Coaching

[BCHoopster]

Sometimes coaching is proven in the last 30 seconds of the game.  How they draw up a play and defend it.  First, I thought Wojo should have zoned the out of
bounce play when St. Johns had the ball.  Anim really did not stop Ponds all night and to let him get a lay-up is ridiculous.  Wojo an F on that.  Then a time-out and a play
that was botched by Markus by fumbling the ball and really could have jumped right into the defender for 3 free throws, not sure why he did not.  But that is on Markus,
but the play, what play?  Wojo a D on that.  But in saying that, the game was lost when MU had many opportunities when the score was in the 40's, first great D, then
missed shots all over the place.  Sacar has to finish a lay-up, does that they win.  Have to get off to a good start in games, missed to many open shots.  Will happen.

I have mentioned in the past, that MU needs a grad transfer forward with some quickness, MU is a step slow at times, hope he can find somebody.

[Its DJOver]

So just because Wojo didn't come out in a zone you give him an F?  If Sacar hadn't slipped, or Theo had gotten over in time to get the block would you change your grade.  It's very Ners-ish to jump to an extreme like this.  Wojo also said that he didn't want the TO, but as soon as the ball was in-bounded he became a spectator just like the rest of us.  Markus has hit big shots before, and will hit them again.  Yea he could have done more to draw a foul, but that's not on Wojo.  Overall this year, Wojo has been great out of TO's and great in crunch time.  Everyone has said it was only a matter of time before we lost a close game, and it finally happened.  Learn from it, and move on to Saturday.

[tower912]

McEwen and Elliott will be available next year.     That takes care of the speed issue.     
Zone vs Man on that last possession.    This team has played zone for about 5 possessions all year.    It is not a zone team.    Sacar falling on his butt was the issue.     However, I probably would have had Bailey in the game for Joey.    And maybe even Bailey on Ponds.   

Last offensive possession:   There was a play call.    And Wojo has run some great stuff out of TO's this year.    It doesn't matter once Markus fumbles the dribble and the timing of the play gets completely disrupted.   It really doesn't matter what the play call was if the team didn't run it.    Like a few years ago when the play call got disrupted and Jamil ended up passing the ball to Derrick in the corner to miss the game winner.    I guarantee that was not how it was drawn up. 

Wojo got them to come back from a 15 pt second half deficit to take the lead in the last minute.    The team clearly can execute, which is a product of coaching.     Sometimes, the human factor comes into play.    Last night, that was Sacar falling on his butt and Markus fumbling his dribble.    Guano happens. 

[NickelDimer]

Wojo has had a phenomenal year and made huge strides, but last night was one of his low points this season. He did a poor job defending Ponds the last couple of possessions. There was one possession late where they doubled out on Ponds and he immediately gave the ball up leading to a poor shot by SJ. Why he didn't do that on the last possession is puzzling. He also inexplicably put Heldt in the game at one point when it was obvious Ed had his A game. Leaving poor FT shooters in Anim and Theo in the game down the stretch definitely cost us points. And the last possession, although Markus shares some blame, was really bad

[4everwarriors]

Basketball 101--Always zone da out of bounds play, hey?

[TheGym]

I don't understand having Joey in the last few seconds of the game, especially on D.  He did not play much in the second half and JC played well to shore up the defense in the second half.  That is my only complaint for the end game coaching.

[MU82]

As all know, I am bullish on Wojo. I didn't think he had his strongest game, especially in the defending Ponds category. When a guy keeps killing you, you have to change something, even if just for the sake of change. And certainly on the last play.

But I don't give him a failing grade or anything close. If we shoot anywhere near like we usually do, we win this game, probably by double digits. It is a coach's job to prepare his team to create open shots. We had at least a dozen wide-open shots -- 3s by great 3-point shooters, layups, etc -- that didn't go in. The coach can't do anything about those.

Still bullish on our fine coach.

[MUBBau]

If only Wojo knew that Sacar would fall down and that Markus would lose his dribble

[BCHoopster]

So just because Wojo didn't come out in a zone you give him an F?  If Sacar hadn't slipped, or Theo had gotten over in time to get the block would you change your grade.  It's very Ners-ish to jump to an extreme like this.  Wojo also said that he didn't want the TO, but as soon as the ball was in-bounded he became a spectator just like the rest of us.  Markus has hit big shots before, and will hit them again.  Yea he could have done more to draw a foul, but that's not on Wojo.  Overall this year, Wojo has been great out of TO's and great in crunch time.  Everyone has said it was only a matter of time before we lost a close game, and it finally happened.  Learn from it, and move on to Saturday.

I do not care what defense you play, but giving there best player a lay-up is an F!

[Its DJOver]

I do not care what defense you play, but giving there best player a lay-up is an F!

