Can we get into a trifecta rhythm?

[MuggsyB]

Somewhat lost in how excellent this team has been offensively is that we're middle of the road in 3pt shooting and don't get to the line at an elite level.  This is the main reason why I don't think we've peaked or reached our ceiling to this point.  Let me be clear:  if Marquette breaks out from distance, we become an absolute nightmare for our opponents in the tournament. 

Here's the News:  MU has looked much better defensively over the past few weeks.  Flying around, causing pain and consternation, picking pockets, and securing defensive rebs.  We have a few guys off a bit in their offensive games but the shots are open and there's plenty of time to get back into a rhythm and flow. If we can make it rain from downtown?  Look out.  I'll just leave it at that.  It's time to seize this opportunity, get our spurtability back on track, and play with zero mercy or hesitation to close the reg season. 

[DoctorV]

Yes Muggsy, good points.

We haven't talked much about the defense of late, but it has been swarming.
Many mentioned when the ranking was lower that Marquette is a much better team defensively than we had seen, and that's accurate.

That side of the ball will be predicated completely on rebounding the ball when push comes to shove in elimination games.
Marquette will face a bigger/bulkier/stronger team that rebounds better than them. Extra efforts, swarming D, deflections, and securing the glass to keep on par with the opponent will make the difference.

However, if the 3s start to fall and Marquette can hit 10+ they have a lot more wiggle room on the defensive side. The 2P offense is elite, get some jumpers to fall and Marquette will be very hard to beat

[The Sultan]

Outside of catching lightning in a bottle, I'm not sure at this point how much we can count being a better three point team. We are getting good looks, but defenses are letting our non-shooters shoot. That's not something that we can count on improving frankly.

Our offensive explosion against Creighton was caused by deflections, tempo and getting the ball into the lane.  That's what we can count on more than us raining down from 3.

[The Sultan]

Oh it seems like we are rebounding better as well.

[Scoop Snoop]

Outside of catching lightning in a bottle, I'm not sure at this point how much we can count being a better three point team. We are getting good looks, but defenses are letting our non-shooters shoot. That's not something that we can count on improving frankly.

Our offensive explosion against Creighton was caused by deflections, tempo and getting the ball into the lane.  That's what we can count on more than us raining down from 3.

Bolded is an extension of "live by the three, die by the three". Three point shooting's importance is that it is a threat if our opponent focuses too much on clogging the paint. We can usually rely upon solid defense, Koek's passing, and the resulting points in the paint.

[MuggsyB]

Bolded is an extension of "live by the three, die by the three". Three point shooting's importance is that it is a threat if our opponent focuses too much on clogging the paint. We can usually rely upon solid defense, Koek's passing, and the resulting points in the paint.

That is correct Scoop Snoop.  Once "the sag" is exploited, by draining a few J's, the floodgates will open.  We're talking about a maelstrom that would very likely drown our opponents or force them to beg for oxygen.  Here's what I see, and Dr.V. makes an excellent point, our margin for error increases exponentially once the 3-Ball goes down.  We don't need 5 Steph Curry's on the floor but just enough firepower to loosen the D like a sieve.

Now, what threes would you take vs the"clogging defense" and can we sprinkle in a few floaters and 6-10 footers?   I will leave that to the Scoop experts but personally I knew we would have a great shot of beating Creighton once Oso got aggressive, took some 7 footers with confidence, and looked to score the basketball in open space. 

[Scoop Snoop]

That is correct Scoop Snoop.  Once "the sag" is exploited, by draining a few J's, the floodgates will open.  We're talking about a maelstrom that would very likely drown our opponents or force them to beg for oxygen.  Here's what I see, and Dr.V. makes an excellent point, our margin for error increases exponentially once the 3-Ball goes down.  We don't need 5 Steph Curry's on the floor but just enough firepower to loosen the D like a sieve.

Now, what threes would you take vs the"clogging defense" and can we sprinkle in a few floaters and 6-10 footers?   I will leave that to the Scoop experts but personally I knew we would have a great shot of beating Creighton once Oso got aggressive, took some 7 footers with confidence, and looked to score the basketball in open space.

I'd like to see us having decent short and mid-range jumpers in our arsenal, but keep in mind that they have been proven (or so I am told by bball gurus)to have- using a business investment metaphor- a poor ROI. They would need to be attempted only on an "as needed" basis. Not a good strategy if overused.

