You're the coach

[tower912]

Make the changes, based on what you have seen out of the team so far this year.    Possible options, IMO...

1. Start Jayce.    Theo's hand is impacting him on both ends of the floor and he is getting called for the most ridiculous non fouls imaginable.    Change the calculus by bringing him off the bench.   
2.  Start Greg over Koby.    Koby is living too much in his own head right now.    Bring him off the bench, remove the pressure from him.   
3.  Jamal for Sacar.    Just the opposite of Koby.    Piss Sacar off and let him come in angry and looking to attack.     He has been reluctant to finish through contact and is getting pushed around on the defensive boards.   Let him take his fury out on an opponent.   
4.   Burpees in practice for every time there is an open lane and the basket is not attacked.   
5.   I do not yet believe that Symir is the answer at the point.    His freshman-ness was exposed against SH.    Patience.   
6.  Start using Bailey as the screener.    He is so close to taking off and taking over.   
7.   Consider two bigs against physical teams.    I feel the Providence game was lost on the defensive boards, by a more physical team pushing MU around.    Push back.   Use Ed at the 4 instead of the 5.   Because Cooley was waiting for Ed to come in at the 5 and started feeding the post incessantly until Ed came out. 

I don't know what would work.    Maybe none.   But, if you were coaching the team, what say you?

[wadesworld]

Put Markus on the ball and keep Markus on the ball.  He gets beat up even more off the ball than he does and he's not particularly good at getting himself free while off the ball.  Our best game was against Villanova and we came out with Markus on the ball.  It set an aggressive tone immediately, and Koby even had a great game.

Agreed on making Bailey the screener, though not all the time.  If the opponent is willing to go straight switch on the ball with Markus rather than hedge and recover, have the bigs be the screeners and let Markus attack that mismatch all day.

[Jay Bee]

pray

[CTWarrior]

For stretches of the game dump the three headed C and play Cain at the 5 and run, run, run.  Run the boring old weave from 2016-17, get the match ups you want and drive and dish.  Pressure full court after makes and use the bench a little more to give breathers.  Switch defenses regularly in the half court.  Paint touches are a thing for good reason.  Much better shooting percentage when the ball comes out from the interior than from perimeter passes. 

[Jockey]

Make the changes, based on what you have seen out of the team so far this year.    Possible options, IMO...

 
7.   Consider two bigs against physical teams.    I feel the Providence game was lost on the defensive boards, by a more physical team pushing MU around.    Push back.   Use Ed at the 4 instead of the 5.   Because Cooley was waiting for Ed to come in at the 5 and started feeding the post incessantly until Ed came out. 

I don't think you can have 2 guys who can barely sniff 50% on layups on the floor together unless you plan on 40 shots a game for Howard.

I do like the Elliot for Koby move until Koby gets straightened out - if he does.

[tower912]

I don't think you can have 2 guys who can barely sniff 50% on layups on the floor together unless you plan on 40 shots for Howard.

I do like the Elliot for Koby move until Koby gets straightened out - if he does.

At least there would be two offensive rebounders.   

I agree that the lack of production from the MU bigs is a compelling reason to not play two of them together.    However, getting pushed around under the boards, particularly late, directly contributed to a close home loss.   

[skianth16]

One thing I've noticed this year vs. prior years is how consistent our starting 5 has been. I like the idea of changing it up to keep guys competing for a top spot. Wojo has mentioned in the past that a starting spot was a reward for working hard in practice, so I could see how having a locked in starting 5 might result in some sleepwalking at times. I'd keep the 5 spot up for grabs every game.

[CountryRoads]

I don't think you can have 2 guys who can barely sniff 50% on layups on the floor together unless you plan on 40 shots a game for Howard.

I do like the Elliot for Koby move until Koby gets straightened out - if he does.

Markus and Koby don’t seem to have the best chemistry playing together. I’ve noticed this probably a dozen times this year where they are not on the same page and one gets visibly frustrated at the other. Seems to be an elephant in the room that needs to be addressed. 

[skianth16]

For stretches of the game dump the three headed C and play Cain at the 5 and run, run, run.  Run the boring old weave from 2016-17, get the match ups you want and drive and dish.  Pressure full court after makes and use the bench a little more to give breathers.  Switch defenses regularly in the half court.  Paint touches are a thing for good reason.  Much better shooting percentage when the ball comes out from the interior than from perimeter passes.

I like this. Personally, I'd like to try Brendan at the 5 instead of Cain, but the idea remains the same. We talked a lot this past summer about how much more athletic this year's team is than last year's, and while that has helped us on the defensive end, we haven't felt the same benefits on offense. I would love to see this team push the ball in transition more often. Go get some easy baskets in the fast break.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

pray

Yeah this is pretty much where I am.  I just don't see Wojo changing his basic approach.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

For stretches of the game dump the three headed C and play Cain at the 5 and run, run, run.  Run the boring old weave from 2016-17, get the match ups you want and drive and dish.  Pressure full court after makes and use the bench a little more to give breathers.  Switch defenses regularly in the half court.  Paint touches are a thing for good reason.  Much better shooting percentage when the ball comes out from the interior than from perimeter passes. 

