Much has been written here ...

[MU Avenue]

   ... about Marquette's abysmal performance against Providence College

   A few other thoughts about the game and team:

   (1) When Dominic James was strutting around the court during pre-game warmups, he "attempted" several jump shots from between 16 and 20 feet. During one stretch, he was two for 12, which included missing nine in a row. The guy is simply not a strong outside shooter. Yes, he has his moments when they fall -- but these occasions are rare. James lacks essential tools found in guards who are true team leaders and ready for the NBA. James is nowhere near ready -- but I think we ALL know this.

   (2) Why would James and other Marquette players continue to toss up three-point attempts on a night when almost nothing from outside was falling, which is the case too often? Marquette looked like the MU teams of the past several years, teams that would pass the ball haphazardly with no apparent offensive plan and then toss up long bombs that had little chance of going in. Instead, Marquette should have brought up the ball against Providence and then driven to the basket, forcing Providence to play inside defense and commit fouls.

   (3) Ousmane Barro works and plays hard, but the man does not have anywhere near what it takes to play in the Big East or to keep up and make meaningful contributions against better teams -- like Providence. With him at center, Marquette cannot compete against teams with legitimate big men -- like Providence. We are lacking sorrowly at forward and center.

   (4) I have never seen in Tom Crean the skilled coach that some here -- and many dopey announcers and analysts -- love to talk up. Crean was lost at Providence. As his players were getting spanked, Crean would call time out and huddle with them. Afterward, MU would come out and play exactly the same game that caused it to fall and stay behind from the game's beginning.
   Again, why did Marquette continue relying on three-point attempts when almost none was falling and Providence was controlling the boards? Where were the adjustments that good coaches know to make? Where was the structure? Where was the discipline?

   (5) Danny Ainge, executive director of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics, was at the game. He said he was "scouting." He left the game early. Enough said, I assume.

[Big Papi]

Some reasons why we chucked up so many 3s:

1.  Our best slasher or at least second best slasher and most aggressive threat when it comes to taking it to the hole was in Milwaukee.

2.  Providence was packing it in a zone and daring us to shot from the outside.

3.  We fell behind early and had to play catchup.

4.  Barro and every other inside threat we had were not existent on offense which is not saying much to begin with.

5.  Providence had 9 blocks, 7 by Hill.

[mviale]

Avenue is correct - Marquette & Crean are horrible.  A city like Milwaukee and big time institution like Marquette deserve so much better.  A visit to campus should alone guarantee top 50 HS seniors.

[MarquetteBallin]

I'd be very interested to know Crean's record against top 50 teams excluding games played with D Wade. TC is proving once again he simply can't get it done as a coach. He's an excellent CEO-type and marketer or the program, but when it comes down to X's and O's and instilling a toughness in the team, he simply is not that good. Even look at last year, when Novak wasn't hitting absurd shots and putting up career highs to bail us out, we're we really that good? Crean will be exposed this conference season as a mediocre coach, and to some extent already has as this team has not progressed at all from the beginning of the season.

[MUDPT]

The thing about this, is MU under Crean used to be AWESOME with second half adjustments.   When Wade was here, we were the king of the first 10 minutes of the second half.  At Louisville in '03 and if I remember correctly @ Dayton in '03 were two games that we were down at half and came storming back.

[MarquetteBallin]

Was it anything Crean did or was it simply the pure talent of Wade?

[maxpower773]

I'd go with both...but the question is...would Wade have been here without Crean? Nobody gives him credit for finding Wade and being patient with his academics. We have no final four without Wade....we have no Wade without Crean.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I'd be very interested to know Crean's record against top 50 teams excluding games played with D Wade. TC is proving once again he simply can't get it done as a coach. He's an excellent CEO-type and marketer or the program, but when it comes down to X's and O's and instilling a toughness in the team, he simply is not that good. Even look at last year, when Novak wasn't hitting absurd shots and putting up career highs to bail us out, we're we really that good? Crean will be exposed this conference season as a mediocre coach, and to some extent already has as this team has not progressed at all from the beginning of the season.

Well here you go

Since Wade left, MU has played 20 games against top 25 teams (Sorry, I can't check top 50 unless I use the RPI).

We are 8-12 in those games.

10 of those games were on the road or neutral site games

We have defeated 4 top 10 teams in that time period (two of them top 5)

Two of the losses were without Travis Diener

If you look at our history against nationally ranked teams, Crean's clubs have done better than almost any in MU history.  In fact, from what I can gather in the media guide, he trails only McGuire in wins and winning percentage against ranked teams.

[ChicosBailBonds]

The thing about this, is MU under Crean used to be AWESOME with second half adjustments.   When Wade was here, we were the king of the first 10 minutes of the second half.  At Louisville in '03 and if I remember correctly @ Dayton in '03 were two games that we were down at half and came storming back.

