Westcoaster Providence game thoughts

[mattyv1908]

Just finished the game taped after working on PST.  Great team win.  I think Buzz finally began to realize the sum of his parts tonight.  Here's some thoughts.

1.  Great mix getting everyone involved starting early.  I believe 9 of 11 who played scored in the first half and 10 of 11 scored by the end of the game.  This was our best defensive effort as a team all season.  I could point out how almost everyone on the court got beat at one point but as a team we generated a great defensive effort.

2.  D Wilson had his best game of the year.  Perhaps his limited minutes early contributed.  It seemed like he had his best defensive game against a BE POY candidate.  Timely attacking of the basket mixed with key defensive stops.

3.  The young guys can/should contribute.  Burton picked his spots and maximized his potential.  A couple of out of control shots but his dish off to Otule shows he's recognizing shot selection.

4.  Todd Mayo is clutch.  After a scoreless first half in which I believe he played with to much reservation, he was the critical component after Providence made their huge run and singlehandedly kept the game between 5-8 points after we weathered the storm.

5.  Neither D Wilson or Dawson can handle the press.  Jamil should get the ball with Mayo and Wilson on the wings late in games.  It's too bad our entire team couldn't buy a bucket during that 16-0 run or I thought Dawson would've gained valuable experience breaking the press.  It's too bad it was closer than needed as it prevented a learning experience.  Note to Buzz - play the youngsters against the cupcakes in the preseason.

6.  This is our best win of the season as a team and marks the first legitimate launching pad of growth.  This was a team win.  Everybody contributed.  Jake kept shooting and hit what should have been the dagger late in the first half prior to our shooting woes.  Mayo had a tough first half yet battled through it and was key in maintaining a working lead in the second.  Gardner was solid even though I thought he could've gotten at least three more foul calls.  Burton, Dawson and Johnson all contributed and this will only help us moving forward.

7.  To continue my last point, this was also our best defensive game and I believe our fresh bodies allowed us to give max effort for the majority of the game.

8.  Where was Taylor during our offensive drought?  I thought during the game he could've come in and given us a spark while Providence was making their run.

9.  TRANSITION BASKETS - had we had this defensive intensity (fresh legs playing 11) I honestly believe we pick up another 5 wins throughout the season with the easy looks in transition.

As usual I wish to simply advance the conversation.  I'll turn it over to the board.  One final thought - this win by this team playing 11 deep with defined roles makes me think we have a shot at winning the BET.  It's been too long in coming but Buzz may have found the formula and it's odd that it's the same one he's employed in previous years prior to this season.  Here's for more of the same on Saturday.

[mattyv1908]

SOTG should go to Jamil Wilson.  I know this will be unpopular on this board but he played with an aggressiveness that Providence couldn't match.  Took it to the hoop rather than settle for jump shots.  Huge on the glass even if his team mates were credited for the rebounds as his active hands were huge on the boards.  Made big shots when it mattered.  Steadied our ball handling when both Wilson/Dawson struggled with the press.  He was our most consistent player the entire game.

Honorable mention to Mayo and D Wilson even though Gardner was our go to guy as usual.  Without Mayo's string of points following the 16-0 run I think we lose this game.  Without Derrick's defensive effort and timely scoring the same can be said.

I say again this was our best team win of the year and the first real building block on what we've come to expect as Marquette basketball.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Just finished the game taped after working on PST.  Great team win.  I think Buzz finally began to realize the sum of his parts tonight.  Here's some thoughts.

1.  Great mix getting everyone involved starting early.  I believe 9 of 11 who played scored in the first half and 10 of 11 scored by the end of the game.  This was our best defensive effort as a team all season.  I could point out how almost everyone on the court got beat at one point but as a team we generated a great defensive effort.

2.  D Wilson had his best game of the year.  Perhaps his limited minutes early contributed.  It seemed like he had his best defensive game against a BE POY candidate.  Timely attacking of the basket mixed with key defensive stops.

3.  The young guys can/should contribute.  Burton picked his spots and maximized his potential.  A couple of out of control shots but his dish off to Otule shows he's recognizing shot selection.

