Yesterday Was Fun but...

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm still a little concerned about the offense. I was at the game yesterday and rewatched it today. Yesterday was a good reminder of what are team is capable of when the lane is clear. When we have space to operate, we will sashimi pretty much any team in the country.

My concern is, that I think a good chunk of our success yesterday was due to coaching malpractice by Neptune. Drop coverage has been our kryptonite all season. Wisconsin, Providence, Seton Hall, second half Butler all utilized it to great effect. Neptune used a lot of different looks against us but didn't use drop coverage until late in the game. As a result, the paint was wide open all game and we hit Nova with their worst 2P% defensive game in decades. Shaka even pointed it out during one of the inside the huddles saying that we didn't have to take threes because they were giving us the paint all day.

The good news is, when Neptune switched to drop coverage, the offense didn't stall. Stevie and Tyler both hit wide open threes and those generated some wiggle room leading to a classic TKO to Oso dunk.

I still believe the team is much better from three than they've shown so far. If that's true and those start falling, our offense will return to being unstoppable. Combine that with our consistently great defense (yesterday wasn't the best but Nova was uncharacteristically hot from three), and we have a legitimate contender.

[MUfan12]

Yeah I have no idea what Neptune was thinking. The bizarre thing was they packed in in twice against MU last year with some success.

That said... They played with aggression and made the right reads. The tentative mindf*ckedness we saw against Butler wasn't there.

I might end up being wrong, but from what I've seen, I don't think St John's has the defensive discipline to completely muck it up . The opportunities will be there if MU takes care of the basketball.

[We R Final Four]

Especially when we thought the offense would be better with Jop starting, yet worse with Jop on D, and no OMax.

[DoctorV]

One of the first things I noticed was that the spacing seemed much better.

One of the next things I noticed was that Villanova, for some bizarre unknown reason, was playing really aggressive defense away from the basket.

The combination of the two was a much needed and pleasant sight.

No idea what Neptune was thinking, I asked in the game thread if he had watched the tape?
There is a formula to beat Marquette and that ain't it coach Kyle.

Just another example of why I'm not sold on him as Novas HC. I like Shaheen and Kim much more to have longer term success at their gigs despite the smaller programs and more difficult recruiting.

Marquette won't always miss badly from distance, and when they don't you'll probably lose, but if you don't pack it in and dare MU to shoot, instead opening up passing and driving lanes to the hoop with will most definitely lose.

So, take your chances with the long ball until you pay.

[wisblue]

I couldn't believe how many easy baskets MU got in the first half because of Nova's defensive approach. I commented about it at halftime from my seat in the upper level.

Nova also gave up a couple of easy baskets just by not getting back on defense.

MU needed the late threes they got from Mitchell and Kolek to maintain their lead down the stretch.

[wisblue]

MU could really use another game from Kolek like he had against Texas when he drained threes when the defense went under the outside screens. That opens the floodgates for the rest of the offense when teams have to respect his outside shot.

[Jay Bee]

Fair point. Thought Neptune's defense was odd at times

[Shooter McGavin]

MU could really use another game from Kolek like he had against Texas when he drained threes when the defense went under the outside screens. That opens the floodgates for the rest of the offense when teams have to respect his outside shot.

Yep.  He passed up a few of them and ultimately it led to a basket against Villanova.  But passing it up wasn't leading to anything in prior games.  He will need to hit that shot without hesitation in most games against teams that pack the paint.  He will definitely need to make that shot against better teams in the tournament to advance.  Hope he finds his confidence from distance soon.

Good topic TAMU

[goldeneagle91114]

I know we're all concerned about our 3-point shooting percentages as of late. However, i did some quick analysis and found some surprising statistics.

- On the year Marquette averages 26 3-point attempts per game.
- For the non/con portion of our schedule Marquette shot 33% from beyond the arc or 8.5 made baskets per 26 attempts.
- In the BEAST Marquette is shooting 27% from beyond the arc or 7 made baskets per 26 attempts.
- If Marquette would have shot a the same percentage in Conference that they did in Non/con it would have only affected the outcome of one of the 3 losses.
- Marquette only needs to increase their 3-point made baskets by 1.5 per game to get back to our non/con rate... This seems very doable.

