Next Week?

[skianth16]

Actually they don't.  Marquette has held every opponent except VCU to under their season 3P%, and VCU only shot .02% over.  MU's 3P defense isn't elite but it is top third of all D1 programs.

2P fgs on the other hand....

This reminds me of a friend who used to brag about the Vikings' rushing defense a few years back. They allowed the 3rd or 4th fewest rushing yards per game. Taken at face value, it sounds like that's a good thing. That same defense allowed the most passing yards per game, though. So sure, they didn't give up many rushing yards, but why run the ball when it's easier to pass for a first down every other play?

The same thing holds true with our defense right now. We can say they do a good job of limiting the 3, but when teams are shooting 60% on us inside the arc, why waster your time on the lower percentage shot? I'd like to find some highlights on the defensive end for us, and maybe Anim will offer some of that this year, but for now, there really isn't anything good about what we've done on the defensive side of things.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

While it's not the like the NBA yet,  college basketball is becoming increasingly reliant on three point shooting. With a shooting team like ours denying the three is important. It may drive us crazy but the mindset of "you score 2 and we'll score 3" is one that can work for this team.  And it is an improvement from last season when we weren't good at defending anything.

All that being said,  the interior defense needs to improve.  Oddly enough,  I think offensive improvement by the freshmen might actually be the key to a better defense for this team.  Right now we have to play the midgets together because they bring too much offense not to. If the frosh can become more reliable on offense, we wouldn't have to play AR and M2N together so much.

I don't believe in addition by subtraction in the overall quality of a team....but the graduation of Rowdy will do wonders for our defense next season

[tower912]

I don't believe in addition by subtraction in the overall quality of a team....but the graduation of Rowdy will do wonders for our defense next season

Only if a point guard with size is brought in on Cheatham's open scholarship.    Morrow will definitely bring size, strength, and toughness.    I am picturing a starting front court of Sam, Morrow, and Froling.    Possibly Cain at the 2.    So, when Froling hedges out high, and his man rolls, the weak side wing coming down to help will be Hauser, Morrow, or Cain.      As opposed to Markus and Rowsey. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Only if a point guard with size is brought in on Cheatham's open scholarship.    Morrow will definitely bring size, strength, and toughness.    I am picturing a starting front court of Sam, Morrow, and Froling.    Possibly Cain at the 2.    So, when Froling hedges out high, and his man rolls, the weak side wing coming down to help will be Hauser, Morrow, or Cain.      As opposed to Markus and Rowsey.

Replacing Rowdys minutes with Elliott will improve the defense regardless of who else gets added to the roster. It will hurt our offense,  and may hurt us overall but I'm confident the defense will be much improved by that alone

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Only if a point guard with size is brought in on Cheatham's open scholarship.    Morrow will definitely bring size, strength, and toughness.    I am picturing a starting front court of Sam, Morrow, and Froling.    Possibly Cain at the 2.    So, when Froling hedges out high, and his man rolls, the weak side wing coming down to help will be Hauser, Morrow, or Cain.      As opposed to Markus and Rowsey.

Yeah, having two diminutive guards really hurts.  Our team length will be significantly improved next year, even with Markus playing 30+ MPG. It will definitely be the tallest MU team in the last decade.

[naginiF]

I really think you should be prepared for a loss in Madison.  Happ is going to brutalize MU's interior defense, and UW's defense is good enough to shut down a one-dimensional team.  UW has lost to four ranked teams.  Two of those games were within five points at a neutral site, and another (Xavier) was close until the last few minutes.

They aren't as good as they have been previously, but I don't get where the assumption that MU should win this game comes from.

100% and judging from the poll most agree with you.  My guess is that the "if we don't beat UW we have issues" sentiment comes from being too emotionally invested in the outcome of this one specific game because in-laws/neighbors/coworkers are UW fans.

[tower912]

Yeah, having two diminutive guards really hurts.  Our team length will be significantly improved next year, even with Markus playing 30+ MPG. It will definitely be the tallest MU team in the last decade.

Acker and Cubillan were as small.   But they were good on-ball defenders.   

[MUBigDance]

Bump

[MUBigDance]

One last bump for voting visibility

[MUBigDance]

RESULTS BUMP

[mug644]

Bump. Looks like 44 of us (yes, I'm bumping because I'm among the 44) have the first two games correct.