Tre Norman

[avid1010]

In my opinion, continuity is contributing to the defensive improvement.   The top 7 have now played 60 games together.   They have a thorough understanding of the switches and rotations.   This season, there is less full court pressure and more half court trapping, more double teaming the post, more turning/trapping the PG in pick and roll situations. 
Ben Gold is playing phenomenal team defense this year.    Too many get caught up in the fact that he struggles defending 6'2 guards on the perimeter.   Watch him double the ballhandler and recover.   Watch his help defense.   Watch his post positioning.
   Finally, and this is really going to sound weird, but I was impressed with the walk on defense against DePaul.   Strictly from a scheme standpoint, their rotations, particularly off the ball were good enough to be noticed.   Sure, they got overpowered by scholarship players.   But the walk-ons were rotating and helping.   Good coaching.

But playing all those games together...that makes them better on defense...has made them worse on offense?

[wadesworld]

Traci too

How could I forget The Engine?

[tower912]

But playing all those games together...that makes them better on deffense...has made them worse on offense?

A several game, teamwide, shooting slump from 3.

[avid1010]

A several game, teamwide, shooting slump from 3.

Looks like 3 pt % is identical to last year?  Admittedly...I have no clue how Ken Pom ranks offense and defense.

[tower912]

Did MU finally catch up?   Cool.   Shaka calls that the most important offensive stat and the most volatile.   The next thing I would check is how many free throws MU has attempted compared to last season.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Look, I loved watching Markus play, but he came to MU to play PG. As a PG, he was a shoot-first player. That's what you would want him to be. His assist to TO ratio was only 1 throughout his career at MU. How does that type of PG fit in a system like MU's that is predicated on moving the ball and creating for others? While playing TKO at the PG might create shooting opportunities for Howard, the reverse would not be the case. Add to that the fact that Oso often initiates the offense and the ball would be in Howard's hands even less. After watching Markus play, it surprises me that you think he'd have been content as a catch and shoot player. He averaged almost 18 shots a game during his junior year and almost 20 a game his senior year. I do not see Howard being content to let TKO run the show and to get, like Kam, about 12 shots a game.

You may have noticed that Shaka enjoys playing multiple PGs on the floor at once and having the action start from multiple positions.  Markus would have been just fine.

That being said,  this is a hypothetical exercise based on the assumption that both players are on the roster and are buying what Shaka is selling. Its not about whether Shaka would have been able to recruit both.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I would guess there ae some metrics to back this up because it absolutely contradicts my memory and eye test.  Kam has vastly improved at defense to my eye during his time at MU and he plays very tough defense now imo.  Markus as I recall improved and did well for someone his size but was generally a liability.

Markus' defensive limitations were physical but he almost always gave full effort, was technically sound,  and usually made the right defensive play.

Kam, I love him,  but is often lost on that end

[Zog from Margo]

You may have noticed that Shaka enjoys playing multiple PGs on the floor at once and having the action start from multiple positions.  Markus would have been just fine.

That being said,  this is a hypothetical exercise based on the assumption that both players are on the roster and are buying what Shaka is selling. Its not about whether Shaka would have been able to recruit both.

I agree. MU likes to initiate from multiple positions. Shaka also likes players to initiate to create for others. That is not a style we saw much of from Markus or Marquette during his time at MU. The assumption that Markus would have wanted to play the style MU currently plays and would be happy doing so is a big one. Seems to me Markus had some teammates who were taught to share the ball and it did not work out well. As I have said, there is no question that Markus had the skillset to play in any offense.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I agree. MU likes to initiate from multiple positions. Shaka also likes players to initiate to create for others. That is not a style we saw much of from Markus or Marquette during his time at MU. The assumption that Markus would have wanted to play the style MU currently plays and would be happy doing so is a big one. Seems to me Markus had some teammates who were taught to share the ball and it did not work out well. As I have said, there is no question that Markus had the skillset to play in any offense.

Markus shared the ball plenty,  assist rate of over 26% his last two years,  over 18% his first two seasons (when he was playing off the ball).

