[Paint Touches] MU Has a Bench Problem (and a Solution)

[PaintTouches]

I've been keeping track of some bench combos of late, because I felt uneasy most possessions together, and decided to write it up.

https://painttouches.com/2023/12/21/marquette-has-a-bench-problem-and-a-solution/

The numbers are actually worse than I thought.

[MUbiz]

This is an excellent article. Thanks for the insight!

[tower912]

Thank you for putting numbers to it.

But there aren't other options until Stevie
returns.   So Sean and Ben are going to have to figure it out.


In my opinion, playing Ben and Sean together highlights a weakness of switching 1-5.  Teams set it up to have Ben defending on the perimeter while Sean guards the post.    It is noticeable when it happens.

[wisblue]

What's the solution if Mitchell's injury is long term?

Shaka's postgame comments on Tuesday made it sound like he wouldn't be returning soon.

It only gets worse if Ross' ankle forces him to miss any time or slows him down. The fact that he returned to the game doesn't tell us how it felt the next day.

[murara1994]

What's the solution if Mitchell's injury is long term?

Shaka's postgame comments on Tuesday made it sound like he wouldn't be returning soon.

It only gets worse if Ross' ankle forces him to miss any time or slows him down. The fact that he returned to the game doesn't tell us how it felt the next day.

At best his comments suggested he might not be back Friday.  Then we have more than a week off.

[PaintTouches]

What's the solution if Mitchell's injury is long term?

Less shared court time with both on the floor. So more staggered sub patterns, rather than both coming on together.

And it's unfair for me to scapegoat, there have been plenty of other problems, obviously. This was just my attempt to validate my gut reaction on this particular issue.

[Mu8891]

Hopefully Stevie does not play
Friday ... then is ready ( and 100% ) in another week

[WarriorFan]

I think the sample size of Ben with the starters when Jop is on the bench is very small... but I'm actually wondering if this might be a better starting line-up because:
- nobody ever guards him, so he'll get a few open 3's
- His defense is not a lot worse than Jop.  I personally think the team defense when he and sean are both on the court really struggles (and the data supports this) but Ben with the starters might be better
- MU won't get out-rebounded in the first 4 minutes, and the chance to get a few 2nd chances also greatly increases
- Might save an Oso foul if Ben can guard the center

I'm not saying this means Ben should play 28 minutes, just need to win the first 4 minutes and right now he might help more than Jop does.

[The Sultan]

I have a feeling that when Stevie returns, we are going to see less of Sean Jones.

[Goose]

Part of me thinks Shaka is getting the bench players as much time together as possible. I can never remember a MU team that plays three or more reserves at one time in big games. I commented to my family during the Kansas game multiple times that there was only one or two starters in the game. When the reserves are bad it is very obvious, but multiple times in big games scoopers were throwing praise out to the reserves. Again, I think Shaka is running this more like an NBA team and playing rotations and sticking with them. If I am right, I hope Shaka is right in his thinking.

[Scoop Snoop]

I think the sample size of Ben with the starters when Jop is on the bench is very small... but I'm actually wondering if this might be a better starting line-up because:
- nobody ever guards him, so he'll get a few open 3's
- His defense is not a lot worse than Jop.  I personally think the team defense when he and sean are both on the court really struggles (and the data supports this) but Ben with the starters might be better
- MU won't get out-rebounded in the first 4 minutes, and the chance to get a few 2nd chances also greatly increases
- Might save an Oso foul if Ben can guard the center

I'm not saying this means Ben should play 28 minutes, just need to win the first 4 minutes and right now he might help more than Jop does.

Very good point on bolded. I like the other comments also.