Mount Saint Mary's Observations

[GGGG]

Good:

**Defense.  Very solid.  MSM was missing their leading scorer but still I liked what I saw
**Balanced scoring from the starting five.  With a few to go in the game, all had between 10-20.
**Cadougan with 10+ assists
**Free throws 14-18 last I checked.  2 of those were D Wilson.
**Agressiveness by Jones
**Transition offense was lethal.


Bad:

**Three point shooting.  Outside of DJO, 2-17...with the only 2 by Jae. 
**Gave up too many offensive rebounds
**Jamil was pretty much non-existant.  Very passive.  Never put the ball on the floor.
**Mayo's shooting...enough said.
**Cadougan still struggles with defense.

[GGGG]

Oh and SoTG?  I don't know....Cadougan with 10 assists?  DJO because of his efficiency? 

[rocky_warrior]

Oh and SoTG?  I don't know....Cadougan with 10 assists?  DJO because of his efficiency? 

I think I'd go with Junior with the Double-Double pts/ast

[NersEllenson]

Think we saw the future of Marquette basketball under Buzz tonight.  Now that he has 11 high major players - I see him going with the "line" mentality most of the year...a 1st 5 rotation, and then a 2nd 5 rotation.  We'll see if it holds up through the nonconference  schedule....but in my view tonight -  I did not feel the 2nd team was really much, if any type of drop off from 1st team/5...

This certainly allows both "5's" to go all out on both ends, as they can get sufficient rest...

[nyg]

I can't make any real observations since Mount St. Mary's was like a Div III team.  Heck, they had walk ons playing, just terrible.

But, the horrendous three point shooting by MU and giving up offensive rebounds to MSM were low points.

[chapman]

Yeah, would say Junior for SotG for the double double.  Maybe Otule in second for some nice swats and hitting all his free throws.  Since I mentioned both, great to see two or three pretty assists between Junior and Chris tonight since they seemed to struggle to connect at times last year.  

I think Mount St Mary's went to the wrong gym tonight.  They must have meant to play Cardinal Stritch where they might have only lost by 20.  Absolutely brutal.

[wadesworld]

Think we saw the future of Marquette basketball under Buzz tonight.  Now that he has 11 high major players - I see him going with the "line" mentality most of the year...a 1st 5 rotation, and then a 2nd 5 rotation.  We'll see if it holds up through the nonconference  schedule....but in my view tonight -  I did not feel the 2nd team was really much, if any type of drop off from 1st team/5...

This certainly allows both "5's" to go all out on both ends, as they can get sufficient rest...

I disagree and hope that isn't the case.  I don't know of too many teams that don't have a starter (or 2 and usually 3, really) on the floor at all points throughout a game (at least in minutes that mean something).  I hope we don't do that.

[brewcity77]

Think we saw the future of Marquette basketball under Buzz tonight.  Now that he has 11 high major players - I see him going with the "line" mentality most of the year...a 1st 5 rotation, and then a 2nd 5 rotation.  We'll see if it holds up through the nonconference  schedule....but in my view tonight -  I did not feel the 2nd team was really much, if any type of drop off from 1st team/5...

This certainly allows both "5's" to go all out on both ends, as they can get sufficient rest...

No way in hell. We won this game by 54 points, which allows for that. Once the Big East starts, he'll tighten up the rotation. Key guys like DJO and Crowder will get 30+, starting supporting cast like Junior and Otule will get 22-28. There is no way you'll see bulk shifts like this against Syracuse, Louisville, and UConn. That's just ludicrous. Our roster isn't there yet.

[wojosdojo]

I like Otule and know he's put in the work but his hands still need A LOT of work. Good looking strokes at the line and quite a few baskets.

There will be no line changes come BE.

[godzilla]

One thing I noticed is that Blue is not a fan favorite among the students, especially the girls.

Junior looked good on offense, but he still gets beaten off the dribble.  

It's hard to learn much about MU when the opposition was so weak.

[NersEllenson]

No way in hell. We won this game by 54 points, which allows for that. Once the Big East starts, he'll tighten up the rotation. Key guys like DJO and Crowder will get 30+, starting supporting cast like Junior and Otule will get 22-28. There is no way you'll see bulk shifts like this against Syracuse, Louisville, and UConn. That's just ludicrous. Our roster isn't there yet.

It definitely would be a departure from what we've seen thus far under Buzz, but then again, we haven't had an ideal Buzz roster until this season.  Buzz definitely was a fan of the Mizzou style that bounced MU from the tourney in 2009...

But yes, your point is well taken, and certainly more likely of a scenario than I proposed - but I would not be surprised to see a solid 9-10 man rotation...with even the 9 and 10 guys getting 10-15 minutes of run..