[Elonsmusk]

Bump.  Was great to see Tre knock down a couple of threes and bring some physicality to the game.

[tower912]

Good to see Tre playing like he belongs.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Tre & Norman had a good night tonight

[Elonsmusk]

Good to see Tre playing like he belongs.

Agree.  Not gonna lie I've been a little skeptical as to if he had the potential to evolve into the player Shaka thinks he can be.  But, he's a winner, and suspect will work himself into a very good Big East player.

[rgoode57]

It was really nice to see Tre Norman have a really good all around game against PC. Really glad he hit a couple of 3's but was also very impressed with his defense. He is really starting to develop now that he is consistently getting more minutes.

[StillAWarrior]

I really noticed that he looked comfortable out there in the Xavier game. He didn't look like a nervous freshman in that game and played well. I was very happy last night when he came in because even before he even really "did" anything, he just looked comfortable. He seems to have turned a corner and I think he'll be a solid sub and contributor down the stretch.

The best thing about freshmen...

[DoctorV]

I really noticed that he looked comfortable out there in the Xavier game. He didn't look like a nervous freshman in that game and played well. I was very happy last night when he came in because even before he even really "did" anything, he just looked comfortable. He seems to have turned a corner and I think he'll be a solid sub and contributor down the stretch.

The best thing about freshmen...

Is when they contribute to a Final 4 run.

The second best is that they become sophomores.

[Jockey]

I really noticed that he looked comfortable out there in the Xavier game. He didn't look like a nervous freshman in that game and played well. I was very happy last night when he came in because even before he even really "did" anything, he just looked comfortable. He seems to have turned a corner and I think he'll be a solid sub and contributor down the stretch.

The best thing about freshmen...

I wish we still had Sean Jones available, but sometimes injuries create opportunities. Two 'benefits' of the injury are 1) Kolek has the ball in his hands more, and 2) it has given Tre more minutes on the floor to find his game and figure out where he fits on the team.

[CountryRoads]

Great quote from Tre in Steele's article:

"If my coach tells me when I'm open to let it fly, I'm going to do it. You got the green light here at Marquette to do that. Every player that steps on the floor."

Shaka also said in the radio show last night that they review the tapes of their in game huddles and Tre was caught saying "there is no vengeance without violence." Thought that was a bit funny as Shaka seemed surprised and impressed when he heard it.

[tower912]

That is one of the things I appreciate about Shaka.   Freshmen have a green light.

[The Sultan]

Yeah, the Scoopers who thought that certain players should not be able to shoot after the first few games...bad advice. Shoot your shot.

[GoldenEagles03]

Great quote from Tre in Steele's article:

"If my coach tells me when I'm open to let it fly, I'm going to do it. You got the green light here at Marquette to do that. Every player that steps on the floor."

Shaka also said in the radio show last night that they review the tapes of their in game huddles and Tre was caught saying "there is no vengeance without violence." Thought that was a bit funny as Shaka seemed surprised and impressed when he heard it.

This Tweet is evidence of that very quote. It doesn't go unnoticed by anyone.

Could prove to be huge for this team down the stretch.

https://twitter.com/DivineFriars/status/1763257551611724142?t=wTsyZqw8EU_fEVwBvIqEPg&s=19

[The Sultan]

This Tweet is evidence of that very quote. It doesn't go unnoticed by anyone.

Could prove to be huge for this team down the stretch.

https://twitter.com/DivineFriars/status/1763257551611724142?t=wTsyZqw8EU_fEVwBvIqEPg&s=19

That's great.

[tower912]

Also benefits from Kolek nearly always delivering the ball where they want it.  Something for Tre to aspire to.

[Hards Alumni]

This Tweet is evidence of that very quote. It doesn't go unnoticed by anyone.

Could prove to be huge for this team down the stretch.

https://twitter.com/DivineFriars/status/1763257551611724142?t=wTsyZqw8EU_fEVwBvIqEPg&s=19

Yep, show that to every recruit.

[Shooter McGavin]

Yeah, the Scoopers who thought that certain players should not be able to shoot after the first few games...bad advice. Shoot your shot.

100% agreed