Mason and brickwork

[SaveOD238]

Are we sure it isn't pronounced "Par-Ham"? Because that's how it was pronounced Monday as well.

He said it's pronounced Par - Ham ("two words") on one of the K1 and Stewie podcasts.

[We R Final Four]

Well, it certainly isn't pronounced Golds.........so I wonder.

[Herman Cain]

Solid win for MU

I think there are some guys who need to prove they can actually make 3s in games. They can practice in these cupcake games, however if no improvement their green light needs to be restricted in the games against quality opponents

[MUfan12]

They absolutely could and should have called a flagrant there.

It would have had nothing to do with the foul before the dirty play.

It did. You can't call a flagrant foul if the ball is dead. At that point it's a technical for excessive force, which is what they called.

Could they have gone the extra step and ejected Newton? Sure, but at that point the technical was his fifth foul, there were :30 left in the game.

I love a good kvetch about officiating but I thought that crew handled it fine.

[MU82]

If they're gonna consistently play five out on offense, I'd like to see Ben take his man off the dribble every now and then - he showed last year that he can do it.

He tried twice last night and lost the ball both times.

It certainly can be part of his game, but bigs should pick their spots. Definitely can't dribble through traffic.

[Uncle Rico]

Are we sure it isn't pronounced "Par-Ham"? Because that's how it was pronounced Monday as well.

I call him Dung-ham or Par-dung

[romey]

Are we sure it isn't pronounced "Par-Ham"? Because that's how it was pronounced Monday as well.

Check the media guide.  Damn, I'm old.  Do they still have those? 

[mugrad_89]

He tried twice last night and lost the ball both times.

It certainly can be part of his game, but bigs should pick their spots. Definitely can't dribble through traffic.

Agree - if there's traffic no, but if not every once in a while would keep his defender more honest.  And his screen and roll with Kam towards the end was excellent.

[Viper]

1. Or jarring.  The jokes write themselves
2.  We (fans) do this every year.  The offense sucks, yadayadayada.   The offense is generating the looks Shaka and Nevada want.  Players gotta make open looks.  When they do,MU looks good.  When they don't, MU looks bad.
3.  GMU is a decent team.
4.  Kam is good.
5.  Since I only saw the second half, I liked Ben's defense and his quick jump hook.  The coaches want him to shoot open 3s.  How crazy it drives you is irrelevant to them.
6.  Stevie was invisible in the second half. 
7.  Caedin had moments. And then freshmen moments.  To be expected.
8.  Shaka needs to do better getting Kam rest.
9. Supposed to be a 10-ish point W.  Huh.  It just took a bit to get there. 21-4 to finish.
10.  The threes fell late.  They will start falling consistently.
11.  Next.

Ben was done dirty. Kam squaring off was a little scary.  Save that left hand.

Ben jacking 3's isn't Smart, Shaka

[wadesworld]

Ben jacking 3's isn't Smart, Shaka

The MU diehard fan who obsesses about RED hasn't been around for MU's first 2 games, except to trash a player and the coach.

[Uncle Rico]

The MU diehard fan who obsesses about RED hasn't been around for MU's first game, except to trash a player and the coach.

Been trying to figure out how Kolek is in the nba

[tower912]

Ben jacking 3's isn't Smart, Shaka

Shaka and Nevada disagree.  Shaka even addressed it in his presser.  Convince them.

[brewcity77]

Speaking of which... Why didn't Shaka take the starters off the floor when the game was in hand, especially after that foul?

Before the foul, there really wasn't an opportunity. It was 66-61 at the under 4 timeout, which came with 3:59 left. Once play restarted, there wasn't another whistle until that flagrant with 33 seconds to go. I saw that criticism on Twitter as well, but the reality is we were mostly scoring in transition with no dead balls to switch up the roster. Shaka could've called a timeout, but if anyone should've called a TO, it was Skinn.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Shaka and Nevada disagree.  Shaka even addressed it in his presser.  Convince them.

