IUPUI thoughts

[hairy worthen]

I have one observation about that game last night.

It sucked.  Really a part of me wanted that IUPUI shot at the end of regulation to fall because I didn't want to watch anymore.  After two years of this crap, I was hoping for more.  Yeah I know they are going to improve this year.  (They had better...)  We have a junior guard, and a sophomore guard who have been in the program for three years who still can't shoot.  After two off-seasons of "skill development," they cannot put the ball in the basket.  Furthermore, JJJ does only one thing well.  He can drive to the basket with his right hand.  Defense is better but it is still not great.  No vision with the ball.  Duane is better in both areas, but still.

I'm not sure I can do this much longer.  Iowa is going to truck this team by 15.

I don't like this bizarro version of Sultan, bring back the old Sultan.

Too small of a sample size. It's been two games, relax.  But I get it, over react is what fans do. All you have to do is go through the archives of scoop to know that.

[Galway Eagle]

Is it possible that because of the short turn around Wojo didn't plan a scouting report for these guys, had already started on Iowa figuring we'd win on talent and then we got caught with our pants down?

[Loose Cannon]

I have one observation about that game last night.

. .

I'm not sure I can do this much longer.  Iowa is going to truck this team by 15.

You will be missed!

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Is it possible that because of the short turn around Wojo didn't plan a scouting report for these guys, had already started on Iowa figuring we'd win on talent and then we got caught with our pants down?

Could be -- I am less worried about game prep at this point. 

I am more worried about how Duane is pressing so hard to be the leader as opposed to letting things come to him.  On the flip side I think Luke has the opportunity to be more vocal out there and demand the ball.  Next I wish Wojo would get some more high/low going with HE & Luke as opposed to using the guard weave and keeping the ball on the perimeter.  Finally I am encouraged that Wojo is willing to go zone but discouraged that the kids are once again struggling to learn the M2M.  I hope this is a youth issue and not an instruction issue.

Ok enough of that -- we are going to kill Iowa on Thur.

[Loose Cannon]

 

Does anyone appreciates the improved FREE THROW shooting, almost  a 1/3 of our total points. 

[MerrittsMustache]

Is it possible that because of the short turn around Wojo didn't plan a scouting report for these guys, had already started on Iowa figuring we'd win on talent and then we got caught with our pants down?

It's highly unlikely that Wojo simply didn't plan a scouting report but I'd be willing to bet there has been much more extensive scouting on Iowa, and that MU will have more of Wojo's "system" in play on Thursday night. These early season games are basically a higher stakes preseason. Teams don't want to put too much on film so they create fairly vanilla gameplans and, though it might not always be pretty, more times than not, talent wins out. Looking back to just last season, MU played Ohio State and Michigan State better than they played Nebraska-Omaha and NJIT at home.

[brewcity77]

I don't necessarily agree with those saying Henry isn't a one-and-done after two games, but the counterpoint to your argument is located in under "Gardner, Davante [Out of Conference Performance]"

The bottom line is stats won't determine if he gets drafted or is a lottery pick. Anyone hand-wringing his lottery status because of a game against IUPUI in November in which he went for 18/3/3 is being simply inane.

Looking at Henry play, he is clearly, obviously a NBA talent. His defense isn't great, but they can teach that. His shot selection from deep is sometimes questionable, but they can teach that. But his natural rebounding, his physical frame, his ability to handle the ball at his size, and his raw play-making ability (that bounce pass to Luke) are the kind of things that very few players have and simply cannot be taught. Those things are why he will have the ability to choose if he is one-and-done, two-and-through, or plays longer.

[bilsu]

Is it possible that because of the short turn around Wojo didn't plan a scouting report for these guys, had already started on Iowa figuring we'd win on talent and then we got caught with our pants down?

I seriously doubt that they did not scout this team. Wojo did say that IUPI's bigmen shot better than they normally do. One thing that MU has trouble with is when the other team passes the ball into a cleared out middle of the court. That happen a lot with Belmont. I was wondering if that is the result of MU's offensive plan. MU in practice is basically playing against MU's offensive scheme. As a result the young players are not ready to react to something they have not seen in practice. The more they see it in actual games the better they should be in defending against it. I suspect that is why there are so many early upsets. New players do not know how to react to different offensive schemes thrown at them by seasoned teams.

[naginiF]

A .500 finish in conference would be a good step forward from last year. I am just going to enjoy watching the Freshmen learn to play and know that the building blocks are getting in place. Expecting more from such a young team, and coach, will lead to disappointment.

I think the very first words of this thread are the most important - there are 348 DI teams with more experience than us and only 2 with less experience.  Add to that (correct me if my memory is off) but Cheatham wasn't a point guard in high school so we also have a Frosh point that is learning a new position.

Indeed, the learning process will be fun to watch.

[Galway Eagle]

It's highly unlikely that Wojo simply didn't plan a scouting report but I'd be willing to bet there has been much more extensive scouting on Iowa, and that MU will have more of Wojo's "system" in play on Thursday night. These early season games are basically a higher stakes preseason. Teams don't want to put too much on film so they create fairly vanilla gameplans and, though it might not always be pretty, more times than not, talent wins out. Looking back to just last season, MU played Ohio State and Michigan State better than they played Nebraska-Omaha and NJIT at home.

(as well as Bilsu and Frenn's) I didn't mean we didn't plan one but that we simply halfassed it I guess. Like didn't really investigate if this Combs guy could go off or if their F/C had an outside shot and such. Little things that we would've done for every game in the BE or against Iowa, UW etc. It's just been a theory of mine that being ill prepared is what we see as "playing down to your competition". 

