Mar-quette D-Fense!!!

[brewcity77]

It's become a cry from the student section at every home game. Over the past few years, we've had a lot of great defenders at times. The combination of Jackson and Wade led us to a Final Four. McNeal was one of the best ballhawks in the nation, while Dominic James was a phenomenal one-on-one defender. But as a team, this may shape up to be one of Marquette's best defensive units in recent memory.

I've been amazed to see the number of blocks this team is getting. A healthy Otule has been a big part of that, especially after his 4 blocks against Green Bay. But Vander Blue, Jimmy Butler, and Davante Gardner are all also contributing blocks. It's great to see it from the frontcourt guys, but especially nice to see it from a guard like Blue.

Blue is also leading the way in steals, and when he gets an open lane he makes teams pay in transition. Plenty of other guys are getting into lanes, tipping balls that we end up with, and generally forcing turnovers.

I realize fully that we haven't seen this team against the kind of opposition they'll see on Monday and Tuesday, but I'm really excited to see this team defend. Otule may not be much of a threat offensively, but he's been pretty darn good at clogging the lane, making blocks, and altering shots. Blue is a fantastic one-on-one defender and considering he's a freshman, has plenty of times to develop into an amazing defensive player. But throughout, I think some guys like Butler and DJO were already pretty decent defensively, while Buycks is showing improvement. They'll get their first real tests next week, but at a 3-game glance, this team could really be something on the defensive end of the court.

[GGGG]

I hope they prove me wrong but I think our perimeter d isn't all that good and that a team with good guard play (duke) could expose this.

[Henry Sugar]

Marquette is currently #289 in the country at three point defense.  #22 in the country at two point defense.  #124 in the country at overall effective field goal percentage defense.  Yes, it's only three games.

My hope is that Buzz has been concentrating on the two point defense to the detriment of perimeter D.

Duke is #15 in the country at three point percentage, so I'm really hoping the perimeter D gets better fast.

[MUFC9295]

Henry,  What do you see for Duke's defensive stats thus far? 

I thought MU looked very athletic but also got away with agressive passes and dribble penetration moves against a defense which wasn't much more than a few staggered lamp posts.  I'll have to watch the dookies tomorrow to see what's in store.  I'm just glad we are fast while being under contol.

[PGsHeroes32]

Yeah we are really good at coming up with steals and almost everyone is athletic enough to swat the ball. Jae had the one he sent into the crowd and DJO had the block he sent into JB.

We need to work on limiting the 3s though, in a hurry.

[muhoops1]

That's not as cool as the cheer we had in 1990.  MU left written instructions to the 30 students in attendance.  Whenever Damon Key stepped to the line we were instructed to shake our keys, acknowledging a "Key" Situation.

That was a cheer that meant something!

[chren21]

Yeah we are really good at coming up with steals and almost everyone is athletic enough to swat the ball. Jae had the one he sent into the crowd and DJO had the block he sent into JB.

We need to work on limiting the 3s though, in a hurry.

Dosent just blocking the shot to yourself make more sense?  Buzz preaches the importance of every possession and to swat it into the crowd to get a cheer rather than take a possession away from the opponent dosent seem smart.

[Lennys Tap]

I hope they prove me wrong but I think our perimeter d isn't all that good and that a team with good guard play (duke) could expose this.

I share your concerns.

[GGGG]

Dosent just blocking the shot to yourself make more sense?  Buzz preaches the importance of every possession and to swat it into the crowd to get a cheer rather than take a possession away from the opponent dosent seem smart.

That's not the easiest thing to do.

[chren21]

That's not the easiest thing to do.

Sticking your hand straight up rather than rearing back and swating it is that hard?

[muhoops1]

If you took a shot could you make it?  Now you are questioning D1 athletes?  Go have another doughnut.

[GGGG]

Sticking your hand straight up rather than rearing back and swating it is that hard?

It isn't as easy as that.

[chren21]

If you took a shot could you make it?  Now you are questioning D1 athletes?  Go have another doughnut.

I could. I am. I am having pizza but a doughnut sounds good too.

[w0bbie]

Dosent just blocking the shot to yourself make more sense?  Buzz preaches the importance of every possession and to swat it into the crowd to get a cheer rather than take a possession away from the opponent dosent seem smart.

If you can in the situation, then yes that would be a better option.  But on this play Jae was coming in to help from around the FT line to the baseline.  He got there just as the shot was going up.  Since he wasn't facing the shooter head on and the shot was coming from the baseline, he couldn't have blocked it to himself.  Might as well put some umph behind the swat to wake the crowd up.

[chren21]

If you can in the situation, then yes that would be a better option.  But on this play Jae was coming in to help from around the FT line to the baseline.  He got there just as the shot was going up.  Since he wasn't facing the shooter head on and the shot was coming from the baseline, he couldn't have blocked it to himself.  Might as well put some umph behind the swat to wake the crowd up.

Now I can agree more with that response.  While I think if he had just had his hand more upright his momentum might have pushed it OB anyway it is worth trying for gain of a possession stated above.  Some coaches do coach this and practice makes it easier.


