Jalen Wilson and DJ Carton up to number 15 and 38 respectively in latest 247 rankings.Wow
If I could have any two of the players that we realistically have a shot at, those would be the two. Thinking about what the 19-20 roster could be if these two sign up...gives me chills.
Some other guys we have been mentioned with:
#15 Jalen Wilson (currently 1/1 crystal bowels to MU)
#17 Tyrese Maxey (Relative just got hired to coach at SMU IIRC, probably a long shot)
#23 Isaiah Stewart
#36 Josh Green
#38 DJ Carton (Mark Miller's crystal bowel says MU)
#55 Nobal Days
#58 EJ Liddell
#60 Josh Nickelberry
#64 Harlond Beverly
#71 Rocket Watts
#85 Mario McKinney
#143 Calvin Fleder
#170 James Bishop
#208 Samuell Williamson
Big game hunting for Wojo in 2018
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on January 25, 2018, 02:25:34 PM
(Mark Miller's crystal bowel says MU)
bowel -Mark M have some colon issues going on?
That's what i like to hear.
How about recruiting a coach who can teach bigs how to defend the rim and stop layups. We also need a coach to teach defense, because we have none right now.
Quote from: Stretchdeltsig on January 26, 2018, 08:48:26 AM
How about recruiting a coach who can teach bigs how to defend the rim and stop layups. We also need a coach to teach defense, because we have none right now.
Good lord. People should stop thinking that changing the coach is going to solve problems. It would create dozens more.
And it doesn't matter because Wojo's seat is nowhere near warm. Good thing the administration isn't made up by a bunch of frantic lunatics like the fanbase is.
Quote from: Stretchdeltsig on January 26, 2018, 08:48:26 AM
How about recruiting a coach who can teach bigs how to defend the rim and stop layups. We also need a coach to teach defense, because we have none right now.
Wojo did that at Duke and with the US Olympic team.
Quote from: Stretchdeltsig on January 26, 2018, 08:48:26 AM
How about recruiting a coach who can teach bigs how to defend the rim and stop layups. We also need a coach to teach defense, because we have none right now.
Brotger Stretch, I feel like the Xavier have broke you. Youve been nothing but sunshine and confidence until Wednesday. Keep the faith!
Quote from: #bansultan on January 26, 2018, 08:52:32 AM
Good lord. People should stop thinking that changing the coach is going to solve problems. It would create dozens more.
And it doesn't matter because Wojo's seat is nowhere near warm. Good thing the administration isn't made up by a bunch of frantic lunatics like the fanbase is.
I think he might have meant an assistant coach who is a defensive specialist, not replacing Wojo.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on January 26, 2018, 09:09:06 AM
I think he might have meant an assistant coach who is a defensive specialist, not replacing Wojo.
That's how I took it as well. And since it seems like there is a pretty regular shuffling of assistant coaches, this doesn't seem like it's all that unrealistic to me.
Nobal Days still a Wisky lean or has he seen the light?
Quote from: WE R FINAL FOUR on January 26, 2018, 09:41:01 AM
Nobal Days still a Wisky lean or has he seen the light?
Bucky fans certainly think so and I haven't seen anything linking him to MU in awhile....but I also haven't see anything linking him to Bucky since the Herro decommitment. Both he and his dad tweeted support for Herro and a gaggle of Bucky fans attacked them on twitta. No he probably brushed it off and won't let some crazy fans influence his college decision...but you never know
God, fans are stupid sometimes.
I'll be interested to see how the defense is next year. We've lacked size almost every year Wojo has been here, and when we've had size we've still had 2 sub 6' guards on the court for most of the game together.
Wojo's first year with a roster that was picked for him his defense was okay. He was willing to switch up defenses to zone, etc.
