Xs and Os

[GoldenWarrior]

I absolutely love Buzz Williams.  He has been able to recruit some great talent for us to "reload" after the amigos left and has kept us competitive in the Big East, which is no small feat.

That said, I am sick and tired of watching him get out-coached in games and especially tight situations.  Last night was a prime example of Xs and Os ball.  One play in particular is standing out to me:  with about 1:20 left and MU down about 6 we call a timeout... great time to call it so we can run a play and get an open look at least... instead we run an iso play for Butler starting at the free throw line!!  He drives the lane throws up garbage and gives it over to Pitt.

Frustrating doesn't even explain it for me.  Again, I love Buzz and think he's done well... just praying that he can pick up on the Xs and Os a bit more... oh and recruit a big man too for crying out loud

[MU B2002]

Just a hunch, but I am guessing (just like you are) that the play was not executed in the same manner drawn out in the huddle.

[Wade4Life]

1:50 was left in the game, and i dont think that was a good use of a TO. We had 2 TO left and could of used them better under a minute (guessing that we made a bucket and a stop on the other end.)

Either way Buzz should be drawing up at least 2 plays during that TO and it seemed he didnt even draw 1 up.

[GoldenWarrior]

1:50 was left in the game, and i dont think that was a good use of a TO. We had 2 TO left and could of used them better under a minute (guessing that we made a bucket and a stop on the other end.)

Either way Buzz should be drawing up at least 2 plays during that TO and it seemed he didnt even draw 1 up.

Yeah I figured I got the exact timing/score probably alittle off, but yes the point is I don't think he even really drew up a single play in the huddle.  I really don't think Buzz can draw up a play in crunch time to just get one open look if it counted.  This is definitely something he needs to work on

[MerrittsMustache]

Agree with MU_B2002. There's no way that play was excuted as drawn up.

Also, a lot of coaches don't need to "draw up" a play in the huddle. They have big, thick playbooks that the players need to know. Buzz could have said, "Run play #63" and then moved on to relaying other points to his team. Just because he didn't physically "draw up" a play, that doesn't mean he just told them to freelance.

[GoldenWarrior]

Agree with MU_B2002. There's no way that play was excuted as drawn up.

I don't know for sure, but we gave it to him and everyone cleared out and became statues on the perimeter... looked to me like that was in fact drawn up simply as an iso for Jimmy. 

Again though, this is just an example of this for Buzz.  A good way to judge in game coaching is half time adjustments and posessions out of time outs and dead balls... can you execute plays and get open looks... Marquette barely ever comes out of time outs and gets open looks plain and simple.

[ErickJD08]

Hmmm.  I had no complaints about Buzz in regards to the last 3:00.  Buycks missed a layup and our boys made bad decisions.  Pitt gave us every opportunity to get into that game.  On the other hand, I am not happy about how Buzz got away from our strength.  Throughout the majority of the second half, we were force feeding Hayward in the post.  We were passing the ball around to feed the post instead of finding the opening shot or driving lane which I believe is our strength.  I hope Buzz takes that out of our strategy book.  We are not a team that can jam the ball into the post and expect good things to happen.  Just my take...

[reinko]

I absolutely love Buzz Williams.  He has been able to recruit some great talent for us to "reload" after the amigos left and has kept us competitive in the Big East, which is no small feat.

That said, I am sick and tired of watching him get out-coached in games and especially tight situations.  Last night was a prime example of Xs and Os ball.  One play in particular is standing out to me:  with about 1:20 left and MU down about 6 we call a timeout... great time to call it so we can run a play and get an open look at least... instead we run an iso play for Butler starting at the free throw line!!  He drives the lane throws up garbage and gives it over to Pitt.

Frustrating doesn't even explain it for me.  Again, I love Buzz and think he's done well... just praying that he can pick up on the Xs and Os a bit more... oh and recruit a big man too for crying out loud

Umm, what about @ Providence @ UCONN and against G'Town? 

And BTW, he has recruited big men, 2 7 footers and a 6'11" center.

[MerrittsMustache]

Umm, what about @ Providence @ UCONN and against G'Town? 

And BTW, he has recruited big men, 2 7 footers and a 6'11" center.

reinko, you just don't get it. Marquette lost so Buzz stinks as a coach. What's so hard to understand?

[GoldenWarrior]

Hmmm.  I had no complaints about Buzz in regards to the last 3:00.  Buycks missed a layup and our boys made bad decisions.  Pitt gave us every opportunity to get into that game.  On the other hand, I am not happy about how Buzz got away from our strength.  Throughout the majority of the second half, we were force feeding Hayward in the post.  We were passing the ball around to feed the post instead of finding the opening shot or driving lane which I believe is our strength.  I hope Buzz takes that out of our strategy book.  We are not a team that can jam the ball into the post and expect good things to happen.  Just my take...

