Providence Minutes/Thoughts

[tower912]

Little discussed was Buzz's use of signs from the bench to let everyone know which pick and roll defense they were using against Cotton.   Two things come to mind. 
     First, Awesome.   Cotton never saw the same look twice in a row.   He got his 20, but he didn't control the game and ended up with more TO's than assists.   Credit to Buzz for having that many defenses of Pick and Roll and getting the team to commit to it last night.   
    Second, I can't help but think this is a response to the poor p-n-r defense MU played against Nova.   Clearly, Nova is a more guard oriented team and have a lot more options.   But I wonder if there weren't times where MU's defenders were not on the same page on how they were going to guard it, leading to bad help, bad rotations, etc.   

[jesmu84]

Little discussed was Buzz's use of signs from the bench to let everyone know which pick and roll defense they were using against Cotton.   Two things come to mind. 
     First, Awesome.   Cotton never saw the same look twice in a row.   He got his 20, but he didn't control the game and ended up with more TO's than assists.   Credit to Buzz for having that many defenses of Pick and Roll and getting the team to commit to it last night.   
    Second, I can't help but think this is a response to the poor p-n-r defense MU played against Nova.   Clearly, Nova is a more guard oriented team and have a lot more options.   But I wonder if there weren't times where MU's defenders were not on the same page on how they were going to guard it, leading to bad help, bad rotations, etc.   

commented in the gamechat about this. are we oregon football now?



i haven't seen any other college bball teams use this. but it seems more effective than screaming to the other side of the court

[tower912]

I did see the comment during the game.   Everything else is being dissected, why not the signs?

[WarriorFan]

1.   First half was the best half of basketball all year.
2.   Buzz kept the substitutions going for better or worse in the second half, until it mattered.  
3.   Jake takes smart 3 pt shots.   He cannot pass up wide open looks.   JaJuan needs to understand context before jacking early 3's.
4.   The experienced players plus Deonte played the last 10 minutes, as MU fended off the run.   Well coached, Buzz.
5.   If you look at the right 33 minutes, MU won 61-34
6.   Todd and Davante down the stretch with FT's.   Nice.  
7.   Defensive rebounding, free throws, early shot clock 3's.   I think that is all I can complain about.
8.   Providence just puts their shoulders down and dares the ref to call an offensive foul.
9.   I liked the hockey style line changes.
10.  Great effort by the entire team.  Anyone still beating the dead horse until after Saturday's game is a damn fool.  Let it go.   They both played well.

11.  For the first time this year, we shut down an opposing guard.  OK, he got his 20, but he had lot's of TO's and couldn't lead their normal offense.  As a matter of fact, it's the first time in 2-3 years we've done that.  Well done Derrick, well done Dawson, well done JJJ, and especially well done to Buzz for developing a system. 

Now, you've got another day to put in a system to stop D'Angelo Harrison. 

[esotericmindguy]

I posted this in another thread but this is not true.  Wilson left up 14 and returned up 3.  The rest of the way MU was +8.  So the Vets did right the ship.

According to stat sheet play-by-play, Wilson played from 20 to the 15:43 mark.  Score 8-2. Team 8 points scored in 4:17 minutes

Dawson entered at 15:43.  Dawson played until the 11:45 (4 minute run).  He scored 2pts.  Score 11-5.  Team 3 points scored in 4 minutes

Wilson entered at 11:45 and played until 7:09 (4:30 run) Score is 20-10. Team 9 Points in 4:30. 

Dawson game in a 7:09 and played until 4:54 score is 24-10 (2:15 run) Team 4 points

Wilson comes in a 4:54 and plays to 2:12 (2:40 run) score is 26-12 Team 2 points

Dawson from 2:12 - 1:46 (:26 run) score is 28-14 Team 2 points

Derrick 1:46 - :55 (~1:00 run) score is 31-14 Team 3 points

Dawson :55 - 0 (:55 run) score is 31-14 0 points

First half
Derrick 21pts for but 9 points scored against
Dawson 10 points and 5 points against

Second half
Wilson plays 20 - 15:02 Team points 6 Score 37-23
Dawson plays 15:02 - 11:33 (3:30) Team point 0 score 37-34
Wilson plays 11:33 - end of game Score 61-50 24 Team points

Derrick Wilson 30 points.  Points against 25 points
Dawson 0 points  Points against 11 points

Overall
Wilson 51 points while in game. 34 point against
Dawson 10 points while in game.  16 points against with  3:30 offensive dry spell and 11-0 run

Good stuff. I'm not a Wilson hater and I don't think Dawson is very good. Both PGs are below average. I just hate the wilson/thomas/Jamil/Otule/Anderson lineup. Its so incredibly awful and easy to defend. I tried looking at Stat sheet and couldn't see who else was in the game during that run. Can you provide? It wasn't JUST a defensive issue like Buzz pinpoint. 15 points in 6 minutes is awful (Henton scored 10 of the 15), but Marquette was stuck on 37 from 17;26 to 11;33. Even scoring 1 point a minute keeps the lead at 9. Not scoring for 6 minutes of basketball is ridiculous, and it happens almost every game....sometimes multiple times in a game. Buzz doesn't need to play 10 or 11 guys to keep them happy. Juan & Jake should not see the floor. 8-9 guy rotation is perfect.