Next year I'd imagine if lineups like Howard, Elliot/Cain, Hauser, Hauser, and Theo/Morrow are seeing a lot of minutes together the defense will be a lot better both from an individual defensive ability standpoint and a length and athleticism/being able to carry out the scheme standpoint. I think with a lineup like that on the court you'd see a lot more of the 3/4 "trap press" which would cause the offense to get into their offense with 20-24 seconds left on the shot clock and let your defense only have to defend in the half court for that long.
Quote from: wadesworld on January 26, 2018, 09:47:49 AM
I'll be interested to see how the defense is next year. We've lacked size almost every year Wojo has been here, and when we've had size we've still had 2 sub 6' guards on the court for most of the game together.
Wojo's first year with a roster that was picked for him his defense was okay. He was willing to switch up defenses to zone, etc.
Next year I'd imagine if lineups like Howard, Elliot/Cain, Hauser, Hauser, and Theo/Morrow are seeing a lot of minutes together the defense will be a lot better both from an individual defensive ability standpoint and a length and athleticism/being able to carry out the scheme standpoint. I think with a lineup like that on the court you'd see a lot more of the 3/4 "trap press" which would cause the offense to get into their offense with 20-24 seconds left on the shot clock and let your defense only have to defend in the half court for that long.
I think the D will get better (Rowsey leaving will be significant addition by subtraction) but I still think the defense will hold us back next year. I think its worth blowing up the whole scheme and starting from scratch.
Quote from: LAZER on January 26, 2018, 10:23:37 AM
I think the D will get better (Rowsey leaving will be significant addition by subtraction) but I still think the defense will hold us back next year. I think its worth blowing up the whole scheme and starting from scratch.
This may be true from a defensive perspective, yet losing Rowsey will be a significant blow to the offense. So, while we should be better defensively, I suspect we will regress offensively with Andrew gone.
Having 3 elite shooters on the floor creates major problems for opposition defense. Rowsey is absolutely elite. Markus and Sam will find open looks even more difficult to come by.
Didn't seem to be even a minor problem for X, much less a major one.
Quote from: Floorslapper on January 26, 2018, 10:30:46 AM
This may be true from a defensive perspective, yet losing Rowsey will be a significant blow to the offense. So, while we should be better defensively, I suspect we will regress offensively with Andrew gone.
Having 3 elite shooters on the floor creates major problems for opposition defense. Rowsey is absolutely elite. Markus and Sam will find open looks even more difficult to come by.
I don't think MU is going to miss Rowsey in the long run. Yeah he can score and yeah he has his moments. But I also think he (and Howard) stop the ball from moving at times. And I think that causes players like Sam, and others, to not be involved.
I mean in theory you are correct. But in practice it oftentimes doesn't happen.
Quote from: WE R FINAL FOUR on January 26, 2018, 10:36:40 AM
Didn't seem to be even a minor problem for X, much less a major one.
This is true. However we are 13 in the country in Offensive Efficiency. That's near elite territory. Furthermore in Xavier game we saw how much Sam Hauser was missed (not having one of the Big 3 on floor), AND our offense devolved into Markus vs Xavier. I mean 27 shots launched by Markus? Our offense was completely out of sorts against X - much to the credit of Xavier's D.
Quote from: wadesworld on January 26, 2018, 09:47:49 AM
I'll be interested to see how the defense is next year. We've lacked size almost every year Wojo has been here, and when we've had size we've still had 2 sub 6' guards on the court for most of the game together.
Wojo's first year with a roster that was picked for him his defense was okay. He was willing to switch up defenses to zone, etc.
Next year I'd imagine if lineups like Howard, Elliot/Cain, Hauser, Hauser, and Theo/Morrow are seeing a lot of minutes together the defense will be a lot better both from an individual defensive ability standpoint and a length and athleticism/being able to carry out the scheme standpoint. I think with a lineup like that on the court you'd see a lot more of the 3/4 "trap press" which would cause the offense to get into their offense with 20-24 seconds left on the shot clock and let your defense only have to defend in the half court for that long.
