Belmont thoughts

[willie warrior]

With 5:27 to go in the 1st half, future Hall of Famer Evan Bradds gets his first of his unguarded 24 points to p accented. Belmont in the lead 33-31.  He then scores ten more points to put Belmont up 47-41 at half. I see a lot of comments here about MU's offense but this team is horrid on defense right now.

This is very confounding. This game and last year we saw lots of poor defensive play by MU. Yet we have a coach who came out of Duke, where defense has always been has always been accented. Wojo was a Defensive guru, was he not? We are not seeing that so far in his coaching.

[AZWarrior]

This is very confounding. This game and last year we saw lots of poor defensive play by MU. Yet we have a coach who came out of Duke, where defense has always been has always been accented. Wojo was a Defensive guru, was he not? We are not seeing that so far in his coaching.

I suspect they haven't installed the defense yet.

[BM1090]

This is very confounding. This game and last year we saw lots of poor defensive play by MU. Yet we have a coach who came out of Duke, where defense has always been has always been accented. Wojo was a Defensive guru, was he not? We are not seeing that so far in his coaching.

Didn't we have like the 2nd or 3rd best defense in the Big East last year?

[keefe]

this team is horrid on defense right now.

Correct. That is why we lost.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I have been impressed with all the freshmen actually. They need a lot of seasoning, but you can see they have "it".  Amin may be a starter after not too soon as he is so fundamentally sound, especially on defense. He makes plays. 

Also, JJJ and Sandy have improved significantly. 

Duane and Luke haven't shown much yet compared to preseason expectations. I said this before, but Wojo needs to establish Luke low early in both halves. 

On the defensive end, after 1+ seasons, I think Wojo needs to rethink his man defense.  The reason I think this is Luke.  He doesn't have the footspeed for rotations or on switches, IMO, and is a more effective defender in the zone.

Was really impressed with the runs back.  That took moxie.  Belmont is a very good team and is extremely well-coached.  Byrd really took advantage of situational mismatches.  Wojo did push the war of attrition but MU didn't capitalize.

I do think Wojo needs to pick a point guard, though.  Carter looks like the natural one to me.

It was a great game offensively.  There were many first halves last year where I got leg cramps standing in wait for MU to score its first basket.  I think at the five minute mark, MU had a 2014-15 first half of points.

[fjm]

With that roster, there's no way Buzz loses that game.

The same buzz that lost to Alabama state?

[MU82]

13. Henry was a beast but he's at best a mediocre 3 point shooter. He's virtually unstoppable down low but does the other team a favor when he plays on the perimeter or launches 3s.

I said almost this exact same thing as I watched the game with Mrs. MU82 and two MU buddies.

[PGsHeroes32]

I have been impressed with all the freshmen actually. They need a lot of seasoning, but you can see they have "it".  Amin may be a starter after not too soon as he is so fundamentally sound, especially on defense. He makes plays. 

Also, JJJ and Sandy have improved significantly. 

Duane and Luke haven't shown much yet compared to preseason expectations. I said this before, but Wojo needs to establish Luke low early in both halves. 

On the defensive end, after 1+ seasons, I think Wojo needs to rethink his man defense.  The reason I think this is Luke.  He doesn't have the footspeed for rotations or on switches, IMO, and is a more effective defender in the zone.

Was really impressed with the runs back.  That took moxie.  Belmont is a very good team and is extremely well-coached.  Byrd really took advantage of situational mismatches.  Wojo did push the war of attrition but MU didn't capitalize.

I do think Wojo needs to pick a point guard, though.  Carter looks like the natural one to me.

It was a great game offensively.  There were many first halves last year where I got leg cramps standing in wait for MU to score its first basket.  I think at the five minute mark, MU had a 2014-15 first half of points.

Good points.

On the PG thing I think the difficulty is that Carter is probably more natural but Cheatam is clearly the better player and more ready right now.

I think Cheatam and Sacar could be studs as upperclassmen.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Good points.

On the PG thing I think the difficulty is that Carter is probably more natural but Cheatam is clearly the better player and more ready right now.

I think Cheatam and Sacar could be studs as upperclassmen.

