Butler thoughts

[goldeneagle91114]

Things change when a team is up against the wall. Like most of us, we were all feeling pretty comfortable coming into this one and saying that it wasn't a must win. All I'm saying is, we're now entering must-win territory for many of our remaining games. If this were an absolute must-win game going in, the result of the game could have been totally different.

If we believe in the drive these kids have to win, they can get refocused with the extra motivation and look like a new team. We've seen it in the past.

Extra Motivation? we sure as H**** aren't Nova, We came off of a 9 day break and got blown out, lost to Nova, and our last win was against DePual. What more motivation show D1 athletes need?

[cheese ball chaser]

outclassed in every aspect. Also did anyone catch the announcers mentions that a YOUNG butler team is 11-1 at home. Wish we had a young team that could do the same. No more excuses, Beat Providence at pack it up.

Young Butler team? They played 2 seniors and a junior

[Herman Cain]

Again, like in the past, you must be on some sort of opioids.  Just strange....

-MU defense again gave up 60% fg rate, too many open threes (8-14), got destroyed inside.
-Baldwin annihilated Rowsey and Bardo even agreed, no match.  Wait for Creighton and Foster/Thomas, ugh.
-Just a terrible performance in all aspects.
-Have to win some home games and protect the court, just not happening. 

Now, Providence who we beat in OT, without Bullock, without Diallo in first half and a miracle 52 pt performance by Howard. Then three straight on the road, with not so good play since the Seton Hall game. Wojo not happy leaving the court, this could get interesting.

We had a bad game. We will better next game.

[D'Lo Brown]

Extra Motivation? we sure as H**** aren't Nova, We came off of a 9 day break and got blown out, lost to Nova, and our last win was against DePual. What more motivation show D1 athletes need?

I think you need to take a deep breath and maybe go to bed. A few of you guys got a little two far into your Milwaukee's Best tonight. You'll be more rational in the AM.

[goldeneagle91114]

Young Butler team? They played 2 seniors and a junior

And if Hanni was still here we would start 1 senior and a jr...we still called ourselves a young team to start the season.

[goldeneagle91114]

I think you need to take a deep breath and maybe go to bed. A few of you guys got a little two far into your Milwaukee's Best tonight. You'll be more rational in the AM.

Really? everything i just stated are facts. how are you going to argue this?

[MUBigDance]

Going to sulk till next win.

I'm going to forgive rowsey for this one. The only thing I can't forgive is if he's checked out. Don't think he has. Just a horrible game. Let's see what Providence brings.

[cheese ball chaser]

Marquette was ahead of VT in every measurable manner heading into tonight's game.

So not really.

Also, Buzz took all of his recruits with him and left us with a dumpster fire. His team *should* be better than us. There's plenty of basketball left to be played before the tournament.

[cheese ball chaser]

And if Hanni was still here we would start 1 senior and a jr...we still called ourselves a young team to start the season.

I wasn't talking about Marquette, I'm saying that the "young Butler" comment isn't true

[D'Lo Brown]

Really? everything i just stated are facts. how are you going to argue this?

Lol. You are asking me to argue that we in fact didn't lose to Nova, etc? I guess I can try, if you want.

All I was saying was, a team faced with a "do or die" scenario will either come together, say enough is enough, refocus, and do whatever it takes. Most of the players were flat tonight. We're getting to the point of the year where we can't just live to fight another day. This game could be the "shock" they need to realize that it's now or never.

That's why I actually am in favor of Wojo's approach in the game. Let the players experience it, grow up as men, and get tougher. They didn't need to be babied along and told any coachisms. Just let them deal with the emotions in full and hope that they confront it.

[MUEng92]

VT with 3 nice wins in a row. 2 on the road.

Is that right? How did USC, Boise State or Savannah State do? You know, since those teams have as much importance to anyone on this board except smucks who can't get a life

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Seriously, who gives a sh*t about Virginia Tech?

[nyg]

We had a bad game. We will better next game.

Yes, if:

-They stop giving up 90 points a game
-They stop getting in foul trouble eight minutes into the game
-They limit opposition to less than the 60% range they have been averaging
-They have Howard/Rowsey/Hauser all have one good game together

Thats just the start and I presume Wojo is going ballistic right now, contemplating shaking things up.  How, no clue but just a feeling based upon his actions/demeanor tonight in closing minutes and leaving court. He had a different look.

