The UW match-up

[M@RQUETTEW@RRIORS]

I dont like the match-up.  MU once again gave up some offensive rebounds last night.  This I believe is one of UW strengths.  Also, UW is gonna sit back in a sagging man defense which will cutoff many of the driving lanes for MUs guards.  I believe one of the weaknesses MUs guards have right now is making the decision of when to stop the drive and shoot/pass or go all the way to the hoop.  Hope Im wrong but I dont like this match-up from a tactical standpoint.  Maybe MU will get hot from 3....

[GGGG]

Yeah, I generally agree.  What keeps me going though is that UW's guards are having as much trouble scoring as ours are.  The best way we can score is in transition, and UW just doesn't turn the ball over enough to get a lot of those opportunities.

I am thinking a close, ugly, low scoring game.

[willie warrior]

We had better win this game--home floor and all the stud talent.

No Dork (ND) handled them, and we should do the same.

[avid1010]

I don't remember many that haven't been close.  Usually I don't put much stock in this game, but without any quality NC wins yet, it probably means a bit more this year...especially when considering the BEAST looks better than most thought.

[john_cocktoasten]

I would like to see some pressure on the guards maybe even a full court press like against Bucknell

[Stretchdeltsig]

I would full court press UW from the get-go.  And play agressive man to man throughout the game.  I would play as fast as possible on offense; bringing the court up fast.  Marquette has the depth to play aggressive and fast.  Also, I would have Otule and Gardner and Crowder post low against Leuer to get him into early foul trouble to take him out of the game.

[MARQKC]

UW is gonna sit back in a sagging man defense which will cutoff many of the driving lanes for MUs guards.  Maybe MU will get hot from 3....

Given that a key metric in Buzz's approach is paint touches, there's little question that this would be a good defense for Bucky; and there's no question we need to find our perimeter game, too. Ought to be a good game to watch.

[brewcity77]

I would full court press UW from the get-go.  And play agressive man to man throughout the game.  I would play as fast as possible on offense; bringing the court up fast.  Marquette has the depth to play aggressive and fast.  Also, I would have Otule and Gardner and Crowder post low against Leuer to get him into early foul trouble to take him out of the game.

I agree with all of this. If we can press them into rushed situations, our transition game can flourish. If we can turn this into a track meet, we are all but assured a win. And as far as star players on the other side, really Leuer is far and away their biggest threat. I know Ox usually gets most of his minutes in the second half, but I wouldn't mind seeing him check in around the 10-minute mark to start working on Leuer down low. A couple fouls in the first half could go a long way to winning this game.

[GGGG]

Full court press the whole game would be disasterous.  Jordan Taylor is way too good of a ball handler for that, plus you are going to end up giving them a ton of easy looks inside when the press is broken.  I would put pressure on their guards in the half court and modest pressure when they are bringing the ball up the court to take time off the shot clock.  I would also think that Buzz may back into the 1-3-1 and make them hit a couple of shots.

Not saying it wouldn't be an effective change up option, but full court press is generally a weaker defense, especially against fundamentally sound teams like Wisconsin.  And you aren't going to be turning this game into a "track meet."  Wisconsin doesn't turn the ball over enough to make that happen.

The transition game would benefit more from breakouts on missed shots than it would turnovers.

[APieperFan3]

DJO needs to stop "aiming" and start "shooting" the basketball.

We won't win if he can't start hitting shots.

[M@RQUETTEW@RRIORS]

Full court press the whole game would be disasterous.  Jordan Taylor is way too good of a ball handler for that, plus you are going to end up giving them a ton of easy looks inside when the press is broken.  I would put pressure on their guards in the half court and modest pressure when they are bringing the ball up the court to take time off the shot clock.  I would also think that Buzz may back into the 1-3-1 and make them hit a couple of shots.

Not saying it wouldn't be an effective change up option, but full court press is generally a weaker defense, especially against fundamentally sound teams like Wisconsin.  And you aren't going to be turning this game into a "track meet."  Wisconsin doesn't turn the ball over enough to make that happen.

The transition game would benefit more from breakouts on missed shots than it would turnovers.

I would agree with this.  However part of the purpose of the pressure is to make someone besides Taylor handle the ball and make quick decisions.  All game long is a big stretch.  But I would go 3/4 1-3-1 for a while to see how they react.  And vary the amount of pressure  used with the 1-3-1.

[MUfan12]

I could have been hallucinating, but it appeared that MU went to a matchup zone at a couple points in the first half last night. Have to think that is in place for UW.

Until they learn how to execute it, that zone press would be a disaster. TAMCC broke it a couple of times without issue.

[LON]

I could have been hallucinating, but it appeared that MU went to a matchup zone at a couple points in the first half last night. Have to think that is in place for UW.