I am not sure it is the players as much as the style of D they are playing, none of the centers should be playing 35 feet from the basket. They play the pick and roll
way wrong. Since the majority of the players are slow afoot, why not play a 3/2 or 2/3 zone, that might stop the lay-up drill going on. Next year, they still need a guard, much like Anim physically. Wish he could shoot the ball but so far he has not shown the ability to do it. Somebody like that, as you could see the X guards, chopping at the bit when they saw those skinny runts out there. Elliott and Cain are 2 years away physically.
Quote from: DCHoopster on January 26, 2018, 10:49:56 AM
I am not sure it is the players as much as the style of D they are playing, none of the centers should be playing 35 feet from the basket. They play the pick and roll way wrong. Since the majority of the players are slow afoot, why not play a 3/2 or 2/3 zone, that might stop the lay-up drill going on. Next year, they still need a guard, much like Anim physically. Wish he could shoot the ball but so far he has not shown the ability to do it. Somebody like that, as you could see the X guards, chopping at the bit when they saw those skinny runts out there. Elliott and Cain are 2 years away physically.
I do find it a bit interesting that Wojo has been so against variations of zone defense. Its obvious he much much prefers man to man, but what the heck....why not try a zone? I love how he threw a 2/3 zone out with like 90 seconds left in the X game. Why not try that sooner?
I have no doubt he understands his personnel far better than I, and obviously knows the game far better than I. But I just find it odd that he hasn't been willing to other defenses.
And I agree the pick and roll thing with our centers is just crazy. Every game they're late recovering and every game they give uncontested dunk after dunk and dunk.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on January 26, 2018, 09:09:06 AM
I think he might have meant an assistant coach who is a defensive specialist, not replacing Wojo.
Thank you. That is what I meant. That So no should hire an assistant coach who specializes in coaching bigs.)
Quote from: JamilJaeJamailJrJuan on January 26, 2018, 10:56:37 AM
I do find it a bit interesting that Wojo has been so against variations of zone defense. Its obvious he much much prefers man to man, but what the heck....why not try a zone? I love how he threw a 2/3 zone out with like 90 seconds left in the X game. Why not try that sooner?
I have no doubt he understands his personnel far better than I, and obviously knows the game far better than I. But I just find it odd that he hasn't been willing to other defenses.
And I agree the pick and roll thing with our centers is just crazy. Every game they're late recovering and every game they give uncontested dunk after dunk and dunk.
How quickly we forget. Wojo did try zone for an extended period last season. After beating Nova with the zone last year, Wojo decided to switch to playing zone as our base defense. The result was our 1-4 stretch with the 1 win being against DePaul. After getting beatdown at Georgetown Wojo switched back to man to man and we won 4/5 to get to the tourney.
Zone would improve our defense. It's a great way to improve mediocre defensive teams. But the improvement is minimal and doesn't make up for how much it damages our offense. We just have to accept it, our team sucks at defense but is elite at offense. That isn't going to change. Best way for this team to win is to maximize our offense as much as possible.
What I would like to see more of is junk defenses. That's how we were so good against Seton Hall. Wojo threw junk defense after junk defense out there to keep the Pirates guessing and confused. They'd switch where the double team was coming from, sometimes they would double, sometimes they wouldn't, they ran at least four different kind of traps thorughout the game, there was even a few possessions of zone. It was a quantity over quality of defense. Haven't seen that as much since.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on January 26, 2018, 11:28:28 AM
How quickly we forget. Wojo did try zone for an extended period last season. After beating Nova with the zone last year, Wojo decided to switch to playing zone as our base defense. The result was our 1-4 stretch with the 1 win being against DePaul. After getting beatdown at Georgetown Wojo switched back to man to man and we won 4/5 to get to the tourney.
Zone would improve our defense. It's a great way to improve mediocre defensive teams. But the improvement is minimal and doesn't make up for how much it damages our offense. We just have to accept it, our team sucks at defense but is elite at offense. That isn't going to change. Best way for this team to win is to maximize our offense as much as possible.
