X thoughts

[karavotsos]

I'm not certain how people can say MU was horrible on defense, or that they were all horrible except Derrick.  Even if Xavier shot over 50%, you have to start with the fact that they had 20 turnovers.  20 empty possessions plus the transition points created, is huge.  I'd say it was the biggest factor in the game.  With the lineup we had in the majority of the game, we were completely outsized, which was a problem last game as well.   Rebounding is going to be a problem with that lineup.  Plus, if guys get to their spots, they will be able to shoot over the top.

I don't know what Xavier's stats are for the season, but from what I've seen, they seem to be a very good offensive team.  They hit some tough shots in this game. With the overplaying and aggressiveness MU was had to use on defense, you're going to get burned sometimes, and it is going to look bad when you get beat.  I will trade looking bad on those handful of occasions that people have brought up in exchange for 20 turnovers.  And, from what I remember, the vast majority were forced.

The only thing that surprised me in a bad way defensively was the position that Stainbrook was getting on Otule, especially early.  But I think that says as much about how hard Stainbrook is to guard and how hard he works to get position on offense as it does about Otule.

[MarquetteDano]

I'm not certain how people can say MU was horrible on defense, or that they were all horrible except Derrick.  Even if Xavier shot over 50%, you have to start with the fact that they had 20 turnovers.  20 empty possessions plus the transition points created, is huge.  I'd say it was the biggest factor in the game.  With the lineup we had in the majority of the game, we were completely outsized, which was a problem last game as well.   Rebounding is going to be a problem with that lineup.  Plus, if guys get to their spots, they will be able to shoot over the top.

Not sure if my math is correct but I calculate X had 1.17 points per possession, which is not good defense for Marquette.  Pomeroy has X at 1.14 points per possession prior to this game, which is good for 29th in the country.

What is hard to calculate is the value of those turnovers for our offense.  To your point, outside of an empty possession, the turnovers lead to some easy baskets which is just what our offense needs.

[Lennys Tap]

You crack me up Tower - no mention of Derrick??!  He played his best game of his MU career today...and there's been quite a few other recaps you've done where you tout Derrick in games he accomplished MUCH less!

I was thrilled with Derrick today....thought he was absolutely awesome.

Derrick was great, but I thought you would be ripping him. Nine points and no 3s is a line you generally mock. Since those are the only stats that matter I'm surprised by your praise of him.

[We R Final Four]

You crack me up Tower - no mention of Derrick??!  He played his best game of his MU career today...and there's been quite a few other recaps you've done where you tout Derrick in games he accomplished MUCH less!

I was thrilled with Derrick today....thought he was absolutely awesome.

[PGsHeroes32]

Derrick was great, but I thought you would be ripping him. Nine points and no 3s is a line you generally mock. Since those are the only stats that matter I'm surprised by your praise of him.

It's this sh it that I don't get. People are constantly bitching say "not this argument again" but both sides keep it going.

The guy complemented Derrick and you want to challenge it? Good lord.

[mileskishnish72]

Just when you think you've seen everything - Ners sticking up for Derick.

[We R Final Four]

You crack me up Tower - no mention of Derrick??!  He played his best game of his MU career today...and there's been quite a few other recaps you've done where you tout Derrick in games he accomplished MUCH less!

I was thrilled with Derrick today....thought he was absolutely awesome.

Seriously Ners?  Again with your man love of D Will?  Please give it a rest--WE GET IT--YOU LUV U SUM D WILL--ITS SO OBVI

lets get back to rpi predicatoralation.

[tower912]

Interesting stat.   MU had more steals than defensive rebounds.    Chew on that one for a minute. 

[karavotsos]

If 1.17 is the efficiency number, then Xavier had, what, 61 or 62 possessions (if my math is correct)?  That seems a little low but not outside the realm of possibility.  

If 1.14 is Xavier's normal efficiency number and MU gave up 1.17, then MU's defense was slightly below average against them.

Then, if you disregard Marquette's defensive possessions that ended in the best result, i.e., turnovers, and said result occurred on almost 1 in every 3 possessions.

Then if you just look at the remaining possessions, MU's efficiency number is somewhere around 1.70, which is terrible.

If that is the logic you choose to use in determining how good MU's defense was today.  I choose to look first at the 1 in 3 possessions in which MU achieved the desired result, and the effort and risk it took to do so.  Both part of a larger truth, I suppose.  Maybe MU's defensive strategy was to work as hard as possible and take the risks to create as many turnovers as possible because if MU didn't force turnovers Xavier would have scored on us all day.  

[PGsHeroes32]

I think the defense was fine. Not great but solid.

The rebounding was awful, the forced turn overs were fantastic.

Overall defense was solid.

[mviale]

We won this game because we forced 19 turnovers and only committed 4. Limited their shots

[karavotsos]

Interesting stat.   MU had more steals than defensive rebounds.    Chew on that one for a minute. 

We played small, and they are a big, aggressive, athletic team. If we cannot have Cincinnati in our league, Xavier is a fair tradeoff. The jumbo package with Otule and Gardner appears to be a thing of the past.  We didn't try to match, and instead mismatched and took the tradeoffs.  

