At this point

[NersEllenson]

Shhhhh....stop disrupting the narrative!!!

LOL....you and your boy Merritt have an equal narrative going on....that playing 4 on 5 on the offensive end isn't a big part of this team's problems.  Your narrative that PG play is one of the least of our problems...

You guys hitched your wagon to Derrick all year long...and of course couldn't reverse course...just kept trying to defend a guy getting 30.3 minutes per game all year, who has made 1, 3pt shot all season.  I would wager a guess, you cannot find another guard in D-1 basketball that gets 30 minutes per game, who has made just 1, 3pt shot all season....in the last 5 years of D-1 college hoops.

He's a HUGE part of the problem this team has....he's sure as hell isn't a solution.  That being said, perhaps he is the best option we have at this point...which is a point you try to assert.  Yet really....how can it get worse??  We are defended by the defense with the opposition clogging the lane, laying 7-8' off of Derrick...and our coach has acknowledge we are playing 4 on 5.  Dawson sure must be awful...to think things would get worse...Derricks defensive positives do not exceed his offensive deficiencies.  Period.

[willie warrior]

LOL...did you just time warp here from a month or two ago?

You do realize right that we have pretty much negated much of our "offensive struggles" since we have gone all in on Derrick, Jamil, Todd, et al.  Offense hasn't been *as much* of a problem since then.  And they have been getting numerous paint touches in the past few weeks.

But I addressed that all in the post you quoted...you know...the one you snipped?

Where do you pull you statistics from Sultan. "Numerous" paint touches in past few weeks? Compared to what? Our most productive paint scorer, Ox, has averaged less than 5 shots per game the last 3 games. While that does not demonstrate paint touches, it is an indicator. When defenses pack it in the paint touches likely go down, so just out of curiousity, where are these "numerous paint touches" in past few weeks coming from and compared to what. So now go ahead and cherry pick your stats to support your theory. Past few weeks? What is that, two or three or six? Just curious.

[NersEllenson]

True. But posters constantly harp on the "offensive woes" of this team without realizing that, from a numbers standpoint, this team is better offensively than last year's Elite 8 team. Defense has been more of an issue for this team.

How can this be??  We've upgraded to an elite, game changing caliber defensive PG in Derrick over Junior...and our defense has been more of an issue?  Jake...you and Sultan defend saying he's a really good positional defender...?

Okay...so its the loss of Vander and Lockett that have just totally tanked this team...when its been shown that Mayos production, offensive efficiency, defensive stats, are all on par/better than Vander's last year per minute played...and you are a stathead...so please don't discount Mayo's stats next to Vander's...if you want to build all your arguments on stats..

15-11 in a watered down Big East...with our best post player on the roster in 30 years. More returning letterman than ever before in Buzz's tenure.

[Windyplayer]

LOL...did you just time warp here from a month or two ago?

You do realize right that we have pretty much negated much of our "offensive struggles" since we have gone all in on Derrick, Jamil, Todd, et al.  Offense hasn't been *as much* of a problem since then.  And they have been getting numerous paint touches in the past few weeks.

But I addressed that all in the post you quoted...you know...the one you snipped?

LOL? Are we 12?

Anyway, what does numerous paint touches mean? I'd be curious to see a breakdown of paint touches from this year to last year per game. Also, how many points per possession on we averaging this year compared to last year--point per game is great and all, but it doesn't tell the whole story. Also, what's are percentage of points in the paint this year compared to last year? As far as defense, we supposedly have one of the best defenses in the Big East yet we have 6 losses in conference, 11 overall with 5 to play. Are we really going to say that defense deserves a large portion of the blame. I know this is all anecdotal--don;t have time to look into numbers--but assuming we have less paint touches and points in the paint this year than last year, it's fair to surmise that a lot of the opponenets' points are coming from run-outs from long rebounds of our misses around the perimeter (this would also to be intersting to see--% of fast break points per game for opponents) Hell, maybe the numbers are not far off from last year, but based on the eye-test from watching nearly every game this year, it's clear that this offense doesn't line-up with the offense of last year--few would dispute that.

There's a reason why the offense sputtered out after the first few minutes of the game when Wilson stopped driving (which if he's not shooting, he absolutely has to do). Wilson started dribbling around the permiter and even into the top of the paint area further cluttering the post. This offense works when Jake is hitting outside shots, Jamil is hitting jumpers, and Mayo is creating for himself. Notice how none of our success hinges on getting easy buckets in the paint, because it's rarely open for business? We're still living and dying outside the paint, which is not where this offense needs to be.

[GGGG]

Yet really....how can it get worse??

It was worse.

It is now better.

Stop ranting from the past.

[Windyplayer]

It was worse.

It is now better.

Stop ranting from the past.

So is Iraq.

[MerrittsMustache]

How can this be??  We've upgraded to an elite, game changing caliber defensive PG in Derrick over Junior...and our defense has been more of an issue?  Jake...you and Sultan defend saying he's a really good positional defender...?

