Jagging off

[tower912]

1.  Start of the second half...oh, THAT Caedin Hamilton.
2.  A problem for MU forever is when they hit 3s early, they get lazy and just keep jacking them up.  I mean, going back to the Deane era.
3.  Two games, two zones.  When MU was intentional with their movement, they got good shots.
4. The Southern guards are better than the Albany guards.  MU struggled to stay in front of them for much of the game.
5.  The run finally came due to stops, rebounds, transition.   Weird.
6. With the two freshman guards on the floor.
7. Shaka should have used a time out with 3 to go.  I know he didn't want to, but that group wasn't doing the work on either end.   
8. This is going to be so much fun.  The adventure every night.  I wonder how long it will be until there is a consistent rotation.
9.  Two down.  Lots of upside.  Lots to work on at practice.

Beat IU.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

This is your best thread title ever.

Phillips has a beautiful jump shot. Wow.

[MUEng92]

Oh no you ditint

[MuggsyB]

MU has to make an effort to attack the paint early imo.  We definitely get 3 happy. 

[Zog from Margo]

Transition D needs work. Ross was unreal in the second half. Hamilton has really developed and Clark is better than I expected. Lowery is showing signs of stepping up as a scorer. James and Stevens really bring it in D for freshmen. Fun team to watch.

[CountryRoads]

Transition D needs work. Ross was unreal in the second half. Hamilton has really developed and Clark is better than I expected. Lowery is showing signs of stepping up as a scorer. James and Stevens really bring it in D for freshmen. Fun team to watch.

Agreed on all points.

[Shooter McGavin]

This is your best thread title ever.

Phillips has a beautiful jump shot. Wow.

Yep.  Agreed That's probably why he isn't red shirting.  May need him in a handful of games to hit a couple threes when the rest of the team is in a funk.  Could be a nice spark off the bench once in a while (hopefully more).

[mileskishnish72]

Yes, transition D needs work - there were multiple occasions when Jaguars went coast to coast and scored. We need to think about these lobs - they look great when they work but they didn't look great tonight. The opening came when we came out in the 2nd half and
ATTACKED. Assertive, going to the tin. As for Shaka taking a TO at the 3-min. mark,
fuggedabout it - Shaka may leave this world with the most retained TO's of any coach.

As an aside, I loved the comment by the announcers that the ability to challenge calls would speed up the game. Huh?

[Newsdreams]

10. Didn't cover

[mug644]

I agreed with Brian Butch when he said early in the 2nd half that MU was being more decisive on offense, especially as they attacked the lane. It was evident with Jones, Ross and Hamilton, and kicked in again during the big run in the latter part of the game. I get that the team is not so accustomed to being focused and aggressive against a zone, but it did make a difference tonight.

[MuggsyB]

We need to be better passing the ball once we draw help and are in the paint.  I get we faced zone but I'd like to see more cutting off the ball.   

[BM1090]

I agreed with Brian Butch when he said early in the 2nd half that MU was being more decisive on offense, especially as they attacked the lane. It was evident with Jones, Ross and Hamilton, and kicked in again during the big run in the latter part of the game. I get that the team is not so accustomed to being focused and aggressive against a zone, but it did make a difference tonight.

Agreed on Butch's point. He did annoy me at least three times when he called out an MU player for leaving his feet when he didn't leave his feet at all.

[BM1090]

James and Stevens are both ahead of where our freshmen have been the last couple of years, so that's great to see.

Royce really needs to figure out how to be a better basketball player. It's all there talent wise. He needs to slow down and put it together.

Ben's turned into a really good defender and solid rebounder. His fouls and "bad" plays tonight are when his teammates left him on an island.

Caedin and Josh are going to be a solid center duo. Add in Pearson and we're going to have some skill and/or athleticism at the five for awhile.

If one of Ian, Michael, or Nash Walker were a year older and more polished it would really change this team. But I do think there can be enough outside shooting there if the team focuses on taking the right shots. A lot of the threes feel rushed and the guys aren't set. When they actually play inside out, the shots look pretty good.

Wish Tre could shoot even a little bit. He's good at attacking closeouts and finishing, but he doesn't get many closeouts to attack.