So you're blaming Wojo for Sacar falling down.  Like I said, very Ners-ish extreme to jump to.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Well if coaching is really decided in the final seconds of a game and we are 6-1 in games decided by 5 points or less than I guess that means Wojo is a great coach!

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

I disagree mostly entirely with the OP

On the Sacar ponds play.  Ponds does a hesitation dribble and broke Sacars ankles.  Horribly unfortunate time but thats why Shamorie is such a friggin nightmare.  The kid has Professor like ball skills.  Kid is a nightmare and a blur and had just hit a step back 3 a few possesions previous.  The call from the timeout was to over help on Ponds per Wojo.  But when his man falls down things go fubar quick.  Tip ur cap to Ponds.
During that same timeout Wojo said they were to attack the rim on a SJU make, so Markus dribbles to the hash and calls a timeout. 
Not sure how either of those are on Wojo. 

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

I don't understand having Joey in the last few seconds of the game, especially on D.  He did not play much in the second half and JC played well to shore up the defense in the second half.  That is my only complaint for the end game coaching.

Hes the best 3 point shooter on the team, markus was to drive n shoot ir kick.

[MU82]

If only Wojo knew that Sacar would fall down and that Markus would lose his dribble

I just think you do everything possible there to not let Ponds even touch the ball and then, if he does, to get it out of his hands. Make one of the other 4 beat you. Don't let the guy who absolutely killed you down the stretch do it again. That's all I'm saying.

If on our final play, Markus had been allowed to drive to the hoop for an uncontested layup, folks would be asking what Mullin was doing -- and correctly so.

I remain one of Wojo's most vocal supporters on Scoop. It doesn't mean I have lost all right to disagree with him when I think it's merited.

[Osiris]

The only thing worth discussing on the last possession was Markus's puzzling decision not to take the three free throws.  For the two years previous he watched his teammate shoot approximately 150 free throws due to his shot credibility and when handed the game, he took a hard pass.  The only thing you could even think to lay on Wojo is perhaps not reminding Markus (and maybe he did, who knows) they'll be overcommitting given the situation.  One wouldn't think this would even be necessary but given that Markus has passed on free throws a few times in the last few games maybe it should have been discussed.

He's a bright kid.  I'd be shocked if he does it again this year but best to remind him nonetheless.  Good lesson to learn in league play.  Could come in handy come tournament time.

[Cheeks]

Sometimes coaching is proven in the last 30 seconds of the game.  How they draw up a play and defend it.  First, I thought Wojo should have zoned the out of
bounce play when St. Johns had the ball.  Anim really did not stop Ponds all night and to let him get a lay-up is ridiculous.  Wojo an F on that.  Then a time-out and a play
that was botched by Markus by fumbling the ball and really could have jumped right into the defender for 3 free throws, not sure why he did not.  But that is on Markus,
but the play, what play?  Wojo a D on that.  But in saying that, the game was lost when MU had many opportunities when the score was in the 40's, first great D, then
missed shots all over the place.  Sacar has to finish a lay-up, does that they win.  Have to get off to a good start in games, missed to many open shots.  Will happen.

I have mentioned in the past, that MU needs a grad transfer forward with some quickness, MU is a step slow at times, hope he can find somebody.

If we had zoned and they scored what would you have given him?

You are judging based on the unknowable as if another option would have worked and none of us know

[#UnleashSean]

The only thing I didn't like at the end of the game was not subbing out Howard for cain or bailey on the defensive end. Needed height there.

[BCHoopster]

So you're blaming Wojo for Sacar falling down.  Like I said, very Ners-ish extreme to jump to.

No, I am not blaming Sacar for falling down, I am blaming the coach for just having Sacar and somebody else not helping out.  The whole Fiserv Forum knew what was  going to happen, even Wojo,  Box and 1, Zone, double team him, get the damn ball out of his hands.

[BM1090]

No, I am not blaming Sacar for falling down, I am blaming the coach for just having Sacar and somebody else not helping out.  The whole Fiserv Forum knew what was  going to happen, even Wojo,  Box and 1, Zone, double team him, get the damn ball out of his hands.

Wojo said postgame they were supposed to double. So maybe they planned on doubling but then Sacar fell down and the scheme went out the window. Sometimes, crap just happens.

[Its DJOver]

No, I am not blaming Sacar for falling down, I am blaming the coach for just having Sacar and somebody else not helping out.  The whole Fiserv Forum knew what was  going to happen, even Wojo,  Box and 1, Zone, double team him, get the damn ball out of his hands.

