Most complete defensive game I can remember

[Bad_Reporter]

Sure we can outscore anybody on any given night, but wow!!!!

Great defensive game by all.

I'd give SOTG to Greg Elliot tonight.

[wadesworld]

Held SH to their lowest point total of the season.  And gave them their first BE loss.

[WindyCityGoldenEagle]

Yep.

Maybe a little recency bias here, but that may be the best effort on defense, the glass and loose balls that I can remember in wojo era. We out hustled and outfought a hard ass nosed team known for their hustle and toughness.

[MU82]

Right after the game, I sent this text to my son and my brother:

Best defensive game of the Wojo Era!!

They contested most shots at the rim, worked hard to keep the bigs from dominating on the blocks and got their hands up on most perimeter looks. Fought hard on the boards, too.

Maybe Cain and Elliott were going to get the time, anyway, but I really am thinking that Haani leaving was the best thing that could have happened to this team. Cain and Elliott - and Anim, too - really add a lot defensively. And Theo, he really is becoming a nice defender who doesn't foul all the time.

This recruiting class is going to be a really good one for Wojo. Already is.

Very excited about this win. That was a good team, and we dominated them.

[rocky_warrior]

MU jumped from Kenpom #45, to #38

Seton Hall dropped from #19, to #31

edit: to clarify, those are overall rating numbers.  Sadly not defensive numbers.

[skianth16]

I think this was the best defensive effort under Wojo by a fairly wide margin. We forced turnovers and really did a great job on the glass, and this was even against a good rebounding team. Everything clicked well tonight; everyone showed up. And the defensive gameplan was great. Big, big win.

[Norm]

Elliot needs to play more just for his defensive effort. He may be the best defender as a freshman.

[Dr. Blackheart]

MU jumped from Kenpom #45, to #38

Seton Hall dropped from #19, to #31

edit: to clarify, those are overall rating numbers.  Sadly not defensive numbers.

And from 8-10 in the BE to 10-8.  With 5 near sure games between SJU, DU, and one at GU (oops from the chat), we are riding on house money for the other games. I think we can take one with BU and CU. as well to cover and have PC at home.

[PGsHeroes32]

And from 8-10 in the BE to 10-8.  With 5 near sure games between SJU, DU, and one at GU (oops from the chat), we are riding on house money for the other games. I think we can take one with BU and CU. as well to cover and have PC at home.

I doubt we win all 5 against the bottom dwellers.

But we will get at least 1 more shouldn't win game too

[Norm]

And from 8-10 in the BE to 10-8.  With 5 near sure games between SJU, DU, and one at GU (oops from the chat), we are riding on house money for the other games. I think we can take one with BU and CU. as well to cover and have PC at home.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. One game at a time...

[GoldenWarrior11]

Best defensive game of the Wojo era.  Loved the different looks and the toughness.  Hall looked like they couldn't buy a bucket for stretches.  Everything was going in and out. 

[MomofMUltiples]

I think this was the best defensive effort under Wojo by a fairly wide margin. We forced turnovers and really did a great job on the glass, and this was even against a good rebounding team. Everything clicked well tonight; everyone showed up. And the defensive gameplan was great. Big, big win.

Skianth? I think somebody hacked your account...

[TSmith34, Inc.]

And from 8-10 in the BE to 10-8.  With 5 near sure games between SJU, DU, and one at GU (oops from the chat), we are riding on house money for the other games. I think we can take one with BU and CU. as well to cover and have PC at home.

Eh, SJU sucks now but when they are at full strength they worry me. *Should* be two wins, but we saw last year they are capable at home, particularly with those two guards.

[VegasWarrior77]

Skianth? I think somebody hacked your account...

Well played mom.

[MU82]

We are good enough to beat anybody, but look around the country.

Some of the best teams in the country have lost to teams that are worse than our BE bottom-feeders. And we ain't one of the best teams in the country yet.

Our lads can't afford to look past anybody.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. One game at a time...

Act like a winner...this team can be the making of something special.  Look out for the next two years...NCAA is a slam dunk this year, tho...

