Going forward

[tower912]

What does THIS team need to finish strong and get to the second weekend again?   IMO, the necessary pieces are in place, but what is missing is consistency.   And we need to avoid facing Florida and Louisville for as long as possible.    If the USF game is indicative of how Mayo and JWilson are going to play going forward, this team can be dangerous.    So, my list of things we need to make a run
1.   Better 3 pt shooting.    We have been saying that all year, but if Mayo, JWilson, and Blue start hitting consistently....
2.   Re-engage DG.   He has looked bad the last 3 games
3.  Junior can't disappear.    We all know his strengths and weaknesses.   Not a lot to be done about them.    But he needs to show up every game.
4.   Don't freeze against the big boys.    Even though MU plays in the Big East and has played a decent OOC schedule for years, this team has had two chances to play against top 10 teams in their gyms and have had two epic fails.     Out of character for Buzz's teams on one hand, on the other, MU has gotten rolled in big games the previous two years also.   
5.   Buzz needs to do better.   He has had a couple of in-game gaffes as well as having his team not show up a couple of times.    He also seems to be making fewer headlines this year, but that might be Larry's doing. 
6.   Don't be afraid to change defenses.   That zone worked really well against UConn.   Be ready to use it again. 
7.   Get everyone in sync for the big games.   If all 10 guys are playing good at the same time, watch out. 

The potential is there for a deep run.   

[jesmu84]

1. Agreed. Hopefully Mayo vs. USF was a sign of things to come.
2. Disagree. I think he's been "engaged." I just think team's are keying in on him a lot more now. He's getting doubled early in possession. Key to solving this is his ability to hit the open man from the double.
3. Absolutely. He was invisible against Louisville.
6. Agree - where has the zone gone? Not even an attempt against Louisville? And what about any press? We've got the depth for it.

[We R Final Four]

1.   Better 3 pt shooting.

7. ........If all 10 guys are playing good at the same time....   

1. Less 3 pt shooting=better 3 pt shooting. Limit the attempts.

7. When have all guy been playing good at the same time ever? Everyone on this team is inconsistent. To get all 10 playing well.....I would love to see it.

[keefe]

6. And what about any press? We've got the depth for it.

Smothering defense was a hallmark of Al's teams. He took a plot of pride in forcing turnovers by preventing inbounds passes and getting across the stripe. Crowd went nuts when Marquette often got the ball back from either of these.

Al played the fool about his coaching skills but his teams led the nation in team defense (pts against, fg %, etc...)

A great McGuire story came from his playing days with the Knicks. They were planning for Boston and wondering how to counter Cousy. Al volunteered that he could stop Cousy so Coach Lapchick put him in the game. Al fouled Cousy the first 6 Boston trips down the court.

[RJax55]

I don't want to be a downer, but...

1.) This is not a good shooting team. Currently, 29% from the arc. I don't think this percentage will magically jump here in the second half of the Big East season. Although, if Mayo can be part of the regular rotation and productive, it could move the needle a bit.

2.) Agree, DG has taken himself out of two of the last three games. In a bit of a funk, DePaul's weak front-line comes at the right time.

3.) Junior's entire MU career has been plague by inconsistent play. I don't see this changing.

4.) I don't think it was a matter of freezing up, but a lack of talent and production at key spots.

5.) Buzz has been fine. As was pointed out yesterday, the team has rallied well in the face of adversity, which is a credit to the coaching staff.

6.) Good point... I think you will see some zone against Georgetown.

7.) Not a realistic goal... Instead, I would like to see a couple of guys step-up and be counted on to produce every game. Right now, the only guy that qualifies is Blue. My hope is that DG can get there, maybe Lockett as well.

[Goose]

Pressure D and force turnovers. We are not a good shooting team and making steals and forcing turnovers changes a game. Would love to see us full court press, 3/4 court press and half court trap...whatever it takes to force mistakes.

[Dawson Rental]

What does THIS team need to finish strong and get to the second weekend again?   IMO, the necessary pieces are in place, but what is missing is consistency.   And we need to avoid facing Florida and Louisville for as long as possible.    If the USF game is indicative of how Mayo and JWilson are going to play going forward, this team can be dangerous.    So, my list of things we need to make a run
1.   Better 3 pt shooting.    We have been saying that all year, but if Mayo, JWilson, and Blue start hitting consistently....
2.   Re-engage DG.   He has looked bad the last 3 games
3.  Junior can't disappear.    We all know his strengths and weaknesses.   Not a lot to be done about them.    But he needs to show up every game.
4.   Don't freeze against the big boys.    Even though MU plays in the Big East and has played a decent OOC schedule for years, this team has had two chances to play against top 10 teams in their gyms and have had two epic fails.     Out of character for Buzz's teams on one hand, on the other, MU has gotten rolled in big games the previous two years also.  
5.   Buzz needs to do better.   He has had a couple of in-game gaffes as well as having his team not show up a couple of times.    He also seems to be making fewer headlines this year, but that might be Larry's doing.  
6.   Don't be afraid to change defenses.   That zone worked really well against UConn.   Be ready to use it again.  
7.   Get everyone in sync for the big games.   If all 10 guys are playing good at the same time, watch out.  

The potential is there for a deep run.    

Sorry, tower912, but I laughed out loud when I read the highlighted part.  If that's still true in March, we ain't making the second weekend.

Reengaging DG is also the key to future big man recruiting.  DG has been a force for MU, opponents seem to have figured out how to neutralize the threat.  If Buzz can't counter the counter measures, why would a big man come to MU?  I believe that Buzz will and the big man pipeline will begin to drip a little for MU.

[bilsu]

They need to rebound. They have trouble with physical teams that send multiple rebounders to the boards. Bad shooting can be offset somewhat by good rebounding.

[RideMyBuycks]

Sorry, tower912, but I laughed out loud when I read the highlighted part.  If that's still true in March, we ain't making the second weekend.

Reengaging DG is also the key to future big man recruiting.  DG has been a force for MU, opponents seem to have figured out how to neutralize the threat.  If Buzz can't counter the counter measures, why would a big man come to MU?  I believe that Buzz will and the big man pipeline will begin to drip a little for MU.

You really see us as a 7-10 seed having to play a 1 or 2 seed in our second game??

[Dawson Rental]

You really see us as a 7-10 seed having to play a 1 or 2 seed in our second game??

Are you talking to me or tower912?

[RideMyBuycks]

Are you talking to me or tower912?

You

[brandx]

No. 3 is the one only one that really matters.

Almost always, when Junior plays well, we win. But as has been said - inconsistency plagues him

[Sunbelt15]

Junior is the key. He needs to focus more on assist because he's such a good penetrator which pulls the defense in, allowing him to kick out to open shooters. Double digit assist should be his goal.