Nova thoughts

[dgies9156]

The good:
   We showed we could play with the best in our conference.
    Traci Carter showed why he is starting.

The bad:
    Almost doesn't count in basketball.

The Ugly:
    We're still making freshmen mistakes. We're showing a much improved basketball team that's competitive with our conference but we're not going to make the tournament if we don't play 40 minutes every time out.

We should change our motto from "Win Every Day" to "Win Every Moment."

[Benny B]

Other random thoughts

-  Those turnovers, after good steals in the press, are soul crushing. 
-  It's been about 4 seasons since Marquette has had a good outside shooter.
-  Can't believe Villanova is about to cover the spread.

Does anyone else feel like we're simply this one piece short of a Final Four team?


I can't help but to think that if Steve Novak was 10 years younger, we would be in conversation for a natty right now.  Look what happened when the 3's were falling in the first half.  Heck, if the team's 3FG% falls any further, I might even consider taking back Mike Knsella and rotating him in at the 2 or 3.

[🏀]

Does anyone else feel like we're simply this one piece short of a Final Four team?


I can't help but to think that if Steve Novak was 10 years younger, we would be in conversation for a natty right now.  Look what happened when the 3's were falling in the first half.  Heck, if the team's 3FG% falls any further, I might even consider taking back Mike Knsella and rotating him in at the 2 or 3.

Wes Matthews at the 3. Yummahumma.

[mu03eng]

Does anyone else feel like we're simply this one piece short of a Final Four team?


I can't help but to think that if Steve Novak was 10 years younger, we would be in conversation for a natty right now.  Look what happened when the 3's were falling in the first half.  Heck, if the team's 3FG% falls any further, I might even consider taking back Mike Knsella and rotating him in at the 2 or 3.

Totally agree, was texting with the pod partner last night....if Carlino was on this team, we're a top 25 team. Was hoping Duane would be that guy this year but his 3pt shooting is just far too streaky.

[GGGG]

Does anyone else feel like we're simply this one piece short of a Final Four team?

Absolutely not.  Look at the last Final Four team Marquette had.  That team had a great balance of experience, talent, players who fit into specific roles. 

Even if you had Carlino on this team, who is the Robert Jackson?  Who is the Travis Diener?  Who is your Dwyane Wade?

I can see this team growing into a Final Four team if the right pieces are added.  There is really a great core of guards / forwards to build around.  But this year even with a missing piece added?  Not a chance.

[MUDPT]

Last in the conference in offensive rebounding.  Seems like the coaching staff has emphasized getting back on defense, at the expense of probably a couple of easy put backs against the zone.  I felt all of our made 3s came last night from feeds inside the lane, whether they were a guard's penetration or throw back from Henry or Luke.  I have no problem with the Carter tech if that was called every time it happens.  If Hart or Arcidiacono does it, they don't call it, but felt the officials wanted to make a statement on the freshman.  Carter should go out for soccer, that was the most well placed kick, "on purpose" as he's falling down.  Again, don't have a problem with it, if they called every blatant elbow, like the one we didn't get against Providence.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I saw a team that could hang with best team in the conference in their hellhole of a home court for 32 minutes without one of their key bench players. Unfortunately there was a brutal 8 minute stretch in there. By the end of the season (+ a healthy JJJ), this team should be able to hang with nova for 40 minutes. Maybe not win, but play like they belong.

[Benny B]

Absolutely not.  Look at the last Final Four team Marquette had.  That team had a great balance of experience, talent, players who fit into specific roles. 

Even if you had Carlino on this team, who is the Robert Jackson?  Who is the Travis Diener?  Who is your Dwyane Wade?

I can see this team growing into a Final Four team if the right pieces are added.  There is really a great core of guards / forwards to build around.  But this year even with a missing piece added?  Not a chance.

If we had MU's 2003 team going against the competition today, everyone would be talking about Marquette's impending 2016 National Championship as if they were Kentucky in 2012.

That said -- again, look what happened last night in the first half when they were hitting 3s.  There was no Travis Diener, there was no Dwayne Wade, there was no Robert Jackson... but they went into the half leading by 1 after being down 16 just a few minutes prior... MU completely dominated a top 10 team in their tiny gym for 10 minutes of that game by making shots from distance.

