Big East Tourney strategy..

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Wragge is about 6'6". This is not tough to figure out. You put Jamil on McBuckets and either Burton, Juan when in, or Mayo on Wragge. Otule/Gardner guards one of the other players. Other than Otule/Gardner and Derrick, all the rest are switchables anyway, right?

The only problem with that strategy is that leaves Oxtule guarding either Chatman, Manigat, or Gibbs. All three of those players are perimeter guards who are much faster than our bigs. Unless they were having awful nights, we would get burned all night.

There isn't a good answer. We either play the right defensive personnel (3 guards, 2 forwards, no center) and take away our biggest advantage on offense or play our dominant bigs and get burned on defense.

I think our best chance is to stick Davante on Wragge. He's a spot up shooter and doesn't do well when challenged. He is quick and will make Davante work to guard him.

I'd expect a lot of offense/defense switches if we do play Creighton

[mu03eng]

He played bad defesne that game. Christon went 8-10 from the field, 3-3 from 3, and put up a career high 28 points. He had an "on night" while Derrick had an "off night". It happens.

Not to get nitpicky but Derrick wasn't guarding Christon for most of the game, especially the first half when Jamil was on him(and why Jamil got into foul trouble...in addition to that's just what Jamil does  ).

Having said that, Derrick had a less than stellar game against Christon and Christon had an outstanding game, as you said it happens, we'll see what the strategy is tomorrow.

[MU82]

I think our best chance is to stick Davante on Wragge. He's a spot up shooter and doesn't do well when challenged. He is quick and will make Davante work to guard him.

Your heart is in the right place, TAMU, but that is exactly what we did last time.

Oh wait ...

I think Wragge just hit another 3!

[NersEllenson]

Not to get nitpicky but Derrick wasn't guarding Christon for most of the game, especially the first half when Jamil was on him(and why Jamil got into foul trouble...in addition to that's just what Jamil does  ).

Having said that, Derrick had a less than stellar game against Christon and Christon had an outstanding game, as you said it happens, we'll see what the strategy is tomorrow.

Are you 100% sure this was the case?  I don't recall Jamil chasing Christon around..?  Yet, if it was, why on God's green earth, when you have in Buzz's words - an elite, lockdown, best defender I've coached PG in Derrick...would you not assign him to their best guard??  Makes ZERO sense, or was this just another case of Buzz having an off year/thought process?

[brandx]

Are you 100% sure this was the case?  I don't recall Jamil chasing Christon around..?  Yet, if it was, why on God's green earth, when you have in Buzz's words - an elite, lockdown, best defender I've coached PG in Derrick...would you not assign him to their best guard??  Makes ZERO sense, or was this just another case of Buzz having an off year/thought process?

According to some posters, it is because Derrick gets tired at the end of games if he has to guard the other PG. Wonder why Bryce Cotton who only come off the floor in BE play for ONE minute this year doesn't have the same issue

[NersEllenson]

According to some posters, it is because Derrick gets tired at the end of games if he has to guard the other PG. Wonder why Bryce Cotton who only come off the floor in BE play for ONE minute this year doesn't have the same issue

Well in the case of Cotton playing MU/Derrick...he doesn't need to expend a lot of energy defending Derrick all over the court...often can camp out in the lane in a stationary position...

But, let's get real...every excuse has been come up with by those who've taken the Derrick is the best option approach - to defend their position and his poor play...including Buzz!

[mu03eng]

Are you 100% sure this was the case?  I don't recall Jamil chasing Christon around..?  Yet, if it was, why on God's green earth, when you have in Buzz's words - an elite, lockdown, best defender I've coached PG in Derrick...would you not assign him to their best guard??  Makes ZERO sense, or was this just another case of Buzz having an off year/thought process?

I'm 100% sure that Wilson was guarding Christon in the first 10 minutes of the 1st half.  I'm also 100% sure that Christon hit two clutch threes when Wilson was guarding him in the back half of that game.  Not one of Wilson's best performances for sure.