Pitt did their homework. Kudos

[tower912]

Pitt was more physical than we were.  They bumped every driver and dared the refs to call it.   There was always contact on Lazar, just enough to bother him, rarely enough to get called.    They were always square to our perimeter players, with enough hedge to make it look there was not a great lane for driving, but rarely enough they couldn't recover.    They almost never helped from the weak-side wing, so our driving guards couldn't pitch opposite so that we could start cycling and spinning  defenders.  So no open 3's and we didn't hit the contested ones.  We needed more Buycks, Butler, and DJO just taking it to the rack and not looking to give it up.   That was there more often than the dump down to Lazar or the drive and pitch.
  On offense, they were patient enough to pound it inside and we didn't turn them over enough.   When we did, they just came down the next time and pounded it inside again.   Lazar and Jimmy just kept getting lost down low.
     Defensively, we have just seen the new template for stopping MU.   Offensively, they were very disciplined and stuck to hitting our weak spot.    The tape of this game is going to be studied and copied by every other coach in the league.  

[MauraDay]

S. Samuels and Gody will watch this tape and be so excited to play us after seeing what McGhee, etc. did with our interior "defense."

[Marq]

Pitt was more physical than we were.  They bumped every driver and dared the refs to call it.   There was always contact on Lazar, just enough to bother him, rarely enough to get called.    They were always square to our perimeter players, with enough hedge to make it look there was not a great lane for driving, but rarely enough they couldn't recover.    They almost never helped from the weak-side wing, so our driving guards couldn't pitch opposite so that we could start cycling and spinning  defenders.  So no open 3's and we didn't hit the contested ones.  We needed more Buycks, Butler, and DJO just taking it to the rack and not looking to give it up.   That was there more often than the dump down to Lazar or the drive and pitch.
  On offense, they were patient enough to pound it inside and we didn't turn them over enough.   When we did, they just came down the next time and pounded it inside again.   Lazar and Jimmy just kept getting lost down low.
     Defensively, we have just seen the new template for stopping MU.   Offensively, they were very disciplined and stuck to hitting our weak spot.    The tape of this game is going to be studied and copied by every other coach in the league.  

Excellent post, couldn't agree more with what you said...Pitt made Marquette play Pitt basketball. So everyone stop b*tchin about the refs or the crowd. The three seniors played there worst game of the season. Lazar played his worst game since he was a freshman and Butler couldn't make a free throw in the first half if his life depended on it.

[reinko]

S. Samuels and Gody will watch this tape and be so excited to play us after seeing what McGhee, etc. did with our interior "defense."

You say that like you were shocked that a big man got his against MU this year.

[MauraDay]

Not shocked. Just pointing out the obvious.

[TheButlerDidIt]

I was stunned by McGhee. I knew that he played a major role on Pitt, but he just looked monstrous in person. He kept everyone he faced in front of him. Yes, I know people have been whining about the officiating (as I've noticed after every MU loss), but he played the best defense that he was allowed to get away with. He was much more athletic than I thought he would be.

Tall opponents clearly give us some problems, but South Florida had lots of height. I think the bulky, banger, hustle types do much more damage than just height.

[NotAnAlum]

It seemed like Pitt got away with 3 obvious defensive fouls in the first 2 or 3 minutes and MU reacted like "OK we're not going to be able to go to the hole because stuff won't get called" and that changed the way MU played.  Passing wasn't as crisp but bottom line we were not making shots we normally make.  It points up one of the problems with a team that has only perimeter players.  When the shots aren't falling there is not much you can do.  On a more balanced team you can go big and try to work in the traditional low post.  We don't have that ability and it doesn't look like we're planning to have it for the foreseeable future.  So when we hit a cold shooting night against a decent team we are probably going to lose.

[mikem91288]

Deny the 3, and force MU to go run the half court and try to get something going inside. Pitt was well coached and knew exactly how to beat us. When you think of it, usually when we are draining 3s, Lazar and DJO usually have about 4 or 5 wide open looks a game. They each maybe had 1 good open 3 point chance last night. Also, what's with Acker shooting that 3 at the end with a guy in his face. Sorry, mo you're not that good where you can't at least look for the pass late in the game.

[jaybilaswho?]

Tall opponents clearly give us some problems, but South Florida had lots of height. I think the bulky, banger, hustle types do much more damage than just height.

completely agree with you on this. We were outsized, as we have been all year, but Pitt really made us look small and they made us play small.

[MR.HAYWARD]

good post ...I sat courtside last night and Pittsburgh simply Pittsburgh'ed us.  Beat us up Physically and were biiger and stronger and more at least equally as talented and deeper.  There defense wa soutstanding and took out of much of what we do.  Additionally not sure what it was and maybe it has been the case all year but Jimmy Butler was simply atrocious on defense.  Wheteher it be dante or Mcghee that he guarded he have up alyups and dunks at a shocking rate.  he played directly behind his man all night and allowed them to back him under the backboard.  LAzar meanwhile denied or fronted them when guarding them and was significantly tougher when guarding them.  I was both surprised and disappointed by Jimmy's softness against them.  it's one think to get beatten but he did not appear to have anywhere near the defensive effort that Lazar did.