[Nephew]

Some brief thoughts from the Pavilion stands:

1. Traci Carter played like he wanted to prove someone wrong.  Loved the fire and passion - but it caused him to play a little outside of himself at times.  Really good teaching moment for him.  I was glad to see Wojo talking him through it.  Crowd did not like Traci by the end of the game.
2. Our two most vocal players on the court were Fischer and Cohen. I expected Fischer but Cohen surprised me a bit.
3. Cheatham is going to be a good one.  Still green but in person he plays with a poise beyond his age that doesn't necessarily come across on TV.
4a. The crowd was really into the game - booing Wojo, Traci, and the refs any chance they got. Got the sense they're not used to calls going against them in that building.
4b. After Traci's 2nd T, a grown man a few rows behind me stood up and called Traci a P.O.S. loudly, while the gym was quiet. I stood up, turned around, and put him in his place. He was quiet after that.
5. Overall, really fun place to see a game despite very small seats in the upper section.  Has the feel of a high school gym.
6. Jimmy Butler was there sitting courtside next to Joakim Noah.  A bunch of Nova fans we're taking pictures with JFB.

[Silkk the Shaka]

I don't understand the negativity.   Villanova is ranked where they are for a reason.    They were playing in a building where they haven't lost for years.  MU played their best 10 minutes of the year.    MU isn't experienced enough and doesn't have enough weapons to expect to beat Villanova in Philly.  It's ok to root for the upset (or the powerball win) but there is no reason to beat this team up when the game ended pretty much like everyone expected.   MU played hard.   They did some good things.  In the end, 'Nova was better.   What more does anyone expect?

Yo, word. We'll give them a really good shot at our place.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

There was one Marquette fan right behind the Villanova bench.  Was that the Scooper who's daughter goes to 'Nova?

[LAMUfan]

It was on the kick.

Then that is a bad call.

[GGGG]

That said -- again, look what happened last night in the first half when they were hitting 3s.  There was no Travis Diener, there was no Dwayne Wade, there was no Robert Jackson... but they went into the half leading by 1 after being down 16 just a few minutes prior... MU completely dominated a top 10 team in their tiny gym for 10 minutes of that game by making shots from distance.

Winning a half at Villanova is orders of magnitude easier than getting to a Final Four.  While it is more certainly an accomplishment, it isn't "one piece away from a Final Four" accomplishment.

[WarriorPride68]

4b. After Traci's 2nd T, a grown man a few rows behind me stood up and called Traci a P.O.S. loudly, while the gym was quiet. I stood up, turned around, and put him in his place. He was quiet after that.

Nobody effs with Nephew. Not even in Philly

[CTWarrior]

Absolutely not.  Look at the last Final Four team Marquette had.  That team had a great balance of experience, talent, players who fit into specific roles. 

Even if you had Carlino on this team, who is the Robert Jackson?  Who is the Travis Diener?  Who is your Dwyane Wade?

I can see this team growing into a Final Four team if the right pieces are added.  There is really a great core of guards / forwards to build around.  But this year even with a missing piece added?  Not a chance.

Agree.  We need not only better shooting but better rebounding and more experience.  Wojo's laying a solid foundation and the good times are coming, I think.  This team is a big step in the right direction, but too many things will have to go right for us this year.  I think we will be very good by the end of the year, but will probably have not done enough before then to get an NCAA bid.  We will be a tough out in the BET.

[MU82]

As usual, I skipped Scoop until the morning after a loss because I don't need the negative karma before bedtime!

When the game ended, I actually was quite encouraged. We had a couple of awful stretches but we battled and battled and had some very nice stretches, too.

The first-half comeback was a thing of beauty. We then fell behind quickly in the second half only to respond again and pull within 50-49. We then played poorly while Nova played well and it was over ... except it wasn't, because our lads again made it interesting.

We're just not quite good enough and, mostly, not quite mature enough to win this game. Unlike Providence, which is a bit of a poser, Nova is a legit top-10 team with a proven great coach and an incredible homecourt advantage -- and we made them sweat a little. We're getting better, and that includes the coach.

