Good win, BUT...

[goldeneagle91114]

How does Luke not score a single point as our starting center? I still don't understand why he plays so soft. He really needs to wake up and step up.

[MomofMUltiples]

Oh, just stuff it. Enjoy the win.

[goldeneagle91114]

Oh, just stuff it. Enjoy the win.

I would rather enjoy the season, but as everyone else has pointed out, there is no way we will make the tournament.

So, I look to next year, and I see a team without HE and a need for someone like Luke to step up. It's not as easy as flicking a switch, it starts now in the second half of this year's conference play.

[RushmoreAcademy]

How does Luke not score a single point as our starting center? I still don't understand why he plays so soft. He really needs to wake up and step up.

[We R Final Four]

Not scoring--yeah that's not good. But I loved seeing Haney Luke and Sandy contributing in other ways when they weren't scoring today. That's a team win today.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

How does Luke not score a single point as our starting center? I still don't understand why he plays so soft. He really needs to wake up and step up.

6 boards and 5 blocks don't happen for people who are soft, asleep, and need to wake up. Henry and Traci were going off. We didn't need Luke to be a scorer in this one.

He also managed to stay on the floor for once. Only 1 foul. Which makes a big difference for us.

[bradley center bat]

6 rebounds and 5 block shots.

[WayOfTheWarrior]

Next thread please. This is garbage. No pleasing some people. Like Wojo said in postgame he played valuable D today. Altered shots and had some clutch rebounds at the end. There's more to it than points. He only took 3 shots because others stepped up. Just wasn't a big part of the offense today.

If he doesn't score for three games, ok, maybe we have a problem. Until then, relax a little. Maybe read a book. Buy a massage chair, sit yourself down, and listen to some Miles Davis.

[jsheim]

I would rather enjoy the season, but as everyone else has pointed out, there is no way we will make the tournament.

So, I look to next year, and I see a team without HE and a need for someone like Luke to step up. It's not as easy as flicking a switch, it starts now in the second half of this year's conference play.

Everyone else has not pointed that out...im holding out hope for a bid. Sure chances are slim. I hate that they lost to depaul. Etc... but still hoping starting with a SH Win.

That you cant enjoy the season...with its ups and downs...what kind of fan are you? Great win today...life is too short not to enjoy that and instead diss one of the players. The losers today are butler and the guy who started this thread.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

I've been as down in the dumps as anyone -- that was just a good hard fought win. No buts

[Nukem2]

As Wojo said in the post-game with Homer and Mac, he thought Luke found other ways to help his team win.  Yes, he had a slow start defensively, but he was a man after that.

[bilsu]

Well when Henry scores double his average and Carter scores 10+ over his someone else's scoring is going to suffer.

[Tums Festival]

How does Luke not score a single point as our starting center? I still don't understand why he plays so soft. He really needs to wake up and step up.

So this would've been a good win (without the but...) if HE had scored 22 and Luke 10, or some other combination of 32?

Biggest home win of the season and you're not happy. You must have been curled up on the floor all last year.

[TallTitan34]

I'm hoping for a solid NIT run.

[goldeneagle91114]

Ya'll are ridiculous. Had HE not had a career day and we lost this game everyone would be pointing to Luke's 0 points as a large concern. Instead, HE and traci play out of their mind and everyone here sweeps the teams issues under the rug.

I'm just as happy about the win as everyone else. But 0 points, 6 rebs, and 5 blocks our of one of our few upperclassmen won't cut it against the better big east teams.

I'm also willing to bet all of you will be singing a different tune when HE and Traci comeback to earth, can't expect that type of production every game.

[avid1010]

i like that luke wasn't the focus of the offense, and i like that he was involved in a lot of high ball screens on offense.  i think the coaching staff gave up on making him the focus of the offense...as a result they went to HE more in the post, got luke on top for high ball screens thus bringing his defender away from the rim a bit, and the lane was a little more open (for a team that struggles from 3).  i'd like to see luke with 10 boards a game, but i liked his defense in most cases, and i liked that we didn't rely on him on offense.  as far as the comment about him being soft...i'd agree...blocks aren't a sign of a strong defender...and his rebounding continues to be lacking.  HE played a man's game.  i think luke struggles with fouls because he's not a physical person...gets fouls avoiding contact, using his hands, reaching, etc...   how he doesn't get 2 points on an offensive put-back is baffling.  i'm not sure i've seen an offensive rebound and put back from him in a BEAST game this year. 

all that said...great game.  i love what the coaching staff did in this one, and i was really impressed with HE toughness. 

