Strategy against us

[TJ]

Because of our ability to run, many of our opponents this year - especially UConn I think - have tried to defend it by getting back on defense as quickly as possible and almost abandoning the offensive glass.

It seemed to me that part of Cincy's strategy in the second game seemed to be the opposite of that.  Instead of trying to defend the break, they tried to prevent it by crashing the offensive glass.  When they got a few early offensive rebounds we had to send extra guys to the defensive glass, limiting our ability to run.  Even still, they out rebounded us badly most of the game, which was very disruptive.

Might we see more of this going forward?  I'm especially concerned about Georgetown because they seem to have all the size of Cincy and more talent - and they have seen us before.

[MU_LOL]

Is this why Cincy didn't put anyone on the blocks once or twice during a couple of the freethrows that went on on Wednesday? Or what was up with that?

[Canadian Dimes]

Because of our ability to run, many of our opponents this year - especially UConn I think - have tried to defend it by getting back on defense as quickly as possible and almost abandoning the offensive glass.

It seemed to me that part of Cincy's strategy in the second game seemed to be the opposite of that.  Instead of trying to defend the break, they tried to prevent it by crashing the offensive glass.  When they got a few early offensive rebounds we had to send extra guys to the defensive glass, limiting our ability to run.  Even still, they out rebounded us badly most of the game, which was very disruptive.

Might we see more of this going forward?  I'm especially concerned about Georgetown because they seem to have all the size of Cincy and more talent - and they have seen us before.

Obviously any way a team does it the goals is to limit MU's tarnsition. 

I absolutely disagree it was becuase they out rebounded us. 

In fact when they were killing us on the boards early we were tied or winning.  From that point on MU out rebounded Cincy by about 15 for the rest of the game.  They did not stop our transition by out rebounding us!!

They stopped our transition by:

1) scoring at will.
2) significantly harder to beat ateam in transition when you are taking the ball out of the net and then inbounding.
3) After scoring Cincy had trmendous discipline to sprint back and get set up in their zone.  1000000% harder to do after a miss than after a make. 

Had very little to do with their rebounding or actually leack thereof.

As buzz has stated a million times MU's defense fuels their offense and on Wed. we had no defense.  Their guards shredded our guards and we had no helpside defense due to foul trouble with Jamil and Jae

[The Equalizer]

Because of our ability to run, many of our opponents this year - especially UConn I think - have tried to defend it by getting back on defense as quickly as possible and almost abandoning the offensive glass.

It seemed to me that part of Cincy's strategy in the second game seemed to be the opposite of that.  Instead of trying to defend the break, they tried to prevent it by crashing the offensive glass.  When they got a few early offensive rebounds we had to send extra guys to the defensive glass, limiting our ability to run.  Even still, they out rebounded us badly most of the game, which was very disruptive.

Might we see more of this going forward?  I'm especially concerned about Georgetown because they seem to have all the size of Cincy and more talent - and they have seen us before.

It wasn't UConn--the annoucers even called them out for being lazy on getting back after a made basket.  I do recall Notre Dame working to get back quickly.

You have a good point on seeing us before--Norfolk State and Cincy both improved their showing tremendously from the first matchup to the second.  Villanova didn't improve against us, but we didn't improve on them either. 

Maybe is that there is no amount of coaching that can adequately prepare players for MU's offensive onslaught--and those unbelieving players learn the hard way the first time we meet.  But once you've experienced it you take the coach's advice to get back on defense a bit more seriously!

[T-Bone]

1. Hope that we play matador defense - like we did in Cincy.
2. Make your shots is the best way. 
3. If you can get us in a half court, zone the crap out of us.
4. Stop us from getting in the half court, by making sure two guys at least are heading back on D as soon as the ball is in the air.

[MarquetteDano]

You have a good point on seeing us before--Norfolk State and Cincy both improved their showing tremendously from the first matchup to the second.  Villanova didn't improve against us, but we didn't improve on them either. 

I am sure seeing us once helps, but it helps us as well. The first Norfolk State, Cincy, and Nova games were all home games.  The second games were either neutral or road.

Fortunately it is the opposite for G'Town.  The last time we played them Gardner was playing but Wilson was in slight foul trouble and only played 14 minutes (4 pts, 4 rebds).  I would like to think that Wilson is a different player than he was in early Jan.  Hope so because I am guessing little or no contribution from Gardner.

[The Equalizer]

I am sure seeing us once helps, but it helps us as well. The first Norfolk State, Cincy, and Nova games were all home games.  The second games were either neutral or road.

I thought about that--but then I doubted that our home court alone could account for the 29 (NSU) or 28 (UC) point improvement in margin.  Six or eight points maybe I'd buy the home-court explanation. 

[MarquetteDano]

I thought about that--but then I doubted that our home court alone could account for the 29 (NSU) or 28 (UC) point improvement in margin.  Six or eight points maybe I'd buy the home-court explanation. 

Yeah, those are huge swings you don't normally see from home to away.  I don't expect a 20-point swing against G'Town.  It is going to be a close one is my guess.

[BrewCity83]

Yeah, those are huge swings you don't normally see from home to away.  I don't expect a 20-point swing against G'Town.  It is going to be a close one is my guess.

Our home court advantage is much greater than the average because we have the greatest student section in the country.