What I would like to see more of is junk defenses. That's how we were so good against Seton Hall. Wojo threw junk defense after junk defense out there to keep the Pirates guessing and confused. They'd switch where the double team was coming from, sometimes they would double, sometimes they wouldn't, they ran at least four different kind of traps thorughout the game, there was even a few possessions of zone. It was a quantity over quality of defense. Haven't seen that as much since.
Regarding the bolded....sure. Whatever....just try something different. Throw different looks at them. If zone kills our offense, only use it in spurts.
Quote from: #bansultan on January 26, 2018, 10:40:36 AM
I don't think MU is going to miss Rowsey in the long run. Yeah he can score and yeah he has his moments. But I also think he (and Howard) stop the ball from moving at times. And I think that causes players like Sam, and others, to not be involved.
I mean in theory you are correct. But in practice it oftentimes doesn't happen.
Excellent Post, but I would amend it by excusing Howard, whose green-light is more than warranted. And he is usually moving so much, stepping back and creating his own wicked shot, that LOL, the ball is moving. Rarely does he miss spotting an open shooter. With Rowsey, the ball sticks, fails to find Hauser's open hands and then often doesn't go down when his shot is not in rhythm. Andrew can still be a stud for us....just needs to remember he's now at Marquette, not UNCA, where he absolutely needed to be a monster scorer.
Quote from: #bansultan on January 26, 2018, 10:40:36 AM
I don't think MU is going to miss Rowsey in the long run. Yeah he can score and yeah he has his moments. But I also think he (and Howard) stop the ball from moving at times. And I think that causes players like Sam, and others, to not be involved.
I mean in theory you are correct. But in practice it oftentimes doesn't happen.
Hope people understand Sultan and I are not discounting AR...he has been, after all, 2nd leading scorer in the BigEast. It's just that Howard doing his thing on offense is a somewhat necessary evil. Rowsey doing his #Thing is ok, but not having to constantly do his "thing" and forget his teammates, we'd be better served.
Quote from: Floorslapper on January 26, 2018, 10:30:46 AM
This may be true from a defensive perspective, yet losing Rowsey will be a significant blow to the offense. So, while we should be better defensively, I suspect we will regress offensively with Andrew gone.
Having 3 elite shooters on the floor creates major problems for opposition defense. Rowsey is absolutely elite. Markus and Sam will find open looks even more difficult to come by.
We lose Rowsey, but I thought Joey was supposed to be an awfully good outside shooter. I get that he'll be a frosh...but Markus and Sam were frosh last season and it didn't seem to hurt them....
Quote from: Aircraftcarrier on January 25, 2018, 01:03:42 PM
Jalen Wilson and DJ Carton up to number 15 and 38 respectively in latest 247 rankings.Wow
But I thought rankings were completely useless, at least that's the message on why with 9 top 100 we still weren't very good last year. I'm confused?
Quote from: Charlotte Warrior on January 26, 2018, 12:51:04 PM
But I thought rankings were completely useless, at least that's the message on why with 9 top 100 we still weren't very good last year. I'm confused?
Rankings are generally pretty accurate through about the top 30, it varies year to year. A lot of people only focus on the top 100 cutoff, but in reality there isn't much too much of a difference between being ranked 50 and 150. 50 would probably be a better player most of the time, but it certainly ins't unheard of for a kid outside the top 100 to be a quality player.
Quote from: Charlotte Warrior on January 26, 2018, 12:51:04 PM
But I thought rankings were completely useless, at least that's the message on why with 9 top 100 we still weren't very good last year. I'm confused?
Allow me to explain.
When a player is in high school, all most fans have to go on is their ranking on services like 247. Some like Freeport and JayBee are more connected to the high school basketball scene and have more information but most of us Average Joes can only get the rankings. Since that's the only information, it makes sense to get excited...even with the knowledge that rankings could be wrong.
