Games Thoughts

[NotAnAlum]

Liked the defensive effort in the first half and Junior's clutch play to save the win but lets be honest that wasn't a very good Wisconsin team we just beat at home.  This team really struggles to score points.  There is no realiable 3 point shooter.   Jake is not going to give us what we need.  Teams seem to have figured out Devante so it is very tough to get the ball to him in a position where you can rely on him for a good shot.  I'll take a win over the Badgers  but unless Buzz can find a way to improve the offense we are going to struggle.     

[MarquetteDano]

I'll take a win over the Badgers  but unless Buzz can find a way to improve the offense we are going to struggle.     

I am not saying that the offense does not have to improve, but of the two facets in the game, it is our defense that has been our more critical area.  We got easy shots in transition last year due to defense.  That happened today but didn't happen versus Butler nor Florida.

According to Pomeroy, prior to this game we have the 73rd best defense in the country.  Last year we were ranked #14.  The defense must improve.

[CTWarrior]

Agree that the team we just beat was not the vintage Wisconsin team.  We are still a work in progress and look more like an NIT team than an NCAA team at the moment.  There is still lots of time for that to change.

Cadougan was great yesterday, but rare will be the game where he can physically dominate his opposite number and blow by him at will like he did yesterday. 

[brewcity77]

I still believe this can and should be the best team Buzz has ever had. Vander has made the jump everyone was hoping he'd make last year, which makes sense as he's young for his class so age-wise, THIS is his freshman to sophomore year jump. We've seen guys like Davante, Wilson, Cadougan, and Anderson all take leading roles at times and they have the ability to positively impact a game. Otule is looking far more efficient on offense and still getting back into defensive shape. Lockett isn't there yet, but if he can fit in as hoped and Mayo can get back, this team could be very, very good.

We won't see this team at their best until February or March, but I think they have the ability to be Elite 8 good. Maybe better. And if you think I'm crazy for that...I get it. And I also hope that in a few months, you'll see what I see out there now.

[NotAnAlum]

Like your confidence Brew77 but I can't agree.  All of Buzz's past teams have had at least 1 guaranteed 3 point threat in the starting lineup.  Think about it, last year Jae and DJO, DJO for the prior 2, Lazar even Cubbie was a better 3 point shooter than anyone on this team.  Ox has been a guy to get you consistent points but teams are really focusing on him, making it much more difficult for him to get low post position.  And since we have no 3 point shooter as soon as Ox gets the ball teams will double and triple team him like Wisky did because they don't care about the 3.
On the defense we are good but aside from possibly Vander there is no one who is going to cause fits for the other team and turn defense into offense.
I see this being a very up and down year with this being a bubble team hoping the field is weak.  If Mayo comes back and plays to his potential then things change.

[MU82]

I still believe this can and should be the best team Buzz has ever had. Vander has made the jump everyone was hoping he'd make last year, which makes sense as he's young for his class so age-wise, THIS is his freshman to sophomore year jump. We've seen guys like Davante, Wilson, Cadougan, and Anderson all take leading roles at times and they have the ability to positively impact a game. Otule is looking far more efficient on offense and still getting back into defensive shape. Lockett isn't there yet, but if he can fit in as hoped and Mayo can get back, this team could be very, very good.

We won't see this team at their best until February or March, but I think they have the ability to be Elite 8 good. Maybe better. And if you think I'm crazy for that...I get it. And I also hope that in a few months, you'll see what I see out there now.

Crazy, no. But probably overly optimistic. This team lacks the go-to guy and the 3-point shooting of previous Buzz teams.

I love your optimism, brew, and I truly, truly, TRULY hope at the end of the season you can crow about how right you were. However, I fear you will be saying, "Darn. I expected so much better."

[tower912]

Brew is overly optimistic, but he isn't necessarily wrong.   One through nine, this is probably the deepest team that Buzz has had.   The tallest team that Buzz has had.    The most experienced team that Buzz has had.    But the pieces haven't fallen into place yet and there is no guarantee they will.    Now IF.... JWilson emerges as a leader and plays hard and smart every night......IF Lockett figures it out and turns into the player most were expecting......IF Jake starts hitting 3's......IF DG starts hitting cutters when double teamed.......IF Junior and Blue play every game like they played against Wisconsin....IF Mayo comes back........

If all of those things fall into place, this can still be a very good, very dangerous team.     The defensive effort is there.     But 8 games in, too much inconsistency in effort, leadership, and basketball IQ.   

[brewcity77]

Crazy, no. But probably overly optimistic. This team lacks the go-to guy and the 3-point shooting of previous Buzz teams.

I love your optimism, brew, and I truly, truly, TRULY hope at the end of the season you can crow about how right you were. However, I fear you will be saying, "Darn. I expected so much better."

