Entertaining loss

[Vander Blue Man Group]

No point guard. No center. Time to start using the portal the way Pitino and UCONN does. Seems to be working wonders for The Johnnies. That's the model we're competing against going forward.

For sure. Big sample size for St John's.

[Uncle Rico]

Y'all keep forgetting Kam is up for all American at PG.

No PG.  Hysterical.  6 assists today.

He's not good

[TheBlackJerryWest]

Pretty sure Jay Wright left (and with the cupboard full, BTW) 'cuz he didn't want to deal with the portal and NIL. It's, unfortunately, a whole new ballgame. Are we players?

[tower912]

Pretty sure Jay Wright left (and with the cupboard full, BTW) 'cuz he didn't want to deal with the portal and NIL. It's, unfortunately, a whole new ballgame. Are we players?

Have you been paying attention?

[Uncle Rico]

Pretty sure Jay Wright left (and with the cupboard full, BTW) 'cuz he didn't want to deal with the portal and NIL. It's, unfortunately, a whole new ballgame. Are we players?

No.  We don't have NIL

[Billy Hoyle]

No point guard. No center. Time to start using the portal the way Pitino and UCONN does. Seems to be working wonders for The Johnnies. That's the model we're competing against going forward.

Or we could use it like Indiana did. That's worked out well. UConn brought in Reed but also brought in Mahaney. How's he been for them?

Seeing how AJ Storr has been a program changer at Kansas we should have gone after him.

[SonOfWarrior]

It's all the same game after game. There's no adjustments to the overall anemic offensive scheme. Their defense keeps them around but the offense comes up short. Off balance or out of rhythm three pointers and constantly getting blocked around the basket is getting old.

[tower912]

BJW, all signs are that MU players, particularly upperclassmen who have been productive, are paid via NIL.  There are no official numbers.

MU has not taken a DI transfer in this new NIL era.  Shaka did take transfers to fill out the roster his first season.  TKo, OMax, Kur, Morsels.  But nothing the last three seasons, choosing to focus on relationships and growth. 

Going forward, MU has a 4 player recruiting class, filling 14 out of 15 scholarships for next season.  Based on Shaka's statements, he looks at transfer candidates.  They have to buy into the culture, be a clear upgrade, and not be looking for a bag drop.

[TheBlackJerryWest]

Obviously, Kam is a fantastic player. But he's much better as a two guard playing and creating off the ball. w/o a true point guard (i.e. Kolek or Sean Jones), we don't have that option. We're far too easy to defend when the D only has to worry about one guy and there's very little ball movement. Maybe that's part of why we've been scoring in the 60's regularly?

[MuggsyB]

Just back from the game - contrary to some of the doom and gloom here, I came away encouraged by what I saw.  It was a one possession game with 2 minutes left and then Creighton made their threes. Chase, Stevie and Ben were pretty much non factors and we were still within striking distance the whole game.  Zaide, Royce and Demarius continue to get better and Kam and Jop got their mojo back.  My only regret is that Kalkbrenner didn't get called for any of the many illegal screens he set.

I called that out several times during the game.  Those screens drive me nuts. 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Obviously, Kam is a fantastic player. But he's much better as a two guard playing and creating off the ball. w/o a true point guard (i.e. Kolek or Sean Jones), we don't have that option. We're far too easy to defend when the D only has to worry about one guy and there's very little ball movement. Maybe that's part of why we've been scoring in the 60's regularly?

He's one of the best PGs in the country.

[DoctorV]

Tough to win with essentially 4 starters. I love Ben but he has been non existent the last several games. MU needs a big in this league.

0 rebounds in the last 57 mins of play...

That said, I read your first sentence and thought you were talking about Stevie, so there's that

[MuggsyB]

0 rebounds in the last 57 mins of play...

That said, I read your first sentence and thought you were talking about Stevie, so there's that

That's freaking crazy Dr.V. 

[lostpassword]

0 rebounds in the last 57 mins of play...

