THERE SHOULD BE NO DOUBT THAT MCNEAL COST US THAT GAME

[romey]

I haven't seen this brought up yet - not specifically - but I haven't read every comment either.  This seems like as good a place as any to throw this out there.  I saw it live, but they never replayed it on TV because the final shot by Villanova was all they replayed the rest of the evening.  Jerel drives to the bucket, is double teamed.  As he nears the basket, another defender steps over - triple teamed!  Now, who was our player on the other side of the bucket whose man left him to help triple team Jerel - was it Wes, Lazar, Jimmy?  I saw it developing and I'm screaming at the TV - "Give it up, pass the ball!"  It was an easy dunk or at least a layup.  He has to know he's double teamed and should realize that means at least one other man is open.  But when the third guy comes over - GIVE UP THE BALL.  Where is his court sense?  Where3 is his basketball IQ?  It would be one thing if he was "in the zone". and hitting everything - having one of those days.  But he had an awful day up to that point.  Perhaps after someone can post the final minute on the board here -it will appear differently.

[rocky_warrior]

I hate how so many people diss our players so much after a 1 point loss, if we would have one this game by 1 point how different might alot of opinions be.

Good point.  The guys played their guts out and had a GREAT 2nd half.  The "new" team is starting to work well together.

I don't think many here mean to "diss" the players.  For good and bad, MU has a relatively knowledgeable fan base.  Most of the folks here watch hoops as if their lives depend on it, and I think the "dissing" is really just wishing to keep mistakes from being repeated.  We don't have a driect like to Buzz or the players, so we vent to each other.  

Now, we just need Buzz to schedule some time reading here so we can help him out.

[jtsanto]

Listen, there is no doubt that he takes some bad shots, but most of the time he is one of our best defenders. If you watch he was sliding into help out( and maybe he sould not have) but he was in position to take the charge had there not been the dump off. I am frustrated with his bad shot on the last three but the fact is his the best player on this team, and we ae going to need him in the tourny. Everyone CALM down yes we lost, but in the end the entire team showed heart and I bet the team would have wanted their leading scorer to take the shot. My better question is why do we even take a shot? Why not take the violation there would have been only 4 seconds left and we could have pressed them in the back court...that is my lone question of the night.

[warriorfred]

I'm still trying to understand why Marquette lets McNeal touch the ball with less than a minute to go in a tight game.  He's a "chucker," and forces horrible shots.  That three-point shot with two defenders on him, and 20 seconds on the shot clock was garbage.  Not passing on that drive in the end, with three defenders on him, absolute crap.  Hard to believe he is a 4-year starter.

[AlumKCof93]

There is doubt that McNeal is one of our best defenders.  He gambles on d - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

But in that final play, all he needed to do was stay on the worst offensive player Nova had out there.  Instead, he was watching the game.  He didn't come to help out on defense - he actually moved out of the way thinking his guy moved away from the basket instead of directly underneath it.  Unbelievably bad play.

[VegasWarrior77]

Basic defense!  Even if he isn't watching his man (like he should) he has to be closer to the baseline to keep his man in front of him to receive the ball.

[slingkong]

yes we lost, but in the end the entire team showed heart

Is there a new column for heart?  Wins / Losses / Played with heart?

I'd prefer played with brains, which doesn't lend itself to McNeal.

[StillWarriors]

If you watch he was sliding into help out( and maybe he sould not have) but he was in position to take the charge had there not been the dump off.

I don't see how you can say he was sliding in. If anything, he was shading to the outside. There is no way anyone can come up with any excuse for his defense on the last play. I have no idea why we were so spread out on D on that last play, but even so if McNeal doesn't fall asleep it doesn't matter.

[CTWarrior]

If you watch he was sliding into help out( and maybe he sould not have) but he was in position to take the charge had there not been the dump off.

I don't know what you were watching but he was not in position to draw a charge without the dump off (he had only one foot in the lane), nor was he in position to defend anybody.  I think he just had a brain cramp.  Figured time was short and Nova would have to shoot rather than pass, though there was plenty of time for the dish.

He made three horrible decisions in the last minute of the game, and it cost us.  As for his defense, let's be clear.  He is a wonderful help defender, great at getting into passing lanes.  He is an average on-the-ball defender.

In the end, since James left we're asking the guy to do too much.  McNeal has never been the headiest of players, but couple fatigue with increased responsibilities and he's wilting a little .  Could happen to anybody.

[dwaderoy2004]

Listen, there is no doubt that he takes some bad shots, but most of the time he is one of our best defenders. If you watch he was sliding into help out( and maybe he sould not have) but he was in position to take the charge had there not been the dump off. I am frustrated with his bad shot on the last three but the fact is his the best player on this team, and we ae going to need him in the tourny. Everyone CALM down yes we lost, but in the end the entire team showed heart and I bet the team would have wanted their leading scorer to take the shot. My better question is why do we even take a shot? Why not take the violation there would have been only 4 seconds left and we could have pressed them in the back court...that is my lone question of the night.

yeah he was not hedging over to double the man with ball AT ALL.  If he would have done that at least, he would have closed the passing lane and the player would not have been able to back-cut him.  Butler was playing good defense, and Redding was really more cutting across the lane than driving towards the basket.  Jerel covers his man and he has to take a fading off balance jumper across his body.

and in that situation you don;t even need to just "take" the violation.  with one second on the shot clock, just throw it high towards the basket.  The refs have to wait to see if it hits the rim before they can blow a shot clock violation.  probably could have gotten it down to 2-3 seconds left of game time.

