Another Second Half Meltdown Outscored by 14

[MerrittsMustache]

Don't make it about the officiating.  Yeah the FTs are out of whack, especially considereing in BE play we before tonight avg 19 made, with our opponents only avg. 15 att.  But saying it was the officiating is a weak out.  You have to ADJUST to the way the game is being called.  Both players and coaches.  Buzz's repeated look of Oh s**t, not again is easily perceived from TV, I can just imagine what the players and staff think.  Don't blame the officiating, it is way more than that.

Against the zone, MU wasn't hitting from the outside and wasn't get any calls when attacking the basket.

What adjustments would have liked to have seen made? Break it down for us.

[HoopsMalone]

Against the zone, MU wasn't hitting from the outside and wasn't get any calls when attacking the basket.

What adjustments would have liked to have seen made? Break it down for us.

+1

And why are so many people wanting to burn through all of our timeouts early in a half? 

[MerrittsMustache]

+1

And why are so many people wanting to burn through all of our timeouts early in a half? 

If the other team scores 4+ points in a row, always call a timeout. It's Basketball 101.

[MU86NC]

Buzz still hasn't mastered the art of the time out ... I think that's why some people are so frustrated...

[brewcity77]

+1

And why are so many people wanting to burn through all of our timeouts early in a half? 

It's not about burning through all of our timeouts. It's about using a timeout to stop momentum. When you are in control of a game on the road (12-point lead) and the other team suddenly goes on a quick spurt to cut the lead to 7, bringing the home crowd into it, that's not time to simply play on. You call timeout, you get the crowd to simmer down, and you design a play to re-establish your control of the game. We failed to do that and kept playing not just down to a 5-point lead, but with ND in control of the ball. That's simply poor coaching, and allowed them to get all the momentum.

[CTWarrior]

The other thing is he called an odd time out when things were going well in the first half with about 5 1/2 to go so he couldn't use one at the end of the half when we did our usual end of the half/game let them score and then not get a shot thing.

[GGGG]

Another meltdown, Buzz. Louisville and now ND

Otule: 0 points; 0 rebounds; 5 fouls. Let's hear it Sultan. Another non factor, or maybe he was the 6th man for ND.

What do you want me to say?  Hes our best big. 

[willie warrior]

What do you want me to say?  Hes our best big. 

Maybe you should say that you have rethought your opinion after watching his performance and that "No he is not"
When the biggest alleged stud on the floor goes games without a rebound or a point, try something else--give somebody else a chance.

[willie warrior]

Buzz still hasn't mastered the art of the time out ... I think that's why some people are so
In Buzz we trust:Louisville Meltdown

[GGGG]

Maybe you should say that you have rethought your opinion after watching his performance and that "No he is not"
When the biggest alleged stud on the floor goes games without a rebound or a point, try something else--give somebody else a chance.

I never said he was a stud.  I said he was our best big...and he is.  (Which is roughly akin to saying that someone is our tallest dwarf.)  I have no problem with going small with Jae, but based on recent performance, I do not want to see Gardner on the floor for extended minutes.

[79Warrior]

Finally some perspective...much of what' been said and typed in this thread is garbage...or some here really have NO clue about basketball.  MU was playing 5 on 8 tonight...ND's 5 + the 3 referees.  Simple as that.  36 free throws to 17.  Jimmy can't buy a foul underneath..nor Otule..nor Buycks..all who got good looks against the zone..were in the paint..but didn't finish largely due to being fouled..but not getting a call.  It was a terribly officiaited game.  Period.  The deck was stacked against MU right from the start.  When is the last time you recall a Buzz Williams team putting the other team in the bonus at the 9:00 minute mark of the first half?  When is the last time you saw a Buzz Williams team get out attempted at the free throw line - think it has only happned 1 time this season where the opponent shot more than MU...but his?  36-17 ND??  Please.

Ners, stop with the ref's crap. We were playing 5 on 8, blah blah blah. We just are not as good as you think. I will tell you this, if we cannot split the homestand coming up we are going to the NIT. We are not going to get a quality road win the way this team closes out games, so we need to beat somebody at home.

[GGGG]

Ners, stop with the ref's crap. We were playing 5 on 8, blah blah blah. We just are not as good as you think. I will tell you this, if we cannot split the homestand coming up we are going to the NIT. We are not going to get a quality road win the way this team closes out games, so we need to beat somebody at home.

+1.  Please don't bring the "you don't know basketball" stuff and then start complaining about the refs.  I coach it.  I ref it.  I play it.  MU lost this game because of defensive breakdowns, not because of the refs.

[mviale]

@ Sultan - you are right - we need to defend the FT much better. More fans behind the basket.  We can't blame the refs for 36 vs. 18 FTs attempts.  That is a fair game!

[mviale]

Like this quote from Buzz:

"It is impossible to overcome 22 free throws in the second half, especially on the road in the Big East," he said. "To shoot 22 free throws in 20 minutes is an exorbitant number. If I thought my opinion mattered, I would answer (questions) about it, but I have four kids to get through college."