[skianth16]

Skianth? I think somebody hacked your account...

Hey, I'll give Wojo credit when he deserves it, and tonight he definitely did.

[brewcity77]

Free throw defense still suffered. SHU shot 13 percentage points above their season average (80% vs 66.9%) and slightly worsened our already-putrid #346 free throw defense. Even the Hall can't miss FTs against us.

(I know, no matta, but seriously, you'd think that would balance out at some point)

[Dr. Blackheart]

Free throw defense still suffered. SHU shot 13 percentage points above their season average (80% vs 66.9%) and slightly worsened our already-putrid #346 free throw defense. Even the Hall can't miss FTs against us.

(I know, no matta, but seriously, you'd think that would balance out at some point)

We pressure (and foul) their best shooters. No surprise, but the adjustments early and late to protect the paint were great. Early on we made a concerted effort to double the paint. SHU adjusted, and the Wojo countered with length. Really a great coaching job, maybe his best. Thank you!

[onepost]

Our Villanova win last year was the greatest ending and biggest win, but this was the best home performance, given the quality of opponent, I've seen since Big Monday when we beat Syracuse in 2013 ("The Jake Thomas 4-Point Play Game, a classic).  We've been knocking on the door since Wichita State in Maui and we finally got our huge resume win.  But we still have 13 games left in conference play, can't take our foot off the gas in the slightest.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

This was my best (and most enjoyable) game of the Wojo era.  With the defensive effort (traps, protect the paint and the look of the cohesive team d effort) we have the making of a team that can really compete.   If we can regularly keep good teams in the 70s this team can go places.

[blikemike2]

Say what you want about Wojo but IMHO the season has changed with the lineup changes the staff has made. They are playing Rowsey and Markus less together and when the "defensive" lineup comes in its paid huge dividends.


Great job Wojo and lets hope for continued improvement from the freshmen, this team is starting to get interesting, as I recall many on this board were calling for a step back this year. NOT SO FAST MY FRIENDS!!!!!

[Stretchdeltsig]

Right after the game, I sent this text to my son and my brother:

Best defensive game of the Wojo Era!!

They contested most shots at the rim, worked hard to keep the bigs from dominating on the blocks and got their hands up on most perimeter looks. Fought hard on the boards, too.

Maybe Cain and Elliott were going to get the time, anyway, but I really am thinking that Haani leaving was the best thing that could have happened to this team. Cain and Elliott - and Anim, too - really add a lot defensively. And Theo, he really is becoming a nice defender who doesn't foul all the time.

This recruiting class is going to be a really good one for Wojo. Already is.

Very excited about this win. That was a good team, and we dominated them.

Agree with every word.

[mu_hilltopper]

One item that contributed to the "most complete defensive game.." was that the refs did blow the whistle much .. no-call city.

It was lightly officiated both ways, but the Pirates were in the paint more, could have had a ton more free throws, not to mention our bigs would have had PF trouble to deal with.  Different set of refs last night could have altered the outcome quite a bit. 

I mean .. before the game, what would have been your over/under for PFs Heldt+John+Froling?  I would have said 10.  Last night = 5.

Last 4 games:

Seton vs. Butler - SHU took 32 FTs
Seton vs. SJU - 23 FTs
Seton vs. Creighton - 32 FTs.
Seton vs. MU last night - 10 FTs

Signed, #DebbieDowner

[Loose Cannon]

One item that contributed to the "most complete defensive game.." was that the refs did blow the whistle much .. no-call city.

It was lightly officiated both ways, but the Pirates were in the paint more, could have had a ton more free throws, not to mention our bigs would have had PF trouble to deal with.  Different set of refs last night could have altered the outcome quite a bit. 

I mean .. before the game, what would have been your over/under for PFs Heldt+John+Froling?  I would have said 10.  Last night = 5.

Last 4 games:

Seton vs. Butler - SHU took 32 FTs
Seton vs. SJU - 23 FTs
Seton vs. Creighton - 32 FTs.
Seton vs. MU last night - 10 FTs

Signed, #DebbieDowner

No need for a signature.