The defense needs to be addressed

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Howard is the worst defender I've seen at Marquette.

I've been keeping stats since 2013. I can tell you that in that time period that Howard is statistically the worst defender Marquette has ever seen. I'd have to run old numbers, but I'd be pretty confident that Howard is statistically the worst in the KenPom era.

Rowsey was actually average last season but has been nearly as bad as Howard this season.

For those who were calling for an end to bigs hedging on ball screens, you got your wish the past two games. The reality is, Howard and Rowsey aren't good enough to defend a player while being screened on their own. They need help. We've been switching on screens the past two games and clearly it is not a magic fix. Howard got switched onto Martin and Wideman repeatedly and they ate him alive (which you would expect at that size).

Our defense allows the opposing offense to impose their will....never the other way around. I don't know how to fix it. I don't know that there is fixing it.

[muwarrior69]

I've been keeping stats since 2013. I can tell you that in that time period that Howard is statistically the worst defender Marquette has ever seen. I'd have to run old numbers, but I'd be pretty confident that Howard is statistically the worst in the KenPom era.

Rowsey was actually average last season but has been nearly as bad as Howard this season.

For those who were calling for an end to bigs hedging on ball screens, you got your wish the past two games. The reality is, Howard and Rowsey aren't good enough to defend a player while being screened on their own. They need help. We've been switching on screens the past two games and clearly it is not a magic fix. Howard got switched onto Martin and Wideman repeatedly and they ate him alive (which you would expect at that size).

Our defense allows the opposing offense to impose their will....never the other way around. I don't know how to fix it. I don't know that there is fixing it.

Where is Derrick Wilson when we need him. Wojo is saying the same thing.

[muwarrior69]

Hope that's not the same approach for next year.

...and we'll need more than Morrow to be our stopper next year.

[mileskishnish72]

The defense needs to be addressed? It's GD February!

There are a lot of lesser-talented teams than MU that play decent defense. This team is small, and slow. Even so, there has to be a high degree of disinclination (or disinterest) to learn defense for them to be this abjectly poor at it. What surprised me was that on the occasions vs. Butler that we went to a zone - the results were equally bad if not worse.

It would be one thing if at least some progress since November was demonstrated. Sadly, that doesn't seem to be the case. Looks like an NIT year - not good.

[Stretchdeltsig]

It's poor coaching.  Let's face it, Wojo did not prepare this team for the game.  He did a lousy job of coaching during the game.  He can recruit, but, he is not a good coach.  End of story.

[Warrior1969]

...and we'll need more than Morrow to be our stopper next year.

Is there any real reason to think Morrow will help next year?    I have never seen him play.  I think subtracting Rousey from the D will help a bit.  Someone please tell me why we will be better on D next year?

[nyg]

Is there any real reason to think Morrow will help next year?    I have never seen him play.  I think subtracting Rousey from the D will help a bit.  Someone please tell me why we will be better on D next year?

Morrow is 6ft 7 and goes 235 and averaged almost 8 rebounds a game in the Big Ten. Players like Wideman, Govan, Martin etc would not be pushing our frontcourt around like now.  Theo is a big kid, but he has a way to go.

Besides the interior help of Morrow, Rowsey will be replaced hopefully by a taller experienced guard.

Right now MU is getting abused by larger stronger forwards and by their opposing two guards.  Two of those replacements should eliminate that problem, but a new scheme has to be implemented.

[MUBigDance]

We have the horses. Wojo teach them to press. Not just to consume shot clock but to steal. Wear em out. We won't be Nolan Richardson's Ark team but 20 min of Hell is possible. Everyone plays. Defense is farther from the rim. Less emphasis on height, more on smarts quickness creativity and heart.

I say don't worry about tiring people out. Use everybody.

[GGGG]

We have the horses. Wojo teach them to press. Not just to consume shot clock but to steal. Wear em out. We won't be Nolan Richardson's Ark team but 20 min of Hell is possible. Everyone plays. Defense is farther from the rim. Less emphasis on height, more on smarts quickness creativity and heart.

I say don't worry about tiring people out. Use everybody.

There's not enough quickness on this team.

And this isn't about New Age Defenses.

This is a team full of bad defensive players.  There isn't a scheme in the world that is going to make these guys better at defense.

[cheese ball chaser]

There's not enough quickness on this team.

And this isn't about New Age Defenses.

This is a team full of bad defensive players.  There isn't a scheme in the world that is going to make these guys better at defense.

So if it can't be taught than what's the solution? Recruit better defenders?

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

There's not enough quickness on this team.

This is a team full of bad defensive players.  There isn't a scheme in the world that is going to make these guys better at defense.

Just to challenge your thinking.  I have never wondered in my MU fandom whether or not players have been taught basic defensive fundamentals until the last 3 years.  There have been players where I felt they couldn't do it, but never questioned that they were told the right way to do it.  Why do I question this?  Because there isn't one player on the team that looks like they are playing the defensive scheme as a team...they all look lost.   

So it could be that we just recruited a team full of the world's worst defensive players - but that doesn't make me feel great either since it means our coach recruited an entire team with that caliber.

[GGGG]

So if it can't be taught than what's the solution? Recruit better defenders?

I didn't say it can't be taught.  I was engaging in hyperbole.  But yes...more length and quickness on the perimeter would help tremendously.

[MUfan12]

This is a team full of bad defensive players. There isn't a scheme in the world that is going to make these guys better at defense.

I just see very little cohesion and communication on defense. I hear Jay Wright talk often about his guys being on a string defensively, and there's none of that. It's 5 guys guarding their man, with little awareness.

Is there a scheme to fix that? Probably not. But I do wonder how well what they're trying to do is being communicated.

[Newsdreams]

...and we'll need more than Morrow to be our stopper next year.

Expect Theo to keep improving, Morrow should be playing the 4 and helping with rebounding /D