I agree.  We can't just force feed the post... well until we recruit that big man who can actually handle that and take control of a game from the blocks!  Man that'll be the day!

[d6]

ridiculous thread. a team predicted to go nowhere has been in every game it has played this year and the argument is we are being out-coached?  please.

[StillWarriors]

I don't know for sure, but we gave it to him and everyone cleared out and became statues on the perimeter... looked to me like that was in fact drawn up simply as an iso for Jimmy. 

Again though, this is just an example of this for Buzz.  A good way to judge in game coaching is half time adjustments and posessions out of time outs and dead balls... can you execute plays and get open looks... Marquette barely ever comes out of time outs and gets open looks plain and simple.

The point about plays coming out of timeouts is very valid. Whether it is the players not executing or the plays being drawn up, we frequently looked lost and like there was no plan right after timeouts last night. In addition to Butler's play, I can recall at least two other instances when MO and DJO got the ball and dribbled around until eventually forcing something by themself and we got nothing out of it.

I think our offense is typically very fun to watch b/c of the way the ball moves and the inside outside game. Last night looked like some of our offenses in the past when you can't even tell what they are trying to do. A lot of standing around watching last night. Pitt's D and poor shooting certainly contributed to that.

There are going to be nights like that on a team as thin as ours. Unfortunately,  the margin for error is now extremely thin.

[GoldenWarrior]

Umm, what about @ Providence @ UCONN and against G'Town? 

And BTW, he has recruited big men, 2 7 footers and a 6'11" center.

I wasn't able to see the Gtown game this year so no comment on that game... I was pissed I missed it!

But the UConn game... you can't tell me you thought Buzz won us that game with his coaching!  Jimmy hit a really tough shot and we are all grateful for it!!  Providence was a good game all around.

Also, I'm talking about recruiting big men who don't struggle with English let alone the game of basketball (Mbao)!! lol  We all know what I'm talking about here... a dominant big man.  I'm not saying it's easy to find them, but damn we've all been waiting for quite some time!

[MU B2002]

Also, I'm talking about recruiting big men who don't struggle with English let alone the game of basketball (Mbao)!! lol  We all know what I'm talking about here... a dominant big man.  I'm not saying it's easy to find them, but damn we've all been waiting for quite some time!

I believe Mbao is fluent in 4-5 languages, English being one of them.

[GoldenWarrior]

ridiculous thread. a team predicted to go nowhere has been in every game it has played this year and the argument is we are being out-coached?  please.

We are being out-coached too often.  It's just a fact... You think a Calhoun would've let any of his teams lose at Depaul this year?!

Us hanging in games is a huge credit to Buzz and his recruiting... like I said he's done a wonderful job at keeping us in there after the amigos left...

[GoldenWarrior]

I believe Mbao is fluent in 4-5 languages, English being one of them.

Apologies should've been teal

[NersEllenson]

That said, I am sick and tired of watching him get out-coached in games and especially tight situations.  Last night was a prime example of Xs and Os ball.  One play in particular is standing out to me:  with about 1:20 left and MU down about 6 we call a timeout... great time to call it so we can run a play and get an open look at least... instead we run an iso play for Butler starting at the free throw line!!  He drives the lane throws up garbage and gives it over to Pitt.

- My belief is they got exactly what they wanted in that possession, and that it was a designed clear out for Jimmy Butler.  Butler was having success taking McGhee off the bounce all game, was either scoring, or initiating a fould by McGhee.  Given that the 3 wasn't falling, and ZAR had one of his worst games of the year - what other play would you have liked to see run?  

[reinko]

I wasn't able to see the Gtown game this year so no comment on that game... I was pissed I missed it!

But the UConn game... you can't tell me you thought Buzz won us that game with his coaching!  Jimmy hit a really tough shot and we are all grateful for it!!  Providence was a good game all around.

Also, I'm talking about recruiting big men who don't struggle with English let alone the game of basketball (Mbao)!! lol  We all know what I'm talking about here... a dominant big man.  I'm not saying it's easy to find them, but damn we've all been waiting for quite some time!

So when we win, it's the players, and when we lose it's Buzz.  Ok.

Guess Buzz just goes down to his local Big & Tall and picks out the 6'9" beast of a power forward.  And what does the command of the English language have to do with anything?  Judging by your writing and sentence structure I imagine you also struggle with the English language. lol!!!!  lol!!!!

