Vander for SOTG

[dgies9156]

OK, I know we lost and I know Scoop does not hand out SoTGs for losses, but can we make an exception for Vander this time?

He sure as heck deserves it.

Just once....?????

[brewcity77]

Sadly, no. But in the words of someone after the last game, "If you vote for anyone else, you're doing it wrong."

[Clam Crowder]

If he keeps that stroke going he will be a HUGE asset to the team because the predictions of Trent, Steve, and Jamil having decent outside games have so far been sadly wrong. If we don't have a three point shooter it will be tough to score at a high level due to everyone trying a zone on us.

[GGGG]

It's not just the offensive stroke.  It is the 37 minutes on the floor.  The key offensive rebound at the end of the game.  The fact that he played very good defense when it was spotty elsewhere.  I've been saying this all along - offense is gravy with him.  If he starts replicating that kind of production though, he will be the best player on this team by a long shot.

[bilsu]

Just before he made his first three, I wanted Blue out of the game for forcing bad shots. Early on Cadougan was player of the game and except for missing the last free throw had a very good game. Does anyone else here wish that Gardner would play less defense? What I am talking about is Gardner reaching to try to steal the ball far from the basket. He was on a roll offensively when he got his fourth foul and had to go to the bench. The fourth foul would have been his third, if he had not got a foul trying to knock the ball out from behind 25 ft from the basket. That foul as much as anything cost us the game. Props to Thomas for getting the rebound basket and free throw to put us up three, which should of won us the game.

[NersEllenson]

If he keeps that stroke going he will be a HUGE asset to the team because the predictions of Trent, Steve, and Jamil having decent outside games have so far been sadly wrong. If we don't have a three point shooter it will be tough to score at a high level due to everyone trying a zone on us.

Yet some here have felt the loss of Todd Mayo isn't a big deal...or that Todd's production would actually go down with increased usage...

[GGGG]

Gardner's reach in foul up top was simply inexcusable.  Dykes said it was "lazy," and I think that was being kind.  There is part of Davante that seems to want to play like a small forward at times, but he needs to be more aware than that.

[brewcity77]

Just before he made his first three, I wanted Blue out of the game for forcing bad shots.

I can think of one bad, out-of-control drive Blue took a shot on. Beyond that, he was taking shots in the rhythm and flow of the offense when he was open. They weren't falling early, but it's not like he was just chucking for the sake of it.

I think Gardner's bad third foul and Otule's inability to get back when Smith was driving at him shows a need to possibly experiment with our defense a bit. Otule may have lost some of the lateral quickness that made him effective at shadowing out to the three-point line, but Gardner never had that. I really feel both of them are more comfortable primarily staying in the paint. Gardner had that great block yesterday and Otule was most effective defensively down low. Butler had a field day drawing our bigs out and then killing us with drives. When that's happening, we need to either go zone or some form of combination that allows those guys to stay inside. It will keep their fouls down and let them do what they do best on defense, which is guard the paint.

[NersEllenson]

I can think of one bad, out-of-control drive Blue took a shot on. Beyond that, he was taking shots in the rhythm and flow of the offense when he was open. They weren't falling early, but it's not like he was just chucking for the sake of it.

I think Gardner's bad third foul and Otule's inability to get back when Smith was driving at him shows a need to possibly experiment with our defense a bit. Otule may have lost some of the lateral quickness that made him effective at shadowing out to the three-point line, but Gardner never had that. I really feel both of them are more comfortable primarily staying in the paint. Gardner had that great block yesterday and Otule was most effective defensively down low. Butler had a field day drawing our bigs out and then killing us with drives. When that's happening, we need to either go zone or some form of combination that allows those guys to stay inside. It will keep their fouls down and let them do what they do best on defense, which is guard the paint.

Butler had a field day because Jamil Wilson couldn't defend Khyle Marshall for crap one on one..he either fouled him, or he scored on Jamil.  To your point..Butler had Smith playing out high a good part of the game, drawing Otule and Gardner away from the hoop.  Think Buzz was hesitant to go to a zone fearful of Clark's shooting.

[Hards Alumni]

Butler had a field day because Jamil Wilson couldn't defend Khyle Marshall for crap one on one..he either fouled him, or he scored on Jamil.  To your point..Butler had Smith playing out high a good part of the game, drawing Otule and Gardner away from the hoop.  Think Buzz was hesitant to go to a zone fearful of Clark's shooting.

Totally agree.

[GGGG]

Butler had a field day because Jamil Wilson couldn't defend Khyle Marshall for crap one on one..he either fouled him, or he scored on Jamil.  To your point..Butler had Smith playing out high a good part of the game, drawing Otule and Gardner away from the hoop.  Think Buzz was hesitant to go to a zone fearful of Clark's shooting.

Frankly the only way to counter-act that is to go small and get some more quickness on the floor, which they tried to do as well, but it really was a disappointing defensive effort by Wilson and Taylor.