Okay...so its the loss of Vander and Lockett that have just totally tanked this team...when its been shown that Mayos production, offensive efficiency, defensive stats, are all on par/better than Vander's last year per minute played...and you are a stathead...so please don't discount Mayo's stats next to Vander's...if you want to build all your arguments on stats..

15-11 in a watered down Big East...with our best post player on the roster in 30 years. More returning letterman than ever before in Buzz's tenure.

"Per minute played" stats are skewed stats. Vander played 47% more minutes per game than Mayo is playing so it's unreasonable to make the claim that Mayo's production this season matches Vander's from last season.

Regardless, I've said my peace. When compared to last year's team, this year's team is better offensively and worse defensively, yet you've repeatedly called for sacrificing defense to get more offense. The numbers speak for themselves.

[GGGG]

How can this be??  We've upgraded to an elite, game changing caliber defensive PG in Derrick over Junior...and our defense has been more of an issue?  Jake...you and Sultan defend saying he's a really good positional defender...?

Okay...so its the loss of Vander and Lockett that have just totally tanked this team...when its been shown that Mayos production, offensive efficiency, defensive stats, are all on par/better than Vander's last year per minute played...and you are a stathead...so please don't discount Mayo's stats next to Vander's...if you want to build all your arguments on stats..

15-11 in a watered down Big East...with our best post player on the roster in 30 years. More returning letterman than ever before in Buzz's tenure.

Despite your assertions, Jake and Todd are not better defenders than Vander and Trent.  

For instance, it would be nice to play Juan Anderson more.  But he can't score.  It would be nice if players like Deonte could defend better, but we need his offense.

It's an incomplete team.

[Nevada233]

True. But posters constantly harp on the "offensive woes" of this team without realizing that, from a numbers standpoint, this team is better offensively than last year's Elite 8 team. Defense has been more of an issue for this team.

Hey N.I.T. has produced some good players....

Reggie Miller played in the N.I.T Along with a host of others and MU certainly would be no shoe in to win that either.... This season will go down as a wash.. Hopefully a learning experience...

[Hards Alumni]

Those stats are great and all, but the one stat that means the most is wins and losses...we are 15-11 and barring a miraculous run will be in the NIT.

When facts ruin an argument, the only solution is to distract and not acknowledge the facts.

[Windyplayer]

Regardless, I've said my peace. When compared to last year's team, this year's team is better offensively and worse defensively, yet you've repeatedly called for sacrificing defense to get more offense. The numbers speak for themselves.

So you would take this year's offense over last year's offense?

[GGGG]

Anyway, what does numerous paint touches mean? I'd be curious to see a breakdown of paint touches from this year to last year per game. Also, how many points per possession on we averaging this year compared to last year--point per game is great and all, but it doesn't tell the whole story.

Points per possession this year: 1.06.  
Last year: 1.06

Seriously, the offensive stats are almost entirely the same...literally within percentage points everywhere:

http://statsheet.com/mcb/teams/marquette/team_stats?season=2013-2014&type=all
http://statsheet.com/mcb/teams/marquette/team_stats?season=2012-2013&type=all

[NersEllenson]

Despite your assertions, Jake and Todd are not better defenders than Vander and Trent.  

For instance, it would be nice to play Juan Anderson more.  But he can't score.  It would be nice if players like Deonte could defend better, but we need his offense.

It's an incomplete team.

Honestly...I don't think Juan is that great of player...yet I believe if Buzz gave him 26.6 minutes like Lockett got last year...Juan would equal Lockett's production - 7ppg, 5.1 rpg, .7spg, .4bpg.

Why do we care if Juan Anderson can't score?  It doesn't stop Derrick from getting more minutes than any player on the team?

As Merritt has noted...this team's problems all boil down to defense...even though we've upgraded to a world class, elite, game changing PG defender in Derrick...compared to the very average Junior.

BTW - Never said Jake was a better defender than Vander or Lockett.  Yet, Mayo is comparable to Blue as a defender...Juan is every bit the defender Lockett is/was...problem is you can't play Juan (significant minutes) with Derrick...because Derrick is so limited offensively whereas Cadougan was not.

[GGGG]

Where do you pull you statistics from Sultan. "Numerous" paint touches in past few weeks? Compared to what? Our most productive paint scorer, Ox, has averaged less than 5 shots per game the last 3 games. While that does not demonstrate paint touches, it is an indicator. When defenses pack it in the paint touches likely go down, so just out of curiousity, where are these "numerous paint touches" in past few weeks coming from and compared to what. So now go ahead and cherry pick your stats to support your theory. Past few weeks? What is that, two or three or six? Just curious.

Honestly that is more anecdotal, and if stats prove me wrong, I would happily acknowledge it.  Derrick and Todd have been getting into the lane more.  That is where I am basing it.

[GGGG]

Honestly...I don't think Juan is that great of player...yet I believe if Buzz gave him 26.6 minutes like Lockett got last year...Juan would equal Lockett's production - 7ppg, 5.1 rpg, .7spg, .4bpg.

