Is there anything MU does well as a team?

[nomorebuycks]

Buzz talks about not knowing who the team is yet.  Well, what do they do well as a team?

They are terrible offensively.

They aren't really good defensively.

They stink at rebounding.

How can you have a team identity with nothing standing out as a team strength?  I suppose MU will live and die this year on the quality of the individual performances of Butler and DJO, but that's about it.

And I have a feeling that PG is going to be a problem area all season long. 

[77ncaachamps]

I know one: they struggle well against a zone.

[NersEllenson]

Buzz talks about not knowing who the team is yet.  Well, what do they do well as a team?

They are terrible offensively.

They aren't really good defensively.

They stink at rebounding.

How can you have a team identity with nothing standing out as a team strength?  I suppose MU will live and die this year on the quality of the individual performances of Butler and DJO, but that's about it.

And I have a feeling that PG is going to be a problem area all season long. 

You've brought a lot to the board in your 14 posts - all of which are negative.  Why be a fan of MU, if you find so little positive or enjoyable about the team?  Go watch somebody else.  This team will be just fine.

MU competes their ass off, and is tough..at very minimum.  So we lost to the Number 1 team by 5 and a pre-season, consensus Top 15 team in Gonzaga by 3...we must really suck, right?  Wow, UWM took us to the wire..though MU was in control of the game throughout.

In addition to being a very tough and athletic team - we force turnovers extremely well, are lethal in transition to name a few...

[Mutaman]

MU competes their ass off, and is tough..at very minimum. 

They did not "compete their ass off" against either Gonzaga or tonight. They were not "tough" in either game. They were out hustled in both.

[avid1010]

Buzz talks about not knowing who the team is yet.  Well, what do they do well as a team?

They are terrible offensively.
They aren't really good defensively.
They stink at rebounding.
How can you have a team identity with nothing standing out as a team strength?  I suppose MU will live and die this year on the quality of the individual performances of Butler and DJO, but that's about it.
And I have a feeling that PG is going to be a problem area all season long. 

And with a screen name like that...I'd say that you're terrible at having any class.

[MerrittsMustache]

This team does well at winning games that they should win. No matter how ugly it might be, a win is a win.

[bamamarquettefan]

Since your name is "nomorebuycks," I am guessing you didn't like any of Buycks 5 rebounds, 6 assists or 5 steals tonight.

As for if we do anything well, it's easy to see we do 6 of 8 things well whether simply looking at stats or watching the team play.  We give up only .92 points per opponents trip down the court because we turn teams over so well (1 thing we do well), and amazingly do it while hardly ever sending opponents to the line (only 6 free throws against tonight and one of the top teams in the country, No. 2 thing we do well).  What we don't do well is guard the shot and keep opponents of the glass.

On offense, we really have done all four things well (shooting is the best since Wade left statistically, so that's No. 3 we do well), protect the ball (today was some sloppy turnovers but only 3 steals allowed, that's No. 4 we do well), have hit the offensive boards well (No. 5, not tonight but for the season good numbers) and are one of the best in the country at getting to the line (no. 6 thing we do well).

We played poorly today – looked a lot like the game at DePaul game last year with one big exception – we netted 6 straight free throws and WON.

If with experience we are able to start to box out and rotate to contest 3-pointers this team will be great, and if not they will still be pretty good.  But on a night where Butler lost to Evanston, Purdue lost to Richmond and Texas barely survive Rice, we survived tonight even when the nerves got tight.

For RPI purposes, that counts as 1.4 wins (for doing it on the road) against a team that ranks as almost exactly average amount Division 1 schools.

[NersEllenson]

They did not "compete their ass off" against either Gonzaga or tonight. They were not "tough" in either game. They were out hustled in both.

Great..we now have the douchey duo of Mutamen and Nomorebuycks tag teaming with stupid, negative, trolling posts.  Get a life.

[chren21]

and amazingly do it while hardly ever sending opponents to the line (only 6 free throws against tonight and one of the top teams in the country, No. 2 thing we do well). 

I agree with your post except for the sending opponents to the line part.  This is a good stat away from the basket but I see to many 0 footers given up uncontested.  I'm not saying foul every time and to not play smart when you have 1 foul in the 1st half or 3 in the 2nd, but I can't remember one time this year where we have taken a really hard foul and made someone earn 2 points at the line.  Sometimes that can send a message.

[SaveOD238]

Giving up fewer free throws unfortunately comes at the cost of defending the shot and rebounding.  If you never risk fouling, you cant play defense.  but its Buzz's philosophy so were gonna have to learn to live with it and see if it works

[Mutaman]

Great..we now have the douchey duo of Mutamen and Nomorebuycks tag teaming with stupid, negative, trolling posts.  Get a life.

