Field of 68 Offseason Grade

[Dr. Blackheart]

Scored1.12 ppp against UW and 1.06 vs Purdue……..offense wasn’t the problem in those games.

Both well below our game median. All lower possession games. The four or five out offense has weaknesses. MU needs a counter in these match ups like UCONN's roster provided.

[MuMark]

Crappy Badgers offense scored 1.16 ppp in our loss…….I guess it depends how you look at it……I blame the defense for that loss……along with unconscious shooting from Hepburn.

[MU82]

This. Izzo didn’t beat us - we beat ourselves.

Each can be true to a degree ... but although I respect Izzo (and tower), I side more with the latter.

Teams that played gap containment defenses against MU:  Purdue, Mississippi St., Wisconsin, and MSU. The 0fer versus B1G teams is telling.

The only possible conclusion is that every single coach in the Big East last season was a moron, including Hurley, McDermott, Cooley and Miller.

[Dr. Blackheart]

The only possible conclusion is that every single coach in the Big East last season was a moron, including Hurley, McDermott, Cooley and Miller.

Says the guy who ripped Shaka for his Texas entirety for the same thing.

At some point you need to rebound and hit mid range shots. Shaka ain't perfect and you called it before.

[MU82]

Says the guy who ripped Shaka for his Texas entirety for the same thing.

I absolutely remember ripping Shaka because he lost to Abilene Christian, the last stop in him going 0-for-the-NCAAT at Texas. I don't remember ripping him because he kept losing to the same Big 12 teams the same way, but maybe I did if that's what happened.

If he did keep losing to the same Big 12 teams the same way, I'd call that a shortcoming for him. Wouldn't you?

Back to the topic ... if all a team needed to do last season to contain Marquette was play gap containment defenses, if it was that obvious, why didn't at least some Big East coaches do so to try to slow down the conference's dominant offensive team?

[Dr. Blackheart]

I absolutely remember ripping Shaka because he lost to Abilene Christian, the last stop in him going 0-for-the-NCAAT at Texas. I don't remember ripping him because he kept losing to the same Big 12 teams the same way, but maybe I did if that's what happened.

If he did keep losing to the same Big 12 teams the same way, I'd call that a shortcoming for him. Wouldn't you?

Back to the topic ... if all a team needed to do last season to contain Marquette was play gap containment defenses, if it was that obvious, why didn't at least some Big East coaches do so to try to slow down the conference's dominant offensive team?

Perhaps you should check your posting history where you have a Shaka recap after every loss. Try some ginkgo.

Cooley and Hurley beat Shaka last year. And vice versa. Shaka is a great system coach. As a match up coach, TBD as he said after Izzo schooled him.

[Elonsmusk]

Perhaps you should check your posting history where you have a Shaka recap after every loss. Try some ginkgo.

Cooley and Hurley beat Shaka last year. And vice versa. Shaka is a great system coach. As a match up coach, TBD as he said after Izzo schooled him.

Izzo schooled him?  We largely beat ourselves in the MSU game.  Chase had 4 turnovers in 11 minutes of action.  Joplin had 2.  These all came in a critical stretch in the second half right after we'd gotten the lead in the game.

I don't disagree with you necessarily that some mid-range offense may add some benefit to our team, but hard to argue with the overriding philosophy of 3's and layups after we finished 7th in the country in Offensive Efficiency

[MUfan12]

Dreaded gap containment defense notwithstanding, if MU plays Purdue and Miss. State in February instead of November they win both of those games.

There were so many bad turnovers in that Michigan State game that were more or less unforced. If anything in that game the defense down the stretch needs to be scrutinized. Got cooked over and over again off the bounce.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

There were so many bad turnovers in that Michigan State game that were more or less unforced. If anything in that game the defense down the stretch needs to be scrutinized. Got cooked over and over again off the bounce.

This. 2P defense was our downfall that game.

[Uncle Rico]

This. 2P defense was our downfall that game.

