Butler Thoughts

[tower912]

1.  That was the best 5 minutes of basketball from an MU player this year.
2.  Gardner/Burton was the worst defensive combo I have seen all year.   
3.   Jamil was almost as impressive in the first half as Todd in the second half.
4.   This team goes as far as Jamil, Todd, and Davante take it.
5.   Derricks off the ball defense was insanely good.
6.   Jake and Jamil both made stupid fouls that seniors can't make
7.   Deonte just doesn't care.   He is going out there attacking.
8.   Otule, Burton, Thomas, Mayo, Derrick.   C'mon, who had that line up in their betting pool for best of the night?
9.   I was astounded at how lethargic the team seemed for the first 25 minutes or so. 
10.   Must make late free throws.   

[CTWarrior]

Nice win considering the start, but doesn't change outlook of this team.  This was the easiest game we had left on the schedule and it was a struggle to win it.  Layup drill early in the second half for Butler until Otule came in.

Mayo was great, Jamil was very good, except for stupid fouls (particularly #4).

[LAMUfan]

You're saying #7 is a good thing right? 

[GGGG]

Regarding #2, for people who wonder why Buzz plays Otule, last night was a perfect example.  That little press that MU put on was getting sliced with Davante as a last line of defense.  Otule was on the floor during the run because he was clogging up the middle defensively.  I think he had one block, but altered a lot of shots.  He also does a great job of sealing off defenders, which was vital in getting Mayo to the basket.

[Big Papi]

Nice win considering the start, but doesn't change outlook of this team.  This was the easiest game we had left on the schedule and it was a struggle to win it.  Layup drill early in the second half for Butler until Otule came in.

Mayo was great, Jamil was very good, except for stupid fouls (particularly #4).

yea the more I think about this season and the games, the more I think that Otule actually needs to be playing more.  As fans we tend to fall in love with the offensive side of the ball and forget that there is so much more in a basketball game.  I am frankly sick of Gardner's awful defense.  Otule should be playing 20 minutes a game and he probably should be playing it when we have our worst defenders on the court.  Offensively he does a real good job sealing his man.  I also don't mind Thomas playing decent amount of minutes but Mayo needs to play extensive minutes and probably start.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

1.  DG's defense might the worst he has played this year.  How many layups, dunks, and and-1s did Butler have?
2.  Anyone that doesn't understrand DW's contributions after watching last night doesn't understand basketball.  He was zero offensive threat during the run when positioned on the wing, yet his defense made up for that by a factor of 10.
3.  Liked seeing Mayo effectively running the point during the run
4.  Before we annoint Todd just yet, let's see his next 2-3 games.  He is as wildly inconsistent of a player as anyone on this team as his 0 point, 4 TO, 2 foul stat line just the game before can attest.
5. To echo something Buzz said a few games back, image how good Deonte will be when he can tell the difference between a good shot and bad shot
6. Why is Jamil bad at free throws??

[MU82]

Regarding #2, for people who wonder why Buzz plays Otule, last night was a perfect example.  That little press that MU put on was getting sliced with Davante as a last line of defense.  Otule was on the floor during the run because he was clogging up the middle defensively.  I think he had one block, but altered a lot of shots.  He also does a great job of sealing off defenders, which was vital in getting Mayo to the basket.

Yeah, I haven't read anything in any thread from the Otule-bashers. This guy has given his heart and soul to the program and he has obvious value within his defined role. He even has gotten a little better outside of his defined role (those little baby hooks and his drop-step move have improved markedly).

He doesn't make the amazing catch and finish that Davante did -- watching the replay several times, that might have been the single best individual play all season. And obviously Otule doesn't have the all-around offensive game. But Otule can impact a game positively in ways Davante can't.

All in all, they complement each other nicely and I think Buzz's feel for when and how to use the two has been one of his strengths these last two years.

[GGGG]

1.  DG's defense might the worst he has played this year.  How many layups, dunks, and and-1s did Butler have?
2.  Anyone that doesn't understrand DW's contributions after watching last night doesn't understand basketball.  He was zero offensive threat during the run when positioned on the wing, yet his defense made up for that by a factor of 10.

He also assisted on four of Mayo's baskets in the second half.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Nice comeback, great effort by Jamil in the first and Mayo down the stretch.


