Must diversify the offense

[NotAnAlum]

The last 2 games have shown the formula to beat MU is out.  Both AR and MH want to shoot between the top of the key and the free throw line extended.  All their base line screens will eventually result in one or the other ending up in this area where they want to shoot a 3.  Therefore all the defense has to do is aim to arrive in that area about the same time they do to avoid giving an open look.  The defense then continues to stay in close contact until they are 5 feet or so beyond the 3 point line because defenses know that they can take and make an un contested 3 well beyond he arc.  On ball screens play up on both sides of the screen.  The screener almost never gets the ball so the defense is free to have both guys simply go at our ball handler.   Now that they have shut down the 3 the only concern is MH or AR getting into the lane after beating the pressure at the 3 point line.  But since none of the other MU players move much without the ball and aside from Sam no one else on the court is a major shooting threat the defense can simply leave a guy or 2 cheating into the lane and manhandle either of the small guards.  Eliminate the clean looks at a 3 and Mu becomes quickly frustrated and the offense falls apart.
So Wojo now must come up with something to counter what the4 competition now seem to know about MU.  MU still must find a way to get up a large number of 3s.  Its really the only way a team like this can have a chance at beating any but the worst teams.  To me the counter move seems obvious.  MU needs to run a number of possessions using an inside out approach.  Either throw the ball into the 4 or 5 man and hope that you can kick it back out to one of your 3 shooters when the defense reacts OR have either of the guards attack the paint with the intention of kicking out to an open shooter.  MU currently almost never does either of these things.  Once MH or AR get into the lane 99% of the time they shoot themselves.  They've got to look to pass more. And when the ball comes back out it has to go up fast.  None of this dribbling around to find a slightly better place, catch and shoot fast. 
To me this is all about coaching and drilling in practice.  Wojo has watched 2 games in which his offensive weapons have been pretty much neutralized.  Its not just guys having an off shooting night or the ball not dropping its a scheme that is not working anymore.

[GGGG]

The problem with the inside out is that no one is a consistent threat to score inside.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

MH and AR need to get better at the "throwback" plays. They are being met way past the three point line and any time they drive, the defense collapses. Most people think about the drive and kick to the corner, but the most open man is usually right behind the driver. If MH and AR can drive and then throwback to the top of the key, that person should an option to either shoot, drive, or swing to whoever was doubling the driver.

Anytime AR and especially MH drive, there is usually 1-2 others who are open because of how much attention they get. Gotta get better at finding them. I wonder if their height hurts them and keeps them from seeing through the trees.

I agree that the offense can be improved....but we are really spoiled on that end. It's no fluke that our offense is top 15. I watched a replay of the win against Syracuse that sent us to the Sweet 16 the other day. Holy crap our offense looked terrible compared to this season. Now Syracuse's zone will do that to you, but man it was a lot worse than I remembered.

[Herman Cain]

We need a good performance from the Big 3 to win.  We only had one perform well today.  The rest of the team stepped up offensively,  So it is actually encouraging that we were so close .

[NotAnAlum]

I'm not sure I'd agree with "spoiled".  We made a deal with the devil by starting 2 sub 6' 3 point specialists in the BE that we'd outscore other teams.  We MUST maintain that top offense we don't have a choice if we are going to win at all.  And the last 2 games, both at home, 2 middle of the conference teams have basically shut us down.  It isn't going to get any easier playing road games.  You know what they say the definition of insanity is; doing the same thing and expecting different results.

[brewcity77]

I agree with this, but it has to start on the defensive end. We're getting to the point where we can't run Howard and Rowsey out there together against Big East competition unless it's a high leverage situation (end of a half, down by 3 in the final minute, etc).

Someone asked on Twitter why Rowsey was guarding 6'7" Alpha Diallo when he fouled out. At the time, 5'11" Kyron Cartwright was the only Providence player under 6'7" on the court. Rowsey and Howard can't both guard Cartwright, so there you go. Defensively, we're always going to be at a disadvantage because one of our midgets has to guard someone that has 5+ inches on them. Meanwhile, offensively, both Rowsey and Howard struggled to find looks from outside (they combined for 7 3PAs, many of which were just forced by Howard) because they couldn't shoot over that length.

