So, how do we feel now?

[MU82]

I was looking forward to this game. With The Ohio State Debacle in the rear-view mirror, I figured Buzz's Boyz would relax and use a decisive victory over a patsy to get some kinks out of the game in preparation for a daunting stretch of the schedule.

Well, I certainly don't feel any better about the team. In fact, I might even feel a little worse. You could look at the OSU game and say, "That was an excellent opponent and we just had a really bad performance -- a bad combination." And then in comes New Hampshire, whose best player can't even stay on the court because of foul trouble, and we let them stay in the game the entire way.

With the game close down the stretch, Buzz couldn't play his free-throw-bricking starting PG -- a more condemning statement against Derrick than anything any Scooper has said about him. In the history of college basketball, has there ever been a high-major team with conference championship aspirations that can't play its starting PG in the final minutes of tight games?

It was interesting to have Jamil at PG, I suppose, but it's hard to say he made many good things happen out there. And you have to wonder how a Jamil-Jake-Mayo group will do if the opponent turns up the full-court pressure.

Our perimeter shooting is so bad that when Jake hit 2 straight 3s, we practically wanted to stage a parade in his honor. That's .183 from downtown this season -- and 4-for-40 the last two games -- and it doesn't look like an aberration.

Davante has been in la-la land. Steve Taylor apparently is in the doghouse. The freshmen guards have done zip to win Buzz's confidence (or mine). The defense has been fine, but it's not as if we've gotten a ton of transition or fastbreak points (except in our game against the worst team in the country).

I'm a pragmatic, level-headed guy who isn't prone to either panic or hyperbole. I'm just looking for reasons to be optimistic and not finding very many.

[Newsdreams]

The only thing I'm optimistic about right now is our defense. I think the offensive struggle has been epidemic due to a lack of confidence and fear. Yes, I'm saying fear, seems like most of the time 4 out of the 5 guys out in the court are afraid to take a shot or take the ball to the hoop.

[tower912]

Defense is very good.   Offensive movement was better.  Funniest moment was when Jamil clanked the dunk at the end of the first half, caught the richochet, turned and heaved a 3 pt'er out of pure frustration and swished it. 

[Dr. Blackheart]

#4 in Pomeroy on defense....and #252 in offense. But, only down in effective FG% where MU is #326.  Shot selection, settling on rotations, coaching will only improve this. This is a great defensive team.  Saw a few good possessions, ball movement, spacing, dribble penetration, in the 2nd half, but the focus, cohesion, effort and decision making are obviously lacking.  Nothing like a long road trip for a team to bond and get better.  

This team is too talented to be this bad on offense.  Mayo needs to start as he is the only one right now who can create on his own.  And yes, I am talking at PG.  Three assists last night too with no TO's.  A 148 Orating.

[nyg]

Taylor in the doghouse is not a good thing.  He only played 10 minutes to Anderson's 25 and hopefully that will switch.  MU got outrebounded last night to a very small UNH team, with three of its starters fouling out.

Gardner will be in doghouse after Buzz watches the tape of last night's game.

Buzz's subbing of players last night was interesting, so many different lineups attempting to find a fluid team of five.  D. Wilson not playing in the last eight minutes was also maybe a sign of things to come. 

Burton looks/seems like the freshman who will play the most at this point.  He just has that "it factor".

Defense has been great, but lets see how MU does against Carson of ASU.  That guy is a great player, who is very quick and can score. 

[KenoshaWarrior]

 In the history of college basketball, has there ever been a high-major team with conference championship aspirations that can't play its starting PG in the final minutes of tight games?

West Virginia had a point guard during their final 4 and elite 8 runs that could not shoot the ball at all.  But he was super quick and much better than DWILL

[bilsu]

I do not know if my wife was right, but she said early on that Gardner looled like he was sick. Maybe both Gardner and Taylor were under the whether and that would somewhat explain Taylor's lack of playing time. At least Buzz is recognizing the free throw shooting limitations. Not only did he not have Derrick in at the end, but when he went to offense/defense substitutions at center he was substituting Taylor instead of Otule.

[MU82]

In the history of college basketball, has there ever been a high-major team with conference championship aspirations that can't play its starting PG in the final minutes of tight games?

West Virginia had a point guard during their final 4 and elite 8 runs that could not shoot the ball at all.  But he was super quick and much better than DWILL

In 2009-10, West Virginia's Darryl "Truck" Bryant averaged 9.3 points on 38% from floor, 32% from 3-point range and 76% from the line. He also averaged 3 assists. In his career, he shot 33% on 3s and 78% from the line.

Compared to Derrick, he was Steve Nash.

If you happen to be talking about Wellington Smith or Joe Mazzulla, their numbers weren't as good as Bryant's but they still left Derrick in the dust.

They also had Butler, Jones and Ebanks as teammates, and for all the hype about our great frontcourt this season, THAT's a great college frontcourt.

[bilsu]

If I am remembering right, Bryant had the game of his life when they upset Kentucky in the NCAA tournament.