[cheebs09]

Oh it seems like we are rebounding better as well.

I feel Kolek has been a big help there. He seems to really be mixing it up on the boards. When he's able to get the rebound, he can get it and go or make a long pass up the court.

[DoctorV]

Oso was a changed man in that second half compared to the first.
Glad he stayed confident and kept looking to attack.

One of Oso and/or Omax need to keep Marquette balanced with some interior scoring, and both need to defend and rebound at a high clip.

Offensively I just think they need to play to their strengths, getting downhill with speed/efficiency and great ball movement and finishing at or around the hoop until the opposing team can stop them.
A few made 3s early in a game will just make that much easier.

I'm really looking forward to game 1 in the NCAA tourney for a lot of reasons, but one of the main ones is that Marquette gets to play a team outside the BE after 20+ games of conference ball.
You don't want to assume this will be the case, but I think a team that hasn't seen Marquette and studied them the way other BE squads have will have a nightmare of a time stopping them.

The spacing and the flow is elite when that offense is flowing, and a 2-3pt game can get to 15 in no time.
Of course we've seen that it can get back down to 0 in no time as well, and that needs to be worked on.

In those moments of drought TyKo becomes even more massive- I mentioned this in the game thread against Creighton.
He has the ball in his hands so much and he's becoming a much better scorer that I think those are the moments when he needs to step up and drain a 3 right when the defense doesn't expect it. It really opens things up and is a game changer

[Daniel]

Well, we shoot like 33,5% from three for the year, right?   That is not bad but not elite.  Seems like we are not going to be raining threes in a regular basis.  We do get open looks which shows the offense is moving the ball to open shooters which is great.   We miss a lot of those. 

If we were at 40% that would be great.  We may have a game or two like that which would be super.   We have had good 3 point shooting games.    But our average is our average.   Just hope we can get a few more great 3 point shooting games in.   

[Jay Bee]

Well, we shoot like 33,5% from three for the year, right?   That is not bad but not elite.  Seems like we are not going to be raining threes in a regular basis.  We do get open looks which shows the offense is moving the ball to open shooters which is great.   We miss a lot of those. 

If we were at 40% that would be great.  We may have a game or two like that which would be super.   We have had good 3 point shooting games.    But our average is our average.   Just hope we can get a few more great 3 point shooting games in.

No. We're at 35.1%. National avg is 34.0%. BEast avg is 34.3%.

[tower912]

Muggsy, I understand what you are saying.     It isn't likely to change much at this point.    MU is an average 3 pt shooting team.   MU is an exceptional two point shooting team.     

[Scoop Snoop]

Muggsy, I understand what you are saying.     It isn't likely to change much at this point.    MU is an average 3 pt shooting team.   MU is an exceptional two point shooting team.   

Your thoughts on Muggy's hope for a short to midrange shot in our arsenal? I already made my comments and look forward to yours.

[MuggsyB]

Muggsy, I understand what you are saying.     It isn't likely to change much at this point.    MU is an average 3 pt shooting team.   MU is an exceptional two point shooting team.   

And I understand what you're saying but we do have guys that can knock them down.  I'm wonder if we should practice the walk-in triple.a bit?  I think Jop could get hot again as well as OMax.   TyKo has burned some teams with that shot. 

[Coleman]

3 pt shooting is streaky. If Kam or Jop is on fire, we are scary. But this is not dependable night in and night out.

[tower912]

I trust the coaching philosophy.  And it if it ain't broke, don't fix it.    Having said that, having the ability to hit a pull up is a useful skill.

Muggsy, you repeatedly reference the 'walk in triple'.    Who, on this team, that you would want to take that shot, isn't?   

MU shot 5/18 from 3 and 23/40 from 2 against Creighton.    The 3's that were shot against Creighton were generally in rhythm.   Do you think they should have shot more?    Why?     Do you honestly think that MU doesn't take enough open 3's?     When they are so good at getting to the rim?    I am not seeing the logic. 

[Shooter McGavin]

Agree Muggsy.  This team had a lull for a few games and won anyway.  The last two games against tougher competition demonstrated more confidence and movement on the offensive end.  They still aren't fully clicking with three point shooting but their overall offense is showing signs of life.  When confidence in their three point shooting returns, look out.  Could be a great run.  Instead of a February fade, they seem to be ramping up for a great finish to the season. 