Obviously, it's not just Providence. Xavier is 6'5"+ from the 2 on up. Villanova is 6'5"+ from the 2 on up. Pretty much everyone in this league has length on us. You can have one little guy, but two in a league with so much length is incredibly difficult offensively. For me, it's not just getting threes, it's watching some of the entry passes they try to make because they simply aren't able to get over or around their defenders. Rowsey had one just ridiculous ankle high entry bounce pass to (I believe) Theo that was too low and bounced out of bounds in the first half. It was the only angle he had.

I think it all has to start on defense and base the offense around that. I'd be interested to see Elliott, Hauser, Froling, and Theo out there together with one of the midgets. I know Harry can be a turnstyle on defense some of the time, but I think Theo would help mitigate that because he's our best big at help defense and rim protection. Mix Cain and Heldt in off the bench to keep length and rebounding out there.

Of course, then how does the offense work? Stop running it through Howard and Rowsey and instead run it through Sam Hauser. He's the only guy that can both shoot over length from three and can score inside 15 feet without contorting his body into a pretzel. He's also generally one of the better decision makers on the team. He should touch the ball on every offensive possession. Look to get him 15 shots per game. Putting the ball in the hands of a bigger player that can score from everywhere on the court will draw defenders and open up shots for the midgets while also allowing guys like Theo, Elliott, Froling, and Anim to get to the rim and score when they get isolation or their man leaves to double team Hauser.

[muguru]

I agree with this, but it has to start on the defensive end. We're getting to the point where we can't run Howard and Rowsey out there together against Big East competition unless it's a high leverage situation (end of a half, down by 3 in the final minute, etc).

Someone asked on Twitter why Rowsey was guarding 6'7" Alpha Diallo when he fouled out. At the time, 5'11" Kyron Cartwright was the only Providence player under 6'7" on the court. Rowsey and Howard can't both guard Cartwright, so there you go. Defensively, we're always going to be at a disadvantage because one of our midgets has to guard someone that has 5+ inches on them. Meanwhile, offensively, both Rowsey and Howard struggled to find looks from outside (they combined for 7 3PAs, many of which were just forced by Howard) because they couldn't shoot over that length.

Obviously, it's not just Providence. Xavier is 6'5"+ from the 2 on up. Villanova is 6'5"+ from the 2 on up. Pretty much everyone in this league has length on us. You can have one little guy, but two in a league with so much length is incredibly difficult offensively. For me, it's not just getting threes, it's watching some of the entry passes they try to make because they simply aren't able to get over or around their defenders. Rowsey had one just ridiculous ankle high entry bounce pass to (I believe) Theo that was too low and bounced out of bounds in the first half. It was the only angle he had.

I think it all has to start on defense and base the offense around that. I'd be interested to see Elliott, Hauser, Froling, and Theo out there together with one of the midgets. I know Harry can be a turnstyle on defense some of the time, but I think Theo would help mitigate that because he's our best big at help defense and rim protection. Mix Cain and Heldt in off the bench to keep length and rebounding out there.

Of course, then how does the offense work? Stop running it through Howard and Rowsey and instead run it through Sam Hauser. He's the only guy that can both shoot over length from three and can score inside 15 feet without contorting his body into a pretzel. He's also generally one of the better decision makers on the team. He should touch the ball on every offensive possession. Look to get him 15 shots per game. Putting the ball in the hands of a bigger player that can score from everywhere on the court will draw defenders and open up shots for the midgets while also allowing guys like Theo, Elliott, Froling, and Anim to get to the rim and score when they get isolation or their man leaves to double team Hauser.

This right here Brew...I have been telling people this for weeks...this offense NEEDS to run through Sam. Period. He should be the first one to touch the ball after it is brought up and over half court..he should facilitate everything, I think you'd see the offense run much more smoothly, as he will 99% of the time, make the right decision as to what to do next...dribble and drive, shoot or pass it to the right guy. The offense has been broken the last two games because there has been way to much dribbling, and the others are just standing around. It's frustrating, because we saw early in the year, when they move the ball, and mve it efficiently, this offense is almost unstoppable.

[4everwarriors]

Already got a good mix of traditionals etc., hey?

[mileskishnish72]

I agree, Brew. Plus, Sam is an able and willing passer.

[tower912]

I have believed for some time that the first team to stand still on offense loses.    MU has stood still a lot lately.    When MU's offense is flowing, there is ball movement and player movement.