Shaka also criticized people on social media who only focus on Bens shooting

[Uncle Rico]

Shaka also criticized people on social media who only focus on Bens shooting

Those people are idiots, mostly

[Goose]

Way too many people are focused on Gold's shooting % and I think they are missing other parts of his game. Now, I think Gold would improve a great deal as an all-around player if he shot better, but he brings a great deal more as a player than just shooting 3's. Time will tell on how big of an impact player Gold becomes and I am still betting he has big days ahead.

[MUbiz]

Way too many people are focused on Gold's shooting % and I think they are missing other parts of his game. Now, I think Gold would improve a great deal as an all-around player if he shot better, but he brings a great deal more as a player than just shooting 3's. Time will tell on how big of an impact player Gold becomes and I am still betting he has big days ahead.

BG is currently shooting 16% from 3 and 25% for FG for the season. I understand this is a small sample size, but if he does not pick up the percentage drastically this will hamper the teams ceiling as a whole. Opponents will give BG all the space he wants and double Kam, Jop etc if BG can't hit open shots.

[Goose]

MUbiz

I was speaking more in general terms about his shooting %. It has been a topic for the 1+ years on here. Of course, he cannot shoot at such a low % and be a help to the team. Again, time will tell if Ben can ever be a consistent three point threat or not. My gut tells me that coaching staff still believes he can.

[MUbiz]

MUbiz

I was speaking more in general terms about his shooting %. It has been a topic for the 1+ years on here. Of course, he cannot shoot at such a low % and be a help to the team. Again, time will tell if Ben can ever be a consistent three point threat or not. My gut tells me that coaching staff still believes he can.

Thanks for the clarification Goose. Marquette's streaky 3 point shooting has hurt us a ton in last year, so its not just a BG problem.  We beat Purdue, Butler and NC State last year if we shoot even 30% from 3. 

I know UConn has been unbeatable the last 2 years, but that is something they are incredible at - hitting the open 3 point shot. I believe I saw a stat last year where MU was about in the middle of all D1 in hitting the open 3 point shot. That needs to improve this year imho.

[jfp61]

BG is currently shooting 16% from 3 and 25% for FG for the season. I understand this is a small sample size, but if he does not pick up the percentage drastically this will hamper the teams ceiling as a whole. Opponents will give BG all the space he wants and double Kam, Jop etc if BG can't hit open shots.

BG can miss every shot this season if he has a +49.4 Adjusted efficency margin when on the court, especially if Caedin and Royce are +9 and -58.4.

[MUbiz]

BG can miss every shot this season if he has a +49.4 Adjusted efficency margin when on the court, especially if Caedin and Royce are +9 and -58.4.

Yikes. Here come the scoopers saying Shaka should have gotten a aircraft carrier transfer.

[Newsdreams]

Should have gotten an Aircraft Carrier

[Shooter McGavin]

BG can miss every shot this season if he has a +49.4 Adjusted efficency margin when on the court, especially if Caedin and Royce are +9 and -58.4.

All three just need to keep shooting.  Ben and Royce from three and Caedin down low (he actually doesn't look uncomfortable shooting from distance either).  All three will play a significant part in the team's success this year.  Ben still being the biggest xfactor to the teams ceiling as stated by others.  Just needs to keep growing in confidence and comfortable in his role as one of the team's alphas this year.

[MUbiz]

Shaka did say in his post game presser against Mason that Royce shooting a open 3 is a good shot. Lets hope they go in starting tonight going forward for everyone.

[brewcity77]

Here's some context regarding Marquette's three point shooting in non-con and post non-con (Big East + any postseason) the past three years under Shaka:

• 2024 NC: 33.8% (96/284)
• 2024 PNC: 36.9% (205/556)
• 2023 NC: 34.3% (99/289)
• 2023 PNC: 35.1% (202/576)
• 2022 NC: 31.5% (92/292)
• 2022 PNC: 36.7% (175/477)

So slow starts from three are pretty typical, but historically they take a step forward once we get into Big East play and beyond. I just wish we could build the whole season out of the PNC numbers.