Problem is that I also remind myself this was Butler, this was at home.  Its good to win, a win is a win...all the cliches you want to throw out there....for a game we had to win and the amount of difficulty shows, in my view, where we are and what we have been all year long.

My two cents.  Should beat Seton Hall and likely win at home after that, but that may triggers some fool's gold expectations.  We'll see, maybe for real, but last night's struggles seem to capture the entire year quite well in my mind.

[Coleman]

Nice comeback, great effort by Jamil in the first and Mayo down the stretch.


Problem is that I also remind myself this was Butler, this was at home.  Its good to win, a win is a win...all the cliches you want to throw out there....for a game we had to win and the amount of difficulty shows, in my view, where we are and what we have been all year long.

My two cents.  Should beat Seton Hall and likely win at home after that, but that may triggers some fool's gold expectations.  We'll see, maybe for real, but last night's struggles seem to capture the entire year quite well in my mind.

+1

We might be in for a nice little stretch here. But I fear the house of cards will come tumbling down shortly after...

If we actually do win @Hall, home vs. Xavier, that next Creighton game at home will be HUGE. We will be 7-5 with a chance for our first signature win vs. a Top 25 opponent. If, by some miracle, we win that, and we are 16-10 (8-5), MAYBE we can begin bubble talk?

Either way, great win last night.

[Niv Berkowitz]

+1

We might be in for a nice little stretch here. But the house of cards will come tumbling down shortly after...

If we actually do win @Hall, home vs. Xavier, that next Creighton game at home will be HUGE. We will be 7-5 with a chance for our first signature win vs. a Top 25 opponent. If, by some miracle, we win that, and we are 16-10 (8-5), MAYBE we can begin bubble talk?

Either way, great win last night.

This year's at-large bids are pretty poor. Lots of toss-ups this season. If UW can keep tanking and MU can keep winning, I mean. I don't know, guys. Crazier things have happened.

On to Butler thoughts:

- Burton scares/thrills the hell out of me every time he's on the court. He's a chucker with no fear. Once that's controlled a little...look out
- DW played solid
- The seniors need to step up still. This 4-foul crap by Jamil and Jake has to end.
- Jamil and Davante still mentally float through large portions of their games
- Davante's should change his name to avante, cuz there ain't no D there
- Mayo should be playing 25 mpg at the 2

[Coleman]

- Davante's should change his name to avante, cuz there ain't no D there

Well played

[ChicosBailBonds]

This year's at-large bids are pretty poor. Lots of toss-ups this season. If UW can keep tanking and MU can keep winning, I mean. I don't know, guys. Crazier things have happened.

UW won last night handily on the road

Some of the so called "experts" right now are predicting Big East may only be a 3 bid league.  They might not be wrong.  Providence took it on the chin last night at home.  G'Town and MU on the way outside looking in.  Xavier not playing well right now either.

[MerrittsMustache]

Nice comeback, great effort by Jamil in the first and Mayo down the stretch.


Problem is that I also remind myself this was Butler, this was at home.  Its good to win, a win is a win...all the cliches you want to throw out there....for a game we had to win and the amount of difficulty shows, in my view, where we are and what we have been all year long.

My two cents.  Should beat Seton Hall and likely win at home after that, but that may triggers some fool's gold expectations.  We'll see, maybe for real, but last night's struggles seem to capture the entire year quite well in my mind.

Always the wet blanket!

Marquette beat a team that they should beat, especially at home. Sure, it was an exciting game and MU played probably their best stretch of basketball on both ends of the court, but this team is still wildly inconsistent. If they came out flat at SHU and lost by 15, I wouldn't be surprised and if they came out and blew the doors off of SHU, I wouldn't be surprised.

Regardless, nice win last night and 4 of the next 5 are very winnable as well. Creighton will obviously be tough, but they're beatable. It hasn't been a pretty season but 9-6 in the BE wouldn't look too bad at month's end.

[Coleman]

UW won last night handily on the road

Some of the so called "experts" right now are predicting Big East may only be a 3 bid league.  They might not be wrong.  Providence took it on the chin last night at home.  G'Town and MU on the way outside looking in.  Xavier not playing well right now either.

I think either X or Prov gets in, depending on who finishes stronger.  I think it will be X.

