As Scoopers know, one of my biggest complaints every year, is how poorly MU defends their home floor...a lot of people say "everyone loses home games". That is correct. However, did you know...that of the top 93 RPI teams in the country, ONLY St. John's had as many home losses as MU did(6). I'm sorry, but that is just way too many..we can talk all we want about the DePaul game costing them a bid or this game or that game did, but in all honesty..their home record more than anything else is what cost them a bid(if they miss). Now, for those of you that say(well, 3 of those games were against top 10 RPI teams, Xavier, Nova & Purdue)...I say so what?? EVEN if you automatically say those are losses, the games at home vs Georgia, PC and Butler are the one's that really stick in my craw. Win any of those they are in, win 2 of them, they are in comfortably. And win all 3, and they are a good seed.
They MUST do a better job of defending their home floor. That's where it all starts.
Do scoopers know that?
Quote from: muguru on March 09, 2018, 02:39:02 PM
As Scoopers know, one of my biggest complaints every year, is how poorly MU defends their home floor...a lot of people say "everyone loses home games". That is correct. However, did you know...that of the top 93 RPI teams in the country, ONLY St. John's had as many home losses as MU did(6). I'm sorry, but that is just way too many..we can talk all we want about the DePaul game costing them a bid or this game or that game did, but in all honesty..their home record more than anything else is what cost them a bid(if they miss). Now, for those of you that say(well, 3 of those games were against top 10 RPI teams, Xavier, Nova & Purdue)...I say so what?? EVEN if you automatically say those are losses, the games at home vs Georgia, PC and Butler are the one's that really stick in my craw. Win any of those they are in, win 2 of them, they are in comfortably. And win all 3, and they are a good seed.
They MUST do a better job of defending their home floor. That's where it all starts.
I agree with this analysis.
Quote from: muguru on March 09, 2018, 02:39:02 PM
As Scoopers know, one of my biggest complaints every year, is how poorly MU defends their home floor...a lot of people say "everyone loses home games". That is correct. However, did you know...that of the top 93 RPI teams in the country, ONLY St. John's had as many home losses as MU did(6). I'm sorry, but that is just way too many..we can talk all we want about the DePaul game costing them a bid or this game or that game did, but in all honesty..their home record more than anything else is what cost them a bid(if they miss). Now, for those of you that say(well, 3 of those games were against top 10 RPI teams, Xavier, Nova & Purdue)...I say so what?? EVEN if you automatically say those are losses, the games at home vs Georgia, PC and Butler are the one's that really stick in my craw. Win any of those they are in, win 2 of them, they are in comfortably. And win all 3, and they are a good seed.
They MUST do a better job of defending their home floor. That's where it all starts.
EVERYTHING sticks in YOUR craw.
I know during the Vander era we had like the longest home win streak in nation at one point
But yeah, this year we sucked.
Yet another expired equine being bludgeoned.
We are not defending any court until this team learns how to play defense. It really is that simple. And how all the returns guys and new guys will magically learn how to play D is beyond me.
Quote from: Daniel on March 09, 2018, 02:48:58 PM
We are not defending any court until this team learns how to play defense. It really is that simple. And how all the returns guys and new guys will magically learn how to play D is beyond me.
If there's an area we should be much improved in next year it's defense
Quote from: NickelDimer on March 09, 2018, 02:49:54 PM
If there's an area we should be much improved in next year it's defense
I agree that we will have a player or two more that are of defensive mindset. Morrow and Joey will help. The core of our defense this year were the fresh. And Sacar. But major need for improvement from m that group. So...no reason to think we will automatically move from one of the way RTs in D1 to a solid defensive team. Would love it if we did.
Quote from: Daniel on March 09, 2018, 02:56:18 PM
I agree that we will have a player or two more that are of defensive mindset. Morrow and Joey will help. The core of our defense this year were the fresh. And Sacar. But major need for improvement from m that group. So...no reason to think we will automatically move from one of the way RTs in D1 to a solid defensive team. Would love it if we did.
I also think Theo and GE have a lot of skills defensively, and Cain was better down the stretch as well. Those guys simply being a year older, stronger etc will improve our d. I think we'll be much improved
Quote from: Daniel on March 09, 2018, 02:48:58 PM
We are not defending any court until this team learns how to play defense. It really is that simple. And how all the returns guys and new guys will magically learn how to play D is beyond me.