[Lennys Tap]

It's this sh it that I don't get. People are constantly bitching say "not this argument again" but both sides keep it going.

The guy complemented Derrick and you want to challenge it? Good lord.

You don't get it? He's ripped him in literally hundreds of posts, saying he can't be any good BECAUSE he doesn't score much, can't shoot threes and is a lousy free throw shooter. So today he scores single digits, shoots 0% from 3 and 50% from the line and Ners says he's terrific. I agree he was terrific, but not (as everyone has always admitted) at the things Ners considers the necessities of decent point guard play.

So if you don't get it, I agree. You don't get it.

[PGsHeroes32]

You don't get it? He's ripped him in literally hundreds of posts, saying he can't be any good BECAUSE he doesn't score much, can't shoot threes and is a lousy free throw shooter. So today he scores single digits, shoots 0% from 3 and 50% from the line and Ners says he's terrific. I agree he was terrific, but not (as everyone has always admitted) at the things Ners considers the necessities of decent point guard play.

So if you don't get it, I agree. You don't get it.

No I don't think you get it.

He is complimenting him. Take the compliment. Everyone is always bitching about how Derrick or Jake turn into arguments. It's because of this. People go out of their way to get one going.

Derrick was great today everyone including Ners knows it. We havn't definitively heard from Dreadman yet but we'll give him the benefit of the doubt too.

Using ners what makes a good PG views against him when he admits a great game is silly and pointless. Most game people clamour for Derrick and Jake for doing little things. Tonight Jake made the big splash and it was actually a guy like Todd who did the little things. We won, Ners gave props. Let's enjoy it.

[MU B2002]

Does anyone know if I can watch this game online? 

Not that anyone cares but...
My local news (Jacksonville, FL) cut in with 8 min left in the first half and proceeded to discuss a local murder trial verdict for 2 unnatural carnal knowledgeing hours. 

[Class71]

I'll leave it to all of the experts on this board to work the details. Although, we were crushed on rebounding  and X shot lights out, more than enough to win, we somehow won since we aggressively forced turnovers, drove on the basket, Derrick/Jake had their best games  and the team played with heart against a respectable foe. The picture of Buzz hugging Derek after a great play tells me the chemistry is finally there. Let's savor the win and go on to kick Creighton's ...

[BenCat12]

You crack me up Tower - no mention of Derrick??!  He played his best game of his MU career today...and there's been quite a few other recaps you've done where you tout Derrick in games he accomplished MUCH less!

I was thrilled with Derrick today....thought he was absolutely awesome.

+1  Very strange.  Derrick's most impactful game of his career and not a mention.....
Most disruptive, best defensive game of Derrick's career.  He has really gotten better the last several games....I no longer despise the time he is on the floor.

[Class71]

+1  Very strange.  Derrick's most impactful game of his career and not a mention.....
Most disruptive, best defensive game of Derrick's career.  He has really gotten better the last several games....I no longer despise the time he is on the floor.

Agree. He is moving to another level and building confidence will only help. I also questioned if he would get there but he is on the right track. Good for him!

[4everwarriors]

Derrick guarded number 0 from X really well.  He looked frustrated. 

Oh, you mean Jamil Wilson, hey?

[Newsdreams]

Oh, you mean Jamil Wilson, hey?

As per Stockton:
Otule = Davante
Derrick = Mayo
We have a very versatile team, we can decoy players at will

[4everwarriors]

OJ Mayo also was on the floor for MU today.

[Lennys Tap]

As per Stockton:
Otule = Davante
Derrick = Mayo
We have a very versatile team, we can decoy players at will

Stockton is terrible.

[keefe]

Stockton is terrible.

No kidding. Announcers, like athletes, have a prime. Stockton's has long since passed. He was truly awful.

[Hards Alumni]

Here's the thing, if Ners is going to fellate Dawson for one or two good games all year, I want him on his unnatural carnal knowledgeing knees for games like these.  Derrick is a work in progress, but he is totally putting it together.

If you can't understand why people want to give Ners crap about Dwill playing well... I don't know.  You haven't been paying attention.

[NersEllenson]

Here's the thing, if Ners is going to fellate Dawson for one or two good games all year, I want him on his unnatural carnal knowledgeing knees for games like these.  Derrick is a work in progress, but he is totally putting it together.

If you can't understand why people want to give Ners crap about Dwill playing well... I don't know.  You haven't been paying attention.

I have ZERO problem giving a guy credit who plays well...ever...was truly happy for Derrick and the team today...and as a huge MU fan.  But, I don't sugar coat and try to polish what generally has been very poor PG play all year long int0 something it wasn't - good/effective.  Derrick was GREAT today, because he was absolutely disruptive defensively -with the steals, along with limiting Christian - and he was able to convert many of the steals in transition into buckets.  I don't care that he took and missed a 3...and I don't say he had the best game of his career at MU due to the 9 points he scored - I say it because he was truly elite defensively today, and that played a HUGE part in this team beating X.

Derrick also had a really nice bounce pass, clever, assist to Gardner at one point that was a thing of beauty.  He's showing signs of progress the last 3-4 games...also think it helps having Mayo out there 30+ minutes per game for Derrick and Jake's benefit as well..as he helps space the floor really well.