[Nevada233]

I do not know if my wife was right, but she said early on that Gardner looled like he was sick. Maybe both Gardner and Taylor were under the whether and that would somewhat explain Taylor's lack of playing time. At least Buzz is recognizing the free throw shooting limitations. Not only did he not have Derrick in at the end, but when he went to offense/defense substitutions at center he was substituting Taylor instead of Otule.

Gardner looked very sick...

[MerrittsMustache]

In 2009-10, West Virginia's Darryl "Truck" Bryant averaged 9.3 points on 38% from floor, 32% from 3-point range and 76% from the line. He also averaged 3 assists. In his career, he shot 33% on 3s and 78% from the line.

Compared to Derrick, he was Steve Nash.

If you happen to be talking about Wellington Smith or Joe Mazzulla, their numbers weren't as good as Bryant's but they still left Derrick in the dust.

They also had Butler, Jones and Ebanks as teammates, and for all the hype about our great frontcourt this season, THAT's a great college frontcourt.

I'm guessing he was thinking of Joe Mazzulla.

[KenoshaWarrior]

Yes it was Joe Mazzulla

[Silkk the Shaka]

#4 in Pomeroy on defense....and #252 in offense. But, only down in effective FG% where MU is #326.  Shot selection, settling on rotations, coaching will only improve this. This is a great defensive team.  Saw a few good possessions, ball movement, spacing, dribble penetration, in the 2nd half, but the focus, cohesion, effort and decision making are obviously lacking.  Nothing like a long road trip for a team to bond and get better.  

This team is too talented to be this bad on offense.  Mayo needs to start as he is the only one right now who can create on his own.  And yes, I am talking at PG.  Three assists last night too with no TO's.  A 148 Orating.

This is exactly what gives me hope. #252 has nowhere to go but up (fingers crossed!).

Buzz's past teams on O:

2009: 12
2010: 22
2011: 21
2012: 52
2013: 25

We've been out of the top 25 only once, and that was ~50. If we can just chop that 252 at least in half to 125 (which I don't think is unrealistic) while maintaining the elite defense, we'll be a tough tournament out. Bring that number anywhere near in line with the past (50 or better) and we're back to being as good as everyone thought we were preseason.

Another thing that jumped out at me looking at KenPom data was average possession length (which I believe is a new wrinkle). We're currently 39th fastest in the country on offense, with nary a fast break basket to be had. That tells me we're taking quick shots in the half court, not the best shot for this team. I think that number needs to be way closer to the 228 rank of last year and 284 rank with the midgets in 2010. Right now we're closer to the #11 fastest offensive possession rank of the souped up Crowder/DJO offense in 2012 with nowhere near the firepower. Slow it down. Hang your hat on D. Win ugly again this year with the pieces you got. Then tear it down and build a pretty new run and gun house next year with all the guards & 3/4 switchables. Buzz knows numbers, I've no doubt this one sticks out to him like a sore thumb. The average possession length rank is one I'll be keeping a close eye on. I bet that drops significantly after semester break, and in turn the overall offensive efficiency will improve while allowing the D to maintain as-is. In my eyes this is how to maximize this squad's talents. Buzz has shown a propensity to do that each year, so I will give him the benefit of the doubt through this early-season rough patch while some things get ironed out on offense.

[brewcity77]

Awesome post, Jajuanna.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm not sure if Steve is in the doghouse. I think Buzz is giving other guys opportunities to step up, like he does every season. Even though it got way too close towards the end, we still led the entire time. If I was Buzz, I wouldn't have the big a fear of losing. I would keep tinkering away to see what worked and what didn't. Clearly we haven't found it yet but I have faith. I loved Jajuannaman's post. I think we need to make this a slow ugly offense

[brewcity77]

My only real worry right now is the team's makeup. I just don't know who will be the one to take the lead. Jamil is the guy everyone wants to do it, but we've been hoping for that going on 3 years now since we heard about how dominant he was in practices during his transfer year.

Todd and Jamil have the talent but I'm not sure they have the personality. Steve and Juan have the will but I'm not convinced they can put up the points. Davante has the charisma and game, but his negative emotions are just as contagious as his positive ones. Chris and Derrick seem to be calm enough but not consistent enough to get the big basket. The guy who seems to have it all is Deonte, but he just seems too young.

One of those guys needs to emerge and break out of their shell. Not sure who it will be, and I'm confident Buzz is working hard to put that chip on each of their shoulders. For certain, the next 2 weeks will tell us a lot more about this team.

[MU82]

Yes it was Joe Mazzulla

Mazzulla played only 16 minutes per game in 2009-10. He was to that team what Derrick was to last year's team. Injuries to others forced him into more action down the stretch and in the NCAAs, and he responded. He actually shot the ball fairly well during that period, especially from the line. Against Kentucky in the Elite Eight, he had 17 points.

Compare that to when Derrick played "great" (according to many) against Wisconsin a couple years ago due to Junior being suspended. Derrick had no points and 0 assists in 20 minutes and his peeps act as if he were Chris Paul reincarnate. He did do a very nice defensive job in that game, for sure.

Mazzulla had 17 points against Kentucky. That's a month for Derrick. Mazzulla was a career 65% FT shooter; that's Mark Price compared to Derrick.

So yeah, I guess one could say Derrick is a poor man's Joe Mazzulla. A very poor man's Joe Mazzulla.