Beatin' Hall

[MuMark]

Stevie played 37 minutes.......that has to be a career high.

[PGsHeroes32]

They're both equally indispensable. We won't have them much longer so appreciate them while they're here, even if they have some rough moments.

Dont get me wrong if TK is gone long periods, screwed.

Love that guy.

But Oso for even 20 minutes vs most teams is a mountain to climb. Does so much all over the floor.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

This is one of those situations where you post a lot of "ifs" but its also not unrealistic at all

I think the injuries are also a big boost to Stevie. He knows he needs to add a bit more on the O end and he has been.

Stevie last 6 games:

10.8 PPG
4.7 RPG
3 SPG(!!!!) And that's with 0 vs DePaul
FG%: 55.8%
3%: 41.7% (5/12)

He's been elite in regards to what this team needs from him (not dung). 

[Uncle Rico]

Stevie last 6 games:

10.8 PPG
4.7 RPG
3 SPG(!!!!) And that's with 0 vs DePaul
FG%: 55.8%
3%: 41.7% (5/12)

He's been elite in regards to what this team needs from him (not dung).

Heckuva player

[tower912]

Joplin did ok? He was great

Yes, he did.  Understated sarcasm for the haters.

[BLWarrior91]

Huge collective team win today.  The second half defense was great.  Jop, Ben, and Stevie were all huge on both ends of the floor.  Let's take it to Nova on Tuesday.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Notice that UConn, Creighton, and MU have sorted to the top of the BE standings.

[Big Papi]

1.  Cleaned up the defensive rebounding in the second half.
2.  Much better outside shooting.  Amazing how good you look when you hit some threes.
3.  Great defensive effort throughout the game.
4.  Jop being more composed in the paint.  2 pull up stops and makes in the paint.  Like to see it.
5.  Oso is an All-American stud.  He needs to be more aggressive at times.  His multi-faceted ability makes him one of if not the best player on the court most games.
6.  Stevie stepping up offensively is huge.
7.  Ben stepping up offensively is huge.
8.  Jop & Ben stepping up defensively is huge.
9.  Zaide flashes incredible ability.  These minutes are important minutes for him.
10. Most exciting play on a day of many exciting plays:  Ben's help defense block and back tap save of the ball and Jop's finish and 1.

Interesting stats:

Stevie 37 minutes led the team
Gold 26 minutes
MU 8-18 from 3-point land
SH 3-16 from 3-point land
Oso 5 offensive boards and 4 assists
Jop 20 points.  3-8 from 3-point land.  3-4 inside the arc.

[MU82]

Defense! Best defensive game of Joplin's career. We know Gold isn't great on the perimeter but he battles inside and affects shots; maybe his best defensive game, too. Stevie is too effen good. Oso just a wonderful defender (though I wish he would have avoided 2 silly fouls today). Kolek sneaky good on D. Zaide a plus defender. Capped off the D by rebounding quite well in the 2nd half.

Torturous to watch early on but we dominated after halftime and really were in control most of the last 30 minutes of the game.

Satisfying win.

And I agree with VBMG that Kam should sit out Nova unless he's 100% or damn close to it. Big picture. We've got a national title to win, baby!

[We R Final Four]

Tyler had 11 assists.....he didn't need to score.

[DoctorV]

1.  Cleaned up the defensive rebounding in the second half.
2.  Much better outside shooting.  Amazing how good you look when you hit some threes.
3.  Great defensive effort throughout the game.
4.  Jop being more composed in the paint.  2 pull up stops and makes in the paint.  Like to see it.
5.  Oso is an All-American stud.  He needs to be more aggressive at times.  His multi-faceted ability makes him one of if not the best player on the court most games.
6.  Stevie stepping up offensively is huge.
7.  Ben stepping up offensively is huge.
8.  Jop & Ben stepping up defensively is huge.
9.  Zaide flashes incredible ability.  These minutes are important minutes for him.
10. Most exciting play on a day of many exciting plays:  Ben's help defense block and back tap save of the ball and Jop's finish and 1.

Interesting stats:

Stevie 37 minutes led the team
Gold 26 minutes
MU 8-18 from 3-point land
SH 3-16 from 3-point land
Oso 5 offensive boards and 4 assists
Jop 20 points.  3-8 from 3-point land.  3-4 inside the arc.

