Eagles are still a long way from March, and they still have issues despite the superlatives they generated here. None of their triumvirate is a pure and reliable outside shooter, which they hope to develop in freshman Lazar Hayward (all are below 45 percent from the field despite numerous layups).
None is a great foul shooter (all are below 70 percent and James is at 46.9, a possibly fatal flaw for a player who spends so much time with the ball).
Their bigs, especially forward Ousmane Barro, are solid defenders and rebounders who are able to score off the open looks the guards generate. But their insistent style, built around the three sophomores, can lead to errors, ill-advised shots and turnovers of their own.
But that is a reality coach Tom Crean is willing to endure, which is another reason this season holds so much promise. Now, unlike so many control freaks masquerading as coaches, he has backed up a bit, loosened the reins and taken a leap of faith that allows his team to attack with an abandon that is contagious, if not always rewarding.
"It's knowing your guys, for one thing," he said when asked about this approach.
Then he offered the final reason to think his team will blossom further.
"The great thing about [these sophomores], I was heavily involved in getting to know them in the recruiting process ... [and] it all comes down to how they care," Crean said. "If we had a player who didn't care, if we had a player who had the attitude OK, it's a mistake, so what ... we don't have that. These guys are in the film room, they're doing extra work, we create drills to build their confidence.
"Bill Russell said something last summer that made so much sense to me. He said, 'When you have great players, you don't want to take things away from them. You want to add to their games.' I try to coach with that mind-set. I don't know if it's a leap of faith as much as it is maturity on my part.
"Our guys really have a desire to win and sometimes it has to be harnessed. But for the most part, it just needs to be nurtured."
smyslenski@tribune.com
twice in one week from Skip......remarkably positive exposure for MU
Yes, this was a nice week for MU basketball exposure. Beating two highly regarded programs and coaches from different parts of the country. National TV exposure (even Dickie V). Many articles by columnists in basketball hotbeds. Continued exposure by our top local newspaper (The Chicago Tribune).
Heck, even the JS has allowed Todd Rosiak to do his job and write some articles on MU (which, BTW, Rosiak does an excellent job covering MU).
Agree on Rosiak - best coverage in years for MU. BUT, those videos need some life - maybe a interview.
'Jump Shots' is a terrific feature by Rosiak.....nice move by the J-S