Marcus at the end of the STJ Game

[Herman Cain]

St. John's did not defend Markus any harder than Buffalo did.

The Johnnies employed a face guarding strategy against Markus.  That does not necessarily mean they defended him harder, but they were successful in the strategy they employed. The coaching staff will have to come up with strategies to deal with the face guarding, as I think others who have the personnel to do so will employ it. Sometimes I have seen teams just accept the faceguarding and move the guy who is face-guarded away from the action and let the rest of the team play 4 on 4. 

[jesmu84]

The Johnnies employed a face guarding strategy against Markus.  That does not necessarily mean they defended him harder, but they were successful in the strategy they employed. The coaching staff will have to come up with strategies to deal with the face guarding, as I think others who have the personnel to do so will employ it. Sometimes I have seen teams just accept the faceguarding and move the guy who is face-guarded away from the action and let the rest of the team play 4 on 4.

So did Buffalo

[IrwinFletcher]

St Johns is so long that when Markus was shooting, I think he had to change the trajectory a little bit.  Even a slight change can affect ones shot.

BTW, how many baskets did MU score on the basic play where we had two bigs at the elbow, pass it to the left side, passer uses screen from other guy on the elbow.  Easy Lay up.  Great play design that should work once.  Or twice.  OK maybe 3 times.  But 4?  Mullin never adjusted to that simply play and give MU credit, they kept going to it.