That's exactly why I think they'll be so good. Because on any given night, virtually anyone can be the go-to guy. We have 6 wins and 5 SOTGs. 7 different players have hit double-figure scoring at least once this year with Anderson and Taylor both also having 9 point games. Right now it seems difficult because we don't know who's going to step up, but once this team adjusts fully to that I believe that come February opposing teams will be finding it difficult because they won't know who to try to stop.

As far as three-point shooting, Vander and Jamil are both hitting over 45% beyond the arc while Juan has shown he has range that at least has to be respected. Those numbers may not keep up, but that gives us three guys that can hit the three. And that's not mentioning Lockett and Jake, both of whom have proven in the past they can hit the longball and are still acclimating to the offense. If Todd gets back, that's 6 guys that can hit the three. You don't need a go-to guy if you have that many legitimate options.

But as I said...I expect this kind of response. I may be over-optimistic, but the depth and all-around talent of this 2012-13 has had me excited for years. But who knows...only the next 3-4 months will tell.

[MU82]

That's exactly why I think they'll be so good. Because on any given night, virtually anyone can be the go-to guy. We have 6 wins and 5 SOTGs. 7 different players have hit double-figure scoring at least once this year with Anderson and Taylor both also having 9 point games. Right now it seems difficult because we don't know who's going to step up, but once this team adjusts fully to that I believe that come February opposing teams will be finding it difficult because they won't know who to try to stop.

As far as three-point shooting, Vander and Jamil are both hitting over 45% beyond the arc while Juan has shown he has range that at least has to be respected. Those numbers may not keep up, but that gives us three guys that can hit the three. And that's not mentioning Lockett and Jake, both of whom have proven in the past they can hit the longball and are still acclimating to the offense. If Todd gets back, that's 6 guys that can hit the three. You don't need a go-to guy if you have that many legitimate options.

But as I said...I expect this kind of response. I may be over-optimistic, but the depth and all-around talent of this 2012-13 has had me excited for years. But who knows...only the next 3-4 months will tell.

Again, brew, I am rooting for you to be right about all of this. I am going to try hard to enjoy the ride and to not worry about the end result so much.

[Stretchdeltsig]

I love the talent and depth of this Marquette team.  For the first time in Buzz's tenure, he has plenty of depth and good enough height.  It's great to see Blue and Cadugan stepping up and playing strong.  It's disappointing to see Jamil not playing up to his ability.  He's oozing with talent, but, seems to disappear too often.  It's sad to see that Otule seems to have taken a step backward since last year's injury.  The biggest disappointments so far are Lockett and Thomas.  Thomas has shown glimpses, but, hasn't shown to be a consistent three shooter yet.  Lockett hasn't shown much of anything.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

High upside for this group, but the early season struggles are something I anticipated.

They all are pretty good players, but they are going to have to grow into bigger roles together.

IF things go right, they stand to improve more throughout the season than some other teams, so they could be pretty dangerous in March, regardless of record.

Now, projecting out to next season, they return a good chunk of key players, so they should hit the ground running.

[BCHoopster]

Look at the box score from yesterday and you can see real problems.  Lockett, big disappointment, Juan Anderson, limited offensive game, Otule and DWill minimal.  Thanks to Bo Ryan,
he made Cadougan the offensive star as they really do not know how to stop the pick and roll.  I would sit in the zone all night against MU, Bo to stubborn.  He is Hall-Famer coach that
does not game coach much like Bielema, both play a style, and that is it.  Vander has come along way, last year he would not have even been close on those threes.   Like DWils game
but he needs to be surrounded by more offensive talent.  

[GGGG]

I understand that depth is important, and I can appreciate balanced scoring, but at some point you need "A" players to win games against top level competition.  And last year they had two players that were dependable, high volume scorers.  Right now, MU has one of those.  And again, outside shooting is a problem.  While Vander and Jamil are doing well, they aren't enough of a danger to draw out defenses and open driving lanes.

[GGGG]

Look at the box score from yesterday and you can see real problems.  Lockett, big disappointment, Juan Anderson, limited offensive game, Otule and DWill minimal.  Thanks to Bo Ryan,
he made Cadougan the offensive star as they really do not know how to stop the pick and roll.  I would sit in the zone all night against MU, Bo to stubborn.

There was nothing wrong with how Bo defended MU yesterday.  They almost caught up to MU because of the defensive changes that Bo made.  They went bigger to guard the basket, and sagged more into the lane. 

[BCHoopster]

There was nothing wrong with how Bo defended MU yesterday.  They almost caught up to MU because of the defensive changes that Bo made.  They went bigger to guard the basket, and sagged more into the lane. 

Letting Cadougan drive to the basket the whole second half, are you serious.  Sorry Junior, but you are not that quick, Wisky has never defended the pick and roll over the years.  Wisky
got back in the game because MU can not score, the first 5 minutes on the second half, MU was terrible.  Wisky showed more energy, MU was flat.  The Florida game will happen more
than you think this year.

