We can talk about our putrid shooting for weeks on end. Or certain players that have regressed and their propensity to crap the bed. However, what bothers me the most is our Matador D. I'm watching guys get beat on the perimeter as if they're guarding Allen Iverson, D. Wade, or Tony Parker. Finley Bizzybop is not Dwyane Wade. Here's a suggestion: Stop the fking ball. I don't get this Scoopers, at all.
Guys are going hard right and we're standing there like we're escorting them to their room at the Four Seasons. I don't like the high hedge either, but it all starts with thwarting the dribble drive. Our individual D on the ball is horrific and our rim protection is about reliable as blood pressure apps. Why are we so god awful at this? If you cannot stop the ball, the result is death. It's as simple as that. Your margin of error essentially goes to shiiiit, and you have to win games by going ballistic offensively. I find this very disturbing at this juncture in the season.
Abandon all hope
Quote from: Johnny B on January 24, 2026, 12:48:04 AMAbandon all hope
We need to find a way to correct the problem moving forward. Start the proper habits this season. We shouldn't be chairs defensively.
Quote from: MuggsyB on January 24, 2026, 12:52:37 AMWe need to find a way to correct the problem moving forward. Start the proper habits this season. We shouldn't be chairs defensively.
Dr. V's synopsis in the Senior Shooting thread pretty much says it all about our shooting and here we are talking about defense. Perhaps another thread complaining about our rebounding will do it. Maybe a new coaching staff?
I think the defense with this group is the bigger issue. Containing the dribble, switching, weak side help are all issues. I am going to chalk it up to inexperience, as it hasn't been an issue in previous seasons.
Quote from: tower912 on January 24, 2026, 08:06:04 AMI think the defense with this group is the bigger issue. Containing the dribble, switching, weak side help are all issues. I am going to chalk it up to inexperience, as it hasn't been an issue in previous seasons.
Ross has been exponentially disappointing. DO certainly tries much harder than Rowsey ever did, but the results are somehow even worse than Rowdy's.
Ben is still solid, except for the really stupid fouls hedging 35 feet from the basket. Parham has clearly taken a nice step forward and not just because of the blocks, though those are nice, too.
I don't know why Shaka does not try a 1-3-1 with Clark as the rim protector.....
And then do pick n roll with him with Chase or James on O-side....
In man he is a liability.....In a 1-3-1 he gets time on D end and has shown that he can do the "tip dunks"....
What do we have to lose.....Our D is pretty much pathetic....Gets the kid some game time....And maybe gets us a few stops....
Shaka has to get "less stubborn" in several ways....
Muggs - The " defense " is AWFUL thanks to the coaching ... or lack thereof.
They are a sieve. They also can't shoot.
They have semi decent seniors, but two guys that are not leaders etc etc
But you should not get so upset about it.
Shaka's not the least bit concerned so ...
Our defense is simply awful. We are an easy mark for any team to beat us. So is our lack of rebounding. No follow up by shooters or interested standers. Perhaps our poor free throw shooting should be at the top of the list costing us to lose too many games. All in all this is a lousy team. Is it the talent or the poor coaching?
The defense has been solid the previous seasons. The switching 1-5, the traps along the sidelines, the switching from the 3-2 to man mid possession, the pressure. If anything, the defense this season is much more vanilla. This group struggles with the basics.
I am going to chalk this up as one big learning experience for the young guys and trust their offseason work will be on defense.
Quote from: tower912 on January 24, 2026, 08:51:02 AMThe defense has been solid the previous seasons. The switching 1-5, the traps along the sidelines, the switching from the 3-2 to man mid possession, the pressure. If anything, the defense this season is much more vanilla. This group struggles with the basics.
I am going to chalk this up as one big learning experience for the young guys and trust their offseason work will be on defense.
One would hope/assume this, but the question is what the heck did we work on last offseason?
the result is death.
Melodramatic much?
Quote from: PointWarrior on January 24, 2026, 08:58:32 AMthe result is death.
Melodramatic much?
When you get over your fear of death, everything falls into place.
Quote from: Stretchdeltsig on January 24, 2026, 08:44:00 AMPerhaps our poor free throw shooting should be at the top of the list costing us to lose too many games.
^^^ ban worthy
There was a play last night, Bizjack with the ball at the top of the key, DO in a perfect defensive stance in perfect initial defensive position. Bizjack drove to his right and took two steps before DO reacted. Bizjack is a step past a slow reacting DO and into the lane.
That is the kind of play that has been beating MU this season.
Go back to the IU game. IU ran their shooters off screens off the ball. MU defenders did not know how to handle it.
They got caught on the screen, the screener's defender did not switch out to the shooter.
Or, the switch did happen, but late.
Or, both defenders jumped the screen, attacked the shooter, screener to the basket, no weak side help.
It will not get better until feet move and communication improves on every possession. Again, these things happened in previous seasons nearly seamlessly. So I know the coaches are teaching and preaching them.
Meanwhile, on our offensive possession under two minutes, still having a chance to win, Butler played amazing one-on-one defense and made the correct switches, taking away our drives, resulting in constant kickouts and causing us to use nearly the entire shot clock.
