Trent Lockett

[BCHoopster]

He really had some good looks today at the hoop, and missed them all.  What a bad shooting team!  But playing hard keep them in the game and a lucky 3 from Junior helped them win.

[karavotsos]

There was a stretch after MU went up 10 that Vander and Junior took 3 pointers pretty early in the shot clock.  I thought those weren't very good shots.

I'd err on the side of taking the early good shot rather than going into a shell, especially seeing how quickly a 10 point lead can go away and with past experience -- especially 2 yrs ago some games (Louisville comes to mind).  If Vander or Junior hits one of those, it could end the game.  I'd think Junior's would probably be considered one of the bad ones, though.  Lockett's were open good looks, and I guess I  was thinking of his more and overall.  I even thought Jamil had a couple he could have taken that he passed up.  MU just missed a lot of open looks throughout.

[Norm]

Norm, you have about as much chance at an NBA career as Lockett does.

Doesn't mean he still can't be an impact player for us this year, though.

Yeah, that's what I thought, but just wasn't sure about prospects for "specialists" in the pros.

[ronald dragon]

Trent shows his flashes, he just has to play more consistent.

[GGGG]

I'd err on the side of taking the early good shot rather than going into a shell, especially seeing how quickly a 10 point lead can go away and with past experience -- especially 2 yrs ago some games (Louisville comes to mind).  If Vander or Junior hits one of those, it could end the game.  I'd think Junior's would probably be considered one of the bad ones, though.  Lockett's were open good looks, and I guess I  was thinking of his more and overall.  I even thought Jamil had a couple he could have taken that he passed up.  MU just missed a lot of open looks throughout.

While I do understand that philosophy, I do think that they had been making hay by attacking the basket.  And by taking early shots instead of continuing to pound away at the inside, you also become too passive. 

[TJ]

There was a stretch after MU went up 10 that Vander and Junior took 3 pointers pretty early in the shot clock.  I thought those weren't very good shots.

+1

[TJ]

While I do understand that philosophy, I do think that they had been making hay by attacking the basket.  And by taking early shots instead of continuing to pound away at the inside, you also become too passive. 

was about to say this as well.  (or something that was supposed to mean that but didn't sound as good.)

[Mutaman]

Trent shows his flashes, he just has to play more consistent.

He just needs to put the ball in the basket. Can imagine what everyone would be saying about him and Wilson and others if Jr's shot had bounced out.

[karavotsos]

I'd like to have heard the mean one.  I think MU is fairly judicious in taking 3's.  Didn't say they were all good.  Also, don't think that shooting early in the shot clock- if its a good shot-is bad up 10, especially for this team.  The shot clock problems at the end were in the other direction.

Kevin Ollie got his team to buckle down and play good d.  When you're in the half court and the other team is playing tough d, passing up open shots can lead to no shot, or a worse shot, rather than a better shot.  Don't want MU to select shots as if they are a 0% 3-point shooting team or a down-tempo low possession, burn clock team.  

[TJ]

I'd like to have heard the mean one.  I think MU is fairly judicious in taking 3's.  Didn't say they were all good.  Also, don't think that shooting early in the shot clock- if its a good shot-is bad up 10, especially for this team.  The shot clock problems at the end were in the other direction.

You work hard attacking the basket and getting good buckets to build a 10 point lead.  Why, instead of continuing to work the offense that has been successful, would you throw up some quick, shitty threes?  Especially considering you're 0-11 so far in the game.  The lead was cut in half in those two lazy possessions.

[karavotsos]

I'm ok with Cadougan's 3 now as well if its what I remember.  I think it was a ball screen and his guy got screened while the big man played the driving lane.  He had an open shot.  I remember being surprised at him taking it because he doesn't take a lot of 3's, but unless you're Rajon Rondo that's the right play.  I'd rather have a guy take a shot confident he's going to make it than the paralysis that occurred in the half-court at the end of the game.

Not all good shots go in.  I really don't know what made those shots crappy.  If they were crappy because they were 3's, then the answer is don't shoot 3's.  That's not an answer.  If the answer is they were crappy because they were early in the shot clock, then you're stuck in half court offense, which no one wants to be all the time.  If the shots were crappy shots because they didn't go in, then I guess you're right.

[downtown85]

Locket played like crap the whole game. His half court and transition D were complete disasters.  He was owned by the guys he was guarding on from UCONN.  Watch more than the overtime and look at this game as a whole. 

[avid1010]

Locket played like crap the whole game. His half court and transition D were complete disasters.  He was owned by the guys he was guarding on from UCONN.  Watch more than the overtime and look at this game as a whole. 

yeah...i expected this thread to be pretty harsh on him.  he did a few good things at the end of the game that i would certainly expect from someone who has as much D1 experience as him, but for the vast majority of the game i thought he was awful.  maybe i had too high of expectations, but i didn't expect to see such basic mistakes.  he cost mu more points on simple things like turning his back to his man or the ball, letting the player guarding him leak out for easy transition hoops, etc.

seems like a nice kid, smart, hard working, but i wouldn't expect to see the careless mistakes he made from someone i just described as smart and hard working.  i'd also be less concerned with him shooting 0-7 if he had shown more consistency in the past for mu. 