4.  Todd Mayo is clutch.  After a scoreless first half in which I believe he played with to much reservation, he was the critical component after Providence made their huge run and singlehandedly kept the game between 5-8 points after we weathered the storm.

5.  Neither D Wilson or Dawson can handle the press.  Jamil should get the ball with Mayo and Wilson on the wings late in games.  It's too bad our entire team couldn't buy a bucket during that 16-0 run or I thought Dawson would've gained valuable experience breaking the press.  It's too bad it was closer than needed as it prevented a learning experience.  Note to Buzz - play the youngsters against the cupcakes in the preseason.

6.  This is our best win of the season as a team and marks the first legitimate launching pad of growth.  This was a team win.  Everybody contributed.  Jake kept shooting and hit what should have been the dagger late in the first half prior to our shooting woes.  Mayo had a tough first half yet battled through it and was key in maintaining a working lead in the second.  Gardner was solid even though I thought he could've gotten at least three more foul calls.  Burton, Dawson and Johnson all contributed and this will only help us moving forward.

7.  To continue my last point, this was also our best defensive game and I believe our fresh bodies allowed us to give max effort for the majority of the game.

8.  Where was Taylor during our offensive drought?  I thought during the game he could've come in and given us a spark while Providence was making their run.

9.  TRANSITION BASKETS - had we had this defensive intensity (fresh legs playing 11) I honestly believe we pick up another 5 wins throughout the season with the easy looks in transition.

As usual I wish to simply advance the conversation.  I'll turn it over to the board.  One final thought - this win by this team playing 11 deep with defined roles makes me think we have a shot at winning the BET.  It's been too long in coming but Buzz may have found the formula and it's odd that it's the same one he's employed in previous years prior to this season.  Here's for more of the same on Saturday.

Great post. I think I agree with everything

[bilsu]

I am not sure the defense was that great. Providence just kept missing decent shots in the first half. It was like they were still looking for out for the bat when they were shooting.

[CTWarrior]

I am not sure the defense was that great. Providence just kept missing decent shots in the first half. It was like they were still looking for out for the bat when they were shooting.

I agree that the first half defense wasn't 14 points allowed good (that one possession where they had 5 or 6 shots including a couple of bunnies but came up empty springs to mind), but it was very, very good, and we definitely forced Providence out of what they wanted to do.

[CTWarrior]

5.  Neither D Wilson or Dawson can handle the press.  Jamil should get the ball with Mayo and Wilson on the wings late in games.  It's too bad our entire team couldn't buy a bucket during that 16-0 run or I thought Dawson would've gained valuable experience breaking the press.  It's too bad it was closer than needed as it prevented a learning experience.  Note to Buzz - play the youngsters against the cupcakes in the preseason.

The scariest thing about this game was how bad we looked against the press.  You like to have that guard who you can just hand the ball to and get out of the way, but we don;t have that.  One thing we have to do is punish the pressing team with easy layups when we break it.

Last night would have been scary if Providence hadn't run out of gas.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Is Kris Dunn injured on Providence?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Is Kris Dunn injured on Providence?

Has been since the fourth game of the season

[source?]

6.  This is our best win of the season as a team and marks the first legitimate launching pad of growth.  This was a team win.  Everybody contributed.  Jake kept shooting and hit what should have been the dagger late in the first half prior to our shooting woes.  Mayo had a tough first half yet battled through it and was key in maintaining a working lead in the second.  Gardner was solid even though I thought he could've gotten at least three more foul calls.  Burton, Dawson and Johnson all contributed and this will only help us moving forward.

George Washington is still our best win. If they win tomorrow they have a good chance at being ranked on Monday.

[jsheim]

George Washington is still our best win. If they win tomorrow they have a good chance at being ranked on Monday.

Ranked? You are an optimist. But i like that. Need to keep a crazy sort of optimism this season.

[source?]

Ranked? You are an optimist. But i like that. Need to keep a crazy sort of optimism this season.

They are currently receiving votes in both the AP and Coaches poll. They are basically 31 and 30 respectively. UMass and Ohio State are likely out. We'll see how the other ranked teams perform tomorrow.

[mattyv1908]

I would have hoped you could decipher what I was saying was that this was our best win of the season as a team moving forward and not our best win on paper.  I guess I should have clarified but I thought I was being clear.