Mach-E (Rad-Ford) de Sade

[MU82]

Believe we swung and missed on a couple.  Another big body would have been helpful for this team this year.  However, Shaka's overriding strategy and theme are to invest in the players in the program and give them the opportunity to develop/get additional playing time. His style of wanting to play fast isn't very conducive to brining in a bulky big, however.

Our backup 5 didn't need to be a "bulky big." With the right skill set, a body type similar to Oso or Kuath would have worked. Even a Jayce Johnson or Matt Heldt type to alter a few shots, grab a few boards and commit a few fouls would have been fine.

With all those transfers out there, I'm surprised (and a little disappointed) that Shaka didn't get one. We'll be holding our breath on Oso's foul situation all season.

It's OK to be super happy that Shaka is our coach, and to praise him for his good work, but still wish he had brought in some more of what we needed.

[MuggsyB]

Our backup 5 didn't need to be a "bulky big." With the right skill set, a body type similar to Oso or Kuath would have worked. Even a Jayce Johnson or Matt Heldt type to alter a few shots, grab a few boards and commit a few fouls would have been fine.

With all those transfers out there, I'm surprised (and a little disappointed) that Shaka didn't get one. We'll be holding our breath on Oso's foul situation all season.

It's OK to be super happy that Shaka is our coach, and to praise him for his good work, but still wish he had brought in some more of what we needed.

I think we have to wait and see what Zach brings to the table.  He's a little smaller and lighter than I hoped but clearly Shaka likes him.  Let's just see how he plays after s few more games. 

[MUfan12]

I thought there was more good than bad tonight. Radford hit some tough-ass shots, and MU missed bunnies and open threes. Still, it was a few really bad minutes from being a 25 pt win.

Gotta have more from Jop. And Wrightsil was surprisingly shook. Hopefully it was first night jitters for him.

[MU82]

I think we have to wait and see what Zach brings to the table.  He's a little smaller and lighter than I hoped but clearly Shaka likes him.  Let's just see how he plays after s few more games.

Fair enough. Based on what Shaka had said just a few days ago about Wrightsil, he was about what I expected in Game 1. Could be several weeks before he's ready to contribute much. We'll see.

I thought there was more good than bad tonight. Radford hit some tough-ass shots, and MU missed bunnies and open threes. Still, it was a few really bad minutes from being a 25 pt win.

Gotta have more from Jop. And Wrightsil was surprisingly shook. Hopefully it was first night jitters for him.

Agree about Joplin. Re Wrightsil, see above.

[MuggsyB]

Fair enough. Based on what Shaka had said just a few days ago about Wrightsil, he was about what I expected in Game 1. Could be several weeks before he's ready to contribute much. We'll see.

Agree about Joplin. Re Wrightsil, see above.

We desperately need both of these guys to contribute.  I don't see our other 5's doing a whole lot this season.  Essentially Shaka chose ZW to help mitigate the loss of JLew.  No one expects him to be a 1st team BEast guy but he can't be a complete non factor.  I fully expect Jop will be better than we saw tonight.  It nothing else Wrightsil has to rebound and defend.  If he's simply not BEast caliber it would be a monumental disappointment.   

[MUfan12]

It nothing else Wrightsil has to rebound and defend.

He didn't get back after OMax hit a three, and gave up a layup. Immediately got hooked and sat the last 14 minutes.

Lots of lessons to be learned for a few guys tonight. I know with the NET margin carries weight, but they might learn more from tonight than a blowout.

[Shooter McGavin]

I thought there was more good than bad tonight. Radford hit some tough-ass shots, and MU missed bunnies and open threes. Still, it was a few really bad minutes from being a 25 pt win.

Gotta have more from Jop. And Wrightsil was surprisingly shook. Hopefully it was first night jitters for him.

I agree.  I'm not down on this team at all after that game.  There were a lot of positives.  I worry about the front court depth like everyone else though that will be the Achilles heal this season. 

[BCHoopster]

And next year unless he gets enough kids to leave to get a big.  Is idea of recruiting skinny bigs will not work in the Big East!

[Shooter McGavin]

And next year unless he gets enough kids to leave to get a big.  Is idea of recruiting skinny bigs will not work in the Big East!

It will be interesting to see Itijere's development over the course of this season. He may test Shaka's loyalty.   

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I actually though Ben played well in his few minutes. He certainly defended a lot better than I expected him to and liked his fight to force the jumpball. That attitude will earn him minutes.

Kam looked really good to start the game than it looked like he tweaked something in his back and it held him back the rest of the game

Kolek was overlooking to pass, needed him to call his own number a few more times but some of those dimes were pretty

Sean got a little too excited in his first game, will also need to get better at working around screens, they were coming after him defensively.

The defense was very good. I sweat that 40 of their points were long contested twos. Felt like we really didn't give up any easy buckets in the half court. I am concerned about our transition defense. We don't have a good back line of defenders to erase our mistakes and there were multiple times that we didn't stop the ball in the transition, leading to an attempt at the rim.