You made  a statement that was wrong and you were called on it. Your response was to make an ad hominem attack. Here's  some free advice- just because somebody disagrees with you doesn't make them a troll or stupid. Just because somebody criticises Marquette doesn't make them "negative".

[chren21]

Giving up fewer free throws unfortunately comes at the cost of defending the shot and rebounding.  If you never risk fouling, you cant play defense.  but its Buzz's philosophy so were gonna have to learn to live with it and see if it works

Buzz stated in the post game interview... "I know our guys are scared to foul somebody but you still need to guard someone."  He stated it in a way that led me to believe he understands guys don't want to get stupid fouls causing them to lose minutes (IE getting your 2nd fould in the first half) but that he is not going to continue putting up with soft defense because of that type of mentality.

[Mutaman]

This team does well at winning games that they should win. No matter how ugly it might be, a win is a win.

Marquette was favored over Gonzaga.

http://statsheet.com/mcb/games/2010/11/23/2010-11-23_gonzaga_vs_marquette/spread

[ChicosBailBonds]

You made  a statement that was wrong and you were called on it. Your response was to make an ad hominem attack. Here's  some free advice- just because somebody disagrees with you doesn't make them a troll or stupid. Just because somebody criticises Marquette doesn't make them "negative".

Unfortunately that's the bunker mentality here.  Fall in line, never say anything that might not be in the fan manual or be called out.

[4everwarriors]

The team eats well on the charter.

[chren21]

The team eats well on the charter.

yes... And they hand out a damn fine turkey

[marquette99]

Chren and odmu - I agree with you both that their are times we should be fouling by scrapping underneath.  What I do think is impressive is how many turnovers we force without fouling - that is a rare combination.  But you are right, I will gladly take some additional fouls in exchange for putting a body on somebody when a shot goes up.

Chicos - I like your constructive criticism and that of anyone else and know I tend to be overly optimistic.  But when the topic starts asking if mu does ANYTHING well I believe that merits defending the team.  We are a top 40 team with the talent to move higher.

[ChicosBailBonds]

99, fair point.

For the record, I believe for the most part we hustle all the time.  Desire is there. 

At times, our defense on the ball can be very good.  Pestering, truly causing issues with their guards.

We make more free throws than our opponents take.


I'd say we have top 40 talent, I don't believe today we are a top 40 team but can be.

[Henry Sugar]

I go back to this post.  Right now, there isn't anything that MU does well except "not foul".

Two years ago, MU was good at protecting the ball (#11), getting to the line (#12), and not fouling (#38).

Last year, MU was good at eFG% (#35), mostly due to shooting the three (#5), and they were also good at protecting the ball (#7) and not fouling (#21).

I guess we're also good at scoring two point baskets (#26).  Overall, this is my biggest frustration right now with the team (as it probably is for Buzz as well).  Where is the team good?

[bilsu]

Buzz talks about not knowing who the team is yet.  Well, what do they do well as a team?

They are terrible offensively.

They aren't really good defensively.

They stink at rebounding.

How can you have a team identity with nothing standing out as a team strength?  I suppose MU will live and die this year on the quality of the individual performances of Butler and DJO, but that's about it.

And I have a feeling that PG is going to be a problem area all season long. 

They would not have any wins, if they were that bad.

[Mayor McCheese]

Buzz talks about not knowing who the team is yet.  Well, what do they do well as a team?

They are terrible offensively.

They aren't really good defensively.

They stink at rebounding.

How can you have a team identity with nothing standing out as a team strength?  I suppose MU will live and die this year on the quality of the individual performances of Butler and DJO, but that's about it.

And I have a feeling that PG is going to be a problem area all season long. 

Go away troll.

[GGGG]

I think it is clear that we hustle well and the desire is there.  However, I wouldn't call us very tough at the moment.  Rebounding is about toughness as much as it is fundamentals.  This is where we really miss Lazar.  At this point, it seems like they are a little reluctant to mix it up underneath and play a little physical.

[APieperFan3]

I think it is clear that we hustle well and the desire is there.  However, I wouldn't call us very tough at the moment.  Rebounding is about toughness as much as it is fundamentals.  This is where we really miss Lazar.  At this point, it seems like they are a little reluctant to mix it up underneath and play a little physical.

I think before the UW game, Buzz "puts a chip on their shoulder".

[GGGG]

The problem is that you can't really teach toughness.  It comes with experience, and frankly Lazar had four years of BE basketball experience...and in some ways you either have it or you don't.  JFB is the only one to approach this for this team.  Crowder seems to play tough, but is going to have to ratchet it up a notch.

[lab_warrior]

Great..we now have the douchey duo of Mutamen and Nomorebuycks tag teaming with stupid, negative, trolling posts.  Get a life.

Thinking of changing my handle to nomorenomorebuycks.