I’m not calling for his head

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

We started the second half in M2M.  The formula is simple:  One of Markus or Rowsey on the floor, and the team plays zone...with a lot of Jamal Cain. Period.  End of story.  Cain played 7 minutes.

Wojo totally abandoned the zone today.  As chronicled multiple times, we are a train wreck rebounding out of M2M, have a much higher propensity to foul, and between the 19 O-Rebounds yielded, and 33 FTs given - you can't win a basketball game like that when your A-game offense isn't there.

Cain had 4 fouls in 7 minutes.  Our problem was rebounding and offense i still dont get the people that are screaming that we needed zone.  Yes maybe normally but not in this one, they shredded our zone and our man was pretty good.  We have been giving up over 90 ppg on the road in BE.  If we shoot the ball n value the ball like we have in all our other BE games we win comfortably.  We didnt,  man was the ticket today, kudos to Wojo.  I understand people  are frustrated but the zone mantra is wrong on this day.
all

[Floorslapper]

Cain had 4 fouls in 7 minutes.  Our problem was rebounding and offense i still dont get the people that are screaming that we needed zone.  Yes maybe normally but not in this one, they shredded our zone and our man was pretty good.  We have been giving up over 90 ppg on the road in BE.  If we shoot the ball n value the ball like we have in all our other BE games we win comfortably.  We didnt,  man was the ticket today, kudos to Wojo.  I understand people  are frustrated but the zone mantra is wrong on this day.
all

Cain had three fouls. One of which was a horse crap call. We barely played any zone. It wasn't shredded. Out M2M gets shredded via being a fouling machine. We've rebounded much better out of zone two prior games.

[mu_hilltopper]

Why are we talking about defense?  What game and season have you guys been watching?

MU lost yesterday 70-62.     Notice that 62?  It's the lowest point total all year. 

Fine, maybe playing zone might have shaved 5-10 points off DePaul's total.  Hell, maybe 15 points. 

MU lost because their offense over 40 minutes wasn't hitting season averages.   Specifically, MU opened the 2H scoring SIX points over THIRTEEN minutes.   That's horrific and MU was only had a chance because their defense held DePaul to 37%.

Letting DePaul score 70 points was not the issue.   Scoring the fewest points of the entire season .. that was it.  I don't see Wojo that culpable in guys missing shots.   His guys had a bad shooting night and didn't get the foul calls.

(Side note .. Looking at DePaul's season, this is the 5th time they've lost 3-in-a-row, then won a game.  What a strange pattern.  Their entire BE season .. win a game, lose 3.)

[Dr. Blackheart]

Why are we talking about defense?  What game and season have you guys been watching?

MU lost yesterday 70-62.     Notice that 62?  It's the lowest point total all year. 

Fine, maybe playing zone might have shaved 5-10 points off DePaul's total.  Hell, maybe 15 points. 

MU lost because their offense over 40 minutes wasn't hitting season averages.   Specifically, MU opened the 2H scoring SIX points over THIRTEEN minutes.   That's horrific and MU was only had a chance because their defense held DePaul to 37%.

Letting DePaul score 70 points was not the issue.   Scoring the fewest points of the entire season .. that was it.  I don't see Wojo that culpable in guys missing shots.   His guys had a bad shooting night and didn't get the foul calls.

(Side note .. Looking at DePaul's season, this is the 5th time they've lost 3-in-a-row, then won a game.  What a strange pattern.  Their entire BE season .. win a game, lose 3.)

+ Worst statistically offensive game since the Iowa cow pie.

[muguru]

+ Worst statistically offensive game since the Iowa cow pie.

And against a team like DuhPaul, that still should have been enough..

[GooooMarquette]

Why are we talking about defense?  What game and season have you guys been watching?

MU lost yesterday 70-62.     Notice that 62?  It's the lowest point total all year. 

Fine, maybe playing zone might have shaved 5-10 points off DePaul's total.  Hell, maybe 15 points. 

MU lost because their offense over 40 minutes wasn't hitting season averages.   Specifically, MU opened the 2H scoring SIX points over THIRTEEN minutes.   That's horrific and MU was only had a chance because their defense held DePaul to 37%.

Letting DePaul score 70 points was not the issue.   Scoring the fewest points of the entire season .. that was it.  I don't see Wojo that culpable in guys missing shots.   His guys had a bad shooting night and didn't get the foul calls.

(Side note .. Looking at DePaul's season, this is the 5th time they've lost 3-in-a-row, then won a game.  What a strange pattern.  Their entire BE season .. win a game, lose 3.)

Yep.  And rebounding: getting beat 49-30 on the boards is inexcusable.

[tower912]

The offense stood still.  I am confident Wojo did not tell the team to stop moving on offense. 

