12 Minutes for Otule?

[StillWarriors]

We were abused on the inside in the last 10 minutes. Just noticed in looking at the box score that Otule only played 12 minutes, and finished with one foul. Seems he could have defended a non-shooter and just sagged in the middle. I trust Buzz's judgment, but would love to know what the thinking was on Chris's limited minutes. My guess is he'd say we wanted to play in transition, but we sure could have used some stops.

[🏀]

This is the only thing about the entire game that upsets me.

[bamamarquettefan]

We were abused on the inside in the last 10 minutes. Just noticed in looking at the box score that Otule only played 12 minutes, and finished with one foul. Seems he could have defended a non-shooter and just sagged in the middle. I trust Buzz's judgment, but would love to know what the thinking was on Chris's limited minutes. My guess is he'd say we wanted to play in transition, but we sure could have used some stops.

It looked to me like he was really having trouble defending since their bigs were catching the ball 10-feet plus from the basket and driving past him with that left handed shot and the scoop.

The problem Ithink was we needed more minutes from Davante down the stretch - but that 3rd stupid foul was tough.  None of our guys seemed able to defend the rim on them - but Taylor sure has the size to play in there.  Having three guys big enough to play underneath when we have foul trouble is a major improvement in just a few years, but obviously the defense in there has to be a lot stronger than it was today.

[StillWarriors]

It looked to me like he was really having trouble defending since their bigs were catching the ball 10-feet plus from the basket and driving past him with that left handed shot and the scoop.

The problem Ithink was we needed more minutes from Davante down the stretch - but that 3rd stupid foul was tough.  None of our guys seemed able to defend the rim on them - but Taylor sure has the size to play in there.  Having three guys big enough to play underneath when we have foul trouble is a major improvement in just a few years, but obviously the defense in there has to be a lot stronger than it was today.

If nothing else, Chris may have been able to foul them like he did on one attempted lob. They weren't hitting free throws, so I'd have been willing to take our chances. I completely agree though on the improved size on the roster, although after watching the game today I'm even more amazed at the interior defense Jae and Lazar were able to play over the last several years. Jae would have drawn at least 3 charges today I'll bet. I have confidence though that this group will continue to improve and be solid as the season goes on.

[mug644]

Related to what bama is saying, I think it was that classic conflict between Otule's defense and Gardner's offense. We weren't hitting shots from the outside, and Otule is not able to hold onto those interior passes that Gardner gets and and move with. My guess is that Buzz was going for the desperate need for offense over defense. Tough choice in this one. Tough loss.

[ecompt]

What was amazing was that Chris took his only shot (a three-point play) on MU's second possession and then never saw the ball again.

[brewcity77]

What was amazing was that Chris took his only shot (a three-point play) on MU's second possession and then never saw the ball again.

Definitely. Not getting Otule down low was a major failure. I suppose Vander tried at one point later on, but sent him a Dwight Buycks-style low laser beam.

When you have a game where their bigs are catching it that far out and driving in, just have CO stay home. Play a freaking zone and make them drive it into him. While it can work sometimes, I don't think I will ever understand Buzz's obsession with having our bigs defending beyond the 3-point line 15-20 times per game.

[Skatastrophy]

What was amazing was that Chris took his only shot (a three-point play) on MU's second possession and then never saw the ball again.

Vander wasted our first two posessions of the game, iirc.  Otule's points came on the 3rd or 4th posession.

[Dawson Rental]

Chris has been coming back from a ACL.  I wonder if conditioning or protecting Chris from injury might have been a factor in his limited minutes.