MSG is bad for you.

[We R Final Four]

Buzz had Cain, Elliott, Anim, Hauser, and Heldt on the floor for a possession inside a minute of the Creighton home game.  One of the freshman got easily beat baseline off the dribble for a layup in a matter of seconds.

If you have that group on the floor and you get your stop and rebound they get to send someone who either has shot very few free throws this year and is a freshman playing in MSG or someone who is a bad free throw shooter to the line to extend the game, or you're taking a timeout to get Howard and Rowsey back on the floor and trying to inbound it against DePaul's length which gave us some trouble throughout the game.

Yes—this am that was what I was thinking. Taking by the risk with the "bad defenders", but the much better FT shooters. I think this is more in line with the reality. Still a huge risk, almost (should have) cost ya the game because of bad D once again.

[Newsdreams]

Why was Howard in the game when he was cold and does nothing else effectively. Why were Rowsey and Howard in the game in the last defensive possession with a timeout in the bank.

No idea, I really hope wojo has reasons for it, because from my eyes it was a poorly coached game.

Elliott got in foul trouble too quick. Cain did turn the ball twice and was getting killed on defensive end. Plus huge game BET MSG, experience. Elliott and Cain did play but  they were not effective so just go with experience.

[We R Final Four]

So, we go with the freshmen, Depaul shoots and misses and someone other than Sam or Matt gets the rebound.   Depaul fouls immediately.  Now, in a 2 point game with a few seconds left, Cain is going to the line.  What is your confidence level?

Or, prior to that, your 'bad' defensive guard misreads a defensive assignment and leaves his man wide open for an uncontested three and we are down two with 4 seconds left.

[tower912]

I'm not pretending there is an easy solution.  Just pointing out that there are a lot of ways to look at it.   In a perfect world, everybody defends like JFB or Dominic or Blue.   While shooting like Andrew and Markus and being a Crowder like beast down low.  Then it is easy.   That is not this team.  Always an offensive/defensive decision to be made.

[Newsdreams]

I'm not pretending there is an easy solution.  Just pointing out that there are a lot of ways to look at it.   In a perfect world, everybody defends like JFB or Dominic or Blue.   While shooting like Andrew and Markus and being a Crowder like beast down low.  Then it is easy.   That is not this team.  Always an offensive/defensive decision to be made.

Perfect team!

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Odds are Wojo already called the play for if DePaul scored. Probably the Heldt half court ice cream shot. Need the right guys in there to execute it.

[GoldenDieners32]

I feel like we have the momentum tonight have a good shot to win, Nova might be a little rusty from not playing yesterday or in a little while

[Newsdreams]

We didn't deserve to win. DePaul played better defense, ran way better plays, had better schemes and had the best player on the court... We had better players in aggregate and more luck

We won so we deserved to win.

[GGGG]

We didn't deserve to win. DePaul played better defense, ran way better plays, had better schemes and had the best player on the court... We had better players in aggregate and more luck

We scored more therefore we deserved to win.

[brewcity77]

Maybe we didn't, but DePaul deserved it less, so I guess it's ours by default.

[Bocephys]

Maybe we didn't, but DePaul deserved it less, so I guess it's ours by default.

[D'Lo Brown]

First big East tourney game for the freshmen.  With 11 seconds left in a one possession game, the solution is to take out the senior and sophomore leaders and replace them with freshmen....in their first big East tourney game.    I get that Cain and Greg are better defenders.  But context.  Tournament life at stake.  All the chips pushed to the middle.  I understand why Wojo doesn't go offense defense there.

I don't disagree with you as the argument can be valid either way, and I'm really glad this whole discussion is moot, but I also think you'd feel pretty lonely on this take if Strus had made that totally unguarded practice-type 3 to win it. At that point, we needed to play defense, we were ahead in the game. So I don't understand what you mean by offense/defense because all that was left was defense, I mean, literally.

[tower912]

I get that Cain and Elliott are better defenders.  Your argument is to put in two freshmen in the highest stress moment of the season over two team leaders.   I understand both arguments.   And Marquette dodged a bullet.   But it is a damned if you do/don't conundrum.  Put in two freshmen, don't get the stop, get the stop and have them fumble the rebound, get the rebound and miss the free throws....  all while your two best players/team leaders sit.   Wojo chose experience and barely got away with it.

[D'Lo Brown]

I get that Cain and Elliott are better defenders.  Your argument is to put in two freshmen in the highest stress moment of the season over two team leaders.   I understand both arguments.   And Marquette dodged a bullet.   But it is a damned if you do/don't conundrum.  Put in two freshmen, don't get the stop, get the stop and have them fumble the rebound, get the rebound and miss the free throws....  all while your two best players/team leaders sit.   Wojo chose experience and barely got away with it.

Yep. Damn Woj.

Keep the luck rolling though

[Benny B]

Tonight's Forecasted Tower Summary Thread Title:

Further Research Needed on Alleged Effects of MSG.

Win or lose, it works.

[tower912]

Nah.  Different plan.