Yuck

[dgies9156]

The South Dakota game was disappointing. It seems as though Marquette was all but incapable of defending effectively against the entry pass. The free throw shooting was terrible and the best three-point shot was hit by the kid who won a car from Heiser Ford. If South Dakota was any better, they would have killed us.

As Al once said, the best thing about freshmen is that they become sophomores. Let's hope they mature in time for Monday night.

[RubyWiscy]

While MU didn't look all that sharp, they were never threatened in this game.  While these games give opportunity for playing time and team development, the softer competition does lead to sloppy play eventually.  As competition gets better, MU will tighten things up, starting with the player rotation.  This will lead to more consistant play.  Nothing to worry about here.

[ATWizJr]

We clearly are a team that is searching for its' identity. Typical for preseason.

[marquette99]

Disagree on concern on entry pass.  One of the biggest differences between this team is how well we've denied 2-point field goals.  We've kept percentage made very low, and even when they get a pass in, shots are contested, blocked, or players are given tough angles.  Between that and our pressure could be a greàt defensive squad.  We just need to find the shooters on the arc

[Dr. Blackheart]

At this point, we are better in the paint, and more unsettled in the backcourt.  Let's hope we don't lose any of our timber depth to these injuries...the backcourt roles will settle as time passes....but it may be ugly.  The talent is there, but it has not yet come together.  

>>Buycks is our best point option today, but not the best PG.  He is still out of control at times but much improved.
>>DJO is used to being the 3rd guard and finding the seam or the spot up...but he needs his pull up game now and to create shots for others as defenses focus on him.  He is forcing his play.
>>Reggie is super quick, but learning the PG position so he is ragged
>>Junior is a pure PG, but is better in the half court...and needs to hit his jumper, improve his on ball defense.
>>Blue is great defensively, is becoming a great creator off the dribble, but is not a great jump shooter yet.  The DJO of last year as the third guard option.

Dwight is the only one consistently hitting his outside shot.  DJO is capable but has been flat footed.  Reggie, Junior and Vander are not yet great outside threats.  Free throw percents will be sub-par with all the youngins.  This team will live and die on the backline waiting for the guards to develop and find their match-up roles.  A bit like the Billy G. A&M teams.

[Mr. Nielsen]

I think the team has Duke on there mind.

[brewcity77]

We clearly are a team that is searching for its' identity. Typical for preseason.

I really thought Bucknell would teach us a lesson, and in the first half against Green Bay, it looked like we had learned it. Any team good enough for postseason play is a team that's good enough to beat you on their day. It took Homer's "Frozena Five" to put away St. John's (MN). We beat Prairie View A&M soundly enough. But the last three games...needed a big comeback against Bucknell, beat Green Bay but played them even in the second half, beat South Dakota but let them stay in it and were outscored in the second half.

This team is missing that knack for putting teams down. We should have beat Green Bay by 30, but didn't seem to have the urgency in the second half. I really felt the same way about South Dakota. While we always were comfortable enough that comebacks were unlikely at best, what happens if we get up 10-15 on Duke or K-State? I certainly wouldn't feel secure after watching this team fail to step on the throats of weaker opposition.

Maybe if DJO finds his stroke it will help. Outside of Buycks, we really haven't been very good from 3-point range. Without him, we'd be shooting under 25% from 3. And we need to improve our free throws. Under 65% also isn't good enough. I'm hoping time will help, but right now, I really think we miss Cooby and Acker. They played major minutes and were reliable both from the line and from deep.

Hopefully DJO gets his stroke back Monday. When he's hot, he's white-hot. If not, I think it could be a long night.

[GGGG]

We clearly misscoobie and acker. Yeah they lacked size, but they were smart and experienced. Something that really only buycks provides us now. Don't know what to say about djo. He isn't adjusting well to being THE offense guy out there.

[Pakuni]

This team is missing that knack for putting teams down. We should have beat Green Bay by 30, but didn't seem to have the urgency in the second half. I

Given that Green Bay hung tight at #25 San Diego State - and led by 22 at one point - maybe a 20-point win over them isn't all that bad.
More to the point, when you're already up by 15 or 20, what more is there to do to "put a team down." Keep the starters in and win by 40? How does that help long-term, especially relative to getting guys like Jones, Smith, Cadougan and Williams minutes that may not be there for them later in the season?

[avid1010]

We clearly misscoobie and acker. Yeah they lacked size, but they were smart and experienced. Something that really only buycks provides us now. Don't know what to say about djo. He isn't adjusting well to being THE offense guy out there.

Buycks provides us with the experience and smarts that Coobie and Acker did???  Butler would be the closest thing we have to that IMO.

[StillWarriors]

Not saying there aren't some things to be concerned about, but I don't think you can put too much stock in these games. Coaches are still trying things, messing with rotations etc..the season is young and they have to pick certain things to focus on at this point in the limited time they have with all these games. You aren't looking at a finished product, and they'll improve as time goes on. Look around at the score around the country. It isn't unusual for the heavy favorites not to blow teams out every game.

[bilsu]

The only positive about S. Dakota game (besides a win) is that Buzz gave Jones ample playing time. I think that was important for Jones, but probably made the game a lot closer than if he did not play him.

[Golden Avalanche]

So dramatic.