Road...TRIP

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Since Tower posted he isn't watching until later, I will do a game recap.

1. Stevie Mitchell just makes winning plays. Saved the game at the end with his steals.

2. David Joplin had some ill advised shots in the first half, but was great in the 2nd half. And his defense was great all day.

3. Kam found his game in the 2nd half after a very rough 1st half. 20 points, 8 assists, ho hum.

4. Ben Gold was very solid. Dependable defense and efficient offense. 11 points, made three treys, and ran the floor for a dunk on a nice pass from Kam.

5. Defense was great for 35 minutes, then not so great...until Stevie returned.

6. Bench played solid D, including Royce and Damarius. Was nice to see that improvement.

7. No Caedin today. Reminder, he's a project...patience.

8. Shaka calling timeout up 13 gave me flashbacks to Buzz calling timeout at Georgetown.  Xavier went on their run immediately after that. Never give your opponent a free timeout.

9. Chase was invisible today, which is probably why the officials didn't call anything at the end. But, seriously I think that has to be a no call there. Incidental contact...and the refs probably owed us one after giving Xavier a FT parade in the 2nd half.

10. Win anyway.

[TallTitan34]

Think Jop is best from three when he just catches and shoots. No time to think.

I think it should have been a tripping foul at the end but X got quite a few questionable calls go their way.

I have always hated refs telling a bench to sit down. They stopped play making MU have to inbound it which led to a turnover and easy X bucket.

Fox had terrible picture and sound all day. Woof.

I do wish Shaka would have called a TO during that late X run.

Chase and Stevie appear banged up so hopefully 10 days off gets them right!

[The Sultan]

That was clearly a foul on Chase.

The refs were very inconsistent (what's new), but Marquette does commit a lot of ticky tack stuff...often on the perimeter and often early in the half, that really benefits the opposition down the stretch. I love the aggressive defense, but sometimes their aggression gets them into trouble.

[MUfan12]

That was clearly a foul on Chase.

The refs were very inconsistent (what's new), but Marquette does commit a lot of ticky tack stuff...often on the perimeter and often early in the half, that really benefits the opposition down the stretch. I love the aggressive defense, but sometimes their aggression gets them into trouble.

100% agree here. Have to be smarter picking their spots. Reaching in and slapping at the ball is gonna get called a ton away from the hoop. Need to wall up on those traps.

[DoctorV]

Nice summary. Agree with all points except 9, I thought it was a foul.

There was a weird sense imo at about 5:30 left that Marquette would get into trouble with Stevie and Chase on 4 fouls, and then Kam missed the front end and X nailed a 3.
Game got away from Shaka a bit at that point imo.

Odd take of the day for me-
Tre was good/serviceable today, but there were several times in the 2H where I was begging for Shaka to give us a lineup of
Benny, Parham, Jop, Damarius, Kam. For some reason I'd really like to see it. Nice length, when the frosh are playing defense it might work.
You could slide in Stevie to give Kam a break or Zaide in Owens spot here, but I like the length aspect and the scoring ability that would come from that lineup, in moments where the offense stagnates

[CountryRoads]

Thought our bench gave us some really good minutes. Shaka gives them a lot of run, which should help in the future. Think Tre is turning a bit of a corner.

[CTWarrior]

If we're going to go anywhere, our bench has to get a lot better.  We were borderline helpless when Stevie and Chase were sitting for a longish stretch.

[kclem]

Good job filling in for Tower, especially with the title of the thread.

[The Sultan]

Thought our bench gave us some really good minutes. Shaka gives them a lot of run, which should help in the future. Think Tre is turning a bit of a corner.

They did and he did, but CT Warrior is right though. There just isn't any bench player that comes in that you can consistently count on rather than just playing well at the margins.

[dajudge]

Think Jop is best from three when he just catches and shoots. No time to think.

I think it should have been a tripping foul at the end but X got quite a few questionable calls go their way.

I have always hated refs telling a bench to sit down. They stopped play making MU have to inbound it which led to a turnover and easy X bucket.

