Nova Thoughts

[skianth16]

I also noticed that every time we got on a run it was broken up with a timeout.  I feel like we have had terrible luck this year with timeouts breaking up runs when the crowd is loud and shots are falling, only to come out of the timeout and give up seven straight.

Some might be bad luck on the media timeouts, but some of that is just experienced coaching knowing when to call a time out.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Stephen A? Is that you?

What a joke.

A joke? Go watch our loss to Xavier at home and then rewatch today's second half. I could argue that if Howard wasn't in the gym we would've won both games.

[21rooster]

The inverse correlation between Rowsey and Howard is amazing.  Hard to think of a game where both were good recently, but one is almost always very good.  Why is that?

[WarriorDad]

How old is Hauser?

Sam turned 20 last month.  We are a young team.

[WarriorDad]

A joke? Go watch our loss to Xavier at home and then rewatch today's second half. I could argue that if Howard wasn't in the gym we would've won both games.

If teams knew he wasn't in the gym, they would key more on Rowsey and Hauser.  As bad as Howard was today, teams have to prep for him.   Sam needs to find a way to become more involved, but the hip injury may be holding him back.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

For those who consistently complain about bigs hedging on pick and rolls, you got your wish today. We switched on every ball screen today. I'd say the results were mixed. Brunson abused our bigs a lot but we also forced a few bad shots. Reality is, there is no magic fix that is going to make our guards more able to contain players on the perimeter.

I don't think Howard was playing hero ball like some suggested. I think he was matched up with best defender in the Big East (and one of the best in the country) in Bridges and Bridges got the better of him. He does that to a lot of great  offensive players.

[NickelDimer]

I'm in the .. both of those were fouls camp.  Certainly the Anim one .. and at worst, the other could easily been called a foul and a reasonable Nova fan, seeing a ton of contact, couldn't legit complain.

I don't mind losing, but I do mind losing this way.

This is where I'm at with it. And I would also add if you switch jerseys on both of those plays there isn't a shred of doubt in my mind we'd have been called for both fouls

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

If teams knew he wasn't in the gym, they would key more on Rowsey and Hauser.  As bad as Howard was today, teams have to prep for him.   Sam needs to find a way to become more involved, but the hip injury may be holding him back.

I agree. My point in asking Hausers age is that he is a young kid but is still a really smart basketball player. I do wish he'd be more assertive, though. He's a stud.

I love this team, just frustrated with some really bad decision making in these close losses!

[WarriorDad]

I agree. My point in asking Hausers age is that he is a young kid but is still a really smart basketball player. I do wish he'd be more assertive, though. He's a stud.

I love this team, just frustrated with some really bad decision making in these close losses!

We on same page.

[chapman]

Only listened to Homer & Mac so I missed many of the little things, so I have a reverse thoughts where I'm going so ask Scoopers questions:

1) Harry sounded like he did excellent and actually did work inside. Did he play more like a true 5 and how was he on the glass?

Played well offensively.  Not a single defensive rebound or block in 27 minutes.  Would have liked to see more of John from that perspective.  Still encouraging overall, and Heldt wasn't any better defensively in the limited minutes he played.

2) Barely heard Sam's name on offense. Was he not assertive enough or did Nova do something to neutralize him?

Similar to last game with the one shot attempt in the first half.  Was really good with the feeds to cutting Anim.  Didn't look for his own shot until late in the second half, and then they looked more forced than anything.

3) Please talk about Anim, sounded like he changed the game on both ends.

He played a nice game with a lot of drives.  Teammates (especially Hauser) did a good job of feeding him.  Finished far more than usual.  Held his own defensively, which is a plus on this team.

4) What took Markus out of the game, poor play, fouls, or both?

Both.  Villanova made it a point to exposure him defensively from the start.  Got some fouls to go along with a lot of points.  Thought he was poor offensively as well; somehow had 12 attempts in the first half, twice anyone else, and several were just not ideal shots. 

5) What did we do primarily on defense, especially when we were making the runs that got us back in both halves?

Limited transition and didn't let Brunson blow by a big for an easy layup.  They settled for a lot of ugly outside shots when they didn't have an easy path to the basket.

[21rooster]

One more note...student section was great except for the second-dumbest cheer in college hoops (just behind "overrated").  No class, awful if you have kids and just dumb when you're losing to a team that consistently keeps the conference relevant.  Dumb

[tower912]

Hey, finally watched the game.    It sure wasn't dull.
1.   Sultan, we don't often disagree about the officials, but we will today.    I know it is bad when my wife does a walk by and says "what in the hell is that"? in reference to Sacar getting pushed in the back at the start of the second half.   
2.  Froling, Sacar, Jamal all showed up against #1.   
3.  I thought Cain was pushed out of the way on that last play.    A year and 15 lbs of muscle from now, that doesn't happen.
4.  It was clear that Villanova's two defensive priorities were stopping Markus and Sam. 
5.  Brunson has got to be a POY candidate.   
6.  Switched on pick and rolls.    Centers guarding Brunson on his drives.    Predictable results.   But, hey, it was something different. 
7.  MU lost a hell of a game to #1.    Time to bounce back and play well in the second half of the conference.    Both X and V are done and we have visited Hinkle.    Play like they played today, with more from Markus, and they could do very well the rest of the way.   