True, but let's not forget other things too.  Even with Wade, we lost by 20 at Notre Dame.  In the CUSA Tournament before the Final Four run, Wade played maybe his worst game ever and we lost to UAB as Wade turned the ball over lik 8 times (can't remember the exact number).

We win a lot more than we lose with Crean as coach and put more players in the NBA then we have in DECADES.  These kids aren't coming here for the great weather, they are coming to play for that man.

[Djgoldnboy]

Was it anything Crean did or was it simply the pure talent of Wade?

Yup, it was all Wade's talent, Crean had nothing to do it with it.  They went into the locker room at halftime and Crean would say "Wade can you please turn this game around, all you other guys just watch and let him do it?  Travis, Steve, R Jacks, Merrit, you don't even really need to be out there, Wade will just get it done, OK"............................. ??? ??? ??? ??? ???

As Chico's has showed above with your other comment about us vs. ranked teams, please use your brain when you post and use some level intelligence...throwing out statements "you think" are true vs what is true are two different things....

[Harrison]

I agree with the poster on Novak.  last year if Novak did not score 20 we lost. Period!    Where does that put us this year?  His replacement(S) are averaging 5-6 a game.

[Big Papi]

Was it anything Crean did or was it simply the pure talent of Wade?

Wow love intelligent posts like these.   

While we are at it, lets strip out all the games that Wade, Diener, Novak and James ever played and see what Crean has accomplished.

Okay so you prefer the days of us being disappointed that we didnt land Femi Ikibikiblahblahblah a top 200 recruit and the player we targeted as a savior to our program.

You can't strip out anything positive that Crean has done and than rip him to shreds for the negatives.  His positives outweigh his negatives by A LOT and its sad to see some so called MU fans either live in the past of AL or not take a look at the bigger picture and give some credit where credit is due.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Speaking of intelligent posts, how about lumping James in with Wade, Diener and Novak?

[ilovefreeway]

"Was it anything Crean did or was it simply the pure talent of Wade?"

@ Dayton Wade was 8 for 23 for 17 pts and 5 turn overs
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=108091

@ L'ville Wade was 9 for 17 for 28 points
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=121731

But if Wade gets credit for bringing us back, he should get blamed for putting us there in the first place.  Per Rosiak "even Wade had been kept pretty much under wraps".  Now also remember that this is the game where L'Ville fans went nuts because TC had a huddle on the court before going to the halftime locker room.  I'm sure it went something like this: "Robert, Scott, Terry...you guys know I can't coach your position.  Travis, Steve, ODB... I have no idea how to teach shooting and I really need to make my millions by playing off Illinois against MU so please, all of you guys just get the ball to Wade and don't unnatural carnal knowledge this up for me."...or words to that effect

[ilovefreeway]

"Speaking of intelligent posts, how about lumping James in with Wade, Diener and Novak?"

Ranking players in their 2nd year playing at MU:
1) Wade
big drop-off
2) James
3) Travis
4) Steve

[Big Papi]

Speaking of intelligent posts, how about lumping James in with Wade, Diener and Novak?

Rated as one of the top two point guards in the college game.  Big East freshmen of the year last year.  Is only a soph.  Is projected as a first round pick by NBA scouts of which Diener and Novak were not.  

My post was at least well thought out unlike the one that I just replied to.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I agree with the poster on Novak.  last year if Novak did not score 20 we lost. Period!    Where does that put us this year?  His replacement(S) are averaging 5-6 a game.

Hmm, so many inaccuracies where to begin.  Well, how about the facts I guess.

Games we won last year where Novak didn't score 20 points

Rice  13 points
Eastern Washington  11 points
Oral Roberts 12 points
South Dakota State  12 points
Valpo 8 points
Oakland  10 points
Delaware State  6 points
Lewis  14 points
DePaul  5 points
Georgetown 19 points

Furthermore, there even when he did score 20+ and we sometimes lost anyway
Louisville  21 points


Now, if your point is simply that we miss Novak....well yes, teams often miss players that are playing in the NBA a year after they were starring for their university.

[Djgoldnboy]

I agree with the poster on Novak.  last year if Novak did not score 20 we lost. Period!    Where does that put us this year?  His replacement(S) are averaging 5-6 a game.

Hmm, so many inaccuracies where to begin.  Well, how about the facts I guess.

Games we won last year where Novak didn't score 20 points

Rice  13 points
Eastern Washington  11 points
Oral Roberts 12 points
South Dakota State  12 points
Valpo 8 points
Oakland  10 points
Delaware State  6 points
Lewis  14 points
DePaul  5 points
Georgetown 19 points

Furthermore, there even when he did score 20+ and we sometimes lost anyway
Louisville  21 points


Now, if your point is simply that we miss Novak....well yes, teams often miss players that are playing in the NBA a year after they were starring for their university.

....again people, do a little research before you just make stuff up.....