Great post, thanks

[Bo Ryan's Massage Therapist]

Joplin did ok? He was great

This was my same response. that was maybe the best I've ever seen him play on both ends of the floor

[Herman Cain]

Loved how  MU had so many contributors to the victory . This will pay dividends down the road in some of our upcoming tough games

[JustinLewisFanClubPres]

I thought they battled hard in the first half.  muwarrior69 pointed out how they scored over half their points in the first 7 minutes and then started to clamp down to close the half.  Slow start but had the momentum

Agreed. My frustration was that it felt like we outplayed them but could t turn the corner and establish a lead. I was hoping the second half performance would have come sooner. But I'm very happy with the overall effort today.

[tower912]

82, I am going to disagree about Ben's perimeter defense.   He is very good at trapping and turning the PG and then retreating/recovering to the lane.  Think Otule.  What he can't do is stay with a speedy guard who drives right at him.  Few 6'11 guys can.  Oso is an exception.   Ben is also good at getting his 6'11 hand in the air at the right time against a jump shooter.

But, he continues to improve.   He has stepped up the last two games playing extended minutes and has made a difference.

[CountryRoads]

Press Conferences:

Shaka:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lffdFE6RvAA

Stevie/Gold:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz1esJ1hsfs

[Vander Blue Man Group]

82, I am going to disagree about Ben's perimeter defense.   He is very good at trapping and turning the PG and then retreating/recovering to the lane.  Think Otule.  What he can't do is stay with a speedy guard who drives right at him.  Few 6'11 guys can.  Oso is an exception.   Ben is also good at getting his 6'11 hand in the air at the right time against a jump shooter.

But, he continues to improve.   He has stepped up the last two games playing extended minutes and has made a difference.

Ben showing hard on the perimeter and recovering has been really noticeable lately.

[MU82]

82, I am going to disagree about Ben's perimeter defense.   He is very good at trapping and turning the PG and then retreating/recovering to the lane.  Think Otule.  What he can't do is stay with a speedy guard who drives right at him.  Few 6'11 guys can.  Oso is an exception.   Ben is also good at getting his 6'11 hand in the air at the right time against a jump shooter.

But, he continues to improve.   He has stepped up the last two games playing extended minutes and has made a difference.

Reasonable post as usual, tower.

The defensive situations you describe here ... Ben did superbly at them today and he has been improving.

Not just guards beat him off 1-on-1 off the dribble, lots of players do, but that's not really his "fault." He uses the ability he has as best he can, and that was darn good today.

[Daniel]

Joplin did ok? He was great

Yea... had a great spin move to the rim as well, and didn't get trapped inside much.   So he had a great great game!

[WellsstreetWanderer]

82, I am going to disagree about Ben's perimeter defense.   He is very good at trapping and turning the PG and then retreating/recovering to the lane.  Think Otule.  What he can't do is stay with a speedy guard who drives right at him.  Few 6'11 guys can.  Oso is an exception.   Ben is also good at getting his 6'11 hand in the air at the right time against a jump shooter.

But, he continues to improve.   He has stepped up the last two games playing extended minutes and has made a difference.

I thought Ben showed some muscle down low today   He was banging there

  Glad we beat the Hall out of the Pirates

[Shooter McGavin]

82, I am going to disagree about Ben's perimeter defense.   He is very good at trapping and turning the PG and then retreating/recovering to the lane.  Think Otule.  What he can't do is stay with a speedy guard who drives right at him.  Few 6'11 guys can.  Oso is an exception.   Ben is also good at getting his 6'11 hand in the air at the right time against a jump shooter.

But, he continues to improve.   He has stepped up the last two games playing extended minutes and has made a difference.

I agree with this.

[Shooter McGavin]

Loved Jops defense and mid range game today.  He cannot get all the way to the basket because he is not athletic enough.  But he can back down and make a turn around fade away mid lane or baseline jumper (I apologize if this is jot the appropriate definition of midrange).  But he is the only guy on the team that should be allowed to do this.  That and catch and shoot threes are his game.

[ski44]

Enjoyed Kim Adams on color today. Was researched and provided astute analysis in-game.

[ATL MU Warrior]

This is one of those situations where you post a lot of "ifs" but its also not unrealistic at all

I think the injuries are also a big boost to Stevie. He knows he needs to add a bit more on the O end and he has been.

I agree 100% that the silver lining to the injuries piling up is the emergence of assertive Stevie on the offensive end.  Doesn't have the choice to defer to others any longer and I think that's freed him up and given him more confidence. It makes us a much more dangerous team.

[JakeBarnes]

I agree 100% that the silver lining to the injuries piling up is the emergence of assertive Stevie on the offensive end.  Doesn't have the choice to defer to others any longer and I think that's freed him up and given him more confidence. It makes us a much more dangerous team.

And with the continued intensity on defense. It's super impressive.