Mbao is a project.  Just like Hasheem Thabeet was, just like Onauku was, just like a lot of centers in the NCAA.

[Hards Alumni]

So when we win, it's the players, and when we lose it's Buzz.  Ok.

That is the life and times of being a coach at any level, unfortunately.

Unless you repeat with other players... then ALL the glory goes to the coach.

[NersEllenson]

But the UConn game... you can't tell me you thought Buzz won us that game with his coaching!  Jimmy hit a really tough shot and we are all grateful for it!!  Providence was a good game all around.

Now, you've just revealed yourself to be a complete idiot.  Players win games.  Period.  Coaching puts players in the position to win games.  This team has been in every game. So, Butler makes a shot (Buzz can't take it for him) against UCONN and we win - so Butler gets the credit.  You then go on to post that would Calhoun let his team lose to DePaul?  In that game, Lazar and Cubi miss front end of 1 and 1's, and we lose that game..of course that's Buzz's fault.  So, basically your arguement is that when a player hits a shot, its due to the player's skill - not Buzz's coaching, but then when a player misses Free throws that result in a loss..it's the Coaches fault?  

[ErickJD08]

We are being out-coached too often.  It's just a fact... You think a Calhoun would've let any of his teams lose at Depaul this year?!

Us hanging in games is a huge credit to Buzz and his recruiting... like I said he's done a wonderful job at keeping us in there after the amigos left...

+1

Truth is, MU nation is behind Buzz 100%.  Honestly, if we were in the bottom of the BE, I would be neither upset or surprised.  Being a bubble team is a very nice thing.  (No Crean bashing, but its the best comparison I have)  Last year, Indiana had the fewest returning players and minutes in the Big 10 and they got pooped on.  Even this year, they are getting pooped on.  We had the fewest returning minutes and points and we are competitive in a harder conference.  That fact just tells me our team is in good hands.  Even though we are losing three major contributors next season, I am confident that we will be a better team.  

Last, something all the critics should realize.  Buzz is the youngest coach in the Big East and I think we have a gem.  He is NOT JB or Calhoun.  He is learning too.  

[ErickJD08]

 Now, you've just revealed yourself to be a complete idiot.  Players win games.  Period.  Coaching puts players in the position to win games.  This team has been in every game. So, Butler makes a shot (Buzz can't take it for him) against UCONN and we win - so Butler gets the credit.  You then go on to post that would Calhoun let his team lose to DePaul?  In that game, Lazar and Cubi miss front end of 1 and 1's, and we lose that game..of course that's Buzz's fault.  So, basically your arguement is that when a player hits a shot, its due to the player's skill - not Buzz's coaching, but then when a player misses Free throws that result in a loss..it's the Coaches fault?  

HA.... Dude, you forgot.  ALSO, when the other team hits crazy hard shots, then you credit the other coach for outcoaching Buzz. 

[GoldenWarrior]

 Now, you've just revealed yourself to be a complete idiot.  Players win games.  Period.  Coaching puts players in the position to win games.  This team has been in every game. So, Butler makes a shot (Buzz can't take it for him) against UCONN and we win - so Butler gets the credit.  You then go on to post that would Calhoun let his team lose to DePaul?  In that game, Lazar and Cubi miss front end of 1 and 1's, and we lose that game..of course that's Buzz's fault.  So, basically your arguement is that when a player hits a shot, its due to the player's skill - not Buzz's coaching, but then when a player misses Free throws that result in a loss..it's the Coaches fault?  

Nope... Providence was a well coached game... good game all around as I've already stated there buddy.

I do agree with you on this: "Coaching puts players in the position to win games."

But with that... why can't we get open looks in crunch time?  Buzz doesn't put our players in that position out of timeouts etc... Jimmy's UConn shot is a prime example!

[GoldenWarrior]

So when we win, it's the players, and when we lose it's Buzz.  Ok.

Guess Buzz just goes down to his local Big & Tall and picks out the 6'9" beast of a power forward.  And what does the command of the English language have to do with anything?  Judging by your writing and sentence structure I imagine you also struggle with the English language. lol!!!!  lol!!!!

Mbao is a project.  Just like Hasheem Thabeet was, just like Onauku was, just like a lot of centers in the NCAA.

Not sure what you are referring to there?  Please explain... I mean anyone who understand English knows you can not begin a sentence with "and" lol

[MU B2002]

Not sure what you are referring to there?  Please explain... I mean anyone who understand English knows you can not begin a sentence with "and" lol

False... 

http://editingpublishing.suite101.com/article.cfm/can_i_start_a_sentence_with_and_