[hairy worthen]

Why are we talking about defense?  What game and season have you guys been watching?

MU lost yesterday 70-62.     Notice that 62?  It's the lowest point total all year. 

Fine, maybe playing zone might have shaved 5-10 points off DePaul's total.  Hell, maybe 15 points. 

MU lost because their offense over 40 minutes wasn't hitting season averages.   Specifically, MU opened the 2H scoring SIX points over THIRTEEN minutes.   That's horrific and MU was only had a chance because their defense held DePaul to 37%.

Letting DePaul score 70 points was not the issue.   Scoring the fewest points of the entire season .. that was it.  I don't see Wojo that culpable in guys missing shots.   His guys had a bad shooting night and didn't get the foul calls.

(Side note .. Looking at DePaul's season, this is the 5th time they've lost 3-in-a-row, then won a game.  What a strange pattern.  Their entire BE season .. win a game, lose 3.)

offense definitely the problem in this game, and you are correct missing shots is not on Wojo.

However, having few other alternatives to dribbling out the play clock and chucking up a 3 is on Wojo both in terms of not having the personnel and not having a better system. This team is one dimensional  and flawed. Take away their one dimension and the team is screwed. To me that's on the coach.

[NickelDimer]

The offense stood still.  I am confident Wojo did not tell the team to stop moving on offense.

No but it's the same offense we've seen too often in conference play when Howard and Rowsey are on the floor together. Predictable

[Its DJOver]

offense definitely the problem in this game, and you are correct missing shots is not on Wojo.

However, having few other alternatives to dribbling out the play clock and chucking up a 3 is on Wojo both in terms of not having the personnel and not having a better system. This team is one dimensional  and flawed. Take away their one dimension and the team is screwed. To me that's on the coach.

We had multiple good looks that just didn't fall. I can think of at least 3 that Sam alone had in the 2nd half. AR shot selection was largely the same that it was against St John's, if he's hitting he's SOTG, if he's missing he's heavily criticized. It's the life of a high volume chucker, it's who he is and has always been.

[hairy worthen]

We had multiple good looks that just didn't fall. I can think of at least 3 that Sam alone had in the 2nd half. AR shot selection was largely the same that it was against St John's, if he's hitting he's SOTG, if he's missing he's heavily criticized. It's the life of a high volume chucker, it's who he is and has always been.

agree but that's my point. those shots don't always fall, you have to have other ways to score.

[Its DJOver]

agree but that's my point. those shots don't always fall, you have to have other ways to score.

We haven't had other ways to score all year. It's not a problem that wojo is gonna be able to fix on the fly. Next year it shouldn't be a problem as we will have a legitimate post presence

[cheebs09]

We also have no one that can really penetrate well other than Sacar. There were a number of times we'd try and drive, take two dribbles and be stuck. We'd have to throw the ball out about 5 feet behind the 3 point line and start over.

It seems like we went away from the Hauser post up game. Maybe DePaul scouted that well and took it away, but it seemed like too much Rowsey/Howard iso again.

[brewcity77]

Why are we talking about defense?  What game and season have you guys been watching?

MU lost yesterday 70-62.     Notice that 62?  It's the lowest point total all year. 

The offense sucked, but the defense allowed 19 extra opportunities. We shot a higher percentage from 2 and 3 but lost in part because we gave them so many extra chances.

If the offense is average, we win, but if we box out and don't let DePaul get 3, 4, 5 shots on the same possession, we also win.

[hairy worthen]

We haven't had other ways to score all year. It's not a problem that wojo is gonna be able to fix on the fly. Next year it shouldn't be a problem as we will have a legitimate post presence

right but who is responsible for recruiting a post presence? hope it improves next year I think it will.

[NickelDimer]

The offense sucked, but the defense allowed 19 extra opportunities. We shot a higher percentage from 2 and 3 but lost in part because we gave them so many extra chances.

If the offense is average, we win, but if we box out and don't let DePaul get 3, 4, 5 shots on the same possession, we also win.

Yes yes yes

[skianth16]

We haven't had other ways to score all year. It's not a problem that wojo is gonna be able to fix on the fly. Next year it shouldn't be a problem as we will have a legitimate post presence

We've had Sacar, Greg, and Jamal on the team all year, which means we've had the ability to get to the rim all year. The game last week against Creighton looked like a different team in terms of ball movement and how they looked to get shots than we've seen more much of the year. Where has that been for the rest of the conference season? More importantly, why wouldn't we try to incorporate more of those looks in other games too?

We've seen this offense do more than just chuck 3's, even if that is our bread and butter. When that's not getting the job done, a coach needs to be able to be more flexible and have some new options for the team. Yes, the players need to execute, but we've got to have more options in our offensive game. 