Once a player gets to college and plays a season, we have a lot more data about the type of player they are. It no longer mattas what a player was ranked in high school, what mattas is what did they actually do on the court.
If you are making a hiring decision about kid who just graduated from college, do you look at their SAT/ACT scores and what percentile they ranked in their high school class? Or do you like at their grades and accomplishments from their college years?
In addition to the above, as DJOver said, rankings tend to be less and less accurate the further down you go. Top 5-10 are usually NBA caliber players. Top 25 are usually at least college studs. Top 40 are usually at least quality high major players. Beyond that, it's more of a crapshoot. There is usually a much bigger difference in the quality of player between #1 and #15 than there is between #40 and #100.
Quote from: JamilJaeJamailJrJuan on January 26, 2018, 10:56:37 AM
I do find it a bit interesting that Wojo has been so against variations of zone defense. Its obvious he much much prefers man to man, but what the heck....why not try a zone? I love how he threw a 2/3 zone out with like 90 seconds left in the X game. Why not try that sooner?
I have no doubt he understands his personnel far better than I, and obviously knows the game far better than I. But I just find it odd that he hasn't been willing to other defenses.
And I agree the pick and roll thing with our centers is just crazy. Every game they're late recovering and every game they give uncontested dunk after dunk and dunk.
Some coaches are just to set in there ways to try something different, to stubborn. This group can not play man, it is obvious. 2 pigmy guards, decent small forward,
but an undersized PF that is not quick off his feet or quick period, then centers that mostly can not move. Spells for 21 lay-ups last game, and I am sure Brunson can
not wait to school our guards again.
Quote from: Charlotte Warrior on January 26, 2018, 12:51:04 PM
But I thought rankings were completely useless, at least that's the message on why with 9 top 100 we still weren't very good last year. I'm confused?
I love when people present this fake ignorance to a topic that has been explained countless time and doesn't require a whole lot of logic to understand.
Quote from: GooooMarquette on January 26, 2018, 12:42:46 PM
We lose Rowsey, but I thought Joey was supposed to be an awfully good outside shooter. I get that he'll be a frosh...but Markus and Sam were frosh last season and it didn't seem to hurt them....
Joey is a lights out shooter and capable of slashing. Our future looks very bright!
And he is 6'9", which makes him tough to guard
Here's to hoping all the stuff doing on at MSU helps us with guys like Rocket Watts and Isaiah Jackson
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on January 26, 2018, 11:28:28 AM
How quickly we forget. Wojo did try zone for an extended period last season. After beating Nova with the zone last year, Wojo decided to switch to playing zone as our base defense. The result was our 1-4 stretch with the 1 win being against DePaul. After getting beatdown at Georgetown Wojo switched back to man to man and we won 4/5 to get to the tourney.
Zone would improve our defense. It's a great way to improve mediocre defensive teams. But the improvement is minimal and doesn't make up for how much it damages our offense. We just have to accept it, our team sucks at defense but is elite at offense. That isn't going to change. Best way for this team to win is to maximize our offense as much as possible.
What I would like to see more of is junk defenses. That's how we were so good against Seton Hall. Wojo threw junk defense after junk defense out there to keep the Pirates guessing and confused. They'd switch where the double team was coming from, sometimes they would double, sometimes they wouldn't, they ran at least four different kind of traps thorughout the game, there was even a few possessions of zone. It was a quantity over quality of defense. Haven't seen that as much since.
I've seen you post often that a zone would slow down our offense or damage our offense. Is there any evidence that says that playing zone actually slows tempo? Just curious. The obvious drawback of a zone is giving up offensive rebounds, which MU is so so at.
Quote from: Ellenson Guerrero on January 27, 2018, 06:31:29 AM
Here's to hoping all the stuff doing on at MSU helps us with guys like Rocket Watts and Isaiah Jackson
:o :o :o
Quote from: MUDPT on January 27, 2018, 06:51:46 AM
I've seen you post often that a zone would slow down our offense or damage our offense. Is there any evidence that says that playing zone actually slows tempo? Just curious. The obvious drawback of a zone is giving up offensive rebounds, which MU is so so at.
