A prediction for this coming season

[tower912]

There will be at least 4 MU losses where MU is engaged in a 1-2 possession game after the final media timeout and are unable to secure a defensive rebound, giving their opponents multiple opportunities and 90 seconds of possession which they use to score the dagger basket against MU. 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Thats ridiculously specific. Four losses from that criteria is an awful lot.

[tower912]

I could have set it up as a poll and given an over/under.    And, yes, I am being that specific because I see all the ingredients needed to stay in a ton of games, with that one Achilles heel that will cost them (at least) that many games.   

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

I could have set it up as a poll and given an over/under.    And, yes, I am being that specific because I see all the ingredients needed to stay in a ton of games, with that one Achilles heel that will cost them (at least) that many games.

Although post player rebounding may be an issue, I do think we are above average in rebounding guards with Traci, Haanif and JJJ.

[bilsu]

It is a good thing that free throws do not matter.

[tower912]

The nightmare scenario I see is the opponent having two post players in the game and running a high pick and roll with whomever Luke/Matt is guarding setting the screen and pulling our only big out near the 3 pt line.    A drive-dish-shot leaves KR/JjJ/HC/Sam/Sandy wresting with a 6'8, 235 lb post for the offensive rebound.    Their big gets the board and instead of powering it up, resets the offense and MU is stuck playing defense for another 30 seconds.  Lather, rinse, repeat. 

[muwarrior69]

There will be at least 4 MU losses where MU is engaged in a 1-2 possession game after the final media timeout and are unable to secure a defensive rebound, giving their opponents multiple opportunities and 90 seconds of possession which they use to score the dagger basket against MU.

Rather optimistic IMO.

[MuMark]

Although post player rebounding may be an issue, I do think we are above average in rebounding guards with Traci, Haanif and JJJ.

JJJ won't be playing guard this year......not with Duane, Howard, Rowsey, Traci and Cheatham around.

[Galway Eagle]

Thats ridiculously specific. Four losses from that criteria is an awful lot.

Well given that the last midget team lost Florida State, Nova (twice), West Virginia, Depaul and Washington because of that (arguably NC State as well) I'd say he's actually pretty spot on. 

[wadesworld]

Respect the process. We don't know what we have at all right now.

[cheebs09]

This type of scenario seemed to plague us last year. Not necessarily end of the game, but there were many times we'd be close to getting it to a one possession game or the brink of a big run, but couldn't get the defensive stop. We've been missing that toughness to get the big stop or loose ball to swing momentum on our side. It always felt like we were playing catch up.

Hopefully with some more experience, we will get some of those stops this year.

[brewcity77]

It is a good thing that free throws do not matter.

Pretty confident no one has said this on this site ever. I'm completely confident Jay Bee has never said that.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Rather optimistic IMO.

How on earth is that optimistic?

[RushmoreAcademy]

Thread topics like this give thread topics a bad name.

[tower912]

Why?   I see a lot of good on this team with one enormous Achilles heel.   I think that flaw will be a significant factor in several losses and laid out specific circumstances.    Where is the problem?

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

How on earth is that optimistic?

He predicted we  would go 0-30 in the W - L prediction thread.

[We R Final Four]

There will be at least 4 MU losses where MU is engaged in a 1-2 possession game after the final media timeout and are unable to secure a defensive rebound, giving their opponents multiple opportunities and 90 seconds of possession which they use to score the dagger basket against MU.

Wtf? Ok since we're playing this game ........there will be 4 games where MU is engaged in 1-2 possession game and hit 2 out of 3 scores and limit opportunities for the opponent.
AND THERE IS YOUR MU DAGGER!

[muguru]

You know how you overcome rebounding deficiencies?? Make baskets. Outscore your opponents. MU SHOULD(given their roster make up), be playing a run and gun pressing all over the court style of ball this year. That would give them their best chance of winning. Will they do it?? Maybe in stretches but not entire games, every game. They should, but they won't unfortunately.

[muwarrior69]

Respect the process. We don't know what we have at all right now.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[bilsu]

Why?   I see a lot of good on this team with one enormous Achilles heel.   I think that flaw will be a significant factor in several losses and laid out specific circumstances.    Where is the problem?

This team has a chance on any given night to beat a top 3 conference team, which they were not close to doing last season. They also have a chance to lose to a bottom three team. When we are hot we will be a very good team. When are are cold we will be a very bad team.

[mu03eng]

Why?   I see a lot of good on this team with one enormous Achilles heel.   I think that flaw will be a significant factor in several losses and laid out specific circumstances.    Where is the problem?

No problem.

I do think though you are discounting the possibility that the team strategy and concept around rebounding will be completely different this year than it was last year. We just don't know how the pieces will fit together with the strategy deployed because we haven't seen a team structured like this from Wojo.

Obviously he wants more size hence next years recruiting class but this years team is closest to what I think Wojo wants every year so this is the year where we get a good idea if A)Wojo's theory of basketball will work B)If he can coach players up.

One other point, in the OT you mentioned being concerned that our big would be pulled away leaving a 6'8" monster 4 on the other team to grab all the rebounds. This isn't the NBA, there aren't a ton of teams that can run out two or three big post rebounders at the end of games that are reliable. While we might be generally undersized in the post this year, I don't think in most games it will be nearly as drastic as it might seem or you think.

[Lighthouse 84]

I could have set it up as a poll

Don't get all Heisy on us now Tower.....

[fjm]

Well good thing hauser just put on an in he and an extra 40lbs. Pencil him for more time at the 4.

[tower912]

Don't get all Heisy on us now Tower.....

Now that is insulting.

[WarriorFan]

The nightmare scenario I see is the opponent having two post players in the game and running a high pick and roll with whomever Luke/Matt is guarding setting the screen and pulling our only big out near the 3 pt line.    A drive-dish-shot leaves KR/JjJ/HC/Sam/Sandy wresting with a 6'8, 235 lb post for the offensive rebound.    Their big gets the board and instead of powering it up, resets the offense and MU is stuck playing defense for another 30 seconds.  Lather, rinse, repeat.

Answer:  Shoot more 3's.  Missed 3's make long rebounds - over the opposing bigs and into the hands of our guards who will again hoist more threes.
problem solved.
Next issue?