[GGGG]

Locket played like crap the whole game. His half court and transition D were complete disasters.  He was owned by the guys he was guarding on from UCONN.  Watch more than the overtime and look at this game as a whole. 

I disagree partially.  Transition D was a problem, but I think you are blaming him too much for some of the breakdowns in the halfcourt defense.  I think them playing zone for a good portion of the game was done because the entire half-court defense has been pretty poor against decent teams this year.  Simply put, if the defense isn't causing turnovers, the opposition generally gets a good look.  Lockett is only part of that problem, and there aren't ready alternatives that are any better IMO.

[tower912]

Other than shooting, Trent had a good game.    The same can be said for most of the team.

[MerrittsMustache]

In 34 minutes, Lockett had 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, no TOs, knocked down clutch FTs and had one of the biggest plays in OT. Despite that, fans (both on here and at the BC) rip him for anything and everything because his shots weren't falling. Honestly, the ignorance among MU fans is starting to get embarrassing.

[GGGG]

In 34 minutes, Lockett had 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block, no TOs, knocked down clutch FTs and had one of the biggest plays in OT. Despite that, fans (both on here and at the BC) rip him for anything and everything because his shots weren't falling. Honestly, the ignorance among MU fans is starting to get embarrassing.

And because of their misplaced expectations.  If Juan or Jake has that stat line, people here would go nuts.

[Golden Avalanche]

Other than shooting, Trent had a good game.    The same can be said for most of the team.

If last night was a good showing for the team, it's going to be a stressful ride to 8-10.

[esotericmindguy]

And because of their misplaced expectations.  If Juan or Jake has that stat line, people here would go nuts.

If Juan or Jake went 0-7 but had 1 block in overtime people would be going nuts? What are you talking about? Juan played 14 minutes to Lockett's 34 and had 1 more rebound and same amount of assists. It's not about expectations, it's about results. Lockett has not been delivering results, he's shooting 36% from the field this year. His defense has been pretty bad as well.

[GGGG]

If Juan or Jake went 0-7 but had 1 block in overtime people would be going nuts? What are you talking about? Juan played 14 minutes to Lockett's 34 and had 1 more rebound and same amount of assists. It's not about expectations, it's about results. Lockett has not been delivering results, he's shooting 36% from the field this year. His defense has been pretty bad as well.

Hey, if you would rather have Juan on the floor in OT, good for you.  Lockett is playing better than he is.  Sorry you can't see that.

[MerrittsMustache]

If Juan or Jake went 0-7 but had 1 block in overtime people would be going nuts? What are you talking about? Juan played 14 minutes to Lockett's 34 and had 1 more rebound and same amount of assists. It's not about expectations, it's about results. Lockett has not been delivering results, he's shooting 36% from the field this year. His defense has been pretty bad as well.

Jake Thomas is shooting 33% from the floor and 30% from 3 and fans are clamoring for
him to see the floor more.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Jake Thomas is shooting 33% from the floor and 30% from 3 and fans are clamoring for
him to see the floor more.

Todd Mayo is worse than that, and everybody seems to love that guy.

/ducks

[esotericmindguy]

Jake Thomas is shooting 33% from the floor and 30% from 3 and fans are clamoring for
him to see the floor more.

I have not heard from one fan who's "clamoring for more Jake Thomas". You might need new seats.

[esotericmindguy]

Hey, if you would rather have Juan on the floor in OT, good for you.  Lockett is playing better than he is.  Sorry you can't see that.

Oh that's convenient. I didn't say that, but nice aversion. Let me post again so you can read carefully.

If Juan or Jake went 0-7 but had 1 block in overtime people would be going nuts? What are you talking about? Juan played 14 minutes to Lockett's 34 and had 1 more rebound and same amount of assists. It's not about expectations, it's about results. Lockett has not been delivering results, he's shooting 36% from the field this year. His defense has been pretty bad as well.

I don't see threads about how great Juan is....Sorry you can't see that.

[MU82]

If last night was a good showing for the team, it's going to be a stressful ride to 8-10.

I will say that if we play that hard every game, we will beat half the teams in the conference and at least give ourselves a chance against the better teams. Goes without saying we have to shoot better, but I actually was quite encouraged by the effort.

We outrebounded UConn by 10, only committed 9 turnovers after some horrific games in which our guys acted like the ball was covered in margarine, got 18 pts, 5 assts and only 1 TO from our PG and made most of our FTs down the stretch.

Those are all things that lead to success.