Nova Thoughts

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Well, barring a matchup in the Big East tourney, thank god this is the last time we will have to see Jalen Brunson.

[CAGASS24]

IMG_3866.jpeg
BS no call

[awilhelmscream]

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?

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

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

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

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

1) Yes, Harry played like a true 5 and played well save for when he switched off on Brunson at the top of the key.

2) Combo of both IMO.  A good example of him not being assertive enough was at the end of the game, down 3, he had what looked like a pretty open shot in the corner albeit with a defender closing in a bit and passed to Sacar for the drive.  You can tell he's still a little off and his hip must be bothering him more than the coaching staff is letting on.

3) Anim absolutely changed the game.  Had we won he would've been my vote for SOTG.  Great defense all game and a little more assertive on the offensive end as well.  Even in a loss he was the difference between the end score and getting the doors blown off us.

4) Markus was a combo of bad defense, awful decision making on the offensive end, and fouls.  Like others have said, when he came into the game the ball stopped moving.  It was so blatantly obvious the announcers even commented on it.  Before next year he really needs to figure  out how to get his teammates actually involved instead of doing what he did today.

5) We actually played some pressure on defense.  We played a little 3/4 court pressure at times, picked the ball handler up closer to half court, and did well with the switching for the most part.  Again, Anim on Brunson was huge.  Brunson had a monster game but when Anim was on him he had to work much harder for anything he was going to get.  Sam played solid defense as well and altered a few shots. 

I'm personally of the opinion that Elliot and Cain should get some more run for their defense alone.  Even with those two you'll have Markus/Rowsey and Hauser providing a scoring punch so  you're not giving up too much offensively.  Cain is no slouch on the offensive end either.

[Shaka Shart]

IMG_3866.jpeg
BS no call

[Mr. Nielsen]

Well, barring a matchup in the Big East tourney, thank god this is the last time we will have to see Jalen Brunson.

Is he turning pro?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Is he turning pro?

He should

[GooooMarquette]

Is he turning pro?

Plenty of people think he's ready. 

[94Warrior]

Hauser must not wanna shoot, he did a lot of other things today like great anticipation on D, but he needs to shoot 10-15 shots a game

Hauser rarely touches the ball in scoring position.  Few sets are run for him.   It is not because he doesn't want to shoot.  It is a byproduct of having two shoot-first guards on the floor with him.   Both guards are explosive scorers, but don't do enough to get Sam involved on the offensive end.  It is the makeup of our team this year.

[MU82]

Very entertaining, big-time college basketball game.

The underdogs gave the No. 1 team in the nation a heck of a battle.

Watching the game live, I thought the Anim call was missed, there was no over-the-back on the Cain play, and Harry got called for two important phantom fouls. Otherwise, I thought the refs did OK. The replay on the Cain play shows it was a borderline call/no-call IMHO.

Hey, when you DO get a foul call down the stretch and then the best FT shooter in the nation badly misses the front end, it makes beyotching about the refereeing sound a little hollow. We had a bazillion chances in this game (as did Nova) that had nothing to do with officiating.

Need more shots from Sam. Period. If he can't get open, Wojo needs to do something to get him open. But I did like his defensive game a lot, and he had 6 assists, including a couple of real beauts.

Sacar was our best all-around player today. Very active on offense finding gaps to receive passes from teammates. Tough on D; was our best chance against Brunson.

Nice to see Froling start and get involved early. He didn't look tentative, and he moved well to the hoop. He did no worse defensively than Heldt would have, and at least he is a body who has to be accounted for on offense. Wojo is not stupid. Those who thought he would stay with Heldt out of loyalty or something ... I mean, just a year ago, he took Luke out of the starting lineup - and I know he liked Luke a lot. Matt played 8 minutes today; that seems about right for a player of his skill-set playing in a power basketball conference.

Markus was quite terrible today. If he's hot, one can accept some of the shots he takes. But when he's not hitting, those heaves that aren't in the flow of the offense are killers. Let's all remember that he probably won us a couple of games we would have lost earlier in the season, including obviously at Providence.

Rowsey was very tough-minded and focused today, and he helped keep us in the game. He was absolutely helpless against Brunson, but that was the case with most of the players we tried on the guy I think is the best player in our league. If you're gonna play Markus and Rowsey together - and we have to - it's the trade-off you have to live with. It obviously will be less of an issue next season on defense; we will miss some of what Rowsey can do on offense next year, though.

Cain is going to be very good. He's already pretty darn good.

Overall, I come out of this game VERY encouraged. A few fellow Scoopers picked this stretch or that stretch as the "key" to the loss. But we weren't done in by the way we started the game - we came back to take the lead a couple times. And we weren't done in by the stretch at the end of the first half - the game was close almost the entire second half. That's basketball. Nova made mistakes during our 11-0 run in the first half. It happens even to the best.

Teams have runs. The question is: Can you respond with a run of your own? The Warriors did that today. We had several excellent stretches today. We played the No. 1 team in the country to the wire in a one-possession game.