Until they learn how to execute it, that zone press would be a disaster. TAMCC broke it a couple of times without issue.

I saw some variation of it too...but by the second or third pass of TAMCC's half court offense they went back to man.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Marquette's quickness should match up well defending against Taylor.  I would press him as much as possible off and on through out the game to keep him off balance.  We do not want to play Wisconsin's slow half court game.  We must play Marquette's fast paced defense, attack offense game to win.

[GoldenWarrior]

I would agree with this.  However part of the purpose of the pressure is to make someone besides Taylor handle the ball and make quick decisions.  All game long is a big stretch.  But I would go 3/4 1-3-1 for a while to see how they react.  And vary the amount of pressure  used with the 1-3-1.

Just wondering, who would you guys suggest we have running baseline in the 1-3-1?  I can't think of any of our bigger men that move well enough to handle that responsibility.  It's tough and you've gotta have a GREAT hustle guy run that spot for this defense to have a chance.

[Dawson Rental]

Just wondering, who would you guys suggest we have running baseline in the 1-3-1?  I can't think of any of our bigger men that move well enough to handle that responsibility.  It's tough and you've gotta have a GREAT hustle guy run that spot for this defense to have a chance.

Buzz could put Butler back there and give him a flashback to last year when it was him and Lazar on the inside on D.  I think that Jae could probably handle it , as well.  It's hard to believe that Gardner could handle it, and I doubt Otule is ready either, so your question is well put.

[GGGG]

Just wondering, who would you guys suggest we have running baseline in the 1-3-1?  I can't think of any of our bigger men that move well enough to handle that responsibility.  It's tough and you've gotta have a GREAT hustle guy run that spot for this defense to have a chance.

Butler would run the baseline.  Otule in the middle.

Fulce would have been great up top with his length and his energy.  Maybe Smith up top with Blue and DJO on the wings.

[GGGG]

Scratch that.  I would stick Butler up top.  Blue underneath.  Otule in the middle.  You would have to rebound well though.

[RJax55]

In a 1-3-1, many coaches put their smallest/quickest guy in the back.

For example, Northwestern runs 1-3-1 pretty much the whole game, and their point guard Thompson plays on the bottom.

Also, when MU has played it, both DJ and Acker were underneath.

Reggie Smith is the prefect guy for this job.

[GoldenWarrior]

In a 1-3-1, many coaches put their smallest/quickest guy in the back.

For example, Northwestern runs 1-3-1 pretty much the whole game, and their point guard Thompson plays on the bottom.

Also, when MU has played it, both DJ and Acker were underneath.

Reggie Smith is the prefect guy for this job.

I think that the perfect fit would be a 3 who is quick enough to handle the responsibility.  This way you aren't giving up tons of size inside and underneath for rebounding purposes (key against UW) and still have the length to disrupt passing lanes.  I'm starting to think maybe this should be it:

Top:  Smith/Cadougan

Left wing:  Vander/Buycks

Middle:  Otule/Gardner/Crowder

Right wing:  DJO/Butler

Baseline:  Fulce/Butler

Idk, maybe something like this could somewhat work for a 1-3-1.  In the end though, hopefully we aren't playing 1-3-1 a ton though either.

[Fullodds]

Box and 1.   Must contain Gasser

[cheebs09]

Box and 1.   Must contain Gasser

Not good enough. Triangle and two, with the two on Gasser.

[Fullodds]

Guarding Leuer will be interesting to watch.  I think Butler gets the call. I'm not too worried about any other matchup.  We will need to limit Leuer's touches and play our best game of the year.  If we turn over the ball, fail to board and shoot a low % from the 3 we will lose.  Same applies to every BE game.

[RJax55]

I think that the perfect fit would be a 3 who is quick enough to handle the responsibility.  This way you aren't giving up tons of size inside and underneath for rebounding purposes (key against UW) and still have the length to disrupt passing lanes.  I'm starting to think maybe this should be it:

Top:  Smith/Cadougan

Left wing:  Vander/Buycks

Middle:  Otule/Gardner/Crowder

Right wing:  DJO/Butler

Baseline:  Fulce/Butler

In a 1-3-1, you can't put guys like Smith or Junior at the top. They're too small and it would be too easy for an opponent to throw passes right over the top of them. That entry pass into the middle of the zone must be difficult to make (that's why MU play Mboa at the top last year in the 1-3-1), otherwise you will get craved up.

As far as defense goes for the UW game, I hope MU just plays straight man-to-man.

[Brewtown Andy]

I dont like the match-up.  MU once again gave up some offensive rebounds last night. 

They grabbed 1 less than they gave up.