MU/ND 2 yrs ago, Kinsella, and our future

[MUCrisco]

A couple of nights ago, I rewatched the Marquette-ND game with Novak's game winning shot at the Bradley Center.

Fist of all, Murf has stated that our key to the future is our ability to shoot the 3 and I agree with him completely.  People have stated that we need a post game, with which I also agree.  However, in my opinion, it is more important for Marquette, with our current 3 amigos, to have some shooters surrounding them.  During that game, we had Novak, Chapman, and Fitz as threats to shoot.  Therefore, their defenders could not sag and clog the middle.  Instead, they had to "hug", which created more space for McNeal and James to operate.

With James, McNeal, and Matthews on the floor, they are all very capable of getting to the rim.  In essence, that is our inside game.  To compliment that, we need an outside game, which shooters would provide.  In my opinion, I would lke Marquette to start Fitz at the 3 and Hayward at the 4 while bringing in Matthews off the bench.  This probably won't happen, but I think it would give us better balance on the floor. 

Still, a post game would make us national championship contenders with our slashers and hopefully our shooters in Fitz, Cubillan, Hayward, and Christopherson.  When a postup would kick it out to a slasher, if his defender was helping out on the post and has to close out on the slasher, it would be an easier task to drive past the defender. 

I still believe that Marquette wants to develop their post game.  In fact, very early in the game, it appeared that the staff stressed this as we had Lott posting up often, and our guards post feeding.  However, Lott wasn't able to do much with the ball.  Still, people forget how effective Novak was in the post.  He beat his man a few times with his back to the basket.

Novak barely got a rest during his senior year.  Therefore, as a result, we had to rotate Lott, Barro, Amo, and Kinsella often, since there was only one spot for them.  While watching the game, it surprised me how effective Kinsella was when he was in the game.  I know many will laugh at me for stating this, but I truly believe that our coaches were planning on having Kinsella as our post option, along with Amo.  When Mike entered the game, late in the first half, he immediately made an impact.  In fact, we closed down ND's early lead when he entered.  He was very comfortable with his back to the basket we got some scores out of that.  What was even more surprising, is how effetive he was on defense.  He had many blocked shots and he altered others.  He was so effective, that the staff chose to start him for the second half.  In my opinion, if Mike Kinsella could have stayed healthy, he would have been an Aaron Gray type played for us.  With him getting hurt and Amo transferring, our post up game really took a hit.

So, for the future, along with our ability to recruit slashers, we need sign shooters to compliment them, and a guy who can play with his back to the basket in order put us over the top.

[mviale]

Agree completely about Kinsella - could have had a nice career, but those feet!  AMO would have been nice too, but a obvious chemistry issue.   Just like at work, if you have a bad apple, get rid of it.

[SGWarrior]

MUCrisco, nice analysis.  I agree with most everything you had to say. Although that was only one game and Aaron Gray is a Chicago Bull and Kinsella plays for Rochester, MN.

One other point.......................................only if Kinsella had one more year.  We could have Fitz and Kinsella lining up beyond the 3pt arc, storking in 3 after 3.

[MUCrisco]

Agree completely about Kinsella - could have had a nice career, but those feet!  AMO would have been nice too, but a obvious chemistry issue.   Just like at work, if you have a bad apple, get rid of it.

I agree about Amo.  It's just unfortunate how that turned out.

[MUCrisco]

MUCrisco, nice analysis.  I agree with most everything you had to say. Although that was only one game and Aaron Gray is a Chicago Bull and Kinsella plays for Rochester, MN.

One other point.......................................only if Kinsella had one more year.  We could have Fitz and Kinsella lining up beyond the 3pt arc, storking in 3 after 3.

That's true.  It was only one game.  I just think if he was healthy, he could have been a major player for us.  Would he have been as good as Gray?  Most likely not, but who knows?

[muwarrior87]

gotta agree w/ you Crisco.  I think our post game will have improvement over last year though now which will help immensely if we are going to make a run deep which i think we can. Ous has improved each year and I suspect he will be a very key player for us this year. Also, w/ the hopeful addition of Mbakwe, that should also help strengthen the post game. I for one am looking forward to see what we can do this year and hopefully it will be a really good season for us.

[Murffieus]

I agree with Fitz at #3-----he gives up too much on the interior defense as a #4 in addition to picking up fouls defending inside.

We don't need three penetrating guards out there at the same time----need a guy among those three  who can shoot the trey consistently.

[mviale]

Kinsella is better graduated.  I can just see our expectations going up and he has another injury before the season starts.

[augoman]

I agree as well-Fitz at 3, Mbakwe/Hayward and Ooze at 4s, but who will keep the opponents big man off the boards w/o fouling out?

[mviale]

Ooze will have a monster year.  After 3 years of div1 ball, he will be able to skill his way to 10/10.

[Murffieus]

Mechanically OB is fine----slow reacting though which limits his upside!

[mviale]

Can you believe the kid has had as much development as Butch.  Ooze shows that Tom Crean and gang are doing something right.

[muarmy81]

I agree with Fitz at #3-----he gives up too much on the interior defense as a #4 in addition to picking up fouls defending inside.

We don't need three penetrating guards out there at the same time----need a guy among those three  who can shoot the trey consistently.

Fitz may give up too much on the interior when guarding a 4 but his foot-speed and lateral quickness are lacking far too much to guard any #3's.

[murocky01]

Don't forget Kinsella's dunk off a full court pass to put the icing on the cake @ ND 2 years ago.  That was his best highlight of his career, IMO.