Slowing down the tempo is one of the primary features of a zone defense. For evidence I'd point to Syracuse, king of zones, who are currently ranked 345th in tempo and end up around there almost every year. I'd also point out that Marquette was top 25 in tempo going into the Villanova game last season. Six games of zone later they had fallen all the way to 84th.
Offensive rebounding is one of but not the only weakness of zone. It also limits a team's ability to create turnovers leading to less possessions and less transition opportunities (where Marquette is at its best).
Paint Touches did an article on the downfalls of our zone last season: https://painttouches.com/2017/02/17/time-to-kill-the-zone/
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on January 27, 2018, 12:18:07 PM
Offensive rebounding is one of but not the only weakness of zone. It also limits a team's ability to create turnovers leading to less possessions and less transition opportunities (where Marquette is at its best).
I take some exception to zone not being able to create turnovers. There are various zones such as the 1-3-1 which are quite strong in creating turnovers.
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on January 27, 2018, 12:18:07 PM
Slowing down the tempo is one of the primary features of a zone defense. For evidence I'd point to Syracuse, king of zones, who are currently ranked 345th in tempo and end up around there almost every year. I'd also point out that Marquette was top 25 in tempo going into the Villanova game last season. Six games of zone later they had fallen all the way to 84th.
Offensive rebounding is one of but not the only weakness of zone. It also limits a team's ability to create turnovers leading to less possessions and less transition opportunities (where Marquette is at its best).
Paint Touches did an article on the downfalls of our zone last season: https://painttouches.com/2017/02/17/time-to-kill-the-zone/
Not trying to argue, but Virginia is the slowest team in the country and they play man. Just wondering if there is an actual study that says this.
Generally more difficult to rebound out of a zone.
That doesn't mean, "Don't play zone." It's just one of the potential negatives.
Quote from: DCHoopster on January 26, 2018, 01:59:33 PM
Some coaches are just to set in there ways to try something different, to stubborn. This group can not play man, it is obvious. 2 pigmy guards, decent small forward,
but an undersized PF that is not quick off his feet or quick period, then centers that mostly can not move. Spells for 21 lay-ups last game, and I am sure Brunson can
not wait to school our guards again.
I wrote this a couple of days ago about Brunson. Yes, he took over the game which I expected. Wish I was wrong. But I always remember Al saying take away the
head or best player and you have a chance to win. Wojo does not get that. Play a triangle and 2 on there 2 guards and let the other 3 players beat you. Or do what
you do best, giving lay-ups to Villy. Switching a center on there guards, seriously, a mismatch. Guess they never taught D at Duke, because they never had to, always
had better talent, in the end, talent usually wins unless your a great defensive coach like Bennett at VA. Maybe Wojo should watch some film about Virginia.
Quote from: DCHoopster on January 29, 2018, 12:04:19 AM
I wrote this a couple of days ago about Brunson. Yes, he took over the game which I expected. Wish I was wrong. But I always remember Al saying take away the
head or best player and you have a chance to win. Wojo does not get that. Play a triangle and 2 on there 2 guards and let the other 3 players beat you. Or do what
you do best, giving lay-ups to Villy. Switching a center on there guards, seriously, a mismatch. Guess they never taught D at Duke, because they never had to, always
had better talent, in the end, talent usually wins unless your a great defensive coach like Bennett at VA. Maybe Wojo should watch some film about Virginia.
Let me know the next time you ever see a college team play a triangle and two.
Quote from: DCHoopster on January 29, 2018, 12:04:19 AM
I wrote this a couple of days ago about Brunson. Yes, he took over the game which I expected. Wish I was wrong. But I always remember Al saying take away the
head or best player and you have a chance to win. Wojo does not get that. Play a triangle and 2 on there 2 guards and let the other 3 players beat you. Or do what
you do best, giving lay-ups to Villy. Switching a center on there guards, seriously, a mismatch. Guess they never taught D at Duke, because they never had to, always
had better talent, in the end, talent usually wins unless your a great defensive coach like Bennett at VA. Maybe Wojo should watch some film about Virginia.
