Great Defensive Team?

[bradforster]

So far, I think Marquette can best be described as a team that lives and dies by turnovers.

Of the 12 games we've played, there are only TWO in which we didn't win the "points off turnovers" battle. Guess which games those were. That's right — Iowa State and Dayton. Interestingly, we still had fewer turnovers than them in both cases, but it was ultimately being the team that could convert more which mattered most in the end.

We're a solid defensive team, and you could even argue that our defense is our offensive identity. However, that also raises a very clear weakness; if we can't find a way to score during other team's possessions, then winning is likely going to be an uphill battle. And if that can be realized by an amateur basketball fan like myself, then it's definitely not going to be a secret to any of our future opponents. I think we can expect everyone from now on to have a game plan meant to exploit our dependence on turnovers. But if any of them manage to pull it off successfully, you can best believe they'll probably end up winning too.

MU had fewer turnovers than Dayton?  The box score says otherwise.

[MarquetteMike1977]

We all "like to think" MU is a great defensive team. I do ... (or did) When I read this on ESPN today:

"the Golden Eagles' defensive issues are continuing to crop up. After allowing just one team to score more than one point per possession in their first eight games, they've now allowed four straight opponents to hit at least 1.11 points per possession. According to CBB Analytics, Marquette ranks outside the top 140 nationally in 2-point percentage defense, fast-break points allowed and paint points allowed"

We have an elite defender and a couple of good ones and a coach that gets after it...but ESPN isn't just blowing smoke...they have stats.

So are we really a great defensive team or just "could be"?

Saw that where on ESPN where they had Marquette Ranked #9 in the Power Rankings.
Feel Marquette is an awesome defensive team. But players got banged up with Kam and Stevie with Ankles and riding the bike. Chase shoulder. Ben looks like he is wearing something on his shin and other assorted injuries. If healthy I feel Marquette is a great defensive team.

[wisblue]

Marquette's defense is not great when the referees decide at halftime to completely change the way the game is called and start calling fouls that send the team's best defenders to the bench.

[Newsdreams]

Marquette's defense is not great when the referees decide at halftime to completely change the way the game is called and start calling fouls that send the team's best defenders to the bench.

Whiner

[K1 Lover]

MU had fewer turnovers than Dayton?  The box score says otherwise.

Pardon the error. I forgot how to read apparently.

Nevertheless, we ultimately still lost points off turnovers, which was my main point.

[bradforster]

Pardon the error. I forgot how to read apparently.

Nevertheless, we ultimately still lost points off turnovers, which was my main point.

The big storylines in that game were Marquette's inability to rebound and Dayton's pristine second half handling the basketball.  The Flyers turned it over seven times in the first 20 minutes and committed nary a turnover in the second half.

[K1 Lover]

The big storylines in that game were Marquette's inability to rebound and Dayton's pristine second half handling the basketball.  The Flyers turned it over seven times in the first 20 minutes and committed nary a turnover in the second half.

Exactly.