Buzz Williams cost us these games

[SCdem@MU]

With the depleted team we have, you have to use your timeouts even if its just to give McNeal, Mathews, and Hayward an extra breather.

Why he waits for the 16-0 run to call a time out rather than when only its a 7-0 run is beyond me and in these three games, I think it cost Marquette a 4 seed in the BE tourney.

[77ncaachamps]

Ya think?

I dunno. I'm not sold. We have NO answer for DeJuan Blair and only three viable scorers on offense.

This team would've gotten run despite the TOs. Just bang it into Blair and kick out to the shooters.

All day, all night.

[MUfan12]

Each run spanned a TV timeout as well. He used em, and they kept scoring.

Take a step back there chieftain.

[79Warrior]

With the depleted team we have, you have to use your timeouts even if its just to give McNeal, Mathews, and Hayward an extra breather.

Why he waits for the 16-0 run to call a time out rather than when only its a 7-0 run is beyond me and in these three games, I think it cost Marquette a 4 seed in the BE tourney.

This team may not win again this season if you do not give the guys a few minutes off. The second half collapse is fatigue related. This is three in a row the gas tank is empty.

[willie warrior]

Then play some other players a few minutes

[ChicosBailBonds]

My only complaint is not going to a zone.  Mentioned that after DJ got hurt.  Acker can't stay with his guy so why not pack it in, especially against the bigger teams.

If they beat you from three then so be it.

I think Buzz is coaching his tail off, but he is young and inexperienced, something we can't forget.  His use of timeouts (or lack thereof) is interesting.  I thought during the Louisville game he did a splendid job with them.  Against UCONN and PITT, not so much.

[bma725]

This team may not win again this season if you do not give the guys a few minutes off. The second half collapse is fatigue related. This is three in a row the gas tank is empty.

This team may not win a game if you give them rest either.

Timeouts don't give players enough rest for them to not be fatigued.  They need to sit on the bench for a while to get there wind.  There isn't enough depth on this team to do that.  If they sit, it's just going to dig the team into a deeper hole.

[bma725]

My only complaint is not going to a zone.  Mentioned that after DJ got hurt.  Acker can't stay with his guy so why not pack it in, especially against the bigger teams.

What game were you watching?  MU played a 1-3-1, MU played a 2-3, MU even played an odd looking 1-1-3 briefly. 

Pitt was able to effectively swing the ball and the zone couldn't slide over fast enough so they got open perimeter shots that they made.  Or, they were able to exploit the gaps with Blair and Young, and when the zone collapsed those guys found the open men for easy buckets.

[ChicosBailBonds]

What game were you watching?  MU played a 1-3-1, MU played a 2-3, MU even played an odd looking 1-1-3 briefly. 

Pitt was able to effectively swing the ball and the zone couldn't slide over fast enough so they got open perimeter shots that they made.  Or, they were able to exploit the gaps with Blair and Young, and when the zone collapsed those guys found the open men for easy buckets.

BMA, I only saw the second half as I was in a meeting during the first.  I honestly didn't notice much of it, I'll have to watch again I guess. 

[WarriorHal]

The only game in the last three we had a realistic chance of winning even with DJ was Louisville. UCONN and PITT are in a different league from us. They have balance, great talent, size, depth--everything. Syracuse is going to be almost as tough.

[GOLDY]

Yes Buzz needs to call timeouts when teams start runs, but then needs to give an earful to the players who are forcing up dumb shots or are being careless with the ball.

[TJ]

The only game in the last three we had a realistic chance of winning even with DJ was Louisville. UCONN and PITT are in a different league from us. They have balance, great talent, size, depth--everything. Syracuse is going to be almost as tough.

I think we could have beaten UConn, but I agree that beating PITT wasn't a very likely possibility even with DJ.

[WarriorHal]

I think we could have beaten UConn, but I agree that beating PITT wasn't a very likely possibility even with DJ.

UConn was too big. Thabeet and Robinson could score whenever they wanted too. But there was no need with Price filling it up from the outside. It was inevitable that our lack of size on the interior was going to kill us this season against big, really good teams 

[MUBBau]

0 points in these last 3 games by Buzz, definitely cost us

[79Warrior]

The only game in the last three we had a realistic chance of winning even with DJ was Louisville. UCONN and PITT are in a different league from us. They have balance, great talent, size, depth--everything. Syracuse is going to be almost as tough.

