Rockhurst Takeaways

[brewcity77]

What can you really take away from a game like this? Not a ton. Simply too weak an opponent. So here's the few things that I think might be meaningful:

• Lots of shooters: We legitimately have 9 guys with a chance to score from deep. When the team has an off night from three it will be ugly, but those will likely be few and far between simply because we have so many guys that can put it in the basket beyond the arc.
  
• Offensive boards will be tough: For the most part, we only kept one guy down low on the offensive glass, usually Luke, Matt, or Sam. Every now and again, someone would flash in for a board, but more often than not it was 3-4 defenders surrounding our one guy. We will likely struggle with second chance points.
  
• Defensive boards may be manageable: Okay, we overwhelmed the inferior opponent, but I saw some real effort to get to the defensive glass from guys like Rowsey, Johnson, and Carter. The whole team rebounding thing might work. I don't think we'll be a good rebounding team, but if the effort is there, we may not be as bad as many fear.
  
• Deep rotation: I know, this is tough to really say definitively, but I think we will have 11 scholarship players and all 11 will get some minutes. They won't all get a lot, but the "end of the bench" guys tonight were Rowsey, Duane, and Sandy, all of whom have averaged 20+ mpg for entire seasons. I think Wojo is going to go deep into his bench more often than not.
  
• Fun to watch: With lots of shooters, lots of ball movement, and active hands on defense, this team will at times be very fun to watch and has the potential to really play an entertaining brand of basketball. One caveat, however, is that when the shots aren't falling and guys are overreaching for steals and coming up empty (think Jajuan his first two years) we will have games where we are really frustrating to watch as well. That said, I think we'll rarely be boring.
  
• Sam: Okay...after games like this (and frankly most cupcakes) I try not to make too many individual player analyses because of the competition level. But that said, I think Sam is really going to be a player. He's incredibly active all over the court. Good movement both on and off the ball. Can block shots and get to balls on defense, has a beautiful stroke from deep, in a couple years he's the guy opposing teams will be saying "hasn't that ******* graduated yet?" I really think we're going to love him.

[fjm]

Awesome brew! Thanks for the mini analysis. Only 6 days until the games count.. Can't wait.

[CAGASS24]

Totally boiled down thoughts- we are better than last year no doubt - And id probabky say at every position (are Reinhardt and Sam individually better than Ellenson - not sure id say that but it ain't that far and combined I'd say we are still better at the 4-

[Nukem2]

Was at the game and agree with brew.  MU really passes and shoots the ball well.  Thought the defense was rather iffy especially considering the opponent.  Markus Howard is a very nice offensive player, but his defense was not good.

[wadesworld]

My thoughts:

1) We didn't lose.
2) Let'a see what we look like Friday.

[brewcity77]

Was at the game and agree with brew.  MU really passes and shoots the ball well.  Thought the defense was rather iffy especially considering the opponent.  Markus Howard is a very nice offensive player, but his defense was not good.

I'll be interested to see the defense. Early on, it seemed like Rockhurst was getting a ton of open looks from deep. My hope was maybe they knew Rockhurst wasn't a great longball team, but if it was unintentional (and it probably was), then there's definitely work to be done.

I do think this will go hand in hand with the "fun to watch", though sometimes it will be more fun for the neutrals but frustrating for us. Considering the size of this team, I could see some zone working because so many players are interchangeable. Didn't seem like they really want to play that way, but when Rockhurst was moving the ball well our guys got crossed up in man which led to some of those open looks.

[rocky_warrior]

Highlights for those interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9rLEbGeWSU

https://www.youtube.com/v/A9rLEbGeWSU

[Dr. Blackheart]

• Real Chili Fix achieved
• 30-0 on points off turnovers. 'Nuff said
• Thought the small line up looked good
• Rowsey and Hauser will be starting situationally at some point

[HutchwasClutch]

I thought two of the three fouls called on Franklin were crap.  The third one especially.

We were playing such an overmatched team today, you can't take away much more from today.

[Windyplayer]

The uniforms look great in action. Looking forward to Friday.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I thought two of the three fouls called on Franklin were crap.  The third one especially.

We were playing such an overmatched team today, you can't take away much more from today.

You have to admit, three fouls in three minutes is impressive.

[HutchwasClutch]

You have to admit, three fouls in three minutes is impressive.

Yes, he did make efficient use of his minutes with activity 

[Eldon]

Highlights for those interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9rLEbGeWSU

https://www.youtube.com/v/A9rLEbGeWSU

Thanks for posting.

1) Uniforms look badass
2) Love the passes

[jsglow]

1) We have numerous guys who can shoot.

2) Both our Frosh are ballplayers immediately.

3) Luke needs to eliminate useless fouls many feet from the rim.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/marq/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/box_score/stats_20161105aaa.pdf

Box Score

[muwarrior69]

My thoughts:

1) We didn't lose.
2) Let'a see what we look like Friday.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

[Marcus92]

Encouraging
• Good ball movement, passing, shot selection, offensive balance
• 42.9 3PT%, 67.6 eFG%, 29 assists, just 5 turnovers
• 7 players hitting at least 1 3PT
• 6 double-figure scorers, 11 players with 13+ minutes
• High pace, energy and effort throughout
• Freshmen not playing like freshmen
• Markus Howard scoring 17 points in 18 minutes, 4-6 3PT
• Sam Hauser doing a little of everything: 12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals
• 22 rebounds for Hauser, Duane Wilson, Haanif Cheatham and Sandy Cohen
• JaJuan Johnson driving the lane at will and dishing 6 assists
• Matt Heldt playing 16 minutes
• Active, harassing man-to-man defense, good help
• Nobody injured

Concerning
• Luke Fischer with 2 first half fouls, just 13 minutes played overall
• Fischer and Heldt combining for just 12 points, 6 rebounds
• Maybe too many 3s? (39% of all FGA)
• Missing too many FT (10-16)

I don't read too much into an exhibition against an overmatched Division II school. It was fun to watch. Can't wait for Friday night to see what this team looks like for real.

[bilsu]

Looking at the box score two things stood out to me that I did not realize during the game. JJJ had 6 assists and Reinhardt had zero rebounds.

[Nukem2]

Looking at the box score two things stood out to me that I did not realize during the game. JJJ had 6 assists and Reinhardt had zero rebounds.

You could not tell all those JJ assists?  What game were you watching?  He had several others that's guys did not finish.

[Galway Eagle]

Was listening on the radio and they were saying that there's reason to believe Johnson could lead the team in assists

[Bo Ryan's Massage Therapist]

Cupcake or not... only 5 turnovers as a team is impressive.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Cupcake or not... only 5 turnovers as a team is impressive.

At least one of them was an offensive foul which is forgivable. Love the ball control

[Marcus92]

Cupcake or not... only 5 turnovers as a team is impressive.

DePaul gave away 21 possessions against Rockhurst, and the two teams combined for a whopping 45 turnovers. If we lose to DePaul this season, I think my head might explode.

[Jay Bee]

Looking at the box score two things stood out to me that I did not realize during the game. JJJ had 6 assists and Reinhardt had zero rebounds.

Shouldn't stand out. JjJ has consistently had strong assist rates for a non-PG and Katin has consistently been allergic to rebounds

[Marquette4life]

Didn't get to see the game. How many turnovers did we have? Did the game look sloppy?