We are a negative of Virginia our team is not built for that type of game.
Quote from: DCHoopster on January 29, 2018, 12:04:19 AM
I wrote this a couple of days ago about Brunson. Yes, he took over the game which I expected. Wish I was wrong. But I always remember Al saying take away the
head or best player and you have a chance to win. Wojo does not get that. Play a triangle and 2 on there 2 guards and let the other 3 players beat you. Or do what
you do best, giving lay-ups to Villy. Switching a center on there guards, seriously, a mismatch. Guess they never taught D at Duke, because they never had to, always
had better talent, in the end, talent usually wins unless your a great defensive coach like Bennett at VA. Maybe Wojo should watch some film about Virginia.
We hedge...people complain. We switch...people complain.
The best defense this team played was when we had Sacar guarding Brunson and Cain in the game for one of our dinky guards.
Guess what? Height and length matters on defense.
Quote from: Newsdreams on January 29, 2018, 08:23:54 AM
We are a negative of Virginia our team is not built for that type of game.
Could not agree more. Despite certain Scoop characterizations of him, Wojo is an authentic, genuine guy. He probably came here with the mindset that he isn't going to be pigeonholed or type-cast into a corner of "defensive specialist", which was his persona at Duke. Plus, he could see that the cupboard, when he got here, lacked any semblance of offensive firepower. As such, he recruited to rectify that. Don't think he was trying to follow any "finesse" ACC style. But even if he was.....as some here have pointed out, he has seen the need for toughness and changed course accordingly in our recruiting.
The KO years were the halcyon days in terms of Marquette defense. Having a rim protector, heck a LANE-protector like Jimmy Mac allowed our guards to play really aggressive perimeter D. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't MU lead the country several years in FG% defense?
Cain and Elliot on the perimeter are the long athletes we have lacked, and with Theo in the middle, we will get there. Brendan and Joey will add length as well. I'm very glad Rowsey is on our team, but his graduation will help our D. Markus is small, but needs to translate his offensive foot quickness to the defensive end. Sam is reliable and his intelligence makes up for average lateral quickness. Harry and Matt can rebound, but they won't be stopping drivers near the top of the key anytime soon...so our D needs to avoid having them end up there so often.
Quote from: #bansultan on January 29, 2018, 08:33:24 AM
We hedge...people complain. We switch...people complain.
The best defense this team played was when we had Sacar guarding Brunson and Cain in the game for one of our dinky guards.
Guess what? Height and length matters on defense.
UVA switches very little, doubles with intent, not every time, counts on its players to defend 1-on-1, even in the post. Much is made of the pack line philosophy, but you have to have players to execute. UVA has length, strength and experience. MU?
Quote from: #bansultan on January 29, 2018, 08:33:24 AM
We hedge...people complain. We switch...people complain.
The best defense this team played was when we had Sacar guarding Brunson and Cain in the game for one of our dinky guards.
Guess what? Height and length matters on defense.
Yep. And as bad as our defense was at X, despite all our built-in D deficiencies, ,the effort Sunday was there...and we were a banked "3" and a couple lucky Nova rim bounces away from winning this game. I don't want to hear about officiating. We are thankfully not Illini fans.
Quote from: tower912 on January 29, 2018, 08:49:33 AM
UVA switches very little, doubles with intent, not every time, counts on its players to defend 1-on-1, even in the post. Much is made of the pack line philosophy, but you have to have players to execute. UVA has length, strength and experience. MU?