Disagree strongly.  What we saw was a masterpiece by Tom Izzo.  Izzo did a brilliant job lulling Marquette to sleep by underachieving all year and “coaching” poorly throughout the season and saving himself for March.

The loss in the Big Ten Tournament opener to Ohio State was one of those coaching moments that makes him the legend he is.  Losing that game and saving his brilliant schemes for the big dance was some of the savviest coaching you’ll ever see.

What Shaka learned that fateful day was, Izzo is March, and you can’t outfox a coach playing the long game.

Some might point out Izzo got outcoached in the next game when they lost to K-State, but I disagree.  Izzo is March didn’t get out coached, he lost because of social media, the only thing that can stop his brilliant tactics

[MU82]

Perhaps you should check your posting history where you have a Shaka recap after every loss.

If you can show that I had a Shaka recap after every loss, I'll donate $1,000 to your favorite charity. If you can't, you donate $1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters for me, OK?

You actually don't have to lose that bet unless you want to; BBBS would appreciate it. I know you were just going for mega-hyperbole, as that's what we do sometimes on Scoop. I did occasionally poke fun at the notion of Mrs. Smart not wanting to move to Milwaukee in 2014. I'm glad she apparently changed her mind 7 years later, and I'm thrilled that Shaka is our coach.

Cooley and Hurley beat Shaka last year. And vice versa. Shaka is a great system coach. As a match up coach, TBD as he said after Izzo schooled him.

I seriously missed Shaka saying Izzo schooled him, Doc, but maybe he did. I know a few Scoopers have said it.

[barfolomew]

Relationships.
Growth.
Victory.

and

Mind the Gap.

[Goose]

First, I think Izzo may have outcoached Shaka last year and I think the team panicked a bit when they had a chance to take control of the game. Some very poor unforced turnovers cost them when they had a chance to get a decent lead.

Secondly, I more optimistic about the season the closer it gets. Like all schools, health is going to be a big part of any success next season. They will have a very deep team and think we will see an even faster version of last year's team. If healthy, S16 should be the lowest bar for success.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

IDK if he "outcoached" Shaka, but Izzo is a good an experienced coach who figured out how to rattle a Marquette team that was on a roll. Not the first to have to deal with that from him. It was a frustrating game.

[Goose]

Sultan,

I agree. I said may have outcoached him, but the guys getting rattled hurt more, IMO.

[tower912]

I see the two as intertwined.   Izzo showed MU something that challenged them.   TKo wasn't 100%.  Some others made uncharacteristic errors. IMO slightly more MSU defense than the moment.   
Both/and.  Not either/or.

[Uncle Rico]

I see the two as intertwined.   Izzo showed MU something that challenged them.   TKo wasn't 100%.  Some others made uncharacteristic errors. IMO slightly more MSU defense than the moment.   
Both/and.  Not either/or.

Michigan State plays physical/dirtbag ball, so I guess that challenged them

[tower912]

Yes, and?   

[Uncle Rico]

Yes, and?   

I guess that’s great coaching

[Shooter McGavin]

Disagree strongly.  What we saw was a masterpiece by Tom Izzo.  Izzo did a brilliant job lulling Marquette to sleep by underachieving all year and “coaching” poorly throughout the season and saving himself for March.

The loss in the Big Ten Tournament opener to Ohio State was one of those coaching moments that makes him the legend he is.  Losing that game and saving his brilliant schemes for the big dance was some of the savviest coaching you’ll ever see.

What Shaka learned that fateful day was, Izzo is March, and you can’t outfox a coach playing the long game.

Some might point out Izzo got outcoached in the next game when they lost to K-State, but I disagree.  Izzo is March didn’t get out coached, he lost because of social media, the only thing that can stop his brilliant tactics

Perfect summation of the situation Rico;)

[We R Final Four]

Izzo had zero to do with that tournament loss….nothing! 

It certainly can’t be both we played poorly and Izzo had a plan for us.