[Big Papi]

I posted this in another thread but this is not true.  Wilson left up 14 and returned up 3.  The rest of the way MU was +8.  So the Vets did right the ship.

According to stat sheet play-by-play, Wilson played from 20 to the 15:43 mark.  Score 8-2. Team 8 points scored in 4:17 minutes

Dawson entered at 15:43.  Dawson played until the 11:45 (4 minute run).  He scored 2pts.  Score 11-5.  Team 3 points scored in 4 minutes

Wilson entered at 11:45 and played until 7:09 (4:30 run) Score is 20-10. Team 9 Points in 4:30. 

Dawson game in a 7:09 and played until 4:54 score is 24-10 (2:15 run) Team 4 points

Wilson comes in a 4:54 and plays to 2:12 (2:40 run) score is 26-12 Team 2 points

Dawson from 2:12 - 1:46 (:26 run) score is 28-14 Team 2 points

Derrick 1:46 - :55 (~1:00 run) score is 31-14 Team 3 points

Dawson :55 - 0 (:55 run) score is 31-14 0 points

First half
Derrick 21pts for but 9 points scored against
Dawson 10 points and 5 points against

Second half
Wilson plays 20 - 15:02 Team points 6 Score 37-23
Dawson plays 15:02 - 11:33 (3:30) Team point 0 score 37-34
Wilson plays 11:33 - end of game Score 61-50 24 Team points

Derrick Wilson 30 points.  Points against 25 points
Dawson 0 points  Points against 11 points

Overall
Wilson 51 points while in game. 34 point against
Dawson 10 points while in game.  16 points against with  3:30 offensive dry spell and 11-0 run

Ballboy you should know better than to support DWilson around here, especially when you use actual facts.

The true all knowing MU fan knows that Derrick Wilson is to be blamed for EVERYTHING.  Bad offense.  Derrick Wilson's fault.  Bad defense.  Derrick Wilson's fault.  Bad Weather.  Derrick Wilson's fault.  Bad economy.  Derrick Wilson's fault.  And conversely.  How do you fix a bad MU offense, a bad MU defense, have warmer temps and less snow and create more higher paying jobs?  Well you play Dawson 30+ minutes a game no matter what and if you don't you are probably stubborn, stupid or blind.

Hey I just want MU to win and I thought Buzz did a great job of getting us the win against a good Providence team.  This team has a lot of very flawed players so there are no absolutes this year.  So saying so and so has to get 30 plus minutes a game and so and so should not get any playing time is beyond STUPID!!!!!! 

There will be games and times that Derrick Wilson will excel at and provide us the best chances to win.  Same goes for Dawson and Otule and Thomas and the rest of the team.  This is no easy 24 piece jigsaw puzzle that Buzz needs to figure out.  It is one of those 1,000 piece 3-D jigsaw puzzles that might not get solved all season long. 

For as good as Dawson looked at the end of the Georgetown game, I thought he didn't look good at all in the second half of last nights game.  He lost his man on defense consistently, threw the ball away badly against an average full court pressure defense and failed to move and get open on an in-bounds play after a Providence make that forced us to call a time-out.  All during a 4 minute stretch that saw our lead shrink from 14 to 3.  Consequently he didn't get much run the rest of the game.  It is what it is.  I fully expect him to knock down some big shots and make some nice passes against St. Johns and if he plays well, he will get extended minutes.

[Lennys Tap]

Ballboy you should know better than to support DWilson around here, especially when you use actual facts.

The true all knowing MU fan knows that Derrick Wilson is to be blamed for EVERYTHING.  Bad offense.  Derrick Wilson's fault.  Bad defense.  Derrick Wilson's fault.  Bad Weather.  Derrick Wilson's fault.  Bad economy.  Derrick Wilson's fault.  And conversely.  How do you fix a bad MU offense, a bad MU defense, have warmer temps and less snow and create more higher paying jobs?  Well you play Dawson 30+ minutes a game no matter what and if you don't you are probably stubborn, stupid or blind.

Hey I just want MU to win and I thought Buzz did a great job of getting us the win against a good Providence team.  This team has a lot of very flawed players so there are no absolutes this year.  So saying so and so has to get 30 plus minutes a game and so and so should not get any playing time is beyond STUPID!!!!!! 

There will be games and times that Derrick Wilson will excel at and provide us the best chances to win.  Same goes for Dawson and Otule and Thomas and the rest of the team.  This is no easy 24 piece jigsaw puzzle that Buzz needs to figure out.  It is one of those 1,000 piece 3-D jigsaw puzzles that might not get solved all season long. 