I love Rowsey. Kid is baller and I love his heart. But he is truly awful defensively. Markus is not good defensively, but he can be serviceable, and he works hard on defense.
I think simply removing Rowsey from the equation will help tremendously at the defensive end. Morrow will be the ultimate game changer for us, though. We actually will have some muscle in the post and a rebounding machine.
Quote from: muguru on March 09, 2018, 02:39:02 PM
As Scoopers know, one of my biggest complaints every year, is how poorly MU defends their home floor...a lot of people say "everyone loses home games". That is correct.
They MUST do a better job of defending their home floor. That's where it all starts.
Wrong and right. When I was at MU (the 1970s), a home loss were cause for large scale emotional breakdowns. Not to mention what Al did to the team the following day in practice.
We have to win at the new Warrior Center. If we don't, nothing else matters.
Quote from: dgies9156 on March 09, 2018, 03:03:45 PM
Wrong and right. When I was at MU (the 1970s), a home loss were cause for large scale emotional breakdowns. Not to mention what Al did to the team the following day in practice.
We have to win at the new Warrior Center. If we don't, nothing else matters.
I kinda like the sound of the Warrior Entertainment & Sports Center...adds a little Colosseum flavor to it
Defense should be better. Subtracting Rowsey. Adding 3 6'9 guys and a powerful 4. Freshmen becoming sophomores. Fans and students need to show up. They create that home court advantage.
Quote from: tower912 on March 09, 2018, 03:51:03 PM
Defense should be better. Subtracting Rowsey. Adding 3 6'9 guys and a powerful 4. Freshmen becoming sophomores. Fans and students need to show up. They create that home court advantage.
Once the team starts winning consistently vs teams at home they will show up. Plenty of times when the crowd has shown up this year and the team falls flat.
Quote from: dgies9156 on March 09, 2018, 03:03:45 PM
Wrong and right. When I was at MU (the 1970s), a home loss were cause for large scale emotional breakdowns. Not to mention what Al did to the team the following day in practice.
We have to win at the new Warrior Center. If we don't, nothing else matters.
I thought we were going to play at the new Bucks arena, not over at WI Lutheran. The times they are a changin'
I remember when Wade's number was being retired, and he apologized for the home losses in his career. They had 2, if I remember correctly. It bothered him enough that a few years later, he felt the need to apologize to the fan base. I'd like to hear more of those kinds of speeches.
Ewe want home winnin' streaks? How's 81 straight, hey?
I really don't give a damn where we win as long as we win enough to go dancing
Quote from: JamilJaeJamailJrJuan on March 09, 2018, 02:59:38 PM
I love Rowsey. Kid is baller and I love his heart. But he is truly awful defensively. Markus is not good defensively, but he can be serviceable, and he works hard on defense.
I think simply removing Rowsey from the equation will help tremendously at the defensive end. Morrow will be the ultimate game changer for us, though. We actually will have some muscle in the post and a rebounding machine.
The problem with both Howard and rowsey is they were score 25 give up 35 type players. As enticing as their offensive accumen was they gave up more than tgey scored. Id ve happy to forego the 90 point games fir guys tcould score 15 yet only give up 10
Defense needs to improve vastly. They looked good but were actually detrimental to winning
Quote from: Daniel on March 09, 2018, 02:48:58 PM
We are not defending any court until this team learns how to play defense. It really is that simple. And how all the returns guys and new guys will magically learn how to play D is beyond me.
Size has a lot to do with it. More defensive rebounds means fewer second chance opportunities. MU's defense improves quite a bit next year. Only one player under 6" tall and a lot more size at the ready.
Quote from: muguru on March 09, 2018, 02:39:02 PM
As Scoopers know, one of my biggest complaints every year, is how poorly MU defends their home floor...a lot of people say "everyone loses home games". That is correct. However, did you know...that of the top 93 RPI teams in the country, ONLY St. John's had as many home losses as MU did(6). I'm sorry, but that is just way too many..we can talk all we want about the DePaul game costing them a bid or this game or that game did, but in all honesty..their home record more than anything else is what cost them a bid(if they miss). Now, for those of you that say(well, 3 of those games were against top 10 RPI teams, Xavier, Nova & Purdue)...I say so what?? EVEN if you automatically say those are losses, the games at home vs Georgia, PC and Butler are the one's that really stick in my craw. Win any of those they are in, win 2 of them, they are in comfortably. And win all 3, and they are a good seed.