Everything you say in the first sentence is dead on...by the way if we do all of those items well our defense improves even if we are undersized. Since we do do none of those items consistently. So to me it comes down to
1. the players are being prepared properly but are not capable or not choosing to execute (recruiting or insubordination problem), 2. The players are not being instructed properly (coaching problem) or 3. The scheme cannot be executed by the players (strategy problem)
I tend to give the players and coaches the benefit of the doubt and think it is 3...being short at the guard level means we can't be elite, but we should be capable of being mediocre at defense with proper strategy and instruction.
Quote from: MUDPT on January 28, 2018, 09:53:59 PM
Not trying to argue, but Virginia is the slowest team in the country and they play man. Just wondering if there is an actual study that says this.
Actually they don't play man, they play a pack line defense. No one said that other defenses cant be slow. But most variations of the zone slow the tempo down.
Quote from: Frenns Liquor Depot on January 29, 2018, 09:03:57 AM
Everything you say in the first sentence is dead on...by the way if we do all of those items well our defense improves even if we are undersized. Since we do do none of those items consistently. So to me it comes down to
1. the players are being prepared properly but are not capable or not choosing to execute (recruiting or insubordination problem), 2. The players are not being instructed properly (coaching problem) or 3. The scheme cannot be executed by the players (strategy problem)
I tend to give the players and coaches the benefit of the doubt and think it is 3...being short at the guard level means we can't be elite, but we should be capable of being mediocre at defense with proper strategy and instruction.
Not merely short, Markus and Andrew are nearly incapable of staying in front of their man. And getting crushed by attacking guards causes the rotations that lead to defensive breakdowns. Or switching, leading to Elliot guarding Martin of Butler or Harry guarding Brunson. All to protect A and M. In this year's team, I see everybody else attempting to be in the right position. Sure, they get beat sometimes, but the technique and effort are there and decent. Sam has very good technique, but only average lateral quickness. Froling's technique is decent, but, like Luke before him, guarding a PG in space is always going to be a bad match up. MU's post defense is actually pretty good, when it is off of a basic entry pass, not in recovery mode after a PG gets into the lane. Matt, Theo, and Harry all have solid footwork playing post defense. Matt isn't as strong as the other two, and they both have to keep learning how to use their mass without fouling. Yesterday, the play everyone is talking about at the end, Cain failed to find his man, instead drifting rapidly to the backboard and actually almost overrunning the rebound. A correctable error from the Frosh.
In short, I actually see things I like about this year's defense. IMO, the problems start with M and A being unable to defend, either due to size or philosophy. And dovetailing back to the OP, a grad transfer PG with size or 2018 PG with size (or both) will go a long way toward a successful 18-19 season.
Quote from: tower912 on January 29, 2018, 09:48:32 AM
Not merely short, Markus and Andrew are nearly incapable of staying in front of their man. And getting crushed by attacking guards causes the rotations that lead to defensive breakdowns. Or switching, leading to Elliot guarding Martin of Butler or Harry guarding Brunson. All to protect A and M. In this year's team, I see everybody else attempting to be in the right position. Sure, they get beat sometimes, but the technique and effort are there and decent. Sam has very good technique, but only average lateral quickness. Froling's technique is decent, but, like Luke before him, guarding a PG in space is always going to be a bad match up. MU's post defense is actually pretty good, when it is off of a basic entry pass, not in recovery mode after a PG gets into the lane. Matt, Theo, and Harry all have solid footwork playing post defense. Matt isn't as strong as the other two, and they both have to keep learning how to use their mass without fouling. Yesterday, the play everyone is talking about at the end, Cain failed to find his man, instead drifting rapidly to the backboard and actually almost overrunning the rebound. A correctable error from the Frosh.
In short, I actually see things I like about this year's defense. IMO, the problems start with M and A being unable to defend, either due to size or philosophy. And dovetailing back to the OP, a grad transfer PG with size or 2018 PG with size (or both) will go a long way toward a successful 18-19 season.
So recruiting problem...i also hope we fix that if indeed it is the root of the issues.
How's that 2019 recruiting coming along?