Sam and Markus

[tower912]

Will anyone touch the third rail and say something negative about Sam?

[Bad_Reporter]

Will anyone touch the third rail and say something negative about Sam?

Sam needs to demand the ball more.  He shouldn’t act like second fiddle to Markus.  His pass to Markus at the end of the game was almost a disaster (not like it matters now)

[muhoops1]

This team has completely lost its collective confidence.  Teams smell blood in the water and no one has responded.  Sam has wilted.  He hasn’t risen to the occasion.  How many chances do they need to take the conference?

They are good players and good kids.  They just haven’t gotten it done.  Today’s Senior Day ceremony puts things in perspective...they are kids, with families, trying their best.

I’m disappointed but I also have a full liquor cabinet and dinner reservations.  All the teams I root for are mediocre at best so I’ve resigned myslef.

[RJax55]

Sam needs to demand the ball more.  He shouldn’t act like second fiddle to Markus.  His pass to Markus at the end of the game was almost a disaster (not like it matters now)

His inability to score off the bounce is a problem. Especially in late game situations.

[MUBurrow]

Will anyone touch the third rail and say something negative about Sam?

I generally stay away from too much Sam criticism because I think he’s always asked to do a million different things. He is the mortar that makes this thing tick, but as a result is just left to handle that, so his role feels ill defined. In turn, it’s tough to know what exactly to criticize him for from game to game.

No one’s left to handle worse incoming passes or left alone in the corner or sliding over to cover for beat defenders more than Sam. I’d like to see plays drawn up for him more often that feed him in the post with smaller defenders on him or have him catching at the elbow. The game at GTown showed what he can do when he’s emphasized in the offense, but he’s not going to just improvise that on his own. An offense with so much perimeter iso doesn’t play to his strengths.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Markus seems "off" the past four games or so.  He lost his quickness.  His shot is "off."  It's tough to watch.

[hairy worthen]

The two junior leaders were both bad today.    Both got the looks we are accustomed to seeing them make.    I think they are both beat up, mentally and physically.    Too many minutes.      Markus trying to do everything as a 5'11 guard and getting beat up every single game.    Sam playing all of those minutes while recovering from hip surgery.      I don't know what the answer is at this point.  It isn't like MU is going to win a game with those two playing less.    Not now.

addressed this in the other thread. this is a ridiculous assertion. every good player on every team plays "all those minutes" why are those 2 any different. Coaches have made adjustments against us, we haven't responded, plain and simple. nothing to do with being tired, you are better than that Tower.

[CTWarrior]

Will anyone touch the third rail and say something negative about Sam?

Sam hasn't hit open shots like he usually does and that has hurt a lot of late.  I don't criticize him much because he usually does the right thing and makes the smart basketball play.  He had that miserable stretch to start the Creighton game.  He's got to shoot better if we're going to win much.

[tower912]

I'm going to say it again.   I think they are both beat up mentally and physically.    And I predict that after the season is over, there injuries will be made public.   I further predict that some here will see that as 'excuses' rather than 'reasons'.

[hairy worthen]

I'm going to say it again.   I think they are both beat up mentally and physically.    And I predict that after the season is over, there injuries will be made public.   I further predict that some here will see that as 'excuses' rather than 'reasons'.

beat up from playing a lot of minutes as you suggested is much different than being injured.

[tower912]

beat up from playing a lot of minutes as you suggested is much different than being injured.

In my mind, they go hand in hand.    I think Markus hurt his wrist at the end of the Providence game.   I think he is still nursing a sore groin.   I think Sam's hip is bothering him.    I think that the minutes Sam has played has led to this.    I think that being a 5'11, 175 lb PG with the ball in his hand all the time and Big East defenses testing to see how much they can bump him and get away with it while playing a ton of minutes has contributed to Markus' injuries.   

[Stretchdeltsig]

In my mind, they go hand in hand.    I think Markus hurt his wrist at the end of the Providence game.   I think he is still nursing a sore groin.   I think Sam's hip is bothering him.    I think that the minutes Sam has played has led to this.    I think that being a 5'11, 175 lb PG with the ball in his hand all the time and Big East defenses testing to see how much they can bump him and get away with it while playing a ton of minutes has contributed to Markus' injuries.