I bring this up, because personally i felt we were losing recent games due to our horrible 3 point shooting and teams beginning to sag on defense. However, our 3-point shooting was seldom brought up  during our dominance in the non/con schedule. Even with a paltry 33% from beyond the arc, we could still get to the basket.

I'll leave it to the experts to dive into the advance stats, but I'm thinking its our percentage of 2-point baskets made and ability/inability to get to the rim (i.e. what we saw yesterday against NOVA.) that is killing us right now.

I for one am going to layoff the hyper-focus on 3 point shooting for awhile.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Better three point shooting helps to open up the paint.  (Except for the Nova game, where they just left the paint open most of the game.)

When ice cold, teams just need to pack the paint and take away driving lanes. That's what Butler did in the 2nd half.

Hitting a few to keep the defense will open up the driving lanes.  That's what happened in the 2nd half vs Creighton.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I know we're all concerned about our 3-point shooting percentages as of late. However, i did some quick analysis and found some surprising statistics.

- On the year Marquette averages 26 3-point attempts per game.
- For the non/con portion of our schedule Marquette shot 33% from beyond the arc or 8.5 made baskets per 26 attempts.
- In the BEAST Marquette is shooting 27% from beyond the arc or 7 made baskets per 26 attempts.
- If Marquette would have shot a the same percentage in Conference that they did in Non/con it would have only affected the outcome of one of the 3 losses.
- Marquette only needs to increase their 3-point made baskets by 1.5 per game to get back to our non/con rate... This seems very doable.

I bring this up, because personally i felt we were losing recent games due to our horrible 3 point shooting and teams beginning to sag on defense. However, our 3-point shooting was seldom brought up  during our dominance in the non/con schedule. Even with a paltry 33% from beyond the arc, we could still get to the basket.

I'll leave it to the experts to dive into the advance stats, but I'm thinking its our percentage of 2-point baskets made and ability/inability to get to the rim (i.e. what we saw yesterday against NOVA.) that is killing us right now.

I for one am going to layoff the hyper-focus on 3 point shooting for awhile.

Good for last in conference in Big East play.  Yippee!!!

UCONN, on the other hand, is at 40%. That is close to where MU needs to be to be elite the rest of the way. Time to get off the schneid with these road games.

This team reminds me of some of Buzz's teams. Tough as nails but can't shoot.

[MuggsyB]

Kolek can absolutely drain the triple if teams choose to sag into the paint.  We saw it earlier this season, he's in a bit of a slump.  Jop, Ben, Lowery, and Mitchell can also make that shot, it's about getting it in rhythm off of Oso touches or ball reversals.  We clearly are not a good 3pt shooting team at this juncture.  However we're not this bad and can't lose confidence.  I think there is no reason known to man why we can't shoot respectable numbers vs a pack line D.  We all know it's coming, we all know what the game plan will be vs us, knock down open shots. 

[Scoop Snoop]

Good for last in conference in Big East play.  Yippee!!!

UCONN, on the other hand, is at 40%. That is close to where MU needs to be to be elite the rest of the way. Time to get off the schneid with these road games.

This team reminds me of some of Buzz's teams. Tough as nails but can't shoot.

What the Hell is a schneid Doc? 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Better three point shooting helps to open up the paint.  (Except for the Nova game, where they just left the paint open most of the game.)

When ice cold, teams just need to pack the paint and take away driving lanes. That's what Butler did in the 2nd half.

Hitting a few to keep the defense will open up the driving lanes.  That's what happened in the 2nd half vs Creighton.

Yep, the struggles from 3 roll downhill and impact our effectiveness and conversion rate in the paint. 

[Jay Bee]

I know we're all concerned about our 3-point shooting percentages as of late. However, i did some quick analysis and found some surprising statistics.

I for one am going to layoff the hyper-focus on 3 point shooting for awhile.