Offensively, the major concern is the turnovers. Can't give up 18 to Radford and expect to win. Hoping that is just first game rust that will be shaken off. Sean Jones by himself had four turns.

Ultimately, this was a 21 point blowout with under 6 minutes left. Team lost focus and took their foot off the gas too early. Shaka needs to correct that.

[Herman Cain]

Game one and the team got a win. Winning is a good thing . Coaching staff will use the film to make corrections  and move on to Game  Two.

[Warrior of Law]

There was a lot of positive moments, but the turnovers were an issue.  Radford was not a bad team. They hit some tough shots, kept fighting, and had some nice moments, too.

[MU82]

I actually though Ben played well in his few minutes. He certainly defended a lot better than I expected him to and liked his fight to force the jumpball. That attitude will earn him minutes.

Kam looked really good to start the game than it looked like he tweaked something in his back and it held him back the rest of the game

Kolek was overlooking to pass, needed him to call his own number a few more times but some of those dimes were pretty

Sean got a little too excited in his first game, will also need to get better at working around screens, they were coming after him defensively.

The defense was very good. I sweat that 40 of their points were long contested twos. Felt like we really didn't give up any easy buckets in the half court. I am concerned about our transition defense. We don't have a good back line of defenders to erase our mistakes and there were multiple times that we didn't stop the ball in the transition, leading to an attempt at the rim.

Offensively, the major concern is the turnovers. Can't give up 18 to Radford and expect to win. Hoping that is just first game rust that will be shaken off. Sean Jones by himself had four turns.

Ultimately, this was a 21 point blowout with under 6 minutes left. Team lost focus and took their foot off the gas too early. Shaka needs to correct that.

Some great points, Wiz.

What do you mean by, "I sweat that 40 of their points were long contested twos"?

Re Kolek, there were 2 times I remember talking to the TV screen saying, "You gotta shoot that." And when he took the quick 3 after an offensive rebound with a full shot clock and about 3-4 minutes left, I said: "No, don't shoot that." Played a really good floor game until he followed his teammates' lead and made two bad passes near the end. He was really good on D, too, especially during our run.

I hope Kam's OK. Backs are tricky things.

[Newsdreams]

There was a lot of positive moments, but the turnovers were continue to be an issue.  Radford was not a bad team. They hit some tough shots, kept fighting, and had some nice moments, too.

FIFY

[NCMUFan]

Just glad they won.
Improve and move on.

[Newsdreams]

Just glad they won.
Improve and move on.

Unacceptable COLE statement 

[muwarrior69]

I thought there was more good than bad tonight. Radford hit some tough-ass shots, and MU missed bunnies and open threes. Still, it was a few really bad minutes from being a 25 pt win.

Gotta have more from Jop. And Wrightsil was surprisingly shook. Hopefully it was first night jitters for him.

Why is that?

[Uncle Rico]

Why is that?

Because Marquette stinks

[The Sultan]

Remember Coach Wooden's phrase "play quick but don't hurry?" In a quest to play quick, I saw a lot of hurrying last night. Over-dribbling. Bad passing. Missed lay-ups.

Young teams do this a lot, but eventually they will figure this out.

[Newsdreams]

Because Marquette stinks

We won't beat Depaul.

[The Sultan]

18 turnovers, 45.8% FG% and 26% from three, getting beat again in transition points say differently.

You do realize they played two closed door exhibitions right?

[MU82]

To the folks who are certain that a 97-48 public exhibition win over the Sisters of the Poor would have been better than closed scrimmages against good D1 teams ...

How do you know that if we walloped the Sisters of the Poor at Fiserv instead of scrapping against Mizzou for a couple hours, we wouldn't have lost yesterday due to lack of having been tested against good competition?

To point at last night's sloppy play and say, "Because no exhibitions" ... well, my freshman Logic prof might have taken issue with that.

Now, maybe there's a way we could have done both closed scrimmages and a public exhibition, and sure, that might have worked best of all. I don't know if that would have been possible or not.

[muwarrior69]

This astounding logic is popped the moment I point to those coaches putting us 9th last year as well.

Well we played like the 9th placed team at the end of last season. Perhaps making the NCAA and winning one or two is the best we can hope for.

[Goose]

To be fair, I did not see much of the game, but what I did see was an improvement over opening night is last year. I think the returning guys improved, were more poised and it looked like a group that has played together before. Like TAMU, I really liked our D, but have the same concerns he noted. Overall, from what I saw, a decent opening night.

I noted after the practice that I liked Ross quite a bit and think he will get minutes this year, maybe more than I thought even a couple of weeks ago. As for Joplin, I am not going to get too worried over his performance last night. The real silver lining to me, we have a lot of guys that can step in and get minutes when needed.

[pbiflyer]

Game one and the team got a win. Winning is a good thing . Coaching staff will use the film to make corrections  and move on to Game  Two.

Pretty sure sane rational posts like this are against the TOS of scoop!