Define clearly better? I don't think Cheatham is so much better than Traci where you can easily make the choice to start him.

[Tums Festival]

With that roster, there's no way Buzz loses that game.

Not so sure about that, although Belmont is no Alabama St.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/eye-on-college-basketball/25374810/opening-weekend-upsets-continue-va-tech-falls-at-home-to-swac-school

[brewcity77]

Fischer actually shot more than six times. A missed shot is not counted, if you are fouled. I did feel that Ellenson was not being used properly, especially in the first half. Maybe it was because Wojo promised him in recruiting that he could play all ove the floor.

This is true, but also part of the problem. Way too many issues for Luke finishing through contact. That was also an issue last year. I want to say there were four times he should have gone up strong and been able to get an and-one but instead came away with two shots at the line.

[Herman Cain]

This is true, but also part of the problem. Way too many issues for Luke finishing through contact. That was also an issue last year. I want to say there were four times he should have gone up strong and been able to get an and-one but instead came away with two shots at the line.

I think Luke came back to early from his shoulder. He didn't need to play in Italy.Should have given it another couple months. 

[GGGG]

The doctors cleared him. 

I think he's simply not a "banger" type of center.  He's slim and doesn't seem to hold muscle mass.  He was the same way in high school and in two years of college ball. 

[Brewtown Andy]

Didn't we have like the 2nd or 3rd best defense in the Big East last year?

6th in efficiency according to KenPom

[ChicosBailBonds]

With that roster, there's no way Buzz loses that game.

With Va Tech's roster, do you think Wojo loses that game to Alabama State at home?

Because Buzz's crew just did

http://www.richmond.com/sports/college/basketball/men/article_02f6e9ff-2176-51d2-bb4f-7b3ea773f325.html

[Lennys Tap]

With Va Tech's roster, do you think Wojo loses that game to Alabama State at home?

Yes

[Newsdreams]

The doctors cleared him. 

I think he's simply not a "banger" type of center.  He's slim and doesn't seem to hold muscle mass.  He was the same way in high school and in two years of college ball.

Who cares about doctors it should our decision period!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

With Va Tech's roster, do you think Wojo loses that game to Alabama State at home?

Because Buzz's crew just did

http://www.richmond.com/sports/college/basketball/men/article_02f6e9ff-2176-51d2-bb4f-7b3ea773f325.html

No. But if VT played them 9 more times, I bet they would win all 9. Same with most of the upsets this weekend.

[We R Final Four]

Define clearly better? I don't think Cheatham is so much better than Traci where you can easily make the choice to start him.

Traci has a nickname........Haniff does not.  Case closed.

[ChicosBailBonds]

No. But if VT played them 9 more times, I bet they would win all 9. Same with most of the upsets this weekend.

If only we could institute the best of 10 series

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

If only we could institute the best of 10 series

It would make the regular season less of a crapshoot

[Herman Cain]

Traci has a nickname........Haniff does not.  Case closed.

Maybe we can call him Dewey.

[ChicosBailBonds]

It would make the regular season less of a crapshoot

Regular season isn't particularly a crapshoot.  Home teams win 67% among all 350 DI schools.  Only 15 schools out of 350 had losing records.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Regular season isn't particularly a crapshoot.  Home teams win 67% among all 350 DI schools.  Only 15 schools out of 350 had losing records.

Didn't think teal was necessary

[CTWarrior]

Biggest criticisms were some poor defense throughout and a godawful decision by Duane on the 3-pointer attempt ...

I don't think that was that bad of a shot to take.  Obviously it turned out to be bad, but he could not have been more open and he took the shot in rhythym and we had rebounding position.  That goes in and we are up 4 with 40 seconds to go.  Unfortunately, he just launched a brick.  I want our players to be confident and not afraid to take the big shot.  It bodes well for the team moving forward.

In the end, as most everyone said, we lost because of a few poor possessions at crunch time and because we lost track of Evan Bradds way too often.  Young team, we'll get better.

Finally, that is a bad loss in the sense that we lost to a team that will at best be on the bubble if they don't win their conference tournament on our home floor.  Those are games you'd really like to have in your back pocket come tournament selection time.