For as good as Dawson looked at the end of the Georgetown game, I thought he didn't look good at all in the second half of last nights game.  He lost his man on defense consistently, threw the ball away badly against an average full court pressure defense and failed to move and get open on an in-bounds play after a Providence make that forced us to call a time-out.  All during a 4 minute stretch that saw our lead shrink from 14 to 3.  Consequently he didn't get much run the rest of the game.  It is what it is.  I fully expect him to knock down some big shots and make some nice passes against St. Johns and if he plays well, he will get extended minutes.

Sanity

[PGsHeroes32]

Buzz doesn't seem to want Mayo on the floor without Jake. I first noticed it in the Butler game, but their minutes tend to coincide.

At this point, I think their best five is Wilson, Mayo, Wilson, Taylor, and Otule. Todd has played mature basketball the past couple games, and I like Taylor on the glass. Otule might not score as much, but does a great job sealing driving lanes for Todd and Jamil.

Regardless, glad to see Buzz give the frosh some run tonight. I think he got a little scared by JJJ's quick 3 early in the second half, and didn't want them to start chucking. Unfortunately, the energy level dropped without those guys on the floor, and it took awhile for the vets to pick it up.

How in the sh it can your best 5 possibly include Chris Otule?

[willie warrior]

How in the sh it can your best 5 possibly include Chris Otule?

You can't, but it is a posting on the internet where anything is possible.

[MUfan12]

How in the sh it can your best 5 possibly include Chris Otule?

Easy. He's their best interior defender. Takes up a lot of space and seals driving lanes on offense. MU gets very little from the wings going to the hoop. Teams pack it in, since they're so poor from 3. Need all the help you can get creating space to attack.

[tower912]

How in the sh it can your best 5 possibly include Chris Otule?

For the love of all that is holy, look at the last 10 minutes of last night's game.   The answers are all there.    Derrick, Jake, Todd, Jamil, and Davante, having all gotten decent rest because the rest of the team stepped up in the first half, entered the game and played almost all of the rest of the way.   Deonte came in for Jamil for a minute or two after Jamil picked up his third foul.   Otule came in for offensive/defensive switches with Davante.     Jamil, Davante, and Todd got the lion's shares of shots and points.   Jake had open looks at 3's and missed.   I don't care, he has to take those.    Buzz had gotten minutes and contributions from lots of other players.   But it was winning time and Buzz put what he believes to be his best combination on the floor to win that game.   That may not be the combination every game.   Against G-town, Dawson earned the minutes and held onto the ball.   Personally, I wanted Dawson in the game for free throws down the stretch.   But you know what?   Buzz decided to ride his upperclassmen the last 10 minutes.    This is not a difficult, obscure, off the reservation concept to get your mind around.      Everybody played well.   MU won.   Buzz went with experience down the stretch.   Why the whining?

[PGsHeroes32]

For the love of all that is holy, look at the last 10 minutes of last night's game.   The answers are all there.    Derrick, Jake, Todd, Jamil, and Davante, having all gotten decent rest because the rest of the team stepped up in the first half, entered the game and played almost all of the rest of the way.   Deonte came in for Jamil for a minute or two after Jamil picked up his third foul.   Otule came in for offensive/defensive switches with Davante.     Jamil, Davante, and Todd got the lion's shares of shots and points.   Jake had open looks at 3's and missed.   I don't care, he has to take those.    Buzz had gotten minutes and contributions from lots of other players.   But it was winning time and Buzz put what he believes to be his best combination on the floor to win that game.   That may not be the combination every game.   Against G-town, Dawson earned the minutes and held onto the ball.   Personally, I wanted Dawson in the game for free throws down the stretch.   But you know what?   Buzz decided to ride his upperclassmen the last 10 minutes.    This is not a difficult, obscure, off the reservation concept to get your mind around.      Everybody played well.   MU won.   Buzz went with experience down the stretch.   Why the whining?

What does any of that rambling have to do with Otule being one of our Top 5 to be on the court.

[PGsHeroes32]

Easy. He's their best interior defender. Takes up a lot of space and seals driving lanes on offense. MU gets very little from the wings going to the hoop. Teams pack it in, since they're so poor from 3. Need all the help you can get creating space to attack.

Alright, can't shoot, can't catch, can't rebound, has 1 eye, his defense is overrated, can't run, and defense is really one thing our team isn't bad at to begin with.

[tower912]

What does any of that rambling have to do with Otule being one of our Top 5 to be on the court.

At crunch time, he wasn't on the court for extended minutes.   He was only on the court for offensive/defensive switches.   This is as it should be.   He is one of MU's 5 best defenders.   He is not one of MU's 5 best offensive players.  The playing time in the last 10 minutes revealed who Buzz believes to be the best 5 all around players.  Otule was not one of them.   

[GGGG]

Alright, can't shoot, can't catch, can't rebound, has 1 eye, his defense is overrated, can't run, and defense is really one thing our team isn't bad at to begin with.

And he played 15 minutes.  Can't really complain about a tall, smart, defensive player who plays 15 minutes.  Especially since his strengths mirror Davante's weaknesses.

[MUfan12]

Alright, can't shoot, can't catch, can't rebound, has 1 eye, his defense is overrated, can't run, and defense is really one thing our team isn't bad at to begin with.

There are some real winners on this board.