Wring out the Hoyas

[Golden Avalanche]

Wojo was annoying as a player, but he doesn't seem particularly annoying as a coach.

A coach becomes annoying when the opposition fanbase considers his team to be better then their outfit.

I can only wish the crew from CU, Butler, and Hall find Wojo annoying in 2017.

[jficke13]

http://hoyatalk2.proboards.com/thread/29947/most-hated-opponents-201602917

Apparently the Hoya fans don't like Wojo.   

I'd think that Hoya fans' unanimous pick for most hated coach would be JTIII...

[warriorchick]

http://hoyatalk2.proboards.com/thread/29947/most-hated-opponents-201602917

Apparently the Hoya fans don't like Wojo.   

Based on 2 posts?  I bet you could find two people among Wojo's extended family who don't like him.

[Jay Bee]

Wojo was annoying as a player, but he doesn't seem particularly annoying as a coach.

Haven't you seen his timeout huddles?!

[Marcus92]

35 min
1-6 FG
0-2 3pts
3 Rebs
3 points
4 assts
1 steal
2 TOs.

HC did play decent D last night, however that jump pass to no one continues to be an issue. He is having trouble getting the ball over the rim, unlike last year. If HC has to play point for an extended period of time, MU will be survival/maintain mode.

What's impossible to measure is the impact of Haanif's aggressiveness driving to the lane. I know that's something Wojo preaches.

Basketball favors the offense. If a quicker, more athletic player like Haanif takes it right at bigger, slower defenders, there's a good chance that he'll find an opening for a layup, draw a foul or be able to pass to an open teammate on a dish. And if those defenders have to stay close to the lane to guard against drives, it creates more open shots on the perimeter.

Haney may not have finished for himself on a lot of his drives last night. But his 4 assists (second most in the game for either team) led directly to at least 8 Marquette points — suggesting he found ways to contribute.

[wadesworld]

Based on 2 posts?  I bet you could find two people among Wojo's extended family who don't like him.

2 out of 2.  One saying it's a Vikings-esque consensus.

[mileskishnish72]

Jay Bee, you are correct with respect to the TO huddles. Clearly, obviously, the turning point of the game occurred when Woj told them not to get dismayed. That had to be the first and only time dismayed was ever used in a hoops huddle.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Great win to start conference play.

I do have a question though.  There were two instances on GTown inbounds plays that led to buckets where JJJ didn't put his body between the inbounder on the baseline and the basket. It's happened a number of other times this season as well.

I thought positioning yourself so a pass can't be made directly into the lane is the proper defensive technique. Am I missing something here?

Hate to quote myself but no one else has noticed this?

[Marcus92]

Hate to quote myself but no one else has noticed this?

I didn't notice it during the game. I'll probably watch it again on replay and look for that.

[BallBoy]

I am excited that Marquette won but I am tempering that excitement with how bad Georgetown is.  Georgetown didn't play with much flow, played more iso, played limited defense and took some bad shots.  It will be interesting to see how they play on their court. 

1.  Pryor had some good shots but then would take a very bad shot.  Hitting the side of the backboard from the corner.  He did a good amount of chucking
2.  Govan, though active, doesn't have control of his body yet.  He was missing bunnies and he also hasn't figured out the double team.  When he does he could be another player for Georgetown
3.  LJ Peak was way off.  He looked like he was mentally blocked.  1-8 from the field.  Not good.
4.  It didn't look like Georgetown wanted to play defense.  JJJ ran the same curl repeatedly and got his point total up.
5.  I am hoping JJJ develops a few more moves.  I thought he played well but his points came from defense as well as the curl.  The good teams aren't going to make as many bad passes.  In addition, they will stop his curl.  Anyone with an athletic center will block his shot on the way to the basket.  He gets out of control near the hoop. 
6.  Howard had a lights out game.  We need that to continue.  5-6 is amazing but he is going to revert to the mean so hopefully he doesn't fall in love with the three.
7.  Georgetown helped to hide some of our lulls.  They also helped with ending their own momentum
8.  I think MU started to play better defense and for longer periods.  Hopefully that carries through. 

