Perspective

[tower912]

Others have made a different argument.

[BLWarrior91]

Goose

I had a meeting and couldn't watch the game live.  I was very careful to not see the result and started watching my DVR recording.  We feel behind so quickly, I had to check my phone and saw the result.  Was able to zip through it quickly and delete it!

[ATWizJr]

Do you mean this coming Saturday?

do we play in Omaha this Saturday? 

[BallBoy]

My concern is this.  Our offensive success this season has been predicated on cuts and ball movement inside the 3 point circle.  Our last three opponents have decided to limit that by not doubling and packing it in and daring the penetrator to score with a defender between him and the basket or daring us to make 3s.  If we don't make them, we are going have trouble, especially if our guys who can get to the basket (O-Max) can't finish.  I get the feeling the Georgetown is going to be a dogfight until the end.

I am interested in how we will counteract it.

I think we are playing better defense for the same reason we are playing worse offense.  We have scouted our opponents and are taking away what they like to do.  Against UConn, we made them take threes (they made them) and when we did have good defensive possessions they just killed us on the boards anyway.

I disagree with the above. Teams are playing for the three because they know we over rotate and they end up with open threes.  You don't play better defense by giving someone a better shot worth an extra point.  According to KP, we are the 241st defense team against 3pt% while UConn is the 63 best 3pt% team.  By comparison our offense is 129th so it doesn't seem like we would plan to force the 63 best team at shooting 3s against the 241 best defense for stoping them.   UConn also didn't shoot an abnormal amount of threes but they hit 52%. In the prior game they hit 50% against Georgetown.

Over the last 5 games we were playing better defense because we were playing SH, DePaul, Nova and Butler. Nova exposed our 3 weakness. butler slowed the game down and kept themselves in the game with the 3 ball.  After our game against UConn our defense efficiency went down. 

Shaka needs to figure out how to fix the three point defense as well as rework some of the offense. 

Everyone is gunning for us now and it's the time of year where they don't have a lot of chance to beat a resume maker.  We need to regroup after a punch to the mouth.

[Viper]

The Marquette ladies beat UConn and Geno is pissed. Might not help Shaka &Co, but I'll take it!

[21Jumpstreet]

If we do just a serviceable job on the defensive glass, we can get out and run a little. This will take away from the half court stagnation and open the game up a bit. It's also a fun way to play, which I think the guys could use right now. Have fun, play loose, get after it!

[MU82]

If we do just a serviceable job on the defensive glass, we can get out and run a little. This will take away from the half court stagnation and open the game up a bit. It's also a fun way to play, which I think the guys could use right now. Have fun, play loose, get after it!

It's become accepted that Marquette simply is never going to be a very good rebounding team because of the defensive system Shaka uses and because we lack the size/bulk. Deflections and, ultimately, steals help make up for the rebounding deficit.

But after Tuesday's game, even Shaka looked at that box score and said, "We have to rebound better."

[21Jumpstreet]

It's become accepted that Marquette simply is never going to be a very good rebounding team because of the defensive system Shaka uses and because we lack the size/bulk. Deflections and, ultimately, steals help make up for the rebounding deficit.

But after Tuesday's game, even Shaka looked at that box score and said, "We have to rebound better."

For sure, and there is a pretty big gap between never going to be very good and atrocious. Shaka knows ball.

[Scoop Snoop]

The Marquette ladies beat UConn and Geno is pissed. Might not help Shaka &Co, but I'll take it!

Yep! Geno is such an a** hole! Very punchable face.

[Daniel]

It's become accepted that Marquette simply is never going to be a very good rebounding team because of the defensive system Shaka uses and because we lack the size/bulk. Deflections and, ultimately, steals help make up for the rebounding deficit.

But after Tuesday's game, even Shaka looked at that box score and said, "We have to rebound better."

The thing is Shaka has said that about rebounding often, and it has not improved much on a consistent basis.   So, is he just saying it, or the team is just not doing it, or what?   It is odd because he has said this often.

[MU82]

The thing is Shaka has said that about rebounding often, and it has not improved much on a consistent basis.   So, is he just saying it, or the team is just not doing it, or what?   It is odd because he has said this often.

Valid question. I don't know the answer.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

The thing is Shaka has said that about rebounding often, and it has not improved much on a consistent basis.   So, is he just saying it, or the team is just not doing it, or what?   It is odd because he has said this often.

Prior to the UConn game, we had 4 consecutive games of giving up 6 ORs or less. Now at least part of that was due to facing poor rebounding teams but we've had bad rebounding games against those kinds of teams before

[mileskishnish72]

do we play in Omaha this Saturday?

Was referring to the Huskies, Wiz. It would help us.

[The Thing]

I am kind of expecting a close loss at Creighton and I am ok with it. Now that UConn is a loss it is critical to hold serve and win the home Xavier game. That would give us a split against the top teams. Win the other bunnies and we are probably co-champs. Win the games we are favored and lose the one we won't be. We will be just fine.

[bilsu]

Right now, my fear is that we end up in the 4-5 game against UConn. That would likely be another early exit from Big East tournament. We need to get at least a three seed in Big East tournament.

[muwarrior69]

The thing is Shaka has said that about rebounding often, and it has not improved much on a consistent basis.   So, is he just saying it, or the team is just not doing it, or what?   It is odd because he has said this often.

Can one learn how to rebound, box out? Can one know how to teach rebounding and box out?

[MU82]

Can one learn how to rebound, box out? Can one know how to teach rebounding and box out?

Every Marquette player has been taught how to box out by numerous coaches, almost surely starting in middle school.

Marquette switches every screen and is constantly moving on defense. So the first problem is that MU often ends up with our 1s and 2s trying to keep the opponent's 4s and 5s off the boards. The second problem is it's not always easy to identify an opponent to box out when you've switched 2, 3, 4 times during a possession -- kind of similar to the challenges of boxing out when you play zone (as MU does occasionally). Finally, Marquette is simply a smaller team and more of a finesse team than many others.

These aren't excuses, just facts.

Beyond that, there's the effort part. And yes, it did seem we were outworked for at least a few of those rebounds vs. UConn -- those are what Shaka is especially upset about.