He has missed only one shot the last three games. 8/9. He has obviously been a foul machine the last three games. Is it a coincidence that he hasn't started those games? Does he need to be on the floor early to get into the game?
It is quite the conundrum.
We've been starting games well (i.e. with a lead or close game) with Matt, but then Luke plays like crap. I had an alternate theory posted in another thread...
Quote from: rocky_warrior on February 25, 2017, 06:11:48 PM
So here's where I *do* blame Wojo and not the refs. I think (but obviously don't know) that wojo has seen our awful defense, and told the guys to be more aggressive / take more fouls if needed.
It *has* led to a slightly better defense (hey, we didn't let PC score more than 80!), but it did cause our 2 big guys to foul out.
Continuing that, I think Luke has been stuggling with fouls lately because he playing the kind of defense that Wojo wants. Double edged sword.
He's a senior. He needs to figure it out
Wish him well and thank him for his time at Marquette (What could have been with a bit more Fire in the belly)
Quote from: muwarrior97 on February 25, 2017, 07:27:01 PM
Wish him well and thank him for his time at Marquette (What could have been with a bit more Fire in the belly)
Ding. Ding. We have a winner.
Quote from: warriorfred on February 25, 2017, 07:27:36 PM
Ding. Ding. We have a winner.
We are a better team with Matt on the floor. Less offensive game, but defense is where he provides so much more than Luke ever did.
10 minutes, 12 minutes, 15 minutes. Last 3 games that Luke fouled out of.
Just terrible, terrible fouls. And he is the worst defender I remember seeing when it comes to screen and roll.
Quote from: Dr. Vinnie Boombatz on February 25, 2017, 06:23:23 PM
He has missed only one shot the last three games. 8/9. He has obviously been a foul machine the last three games. Is it a coincidence that he hasn't started those games? Does he need to be on the floor early to get into the game?
Frankly, nothing.
I'm not concerned about the lack of offense. Most of the time, the offense is running better when they're not trying to force-feed the ball down on the post to Luke. Guys start standing around.
On defense, I agree with Rocky's theory. Double-edge sword. Frankly, I'll take the fouls. At least that's some type of resistance. If anything, I wish Wojo would try to steal a few more minutes during the game with the small line-up if Hauser is not in foul trouble. With the hope that by doing so, you avoid today's situation of having no bigs during the last minute.
Quote from: RJax55 on February 25, 2017, 07:34:07 PM
Frankly, nothing.
I'm not concerned about the lack of offense. Most of the time, the offense is running better when they're not trying to force-feed the ball down on the post to Luke. Guys start standing around.
That makes some sense to me. Thanks.
Quote from: brandx on February 25, 2017, 07:30:58 PM
We are a better team with Matt on the floor. Less offensive game, but defense is where he provides so much more than Luke ever did.
10 minutes, 12 minutes, 15 minutes. Last 3 games that Luke fouled out of.
Just terrible, terrible fouls. And he is the worst defender I remember seeing when it comes to screen and roll.
He won't be missed as much as some here think. His screen and roll defense is brutal.
Quote from: brandx on February 25, 2017, 07:30:58 PM
We are a better team with Matt on the floor. Less offensive game, but defense is where he provides so much more than Luke ever did.
10 minutes, 12 minutes, 15 minutes. Last 3 games that Luke fouled out of.
Just terrible, terrible fouls. And he is the worst defender I remember seeing when it comes to screen and roll.
Now this to me is an actual coaching issue. If Luke continually struggles and fouls often on pick and roll defense then you have to do something different when he's in there.
Quote from: RJax55 on February 25, 2017, 07:35:46 PM
He won't be missed as much as some here think. His screen and roll defense is brutal.
Agree. I thank him for his service and respect his contributions to the Warriors.
Quote from: Vander Blue Man Group on February 25, 2017, 07:49:05 PM
Now this to me is an actual coaching issue. If Luke continually struggles and fouls often on pick and roll defense then you have to do something different when he's in there.
I think its too late. That change needed to happen much earlier.
