Blue Jay thoughts

[HutchwasClutch]

Putting all of this season's woes on Buzz is a cop out - and nothing more than being kind to our new head coach.  

It's called being a realist Ners.

[Daniel]

I hate the excuse of us only having 7/8 guys as a reason why we lose.  A lot of teams only play 7/8 players.  Dayton is in the exact same boat as us and they are rolling.  St. Johns typically plays 7/8 and are better than us.  The players on this roster have talent.  Most were top 100.  It is up to Wojo to put together a game plan to get them to mesh.  This team was playing better earlier in the year than they are now.

Everyone else's set of 7-8 players is better than our set of 7 players. There's the difference

[HutchwasClutch]

1) JJJ sucks again - hit a shot early and was awful after that, including two second half turnovers when we had some momentum.
2) Horrid call against Derrick with a minute to go.  The refs were listening to much to the Creighton fans whining at that moment.
3) Duane, nice game, good shooter when his feet are set and he's squared up, but if he's on the move and trying to fire it, he struggles with his shot.
4) Really poor rebounding.  There's no excuse for that.  We might well win that game if we just rebound competently in the second half.
5) That stretch STJ had in the second half is what I really thought we'd have seen a lot more this year.  Hopefully he can build on that and finish the season strong.
6) Really hope Carlino gets back soon, a week from today would be nice.

[NotAnAlum]

Back when Deonte and Dawson transferred a number of Scoopers said that the team was now one major injury away from a disaster.  Well boys we had that major injury and now we are having that disaster.  We didn't just lose another player, we lost the team's leading scorer.  Really no point in analyzing this game or trying to draw anything from it.    Maybe we get Carlino back and we give St John or DePaul a run at home.  Other than that its wait till next year.

[HutchwasClutch]

Really no point in analyzing this game or trying to draw anything from it.   

What do you mean, it's obvious Wojo is the fook up of all time, what's the matter with you? 

[HutchwasClutch]

I don't like the term basketball IQ, but man, do we make a lot of mental mistakes.

-
- Kreklow is on fire and somehow he still gets loose for open threes time after time after time
- Multiple unforced TOs killing momentum

To your points -
1) Kreklow's first half three point barrage was solely on the players.  Fox did one of their inside the huddles in the first half where Wojo specifically told the guys in the huddle that he had hit two from the corner.  So the very next possession, what does Kreklow do?  Of course, hits another three from the right corner because whoever was on the that side had a mental lapse.

2) Yes, JJJ was the one throwing the ball awy on two occassions in the second half when we were starting to get some momentum going. 

[NersEllenson]

To your points -
1) Kreklow's first half three point barrage was solely on the players.  Fox did one of their inside the huddles in the first half where Wojo specifically told the guys in the huddle that he had hit two from the corner.  So the very next possession, what does Kreklow do?  Of course, hits another three from the right corner because whoever was on the that side had a mental lapse.

2) Yes, JJJ was the one throwing the ball awy on two occassions in the second half when we were starting to get some momentum going. 

What was most atrocious was Wojo imploring them to close out on Kreklow shooting 3's in the huddle in that timeout, and coming out of that timeout, what D are we in??  1-3-1...or the most susceptible D you cam play to corner 3 point shots.  Not to mention it was an extended 1-3-1 where the bottom man, Derrick was roughly 8 feet off the baseline. 

And what happened out of that timeout?  Kreklow hits a 3 from the corner.  Part of being a good coach is putting your players in a position to be successful.  Wojo had the proper diagnosis as to our problems (Kreklow hitting 3's), but then put is in the worst defense to defend corner 3's.

[ATL MU Warrior]

To your points -
1) Kreklow's first half three point barrage was solely on the players.  Fox did one of their inside the huddles in the first half where Wojo specifically told the guys in the huddle that he had hit two from the corner.  So the very next possession, what does Kreklow do?  Of course, hits another three from the right corner because whoever was on the that side had a mental lapse.

2) Yes, JJJ was the one throwing the ball awy on two occassions in the second half when we were starting to get some momentum going. 

agree completely.  The players are responsible.

[HutchwasClutch]

What was most atrocious was Wojo imploring them to close out on Kreklow shooting 3's in the huddle in that timeout, and coming out of that timeout, what D are we in??  1-3-1...or the most susceptible D you cam play to corner 3 point shots.  Not to mention it was an extended 1-3-1 where the bottom man, Derrick was roughly 8 feet off the baseline. 