[brewcity77]

Butler had a field day because Jamil Wilson couldn't defend Khyle Marshall for crap one on one..he either fouled him, or he scored on Jamil.  To your point..Butler had Smith playing out high a good part of the game, drawing Otule and Gardner away from the hoop.  Think Buzz was hesitant to go to a zone fearful of Clark's shooting.

The problem with that mindset is we were already getting killed inside. Scores on 12 of their last 13 trips. It clearly wasn't working, and Clarke wasn't hitting shots. Take a chance at something working rather than sticking with what obviously isn't.

[Clam Crowder]

Shocking that no is mentioning some fairly soft calls against us down low. We couldn't be too aggressive when half of our bigger players were in foul trouble. That definitely played a role as well.

[GGGG]

Shocking that no is mentioning some fairly soft calls against us down low. We couldn't be too aggressive when half of our bigger players were in foul trouble. That definitely played a role as well.

I think the refereeing was remarkably consistent on both ends.  They called fouls when defenders didn't move their feet and bump.  Everyone of Jamil's calls was legit.

[awilhelmscream]

I think the refereeing was remarkably consistent on both ends.  They called fouls when defenders didn't move their feet and bump.  Everyone of Jamil's calls was legit.

I agree.  The refs started off basically allowing a South Central LA blacktop match and moved to calling a much tighter game as time went on.  That being said they called it evenly on both sides.  Call me crazy but I think Buzz got a little out coached in this one too.  Stevens adjusted well and Buzz seemed to be a step behind.

[MerrittsMustache]

I agree.  The refs started off basically allowing a South Central LA blacktop match and moved to calling a much tighter game as time went on.  That being said they called it evenly on both sides.  Call me crazy but I think Buzz got a little out coached in this one too.  Stevens adjusted well and Buzz seemed to be a step behind.

Stevens is a really good coach and he is excellent at drawing up plays. If Buzz were to leave (in 15-20 years, of course), I'd hope that Brad Stevens is one of the first calls that LW makes.

[Clam Crowder]

I think the refereeing was remarkably consistent on both ends.  They called fouls when defenders didn't move their feet and bump.  Everyone of Jamil's calls was legit.

Jamil's defense seemed to be more theatrics than actual defense. Sometimes his dramatic ways get to me.

[MarsupialMadness]

Stevens is a really good coach and he is excellent at drawing up plays. If Buzz were to leave (in 15-20 years, of course), I'd hope that Brad Stevens is one of the first calls that LW makes.

I appreciate the outlook, but... something tells me he will be in a better coaching position in than head coach MU within the next 15-20 years.

[bilsu]

Shocking that no is mentioning some fairly soft calls against us down low. We couldn't be too aggressive when half of our bigger players were in foul trouble. That definitely played a role as well.

I think the refs were consistant, which makes it a well reffed game. However, the style of game they called did not favor MU. I also thought there was not a lot emphasis on watching feet. I not sure if that favored one team over the other, but there were times when they blew the whistle to call a foul on MU, but I thought they were going to call a travel on Butler. I also thought Lockett got away with a few travels. The thing that seemed to actually changed the game was in the first half our bench could not keep up the defensive pressure on Butler and Butler's guards got comfortable in the game. Once Butler got comfortable, they stopped turning the ball over. It went from looking like we were going to blow them out to a last second lost.

[brewcity77]

Shocking that no is mentioning some fairly soft calls against us down low. We couldn't be too aggressive when half of our bigger players were in foul trouble. That definitely played a role as well.

There were a lot of soft calls period. The players weren't allowed to get into much of a flow on either side. The problem is that when you are as physical as the average Big East team is, that will punish you. Legit fouls or not, if that's a Big East crew, Marquette doesn't get called for nearly what we got called for. Those guys didn't let anything go, and while it may not be unfair, it hinders our style a lot more than it does Butler's.

[Clam Crowder]

There were a lot of soft calls period. The players weren't allowed to get into much of a flow on either side. The problem is that when you are as physical as the average Big East team is, that will punish you. Legit fouls or not, if that's a Big East crew, Marquette doesn't get called for nearly what we got called for. Those guys didn't let anything go, and while it may not be unfair, it hinders our style a lot more than it does Butler's.

I definitely agree with this. Big East crew would have made a big difference for us.

[bamamarquettefan]

OK, I know we lost and I know Scoop does not hand out SoTGs for losses, but can we make an exception for Vander this time?

He sure as heck deserves it.

Just once....?????

As a compromise we've been putting up the top Value Add player on Cracked Sidewalks after every game, and we will keep a tally there to give Vander his first one.

Will update after the Mississippi game.  So right now the:

Season Top Value Add Tally is
Blue 1
J. Wilson 1
Gardner 1

(Anderson's been close a couple of times even though he doesn't get one under Value Add.