[Galway Eagle]

I'd rather feed Omax a ton till he gets his touch balance back in the next three games.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

We're shooting 35.1% from 3 on the season, 35.6% in conference play. We have 8 guys hitting 29.7% or better on the season, and those same 8 guys are all shooting 33.3% or better in conference play (6 of them are hitting 35.8% or better). We're a good 3P shooting team.

[MuggsyB]

I trust the coaching philosophy.  And it if it ain't broke, don't fix it.    Having said that, having the ability to hit a pull up is a useful skill.

Muggsy, you repeatedly reference the 'walk in triple'.    Who, on this team, that you would want to take that shot, isn't?   

MU shot 5/18 from 3 and 23/40 from 2 against Creighton.    The 3's that were shot against Creighton were generally in rhythm.   Do you think they should have shot more?    Why?     Do you honestly think that MU doesn't take enough open 3's?     When they are so good at getting to the rim?    I am not seeing the logic.

It's a fair question Tower.  And let me be clear that I don't think it should be a major part at all in our arsenal.   I'm more or less thinking about options vs "the sag" and when specifically to launch.

Jones the Elder and Joplin won't face that coverage.  As far as the rest of our playing roster (other than Oso) that's a shot all of them are more than capable of draining. I really think it's about balance, patience, and when to let it fly.  OMax in particular is off balance and dealing with defenders that are daring him to shoot.  I truly believe if 2-3 times a game he slows down, and simply rises and fires, he can get pretty high percentage threes and 12 footers. Personally I think we should take a few more mid-range floaters and shots vs h-c defenses.  I get the analytics but we won Tuesday with several Oso 6-8 footers and a MASSIVE floater by TyKo. 

[Pepe Sylvia]

It's a fair question Tower.  And let me be clear that I don't think it should be a major part at all in our arsenal.   I'm more or less thinking about options vs "the sag" and when specifically to launch.

Jones the Elder and Joplin won't face that coverage.  As far as the rest of our playing roster (other than Oso) that's a shot all of them are more than capable of draining. I really think it's about balance, patience, and when to let it fly.  OMax in particular is off balance and dealing with defenders that are daring him to shoot.  I truly believe if 2-3 times a game he slows down, and simply rises and fires, he can get pretty high percentage threes and 12 footers. Personally I think we should take a few more mid-range floaters and shots vs h-c defenses.  I get the analytics but we won Tuesday with several Oso 6-8 footers and a MASSIVE floater by TyKo.

If they're already doing it, what do you want to change? I don't want them doing more of that instead of layups or 3s or lobs/dunks. I think the offense is, uh, doing very well. Could shoot the 3 a little better but whatever.

[WarriorFan]

I think one of the features of the BEAST - due to playing every team twice - is that the opposition seriously scouts and takes away things the 2nd time around.  Against MU, teams are running Kam and Jop off the 3 point line... doing everything they can to take it away from those two. Omax and Stevie not so much... most teams are letting them shoot it. As a result, Kam and Jop are taking less 3's and making less 3's (against the good teams, Gtown and Depaul don't count).

One of them should heat up against one of the bottom teams MU plays in the rest of the regular season... but the real next opportunity for a barrage of 3's is in the tournament against a team that MU hasn't played before - because they are likely to look at the stats and focus on Kolek, Oso and Omax.

[Jockey]

I'd like to see us having decent short and mid-range jumpers in our arsenal, but keep in mind that they have been proven (or so I am told by bball gurus)to have- using a business investment metaphor- a poor ROI. They would need to be attempted only on an "as needed" basis. Not a good strategy if overused.

Teams should never run an offense to get mid-range jumpers. Yet it can be an important weapon in a team's arsenal. When plays break down late in the shot clock, it becomes extremely important rather than throwing up prayers at the hoop.

[BM1090]

Oh it seems like we are rebounding better as well.

We are definitely rebounding better. We've had a better OR% than our opponent in 5 of the past 7 games. At UConn was terrible. The Butler game we rebounded well on the defensive end but couldn't grab any of our own misses.

The other five games have been legitimately solid to great.

[MuggsyB]

If they're already doing it, what do you want to change? I don't want them doing more of that instead of layups or 3s or lobs/dunks. I think the offense is, uh, doing very well. Could shoot the 3 a little better but whatever.

I'm nitpicking Pepe.  I'm just curious how we get things cooking again and firing on all cylinders.