We had a second playmaker, but we don't. DJ had a great first half and an awful second half. His assists and downhill attacks are the reason we dominated for 20 mins. Once UNC doubled and trapped him we couldn't get good looks. I'm not excusing his 2nd half but he has no help as far as a guard who can do damage in open space. I thought Sy would be able to fill this role to be honest. If we just had a competent combo G who could make plays off the dribble the entire season would have been much different. It's really a shame.
Akano was going to be that guy - didn't make in game did he? Good win tonight. But yeah ball handling and another guard who can create a crap would help Mugs
I think you're right, Muggs.
I don't know if it was the UNC defense as much as it was DJ just getting worn out. He had a heavy load to carry in this game, and he was getting beaten up without getting many calls. Wojo kept trying to grab him a little extra rest, taking him out a minute before a couple of the TV time-outs, but he was gassed.
So yes, it sure would have been nice to have another ballhander out there.
And the thing is, for some stretches, Koby is that guy. He had a really nice stretch in the first half when he beat his guy off the dribble and set up some a couple of 3s and a couple of Theo dunks. But he is too spotty and too mistake-prone to be relied upon in that role, unfortunately.
The fact that Akanno didn't play at all today is pretty telling. Clearly he isn't ready.
It's interesting to watch DJ. He was sooo good in 1H. Then it was like he loses concentration or something. Gets
Loose with the ball. Dumb decisions. Overall really good. Too bad he didn't get the dunk down on fast break. Had another highlight potential dunk along baseline but got stripped (fouled, no call).
Quote from: muhoops1 on February 24, 2021, 09:49:03 PM
It's interesting to watch DJ. He was sooo good in 1H. Then it was like he loses concentration or something. Gets
Loose with the ball. Dumb decisions. Overall really good. Too bad he didn't get the dunk down on fast break. Had another highlight potential dunk along baseline but got stripped (fouled, no call).
I truly think he was gassed. Wojo was trying to find him an extra minute here and an extra minute there. He was asked to do a lot tonight. I'm just happy he had the energy to make that big floater+foul down the stretch and then to hit most of his FTs.
But yes, he was brilliant in the 1H. He was the best player on the floor, and showed the talent that had folks saying he was the best transfer available after last season.
Hopefully he'll be back next season, with a full offseason to work with his teammates, and he can really put together a bunch of complete games. He can be one of the very best players in the Big East and a first-round draft pick if he tightens his handle and is more consistently good.
I was thinking the same while watching RJ Davis. If he were coming in to spell Carton, or even having them both on the court at the same time, MU would look a lot different.
they won the bet
I hate to bring it up, but I sure would have liked to see if Karim Mane could have been that guy.
Quote from: Autoengineer on February 24, 2021, 11:09:01 PM
I hate to bring it up, but I sure would have liked to see if Karim Mane could have been that guy.
I don't remember the order of things ... but if Mane happened to decide to go to college and happened to choose Marquette, would DJ have chosen Marquette too? (Or vice versa)
Justin Turner was supposed to be the guy. We were the choice but he didn't feel comfortable committing to a place that he had never visited. Averaging 20.3 points a game with a TORate of 11.1% (top 150 in the nation) for Bowling Green this year. Would look perfect out there next to Carton.
Quote from: MU82 on February 24, 2021, 09:40:25 PM
And the thing is, for some stretches, Koby is that guy. He had a really nice stretch in the first half when he beat his guy off the dribble and set up some a couple of 3s and a couple of Theo dunks. But he is too spotty and too mistake-prone to be relied upon in that role, unfortunately.
He was very good in that stretch. UNC had gone on a 9-0 run to cut the lead to 14-13 and Jamal chucked a contested three, giving UNC a chance to take the lead. The next possessions:
McEwen hurries his man into a bad pass that sails out of bounds
McEwen buries a corner 3 from DJ
McEwen steals the ball
McEwen drives coast to coast before kicking to open Elliott for 3
UNC offensive foul
Garcia makes a runner
UNC turnover
Carton turnover
UNC dunk
McEwen runs pick and roll with John resulting in an uncontested layup
UNC hits 1/2 at the line
McEwen drives, bounce pass to John for uncontested dunk
In 6 possessions, about 2.5 minutes of play, Koby got 3 points, 3 assists, and forced two turnovers and MU extended the lead back out to 10.
He has stretches where he's really good, but his turnovers are almost universally unforced and seem to come at the worst moments. He was okay in the second half tonight, 2 points, 3 assists, 1 turnover in a half with 13 team turnovers.
When Carton is playing well he as awfully fun to watch. I am big fan of the kid. I definitely hope he is back next year.
Dexter was only going to be that guy on the message boards.
Quote from: Goose on February 25, 2021, 01:28:18 AM
When Carton is playing well he as awfully fun to watch. I am big fan of the kid. I definitely hope he is back next year.
I think he is going to be very good. And yes, with his size and quickness, will be on an NBA roster some day.
This would be a lock tourney team if...they fixed the turnovers. Which hasn't been just a guard issue, its been pretty much universally an issue across the entire team. Without going back to look at it game-by-game, I'd guess we have around 4 more wins if we just committed an average number of turnovers.
Quote from: TSmith34 on February 25, 2021, 09:41:37 AM
This would be a lock tourney team if...they fixed the turnovers. Which hasn't been just a guard issue, its been pretty much universally an issue across the entire team. Without going back to look at it game-by-game, I'd guess we have around 4 more wins if we just committed an average number of turnovers.