Markus has played slower the past bunch of games.  He seems worn out or beat up. 

[tower912]

And he hasn't hit any and tried very few of his patented step back 3.   Which tells me either he doesn't trust his legs or he doesn't trust his wrist. 

[Cheeks]

It’s not a personal attack on Markus, but it’s true.  I’ve never ever said Markus was going to the NBA for one

I like Markus a lot, but being critical of him doesn’t make me a hater.   He’s been bad at end of the game situations.  He is very good in overtime, however

Define end of game.  You may be quite surprised at the stats depending on your answer.  Is end of game the final media timeout to the end of the game? Or it is only the last 30 seconds, last minute?  If so, why does the entire overtime 5 minute period count?

[Cheeks]

And he hasn't hit any and tried very few of his patented step back 3.   Which tells me either he doesn't trust his legs or he doesn't trust his wrist.

Yup.  Almost none of them since the groin injury.  He is hurt.  It is why I posed maybe sitting him for Nova. He looks hurt, isn't doing what he was prior to that injury.  The explosiveness is not there.

[JakeBarnes]

Unrelated to Markus, but it feels like the Hausers are starting to see the wall that comes with having a primarily rehab off-season. Not a knock on strength and conditioning, not a knock on them. But with how long and a drag this season is, you need the full offseason to get into the shape you need to weather the full season. They're tired and hitting a wall, which means teams can really key in on Markus--which in turn ends up with him beat up and tired as well.

I don't know the solution other than rest. But at the same time, the team needs confidence back before the tourney kicks off. Let's win the BEast tourney and hope for a Friday draw where we win in a laugher.

[GooooMarquette]

Just for fun, I looked at Markus' "end of game" stats in our close games. I defined "end of game" as the last 5 minutes, and "close" as all games that went to OT or were decided by 9 points or less. That made for 12 "close" games.

Here's what I found:

FGs: 9-38 (.236)
3-pt:4-22 (.182)
FTs: 17-19 (.895)
Ast: 4
TO: 10

Since I was reading through the play-by-play, I could very well have missed one or two things. But generally, it doesn't look great except for his FTs. And the performance was pretty consistently off, with the two notable exceptions being the wins @CU and @X (collectively 5-8 FG, 3-4 3-pt, 6-6 FT). Even in those good games, he had 1 assist and 4 TOs.

I love Markus. He is our best player, deserves BE POY and second team AA, and I hope he returns for his senior season. But the stats bear out that, for whatever reasons, he doesn't generally close games well.

IMHO, that's just one more reason to have Sam and/or Sacar bring the ball up court and run much of the offense. Maybe that helps conserve a bit of ATP for the end?

[oldwarrior81]

Markus was 5-6 on threes during the last 5 min & OT in the win at Creighton.

So that makes him -1 of 16 in the rest of the games?
Unless you were counting only the final 5 minutes of regulation and not looking at OT.

[GooooMarquette]

Markus was 5-6 on threes during the last 5 min & OT in the win at Creighton.

So that makes him -1 of 16 in the rest of the games?

I didn't count the OTs - just the last 5 minutes of regulation.

[We R Final Four]

And he hasn't hit any and tried very few of his patented step back 3.   Which tells me either he doesn't trust his legs or he doesn't trust his wrist.

Which is why he needs to implement “the thing”. His shot is not falling. Defenses are still going to be in his face even if he’s missed his last 3 deep shots. Get to the FT line...help your team in other ways.
It’s tourney time...gotta do whatever is necessary to get the W.

[oldwarrior81]

when looking at all games that were within 10 points with 5:00 minutes remaining in regulation.

Over the remainder of the game, I was surprised to see Marquette increased the lead in 13 of those games.  Only lost points in 4 games (those haven't healed yet), and maintained a 7 pt lead against UTEP.

13-4-1 is an impressive record over the last 5min+OT.  Again, shocked by that number, especially considering the past couple weeks.

Markus was 8-28 (29%) on threes.  1-10 over the last 4 games.   39% in the earlier games.
FTs:  50-57 (88%).  Over the last 4, 5-8.   Earlier games, 92%
 
Overall 99 points scored in just about 90 minutes of playing time.  Not very efficient, but his use rate is huge down the stretch.