Hamstrung

[Warrior Code]

Any updates on Ross's ankle?

[Hards Alumni]

This is spot on. Some more consistent outside shooting would solve a lot of problems.

Yep, team can't shoot 20% from 3 and expect to win.

They also let the refs get into their heads waaaaaay too much.  They need to learn to play around it.

[MUfan12]

They also let the refs get into their heads waaaaaay too much.  They need to learn to play around it.

Unfortunately their leader is as guilty as anyone of that. Tyler is constantly bitching to the refs.

[tower912]

Apparently, Shaka said something similar to Homer and Tony during their post-game radio interview.

Synopsis on the Dodds board.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Unfortunately their leader is as guilty as anyone of that. Tyler is constantly bitching to the refs.

That's Shaka's job to ride the refs. All you can ask is that the refs call the game consistently, and they did. Tyler better get used to bullyball. He isn't getting the Myles Powell Rules whistles.

[mugrad_89]

The team has to realize that teams are gonna try to play physical defense against them.  And if the refs are going to allow it, they need to keep their composure and not resort to a bunch of one on one offense.

[WellsstreetWanderer]

11. Oso has to get involved early or he tends to float around a bit.

Don't understand why he doesn't post down low and use his push shot. Get him involved early

[MuggsyB]

Don't understand why he doesn't post down low and use his push shot. Get him involved early

Exactly.  What are we missing here?  Get him touches.

[Goose]

The aggressive Oso is extremely good, and the passive Oso limits the upside. He is too big of a part of this team and they cannot afford him being a non factor. This team will go as far as Kolek, Oso and Kam can take them. When they are good everyone looks better, even the bench guys that are being discounted on here.

[MU82]

Apparently, Shaka said something similar to Homer and Tony during their post-game

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!!

[Mu8891]

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 ?

[MuggsyB]

Someone listed some of our three point numbers. The combined numbers of Mitchell and Sean Jones is almost hard to fathom even if you're a poor shooter.  And these are wide open looks essentially.  Corner threes are dream shots. They have to knock them down or we're always playing 4 on 5.  Not to mention they rarely if ever take the wide open 7 footer in the paint.  Nor does Ross. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Don't understand why he doesn't post down low and use his push shot. Get him involved early

He did multiple times in the first half. Oduro wouldn't let him get in position and he had to shoot from a foornor two further than typical and missed

[mugrad_89]

He did multiple times in the first half. Oduro wouldn't let him get in position and he had to shoot from a foornor two further than typical and missed

Then Oso has to be better - he's already gone against Dickerson, Edey and Bona, so I'd expect him to be able to hold his own against Oduro.

[shoothoops]

Credit to Providence players and staff. Strong effort. They played high level team defense.

[tower912]

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 ?

Not a lot available on the immediately eligible trade market.  Ergo, this team has to roll with what is here.  Ergo, the existing players need to play better.

[MUfan12]

That's Shaka's job to ride the refs. All you can ask is that the refs call the game consistently, and they did. Tyler better get used to bullyball. He isn't getting the Myles Powell Rules whistles.

Agree, and Shaka needs to do a better job of it. Although last night I think he was picking his battles with how terrible MU was offensively.

[Warrior2008]

Couple observations.

1. Providence played very well last night and are a tough, experienced team.  I look forward to playing them in our place to see how good they are on the road, but I think they are a tournament team.

2. Oso is much better initiating offense from the high or wide post off of the catch than he is dribbling the ball from the perimeter.  Doesn't mean he can't do it from the perimeter, but he's just not as effective.  Teams are going to hammer him at the basket in the BE though and live with him at the FT line.  He did well there last night, but he has to continue being aggressive.  When he's passive, Marquette is an average team.

3. Tyler has to make teams pay for going under the screen.  Providence did it most of the night and Tyler only pulled the trigger a couple times.  I understand he wants to get teammates involved, but its ok to be selfish there.

4. Marquette misses O Max's ability affect the game without having the ball in his hands.  His slashing ability and willingness to hit the offensive glass(or any glass for that matter) are traits Jop just doesn't have and Chase is too inconsistent with.  Jop has to find ways to help this team more than he currently is and its not always just scoring the basketball.  Without improvement from the 4 spot, this team is not even a second weekend team much less a Final Four team.

5. The bench is a problem with Chase in the starting lineup.  None of the freshman are reliable enough to play serious minutes.  Sean cannot shoot and the ball sticks to him too much while he dribbles around.  Ben can shoot and rebound, but cannot play defense without fouling. Need Stevie to get healthy quickly.

6. Lastly and most importantly though, the team was not mentally ready to play that game.  For whatever reason, refs allow Providence to play more physical in that building than anywhere else.  Its not exactly a secret anymore and at this point its apart of playing on the road in the Big East.  Given that this team has experience playing there, I was surprised to see them get rattled and start bitching at the refs looking for calls.  Just shut up and play, let Shaka worry about the officiating and just focus on the game.

While all of that sounds pretty negative, I'm still bullish on this team because Hawaii shows what they are capable of.

[MUfan12]

While all of that sounds pretty negative, I'm still bullish on this team because Hawaii shows what they are capable of.

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.

[wisblue]

Apparently, Shaka said something similar to Homer and Tony during their post-game radio interview.

Synopsis on the Dodds board.

Speaking of the refs being in someone's head.

I scrolled through the game thread on his board and the moderator started complaining about refs and flopping about a minute into the game and the theme accounted for about 75% of his comments .

[tower912]

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

[tower912]

Any updates on Ross's ankle?

Hopefully, not on a break.   

[Boone]

Typical Dodds loser's lament

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

Ben has improved his defense but his size 16s don't allow him to recover as quickly as Oso. It seems to me he recognizes his rotations but his feet just don't move fast enough. Ben needs to spend the offseason at the Michael Flattley Summer Camp.

[tower912]

Or not miss two months with shin splints.