And what happened out of that timeout?  Kreklow hits a 3 from the corner.  Part of being a good coach is putting your players in a position to be successful.  Wojo had the proper diagnosis as to our problems (Kreklow hitting 3's), but then put is in the worst defense to defend corner 3's.

Did he instruct the guys out there to extend the 1-3-1?  I have a hard time believing he did, and you don't know that he did either, there would have been absolutely no reason to.  Creighton spread the floor, and our guys came out way too high on that play. 

It shouldn't be too hard for the guys to pay attention most to opposing player with the hot hand.  They clearly didn't do that on that play after just been told. 

[mattyv1908]

Look, you guys can continue to put a spin job on this season all you want but here's the reality.

1.  Wojo has been outcoached virtually every game in Big East play this season.

2.  Fischer, our mid year savior and 'impact' player according to many posters here, has been outplayed in every Big East game this season.

3.  JJJ, Duane and Cohen are all very inexperienced.

4.  Our best returning player transferred at the semester.


You guys can all make yourselves feel better with the 'help is on the way' and 'the future is bright' cliches all you want, but I'd say that MUBB is much closer to becoming DePaul than we are Villanova.

What a violent fall from grace we're witnessing.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I could go along with this, yet Wojo had 10 to choose from.  How he chose to dole out minutes led to the roster being down to 8 guys.  And in my view and most reasonable posters view - one of those two guys who transferred - Burton was arguably the teams 2nd most proven player going into the season.  Wojo could have filled the open scholarship last summer/fall if he wanted - though I'm sure never would he have anticipated having 3 additional scholarships to fill with Burton, Dawson and NN not being in the program.

Putting all of this season's woes on Buzz is a cop out - and nothing more than being kind to our new head coach.  

Not sure what others are saying on that topic, but all of this season's woes are not on Buzz.

Rookie head coach, not his players nor his style of play, tough to adjust.  Goes with the territory that partial blame goes there.

I do find it interesting, however, that the pieces who have left \ decommitted or largely have continued to underperform are from the previous GM....that includes your favorite whipping boy who happens to play the MOST important position for a college basketball team.

[HutchwasClutch]

Look, you guys can continue to put a spin job on this season all you want but here's the reality.

1.  Wojo has been outcoached virtually every game in Big East play this season.

2.  Fischer, our mid year savior and 'impact' player according to many posters here, has been outplayed in every Big East game this season.

3.  JJJ, Duane and Cohen are all very inexperienced.

4.  Our best returning player transferred at the semester.


You guys can all make yourselves feel better with the 'help is on the way' and 'the future is bright' cliches all you want, but I'd say that MUBB is much closer to becoming DePaul than we are Villanova.

What a violent fall from grace we're witnessing.

So you would do what exactly to fix the situation? 

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Look, you guys can continue to put a spin job on this season all you want but here's the reality.

1.  Wojo has been outcoached virtually every game in Big East play this season.

2.  Fischer, our mid year savior and 'impact' player according to many posters here, has been outplayed in every Big East game this season.

3.  JJJ, Duane and Cohen are all very inexperienced.

4.  Our best returning player transferred at the semester.


You guys can all make yourselves feel better with the 'help is on the way' and 'the future is bright' cliches all you want, but I'd say that MUBB is much closer to becoming DePaul than we are Villanova.

What a violent fall from grace we're witnessing.

Or maybe its not so extreme.  Luke is 10 games or so into his career, point number 3 is accurate and Wojo is learning but generally getting the team to continue to play hard, compete and the like.  You want to jump off a building -- be a SHU fan.  I will let this play out a little.

[HutchwasClutch]

Or maybe its not so extreme.  Luke is 10 games or so into his career, point number 3 is accurate and Wojo is learning but generally getting the team to continue to play hard, compete and the like.  You want to jump off a building -- be a SHU fan.  I will let this play out a little.

Hilarious how Luke is just ripped by matty, but he's got a quick excuse of "inexperience" for JJJ. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

2.  Fischer, our mid year savior and 'impact' player according to many posters here, has been outplayed in every Big East game this season.

