Marquette in a New Haven Register article

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Link: http://www.nhregister.com/WebApp/appmanager/JRC/BigDaily?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_article&r21.pgpath=%2FNHR%2FSports%2FUConn+Men&r21.content=%2FNHR%2FSports%2FUConn+Men%2FTopStoryList_Story_1404452


Friday, January 11, 2008   
Posted on Fri, Jan 11, 2008

Thinking outside the box 
By Brett Orzechowski, Register Staff 

For the past two years, Villanova head coach Jay Wright has stated that his four-guard concept was not revolutionary, he merely utilized his players properly on the perimeter. Yet after a versatile quartet helped the Wildcats share the Big East title in 2005-06, conference teams have adopted a similar mindset while adding another variable.

In the process, the change in philosophy has been successful for some programs while problematic for others.

Over the next three games, the University of Connecticut will face teams with a fourth player in their lineup who either possesses the skill set of a guard or adds another statistical element provided by smaller players. They create matchup problems while serving as another perimeter option. And with the college 3-point line extension next season, the trend may continue.

"There's a lot of big fours in this league and they're either going to be a knock-out, drag-out guy or the opposite," Marquette coach Tom Crean said. "There is more versatility. There are some highly skilled fours."

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Crean has the luxury of a lineup which fits the pattern. Even though Marquette failed to figure out West Virginia's zone Sunday, courtesy of a Bob Huggins' phone call to USC coach Tim Floyd, Crean insists the Golden Eagles merely failed to carry out their game plan. There is no reason for Marquette to deviate from its usual lineup, Crean insisted Thursday, but he does have to make a small concession for a hobbled Dominic James, one of the Big East's top guards.

Still, Crean has depth.

Lazar Hayward was a nonfactor in Marquette's road win over UConn last season. This year as a sophomore, he plays the role of the fourth man who poses a problem. UConn hosts Marquette and Providence after traveling to Georgetown Saturday.

Hayward is one of four Marquette players averaging double-figures in points and is consistent from 3-point range (46 percent) at 6-foot-6. He adds another dimension in the post on defense. Hayward is also interchangeable with forward Dan Fitzgerald, who, at 6-foot-9, knocked down four 3-pointers against Seton Hall, allowing Marquette to pull out a win in the game James left with an injury.

Ultimately, Pirates coach Bobby Gonzalez said, depth and size wore down his team.

"We have to play them a second time and it's three or four guys we're talking about, not one," Gonzalez said Thursday. "It's a good concept with four, but it's not the style. It's the players doing it."

This thought also applies to Providence's Geoff McDermott, who does not stray toward the perimeter but adds a dynamic from the high post that opens up outside opportunities and takes some attention away from Randall Hanke, the 6-foot-11 transfer who leads the Big East in field-goal percentage.

McDermott led Providence in assists last season — and was third in the Big East — with his look-first approach as a 6-foot-8 forward. Like Hayward, his size causes matchup problems, but he's not as mobile as the sophomore. His savvy sets him apart from other versatile forwards, not his athletic ability like Georgetown's DaJuan Summers.

Summers spent last season learning while playing on a Final Four team. A year later, most of the focus remains on center Roy Hibbert, who chose to remain in school for his senior season.

Meanwhile, Summers built up his sinewy body in the offseason and now is second in scoring and rebounding for the Hoyas. He remains a fourth option from the perimeter, a guard in a forward's body who finds rebounding angles, much like Jeff Green, a player Summers spent last season watching.

Although Green did not have Summers' shooting range, he was consistent enough from mid-range to make a difference, albeit with a much different body type. He now serves as the fourth perimeter option for the Seattle SuperSonics in the NBA.

He was also last year's Big East player of the year.

Brett Orzechowski can be reached at borzechowski@nhregister.com.

[Amal_00]

It's a great day to be a MU fan in CT!

Pre-Big East, you'd be hard pressed to even find a score from the previous night's game.  Now, not only can you read articles about MU in your local paper, but also you get to watch them on TV.

It may not seem like much to our midwest brethren but it's a big deal to a MU fan in CT.

I love it!

[77fan88warrior]

Even though Marquette failed to figure out West Virginia's zone Sunday, courtesy of a Bob Huggins' phone call to USC coach Tim Floyd, Crean insists the Golden Eagles merely failed to carry out their game plan.

Above statement courtesy of article.

I'm not surprised Huggins had some help and hats off to him. I remember Majerus had some help from George Carl on his final four run.