Alternative analysis:

When we shoot less than 29% from deep, we usually use (only 1 win). In our losses, we've gone 24.8% from deep; excluding SH we're at 21.6%.

Shoot like a$$ from 3 and we're in trouble.

[Dr. Blackheart]

What the Hell is a schneid Doc? 

I try to bring the proper cultural appropriation into Scoop and get dinged. You got something against Krauts?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/where-does-get-off-the-schneid-come-from-history

[Scoop Snoop]

I try to bring the proper cultural appropriation into Scoop and get dinged. You got something against Krauts?

https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/where-does-get-off-the-schneid-come-from-history

I sure do. They attacked Pearl Harbor.

[MU82]

Alternative analysis:

When we shoot less than 29% from deep, we usually use (only 1 win). In our losses, we've gone 24.8% from deep; excluding SH we're at 21.6%.

Shoot like a$$ from 3 and we're in trouble.

*lose

(Otherwise I agree with this analysis. Need to shoot 3s better.)

[TSmith34, Inc.]

I sure do. They attacked Pearl Harbor.

"Mr. Blutarsky: Zero.Point.Zero."

[tower912]

Senator Blutarsky

[wisblue]

Alternative analysis:

When we shoot less than 29% from deep, we usually use (only 1 win). In our losses, we've gone 24.8% from deep; excluding SH we're at 21.6%.

Shoot like a$$ from 3 and we're in trouble.

Then you look at the Butler game where they were something like 1 for 14 at one point and 3 for 28 before making a couple after the game was decided.

Never going to convince me that just a couple makes it the first half of that game would have affected the outcome. Leading by 13 or 16 at the half instead of 7 would have made a big difference.

And a win in that game would make MU's position in the conference standings look a lot different.

[muwarrior69]

I know we're all concerned about our 3-point shooting percentages as of late. However, i did some quick analysis and found some surprising statistics.

- On the year Marquette averages 26 3-point attempts per game.
- For the non/con portion of our schedule Marquette shot 33% from beyond the arc or 8.5 made baskets per 26 attempts.
- In the BEAST Marquette is shooting 27% from beyond the arc or 7 made baskets per 26 attempts.
- If Marquette would have shot a the same percentage in Conference that they did in Non/con it would have only affected the outcome of one of the 3 losses.
- Marquette only needs to increase their 3-point made baskets by 1.5 per game to get back to our non/con rate... This seems very doable.

I bring this up, because personally i felt we were losing recent games due to our horrible 3 point shooting and teams beginning to sag on defense. However, our 3-point shooting was seldom brought up  during our dominance in the non/con schedule. Even with a paltry 33% from beyond the arc, we could still get to the basket.

I'll leave it to the experts to dive into the advance stats, but I'm thinking its our percentage of 2-point baskets made and ability/inability to get to the rim (i.e. what we saw yesterday against NOVA.) that is killing us right now.

I for one am going to layoff the hyper-focus on 3 point shooting for awhile.

OK, but what about our 3 pt defense. I now it is just the eye test but it seems either the whole (Purdue, Nova) team or one poor 3 pt shooter just shoots the light out against us.

[CTWarrior]

I think Villanova, even under Jay Wright, is one of those "we play defense the way we play defense, and if we do it right we can stop anybody" kind of teams.  But you are all right, the way they played defense is what we would love to see from every team.  I even added it as point 10 on Tower's game synopsis.

[Scoop Snoop]

OK, but what about our 3 pt defense. I now it is just the eye test but it seems either the whole (Purdue, Nova) team or one poor 3 pt shooter just shoots the light out against us.

I mentioned elsewhere that our defenders got right into the faces of Nova's "would-be" 3 point shooters in the second half. Instead of launching yet another 3, they wisely chose to pass the ball instead. The key was to figure out to whom the ball was going on the three point line and very quickly get your ass over there. They got 4 (vs. 9 in the first half) while the outcome of the game was still in question plus one more after a missed MU FT in the closing seconds.

[MuMark]

3 point defense(as far as percentage) is mostly luck........reducing attempts is really all the defense is able to impact.

Pomeroy did a study on it once......