Grace Period is over

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm not going to get crazy like the rest. But marquettes flaws were shown in early January.

Since that time, there have been zero fixes for the exposed flaws. And I do mean zero. Nothing was ever fixed.

I don't think this is accurate.

One area i had concerns with midseason was our eFG% defense. Our defense was too turnover reliant.  If we didn't get the turn,  we were giving up a bucket. Hard to win when you're consistently losing the most important factor.

Towards the end of the season there was a purposeful ratcheting back of deflections. We were gambling less and getting less deflections, but we were getting more stops. The defense felt a lot more sustainable.

Offense there wasnt a fix but I'm not honestly sure what the fix would have been. What's the fix for career 36%+ 3p shooters suddenly shooting sub 31%? Process was good,  but outcome was not.

One wrinkle that we had before that I didn't see this year was use of the dunker spot. We used to be elite at pocket passing to Stevie or Oso in the dunker spot for am easy duece. I don't know if that was phased out for some reason or if Kam just didn't have the pocket passing ability that Kolek did.

[Billy Hoyle]

Didn't you say coaches are judged on tournament success?

Shaka has 3 NCAAT wins including a S16 in the past 3 seasons.

Gard has 3 NCAAT wins including 0 S16s in the past 8 seasons (7 tournaments).

So is Gard doing okay in the portal?

A better comparison is McDermott, who has mixed in his own recruits with Portal guys at positions of need (grad transfers in Ashworth, Schierman, along with Neal as a senior). 7 NCAA tourney wins over the last four seasons, all losses to lower seeds (two #1 seeds and a #2 seed, and a weak foul call away from a Final Four against a #5 seed).

[Zog from Margo]

I don't think this is accurate.

One area i had concerns with midseason was our eFG% defense. Our defense was too turnover reliant.  If we didn't get the turn,  we were giving up a bucket. Hard to win when you're consistently losing the most important factor.

Towards the end of the season there was a purposeful ratcheting back of deflections. We were gambling less and getting less deflections, but we were getting more stops. The defense felt a lot more sustainable.

Offense there wasnt a fix but I'm not honestly sure what the fix would have been. What's the fix for career 36%+ 3p shooters suddenly shooting sub 31%? Process was good,  but outcome was not.

One wrinkle that we had before that I didn't see this year was use of the dunker spot. We used to be elite at pocket passing to Stevie or Oso in the dunker spot for am easy duece. I don't know if that was phased out for some reason or if Kam just didn't have the pocket passing ability that Kolek did.

I think you're spot on in this post. There was a stretch of games in which Chase was getting beat on the back door cut at least once a game. He was focused a little too much on the ball. That improved as he gambled a little less.

The inability to stay in front of people also was an issue. Shaka likes to pressure the ball to mid court and beyond. As the season progressed, MU was getting beat more off the bounce. That left Gold to help and not available for the defensive rebound.

As to the passing, few players can pass like TKO.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

A better comparison is McDermott, who has mixed in his own recruits with Portal guys at positions of need (grad transfers in Ashworth, Schierman, along with Neal as a senior). 7 NCAA tourney wins over the last four seasons, all losses to lower seeds (two #1 seeds and a #2 seed, and a weak foul call away from a Final Four against a #5 seed).

To be clear,  I'm not anti portal at all.  I just don't like logical inconsistencies.

Creighton will be interesting moving forward.  McDermott won a lot with Kalkbrenner. Before that? 6 years (5 torunaments) of no tournament wins and four more of no second weekend.  I don't think Freeman is the defensive force Kalk was.

[Elonsmusk]

I don't think this is accurate.

One area i had concerns with midseason was our eFG% defense. Our defense was too turnover reliant.  If we didn't get the turn,  we were giving up a bucket. Hard to win when you're consistently losing the most important factor.

Towards the end of the season there was a purposeful ratcheting back of deflections. We were gambling less and getting less deflections, but we were getting more stops. The defense felt a lot more sustainable.

Offense there wasnt a fix but I'm not honestly sure what the fix would have been. What's the fix for career 36%+ 3p shooters suddenly shooting sub 31%? Process was good,  but outcome was not.

One wrinkle that we had before that I didn't see this year was use of the dunker spot. We used to be elite at pocket passing to Stevie or Oso in the dunker spot for am easy duece. I don't know if that was phased out for some reason or if Kam just didn't have the pocket passing ability that Kolek did.