[ChicosBailBonds]

Ners, stop with the ref's crap. We were playing 5 on 8, blah blah blah.

+1

[ChicosBailBonds]

Like this quote from Buzz:

"It is impossible to overcome 22 free throws in the second half, especially on the road in the Big East," he said. "To shoot 22 free throws in 20 minutes is an exorbitant number. If I thought my opinion mattered, I would answer (questions) about it, but I have four kids to get through college."

I think with his Million plus salary per year he'll be just fine to put those kids through college, even if he was fined $25K.  Plus, since he'll be at Marquette as long as we will have him, his kids get free tuition at MU.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Like this quote from Buzz:

"It is impossible to overcome 22 free throws in the second half, especially on the road in the Big East," he said. "To shoot 22 free throws in 20 minutes is an exorbitant number. If I thought my opinion mattered, I would answer (questions) about it, but I have four kids to get through college."

Everyone knows Eddie is the biggest homer in the game, however, the third worst defensively efficient game in 15 years with one of the others also being this year, only three 2nd half defensive rebounds, 8 complete blow by lay-ups by Hansbrough, and with nearly 80% of the ND trips down the court in the 2nd half without a stop--that isn't great for your kid's college bills either. That is actually something Buzz can do something about. 

He needs to start following some of his own advice on "wood" and fix his defensive scheme that his talent can play. We had three good games in a row (although 2nd half vs. UL saw no stops too), but he is now going through the BE for the second time against great coaches in these close games who know how to make adjustments.  Dead horse from me but a team's defense is the only thing a coach and team can rely on--especially fighting through adversity on the road.   

[NersEllenson]

+1.  Please don't bring the "you don't know basketball" stuff and then start complaining about the refs.  I coach it.  I ref it.  I play it.  MU lost this game because of defensive breakdowns, not because of the refs.

Gold medal for you Sultan - you play and ref basketball - that's awesome.  Sadly, for the team you coach, and the games you referee - you clearly put teams at a disadvantage if you felt the game last night was refereed well.  Do you think for maybe just 1 minute the "defensive breakdowns" had something to do with MU being taken out of its defensive style it has played all year?  When phantom fouls get called, and you can't so much as breathe on your opponent -without getting whistled - pretty hard to defend with any type of resistance.  And you wonder why I question if some here "know basketball?"

Still waiting for one of you dissenters to address how a jump shooting team, with less athleticisim, gets to the line 2 times as many times as a more athletic team, that over a 19 game sample size MAKES 19 free throws to an opponents 15 ATTEMPTS.  Please reconcile that, and then proceed with your argument that to assign some blame toward refereeing is "pathetic."  This game was a statistical outlier, and off the bell curve for our team's performance all year long with regard to fouls committed/free throw attempts yielded.  Do you want to tell all of us - other than CBB, 79 Warrior, and the few other consistent Negative nancy's here how we fouled Abromitis on his dunk attempt?  How jae fouled out of the game?  How Jae got called for a block when Nash dropped his shoulder and steam rolled him going to the basket?  How Otule got hammered in the face going up for a dunk and no call?

[mviale]

Gold medal for you Sultan - you play and ref basketball - that's awesome.  Sadly, for the team you coach, and the games you referee - you clearly put teams at a disadvantage if you felt the game last night was refereed well.  Do you think for maybe just 1 minute the "defensive breakdowns" had something to do with MU being taken out of its defensive style it has played all year?  When phantom fouls get called, and you can't so much as breathe on your opponent -without getting whistled - pretty hard to defend with any type of resistance.  And you wonder why I question if some here "know basketball?"

Still waiting for one of you dissenters to address how a jump shooting team, with less athleticisim, gets to the line 2 times as many times as a more athletic team, that over a 19 game sample size MAKES 19 free throws to an opponents 15 ATTEMPTS.  Please reconcile that, and then proceed with your argument that to assign some blame toward refereeing is "pathetic."  This game was a statistical outlier, and off the bell curve for our team's performance all year long with regard to fouls committed/free throw attempts yielded.  Do you want to tell all of us - other than CBB, 79 Warrior, and the few other consistent Negative nancy's here how we fouled Abromitis on his dunk attempt?  How jae fouled out of the game?  How Jae got called for a block when Nash dropped his shoulder and steam rolled him going to the basket?  How Otule got hammered in the face going up for a dunk and no call?

Not sure everyone saw the same game.  We had to change our defense, so Frozena would not get quality minutes at the 5.

[GGGG]

Modify:  Nevermind.  My response was too snarky.

Think what you want to think Ners.  I'm done.

[NersEllenson]

Everyone knows Eddie is the biggest homer in the game, however, the third worst defensively efficient game in 15 years with one of the others also being this year, only three 2nd half defensive rebounds, 8 complete blow by lay-ups by Hansbrough, and with nearly 80% of the ND trips down the court in the 2nd half without a stop--that isn't great for your kid's college bills either. That is actually something Buzz can do something about. 

