Friars Thoughts

[tower912]

1.  Great 5 minute stretch from Sandy in the first half.   It was what was missing against DePaul.
2.  Needed to see Duane on the floor during the last 2 minutes.   I don't care if you sit Juan or Luke, you need the 4 guard out there in end-of-game full court press situations.
3.  Solid minutes from Steve in the second half when Luke went out with foul trouble.
4.  Sometimes, when the offense is focused on getting the ball to Luke in the post, everybody stands around. (BTW, just to be a jerk, how come Derrick is able to get Luke the ball in the post when he couldn't get it to Davante.   Perhaps how hard the post player is working?)
5.   While talking about Derrick, how come the announcers all love him, his leadership, his courage, his defense...... must have fooled them, too.
6.  Clearly, this team is going to win some more games.   Probably not against Georgetown, though. 
7.  JJJ was killing it on the boards today.   
8.  Having said nice things about Derrick, I will now say....why in the hell did he suddenly start channeling the bad Jerel by driving baseline without a plan?   Terrible decision making.   Bad for Jerel.   Worse for Derrick because he should know that he isn't capable of creating there. 
9.  Like everybody else, I saw visions of DePaul redux.   However, they kept going to the paint today.  Maybe that lesson has been learned. 
10.   Wojo is still making first year coaching errors.   IMO, today's was to not play Duane more in the second half. 
11.  Take the win, hug the win, cuddle the win, whisper in the win's ear.  Ahhhhhhhhh......

[GGGG]

Duane was pretty poor all game.  But I understand your point about having another guard on the floor.  JJJ is the one that worries me a bit because he isn't great handling the ball, but he had ten rebounds today.  Ten!  Fantastic effort all around.

[PGsHeroes32]

Really sucks we are not 2-0 right now in this league of parody but I am just glad we are not at the bottom of the standings either.

While it isn't likely, maybe we can steal one in GT and make up for DePaul.

Team is still really fun. Just wish they could shoot lol

[tower912]

Duane was pretty poor all game.  But I understand your point about having another guard on the floor.  JJJ is the one that worries me a bit because he isn't great handling the ball, but he had ten rebounds today.  Ten!  Fantastic effort all around.

Duane WAS pretty poor.   But, as Providence pressed, I would rather he have the ball than JJJ in that situation.   I would prefer to not have 3 guys on the floor who make me mutter when they get fouled. (Luke, Juan, Derrick)

[barfolomew]

11.  Take the win, hug the win, cuddle the win, whisper in the win's ear.  Ahhhhhhhhh......

[TSmith34, Inc.]

league of parody

You're thinking of the AAC

[tower912]

12.  PRACTICE YOUR FREE THROWS!!!!     oh.....wait......

[MarquetteDano]

4.  Sometimes, when the offense is focused on getting the ball to Luke in the post, everybody stands around. (BTW, just to be a jerk, how come Derrick is able to get Luke the ball in the post when he couldn't get it to Davante.   Perhaps how hard the post player is working?)

Agree completely.  Wojo has to figure out plays where there is still movement yet it isn't easy for the opposing team to double Luke.  It seems like everyone just tries to clear for Luke but if he isn't open the offense is left with a desperation three.

[MarquetteDano]

You're thinking of the AAC

[GGGG]

Posted in another thread, but Derrick really showed his value today.  Shot well.  5 assists, one turnover, six rebounds.  Defended well.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

* Team defense for the win
* Minutes from Sandy + minutes from Steve = fresher Juan at then end
* That's probably a typical line for Luke today, and that would be OK
* Yeoman's work from Derrick.  Not pretty, but relatively effective

[GoldenWarrior11]

You're thinking of the AAC

+10000 

[LegalEagle15]

Great defense all day. Really swarmed the ball and forced turnovers when they brought the ball down low in the paint. Cut off passing lanes, got out in transition. Would have liked to have seen more points and a bigger spread but the win is just as sweet.

In the end Carlino's 2nd half threes and Juan's bank evened out our 3pt shooting a little, but the first half was difficult to watch. Not sure if guys just aren't stepping into their 3's or what but it was frustrating to watch some of those shots clang off the rim. Granted one or two were desperation 3s with a low shot clock but it's something to improve on.

Free throws. Part of closing out games is making free throws at the end. When an opposing team fouls us, making those free throws preserves the lead and demoralizes their efforts. Missing the front end of one and one's is essentially a turnover for us. It was frustrating to watch this team move the ball for 32 seconds, get fouled with three seconds left on the shot clock, and not make Providence pay for the foul. That being said, Juan really stepped up in the end and sank some important free throws. Would love to see the team make 3-4 more per game.

