[Cracked Sidewalks] Marquette takes out frustrations on DePaul

[CrackedSidewalksSays]

Marquette takes out frustrations on DePaul

Written by: noreply@blogger.com (Tim Blair)

UPDATED

After a soul-crushing defeat is there any greater gift than seeing DePaul next up on the schedule?  No sir, there is nothing better.

DePaul basketball ... it's how Big East teams get back on track!

Marquette beat DePaul senseless tonight, racing to a 94- 64 victory highlighted by forced turnovers, alley-oops and domination on the backboards.   The Warriors used a convincing 16-2 run to build a commanding 46-29 halftime lead and never looked back.  Out of the gate in the second half MU extended the lead to 73-41 with 10:25 to play ending any hope for a Blue Demons comeback.

The Fearsome Foursome led the way for the Warriors.  Jae Crowder finished with 18 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 blocks.  Jimmy Butler and DJO finished with 20 points each, while Dwight Buycks added a dozen.  Vander Blue played his best game in Big East action finishing with twelve points and two assists while displaying the confidence MU fans noted in his play earlier this season.

Marquette's defense was stifling once again, dominating the Blue Demons throughout.  The win marked the third straight game where the Warriors held the opposition to a points per possession (ppp) of 0.92 or less.  Last night MU held DePaul to an ineffective 0.88 ppp while running its offense at a remarkable clip of 1.35 ppp.  Marquette's efficiency on offense remains impressive, and the defensive numbers are trending positively. Don't look now, but MU has been the fourth best team during conference play (and that was before last night).

With the win Marquette moves to 13-6 overall and 4-2 in the Big East.  After disposing of the league's dregs, the Warriors now embark on a stretch of four games against top 20 teams (two in the top 10) in the next two weeks. First up the Warriors head to South Bend to take on the Irish on Saturday.  Following the Domer game, MU faces UConn and Syracuse at home before traveling to Villanova on Feburary 2.

Links galore

• Box Score
• The Warrior recaps the MU win
• Marquette routs DePaul, by Rosiak
• Rosiak blogged a recap as well
• Even with a blowout win you can't please everybody
• Anonymous Eagle recaps the win
• Chicago Trib on the drubbing
• AP recaps it

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2011/01/marquette-takes-out-frustrations-on.html

[Henry Sugar]

Three straight games with good defense (sub 0.92 ppp allowed).

MU holds DPU to 0.88 ppp while achieving 1.35 ppp.

DPU doesn't shoot terribly (48% vs MU's 55%)

But MU crushes the TO battle (9% vs 29% for DPU)

MU also wins the OR% battle (49% to 36%)

Nice to see MU continue to play good defense and win the one aspect that DePaul is good at (turnovers)

[NYWarrior]

Three straight games with good defense (sub 0.92 ppp allowed).

MU holds DPU to 0.88 ppp while achieving 1.35 ppp.

DPU doesn't shoot terribly (48% vs MU's 55%)

But MU crushes the TO battle (9% vs 29% for DPU)

MU also wins the OR% battle (49% to 36%)

Nice to see MU continue to play good defense and win the one aspect that DePaul is good at (turnovers)

+1

MU is responding with better defense  --- three BE games in a row is officially a trend

[Dr. Blackheart]

This is the best defensive game run in the BE season in Buzz's tenure...and the best MU BE "stop run" since 2007-08.  If MU continues to improve and play tough defense for full 40's, this team can be very, very good. 

Offensively, the DU game was the 18th most offensively efficient game in the past 15 years for MU. The Warriors are a tough match-up team offensively.

[Henry Sugar]

Here's a moving average of MU's offensive and defensive efficiency since the Vanderbilt game.  Note that our offense stays pretty consistent.  Also, don't be misled by the low defensive efficiency starting with Vanderbilt.  That includes games against TAMUCC, Centenary, and MV State.

MU is currently playing like a team that should go 15-3 in conference.  Not that they will, but it's an indication of how well they are playing.

[nathanziarek]

Had a 50/50 chance to at least have SPAM applicable to the MUScoop crowd and failed.

---

I know Louisville will take some time to erase from our collective memory and this was a bad DePaul team, but if the trends mean anything, and looking back at the CLOSE games we've played, I'm hopeful for the team's chances to make the tourny this year. Not expecting, but hopeful.

We seem to be able to hang with just about anyone ... just need to get over that 5 point hump ...

[mu_hilltopper]

Did you notice that MU's defense has gotten better since this post?

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2011/01/is-defense-marquettes-achilles-heel.html

Coinkydink?  I think not.

[NYWarrior]

Did you notice that MU's defense has gotten better since this post?

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2011/01/is-defense-marquettes-achilles-heel.html

Coinkydink?  I think not.

I don't think Henry has a Murf complex.