Hamstrung

[muwarrior69]

Providence was more aggressive.    Generally, refs reward the aggressive home team.    A tale as old as time.

I can't recall Marquette getting home cooking like PC and UW get.

[tower912]

A matter of perspective.

[Mu8891]

Tower ... I recognize that MU is not gonna make an in season trade ...

But ( snark notwithstanding) what evidence / reason is there to suggest that the players will somehow just
" get better " .... Or " step up " in the middle of the year ?

I mean ... it's good to hope, but (?)

[tower912]

No other choice.  Either they do or they don't.

[Warrior2008]

This is where I'm at. The big difference there vs. the two road defeats is they just look tight on the road. They played with clear heads against KU and look what happened.

I think the staff does need to adjust some on the defensive side of things if Stevie remains out. They're getting beat a lot on corner threes after doubling the post. It's become an auto-double, gotta fake it sometimes and recover. The Tommies had that sh*t scouted cold. Tyler has been particularly susceptible to leaving his man to double the post. The other thing they need to do is stop auto-switching. Switch when there's actual resistance. Some dude cuts across with no contact and they switch. Or a big goes up then slips and you have a guard on them. It's gonna help with the 2PT defense and keep the guards out of foul trouble.

What drives me insane is the assumption Ben can defend like Oso on the perimeter and the willingness to allow switches onto him.  Its not entirely why he's foul prone, but he's getting at least a foul or two a game on stupid stuff like that.  The guards HAVE to get through the ball screen when they can or they're leaving Ben totally exposed. 

[wisblue]

My concern about leaning too much on Hawaii showing what the team is capable of is that that's getting to be a month ago and I'm not sure the team is improving.

I thought MU had a golden opportunity to get off to a good start because having most of the players back from a good team plus a summer trip (and the additional practice time) should have given them a leg up on teams that are incorporating a lot of new players into their rotations.

For the most part MU seemed to take advantage of that until they crashed in Madison. But to improve from there they need players who are being asked to take on bigger roles to deliver, and it hasn't happened so far. Gold might be hampered by the shin splints that cost him significant development time, but Joplin, Ross, and Sean Jones have to contribute more, especially with Mitchell out (for who knows how long). I have to wonder if Ross will be unavailable on Friday too.

[lawdog77]

It's a road loss to a decent team. Stuff happens. The only thing I am pissed about is this:

1.No Injuries
2. No Injuries
3. No Injuries
4. No Injuries
5. No Injuries

I blame Herm for this rash of injuries.

[MU82]

I thought MU had a golden opportunity to get off to a good start because having most of the players back from a good team plus a summer trip (and the additional practice time) should have given them a leg up on teams

Good thing you're right and we got off to a good start.

[Newsdreams]

The team only shoots threes and layups. This is a problem when (a) most of the team is below average three point shooters and (b) when the opposing team has rim protectors that don't allow layups. Can't some of these guys develop mid range skills ( Mitchel, Ross, Joplin)?

Then you would need a new coaching staff

[Viper]

My wife and I are chilling at a Caribbean resort and couldn't watch the game. So we had to listen to Homer, something I haven't done in many years - and something I hope to not have to do for several more years.


He spent two hours beyotching about the refs and talking over Tony, who might or might not have had good contributions to make. It was a tough way to get through a frustrating game.

As for the game, it sounded like Oso and Kam were borderline terrible - and we simply cannot beat a good team on the road when 2 of our big 3 are struggling.

Others' comments about being disappointed so far in the lack of development of several players we desperately need to be good- most notably Ross, Gold and Joplin - also ring true.

But one thing I've learned from Shaka's time at MU is to not get overly panicky based on a bad road loss or a poor small sample from a season. And not even just for Marquette. I keep going back to UConn enduring a 2-6 stretch last season.

We'll learn a lot more about our team when Creighton comes to Fiserv at the end of the year. Until then ... don't worry, be happy! Time to hit the swim-up bar!!

interesting, your take on Homer. I turn down the tv and turn up the radio. I think Home Team is great. Whether with George Thompson, Jimmy Mac and the last few seasons w/TSmith.

[Viper]

Lots of you keep saying the bench guys need to " step up " ... ok ....

What evidence is there that they can do that ?  It seems none of them ( Sean,
Gold , Ross or Jop ) is better than last year. 

Jop has basically been terrible for most of the year.  Not close to replacement for OMAX.  Not good on D... dribbling w / head down into traffic

Ben ... Meh ... not improved.  Not at all

Sean ?  Well ... he hit one big 3 pt shot v.
UCLA .  Other than that he's shooting about .15 percent from 3.  He's not doing much ...

Etc etc


Serious question:  why would / should any of us think that these guys are going to get so much " better " during the course of the next 20 games ?

agreed.

[MU82]

interesting, your take on Homer. I turn down the tv and turn up the radio. I think Home Team is great. Whether with George Thompson, Jimmy Mac and the last few seasons w/TSmith.

Everyone has different opinions on everything. I'm comfortable with mine being right on this one - ha!

[goldeneagle91114]

No other choice.  Either they do or they don't.

They won't. Find me a player that found "it" mid-season. There are for sure players who had "it" before and broke out of a slump, but players like Jop aren't just going to step up mid-season, it doesn't work that way.

[tower912]

Then give up and quit watching.

[Johnny B]

Dumb question but are mid season insta play transfers even a thing?

[mugrad_89]

Dumb question but are mid season insta play transfers even a thing?

Didn't Luke Fischer become eligible mid-season back in the day?

[Vander Blue Man Group]

They won't. Find me a player that found "it" mid-season. There are for sure players who had "it" before and broke out of a slump, but players like Jop aren't just going to step up mid-season, it doesn't work that way.

Feel free to look at Kolek's game log from last season. Happens all the time.

[Shooter McGavin]

Feel free to look at Kolek's game log from last season. Happens all the time.

Agreed.  That seems like a silly take.  Players get better all the time with more experience.  The game slows down.  They get used to how physical conference play is.  Will they get better enough to make a big difference?  Only time will tell.  Will they get better? Absolutely. 

[The Sultan]

Didn't Luke Fischer become eligible mid-season back in the day?

Only after sitting out two semesters.

[tower912]

They won't. Find me a player that found "it" mid-season. There are for sure players who had "it" before and broke out of a slump, but players like Jop aren't just going to step up mid-season, it doesn't work that way.

Jimmy Butler comes to mind.   Kolek was already mentioned.   Crowder had to be brought off the bench for a while because he wouldn't stop fouling.   OMax last year. Novak had to be told to shoot as a freshman.  And players break out of shooting slumps all the time.   What is Oso's ft percentage the last few games?   

19 games to go.   

[Goose]

It is not uncommon for guys to improve in season or revert back to the level they have played before. MU needs last years Jop back on offense and it will be a good start.

[tower912]

Stevie hitting 3's at a 30% clip would help, too.

[Hards Alumni]

Stevie hitting 3's at a 30% clip would help, too.

He will revert back to his average of around that.  Shots will fall.

[StillWarriors]

Everyone has different opinions on everything. I'm comfortable with mine being right on this one - ha!

I'm with you, MU82. I'm always shocked that some like Homer's play by play calls. Figure they must have grown up with it so that is what they know and there is a nostalgic attraction to it. That's understandable. I find him cringe-worthy.

[The Sultan]

I'm with you, MU82. I'm always shocked that some like Homer's play by play calls. Figure they must have grown up with it so that is what they know and there is a nostalgic attraction to it. That's understandable. I find him cringe-worthy.

Homer's awful. He's been awful for years. I'd rather listen to a Lappas and Simpkins tag team.