[Paint Touches] What’s up with MU's offense?

[PaintTouches]

I'm not great at X and O stuff, so not really what I focused on here. But did want to call out some of the issues plaguing 3 of the core 4 in the past 4 games. Particularly a lack of attempts.   

https://painttouches.com/2023/02/08/whats-up-with-marquettes-offense-tyler-kolek-oso-ighodaro/

[GoFastAndWin]

I was at the Villanova game and it seemed like during both halves, MU passed up a bunch of open 3s early in the set only to take a much more contested 3 later.   As mentioned it's like they were trying to be disciplined and then just didn't get a better look. Early in the season, we weren't afraid to shoot early in the possession. If teams are going to pack it in, don't you take a wide open perimeter shot? Maybe with Villanova, the hesitancy stemmed from wanting to attack the Wildcats inside, since they had 3 guys with 3 fouls quite early in the 2nd half.

[MUfan12]

I think there's definitely something to the hesitancy to take quick shots. Frankly, I think the best way out of this mini funk is to push the tempo more. Oso has an advantage in the open court, use it. Same with OMax. If by some miracle we get a defensive rebound push it and see if you can get an easy one, or a clean look out of the secondary break.

[Goose]

I think the have worked hard on the halfcourt defense the past few games and that seemed to be the emphasis of the gameplan. Could be as simple as it is nice easy to be great offense and a very good defense. I have thought they have been using different defensive schemes and lineups and it has changed the flow of the game.

[mileskishnish72]

The defensive splits on Jop and Ben are not surprising, but Stevie's is.

[Milkshakes]

Agreed.  I thought I was reading the chart incorrectly.  That was a surprise.

[Elonsmusk]

The defensive splits on Jop and Ben are not surprising, but Stevie's is.

There are limitations to advanced stats.  Obviously the general dynamic is Ben is on the floor when Oso is not, and that creates that disparity.  Joplin plays with Oso on the floor more which helps his rating.  Stevie of course is probably our best overall defender yet the advanced stats say we are a better team defensively when he is off the floor.

This was a great article/analysis on the whole.  I do think Oso and Omax are gassed.  Getting Gold more minutes to reduce the toll on Oso/Omax would appear to be a good move.  Gold also gives the dimension Oso doesn't with his outside shooting,  which would reduce the paint packing trend we currently see.

[Dr. Blackheart]

There are limitations to advanced stats.  Obviously the general dynamic is Ben is on the floor when Oso is not, and that creates that disparity.  Joplin plays with Oso on the floor more which helps his rating.  Stevie of course is probably our best overall defender yet the advanced stats say we are a better team defensively when he is off the floor.

This was a great article/analysis on the whole.  I do think Oso and Omax are gassed.  Getting Gold more minutes to reduce the toll on Oso/Omax would appear to be a good move.  Gold also gives the dimension Oso doesn't with his outside shooting,  which would reduce the paint packing trend we currently see.

Agree on the gassed part. MU had limited practices on this stretch of games. One for Butler and I believe one for UCONN. Toughest part of the schedule and Oso and OMax are struggling. Thus, Benny is getting more of a run. Sean back helps.

[Scoop Snoop]

There are limitations to advanced stats.  Obviously the general dynamic is Ben is on the floor when Oso is not, and that creates that disparity.  Joplin plays with Oso on the floor more which helps his rating.  Stevie of course is probably our best overato  ll defender yet the advanced stats say we are a better team defensively when he is off the floor.

This was a great article/analysis on the whole.  I do think Oso and Omax are gassed.  Getting Gold more minutes to reduce the toll on Oso/Omax would appear to be a good move.  Gold also gives the dimension Oso doesn't with his outside shooting,  which would reduce the paint packing trend we currently see.

And he has shown good court vision and positions himself well, whether for a 3, an open lane to the basket, near the basket for either a rebound or quick 2, or overall rebounding. Not saying he's great at it and there is not a lot of PT to support my comments. Just a casual observation.

[Elonsmusk]

And he has shown good court vision and positions himself well, whether for a 3, an open lane to the basket, near the basket for either a rebound or quick 2, or overall rebounding. Not saying he's great at it and there is not a lot of PT to support my comments. Just a casual observation.