I warned many posters here about this, but they immediately started throwing out the BS stuff about IU and their coach.  Fischer will be a good player, maybe really good by his Senior year, but he was never going to be a savior this year.  He's one of those classic bigs that is a worker, has some talent, but mainly a worker.  He'll get better each year and he would have wherever he played hoops.  Next year, with HE in the fold, things will open up for him a bunch more.

I just hope his shoulder isn't something that could become a big problem down the road.

[mattyv1908]

So you would do what exactly to fix the situation? 

Being a successful NCAA basketball program like Marquette has been there is no need to reach for an assistant coach with no head coaching experience hoping he pans out because he interviewed well.  Better alternatives were out there.

Hey, at least now under Wojo we'll be losing the 'right' way.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Being a successful NCAA basketball program like Marquette has been there is no need to reach for an assistant coach with no head coaching experience hoping he pans out because he interviewed well.  Better alternatives were out there.

Hey, at least now under Wojo we'll be losing the 'right' way.

You mean like our last three hires?  Who did you want -- Shaka?  yea me too...he didnt come.  Beyond that you are left with the re-treads and also-rans.  Or maybe we should go the HC route like Deane -- that was cool.

Don't like Wojo hire -- fine -- but its going to play out for a while...so might as well give him a chance with his own players, program, etc.

[HutchwasClutch]

Being a successful NCAA basketball program like Marquette has been there is no need to reach for an assistant coach with no head coaching experience hoping he pans out because he interviewed well.  Better alternatives were out there.

Hey, at least now under Wojo we'll be losing the 'right' way.

You didn't answer my question, so I'll help you out.  Ok, you'd fire Wojo apparently.  And hire what coach who can work the miracles you expect?  And who would you have hired last spring? 

[mattyv1908]

Hilarious how Luke is just ripped by matty, but he's got a quick excuse of "inexperience" for JJJ. 

They've both been mostly atrocious, yet one player (Fischer) is continually praised for his ineptitude while another (JJJ) is torn to shreds over it.

[HutchwasClutch]

They've both been mostly atrocious, yet one player (Fischer) is continually praised for his ineptitude while another (JJJ) is torn to shreds over it.

But you ripped Fischer, but excused JJJ for inexperience, when it's FIscher who has played way less at this level than JJJ.  That was my point that you skated past in your above response.

[mattyv1908]

You didn't answer my question, so I'll help you out.  Ok, you'd fire Wojo apparently.  And hire what coach who can work the miracles you expect?  And who would you have hired last spring? 

Wojo was a huge reach.  Martin, Manning, and Howland to name three who were available and more qualified.  I could name another dozen or so if I actually took some time.

Me not thinking Wojo was the best hire doesn't mean I'd fire him at this point.  That's extremely illogical on your behalf to suggest that.  He's already here and doing so would just create more rebuilding at this point.  No reason to follow up a bad decision with another.

[mattyv1908]

But you ripped Fischer, but excused JJJ for inexperience, when it's FIscher who has played way less at this level than JJJ.  That was my point that you skated past in your above response.

You're reading comprehension must be severely lacking if you think I've given JJJ a pass.

[HutchwasClutch]

You're reading comprehension must be severely lacking if you think I've given JJJ a pass.

Really?  So what point were you making in your earlier post? 

Don't rip me after you've been busy posting like a raving idiot and I've called you on it.

[HutchwasClutch]

Wojo was a huge reach.  Martin, Manning, and Howland to name three who were available and more qualified.  I could name another dozen or so if I actually took some time.

Me not thinking Wojo was the best hire doesn't mean I'd fire him at this point.  That's extremely illogical on your behalf to suggest that.  He's already here and doing so would just create more rebuilding at this point.  No reason to follow up a bad decision with another.

I'm being "illogical"?!? 
You call his hiring a bad decision and talk about all the other giants of the coaching profession we could have had, and your remarks are not to be interpreted for stating the case that you think Wojo should go?   So the only reason you keep him is to not start rebuilding again.  What a vote of confidence that is.

[mattyv1908]

I'm being "illogical"?!? 
You call his hiring a bad decision and talk about all the other giants of the coaching profession we could have had, and your remarks are not to be interpreted for stating the case that you think Wojo should go?   So the only reason you keep him is to not start rebuilding again.  What a vote of confidence that is.

I think the guy is in way over his head and I didn't like the hire when it was announced, but he did get hired.  Firing him now would make the situation worse.