The only two guys on the team last year who could play the "dunker spot" were both redshirts - Amadou and Clark.  It wasn't due to lack of passing ability, LOL.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

The only two guys on the team last year who could play the "dunker spot" were both redshirts - Amadou and Clark.  It wasn't due to lack of passing ability, LOL.

???

Stevie did it all the time with Kolek. What players aren't capable of standing near the hoop and making an open layup or dunk?

[Elonsmusk]

???

Stevie did it all the time with Kolek. What players aren't capable of standing near the hoop and making an open layup or dunk?

Stevie would occasionally cut back door and get a pass from Kolek.  He wasn't playing a dunker role as you suggest.  Dunker role is a true lob threat type of player.  But you also think Tre Norman doesn't shoot well just because "the lights are on/it's an actual game," but shoots well in practice because you've allegedly seen it.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Stevie would occasionally cut back door and get a pass from Kolek.  He wasn't playing a dunker role as you suggest.  Dunker role is a true lob threat type of player.  But you also think Tre Norman doesn't shoot well just because "the lights are on/it's an actual game," but shoots well in practice because you've allegedly seen it.

I said dunker spot, not dunker role. Its a position on the court.

[MU82]

What does "Grace Period is over" even mean?

Over to whom? A dozen or so Scoopers, most of whom only show up to whine? To anybody who actually matters at Marquette? OK, please provide evidence.

As for the term "grace period" itself ...

Coaches like Mike Krzyzewski, Tom Crean and Jay Wright are examples of guys who had grace periods. They were allowed to lose - a lot - for years before they faced any true expectations that they start winning. Crean benefited from extended grace periods at three different schools.

Shaka took over what pretty much everyone agrees was a horrifically broken program and had to start almost from scratch. He got to the NCAAT his first season, followed with two outstanding years, and just wrapped up a fourth consecutive season with an NCAAT bid.

He hasn't had a grace period at all ... and that's OK because he hasn't needed one.

[CTWarrior]

I think you're spot on in this post. There was a stretch of games in which Chase was getting beat on the back door cut at least once a game. He was focused a little too much on the ball. That improved as he gambled a little less.

The inability to stay in front of people also was an issue. Shaka likes to pressure the ball to mid court and beyond. As the season progressed, MU was getting beat more off the bounce. That left Gold to help and not available for the defensive rebound.

As to the passing, few players can pass like TKO.

True, but our turning over our opponents often led to easy buckets which we weren't getting anymore.  I thought the lack of a guy in the dunker spot was because we went full five out on offense this year with Oso gone.

[Uncle Rico]

What does "Grace Period is over" even mean?

Over to whom? A dozen or so Scoopers, most of whom only show up to whine? To anybody who actually matters at Marquette? OK, please provide evidence.

As for the term "grace period" itself ...

Coaches like Mike Krzyzewski, Tom Crean and Jay Wright are examples of guys who had grace periods. They were allowed to lose - a lot - for years before they faced any true expectations that they start winning. Crean benefited from extended grace periods at three different schools.

Shaka took over what pretty much everyone agrees was a horrifically broken program and had to start almost from scratch. He got to the NCAAT his first season, followed with two outstanding years, and just wrapped up a fourth consecutive season with an NCAAT bid.

He hasn't had a grace period at all ... and that's OK because he hasn't needed one.

His grace period was over the day they lost to UNC in his first tournament appearance as Marquette's head coach.  Al never lost in March

[#UnleashSean]

I don't think this is accurate.

One area i had concerns with midseason was our eFG% defense. Our defense was too turnover reliant.  If we didn't get the turn,  we were giving up a bucket. Hard to win when you're consistently losing the most important factor.

Towards the end of the season there was a purposeful ratcheting back of deflections. We were gambling less and getting less deflections, but we were getting more stops. The defense felt a lot more sustainable.

Offense there wasnt a fix but I'm not honestly sure what the fix would have been. What's the fix for career 36%+ 3p shooters suddenly shooting sub 31%? Process was good,  but outcome was not.

One wrinkle that we had before that I didn't see this year was use of the dunker spot. We used to be elite at pocket passing to Stevie or Oso in the dunker spot for am easy duece. I don't know if that was phased out for some reason or if Kam just didn't have the pocket passing ability that Kolek did.