They MUST do a better job of defending their home floor. That's where it all starts.
I agree with you on this - our record away from home this year would easily have us in the tournament, it is our inability to win at home that will have killed us if we are not picked.
I never thought the Bradley Center - as much as I love it - has the fans close enough to intimidate. When I go to road games in Providence or Pittsburgh the fans are in the MU fans and players faces from before the opening tip and ready to kill anyone who sold a ticket to a visiting fan. Just don't know if we will ever have that kind of edge at home.
I am a Wojo fan, but one area he is not equal to Crean or Buzz is as a promoter that could really get people turning out to see games and be fired up.
Next year's team will be better. I guarantee they will not lose a game at the Bradley Center.
This thought crossed my mind a few times this season too, again, especially as I was lucky to have 28 game Crean home winning streak during the middle of my Marquette experience. While I'm not entirely proud of all of my fan behavior during those years (I may have internet stalked Reece Gaines to find out the names of his mother and sister and then proceeded to use that intelligence everytime he was within earshot of my front-row student-section seats) I do seem to recall that the BC felt like a tough place for opponents to play. Students were chanting/making noise on EVERY D possession, stood for the whole game, and filled the upper deck to the rafters - usually as soon as the doors opened.
Now maybe that's a chicken and egg thing, we were engaged because we had a good product to watch - but the home/away differentials those years were stark. Sure C-USA wasn't the beast, but we actually weren't that good away from home those years. Had we been as bad as Wojo's team's at home - those years would have been pretty dismal.
2001-2002: 16-0 at home, 5-5 in true road games (incl 5-3 in conference road play) or 8-5 in road/neutral. If we drop 3 or 4 at home, that regular season goes from 23-5 to 20-8 or 19-9. Probably go from 5 seed to bubble team.
2002-2003: 15-1 at home, 7-3 on the road. Again, lose 3 or 4 at home instead and 23-4 regular season goes to 21-6 or 20-7 - looking more like a 8 or 9 seed than a 3.
Conversely, this year, improve that home record from 11-6 to 14-3 (say losses to Nova, X and Purdue - although I think we could have grabbed one of those!) and we go from 18-12 to 21-9 which would be safely in - probably in the 7ish seed range.
I realize this is a hugely contingent argument (we win more at home, maybe we lose more on the road).
What would be interesting is to compare home winning percentage under Wojo to 1) Marquette's average home winning pct, 2) BE average home winning pct and 3) NCAA average home winning pct. But I don't have the time for that right now....
Quote from: 1SE on March 10, 2018, 05:31:06 AM
This thought crossed my mind a few times this season too, again, especially as I was lucky to have 28 game Crean home winning streak during the middle of my Marquette experience. While I'm not entirely proud of all of my fan behavior during those years (I may have internet stalked Reece Gaines to find out the names of his mother and sister and then proceeded to use that intelligence everytime he was within earshot of my front-row student-section seats) I do seem to recall that the BC felt like a tough place for opponents to play. Students were chanting/making noise on EVERY D possession, stood for the whole game, and filled the upper deck to the rafters - usually as soon as the doors opened.
Well, apparently you were proud enough to go into great detail about what you did, completely unprompted. ::)
Quote from: warriorchick on March 10, 2018, 06:29:23 AM
Well, apparently you were proud enough to go into great detail about what you did, completely unprompted. ::)
(https://media.giphy.com/media/3orieXWmcg66rZlzBS/giphy.gif)
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on March 09, 2018, 08:09:14 PM
I really don't give a damn where we win as long as we win enough to go dancing
That's because you live 1000 miles away and make it to about 2 home games per year. The rest of us pay good money to go to many, if not all, home games. We wanna leave the BC/Chaluparena thinking it was worth it to spend our money.
Quote from: JamilJaeJamailJrJuan on March 09, 2018, 02:59:38 PM
I love Rowsey. Kid is baller and I love his heart. But he is truly awful defensively. Markus is not good defensively, but he can be serviceable, and he works hard on defense.
I think simply removing Rowsey from the equation will help tremendously at the defensive end. Morrow will be the ultimate game changer for us, though. We actually will have some muscle in the post and a rebounding machine.
I hope you are right, but we have to learn how to defend without committing a foul.