Statistics worth acknowledging

[MU Avenue]

Marquette performed pretty well against No. 1-ranked Duke, losing 82-77.

It is frustrating to think how the outcome might have been different if MU were better at knocking down three-pointers (4-20 or 20 percent against Duke), making free throws (11-17 or 64.7 percent against Duke) and blocking shots (one against Duke).

While watching the game, everyone at my home agreed that Marquette attempts a lot of three-pointers for a team that does not shoot them well. My youngest seemed most baffled, saying: "How come Marquette keeps shooting those? They almost never make 'em and the other team just keeps getting the ball back."

Does anyone disagree?

Also, there is no good explanation for poor free throw shooting. It is ridiculous that Marquette missed one of every three free throws against Duke. I have just read that our local high school's basketball team last season nailed 73.9 percent of its free throws.

I want to believe that Marquette, with a lot more practice, can at least equal that success from the free throw line. The season could hinge on this.

[bilsu]

All the higher ranked teams won last night. The closest game was Duke/MU.

Given the inexperience (actual division 1 minutes played) MU was very inexperienced playing against a team that is defending the National championship.

[ErickJD08]

Marquette performed pretty well against No. 1-ranked Duke, losing 82-77.

It is frustrating to think how the outcome might have been different if MU were better at knocking down three-pointers (4-20 or 20 percent against Duke), making free throws (11-17 or 64.7 percent against Duke) and blocking shots (one against Duke).

While watching the game, everyone at my home agreed that Marquette attempts a lot of three-pointers for a team that does not shoot them well. My youngest seemed most baffled, saying: "How come Marquette keeps shooting those? They almost never make 'em and the other team just keeps getting the ball back."

Does anyone disagree?

Also, there is no good explanation for poor free throw shooting. It is ridiculous that Marquette missed one of every three free throws against Duke. I have just read that our local high school's basketball team last season nailed 73.9 percent of its free throws.

I want to believe that Marquette, with a lot more practice, can at least equal that success from the free throw line. The season could hinge on this.

I would disagree about the 3's.  Threes are definitely part of our offense, as it should be.  DJO was 47% last season, Crowder and Buycks hit at a decent clip and our PGs should shoot open threes as well.  Its basketball.  If 3s are part of your offense and you miss, you are going to have a tough time winning.  Honestly, (I am kinda pointing to the obvious here) going into the game, I knew that DJO needed to hit his threes for us to have a shot.  He didn't and we struggled.

At the end of the day, I know we are far from a finished product, but if we are a few DJO shots from beating the number 1 team/"favorite to win it all again", I think we will be ok.

[Jacks DC]

DJO clearly had an off night.  It looked to me like Duke was happy to let Blue, Butler and Crowder shoot threes.  Without Hayward, Acker and Cubillan this year we won't be able to live on the 3 as much, but I would rather have a more balanced offense.

Also, it's easy to say we were just a few more free throws or three pointers from knocking off the #1 ranked team.  But keep in mind that Duke is by far a better shooting team than Marquette and they were only 50% on FTs and 33% from three.  Aside from Plumlee, Duke did not have a great night.