Quote from: Billy Hoyle on January 24, 2026, 09:37:00 AMMeanwhile, on our offensive possession under two minutes, still having a chance to win, Butler played amazing one-on-one defense and made the correct switches, taking away our drives, resulting in constant kickouts and causing us to use nearly the entire shot clock.
Yes. I thought back to a couple of seasons ago when Stevie successfully defended 4 Butler players on one possession late in a close game.
A team that understood switches, help, rotations. Same coaches
Quote from: tower912 on January 24, 2026, 09:21:53 AMAgain, these things happened in previous seasons nearly seamlessly. So I know the coaches are teaching and preaching them.
Their seeds are now falling on infertile ground.
Quote from: tower912 on January 24, 2026, 08:51:02 AMThe defense has been solid the previous seasons. The switching 1-5, the traps along the sidelines, the switching from the 3-2 to man mid possession, the pressure. If anything, the defense this season is much more vanilla. This group struggles with the basics.
I am going to chalk this up as one big learning experience for the young guys and trust their offseason work will be on defense.
I think inexperience is a component but not the whole story. What in the world is Ross doing "guarding" the ball or man? He'll get steals but he gets beat like a drum. We have to stop the ball. Maybe drop back a bit instead of pressuring? And since our bigs can't get back fron the high hedge, why continue to do it? Allowing like 25 bunnies a game is ridiculous.
Quote from: Stretchdeltsig on January 24, 2026, 08:44:00 AMOur defense is simply awful. We are an easy mark for any team to beat us. So is our lack of rebounding. No follow up by shooters or interested standers. Perhaps our poor free throw shooting should be at the top of the list costing us to lose too many games. All in all this is a lousy team. Is it the talent or the poor coaching?
Two seniors that are role-players. No Juniors to speak of. Lack of talent at the top, inexperience at the bottom.
Quote from: TSmith34, Inc. on January 24, 2026, 02:09:10 PMTwo seniors that are role-players. No Juniors to speak of. Lack of talent at the top, inexperience at the bottom.
And the freshman are worse than anyone would care to admit
Quote from: PointWarrior on January 24, 2026, 08:58:32 AMthe result is death.
Melodramatic much?
In the context of the ability to hoop, I don't think I'm being melodramatic or hyperbolic at all. We have to guard the ball.
Man up D is an attitude, a mindset. You aren't beating me, not tonight. Tonight, i own you! Zone? Not exactly rocket science. Spatially aware. Know how to slide.
Did we have a player die this season? - I have been watching less but think I would have caught that.
Quote from: MuggsyB on January 24, 2026, 05:54:20 PMIn the context of the ability to hoop, I don't think I'm being melodramatic or hyperbolic at all. We have to guard the ball.
Quote from: PointWarrior on January 24, 2026, 07:34:46 PMDid we have player die this season? - I have been watching less but think I would have caught that.
It's called a metaphor.
Quote from: TSmith34, Inc. on January 24, 2026, 08:21:56 AMRoss has been exponentially disappointing. DO certainly tries much harder than Rowsey ever did, but the results are somehow even worse than Rowdy's.
Ben is still solid, except for the really stupid fouls hedging 35 feet from the basket. Parham has clearly taken a nice step forward and not just because of the blocks, though those are nice, too.
Quote from: MuggsyB on January 24, 2026, 11:49:37 AMI think inexperience is a component but not the whole story. What in the world is Ross doing "guarding" the ball or man? He'll get steals but he gets beat like a drum. We have to stop the ball. Maybe drop back a bit instead of pressuring? And since our bigs can't get back fron the high hedge, why continue to do it? Allowing like 25 bunnies a game is ridiculous.
I do not like the high hedge at all. When has it worked? Then we are scrambling to cover the cutter and try to protect the rim. Keep a big under the basket! Then what do I know
Quote from: Daniel on January 24, 2026, 09:17:36 PMI do not like the high hedge at all. When has it worked? Then we are scrambling to cover the cutter and try to protect the rim. Keep a big under the basket! Then what do I know
When Oso was in a Marquette uniform.
Much like Tyler, however, he's not coming back thru that door
Quote from: DoctorV on January 24, 2026, 11:21:45 PMWhen Oso was in a Marquette uniform.
Much like Tyler, however, he's not coming back thru that door
Well, if Tyler continues to get DNPs he might as well come back and get minutes. Everyone is eligible these days.
The free throw shooting is the real issue
I've mentioned it a few times before and agree with the theme of the thread. Don't think I've seen a perimeter defender keep their man in front of them at any point this season. It's almost unbelievable how often we get blown by with ease.
Quote from: wadesworld on January 25, 2026, 07:10:16 AMWell, if Tyler continues to get DNPs he might as well come back and get minutes. Everyone is eligible these days.
There has to be a MKE judge who is a big donor to MU athletics who can grant Kolek a TRO until mid April, right?
Quote from: Billy Hoyle on January 25, 2026, 01:35:44 PMThere has to be a MKE judge who is a big donor to MU athletics who can grant Kolek a TRO until mid April, right?
someone call Gruber. 'One call, that's all'...or, something like that
Quote from: DoctorV on January 24, 2026, 11:21:45 PMWhen Oso was in a Marquette uniform.
Much like Tyler, however, he's not coming back thru that door
This is true! Those were the good ole days lol. But this year.... Not so much