MUScoop

MUScoop => Hangin' at the Al => Topic started by: Dr. Blackheart on December 02, 2019, 07:47:26 AM

Title: Orlando Grades
Post by: Dr. Blackheart on December 02, 2019, 07:47:26 AM
Using your own criteria, rate MU after the Orlando Invitational.

Team: B. I was hoping for a tournament win but expected a loss to Maryland. The defense played really well in the two wins, but the team is still up and down overall with roles still evolving.  Too many unforced turnovers. The coaching staff had the team well-prepared and the team could play to varying opposing teams' styles. This team is playing like a just outside the Top 35 team. Good with some headroom.

Above expectations: Bailey, Johnson, Cain.  Each of these are finding their role and places. Bailey found his confidence. Jayce his sea legs. Jamil played some top defense with some great rebounding. Was surprised Wojo didn't give him more run against Maryland.

At expectations: Sacar, Markus and Greg.  Each had great or solid games. Each met or underperformed. MU needs consistency from these players to compete.

Under expectations:  Koby, Theo and Ed. Koby played some good defense at times but turned the ball over and wasn't getting his shots to fall, especially at the rim. Theo and Ed were overmatched against the more athletic players at USC and MD.  Theo, when playing despite foul trouble, played some great defense versus Davidson.  MU needs more points and less unforced turnovers from this group. Match-ups matter and this group has some work to do.  All three teams were going after them.

TBD: Symir. I expect he gets more of a run in the cupcake games but he looked okay in his USC garbage time. He is strong with the ball so I expect he builds towards some of Koby's minutes.
Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: Silkk the Shaka on December 02, 2019, 07:57:12 AM
I, too, expect Markus to score 40 & 50 in 2 out of every 3 games!
Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: Dr. Blackheart on December 02, 2019, 08:47:32 AM
I, too, expect Markus to score 40 & 50 in 2 out of every 3 games!

And what do you expect in the championship games versus A opponents?  Like Seton Hall, Murray State and Maryland? I have higher expectations for Markus in the big games.
Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: MU82 on December 02, 2019, 09:14:55 AM
And what do you expect in the championship games versus A opponents?  Like Seton Hall, Murray State and Maryland? I have higher expectations for Markus in the big games.

It is not unfair to expect one's All-American to come up big in the big games against top opponents.

Obviously, we can't "expect" 40 or 50, but it certainly is fair to expect more than single-digits.

I expect Markus to score 20+ within the flow of the offense, to take care of the basketball, to create opportunities for others (even if mainly by spacing the floor and occupying defenders' attention) and to play decent defense. He does that most games, even against good teams, and usually exceeds my expectations.

I go in realizing that elite scorers/volume shooters occasionally will take a few low-percentage shots or commit a turnover or two while forcing play. I also allow for the fact that even the best players in history have had bad games.
Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: #UnleashSean on December 02, 2019, 09:27:12 AM
I, too, expect Markus to score 40 & 50 in 2 out of every 3 games!

Having big games doesn't dismiss having bad ones.
Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: muwarrior69 on December 02, 2019, 09:45:12 AM
Having big games doesn't dismiss having bad ones.

I don't think Markus had a bad game. Maryland just defended him very well and did not let him get hot like he can. Chalk that one up to Maryland playing great defense, just like Marquette shut down Pistol Pete in the Semis of the 1970 NIT.
Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: MU82 on December 02, 2019, 09:46:58 AM
In Game 2 of the 1997 Eastern Conference Finals against Miami, both Jordan and Pippen struggled mightily. Michael was 4-for-15 from the floor. Pippen had 5 turnovers. The Bulls won anyway, a truly ugly 75-68 victory.

Jordan: "I played like doo-doo. ... They did it without me tonight."

Pippen: "We already gave ourselves names in the locker room."

Jordan (interrupting): "I'm Doo-Doo, he's $hit."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i18NFSs9M8&fbclid=IwAR1NndJO83DPD2-nED0gVTRY94PXhycfQv2kKOnQKSc2L8PznAwUvRrsQSg

Jordan being Jordan, he still found ways to help his team win. He also had a great supporting cast and the most accomplished coach ever.

This just in: Markus is not Michael. And there is no Pippen, Rodman, Kukoc or Kerr on our Warriors. Not even a Luc. And Wojo is not Phil.

Even great players are doo-doo sometimes. Markus is so important to MU that when he has a doo-doo game, it is amplified. Maybe that's not "fair," but that's how it is. That doesn't mean any of us has to give in to the urge to bash him when it happens. And thankfully, it doesn't happen all that often.
Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: connie on December 02, 2019, 01:34:44 PM
I think a "B" is fair.  Saw some really good defense, which is nice.
Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: Lennys Tap on December 02, 2019, 02:46:12 PM
I don't think Markus had a bad game.

1-12, 4 TOs? You're kidding. Markus had a bad game by Joe Chartouny standards. By Markus standards it was an awful game, among his worst ever. Doesn't make him not great - even the best have stinkers. But, c'mon.
Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: Dr. Blackheart on December 02, 2019, 03:15:51 PM
1-12, 4 TOs? You're kidding. Markus had a bad game by Joe Chartouny standards. By Markus standards it was an awful game, among his worst ever. Doesn't make him not great - even the best have stinkers. But, c'mon.

Just to note, his Orating of 48 yesterday was his second worst game in his college career.  Only his first game versus Vanderbilt was lower (46) with only 11 minutes. Thus, my rating.  One game was way above on Orating. One was slightly better than his average. And his worst ever with usage.

It happens but great teams are coming after him too. If his dream is the NBA, he’ll have to overcome that.

Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: tower912 on December 02, 2019, 03:40:23 PM
How do you give Cain more run when Bailey is the only offensive threat?  For a couple of minutes in the first half, they were in at the same time with Sacar on the bench.
Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: Dr. Blackheart on December 02, 2019, 03:52:05 PM
How do you give Cain more run when Bailey is the only offensive threat?  For a couple of minutes in the first half, they were in at the same time with Sacar on the bench.

Sit Koby so more and move Sacar to guard. MU was getting hammered on the boards and on the scoreboard. Jamal has been playing great on ball defense. Cowan was having his way with MU and MU lost the OR% battle handily.

In the 2nd, MU could have used some more energy in that zone as well.
Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: Dr. Blackheart on December 02, 2019, 04:00:13 PM
Btw, posters are free the give their own grades versus critiquing mine.  ;)
Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: bilsu on December 02, 2019, 04:13:53 PM
We still would of still lost, if Markus scored 40 points. Bailey would of score 20 less points and Anim would of scored 10 less points.
Maryland played there "A" game and simply was the better team.
Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: IrwinFletcher on December 02, 2019, 06:27:28 PM
I think some circumstances played into Sunday’s performance as well.

Markus goes off on Thursday and Friday and gets a ton of attention.  Turgeon now has 36 hours to develop a game plan to shut Markus down after watching the team for a couple of games.  He did a great job with his plan and players worked it to perfection.

Had Markus had a crap game vs USC, maybe Turgeon plays it more straight up and Markus plays better on Sunday.
Title: Re: Orlando Grades
Post by: MU82 on December 02, 2019, 10:18:28 PM
Btw, posters are free the give their own grades versus critiquing mine.  ;)

I give this comment a solid C-minus.