What is this team's strength?

[MerrittsMustache]

I don't want this to turn into another "Let's bash all things about this team" thread. MU has struggled lately, no doubt. What I'm hoping to get are some rational thoughts on why this team is struggling, not angry people spouting off about how much so-and-so sucks.

IMO, this team's biggest problem is that they have no real strength. That doesn't mean that they don't do a lot of things well. It means that there's nothing that they do exceptionally well. There's nothing that really stands out as an aspect of the game that this team can hang their hat on as something that they are definitely going to do better than the opposition. To put it another way, when coaches are preparing to play MU, what do they emphasize to their team that must be done in order to win?

Last year, opposing teams needed to defend the 3, limit the transition game, contain MU's top player, turn MU over and win the hustle stats. On top of that, MU had a lot of senior leadship from guys who had been through the fire. That wasn't the most talented MU team I've ever seen but they were definitely a handful.

This year, what are opposing teams trying to stop/limit? What does Buzz believe are the keys to winning? Going into a game if MU plays "their game" and does X, Y and Z successfully, then they'll win. What are those things?

[willie warrior]

Lets see:
Outside shooting: Nope
Rebounding: Nope
Post presence: Nope
Guard Play: Nope
FT Shooting: Average
Defense: Nope
Low TO's: Maybe a strength
Depth: Nope, many never get off the pines
Coaching Adjustments: Nope
Basketball IQ: Don't think soAbility to schedule Cupcakes out of conference: Yes

So there you have it. Our strengths are low Turnovers, shooting lots of FT's, and scheduling lots of cupcakes out of conference.

[MarquetteDano]

We definitely follow Buzz's free throw strategy.  We rarely send other team's to the line and we get to the line quite a bit.

As was mentioned, up until recently, we don't turn the ball over much either.

[Blackhat]

3 point shooting can be a strength when guys like Crowder, Buycks, and DJO are on.

Offensive unselfishness has been apparent for the most part this year.

Half court pressure on d has allowed for a higher rate of turnovers (although we also get smoked by it)

[mikem91288]

Fade away 3s as the shot clock expires? ?

(I am picturing our wins vs. ND and Cuse) 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Until last night, I would say tenacity was their biggest strength.  This team just never gives up, always in the game, etc.  Not that they weren't tenacious last night, but the sense of urgency was missing.

[MerrittsMustache]

Until last night, I would say tenacity was their biggest strength.  This team just never gives up, always in the game, etc.  Not that they weren't tenacious last night, but the sense of urgency was missing.

Hopefully MU is watching Cincy tonight to see what playing with a sense of urgency looks like.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Hopefully MU is watching Cincy tonight to see what playing with a sense of urgency looks like.

Yeah, I just started a thread saying the same thing.  You are exactly right.