I like this idea.  You can even hide Cain on defense by packing in a zone against a poor shooting team.

[brewcity77]

I like Greg for Koby & Jamal for Sacar. Starting Jayce also seems worth a shot. I would also...

1) Slow the pace. We have shooters, and the fewer possessions we play, the more valuable threes become. Hopefully a more deliberate pace would also help with turnovers by playing under control.

2) Keep the bigs home. We've been killed on back door cuts and teams just driving by our guys into an empty lane. Keep the bigs in the lane so the defenders can funnel drivers into them. Sam excelled at this despite not having the foot speed. If these guys can't stay in front of their guy, keep the help big in the middle.

3) Feed Bailey. He's the closest thing to a second option I trust. Yes, he was bad at SHU, but he's the best mismatch option and has been more consistent than Koby or Sacar.

[CTWarrior]

I like this. Personally, I'd like to try Brendan at the 5 instead of Cain, but the idea remains the same. We talked a lot this past summer about how much more athletic this year's team is than last year's, and while that has helped us on the defensive end, we haven't felt the same benefits on offense. I would love to see this team push the ball in transition more often. Go get some easy baskets in the fast break.

Yeah it wasn't so much put Cain at the 5 as it was replace whoever is the C with Cain instead of one of the other Cs.  Which guy actually plays the 5 on D is not as relevant.

[Markusquette]

No to putting Cain in the starting lineup. He's already regressed upon conference play starting. I'd rather have Anim in from the tip. I'm fine with Greg for Koby and even Jayce as the starting 5. Although I do not see either change being made. I think MU needs more of the athletic guys cutting and getting to the hoop off ball. Bailey, Anim, Cain and even Koby. Teams feed off of dunks and assists. Even a few more oops or passes inside will help the outside game too.

I'd like to see if we can get Jayce some touches really deep in the paint vs. teams that are smaller. Yes I know he missed a bunny the other game but he's sadly the most capable in the low post so far.

[tower912]

I see no center as a recipe to get massacred on the boards in conference.   If the H's had stayed, I would have advocated for stretches of two Hausers and a Bailey up front.   Alas, that letter was sent.   
I don't see a lineup with Bailey or Cain as the de facto big as being able to keep up on the boards.

[4everwarriors]

pray

And keep hope alive, aina?

[WhoaJoe2020]

Well.....Marquette has beaten Villanova and took an 11 point lead on the road at Seton Hall.
Providence was bigger and more physical at every position and Marquette still should have won that game.
Creighton was the first conference game, and on the road. It didn't help that Koby got hurt right before that game. I'm not sure when Theo hurt his wrist, but I think it was a problem as early as the CU game. Regardless, Marquette cut the lead to six at one point in the second half so something was being done to adjust.

I agree with some on this site who believe personnel choices aren't the problem.....Its the personnel themselves. The Hausers production from mid season last year hasn't been replicated by any combination of players. That's not to say some combination still couldn't.

I believe that combination is still going to be Markus, a more assertive Sacar and Brendan, a more confident and assertive Koby, and Theo adjusting to his wrist and avoiding phantom foul calls.

As far as the other guys go......
Greg is injured....again.....
Markus-centric basketball seems to have stunted Jamals development.
Ed and Jayce will continue to be who they are. Defense, rebounds, and foul sponges.
Symir will continue to get more run as the season progresses and his grasp of the defense improves.

I guess what I'm saying is.........

We already have a coach.

[f/k/a humanlung]

Make the changes, based on what you have seen out of the team so far this year.    Possible options, IMO...

1. Start Jayce.    Theo's hand is impacting him on both ends of the floor and he is getting called for the most ridiculous non fouls imaginable.    Change the calculus by bringing him off the bench.   
2.  Start Greg over Koby.    Koby is living too much in his own head right now.    Bring him off the bench, remove the pressure from him.   
3.  Jamal for Sacar.    Just the opposite of Koby.    Piss Sacar off and let him come in angry and looking to attack.     He has been reluctant to finish through contact and is getting pushed around on the defensive boards.   Let him take his fury out on an opponent.   
4.   Burpees in practice for every time there is an open lane and the basket is not attacked.   
5.   I do not yet believe that Symir is the answer at the point.    His freshman-ness was exposed against SH.    Patience.   
6.  Start using Bailey as the screener.    He is so close to taking off and taking over.   
7.   Consider two bigs against physical teams.    I feel the Providence game was lost on the defensive boards, by a more physical team pushing MU around.    Push back.   Use Ed at the 4 instead of the 5.   Because Cooley was waiting for Ed to come in at the 5 and started feeding the post incessantly until Ed came out. 

I don't know what would work.    Maybe none.   But, if you were coaching the team, what say you?

Tower, great post but the reality of the situation is no one on this board (I hope...) has the insight into the individual players that would allow us to have a real informed opinion.

