[Cracked Sidewalks] Holidays are upon us, let's hope Marquette can unwrap a new defense

[CrackedSidewalks]

Holidays are upon us, let's hope Marquette can unwrap a new defense

Welcome back to the Scrambled Eggs podcast, holiday edition. It's a holiday edition in that we mention Christmas at some point. Other than that the focus is on Marquette basketball: So what happened. First we talk about the most recent news, Traci Carter deciding to leave the program at semester end. Given our proclivity to overreact in the past, this is a somewhat measured discussion about the impact of Traci leaving and how Marquette basketball moves forward from here. It also generates a discussion about roster turnover and what Wojo may do with 3 more open scholarships for next year (Wally, Sandy and Traci scholarships). We then turn to the terrible result at the end of #BadgerHateWeek with a convincing drubbing of Marquette by the hated red menace. We talk about what happened in the game, what it means for the season as a whole, and most critically what the hell is up with the defense. We have a detailed discussion about Marquette's defense and how they move forward into the Big East with a boat we can row really fast(offense) but is leaking like a sieve(defense). We close out with thoughts on the Big East and what challenges face Marquette come December 28th. As always we hope you enjoy the pod and hope everyone enjoys the holidays with their loved ones and Marquette basketball.    Download this episode (right click and save)

Source: Holidays are upon us, let's hope Marquette can unwrap a new defense

[mu03eng]

Post game bump

[tower912]

Got coal instead. 

[jsglow]

The best defense last night was Eng keeping #noredforowen from running into the ladies restroom, a new fun game he invented at halftime.

[mu03eng]

The best defense last night was Eng keeping #noredforowen from running into the ladies restroom, a new fun game he invented at halftime.

Little dude just wants to be with the ladies, don't hate the player...hate the game

[mu03eng]

Got coal instead.

Yeah very true, looks to me like we doubled down on defensive strategy to the point there was one play where Fischer was guarding a pick and roll 40 feet from the rim and the guard easily turned the corner on him and sprinted 35 feet to get the lay-up.

Wojo on the post game radio show made the point that the best defenses start with effort, that effort can make up for defensive deficiencies. If he's hanging his hat on the defense not being good because of effort.....man, I just don't know what to say to that because I was hoping effort was one of the few things we'd have to worry about with Wojo as coach.

[g0lden3agle]

Can we all agree that Luke needs to stop hedging so aggressively when his man is setting a screen?  Some token hedging, sure.  But there were times last night where he followed the dribbler for several dribbles along the three point line. 

It almost looked like we were trying to trap the ball handler, leaving Luke's big man open down low with a woefully undersized guard/wing trying to rotate over to defend him.

[mu03eng]

Can we all agree that Luke needs to stop hedging so aggressively when his man is setting a screen?  Some token hedging, sure.  But there were times last night where he followed the dribbler for several dribbles along the three point line. 

It almost looked like we were trying to trap the ball handler, leaving Luke's big man open down low with a woefully undersized guard/wing trying to rotate over to defend him.

I think this is the fatal flaw in the defensive scheme and Wojo's answer so far seems to be....moar but with effort

Luke should be falling back on the screen and denying the lane while the guard fights over the screen. The issue with our current defense is that it gives the other teams 3 chances at scores out of one play while only theoretically eliminating the opportunity for the dribbler to take a pull up 3.

3 chances at scores:
-Dribbler turns the corner and gets a drive to the lane for a lay-up
-Screener roles to weak side post or pops to 3 point line creating shot
-Weak(mostly, sometimes strong which is even worse) side defense slides to lane to try to counter penetration or help on the screener rolling to post. Leaves corner 3s open on skip pass.

Either we are just not fast enough to play this type of defense or it is a bad defensive scheme...or *gulp* it's both.

[tower912]

There is one player in particular who, when his player is the ball handler on the pick and roll, when Luke hedges, stops moving.   Doesn't fight through a screen.   Doesn't drop down in the lane on the roller.    Stops.   

[g0lden3agle]

I think this is the fatal flaw in the defensive scheme and Wojo's answer so far seems to be....moar but with effort

Luke should be falling back on the screen and denying the lane while the guard fights over the screen. The issue with our current defense is that it gives the other teams 3 chances at scores out of one play while only theoretically eliminating the opportunity for the dribbler to take a pull up 3.

3 chances at scores:
-Dribbler turns the corner and gets a drive to the lane for a lay-up
-Screener roles to weak side post or pops to 3 point line creating shot
-Weak(mostly, sometimes strong which is even worse) side defense slides to lane to try to counter penetration or help on the screener rolling to post. Leaves corner 3s open on skip pass.

Either we are just not fast enough to play this type of defense or it is a bad defensive scheme...or *gulp* it's both.

Your breakdown of what we are taking away (pull-up 3) vs. what we are leaving on the table (the three bullet points you called out) pretty clearly shows that the math doesn't work out.  What % would an average college guard have to be able to hit a pull-up 3 to warrant taking that shot away and give up seemingly better opportunities in the process?

There is one player in particular who, when his player is the ball handler on the pick and roll, when Luke hedges, stops moving.   Doesn't fight through a screen.   Doesn't drop down in the lane on the roller.    Stops.

This further compounds the issue.  Even when they do get over the screen quickly Luke's playing the ball so hard that it turns into an awkward switch back for the guard who got past the screen, often giving the other team yet another chance at an easy look during that switch back process.

[mu03eng]

There is one player in particular who, when his player is the ball handler on the pick and roll, when Luke hedges, stops moving.   Doesn't fight through a screen.   Doesn't drop down in the lane on the roller.    Stops.

#Headgames