On a more narrow-focused level, this game -- again --  underscored how important 3-point shooting is. It gives a team a chance. It can't be the be-all and end-all (and Nova's reliance on it might be its end-all come tourney time), but a team has to be able to make 3s. When we hit a few, we rallied. When we threw bricks, we fell behind.

[🏀]

Each Jay Wright opponent coach not to mention every fan base has said to themselves---we've got bigs they are playing with four guards right now this is our time to exploit their weaknesses.
Guess what? Another Nova victory.
Nova in no way will be able to compete with the size of Georgetown. 

Each Jay Wright opponent coach not to mention every fan base has said to themselves---we've got bigs they are playing with four guards right now this is our time to exploit their weaknesses.
Guess what? Another Nova victory.
Nova in no way will be able to compete with the size of Georgetown. 

Except for the NCAA tournament, where Nova usually gets shown the door early.

[LloydsLegs]

Last in the conference in offensive rebounding.  Seems like the coaching staff has emphasized getting back on defense, at the expense of probably a couple of easy put backs against the zone.  I felt all of our made 3s came last night from feeds inside the lane, whether they were a guard's penetration or throw back from Henry or Luke.  I have no problem with the Carter tech if that was called every time it happens.  If Hart or Arcidiacono does it, they don't call it, but felt the officials wanted to make a statement on the freshman.  Carter should go out for soccer, that was the most well placed kick, "on purpose" as he's falling down.  Again, don't have a problem with it, if they called every blatant elbow, like the one we didn't get against Providence.

When you miss so many 3's, you should get more offensive rebounds.  To your point, on almost every missed three, Nova had 4 or 5 players crashing, we had one or none.  And the two times that I noticed Luke or HE back tipping, there was no one there because they were all back on D.  Clearly a coaching decision that cut back on their run outs, but hurt our rebounding.

[keefe]

a grown man a few rows behind me stood up and called Traci a P.O.S. loudly, while the gym was quiet. I stood up, turned around, and put him in his place. He was quiet after that.

Nothing like a good old fashioned ass kicking, a ina?

[Spotcheck Billy]

I feel like my stream is 30 min behind.  WTF

did you try turning on a faucet?

[79Warrior]

Does anyone else feel like we're simply this one piece short of a Final Four team?


I can't help but to think that if Steve Novak was 10 years younger, we would be in conversation for a natty right now.  Look what happened when the 3's were falling in the first half.  Heck, if the team's 3FG% falls any further, I might even consider taking back Mike Knsella and rotating him in at the 2 or 3.

no way.

[willie warrior]

Our SG (Duane) needs to make some shots. Worst shooting % on team among guys playing over 10 minutes a game except for Traci.

Not accurate. Duane and henry are both at 42%, and Duane is better at 3 at 34% than henry who is at 24%. Carter is at 32% and 30% on threes, while JJJ is at 32% on threes. Get your facts straight for once Brandie. Just the facts Ma'm.

If you want to criticize somebody for poor shooting, maybe you need to share the love with Henry who has taken many more shots than anybody else on the team, with a 3point % that approaches Derrick.

[WarriorPride68]

Last in the conference in offensive rebounding.

Consider me petrified of next year if HENBA goes pro. going to need a couple grad transfers / juco bigs.

Anyone know how many scholarships are open for 2016? And does Bailey's scholarship count against the number even though he won't be here for 2 years, because I think he already signed.

[MUfan12]

Consider me petrified of next year if HENBA goes pro. going to need a couple grad transfers / juco bigs.

Anyone know how many scholarships are open for 2016? And does Bailey's scholarship count against the number even though he won't be here for 2 years, because I think he already signed.

Bailey won't count until he arrives. There will likely be two open.

IF Woj can land a bruiser at the 4, I like the makeup of the roster next year, even without Henry. In some ways, Hank's absence might improve the flow of the offense.

[WarriorPride68]

Bailey won't count until he arrives. There will likely be two open.

That's huge! Much appreciated & glad to hear