Fox had terrible picture and sound all day. Woof.

I do wish Shaka would have called a TO during that late X run.

Chase and Stevie appear banged up so hopefully 10 days off gets them right!

That non-call goes against MU, my family likely planning a funeral!!

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Thought Tre had some nice minutes today.

[Miss Katie’s]

Good job filling in for Tower, especially with the title of the thread.

Agreed. A+ thread title.

[Goose]

My observation of the team, aside from Kam, is that it looks like a football team with a slew of #2 and a couple of #3 receivers. There are guys that step up most games, but one of the non seniors needs to step it up on a consistent basis. To be honest, I would put Stevie and Jop in the same category.

As I mentioned last week, the ceiling is lower for this team and the floor is higher. Ross and Gold are my key guys going forward if this team can have a chance at top three BE and a run in tournament. I do not think you can leave it to chance and see who becomes 1b on this team on a given night.

[mu_hilltopper]

I'm in the camp the last play was NOT a foul on Chase.

Chase's foot was planted.   Chase's toes do rotate upward, heel planted, but that happens when #7 kicked/flicked Chase's foot as he tried and failed to jump over the planted foot.

.. Also .. Stevie Mitchell might be our most important player.   Things went to complete hell when he was sitting w/4 PFs.

[MuggsyB]

I thought our bench had a very solid game today.

[MuggsyB]

Thought our bench gave us some really good minutes. Shaka gives them a lot of run, which should help in the future. Think Tre is turning a bit of a corner.

Sorry, I missed your post CR.  I couldn't agree more.  Loved Zaide's theft and bucket. 

[Badgerhater]

I have always hated refs telling a bench to sit down. They stopped play making MU have to inbound it which led to a turnover and easy X bucket.

Refs stopped MU twice with the X bench call and the shot clock not starting...both trips were unsuccessful.

Since on the other end, do not penalize the offense to give the warning.  Wait until the change of possession.

[lostpassword]

This game reminded me of St. John's on the road last year.  Up big with 6 left, went to hell, Kolek missed FTs, and SJ had last shot to win but we came away with a road W.

[muwarrior69]

I'm in the camp the last play was NOT a foul on Chase.

Chase's foot was planted.  Chase's toes do rotate upward, heel planted, but that happens when #7 kicked/flicked Chase's foot as he tried and failed to jump over the planted foot.

.. Also .. Stevie Mitchell might be our most important player.  Things went to complete hell when he was sitting w/4 PFs.

Definitely, sure passed the eyetest for me.

[The Sultan]

If you foot is planted outside your body, they are going to call that foul. If that were the middle of the first half, that would have been called 10 times out of 10.

[muwarrior69]

I don't know how many fouls they called against us today, but rest assured it will be double that at the Dunk or whatever they call that place these days.

[WarriorFan]

Nice win.  Happy for the team.  Maybe lucky X's best player is injured.  X game planned well for Kam going left in the first half.  Kam went right in the 2nd half. 

As a Jop questioner, I'll say this was Jop's best game so far. I think he even had an assist!

Chase is important.

Stevie is amazing. Made the plays that won the game.

[We R Final Four]

W

That was clearly a foul on Chase.

The refs were very inconsistent (what's new), but Marquette does commit a lot of ticky tack stuff...often on the perimeter and often early in the half, that really benefits the opposition down the stretch. I love the aggressive defense, but sometimes their aggression gets them into trouble.

Well, they are not in a vaccum.
Agressive team generating lots of turnovers up top get ticky tack fouls.....thats the trade off. Easier said than done "I love all of our steals but I hate the ticky tack fouls. Comes with the territory.

[Uncle Rico]

Marquette up to 8th in KenPom.  15th in offensive efficiency and 16th in defensive efficiency.

[We R Final Four]

If we're going to go anywhere, our bench has to get a lot better.  We were borderline helpless when Stevie and Chase were sitting for a longish stretch.

its early. Shaka needs the bench to get up to speed on D first. All of January. All of February. 1/2 March. Practice. Watch. Learn. He is preparing them to be serviceable in March.