Gold had 2 today. Not adequate but not 0.

[DoctorV]

Gold had 2 today. Not adequate but not 0.

Yep my bad it was before the game

[BLWarrior91]

Ben Gold has scored two points in his last four games.  How is it possible to be that tall and completely unable to score?  He has regressed big time.

[Shaka Shart]

Was hoping Kam's new hair style would be the difference.

No hair of the game when we don't cover the spread

[willie warrior]

Isn't that something that should develop over four years?

Oh yes. All part of relationships and development.

[HutchwasClutch]

It's a disappointing loss for sure and there are no moral victories.  Our shooting and efficiency is way too inconsistent, there's no way to sugarcoat that.  In general we create offense from our defense or Kam going one on one.  I think Ross and and Mitchell's offense is vitally important and there are many games where we don't have an efficient 2nd scorer. When Ross, Jop, or Stevie gives us an efficient 15 pts we're exponentially better.  When Ben is part of the offense we are also better.  The last 3 games has been a struggle finding offensive balance.

We played a much better 2H than we've seen in some time.  I liked what I saw with Zaide and Royce. All this said there are many times where this MU team beats themselves and loses their poise.  Specifically understanding a good shot vs a forced or moronic shot.  We also constantly bite on shot fakes  It's frustrating to watch from an experienced team. 

I also think in our offensive sets it's way too much of a struggle to get quality looks, and this is perhaps something that can be tweaked.  I dunno.  We also don't get to the line enough.

4 FT attempts today.  Not nearly good enough

[MarquetteFan94]

Ben Gold has scored two points in his last four games.  How is it possible to be that tall and completely unable to score?  He has regressed big time.

If he's hurt, sit him. If he's not, have him come off the bench and start RP. The fact he has 2 points and 2 rebounds....TOTAL..during this 3 game stretch is more than enough reason to change something. Anything. 

[Shaka Shart]

Why can't we be a perennial tournament team like UNC

[The Sultan]

Be sure to take advice about how to spend your time from a guy who spends his going back through game threads two days after the game.

Right?

[Shaka Shart]

Team is in a funk for sure, maybe a bit dinged up. Teams are roughing them up offensively and making the zebras call it (they aren't, is this due to their defensive style on the other end? I dunno, it's a theory Shaka lobbies for less, not more perhaps and that's the trade off) and a bench that's a bit light on soph development due to various circumstances.

I think there's some legitimacy to the fact that they were better than other teams earlier due to continuity, sure. But also the Big East is better than the non-conference suggested too. I'm worried but good god people need to get a grip. They had a one possession game at the end of the game in one of the best home court advantages in the country and a team on a scorching hot streak.

I really like what I'm seeing from Royce and am hoping Ben's struggles get sorted out and they have two offensive threats at center going into the BET.

Again, this team is 18-6, UConn lost 5/6 games in Big East play when they won the first of the two consecutive titles. Not saying Marquette will do that but perspective would be nice too.

[Shaka Shart]

Oh yes. All part of relationships and development.

Shaka's kids still speak to him, he's got that one on you

[K1 Lover]

BJW, all signs are that MU players, particularly upperclassmen who have been productive, are paid via NIL.  There are no official numbers.

MU has not taken a DI transfer in this new NIL era.  Shaka did take transfers to fill out the roster his first season.  TKo, OMax, Kur, Morsels.  But nothing the last three seasons, choosing to focus on relationships and growth. 

Going forward, MU has a 4 player recruiting class, filling 14 out of 15 scholarships for next season.  Based on Shaka's statements, he looks at transfer candidates.  They have to buy into the culture, be a clear upgrade, and not be looking for a bag drop.

I doubt it'll happen anytime soon, but I think that Shaka will eventually nab someone who fits the description. Or if nothing else, he'll take a transfer just to shut everyone up.

The dude gets asked about being "anti-portal" hundreds of times each season. Surely he'll get sick of constantly correcting that terminology at some point.