He needs to start following some of his own advice on "wood" and fix his defensive scheme that his talent can play. We had three good games in a row (although 2nd half vs. UL saw no stops too), but he is now going through the BE for the second time against great coaches in these close games who know how to make adjustments.  Dead horse from me but a team's defense is the only thing a coach and team can rely on--especially fighting through adversity on the road.   

Dr. B - You always have good analysis and insight - so I would like to get your opinion on what you feel the team could have done differently defensively to stem the tide - when it was such a quick whistle last night?  Do you not feel that the way the game was getting called had something to do with our 2nd half defense being poor?    Maybe we could have gone zone - but considering MU nevers plays zone - do you just stick with the girl that you always take to the dance?  Syracuse never comes out of its 2-3 zone...thinkUW always plays man to man - some teams just do what they do..and rarely deviate - as to deviate can be going away from your efficieny that gets created from being systematic and one-dimensional.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Gold medal for you Sultan - you play and ref basketball - that's awesome.  Sadly, for the team you coach, and the games you referee - you clearly put teams at a disadvantage if you felt the game last night was refereed well.  Do you think for maybe just 1 minute the "defensive breakdowns" had something to do with MU being taken out of its defensive style it has played all year?  When phantom fouls get called, and you can't so much as breathe on your opponent -without getting whistled - pretty hard to defend with any type of resistance.  And you wonder why I question if some here "know basketball?"

Still waiting for one of you dissenters to address how a jump shooting team, with less athleticisim, gets to the line 2 times as many times as a more athletic team, that over a 19 game sample size MAKES 19 free throws to an opponents 15 ATTEMPTS.  Please reconcile that, and then proceed with your argument that to assign some blame toward refereeing is "pathetic."  This game was a statistical outlier, and off the bell curve for our team's performance all year long with regard to fouls committed/free throw attempts yielded.  Do you want to tell all of us - other than CBB, 79 Warrior, and the few other consistent Negative nancy's here how we fouled Abromitis on his dunk attempt?  How jae fouled out of the game?  How Jae got called for a block when Nash dropped his shoulder and steam rolled him going to the basket?  How Otule got hammered in the face going up for a dunk and no call?

I'm honored to have me in your signature....the obsession is complete with you now.  By the way, was Warthog in the war?

[NersEllenson]

I'm honored to have me in your signature....the obsession is complete with you now.  By the way, was Warthog in the war?

Pretty sure that calling people by their first names here - Canadian Dimes - as well as researching a member's last name and subsequently posting numerous pictures of House - which is Lenny's Tap last name - goes way beyond weird and an obsession.  As does having some Scooper do an "audit" of the content of another poster's posts - the many times "threatened" analysis of Lenny's Tap post history, etc. 

Having said that, I am going to honor my signature and the wise words of Warthog - and not engage in a discussion with you.  I will respond to occasional efforts on your part to engage me - but I promise not to proactively engage you CBB.  Having said that, there is no obession I have toward you - I've finally just figured out your M.O., and won't respond to your lame attention-starved attempts to stir the pot and make inflammatory statements.

[Marquette84]

Still waiting for one of you dissenters to address how a jump shooting team, with less athleticisim, gets to the line 2 times as many times as a more athletic team, that over a 19 game sample size MAKES 19 free throws to an opponents 15 ATTEMPTS.  Please reconcile that, and then proceed with your argument that to assign some blame toward refereeing is "pathetic."  This game was a statistical outlier, and off the bell curve for our team's performance all year long with regard to fouls committed/free throw attempts yielded.  Do you want to tell all of us - other than CBB, 79 Warrior, and the few other consistent Negative nancy's here how we fouled Abromitis on his dunk attempt?  How jae fouled out of the game?  How Jae got called for a block when Nash dropped his shoulder and steam rolled him going to the basket?  How Otule got hammered in the face going up for a dunk and no call?

The game is not an outlier when you look at Notre Dame's performance on fouls & FTs for the entire season.

For the year, ND actually gets to the line more often than we do, commits fewer fouls than we do, and sends the other team to the line less frequently than we do.  

Despite your claim that a less athletic, jump shooting team should have a disadvantage over a more athletic team, when we incorporate 40 games of data for both teams, the reality suggests otherwise.  

You can continue to go with your gut.

Or you can look at the facts, which tell you that:
--Notre Dame is better than we are at drawing fouls and getting to the line themselves
--Notre Dame is better than we are at keeping the other team from getting to the line

It it were one game, I might blame the refs.  But this is the game Notre Dame has been playing all season.  The only thing at play here is that its the first time we've been on the receiving end rather than the giving end of such a FT disparity.  

And it came against one of the handful of teams that is actually better at this approach than we are.  Should be no surprise.  Time to stop blaming the refs or believing that this is some sort of aberration.

[ATL MU Warrior]

I'm honored to have me in your signature....the obsession is complete with you now.  By the way, was Warthog in the war?

o.k.  (kicking self in ass) I'll bite and ask what this has to do with anything?