The other 36 minutes

[Jay Bee]

Not in the NCAA tournament. They could not get out to cover the open three point shooters. The Big East was pretty weak this year, which helps to skew the defensive statistics.

Define 'pretty weak'?

The Big East had a scoring efficiency of 1.059 ppp. That was higher than, for example, the SEC... the ACC...... the Big Ten... and the Big 12.

But, OK.

[Benny B]

Murray vs MU: Morant with 16 of the 23 assists, MS wins by 19 w/MS 9-18 3point shooting.
Murray vs. FSU: Morant with 4 of 7 assists, FSU wins by 28 w/MS 7-18 3 point shooting.

A whopping 47 point turn around! Pretty sure Coach Leonard "Carrot" Hamilton had the more sound defensive game plan of MS's 2 opponents. .

I believe the announcers in Connecticut were the same in both games. The woman announcer made an interesting observation on the defensive game plan. I do not recall her exact words but this was pretty close: " Notice how FSU doesn't overcommit on defense." And then the zinger: You DON"T see 5 guys collapsing on Morant!"

FSU had different personnel. 

You seem to be quite familiar with beer league softball; unfortunately, in the NCAA tournament, you're not allowed to take guys from the other game and use them on yours. 

[Lennys Tap]

FSU had different personnel. 

You seem to be quite familiar with beer league softball; unfortunately, in the NCAA tournament, you're not allowed to take guys from the other game and use them on yours.

Different personnel, sure. That's part of it.

But when you set up defense to stop a superstar, if you're smart (FSU was, we weren't) the goal is to take away what he does best. Ja Morant is a very good scorer and an elite, out of this world passer. Florida St. made him a scorer and took away his less talented teammates with honest, in your face defense. He had 28 points, but took 21 shots and had only 4 assists. We doubled (or tripled) him everywhere, held him to 9 shots and 17 points and challenged him to locate wide open teammates. 16 assists later we were toast.

Bottom line, Murray St was a much better team when Morant was a pass first player. The defense we chose allowed him (forced him) to be just that.

[Cheeks]

Man this Cheeks guy really resides inside your brain.

Yup, for many years and he isn't alone with the quarters of have taken with some of these guys. 

[Cheeks]

What month did we beat Louisville, Kansas St, Buffalo and Wisconsin?

What month were we destroyed by Murray St?

When did we beat Georgetown on the road without our 2nd team All American Big East POY? When did we lose to them on our home court at full strength?

This really isn't all that complicated.

Interesting...so Virginia winning the ACC tournament and a few days later losing to a 16 seed would explain what....using your logic?

The game we won at Georgetown....was that the mythological game in which you claimed the Hoyas pressured Sam...that one?

[Cheeks]

Different personnel, sure. That's part of it.

But when you set up defense to stop a superstar, if you're smart (FSU was, we weren't) the goal is to take away what he does best. Ja Morant is a very good scorer and an elite, out of this world passer. Florida St. made him a scorer and took away his less talented teammates with honest, in your face defense.

Part of it....yeah....the biggest part of it.

[Cheeks]

Are you saying...Hilltoppers is Chico's?

Damn....years of hard work finally uncovered

[wadesworld]

Murray vs MU: Morant with 16 of the 23 assists, MS wins by 19 w/MS 9-18 3point shooting.
Murray vs. FSU: Morant with 4 of 7 assists, FSU wins by 28 w/MS 7-18 3 point shooting.

A whopping 47 point turn around! Pretty sure Coach Leonard "Carrot" Hamilton had the more sound defensive game plan of MS's 2 opponents. .

I believe the announcers in Connecticut were the same in both games. The woman announcer made an interesting observation on the defensive game plan. I do not recall her exact words but this was pretty close: " Notice how FSU doesn't overcommit on defense." And then the zinger: You DON"T see 5 guys collapsing on Morant!"

It's almost like MU and FSU different personnel!

But yeah. We should've had Joey Hauser tasked with the same things as a guy like Mann or Kabangale (no idea how to spell that). That would've worked even better!

[Scoop Snoop]

FSU had different personnel. 

You seem to be quite familiar with beer league softball; unfortunately, in the NCAA tournament, you're not allowed to take guys from the other game and use them on yours. 

Ok. Different personnel. Different coach. Different defensive game plan. FSU's worked. MU's did not. We got blown out. They blew out Murray State. Lenny was ignorant in stating "bad defense". It simply did not work. Got it!