I was mentioning this to my socially distanced friends I was watching the game with at Leff's outdoor seating area last night, ha. I agree, still had 18 last night, but other aspects of the game were clicking. Without the momentum killing, soul sucking, head scratching to's in other games we would have more wins!
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on February 25, 2021, 12:20:28 AM
Justin Turner was supposed to be the guy. We were the choice but he didn't feel comfortable committing to a place that he had never visited. Averaging 20.3 points a game with a TORate of 11.1% (top 150 in the nation) for Bowling Green this year. Would look perfect out there next to Carton.
Ugh, just revived that heartbreak. Thanks. I forgot about that one.
Marquette would be an NCAA lock if:
1) They were more consistently fundamentally sound.
2) If they made better and more frequent in game adjustments.
3) If they shot the ball better.
4) If they had better hands rebounding and with 50/50 balls.
5) If they had more lateral quickness on defense to stay in front of their man, as well as to rotate quicker. And, of they had more lateral quickness on offense to create your own shot when the offense breaks down.
6) if they had more depth from both returning players as well as the 2/3.
7) If they would get to the line a little more often, especially earlier in games.
These would be some of the things that would help.
Quote from: warriorstrack on February 25, 2021, 09:49:02 AM
I was mentioning this to my socially distanced friends I was watching the game with at Leff's outdoor seating area last night, ha. I agree, still had 18 last night, but other aspects of the game were clicking. Without the momentum killing, soul sucking, head scratching to's in other games we would have more wins!
Agreed, and not to poo poo the win, but MU was very lucky UNC couldn't/didn't convert many of those TOs to points (they seemed to be better at converting them to a TO for themselves)
Quote from: rocky_warrior on February 25, 2021, 11:18:18 AM
Agreed, and not to poo poo the win, but MU was very lucky UNC couldn't/didn't convert many of those TOs to points (they seemed to be better at converting them to a TO for themselves)
UNC also could have pressed sooner.
There are a number of probs but a 2nd capable playmaker would make everything much easier and lead to fewer turns across the board . We would also get better shots. GE was in rhythm in the first half on drive and kicks and transition. We would get far easier looks and opportunities with a 2nd attacker.
...if their record was better in close games.
I don't buy the in game adjustments narrative because you see adjustments all the time. Switching defenses, switching the double team, switching the primary shooter, working different mismatches. Wojo does a lot of that in game but at the end of the game it comes to which team can execute and which team is better, how the team responds to a punch in the mouth.
There is only so much a coach can do in game to actually win a game. I feel in-game adjustments is used by fans with limited knowledge of what adjustments really are and just rely on the post game interview Q: What did you do to win this game A: we made some adjustments which translates to some fans as if we make adjustments we will win. If we lose it is because we didn't make adjustments.
I think the premise of the OP is correct which is we have one play maker (DJ) as a guard and we currently have one as a forward (Dawson) with Lewis being out. When one of those two struggle, we struggle.
Cain is still a spot up shooter or rebounder and struggles handing the ball. When he is on he is fun to watch but that has probably only been two games this year.
Elliot is my biggest heartbreak. He looks to be the leader on the court. Looks to be a good shooter, driver but he has been slowed by injuries and in many cases can be a liability.
Theo has improved tremendously and has become a threat but he is foul prone and has to sit out.
Sy can handle the ball but is limited in his shooting.
Koby is could be good but he gets stuck in his own head and presses to hard. If his body moved as fast as his mind he could be really good.
My biggest complaint with Wojo has been in many cases what everyone else seems to pride him on which is his "GM" skills. We haven't had a full roster of players as he has held scholarships. He hasn't put together a complete team. He recruits well but misses on key roles, he will land a great recruit but miss on the players around them and fills too much with projects.
I can't pick a player who hasn't gotten better under him but in my mind many of the players just had too low of starting points like Sacar, Cain, Elliott, Dexter
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on February 25, 2021, 12:20:28 AM
Justin Turner was supposed to be the guy. We were the choice but he didn't feel comfortable committing to a place that he had never visited. Averaging 20.3 points a game with a TORate of 11.1% (top 150 in the nation) for Bowling Green this year. Would look perfect out there next to Carton.
He also would have looked nice at 3b for the Brewers.
20ppg at Bowling Green as a freshman screams "transfer up" to me, especially this year. If he hits the transfer portal I'd be very bullish on our chances.
Quote from: SaveOD238 on February 25, 2021, 02:28:43 PM
He also would have looked nice at 3b for the Brewers.
20ppg at Bowling Green as a freshman screams "transfer up" to me, especially this year. If he hits the transfer portal I'd be very bullish on our chances.
He would have been a graduate transfer.
Set picks for Symir and see if he can take it to the rim and finish or pass to the open shooter.
He has tried a number of times but couldn't put it in at the rim. Seemed to rush his shot instead of focusing on where his shot should go.
Him just dribbling at the top of the key with us watching the shot clock tick off seconds has no value.
Quote from: SaveOD238 on February 25, 2021, 02:28:43 PM
He also would have looked nice at 3b for the Brewers.
20ppg at Bowling Green as a freshman screams "transfer up" to me, especially this year. If he hits the transfer portal I'd be very bullish on our chances.
He's a 5th year senior. But if he uses his COVID year I wouldn't be shocked to see us involved
Quote from: TAMU Eagle on February 25, 2021, 03:29:04 PM
He's a 5th year senior. But if he uses his COVID year I wouldn't be shocked to see us involved
Yeah I feel dumb now...