Luke's been scouted. The Big East coaches know his game and weaknesses. And, if the plan was for him to be a big part of what MU is doing (it definitely was) he either needed to improve his defense in the off-season or the scheme needed to be tweaked to hide those weaknesses. Neither happened, thus the situation we see today.
Without question this is a major coaching issue. I think we tend to always look at coaching as in-game situations, but it things like this that are the real factors for the season. Stuff that takes place in May, September, November, etc.
Quote from: brandx on February 25, 2017, 07:30:58 PM
We are a better team with Matt on the floor. Less offensive game, but defense is where he provides so much more than Luke ever did.
10 minutes, 12 minutes, 15 minutes. Last 3 games that Luke fouled out of.
Just terrible, terrible fouls. And he is the worst defender I remember seeing when it comes to screen and roll.
Was Matt's defense any better though? There were multiple back door cuts he failed to defend and just as much penetration. Seemed like equal ineptitude today.
Quote from: RJax55 on February 25, 2017, 08:06:20 PM
I think its too late. That change needed to happen much earlier.
Luke's been scouted. The Big East coaches know his game and weaknesses. And, if the plan was for him to be a big part of what MU is doing (it definitely was) he either needed to improve his defense in the off-season or the scheme needed to be tweaked to hide those weaknesses. Neither happened, thus the situation we see today.
Without question this is a major coaching issue. I think we tend to always look at coaching as in-game situations, but it things like this that are the real factors for the season. Stuff that takes place in May, September, November, etc.
I agree with this but to me it's a little different than trying to change your swing in the middle of a baseball season.
I think you have more flexibility in regards to switching things up so he's not in a position to fail.
Regardless, it's not going to change at this point.
Quote from: TSmith34 on February 25, 2017, 08:08:25 PM
Was Matt's defense any better though? There were multiple back door cuts he failed to defend and just as much penetration. Seemed like equal ineptitude today.
Matt's defense in screen and roll situations is light years better than Luke's. The extended playing time Matt's been getting is showing that.
On the whole, this team doesn't really communicate or rotate well at all on defense, so no real surprise on the backdoor cuts.
Quote from: brandx on February 25, 2017, 07:30:58 PM
We are a better team with Matt on the floor. Less offensive game, but defense is where he provides so much more than Luke ever did.
10 minutes, 12 minutes, 15 minutes. Last 3 games that Luke fouled out of.
Just terrible, terrible fouls. And he is the worst defender I remember seeing when it comes to screen and roll.
Basically unthinkable for a BE center, well, for a Div I player. Three straights games under 15 minutes and fouls out. Heldt has also fouled out two out of last three. No way MU wins against a quality opponent with those situations. I always stated MU has a chance to beat anybody if Luke stays out of trouble, but he has self inflicted himself constantly during his MU career and Heldt isn't far behind. This has to change next year, how, no clue, but the team cannot do it and win in the BE.
Many teams gp to a zone to protect players in foul trouble
Quote from: nyg on February 25, 2017, 10:11:19 PM
Basically unthinkable for a BE center, well, for a Div I player. Three straights games under 15 minutes and fouls out. Heldt has also fouled out two out of last three. No way MU wins against a quality opponent with those situations. I always stated MU has a chance to beat anybody if Luke stays out of trouble, but he has self inflicted himself constantly during his MU career and Heldt isn't far behind. This has to change next year, how, no clue, but the team cannot do it and win in the BE.
A-freakin-men. Our big men can't average one foul per 4 minutes. Luke and Matt foul more often and more consistently than any D1 player ever should. I think Matt playing against Luke the last two years has earned him some bad habits.
He really, really needs to study some tape in the off-season, and figure out how to play smarter defense. We've seen his potential, but we've also seen his bad habits. Let's hope he improves his basketball IQ over the summer.
Quote from: TSmith34 on February 25, 2017, 08:08:25 PM
Was Matt's defense any better though? There were multiple back door cuts he failed to defend and just as much penetration. Seemed like equal ineptitude today.
Matt is far from perfect. But when the ball is passed into the lane 12 feet from the basket, it IS Matt's job to go to the ball. When that player then turns and passes for an easy layup, that is on the guys on the wing who don't rotate.