[bilsu]

Maybe Butler focus on stopping Fischer and paid for it.

[goldeneagle91114]

i like that luke wasn't the focus of the offense, and i like that he was involved in a lot of high ball screens on offense.  i think the coaching staff gave up on making him the focus of the offense...as a result they went to HE more in the post, got luke on top for high ball screens thus bringing his defender away from the rim a bit, and the lane was a little more open (for a team that struggles from 3).  i'd like to see luke with 10 boards a game, but i liked his defense in most cases, and i liked that we didn't rely on him on offense.  as far as the comment about him being soft...i'd agree...blocks aren't a sign of a strong defender...and his rebounding continues to be lacking.  HE played a man's game.  i think luke struggles with fouls because he's not a physical person...gets fouls avoiding contact, using his hands, reaching, etc...   how he doesn't get 2 points on an offensive put-back is baffling.  i'm not sure i've seen an offensive rebound and put back from him in a BEAST game this year. 

all that said...great game.  i love what the coaching staff did in this one, and i was really impressed with HE toughness.

+1

[brewcity77]

Butler denied the hell out of getting the ball to Luke. The only angle they had was going around two defenders with passes low at the baseline. I watched repeatedly and every time Luke started to get position, they took the angles away. It was designed defense to keep the ball out of his hands on the blocks.

However, did you notice how we were able to repeatedly drive to the hoop and get baskets? Jajuan, Duane, and Henry all got baskets driving straight at the teeth of the Butler defense, yet somehow the Butler defense didn't touch them. That's because Luke was sealing the lane. Just because he didn't get on the scoresheet doesn't mean his impact on the offense wasn't felt.

[4everwarriors]

Da Butler game will be 'membered as a turnin' point victory where Ellenson and Fisher combined for 32 points, ai na?

[tower912]

The better news is that Luke didn't force anything, pout, or quit playing defense.    Now THAT is a sign of maturity. 

[We R Final Four]

Da Butler game will be 'membered as a turnin' point victory where Ellenson and Fisher combined for 32 points, ai na?

That's good.

[avid1010]

The better news is that Luke didn't force anything, pout, or quit playing defense.    Now THAT is a sign of maturity.

has he ever forced it, pouted, or quit playing?  i've never seen that from him. 

[tower912]

He hasn't.   And that is a good thing.   More in response to the OP who thinks that Luke's lack of points was a problem. 

[avid1010]

Butler denied the hell out of getting the ball to Luke. The only angle they had was going around two defenders with passes low at the baseline. I watched repeatedly and every time Luke started to get position, they took the angles away. It was designed defense to keep the ball out of his hands on the blocks.

However, did you notice how we were able to repeatedly drive to the hoop and get baskets? Jajuan, Duane, and Henry all got baskets driving straight at the teeth of the Butler defense, yet somehow the Butler defense didn't touch them. That's because Luke was sealing the lane. Just because he didn't get on the scoresheet doesn't mean his impact on the offense wasn't felt.

i guess it's in the eye of the beholder...i've watched mu try to feed the post a lot this year.  hard when you're not shooting well from 3, but again, luke's lack of physicality makes it tough on the guards.  he can't keep guys on his back, and he doesn't establish position within a dribble distance of the bucket.  about the only passing lane i'd feel comfortable feeding luke with is a hot pass at his chest/head.  not many one dribble buckets for luke this year.  he is what he is, and seems like a great kid, but i think we'll see the mu coaching staff be very hesitant to make getting him the ball inside the focal point of the offense.  i liked how they used him in this game...feel he should have had more rebounds, and as a role player should add a few points off of offensive put-backs.