Cohen. Pretty stroke, loved the runner/hook off the glass, nailed a deep 3 with the clock winding down. It's only one game but if he can bring that sort of offensive prowess and continue to develop defensively he could be very good. Loved watching him become more confident as he went on that little run seemingly by himself. Hopefully we will continue to see this out of him.

Derrick was solid all day. He doesn't make great plays, but generally he makes the smart plays which can be just as important. He's not going to shoot you into a game like Carlino or take over but he does his job and gives his best. JJJ showed some real aggressiveness driving the lane and with that sweet put back dunk. Fisher is still getting used to playing against size but he still looked good moving in the post and helping on defense. Gotta watch those fouls, especially silly ones on moving screens. 

Duane couldn't find a rhythm all day and missed a couple early threes. His stroke looks fine but it wasn't falling today. Made some good steals and drove the lane but had trouble finishing.

Overall a great team effort and bounce back from the DePaul loss. If that is the type of defense they can bring every night this team will give a lot of people headaches. As always there is room for improvement, but good to see them get their feet back under them after a bad loss and close this one out.

[brandx]

10.   Wojo is still making first year coaching errors.   IMO, today's was to not play Duane more in the second half. 

Disagree a little here - although Duane should probably be on the floor in the last two minutes. But, from Wojo's side of things, Duane doesn't always protect the ball.

And don't agree with the 1st-year coaching errors thing. He has coached players at a much higher level than this - albeit not as a head coach. But this is not a typical assistant moving the the hot seat for the first time.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

So where's duanewade today?

[brandx]

So where's duanewade today?

Crying in his beer at some dive bar with Willie.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Sandy Cohen, sounds like instant offense, The Microwave, John Gwynn of early 90's UConn fame.

[Texas Western]

Really sucks we are not 2-0 right now in this league of parody but I am just glad we are not at the bottom of the standings either.

While it isn't likely, maybe we can steal one in GT and make up for DePaul.

Team is still really fun. Just wish they could shoot lol

I think you meant to say parity,

[MUfan12]

Duane is pushing the ball instead of shooting it. Flat shot that usually misses long. Needs a few to drop to get his confidence back.

Coaching job was great today, particularly out of halftime. MU was too bunched at the top of the zone, and Wojo decided to extend it into a pseudo zone trap in the halfcourt. Took PC out of their offense for a good chunk of the second half, and allowed MU to build a cushion.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Duane is pushing the ball instead of shooting it. Flat shot that usually misses long. Needs a few to drop to get his confidence back.

Coaching job was great today, particularly out of halftime. MU was too bunched at the top of the zone, and Wojo decided to extend it into a pseudo zone trap in the halfcourt. Took PC out of their offense for a good chunk of the second half, and allowed MU to build a cushion.

+1. Good halftime adjustments just like with DePaul. Our steal game was awesome as Dunn struggled. Went to War of Attrition this game instead of going into a safe protection mode. PC started game 8-8 yet Wojo kept MU in it to start with the defense forcing turnovers.

Also liked starting Luke and giving Sandy 1st half minutes wth a green light to soften up the defense when Du and Lino continued their cold spells.  Would like a starting line up of Luke, Juan and Steve/Sandy to go with Derrick/Du and JJJ/Carlino depending on match-ups and hot hands.

[tower912]

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400588400

Box score with minutes.   MU wins the rebounding war.  (nice work, JJJ)   12 steals.   

[madtownwarrior]

They don't count horrible inbounds pass resulting for an easy layup for the other team as a turnover?


Assist total would go up if he did not hold the ball to 5 secs left and then dump it off to another player for a terrible shot...

Posted in another thread, but Derrick really showed his value today.  Shot well.  5 assists, one turnover, six rebounds.  Defended well.

[GGGG]

They don't count horrible inbounds pass resulting for an easy layup for the other team as a turnover?


Assist total would go up if he did not hold the ball to 5 secs left and then dump it off to another player for a terrible shot...

LOL...of course.  Always someone steps forward to criticize. 

[wadesworld]

They don't count horrible inbounds pass resulting for an easy layup for the other team as a turnover?


Assist total would go up if he did not hold the ball to 5 secs left and then dump it off to another player for a terrible shot...

We've missed you Ners.

[tower912]

ners is actually on the scoutboard (mu1997) with a post praising Derrick's play.    While sliding in the shiv that he hopes that Wojo doesn't treat Cohen like Buzz did Dawson.