[Its DJOver]

We've had Sacar, Greg, and Jamal on the team all year, which means we've had the ability to get to the rim all year. The game last week against Creighton looked like a different team in terms of ball movement and how they looked to get shots than we've seen more much of the year. Where has that been for the rest of the conference season? More importantly, why wouldn't we try to incorporate more of those looks in other games too?

We've seen this offense do more than just chuck 3's, even if that is our bread and butter. When that's not getting the job done, a coach needs to be able to be more flexible and have some new options for the team. Yes, the players need to execute, but we've got to have more options in our offensive game. 

It sounds like upset at Sacar, Greg, and Jamal for not being more aggressive. All three IMO are hit or miss. They were hitting In  the 2nd half again Creighton and the entire game vs st johns, they were missing vs DePaul. It happens with young players

[burger]

How many times did we try and take it to the basket in the second half.....

Jack....Jack.....Jack.....

Lazy.....Lazy....Lasy.....

And we all know the Prima-donna was the worst.....

Excellent senior leadership.....Totally focused.....Too much dipody-do in his hair????

[skianth16]

It sounds like upset at Sacar, Greg, and Jamal for not being more aggressive. All three IMO are hit or miss. They were hitting In  the 2nd half again Creighton and the entire game vs st johns, they were missing vs DePaul. It happens with young players

You're right that it can happen with younger guys, but my bigger concern or gripe is that the coaching staff didn't intervene to try to get them to be more aggressive. The inconsistency that we've had this year is so frustrating as a fan because some of it seems correctable. If Jamal or Sacar look flat footed on offense, someone needs to point it out and encourage them to change things up. Isn't that a big part of what coaching is all about? Helping the team adjust mid-game?

[Stretchdeltsig]

I am still numb from losing to DePaul.  Wojo this one's on you.  Boohoo!

[Its DJOver]

You're right that it can happen with younger guys, but my bigger concern or gripe is that the coaching staff didn't intervene to try to get them to be more aggressive. The inconsistency that we've had this year is so frustrating as a fan because some of it seems correctable. If Jamal or Sacar look flat footed on offense, someone needs to point it out and encourage them to change things up. Isn't that a big part of what coaching is all about? Helping the team adjust mid-game?

I haven't rewatched the game so I can't tell you the exact possession, but I remember in the second half we ran the exact play for Sacar where he hit the go ahead shot against Creighton, and that also was successful against St John's. It's a play that clearly wojo likes and has worked recently. Depaul defended it well and Sacar tool and missed a contested shot. It happens. Did we shoot too many threes? Yes. Did Markus and Andrew run too much hero ball? Yes. But the freshman + Sacar did take shots too.  Unfortunately our leaders didn't step up, and neither did the younger players that have shown the potential to step up.  That's why the game isn't played on paper.

[Nukem2]

I am still numb from losing to DePaul.  Wojo this one's on you.  Boohoo!

Ya think the players might have had a tad to do with the loss.....?

[tower912]

The inconsistency that we've had this year is so frustrating as a fan because some of it seems correctable.

3 freshmen + 4 sophomores = inconsistency.

[Floorslapper]

Ya think the players might have had a tad to do with the loss.....?

So if Wojo is excused from any culpability in yesterday's loss, because the guys had a bad shooting night, why then would Wojo get any credit for coaching well when guys are shooting well?

My concern:  We were elite shooting the ball last year, and for the most part again this year - yet we will have likely finished a combined .500 in two seasons of Big East play with elite level offense/shooting, and only 1 NCAA tourney bid to show for it, with no NCAA tourney wins. 

A coach has to be able to scheme, and adjust, adapt when the A-game isn't there.  Wojo got gifted a blueprint for how to use this year's roster, and he went away from that blueprint yesterday for virtually the whole game (Not playing zone), and then for 15 of the 20 minutes of the second half playing Rowsey and Howard together in M2M defense.

IF MU doesn't yield 33 FTs and 19 Offensive boards, despite our poor shooting yesterday (that isn't Wojo's "fault,") we still win the game something like 62-55.

The defense was a problem yesterday as it has been all season long in M2M - a fouling machine and constantly trailing in a possession in M2M and not being able to secure the D-board as a result of being put into rotation/help.

FT's may not matta to some - but I'll trust Buzz Williams more than JayBee.  A core coaching philosophy of Buzz's was to make more FT's than the opposition attempts.  That never happens under Wojo in conference play.  Zone helps mitigate fouling.  But Wojo can't get it through his skull that it is his best option for this athletically and size challenged team, even after being shown as much for 60 minutes of basketball in the two preceding games.