Don't kid yourself, the Cuse is probably to going to win Saturday. Johhny Flynn is going to have a big day against us and the zone will be a nightmare..

[WarriorHal]

Don't kid yourself, the Cuse is probably to going to win Saturday. Johhny Flynn is going to have a big day against us and the zone will be a nightmare..

That's certainly possible, maybe likely. I don't think we've beat Syracuse since we joined the BE, have we?

[NYWarrior]

My only complaint is not going to a zone. 

Tried it a few times, and MU didnt do it well....MU had so man defensive breakdowns -- open threes, beaten off the dribble. the team is still learning how to defend without DJ

[Blackhat]

WE HAVE A HORIZON LEAGUE PG AND C.

My only complaint is having to read ad naus people on here thinking we were still a force after DJ's injury and that all Buzz had to do was "right the ship". 

[bilsu]

The last three teams were better than us even with James. Buzz had the team ready at half time and we opened up with a good run. Two quick threes and a bad pass all by McNeal turn the monmentum. I think Buzz has done a good job keeping us competitive. I do not know why he did not give Otule a chance in this game, especially with two minutes to go when the game is obviously over. That just adds to my belief that both Otule and Hazel are gone next year. We really need to win the Riley recruiting battle.This game should show that the argument by some people that we need another guard instead of a bigman is just plain wrong. We need a big man and there is no evidence that Otule, Roseborro and McMorrow are anything more than tall players.

[Blackhat]

The last three teams were better than us even with James. Buzz had the team ready at half time and we opened up with a good run. Two quick threes and a bad pass all by McNeal turn the monmentum. I think Buzz has done a good job keeping us competitive. I do not know why he did not give Otule a chance in this game, especially with two minutes to go when the game is obviously over. That just adds to my belief that both Otule and Hazel are gone next year. We really need to win the Riley recruiting battle.This game should show that the argument by some people that we need another guard instead of a bigman is just plain wrong. We need a big man and there is no evidence that Otule, Roseborro and McMorrow are anything more than tall players.

Acting like we know the outcome of the games with DJ in there is silly, win or loss.   The difference is so great between him and Acker.... pointless to speculate.   

[Daniel]

I don't know anything about coaching, but I think time out usage is an issue and our lack of bench play kills us in games against atheletic, physical teams.  Period.  OK, I'm finished.
Thank you

[CTWarrior]

Acting like we know the outcome of the games with DJ in there is silly, win or loss.   The difference is so great between him and Acker.... pointless to speculate.   

Tonight is the only game of our current losing streak that I feel comfortable saying we would have lost with James.  If I had to guess, I'd say we would probably hae split the previous two with James.

Now, tonight was just the usual old fashioned outmanned underneath problem.

Buzz has to stop these runs at 7 with a timeout.  I also thought he called the one he has to use up in the first half at a dumb time, with 45 seconds to go and Pitt with the ball.  Would rather he waited until Pitt's possession was over.

[Husker4MU]

Yep, completely Buzz's fault that the Acker is short and weak, Burke is not a D1 talent, Fulce got hurt and can't defend, Otule is a project.  Not sure what has happened with Hazel and Cooby, but, yep, I blame Buzz for the lack of depth.

Have you guys seen Fulce and Otule play this year?  They aren't ready yet.  Fulce is an absolute sieve and Otule is a turnover waiting to happen.  It hasn't been discussed much, but we REALLY miss Ousmane this year.

The key is earning a #6 seed.  That way, we won't see a team with this much talent until the second weekend of the tournament.

[LovinCrowder]

It's not Buzz's fault he was left with one bench player.  And, it's not his fault he has no bigs.   He has done an admirable job with what Crean left him.  It is what it is.   I do agree though that this team deserves better. 

And I disagree that we will lose Saturday.  It's senior day, DJ will be on the bench, the crowd will be electric - a lot of emotion will be running through the BC.  They have too much pride to lose this game.

[MUBasketball]

Haha, Buzz cost us these games? Wow. There's a lot of stupidity on this board at times.