[NersEllenson]

He also assisted on four of Mayo's baskets in the second half.

Derrick was really good defensively last night, which helped offset his 4 turnovers.  Got Mayo the ball in a good place on a clear 2 on 1 transition hoop, as well as a couple basic passes for 3 point shots.

Mayo was brilliant...hopefully Buzz will finally stop with the games and let him run for 30+ minutes per game.

[LAZER]

This year's at-large bids are pretty poor. Lots of toss-ups this season. If UW can keep tanking and MU can keep winning, I mean. I don't know, guys. Crazier things have happened.

I think MU has to beat Creighton and Villanova both to get in.  Their RPI is just so bad right now, I think beating those two is the only way to start climbing and passup those other bubble teams.

[MarquetteDano]

Regarding #2, for people who wonder why Buzz plays Otule, last night was a perfect example.  That little press that MU put on was getting sliced with Davante as a last line of defense.  Otule was on the floor during the run because he was clogging up the middle defensively.  I think he had one block, but altered a lot of shots.  He also does a great job of sealing off defenders, which was vital in getting Mayo to the basket.

Could not agree more.

[Coleman]

I think MU has to beat Creighton and Villanova both to get in.  Their RPI is just so bad right now, I think beating those two is the only way to start climbing and passup those other bubble teams.

I think we could lose @Nova, but we literally have to win out the rest of the regular season. That's 20-11 (12-6). Then we need 2 wins at the BET. I think if we do that we sneak in as an at-large.

However you slice it, I think we only have room for one more loss the rest of the regular season, and even doing that still leaves us with work to do in New York. That's not a good place to be with 8 games left.

[BCHoopster]

I would not get to excited about this victory unless he does change the starting line-up, 23 points in the first half does not get it done, 0-0 the first four minutes, lucky they were not down 8-10 points by that time.  Lets see if Todd can do something on the road first, before you all anoint him as the next potential star.  He is about as inconsistent as it comes, it might be because of how Buzz uses him, he should play 30 minutes next week.  MU should beat Seton Hall, but they have gone there before and layed an egg.

[Lennys Tap]

Nice comeback, great effort by Jamil in the first and Mayo down the stretch.


Problem is that I also remind myself this was Butler, this was at home.  Its good to win, a win is a win...all the cliches you want to throw out there....for a game we had to win and the amount of difficulty shows, in my view, where we are and what we have been all year long.

My two cents.  Should beat Seton Hall and likely win at home after that, but that may triggers some fool's gold expectations.  We'll see, maybe for real, but last night's struggles seem to capture the entire year quite well in my mind.

Regrettably I agree with everything in your post.

[LAZER]

I think we could lose @Nova, but we literally have to win out the rest of the regular season. That's 20-11 (12-6). Then we need 2 wins at the BET. I think if we do that we sneak in as an at-large.

However you slice it, I think we only have room for one more loss the rest of the regular season, and even doing that still leaves us with work to do in New York.

Yeah, I think 20-11 is the regular season mark MU needs to get in. 2 BET wins on top of that would actually probably give them a little bit of a cushion.

[We R Final Four]

D Will played great defensively--he got beat 2x on a back door cut for a layup. Insanely good would not allow that to happen.

We Still have problems in bounding the ball.  This amazes me. Over and back, wasted TOs, turnovers,etc. this has been an issue for years. That press break is a simple 5th grade press break that can be figured out by any coach in the country.

[BCHoopster]

D Will played great defensively--he got beat 2x on a back door cut for a layup. Insanely good would not allow that to happen.

We Still have problems in bounding the ball.  This amazes me. Over and back, wasted TOs, turnovers,etc. this has been an issue for years. That press break is a simple 5th grade press break that can be figured out by any coach in the country.

What it shows is lack of quickness from the guards that MU has.  No one has that really quick twitch.

[brandx]

UW won last night handily on the road

Some of the so called "experts" right now are predicting Big East may only be a 3 bid league.  They might not be wrong.  Providence took it on the chin last night at home.  G'Town and MU on the way outside looking in.  Xavier not playing well right now either.

I thought all along it would be probably 3 and maybe 4 teams in. I argued with several people here who were predicting 5 or even 6 teams likely (6 will NEVER happen in this league).