[NotAnAlum]

I was really impressed with the way Butler played defense.  It shows what happens when a team plays as a team.  When a Butler guys is defending his man he funnels him towards his teammate so the MU guy ends up driving into a double team without the 2nd guy having to give up his man.  Its all team defense.  On offense they move without the ball so they get into position for offensive rebounds or drop off.  MU guys simply stand around if the play isn't being run for them.
I was concerned when Wojo got here that his success at Duke was based on managing Super talent much more than insisting on team play and coaching schemes that hide weakness and make lesser players better.  I'm afraid that is what we're seeing.  MU simply doesn't play as a team and it shows up the most on defense because that is where team play is most important.  Butler does it MU doesn't and otherwise the teams are pretty evenly match as far as experience and talent level.

[GoldenDieners32]

We play soft

[nyg]

I was really impressed with the way Butler played defense.  It shows what happens when a team plays as a team.  When a Butler guys is defending his man he funnels him towards his teammate so the MU guy ends up driving into a double team without the 2nd guy having to give up his man.  Its all team defense.  On offense they move without the ball so they get into position for offensive rebounds or drop off.  MU guys simply stand around if the play isn't being run for them.
I was concerned when Wojo got here that his success at Duke was based on managing Super talent much more than insisting on team play and coaching schemes that hide weakness and make lesser players better.  I'm afraid that is what we're seeing.  MU simply doesn't play as a team and it shows up the most on defense because that is where team play is most important.  Butler does it MU doesn't and otherwise the teams are pretty evenly match as far as experience and talent level.

Hasn't Butler had like three coaches in four years? 

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

Well, I thought Sacar did pretty good tonight. That's 2 games in a row for him.

[Warriors, Come Out and Playeeyay]

Just some random questions after watching this -

1) When did we transition our offense back to the 5 pass weave at the top of the circle?
2) Instead of paint touches, are we now counting how many times we pass it inside the 3 point arc?  There are times when this is a rarity.
3) Why does Rowsey have a longer leash than others on the team?
4) How many points did Rowsey give up vs. the rest?
5) Am I the only one who would rather give up three's playing a zone rather than 100% layups and dunks under the basket?
6) When will Wojo figure out how to defend the pick and roll?
7) Is it time to send a message to some of the players that haven't been playing too well?
8) Why do I still think that Butler is not that good?

[GoldenDieners32]

Theo actually looks some what comfortable now on the court

[79Warrior]

We have to take the golf match play approach. Forget about the last hole and try to win the next .  We have the talent to win all the rest of our games .

Actually, we do not. This team has been getting torched. Trashed again at home. Good grief.

[Dish]

Biggest issue is 9 days off in mid January, then two of three at home in a week's time. Three L's, two of them getting hammered, is not good. Stiff competition yes, but to make the tournament, gotta start beating good competition. This was definitely a low point in the Woj era.

[GooooMarquette]

Butler played really well and we played as poorly as we've played all year.  I was surprised at just how awful we looked.  An ugly, disappointing loss.

The season is far from over, but we need to turn things around quickly and dramatically.  On to Saturday.

Go Marquette!

[MUfan12]

I was really impressed with the way Butler played defense.  It shows what happens when a team plays as a team.  When a Butler guys is defending his man he funnels him towards his teammate so the MU guy ends up driving into a double team without the 2nd guy having to give up his man.  Its all team defense. 

This is a great point. In their man defense, MU rarely looks "connected." It's five guys doing their own thing and hoping there's help.

Maybe they need to carry more bricks around between now and Saturday.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Brian Wardle's Bradley team beat #1 MVC Loyola tonight at home to improve to 17-7.  Only good news for Marquette Basketball tonight.

[AZMarqfan]

Some thoughts:
1) time to limit the exposure with Howard and Rowsey on the floor together.  Maybe 10 minutes per game.  They both are weak defenders, and neither is a great ball-handler/floor general. 
2) Elliott seems the best of the guards at driving and distributing.  Maybe he needs a few more minutes, and to run more of a true point. 
3) I don't mind the post attempts with Hauser early.  I think the game plan was for him to make a few, then Butler collapses on him allowing him to kick for open 3's. 
4) Heldt should start, he's more physical. 
5) maybe this team is too slow for man to man defense, and needs to mix in more zone.  Hauser is slow for a 4, Heldt and Froling are slow.  Rowsey and Howard allow too many guys to drive past them.  Our best defenders are Heldt, Elliot, Anim, and John, with Hauser getting honorable mention because he's often guarding guys physically bigger/stronger than himself.