I'm not sure you know what a box-and-1, or zone are, because in those scenarios, Ponds still has the ball in his hands so there's that.  Wojo said in his post-game interview that the plan was to take the ball out of his hands, but if you double with 20 seconds left it is easy to rotate the ball enough to get an easy lay-up.  If you wait until 8-10 seconds left, it is much more difficult, and a team is more likely to panic.  If Ponds had waited longer to attack I think this would have been done, but (unlike you apparently) I can't say for sure what would have happened if we threw a double at him earlier.  Hopefully we never face Ponds again so we'll never know if your coaching is really better than Wojos.

If you were coaching StJ, would you have had Ponds take that shot with 20 seconds left, leaving a lot of time for us to get off a decent last shot, or would you have had him take it with 5ish seconds left, leaving time for a potential tip in, and also leaving MU with exponentially less time to go the length of the court?

[The Sultan]

The only thing I didn't like at the end of the game was not subbing out Howard for cain or bailey on the defensive end. Needed height there.

You're not taking Markus Howard out there. 

[BCHoopster]

I'm not sure you know what a box-and-1, or zone are, because in those scenarios, Ponds still has the ball in his hands so there's that.  Wojo said in his post-game interview that the plan was to take the ball out of his hands, but if you double with 20 seconds left it is easy to rotate the ball enough to get an easy lay-up.  If you wait until 8-10 seconds left, it is much more difficult, and a team is more likely to panic.  If Ponds had waited longer to attack I think this would have been done, but (unlike you apparently) I can't say for sure what would have happened if we threw a double at him earlier.  Hopefully we never face Ponds again so we'll never know if your coaching is really better than Wojos.

If you were coaching StJ, would you have had Ponds take that shot with 20 seconds left, leaving a lot of time for us to get off a decent last shot, or would you have had him take it with 5ish seconds left, leaving time for a potential tip in, and also leaving MU with exponentially less time to go the length of the court?

Just so you know I played a little ball in my time, and our teams played many different D's and one coach at MU who I grew up with played a lot of different defenses
during the game, a box and 1 against Ponds would have been the D I would have played, so the backdoor is covered and you can stop Ponds from driving.  Teams today rarely play unique defenses, for sure not Wojo, live and die with the man D.  If you are down 1 with 40 seconds or less, you take the best shot you can do instead of holding the ball, play your normal offense and hopefully you can get the other team to make a mistake on the D end, so you get the best possible shot, which with Ponds was a lay-up.  Most teams do not take 30 seconds to get off a good shot, in that situation, take what they give you.  If Ponds could not turn the corner, then maybe he has to take mid-range or 3 point shot, so be it, but not a lay-up!

[Its DJOver]

Just so you know I played a little ball in my time, and our teams played many different D's and one coach at MU who I grew up with played a lot of different defenses
during the game, a box and 1 against Ponds would have been the D I would have played, so the backdoor is covered and you can stop Ponds from driving.  Teams today rarely play unique defenses, for sure not Wojo, live and die with the man D.  If you are down 1 with 40 seconds or less, you take the best shot you can do instead of holding the ball, play your normal offense and hopefully you can get the other team to make a mistake on the D end, so you get the best possible shot, which with Ponds was a lay-up.  Most teams do not take 30 seconds to get off a good shot, in that situation, take what they give you.  If Ponds could not turn the corner, then maybe he has to take mid-range or 3 point shot, so be it, but not a lay-up!

Okay Ners, just because something might work on paper does not mean that the players would be able to execute, can you really imagine Theo knowing what to do in a box-and-1?  I certainly hope we wouldn't waste time at practice focusing on something like that.  StJ also had a TO remaining, so if you throw something unconventional at them, they simply call it, and draw something else up.  There was nothing anyone could have done to prevent Ponds from getting the ball, and sometimes great players make great plays no matter the defense, we've certainly seen Markus make enough of them this year, that's just something you're going to have to live with.  Oh and congratulations on being able to dunk.

[tower912]

BCHoopster isn't Ners.  That is just cruel.   I like gimmick defenses as much as the next guy, but I don't think Wojo has gone there with this team.  And the attempts at zone have gone poorly this year.
If Wojo had more confidence in Cain or Cain was playing better, a lineup of Chartouny, Cain, Anim, Bailey, and Sam switching everything would have been interesting.  Sadly, Sam is the only one you can trust at the line after securing the missed shot. 

[Badgerhater]

Not going to blame coaching or players for an end-of-game possession -- its a crapshoot.

What I will blame on coaching is the last five minutes when STJ had two players with 4 fouls (it was 3 players with 2 min left) and they had to stay in because STJ has no bench.  None of them ever fouled out.  MU went at them exactly one time and it was an easy score down low.  What did happen far too often was Sam Hauser wide open on the wing clanking a 3.   

Yes, that offensive play got the desired look and that is Hauser's shot, but he was stone cold.   It should not be too hard for MU to attack 3 players with foul trouble and get some easier buckets or put important players on the bench.