[mileskishnish72]

Thought the difference came down to a difference in athleticism, with Nova getting blocks and deflections. Good effort by our guys.

[MUEng92]

One more note...student section was great except for the second-dumbest cheer in college hoops (just behind "overrated").  No class, awful if you have kids and just dumb when you're losing to a team that consistently keeps the conference relevant.  Dumb

Couldn't understand what they were saying on TV. Apparently that's a good thing

[Nukem2]

One more note...student section was great except for the second-dumbest cheer in college hoops (just behind "overrated").  No class, awful if you have kids and just dumb when you're losing to a team that consistently keeps the conference relevant.  Dumb

Guess some students slept in cuz those last 6 or 7 rows upstairs were disguised as empty seats.  But the students on hand were good.

[jesmu84]

https://twitter.com/Trodlove1/status/957709446276370432

[Lennys Tap]

If teams knew he wasn't in the gym, they would key more on Rowsey and Hauser.  As bad as Howard was today, teams have to prep for him.   Sam needs to find a way to become more involved, but the hip injury may be holding him back.

How could they prep more for Hauser? I guess if they held him to zero shots.

[Mr. Nielsen]

Guess some students slept in cuz those last 6 or 7 rows upstairs were disguised as empty seats.  But the students on hand were good.

800 girls had their sorority crap this weekend.

[mayfairskatingrink]

I agree. My point in asking Hausers age is that he is a young kid but is still a really smart basketball player. I do wish he'd be more assertive, though. He's a stud.

I love this team, just frustrated with some really bad decision making in these close losses!

A "stud" would try to be more assertive than Hauser was today.  With Howard not having his head in the game, MU needed Hauser and he was passive.  I would rather he forced some 3's rather than those awkward drive and pull-ups that weren't even close.

Sure would have liked Rowsey to take a shot when MU was down 3 instead of the Anim drive.

Hilarious again how bent out of shape so many MU fans get over the referees.  This was a winnable game and the last chance for a signature win and it wasn't the refs fault that MU lost.

[wadesworld]

A "stud" would try to be more assertive than Hauser was today.  With Howard not having his head in the game, MU needed Hauser and he was passive.  I would rather he forced some 3's rather than those awkward drive and pull-ups that weren't even close.

Sure would have liked Rowsey to take a shot when MU was down 3 instead of the Anim drive.

Hilarious again how bent out of shape so many MU fans get over the referees.  This was a winnable game and the last chance for a signature win and it wasn't the refs fault that MU lost.

What's hilarious is you thinking anyone buys that you're an MU fan.

[tower912]

Mfsr has been consistent in his criticism of Sam.  Sacar played without fear today.   To be this close getting so little from Markus and Sam us something to build on

[Dr. Blackheart]

Fun, tough Big East game. This is what makes this a great conference. 17k in the House. Great coaching back and forth. Cain and Sacar were outstanding, Harry showing signs as he didn't miss a shot.

MU won the last 3/4ths of the game 64-57 despite the free throw disparity.  Brunson and Bridges shot 17-18 on free throws.

The game was lost in the opening ten minutes where Nova was up 28-18 on 13-16 on FGs.  Same old. Still ran up our bigs to hedge but changed up the switch to put our bigs on Brunson (Pack Line, please, one of these days). But, what worked for MU was the press. Nice in game adjustment.

End of the day, Brunson was the difference. M2N and Sam were essentially no shows. We have no match which is why they are #1.

Officiating was the Big East standard fair.  Inconsistent (hand checks, over the back, travel/carries), out of position continuously (seriously, I saw five instances of the officials talking to GQ Jay for five seconds during live play where the ball was advanced), and many missed calls which is the norm. Jay works them pregame, during dead balls and during live play.  Master. Wojo was equally as wired.

Fun game!

[Vander Blue Man Group]

A "stud" would try to be more assertive than Hauser was today.  With Howard not having his head in the game, MU needed Hauser and he was passive.  I would rather he forced some 3's rather than those awkward drive and pull-ups that weren't even close.

Sure would have liked Rowsey to take a shot when MU was down 3 instead of the Anim drive.

Hilarious again how bent out of shape so many MU fans get over the referees.  This was a winnable game and the last chance for a signature win and it wasn't the refs fault that MU lost.

Visual approximation of mayfairskatingrink:

[GooooMarquette]

Got one

https://mobile.twitter.com/NovaMBB/status/957708218037252096

Apparently it's OK to hip-check a guy into the front row. 

[The Thing]

I'm not one to whine about reffing but the Sacar slap at the end really angered me. I was 20 rows back and could clearly hear the sound of skin getting slapped—it was that loud and that obvious.

We are also quick to point out that MU is a jump shooting team so we don't get as many fouls but I saw several drives where Markus and others drove and ended up on the floor with no whistle. Markus wasn't good today but a few of those drives should have resulted in free throws.

I believe the free throw disparity should not have been that great.