Why do we care if Juan Anderson can't score?  It doesn't stop Derrick from getting more minutes than any player on the team?

Christ, I feel like I am arguing with a two year old.

Derrick runs the offense adequately.  Juan doesn't.

Is it that hard?

[NersEllenson]

Points per possession this year: 1.06.  
Last year: 1.06

Seriously, the offensive stats are almost entirely the same...literally within percentage points everywhere:

http://statsheet.com/mcb/teams/marquette/team_stats?season=2013-2014&type=all
http://statsheet.com/mcb/teams/marquette/team_stats?season=2012-2013&type=all

Regardless, I've said my peace. When compared to last year's team, this year's team is better offensively and worse defensively, yet you've repeatedly called for sacrificing defense to get more offense. The numbers speak for themselves.

Funny....per Ken Pomroy -

Adjusted Offensive Efficiency:

This year - 89th in country
2012-2013 - 25th in country
2011-2012 - 52nd
2010-2011 - 21nd
2009-2010 - 22nd
2008-2009 - 12th


We are WAY WORSE this year in offensive efficiency.  So apparently Buzz has really forgotten how to coach offense this year....even though we are allegedly as good as we were last year, by your assertions Merritt/Sultan.

[NersEllenson]

Christ, I feel like I am arguing with a two year old.

Derrick runs the offense adequately.  Juan doesn't.

Is it that hard?

LOL  -  Feeling is mutual. 

Your standards for adequate are quite forgiving...

[GGGG]

You are correct...Adjusted Offensive Efficiency has decreased from 111.2 to 109.2.  Hardly a monumental decrease, but coupled with an even larger decrease in Defensive Efficiency, it has created a worse team.

[NersEllenson]

You are correct...Adjusted Offensive Efficiency has decreased from 111.2 to 109.2.  Hardly a monumental decrease, but coupled with an even larger decrease in Defensive Efficiency, it has created a worse team.

Ahh....we dropped 64 spots nationally in Offensive Efficiency this year from last year...so that "hardly monumental" numerical decrease between 111.2 and 109.2...is monumental when looked at in the proper context.

Defensive Efficiency - per Pomroy - we dropped from 46 last year to 48 this year....hardly an argument I'd try to hang my hat on as being the reason for this years struggles.

Our problems are entirely at the offensive end of the floor...period...and it is because of your guy who "runs the offense adequately."

[NersEllenson]

And another relevant nugget - we had 6 wins over Top 15 teams last year.

[MerrittsMustache]

Funny....per Ken Pomroy -

Adjusted Offensive Efficiency:

This year - 89th in country
2012-2013 - 25th in country
2011-2012 - 52nd
2010-2011 - 21nd
2009-2010 - 22nd
2008-2009 - 12th

We are WAY WORSE this year in offensive efficiency.  So apparently Buzz has really forgotten how to coach offense this year....even though we are allegedly as good as we were last year, by your assertions Merritt/Sultan.

Rankings are different than the actual numbers. Kenpom's AdjO puts MU's 2012-13 team at 111.2 and this year at 109.2. Given that MU is averaging more possessions this season (68.7 vs 66.0), that amounts to about 1.6 MORE points per game difference on average. IOW, more points but in a slightly less efficient manner.

Defensively, however, the difference in AdjD ratings amounts to 4.74 points per game on average, which is statistically significant.

Again, the primary issues with this year's team are defensively.

[GGGG]

Ners, if you want to hang your hat on relative rankings of teams based on adjusted offensive efficiency, go right ahead.  But I am sure you realize that this is simply one stat, one you you are using in comparison to other teams and not on its own, and that other stats tell other stories.

And as for "my guy," here in review is what I have said:

**He is an average at best point guard
**He is the best point guard on the roster
**He is getting an inordinate share of the blame for the problems of this team.

That's it.  If that makes you think that I am a big Derrick Wilson advocate, you would be wrong however.  I would hope that someone could play better next year, but we will just have to wait and see.

[Windyplayer]

Sultan and Merrits,

Please answer my question: Would you rather have this year's offense or last year's?

[Wojo'sMojo]

Ners, if you want to hang your hat on relative rankings of teams based on adjusted offensive efficiency, go right ahead.  But I am sure you realize that this is simply one stat, one you you are using in comparison to other teams and not on its own, and that other stats tell other stories.

And as for "my guy," here in review is what I have said:

**He is an average at best point guard
**He is the best point guard on the roster
**He is getting an inordinate share of the blame for the problems of this team.

That's it.  If that makes you think that I am a big Derrick Wilson advocate, you would be wrong however.  I would hope that someone could play better next year, but we will just have to wait and see.

Sultan, you give off the vibe that you are a huge Derrick advocate. You have stated that unequivocally he will be the starting pg next year for this team. For an average at best player this doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Are we trying to be average or are we trying to be great?

[Wojo'sMojo]

Sultan and Merrits,

Please answer my question: Would you rather have this year's offense or last year's?

Start a poll