Each of these young men has a different psyche, different buttons to push and different skills sets that can be maximized.  In my opinion, it is clear that the current staff is trying to force the team into a system that looks like it does not maximize the potential of the team.

If I were coach, I would stop trying to force a system onto the team.  I would try to find systems that would get the most out of the parts that make up the team.

A squishy answer, I know, but the best coaches make adjustments to fit personnel and I think we could use some of that.

[tower912]

So, Bo could go zone and up tempo, Bennett could press, and Boeheim would go man if the players dictated it?

[JakeBarnes]

I like Greg for Koby & Jamal for Sacar. Starting Jayce also seems worth a shot. I would also...

1) Slow the pace. We have shooters, and the fewer possessions we play, the more valuable threes become. Hopefully a more deliberate pace would also help with turnovers by playing under control.

2) Keep the bigs home. We've been killed on back door cuts and teams just driving by our guys into an empty lane. Keep the bigs in the lane so the defenders can funnel drivers into them. Sam excelled at this despite not having the foot speed. If these guys can't stay in front of their guy, keep the help big in the middle.

3) Feed Bailey. He's the closest thing to a second option I trust. Yes, he was bad at SHU, but he's the best mismatch option and has been more consistent than Koby or Sacar.

I totally get where this is coming from. That said, I feel like when we slow it down, the offense also goes stagnant (or it may be my confirmation bias). When the ball is moving crisply and they are looking for shots rather than waiting, the shot selection is better and more guys are aggressive.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Make the changes, based on what you have seen out of the team so far this year.    Possible options, IMO...

1. Start Jayce.    Theo's hand is impacting him on both ends of the floor and he is getting called for the most ridiculous non fouls imaginable.    Change the calculus by bringing him off the bench.   
2.  Start Greg over Koby.    Koby is living too much in his own head right now.    Bring him off the bench, remove the pressure from him.   
3.  Jamal for Sacar.    Just the opposite of Koby.    Piss Sacar off and let him come in angry and looking to attack.     He has been reluctant to finish through contact and is getting pushed around on the defensive boards.   Let him take his fury out on an opponent.   
4.   Burpees in practice for every time there is an open lane and the basket is not attacked.   
5.   I do not yet believe that Symir is the answer at the point.    His freshman-ness was exposed against SH.    Patience.   
6.  Start using Bailey as the screener.    He is so close to taking off and taking over.   
7.   Consider two bigs against physical teams.    I feel the Providence game was lost on the defensive boards, by a more physical team pushing MU around.    Push back.   Use Ed at the 4 instead of the 5.   Because Cooley was waiting for Ed to come in at the 5 and started feeding the post incessantly until Ed came out. 

I don't know what would work.    Maybe none.   But, if you were coaching the team, what say you?

We need some interior offensive production in the worst way so need to find a way to get some easy buckets to get confidence up or at the very least pick up some fouls on opposing teams' bigs. 

Run p&r but with Sacar/Koby/Greg/Symir as the ball handler and actually try to feed the big rolling to the basket.  For whatever reason, Markus just can't/won't make that play even though it is wide open multiple times per game, perhaps because the other team is so focused on crowding him with the big to prevent the 3.  Pick and roll action works, let's change the personnel and see if we can't generate some offensive activity going towards the basket. 

[Elonsmusk]

Symir at PG
Markus at SG
Sacar at 3
Bailey at 4
Theo at 5

Koby/Greg serve as sub for any of Markus, Symir, Sacar.

Cain serves as sub for either Bailey or Sacar.

I agree that Markus and Koby aren't very compatible together.  Symir is a true PG and he would greatly help all of Markus, Sacar, Bailey and Theo with his pass first mentality.  His defense will improve.

Wojo has NEVER allowed for a true PG to run the team, other than Traci Carter briefly.  Insanity to continue to go with a shoot first player running PG at this point.

[dgies9156]

OK gang, how many of you are in practice? How many of you see the medical detail on the injuries?

That's what I thought.

Coach knows this stuff and he knows his players better than we do. I don't claim to be a basketball coach and I don't think Coach Wojo claims to be able to do my job either.

Keep in mind we beat Villanova, Purdue, Kansas State and USC. Every player we questioned has had moments of brilliance and every "replacement" has had moments of well, yuck. Them's the breaks.

 We're early into the season with lots of room to fix what ails us. if we do, great. If we don't, then I know someone whose seat will be very warm!

[drbob]

Funny you should say that Tower, but I always thought that last year Wojo should have played Joey at the 5 along with Sam and Brendan.  Not having a scoring 5 spot really cramps the offense. If we had gotten Tillman we would be light years better.

[tower912]

Funny you should say that Tower, but I always thought that last year Wojo should have played Joey at the 5 along with Sam and Brendan.  Not having a scoring 5 spot really cramps the offense. If we had gotten Tillman we would be light years better.

I occasionally thought it last year, too, but decided that Joey wasn't strong enough to guard a five for extended periods.  A five out offense with all screeners able to spot up as well as roll would have been a fun wrinkle.