Questions answered, K-State version

[jesmu84]

So sensitive Wades.  I posted positives around this game.  Some encouraging signs...notably we looked tougher than we've been in the last 4 seasons, much better defense, and didn't look a 1/4 step too slow against a high major team with some good athletes.

That aside, if you don't feel this was an odd game, oddly officiated, you're welcome to that opinion.   I'm surprised you are okay with this game given that Markus was chasing the "50 burger."  He was sublime/at his absolute best today.  Ceiling level performance.  Not sure you can count on him getting 21 trips to the FT in most games going forward.

As you like to say, it's just one early season game.  Nothing to get too high about, or too low about.  But, for one night we shall celebrate Wojo's 2nd best victory in his 140th game at the helm.

It appeared that you were much lower about "one early season game" (IU) than you were higher about the same.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I thought the worst call was a shooting foul on Chartouny. He did make contact, but after the contact the shooter drove around a screen that stopped Chartouny & pulled up. When the showed the replay, JC was literally moving away from the shooter as he shot.

I haven't been able to watch the replay, but when they showed it on the jumbotron, it looks like Joe's hand is on the shooters back as he is shooting.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

He had MU credential laniards on. I thought for sure it was scripted.

A lot of the lanyards in that section are for the courtside and president's club access. It was definitely not scripted

[GB Warrior]

It was after the entire stadium was dumbfounded after a Theo foul. Seemed entirely spontaneous.

[whitykj]

I love seeing that our team is finally starting to find an identity.  Can't wait for the rest of the season.

[IrwinFletcher]

Great win!   Drive back to Chicago a happy one!   Great job by coaching staff and players.  Solid D.  All good except the turnover.   Go Marquette!

Thing about the high TO number, how many of those were goofy offensive fouls called by the refs?   4?5?6?

Subtract those out and you have at least a reasonable Turnover #

[jesmu84]

I love seeing that our team is finally starting to find an identity.  Can't wait for the rest of the season.

What identity?

[JakeBarnes]

Hey for those watching on television, how about those city shots they showed of Milwaukee with the sun out and green leaves on the trees?

I laughed at this. They also showed a snowy 90/94 a few weeks back for a depaul game on a day it was 55. Not even trying to hide it.

[whitykj]

What identity?

Defense: Strong Defensive Rebounding team.  Can turn the ball over on ball handlers.  Force Tough shots
Offense: Balanced attack between shooting/ slashing/ and inside.  Markus not the primary ball handler all the time.  Pick and Roll heavy with Sam and Joey rolling to the 3 and Theo and John rolling to the rack. 

At the start of the season this might have been what they were going for but it was hard to tell because of all the turnovers and mistakes.  Glad to see it. 

[real chili 83]

Nice to see some defense

Gator, is that you?

[Marcus92]

One comment from BringOnTheCats.com posted during the second half summed things up nicely:



This game is over
Unless Markus Howard leaves the court for some reason.

[barfolomew]

A lot of the lanyards in that section are for the courtside and president's club access. It was definitely not scripted

Sounds like next season they're going to have a lot of people trying to figure out how to hang their smartphone from a lanyard.

[GoldenEagle323]

Im not worried about jamal barely playing, i think he's staying

[mileskishnish72]

Flu? Jamal May be so deep in Wojo's doghouse it's heartworm.
Hope he gets out and stays.

[CTWarrior]

First time in forever that I thought we got a very friendly whistle against another major.  It was equally bad for both teams, but the timing favored MU in that K State got their fouls earlier and put them in ful trouble earlier forcing them to their bench early, where there seemed to be a huge dropoff.  But we certainly deserved to win that game.

Besides Markus' ridiculously good game, team defense was the most impressive thing about the win.  Could have been even a bigger win if we were our usual selves from three.  Shooting inside the arc was off the charts, which more than made up for it.  Too many turnovers, but I can live with that if they are from being aggressive.  Best all around game in a very long while.  Have to keep the momentum going for another full week.

[GGGG]

Sacar was ahead of Cain last year.  No surprise that he is this year as well.  Bailey playing ahead of him is more of a surprise, but Bailey is bigger and just as athletic.  We will see how it plays out.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Besides Markus' ridiculously good game, team defense was the most impressive thing about the win.  Could have been even a bigger win if we were our usual selves from three.  Shooting inside the arc was off the charts, which more than made up for it.  Too many turnovers, but I can live with that if they are from being aggressive.  Best all around game in a very long while.  Have to keep the momentum going for another full week.

This was it for me too.  The switches are much more effective when they occur.  Transition d was always focused on stopping the ball first.  The person I am most impressed with is Markus.  He seems to be working hard to move his feet and stay in front of his man.  He has upped his effort & effectiveness. 

[StillWarriors]

I'm assuming he got both sides of the student sections involved?  That's a natural that should be done anyway, but if the students reacted all the better.  There could be some great back and forth between student section sides if the university would choreograph some of it.  Or get the men's LAX team to help.   

Totally agree. Getting half the stadium to chant "We Are" and the other "Marquette" would be cool. Have seen that done in football stadiums with great effect. No reason it wouldn't work for hoops. Cheerleaders could get them going pretty easily I would think.

[Mr. Nielsen]

.. the Chaluparena was maybe 90% full .. frankly, I didn't think it was very loud.  I suppose MU was up most of the game so the crowd wasn't "needed."  I kinda wonder, the stadium is so voluminous that sound dissipates in the space.

The game was stopped way too much to look at the monitor. MU was always up double digits. I thought the crowd was excellent! I thought all 3,100 would show up. That was a bit disappointing.
Also, keep in mind with some empty seats. Many watch the game in the Panorama Club and other such standing room area's.

[Nukem2]

Sacar was ahead of Cain last year.  No surprise that he is this year as well.  Bailey playing ahead of him is more of a surprise, but Bailey is bigger and just as athletic.  We will see how it plays out.

Bailey had a very active and productive 12 minutes yesterday.  Was surprised he did not play more in the 2nd half. Brendan is bigger and stronger than Jamal.

[GGGG]

Bailey had a very active and productive 12 minutes yesterday.  Was surprised he did not play more in the 2nd half. Brendan is bigger and stronger than Jamal.

I think he really only plays a little to spell Sacar.  He doesn't give them much offensively outside of hustle.  He worries me whenever he puts the ball on the floor.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Flu? Jamal May be so deep in Wojo's doghouse it's heartworm.
Hope he gets out and stays.

Just because a player doesn't play doesn't mean he's in the coach's doghouse. We have a logjam at the three. The best players will earn time. Lately, Sacar, Bailey, Joe, Joey, and Ed have been playing better. That means they either get time at the three or push other players to the three, taking from Cain's minutes. It will only get more crowded when Elliott comes back.

We always knew Wojo would shorten his rotation at some point. Someone was always gonna end up at that back of the bench. Right now it looks like its going to be Cain. We'll see though, he could earn his way back.

[Nukem2]

I think he really only plays a little to spell Sacar.  He doesn't give them much offensively outside of hustle.  He worries me whenever he puts the ball on the floor.

I disagree.  Btw, Brendan has 1 TO in 112 minutes.

[GGGG]

Oh I agree.  He just seems weak with the ball.  I have no reason to believe that Jamal would be better in that role.

[We R Final Four]

If Jamal continues on a path of 1 minute per game he's not staying.
You can argue that he doesn't deserve more due to rotations and caliber of players in front of him—which may be true.
However, if this trend continues, well......
It's a long season and we are an injury away from desperately in need of him, so I hope he sticks it out.