We will win our share of games against good teams - starting with Butler and Providence this week - and we will take care of business against the dregs. I'm still thinking 10-8 is very doable.

Go Marquette!

[We R Final Four]

If fantastic FT shooter misses a FT.....then you shouldn't complain about the refs.
Makes sense.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

to #Unleash Rowsey and Ellenson Guerrero.

Sacar: definitely a foul.
Cain: could go either way so no whistle OK.

Lot of positives in this game so can't get too down about the L. Lotta fun at the BC today.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Wojo not to pleased post-game due to the lack of calls in favor of MU's guards when on offense.

[onepost]

FWIW, we moved up in kenpom today to 38.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Well, barring a matchup in the Big East tourney, thank god this is the last time we will have to see Jalen Brunson.

He's a junior.  No guarantee he goes pro

[We R Final Four]

Homer said today he will graduate early, and it is likely that he will go pro.

[Herman Cain]

I thought the team played well today. We played a formidable opponent and demonstrated that we could compete. 

We need to get a game with all of the Big 3 on form and we will be tough to beat.

We have to focus on Butler now.

[D'Lo Brown]

Very entertaining, big-time college basketball game.

The underdogs gave the No. 1 team in the nation a heck of a battle.

Watching the game live, I thought the Anim call was missed, there was no over-the-back on the Cain play, and Harry got called for two important phantom fouls. Otherwise, I thought the refs did OK. The replay on the Cain play shows it was a borderline call/no-call IMHO.

Hey, when you DO get a foul call down the stretch and then the best FT shooter in the nation badly misses the front end, it makes beyotching about the refereeing sound a little hollow. We had a bazillion chances in this game (as did Nova) that had nothing to do with officiating.

Need more shots from Sam. Period. If he can't get open, Wojo needs to do something to get him open. But I did like his defensive game a lot, and he had 6 assists, including a couple of real beauts.

Sacar was our best all-around player today. Very active on offense finding gaps to receive passes from teammates. Tough on D; was our best chance against Brunson.

Nice to see Froling start and get involved early. He didn't look tentative, and he moved well to the hoop. He did no worse defensively than Heldt would have, and at least he is a body who has to be accounted for on offense. Wojo is not stupid. Those who thought he would stay with Heldt out of loyalty or something ... I mean, just a year ago, he took Luke out of the starting lineup - and I know he liked Luke a lot. Matt played 8 minutes today; that seems about right for a player of his skill-set playing in a power basketball conference.

Markus was quite terrible today. If he's hot, one can accept some of the shots he takes. But when he's not hitting, those heaves that aren't in the flow of the offense are killers. Let's all remember that he probably won us a couple of games we would have lost earlier in the season, including obviously at Providence.

Rowsey was very tough-minded and focused today, and he helped keep us in the game. He was absolutely helpless against Brunson, but that was the case with most of the players we tried on the guy I think is the best player in our league. If you're gonna play Markus and Rowsey together - and we have to - it's the trade-off you have to live with. It obviously will be less of an issue next season on defense; we will miss some of what Rowsey can do on offense next year, though.

Cain is going to be very good. He's already pretty darn good.

Overall, I come out of this game VERY encouraged. A few fellow Scoopers picked this stretch or that stretch as the "key" to the loss. But we weren't done in by the way we started the game - we came back to take the lead a couple times. And we weren't done in by the stretch at the end of the first half - the game was close almost the entire second half. That's basketball. Nova made mistakes during our 11-0 run in the first half. It happens even to the best.

Teams have runs. The question is: Can you respond with a run of your own? The Warriors did that today. We had several excellent stretches today. We played the No. 1 team in the country to the wire in a one-possession game.

We will win our share of games against good teams - starting with Butler and Providence this week - and we will take care of business against the dregs. I'm still thinking 10-8 is very doable.

Go Marquette!

Uncertain what leads you to believe that Froling will be the starter rest of the season. I took it as Wojo trying to make a point about effort in practice and going with the players that deserve it most. Unless Froling sets the world on fire I think you will see a pretty balanced distribution between the 3. He tends to give them all a shot early and end up sticking with one for the most of the minutes.

[mug644]

Hauser rarely touches the ball in scoring position.  Few sets are run for him.   It is not because he doesn't want to shoot.  It is a byproduct of having two shoot-first guards on the floor with him.   Both guards are explosive scorers, but don't do enough to get Sam involved on the offensive end.  It is the makeup of our team this year.

I agree, as it seems that the only sets for him are off the pick and roll, and defenses are smart enough (mostly) to not leave him open (and he's wise enough not to force a shot). He does get a few chances on the block, and can sometimes make things happen from there, but it's part of his game that's still growing. I think a combination of more sets and more experience will make him even more of a threat next year.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Homer said today he will graduate early, and it is likely that he will go pro.

Too bad he isn't able to grad transfer to MU.

That said, Brunson will have a long pro career but projects as an NBA backup. His post game works against guys the size of Rowsey & Howard but bigger guards neutralize him. I also don't see him as a stellar defender.  Imagine him checking Curry, Westbrook, Kyrie, etc. Not pretty.