[MarquetteDano]

The Florida game will happen more
than you think this year.

In another thread you predicted a loss to the Badgers while many others predicted a win.  We win the game by 10 points and it seems like you haven't changed your thoughts about this team at all.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Wisky got back in the game because MU can not score, the first 5 minutes on the second half, MU was terrible.  Wisky showed more energy, MU was flat. 

Could that be because of some defensive adjustments/gamplanning that UW did?

I was at the game, and I find it hard to believe that MU was just "flat". Way too much energy in that building yesterday to write it off as being "flat".

[GGGG]

Your posts are nearly impossible to read BC...

Anyway, Junior hit a ton of clutch shots, but not sure what zone would have done to prevent that.  Under Buzz, that is pretty much how he has beaten zones anyway...by attacking the seems.  I mean, I really don't know how you can fault a defensive performance that gave up 26 points in the second half.

[BCHoopster]

In another thread you predicted a loss to the Badgers while many others predicted a win.  We win the game by 10 points and it seems like you haven't changed your thoughts about this team at all.

Yes, I thought MU would have a tough time, but Buzz outcoached Bo, MU put a great deal of pressure on there young guards and they wilted. I still see problems with this team, there pretty
obvious.

[BCHoopster]

Your posts are nearly impossible to read BC...

Anyway, Junior hit a ton of clutch shots, but not sure what zone would have done to prevent that.  Under Buzz, that is pretty much how he has beaten zones anyway...by attacking the seems.  I mean, I really don't know how you can fault a defensive performance that gave up 26 points in the second half.

Sorry I have never been really strong in putting my thoughts on paper.  These blogs have helped me become better.  I will keep trying, I am pretty sure I know the game after seeing
1000's of game in my life, at least 50 years of MU hoops.

[brewcity77]

Look at the box score from yesterday and you can see real problems.  Lockett, big disappointment, Juan Anderson, limited offensive game, Otule and DWill minimal.  Thanks to Bo Ryan, he made Cadougan the offensive star as they really do not know how to stop the pick and roll.

I think you miss exactly what gives this team the highest ceiling of any team Buzz has ever coached. You look at the box score and see only the negatives. Well, in the first two games, Vander's box score was a negative while Juan and Jamil looked solid. You say Otule was minimal, but in other games we've seen him step up and be an important part of the offense. Lockett disappointed tonight, but is clearly still adjusting offensively and has been all over the court in other games and made many positive contributions (like Vander before his offensive breakout).

Looking at one box score and thinking you can use that to evaluate a team is incredibly myopic. Don't look at how not everyone stepped up, look at ALL the box scores and see how we have 7-8 guys that can step up on any given night. If Bo's defense doesn't sag off, we continue to have our way in the paint. If they go zone (I know, he never does) it opens up opportunities for Vander, Jamil, and Jake to shoot over it. We're winning because there's no easy way to defend this team. Yes, the Florida game sucked and showed this team has a lot of growing up to do, but aside from one miracle heave, they've taken down everyone else they've faced (and we had Butler beat). This team is still winning and getting better every game. And seeing them win despite some key players struggling (even though those save players have shown the ability to step up in the past) indicates that when they get on the same page, this team could be scary good.

[BCHoopster]

I think you miss exactly what gives this team the highest ceiling of any team Buzz has ever coached. You look at the box score and see only the negatives. Well, in the first two games, Vander's box score was a negative while Juan and Jamil looked solid. You say Otule was minimal, but in other games we've seen him step up and be an important part of the offense. Lockett disappointed tonight, but is clearly still adjusting offensively and has been all over the court in other games and made many positive contributions (like Vander before his offensive breakout).

Looking at one box score and thinking you can use that to evaluate a team is incredibly myopic. Don't look at how not everyone stepped up, look at ALL the box scores and see how we have 7-8 guys that can step up on any given night. If Bo's defense doesn't sag off, we continue to have our way in the paint. If they go zone (I know, he never does) it opens up opportunities for Vander, Jamil, and Jake to shoot over it. We're winning because there's no easy way to defend this team. Yes, the Florida game sucked and showed this team has a lot of growing up to do, but aside from one miracle heave, they've taken down everyone else they've faced (and we had Butler beat). This team is still winning and getting better every game. And seeing them win despite some key players struggling (even though those save players have shown the ability to step up in the past) indicates that when they get on the same page, this team could be scary good.

Good points, first lets look at the positives, Vander much improved, looks more like his junior year high school, rather than the first 2 years here.  Gardner looks much better physically and
looks to be a better defender, DWil tough D, better O.  Juan is better, did not play much last year but has along way to go.  The rest will see.  I do not think the Florida game will be the only game we get have trouble in, the road will be tough, time will tell, hope I am wrong.