[Galway Eagle]

I am excited that Marquette won but I am tempering that excitement with how bad Georgetown is.  Georgetown didn't play with much flow, played more iso, played limited defense and took some bad shots.  It will be interesting to see how they play on their court. 

1.  Pryor had some good shots but then would take a very bad shot.  Hitting the side of the backboard from the corner.  He did a good amount of chucking
2.  Govan, though active, doesn't have control of his body yet.  He was missing bunnies and he also hasn't figured out the double team.  When he does he could be another player for Georgetown
3.  LJ Peak was way off.  He looked like he was mentally blocked.  1-8 from the field.  Not good.
4.  It didn't look like Georgetown wanted to play defense.  JJJ ran the same curl repeatedly and got his point total up.
5.  I am hoping JJJ develops a few more moves.  I thought he played well but his points came from defense as well as the curl.  The good teams aren't going to make as many bad passes.  In addition, they will stop his curl.  Anyone with an athletic center will block his shot on the way to the basket.  He gets out of control near the hoop. 
6.  Howard had a lights out game.  We need that to continue.  5-6 is amazing but he is going to revert to the mean so hopefully he doesn't fall in love with the three.
7.  Georgetown helped to hide some of our lulls.  They also helped with ending their own momentum
8.  I think MU started to play better defense and for longer periods.  Hopefully that carries through.

Agree but if GTown is that bad and DPU and SJU are even worse then that's 6 wins and we're over halfway to dancing in March

[brewcity77]

Agree but if GTown is that bad and DPU and SJU are even worse then that's 6 wins and we're over halfway to dancing in March

Exactly right. We don't need to be the best team in the league, we just need to be better than 4 other teams to be assured a spot in the Big Dance. Top-6 in the league with 10+ wins will have us in good position.

[tower912]

Sweep Georgetown, SJU, DePaul and Providence and you are at 8 wins.    Need to go 2-8 or better against Villanova, Creighton, Butler, and Xavier and Seton Hall.   

[We R Final Four]

What's impossible to measure is the impact of Haanif's aggressiveness driving to the lane. I know that's something Wojo preaches.

Basketball favors the offense. If a quicker, more athletic player like Haanif takes it right at bigger, slower defenders, there's a good chance that he'll find an opening for a layup, draw a foul or be able to pass to an open teammate on a dish. And if those defenders have to stay close to the lane to guard against drives, it creates more open shots on the perimeter.

Haney may not have finished for himself on a lot of his drives last night. But his 4 assists (second most in the game for either team) led directly to at least 8 Marquette points — suggesting he found ways to contribute.

Yes, he certainly can contribute and did last night.  However, when HC drives to the lane and loses the ball....That's a measurable turnover and when he drives to the lane and gets it blocked....that too is measureable.  Measureable in the same way an assist is.
I hope HC turns it around and continues to do the little things needed to help the team.

[warriorchick]

3.  LJ Peak was way off.  He looked like he was mentally blocked.  1-8 from the field.  Not good.

Pretty sure he was playing hurt.  He went off to the locker room for awhile, and I noticed later that his thigh was wrapped pretty good, so much so that his shorts were riding up on that leg when he was on the sidelines.

[naginiF]

Pretty sure he was playing hurt.  He went off to the locker room for awhile, and I noticed later that his thigh was wrapped pretty good, so much so that his shorts were riding up on that leg when he was on the sidelines.

Nice to know the exact time a thread goes off the rails. 

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Hate to quote myself but no one else has noticed this?

I listened to the game on the radio due to some travel -- I believe MAC and homer pointed this out as well. There was exasperation and the comment was something to the effect of "that's something you learn in the 5th grade"

[We R Final Four]

Hate to quote myself but no one else has noticed this?

Yes I noticed it. I actually called my wife in from the kitchen, rewinded 20 secs and showed her. She says that look likes what happens to your team. (4th grade girls).