It is a testament to the quality of the program that in just his second year at MU, Shaka's 9th player in the rotation is a prospect like Ben.  Ben has a lot of upside, and he's MUCH better athlete than were Novak or Sam Hauser, though not as good of shooter.  However, his stroke looks really good.

[Daniel]

It is a testament to the quality of the program that in just his second year at MU, Shaka's 9th player in the rotation is a prospect like Ben.  Ben has a lot of upside, and he's MUCH better athlete than were Novak or Sam Hauser, though not as good of shooter.  However, his stroke looks really good.

Shaka said in. The presser Ben should have played more a s UConn..... well.....

[NotAnAlum]

Good analysis Painttouches  Validates that those of us that have concerns that we may be seeing the beginning of a Feb swoon are not completely crazy and over reacting to the UCONN loss.  And trust me I would like nothing better than to have it prove out that no concern was necessary as we sail to a share of the BE title and a 3 seed.  But IIRC it was a loss at UCONN that started the slide last year.  Here's to hoping we can avoid history repeating.

[GoldenEagles03]

Good analysis Painttouches  Validates that those of us that have concerns that we may be seeing the beginning of a Feb swoon are not completely crazy and over reacting to the UCONN loss.  And trust me I would like nothing better than to have it prove out that no concern was necessary as we sail to a share of the BE title and a 3 seed.  But IIRC it was a loss at UCONN that started the slide last year.  Here's to hoping we can avoid history repeating.

Did Marquette really have a February Fade last year? Starting on February 2nd of last year they won every game at home and lost every game on the road to end the year.

That's not really a fade, that's the Big East.

[YoungMUFan4]

Did Marquette really have a February Fade last year? Starting on February 2nd of last year they won every game at home and lost every game on the road to end the year.

That's not really a fade, that's the Big East.

When 2 of the losses are to the teams that finished 9th and 10th, it's a bit of a fade

[LAZER]

Does anybody know what the Shot Quality numbers look like for this 4 game stretch vs the previous BE games?

[Mu8891]

And the Fade last year included the
losses in first games of BET and
NCAAT ...

I sure as heck hope MU is fine.  But if they somehow lose tomorrow ... uhhh ...

[GoldenEagles03]

And the Fade last year included the
losses in first games of BET and
NCAAT ...

I sure as heck hope MU is fine.  But if they somehow lose tomorrow ... uhhh ...

They lost to Creighton in the Big East tournament who they went 0-3 against.  That matchup was never in their favor. Then lost to the National Champion Runner Up.

That's not fading.  That's losing to better teams.

[PaintTouches]

Does anybody know what the Shot Quality numbers look like for this 4 game stretch vs the previous BE games?

Not from Shot Quality the company, but from Synergy's database.

Game: Expected Points Per Shot/Actual Points Per Shot (Difference)

UConn: 0.92/0.93 (+.01)
Butler: 0.92/1.06 (+.14)
Nova: 0.95/1.04 (+0.9)
DePaul: 1.04/1.32 (+.28)

Hall: 1.06/1.24 (+.18)
PC: 0.99/1.20 (+.21)
X: 0.96/1.05 (+0.09)
UConn: 0.92/1.12 (.20)

Last 4: 0.96/1.09 (+0.13)
Previous 4: 0.98/1.15 (+0.17)

Tad worse shot selection with worse results. Here's where MU fits in for the full season vs the Big East in this metric.

[LAZER]

Not from Shot Quality the company, but from Synergy's database.

Game: Expected Points Per Shot/Actual Points Per Shot (Difference)

UConn: 0.92/0.93 (+.01)
Butler: 0.92/1.06 (+.14)
Nova: 0.95/1.04 (+0.9)
DePaul: 1.04/1.32 (+.28)

Hall: 1.06/1.24 (+.18)
PC: 0.99/1.20 (+.21)
X: 0.96/1.05 (+0.09)
UConn: 0.92/1.12 (.20)

Last 4: 0.96/1.09 (+0.13)
Previous 4: 0.98/1.15 (+0.17)

Tad worse shot selection with worse results. Here's where MU fits in for the full season vs the Big East in this metric.

Thanks, appreciate it. Got a good laugh from Georgetown on this chart.