I do think I brought up a while ago when we were discussing the 5 man out that the only one going to the dunk spot was jop.

[Elonsmusk]

I said dunker spot, not dunker role. Its a position on the court.

And as I said, Stevie when in the "dunker spot" as you like to call it largely was there via a back door cut.  And the reason it is called the dunker spot, is because generally for it to be successful, you need a guy who isn't 6'2" and a marginal jumper to perform well in the "spot."

[#UnleashSean]

And as I said, Stevie when in the "dunker spot" as you like to call it largely was there via a back door cut.  And the reason it is called the dunker spot, is because generally for it to be successful, you need a guy who isn't 6'2" and a marginal jumper to perform well in the "spot."

I wouldn't say that part. It's called the dunker position because the goal of that pass is to get an easy layup/dunk.

I'd like all of the players to use that position more. But especially Ben and Ross.

[BM1090]

Assuming Clark and Hamilton aren't ready, Ben needs to add some semblance of a post game this offseason. Or they need to have Royce play the 5 on offense more with Ben at the 4. They can switch up on defense.

[Viper]

What does "Grace Period is over" even mean?

Over to whom? A dozen or so Scoopers, most of whom only show up to whine? To anybody who actually matters at Marquette? OK, please provide evidence.

As for the term "grace period" itself ...

Coaches like Mike Krzyzewski, Tom Crean and Jay Wright are examples of guys who had grace periods. They were allowed to lose - a lot - for years before they faced any true expectations that they start winning. Crean benefited from extended grace periods at three different schools.

Shaka took over what pretty much everyone agrees was a horrifically broken program and had to start almost from scratch. He got to the NCAAT his first season, followed with two outstanding years, and just wrapped up a fourth consecutive season with an NCAAT bid.

He hasn't had a grace period at all ... and that's OK because he hasn't needed one.

when Crean took over at MU and IU, both programs were in tough spots. I liked Mike Deane...and I'm sure Tower liked those 100 wins as MU's coach, but his recruiting was meh, and his yr 5 sucked. Was MU in a better place when Crean took over than what Shaka got from Woj? Hell no. Still practicing at the Old Gym!! Wright and K?...without checking but I don't believe Nova and Duke were tearing it up either. Probably why there were coaching changes, respectively. However, Shaka didn't take on the dumpster fire people seem to think he did. Roster wasn't much but the toolbox was full. Woj had to go, and credit to Shaka for the fix. It's time to start winning ncaat games. I would think he'd agree.

[Zog from Margo]

True, but our turning over our opponents often led to easy buckets which we weren't getting anymore.  I thought the lack of a guy in the dunker spot was because we went full five out on offense this year with Oso gone.

It was but that can be taken too far. Opponents were adjusting to MU's traps. They were looking to catch MU ball watching, which led to easy baskets on back door cuts. It also led to MU focusing more on jumping lanes rather than staying front. MU didn't do a great job of staying in front of opponents guards down the stretch. Richmond, for example, were regularly beating MU defenders into the paint.

[hawk]

I think you guys need a longer time line.  Next year's team appears underwhelming but it has 4 top 100 players on it, 2 are freshmen.  I agree that Shaka should use the portal but he does it will be for a 2nd ear player like Kolek and Omax. This roster is 2 yrs out from being something thrilling no matter what happens this off season.  Just hold your water.  ask Rick about the poral...#2 seed took the L and Richard was still in the game

[MU82]

when Crean took over at MU and IU, both programs were in tough spots. I liked Mike Deane...and I'm sure Tower liked those 100 wins as MU's coach, but his recruiting was meh, and his yr 5 sucked. Was MU in a better place when Crean took over than what Shaka got from Woj? Hell no. Still practicing at the Old Gym!! Wright and K?...without checking but I don't believe Nova and Duke were tearing it up either. Probably why there were coaching changes, respectively. However, Shaka didn't take on the dumpster fire people seem to think he did. Roster wasn't much but the toolbox was full. Woj had to go, and credit to Shaka for the fix. It's time to start winning ncaat games. I would think he'd agree.

So you think Shaka had a "grace period," and it's over?

Oh, and Marquette basketball was a total dumpster fire at this time 4 years ago. It doesn't have to have been more of a dumpster fire than pre-Crean to have been a dumpster fire.