[LON]

He's Brett Favre in sneakers.

Makes jaw-dropping plays... both outstanding and idiotic.

I'll still take my chances with him though.

I said the exact same thing yesterday.

[bma725]

and in that situation you don;t even need to just "take" the violation.  with one second on the shot clock, just throw it high towards the basket.  The refs have to wait to see if it hits the rim before they can blow a shot clock violation.  probably could have gotten it down to 2-3 seconds left of game time.

Only if it actually hit the rim.  If it missed the rim, by rule the refs would reset the game clock to 5 seconds. 

[soloWarrior]

Please stop w the Brett Favre comparisons...
it's silly.
Not sure if you noticed....this is basketball

[MUfan12]

Please stop w the Brett Favre comparisons...
it's silly.
Not sure if you noticed....this is basketball

No sh*t sherlock. The point was that he makes great plays, but then tries to do too much and turns the ball over.

No one is comparing them directly, but rather their respective playing styles.

Another 5 post wonder comes out of the woodwork after a loss...

[dwaderoy2004]

Only if it actually hit the rim.  If it missed the rim, by rule the refs would reset the game clock to 5 seconds. 

fair enough.  but if it catches rim...it's game over.

[LON]

Please stop w the Brett Favre comparisons...
it's silly.
Not sure if you noticed....this is basketball

How dense are you?

Compare the heartache/elation each has given their respective fans.  Absolutely valid analogy.

You must be a Vikings fan.

[soloWarrior]

bellicose speech from the Favre fans...not surprising.

[LON]

bellicose speech from the Favre fans...not surprising.

Doesn't make it any less valid

[IAmMarquette]

Please stop w the Brett Favre comparisons...
it's silly.
Not sure if you noticed....this is basketball

Ever heard of an analogy? Comparable situations (i.e. players who do things that make you both scratch your head in disbelief and jump out of your chair in celebration) in different contexts (in this case, football vs. basketball). I'd say it's a pretty apt comparison.

[soloWarrior]

Favre is a Hall of Famer with a myriad of experiences in crunch time....
while Jerel is a kid trying to make good from country club hills

[Big Papi]

yeah he was not hedging over to double the man with ball AT ALL.  If he would have done that at least, he would have closed the passing lane and the player would not have been able to back-cut him.  Butler was playing good defense, and Redding was really more cutting across the lane than driving towards the basket.  Jerel covers his man and he has to take a fading off balance jumper across his body.

and in that situation you don;t even need to just "take" the violation.  with one second on the shot clock, just throw it high towards the basket.  The refs have to wait to see if it hits the rim before they can blow a shot clock violation.  probably could have gotten it down to 2-3 seconds left of game time.

Now, now.  McNeal was at fault on the play by losing his man but I can see how he got mesmerized.  The Nova player did have a step on Butler and he was dribbling right at McNeal on a diagonal.  McNeal hesitated I am sure with the thoughts of do I help out, stand my ground, and dam he just passed the ball. 

Matthews also had the chance of at least making a last second run at Anderson to at least maybe make him rush the shot but he just took two slow steps as he was also mesmerized by the dam he is wide open going for a layup. 

What are you going to do. 

[San Diego Warrior]

Here is my take on McNeal.  He makes some great plays, and plays best when he lets the game come to him.  But like DJ in the past, often tries to do everything himself.  He is a great player, but a great player that makes too many turnovers, and takes too many ill-advised shots.  That is the big difference between what Wade did when he was here compared to McNeal.  Wade would involve his teammates, and rarely took a bad shot.

If the game is on the line, McNeal has it in his mind that he has to take the shot.  That 3 point shot was one of the worst decisions I've seen all year.  He did the same thing against Syracuse, except made it though.  I still thought the shot in Syracuse game was not a good shot though.

[MR.HAYWARD]

OMG!!  enough of this already on what was Jerel trying to do on the last play.  he was not doing anything, he panicked in the moment and  froze while being mesmerized by the ball.  he was not helping, he was not guarding his man he was standing their watching the ball. he panicked his brain shut off and he stood their and watched the ball.  Unfortunately for Jerel during tight moments his blood flow does not enter his brain. 

Please people stop trying to read the tea leaves he stood and watched the ball and froze.  Happens in basketball all the time and in other sports just the same.  You just hope the ball watching diminishes as the player leaves grade school and advances in sport.  Worst case of ball watching in a huge moment since Akeem Olajuwon in April 1983.

[Big Papi]

OMG!!!! I understand!!!!!Your Perfect!!!!!