Indiana will be fun and interesting. Looking forward to it.

[MuggsyB]

James and Stevens are both ahead of where our freshmen have been the last couple of years, so that's great to see.

Royce really needs to figure out how to be a better basketball player. It's all there talent wise. He needs to slow down and put it together.

Ben's turned into a really good defender and solid rebounder. His fouls and "bad" plays tonight are when his teammates left him on an island.

Caedin and Josh are going to be a solid center duo. Add in Pearson and we're going to have some skill and/or athleticism at the five for awhile.

If one of Ian, Michael, or Nash Walker were a year older and more polished it would really change this team. But I do think there can be enough outside shooting there if the team focuses on taking the right shots. A lot of the threes feel rushed and the guys aren't set. When they actually play inside out, the shots look pretty good.

Wish Tre could shoot even a little bit. He's good at attacking closeouts and finishing, but he doesn't get many closeouts to attack.

Indiana will be fun and interesting. Looking forward to it.

James and Stevens are both ahead of where our freshmen have been the last couple of years, so that's great to see.

Royce really needs to figure out how to be a better basketball player. It's all there talent wise. He needs to slow down and put it together.

Ben's turned into a really good defender and solid rebounder. His fouls and "bad" plays tonight are when his teammates left him on an island.

Caedin and Josh are going to be a solid center duo. Add in Pearson and we're going to have some skill and/or athleticism at the five for awhile.

If one of Ian, Michael, or Nash Walker were a year older and more polished it would really change this team. But I do think there can be enough outside shooting there if the team focuses on taking the right shots. A lot of the threes feel rushed and the guys aren't set. When they actually play inside out, the shots look pretty good.

Wish Tre could shoot even a little bit. He's good at attacking closeouts and finishing, but he doesn't get many closeouts to attack.

Indiana will be fun and interesting. Looking forward to it.

Ya... I couldn't agree more about RP.  We really need him to figure it out.  It would also be nice if DO played with less hesitation.  Both have the talent. 

[DoctorV]

Nice thread title.

Another enjoyable game to my eyes.

Didn't turn it over much given the frenetic pace of the game. Protecting the ball has been a pleasant surprise to start the year and hopefully it continues.

-Chase showed he can be an alpha in the scoring department. Solid finishing at the rim and more aggressive when they needed him to be.
If his outside shot falls at a decent clip he will get drafted. Athleticism fits the bill, plays within himself, super efficient, solid leadership and defensive presence- has the look of a 3/slash and D type of player in the NBA if he can shoot it.

-Sean Jones showed he can still play. Nigel is more than a fine compliment so the 1 is set. Just make some open 3s to keep the defense honest and give themselves more space in the lane.

-Benny, Caedin, and Clark provide 3 different types of looks at the 5, each with a unique skillset and ability to allow Shaka more options there. Remains to be seen if Ceadin and Clark can be useful for long stretches against better competition, but if they can Shaka will be in decent shape there too.

-Wings have a lot of options, but need guys to step up and grab the bull by the horns.
Chase has one spot of the 3 comfortable.
Zaide looks ready. Parham/Owens/Stevens/Tre group needs a guy or guys to step into a bigger and more effective role by BE play.
Likely Parham and/or Owens taking the next step will be the key. Stevens will be a really good career player at Marquette.

-Great looking shot MikePhiII! Hopefully he finds a way to stay on the court on the defensive end so he can make some more and not be a situational 3P guy for the whole season

-Real nice to not see a massive drop off when Shaka mixes it up. The freshmen are holding their own incredibly well and everyone else is doing their best to get whatever minutes they can and play a valuable role.
We will soon find out who can be effective against the big boys.

-It'll be up and down all year for some of the guys, but if they show that they can hold their own against high major competition, even if not night in and night out, it'll give Shaka a lot of options to play the effective/hot hand while he waits to see who grabs the opportunities he gives

Hopefully Sunday will be fun.
See you all there!

[CountryRoads]

Thought it was interesting in Shakas press conference that they specifically try and pick teams that will play man to man against them. Both teams played zone so far the majority of the games.