Jalen probably has a career very similar to his dad's.  Serviceable backup but not a starter on a good team.

[We R Final Four]

Completely agree.

[Bo Ryan's Massage Therapist]

Plenty of people think he's ready.

Talked to a Nova fan today. They think Brunson and Bridges are both gone to pros after this year.  The sequence where Bridges flew from the side, swatted Howard, tip toed the sideline and then hit a long pull-up J with a hand in his face shows his pro potential... projected first round pick and only a sophomore

[wadesworld]

Talked to a Nova fan today. They think Brunson and Bridges are both gone to pros after this year.  The sequence where Bridges flew from the side, swatted Howard, tip toed the sideline and then hit a long pull-up J with a hand in his face shows his pro potential... projected first round pick and only a sophomore junior.

FIFY.

As far as getting all 3 of "the big 3" going I have a hard time seeing it happen.  One, it seems as though "going" means scoring a lot.  If that's the case there are only so many shots to go around.  And two, and much more importantly, it seems as though oppositions really try to key in on slowing down 2 of the 3 and conceding a big game from one of Sam/Markus/Rowsey.  Today it seemed like Nova was going to focus on not giving Sam any space to get a catch and shoot off and to make him shoot mid range jumpers of the top of the defense and on keeping length in front of Markus.  If Rowsey was going to beat them, they were willing to tip their cap.  That seems to be the gameplan of many coaches.  Take Sam's catch and shoot opportunities away and take one of Sam or Markus away.

[🏀]

Bridges is a lottery pick, Brunson is graduating early to have a nice 6-7 year NBA career as a backup. Both great players.

[Lennys Tap]

Very entertaining, big-time college basketball game.

The underdogs gave the No. 1 team in the nation a heck of a battle.

Watching the game live, I thought the Anim call was missed, there was no over-the-back on the Cain play, and Harry got called for two important phantom fouls. Otherwise, I thought the refs did OK. The replay on the Cain play shows it was a borderline call/no-call IMHO.

Hey, when you DO get a foul call down the stretch and then the best FT shooter in the nation badly misses the front end, it makes beyotching about the refereeing sound a little hollow. We had a bazillion chances in this game (as did Nova) that had nothing to do with officiating.

Need more shots from Sam. Period. If he can't get open, Wojo needs to do something to get him open. But I did like his defensive game a lot, and he had 6 assists, including a couple of real beauts.

Sacar was our best all-around player today. Very active on offense finding gaps to receive passes from teammates. Tough on D; was our best chance against Brunson.

Nice to see Froling start and get involved early. He didn't look tentative, and he moved well to the hoop. He did no worse defensively than Heldt would have, and at least he is a body who has to be accounted for on offense. Wojo is not stupid. Those who thought he would stay with Heldt out of loyalty or something ... I mean, just a year ago, he took Luke out of the starting lineup - and I know he liked Luke a lot. Matt played 8 minutes today; that seems about right for a player of his skill-set playing in a power basketball conference.

Markus was quite terrible today. If he's hot, one can accept some of the shots he takes. But when he's not hitting, those heaves that aren't in the flow of the offense are killers. Let's all remember that he probably won us a couple of games we would have lost earlier in the season, including obviously at Providence.

Rowsey was very tough-minded and focused today, and he helped keep us in the game. He was absolutely helpless against Brunson, but that was the case with most of the players we tried on the guy I think is the best player in our league. If you're gonna play Markus and Rowsey together - and we have to - it's the trade-off you have to live with. It obviously will be less of an issue next season on defense; we will miss some of what Rowsey can do on offense next year, though.

Cain is going to be very good. He's already pretty darn good.

Overall, I come out of this game VERY encouraged. A few fellow Scoopers picked this stretch or that stretch as the "key" to the loss. But we weren't done in by the way we started the game - we came back to take the lead a couple times. And we weren't done in by the stretch at the end of the first half - the game was close almost the entire second half. That's basketball. Nova made mistakes during our 11-0 run in the first half. It happens even to the best.

Teams have runs. The question is: Can you respond with a run of your own? The Warriors did that today. We had several excellent stretches today. We played the No. 1 team in the country to the wire in a one-possession game.

We will win our share of games against good teams - starting with Butler and Providence this week - and we will take care of business against the dregs. I'm still thinking 10-8 is very doable.

Go Marquette!

Basically agree on all counts. One nit - it became a 1 possession game when we made an uncontested lay up with .2 seconds left.

[MU82]

Basically agree on all counts. One nit - it became a 1 possession game when we made an uncontested lay up with .2 seconds left.

Well, the score was 83-80 before DiVincenzo scored with 11 seconds left. So I guess it depends upon how one defines "to the wire."

Literally, if it means to the very end, yep, I admit I overstated it slightly.

I'll happily amend it to:

We were within a bucket of the No. 1 team in the country and had possession in the final minute, but couldn't quite get there.