[Benny B]

That's exactly how I felt at 10 pm with a 2 hour drive staring me in the face.  And I'm personally putting much of the on floor responsibility on the 4 returning players.  With the exception of Sandy, each needs to elevate their game pretty dramatically.

The single thing I did like was the 2-3 zone with Sandy and Cheatham up high.  That length caused problems.  Perhaps our young team is thinking a bit too much in the man, not performing, and allowing that to spill over into everything else.

Personally, I won't be surprised if any of the following happen:

1) Though not quite with Syracuse-levels of frequency, we're going to see a lot more 2-3 zone.
2) The guys start to put it together late against Iowa and finish the game, then go on to walk all over LSU and NC State, only to come back home and struggle against Jackson State (a junior-laden team that's returning 7 of their top 8 players in both scoring and minutes played in 14-15)
3) Sandy is bringing home conference hardware at the end of the season.

[jsglow]

Personally, I won't be surprised if any of the following happen:

1) Though not quite with Syracuse-levels of frequency, we're going to see a lot more 2-3 zone.
2) The guys start to put it together late against Iowa and finish the game, then go on to walk all over LSU and NC State, only to come back home and struggle against Jackson State (a junior-laden team that's returning 7 of their top 8 players in both scoring and minutes played in 14-15)
3) Sandy is bringing home conference hardware at the end of the season.

Perhaps.  I really think the team relaxed (in a positive way) once they were playing zone last night.  The turnovers practically stopped.  The horrible 'blown assignments' stopped.  Sure we (I mean DU) still shot the ball for crap but I have to believe he'll work that out.

[MU82]

Personally, I won't be surprised if any of the following happen:

1) Though not quite with Syracuse-levels of frequency, we're going to see a lot more 2-3 zone.
2) The guys start to put it together late against Iowa and finish the game, then go on to walk all over LSU and NC State, only to come back home and struggle against Jackson State (a junior-laden team that's returning 7 of their top 8 players in both scoring and minutes played in 14-15)
3) Sandy is bringing home conference hardware at the end of the season.

1. I think they should. It's not about being macho and playing man "because that's what tough teams do." It's about putting your players in the best position to succeed. Some personnel is simply better playing zone, and this is one. It's already pretty obvious.

2. I would take this scenario in a heartbeat but I do have more than a few doubts.

3. We'll see!

[RushmoreAcademy]

Seems like Ellenson was handed the job.   I'm not sure he makes our best 5 right now.  His D is lacking.   Hopefully Wojo's evaluation of Ellenson was correct as the season goes on.    He put a lot of eggs in that basket.

This has to be the most entertaining post I've ever read on scoop.

[fjm]

By Thursday morning I will probably think we'll win by 15.

Haha I love the honesty. That's how I am with this team.

The sky is falling!!!!.. 2 days later "we got this... Iowa sucks."

[frozena pizza]

Ellenson has great athleticism and handle for his size but he has a long way to go.  Clearly the potential is there but he needs a crash course on defense and post moves / awareness.

Duane is definitely a concern right now but I hope he gets it figured out.  We need more out of him.  Cohen too.

They have to figure out how to leverage Luke more.  He is our best option offensively which is why they double him so quickly and we can't seem to find good opportunities out of that.  Later in the game he seemed tired and was only getting touches at the top of the key.

I was expecting more out of Carter at this point.  Otherwise the freshmen seem about where I would guess and Cheatam seems the furthest along (aside from Henry).

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Is it possible that because of the short turn around Wojo didn't plan a scouting report for these guys, had already started on Iowa figuring we'd win on talent and then we got caught with our pants down?

No, it's not possible.

[Galway Eagle]

No, it's not possible.

bummer

[DienerTime34]

Couple of big dumb observations that I feel like posting: Anyone else struck by the fact how much we look like a group of skinny boys out there? Like if we walked onto a high school court nobody would say much other than that we're tall? I guess we have been spoiled by all the man children of the Buzz era with Otule, Ox, DJO, Crowder, etc.

Also, and this may be absolutely nothing as well: Anyone notice how Wojo is losing his mind on the sideline screaming "Get your hands up" on the defensive end when we went into zone and literally nobody is doing it?

[GooooMarquette]

No, it's not possible.

Source?

[keefe]

I respectfully suggest you look at the stats of many recent one and dones who eventually became lottery picks.

The stats in their first two games were similar, and sometimes worse than, those of Henry.

First two games playing at a high level = he looked very good. And he will look better as the season progresses.

Silence! The moomoo speaks!

[Blackhat]

Henry is a  terrible defensive player right now, that's the only reason he is not our best 5 walking in.   There are two sides to the player coin, nobody thinks about defense.

[NotAnAlum]

MU in practice is basically playing against MU's offensive scheme. As a result the young players are not ready to react to something they have not seen in practice. The more they see it in actual games the better they should be in defending against it.

I think there is something to what Bilsu says.  MU has terrible problems with the pick and roll and MU doesn't use the pick and roll much.  So why not use HE in pick and roll a lot in practice and then make Luke guard it over and over again with HE and the other offensive player running all the options.  I personally think HE would be devastating off the pick and roll moving toward the hoop or pulling up for a mid range shot.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Henry is a  terrible defensive player right now, that's the only reason he is not our best 5 walking in.   There are two sides to the player coin, nobody thinks about defense.

Really?  I'm not seeing any lock-down defenders on the team that could replace him on the floor and effectively replace the offensive threat he provides on the defensive end of the ball.   

[keefe]

Nobody captures the essence of Marquette basketball today better than Phil Lesh

https://www.youtube.com/v/PQ5-NGF3AAA