[Warriors88]

No way any coach keeps a rotation of 5 and then replace with 5.  Fine for a crappy team tonight. When MU plays legit competition I'd like to see J Wilson in with the main rotation.  He is one of the key players this year.  Then spot minutes for Garnder, Jones, and frosh.  Once the competition picks up the rotation will be 7 or 8.  If one of the frosh shows potential maybe one more joins the party.  

[ErickJD08]

I am sorry but I just don't see how blue got his 5 star status. With less PT, Jones looks better and just more comfortable. Blue is still disappointing.

[Skatastrophy]

IMO Otule was the stud of the game by far.  With the first "line" he was the only guy putting up points in the beginning of the first half, plus a couple of pretty good swats as well as dishing to teammates (whether they could finish or not).  The big guy put in a solid game and got himself going without any help.

Jamail Jones was solid, though.  At least he wasn't hoisting up 3s like Crowder.

[BCHoopster]

I am sorry but I just don't see how blue got his 5 star status. With less PT, Jones looks better and just more comfortable. Blue is still disappointing.

Blue was 100% percent better tonight than any game he played last year.  He did not force anything and played within himself.  He made some nice passes and defended pretty
well.  He will never be a big scorer until he learns how to shoot, but if he can get 10 points a game this year, it is much more than I expected.  It will get tougher against tougher
opposition but lets give him a chance.  High school is a different game, 5 star means nothing, what star was DWade, Lazar, Jimmy, Wes.  Brian Butch was a 5 star!  So Brian should
have been a superstar, it does not always happen.  finally, what star was DJO and Crowder??

[Markusquette]

I am sorry but I just don't see how blue got his 5 star status. With less PT, Jones looks better and just more comfortable. Blue is still disappointing.

I disagree that Vander was disappointing.  What did you expect out of him this game?  He was taking smarter shots and finishing better inside.  Played good defense and interrupted the passing lanes.  Still three fouls but looked alright.  Also made a few plays for others on offense and only 1 turnover.  Not much to take away obviously, but I wouldn't label his performance as disappointing.  

[Mutaman]

Blue was 100% percent better tonight than any game he played last year.  He did not force anything and played within himself. 

No question about it. He looked really comfortable and he took what was given. A very nice surprise.

[PGsHeroes32]

We might be the best team in the nation.

[rocky_warrior]

We might be the best team in the nation.

Possible.  Not probable.  I should probably go back and look up some of your overly negative positions from last year to temper that

[🏀]

One thing I noticed is that Blue is not a fan favorite among the students, especially the girls.

When you swing a big stick, you tend to gather haters.

[PGsHeroes32]

Possible.  Not probable.  I should probably go back and look up some of your overly negative positions from last year to temper that

New Season brings better optimism!!!!!!!

[Dr. Blackheart]

Good recaps...I might just add:

• The 19 steals represented the 2nd most in a game in 15 years
• Junior's 10 dimes was the 12th best assist performance over 15 years, which considering he played only 24 minutes, is special

[brewcity77]

I was pleased with Blue too, but he had some great games last year. In last year's opener, I believe he had 7 pts, 7 rebs, and 7 asts. He was great in the non-con, it was after Jan 1 that his trouble started.

Another note...for the first time I can ever recall, Chris Otule successfully received and scored on a pass he wasn't ready for. Junior had a little no-look layoff that CO caught and converted. With Buycks at the point, those passes were usually bounce passes, which seemed to wreak havoc on his depth perception. I really think Junior starting could completely change this team.

[mileskishnish72]

A win is a win is a win. But this was like BP - that's OK, use the 'cakes to shake things out, see who earns the minutes. Got to say, giving up 16 offensive boards to that crew gives one pause. Work to be done there.

[tower912]

That was a cupcake, it was a laugher, we won by a lot, I'm thrilled, yadayadayada.
Things I didn't like: 
       Jones has no conscience.   OK to be aggressive, not ok to have one touch and jumper possessions, even against a cupcake.
       Defensive rebounding.   Many were of the variety where we had trapped on one side, they had gotten out of the trap and taken a shot, we had one guy on the weakside, and the ball went over his head into the hands of a guard.   If we give up 16 OR's to MSM, what happens against a good team?
       Junior still struggles to keep his man in front of him.

        DG still looks slow getting back on defense in transition.  (though his actual defense was better.)

It was clear to see the difference between new guys and returnees.    The new guy who looked the best was DWilson, IMO.   
Lots of fun, nobody got hurt.    I'm really not displeased, just nit-picking looking for stuff that good teams are going to exploit.