Thanks for the normal response wasn't sure if that happened here or if jokes and sarcasm were just the norm.

[Henry Sugar]

Henry,  What do you see for Duke's defensive stats thus far? 

Missed this until now.

After TWO games, Duke has been really good defensively in three areas.  They are good at forcing turnovers, limiting offensive rebounds, and preventing opponents from getting to the line.  Their defensive eFG% has been only average.  

Duke are almost exactly like us defensively, except for two things.  First, although we have the same defensive strengths, they're better at those three areas.  Second, we are both average defensively overall, but Marquette is weak at the perimeter but strong inside the arc defensively.  Duke is just average at both areas.

Full Duke stats here

[Henry Sugar]

Dosent just blocking the shot to yourself make more sense?  Buzz preaches the importance of every possession and to swat it into the crowd to get a cheer rather than take a possession away from the opponent dosent seem smart.

I recall reading an article about Daryl Morey (apbrmetric GM of the Rockets), and he talked about just that.  A blocked shot that stays inbounds is much more valuable than the blocked shot that goes into the seats.

Having said that... considering we've been really bad at any blocked shots whatsoever, I'm just grateful we are now blocking shots.

[bilsu]

When you are constantly pressuring the ball it can result in a player ending up being open on the court. I thought the difference between Bucknell and Green Bay was that Bucknell was hitting the open shots while Green Bay missed shots that  Bucknell was making. I think a better defensive stat would be points per possession. I do not know were MU ranks there, but the goal is to stop the other team from scoring. A team could shoot 30%, but if they are dominating the offensive boards and not turning the ball over they could score more than a team that shoots 50%, but turns the ball over more often and does not offensive rebound well.

[brewcity77]

Dosent just blocking the shot to yourself make more sense?  Buzz preaches the importance of every possession and to swat it into the crowd to get a cheer rather than take a possession away from the opponent dosent seem smart.

I also am a fan of the occasional "statement block". 9 times out of 10, you'd rather block it to yourself and regain possession, but every now and then a block with authority that instantly announces your presence and makes everyone on the opposing team, including those on the bench, aware of the constant threat of a block can sometimes lead to a bit of hesitation on the part of the other squad. While many players will have enough composure to shrug it off, if a guy like Crowder or Otule has 3 blocks in the game and slams a monster block into the third row, you can bet everyone on the opposing team will become aware of that guy's ability to block a shot, leading them to look for the block. And if you're looking to avoid a block, that's more time for the rest of the defense to gain position or go for the steal.

[The Lens]

If you took a shot could you make it?  Now you are questioning D1 athletes?  Go have another doughnut.

And now you're insulting a D1 athlete.  Sometimes it pay to know who you're arguing with.

[MUFC9295]

I recall reading an article about Daryl Morey (apbrmetric GM of the Rockets), and he talked about just that.  A blocked shot that stays inbounds is much more valuable than the blocked shot that goes into the seats.

Having said that... considering we've been really bad at any blocked shots whatsoever, I'm just grateful we are now blocking shots.

I distinctly recall Mutumbo swatting away a ball and then turning to the baseline crowd for his signature finger waving.  Only his block was not a swat-type block and the ball stayed  play.  Not only that, the ball went back to the opponents and Mutumbo was subsequently dunked on behind his back.  I rarely get into NBA, but it made me wonder the better alternative: get the ball out or try to "play" the block?  The announcers mentioned Bill Walton as THE example of not only block shots, but using the block to his team's advantage. 

With the pace we play, I am amazed if the ball stays in play let alone the first few rows.  It takes quite the athlete to "pass" a block.  I think the team is better off with ANY block.  Hopefully, we get the bounces too.

[Skatastrophy]

And now you're insulting a D1 athlete.  Sometimes it pay to know who you're arguing with.

I'm going to start a guessing game since this is apparently a big secret.  I'm an astronaut, btw.  Take that, Internet!

I guess that he's.... The pride of McCormick Hall... which I picked randomly by clicking a mid-90s team and later realized fits his username.  I love winning by luck

[mileskishnish72]

Yes, Pride, jokes and sarcasm are the norm. That reminds me that given our 3-pt. defense problems, I'm concerned that Duke's 3-pt. shooters might be even better than those at Prairie View and Green Bay.

[chren21]

I'm going to start a guessing game since this is apparently a big secret.  I'm an astronaut, btw.  Take that, Internet!

I guess that he's.... The pride of McCormick Hall... which I picked randomly by clicking a mid-90s team and later realized fits his username.  I love winning by luck

No secret.  I just LOVE watching, reading, and discussing anything having to do with MU basketball.  Same as anyone else on here.

[avid1010]

I'd be interested to know what MU worked on between the Bucknell and UW-GB games.  It seemed like the focus went to offense rather than defense (which makes sense at this point of the season), and while we scored the ball well, our defense looked as bad as it has all year long.  Implementation dips are common, and I've felt this way in years past with Buzz and TC, so I think it's a process, but it seems to be taking longer than usual this year....understandably so with the newcomers.