[BallBoy]

Agree but if GTown is that bad and DPU and SJU are even worse then that's 6 wins and we're over halfway to dancing in March

You are assuming that we sweep and not lose 1 unexpected one.  Marquette need to get to 10 if not 11 wins in conference and minimally be Top 6 in the Big East.  Outside of that, they are going to be NIT.  The Big East doesn't have the audience draw to get more than 6 no matter how good they were out of conference and I think Top 5 might even be the cut line.

[Marcus92]

Yes, he certainly can contribute and did last night.  However, when HC drives to the lane and loses the ball....That's a measurable turnover and when he drives to the lane and gets it blocked....that too is measureable.  Measureable in the same way an assist is.
I hope HC turns it around and continues to do the little things needed to help the team.

All good points. This looks more like an off game to me — which happens to everyone. Haanif has the second-lowest turnover rate on the team this season and has been efficient on offense overall.

[BM1090]

You are assuming that we sweep and not lose 1 unexpected one.  Marquette need to get to 10 if not 11 wins in conference and minimally be Top 6 in the Big East.  Outside of that, they are going to be NIT.  The Big East doesn't have the audience draw to get more than 6 no matter how good they were out of conference and I think Top 5 might even be the cut line.

Nah. We got 6 from this league two years ago and the league is significantly better this year.

[GGGG]

You are assuming that we sweep and not lose 1 unexpected one.  Marquette need to get to 10 if not 11 wins in conference and minimally be Top 6 in the Big East.  Outside of that, they are going to be NIT.  The Big East doesn't have the audience draw to get more than 6 no matter how good they were out of conference and I think Top 5 might even be the cut line.

They may not get more than 6, but it will have nothing to do with the draw of their audience.

[Marcus92]

You are assuming that we sweep and not lose 1 unexpected one.

Right now KenPom predicts we'll finish 19-11, 10-8 in conference (5th in the Big East). That should be a tournament-worthy resume.

You're right — even sweeping DePaul and St. John's is not automatic. But we've only lost to one team ranked below us so far: Pittsburgh. And they're a lot better than either the Blue Demons or the Johnnies. I think 4-0 is the expectation. With the win against Georgetown, we're up to 5.

We're strongly favored at home against Providence (76% win probability) and Seton Hall (71%). Two wins is a pretty solid bet. If so, we're up to 7.

That's where things start to get dicey.

Four of our games are pick 'em propositions — as evenly matched as you can get. That includes home against Creighton (51%), Xavier (50%) and Butler (50%), and on the road against Providence (51%). Winning 1, 2 or 3 of those shouldn't surprise anyone. These are the games that could turn our season. Let's say we go 2-2 and we have 9 wins. Just need one more.

Two more games are almost as close: at Seton Hall (44%) and at Georgetown (45%). The rest, we're significant underdogs: at home against Nova (33%), and on the road against Creighton (26%), Xavier (25%), Butler (25%) and Nova (13%). If the odds are right, we should take at least one of those 7 games to get to 10 wins — possibly even 2 or 3, which would protect against an unexpected loss.

But if we lose one of our strongly favored matchups, or don't win our share of the pick 'em games, we could be in trouble. Let's see how we look facing Seton Hall twice in the next 2 weeks.

[Marcus92]

If KenPom's odds are correct, we should have roughly a 93% chance of winning at least 1 of our 7 toughest games (home against Nova, @ Nova/Butler/Xavier/Creighton/Seton Hall/Georgetown).

Calculating the odds of winning 2 or more of those is beyond my meager skill with probabilities.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I listened to the game on the radio due to some travel -- I believe MAC and homer pointed this out as well. There was exasperation and the comment was something to the effect of "that's something you learn in the 5th grade"

Yes I noticed it. I actually called my wife in from the kitchen, rewinded 20 secs and showed her. She says that look likes what happens to your team. (4th grade girls).

Glad it wasn't just me. Hopefully it gets corrected during film session. It just stood out to me as this wasn't the first game it happened. Would hate for that to bite us in a closer game down the road.