Missing Stevie

[wadesworld]

This defense STINKS out loud.

[Johnny B]

Missing anyone from the last 4 years

[wadesworld]

Layup. Lines.

(And warmup 3s).

[tower912]

I miss the innate understanding of help defense and switching that comes from playing together for so many years.

[wadesworld]

I miss the innate understanding of help defense and switching that comes from playing together for so many years.

That should be one of the benefits of Shaka's retention model. All 5 starters are in their 3rd + year in the program.

[tower912]

It looks like a different system.   Less switching 1-5.

[Daniel]

Keep in mind, this is Shaka's first team that is his 100%.  So . . . What will we see going forward.....

[JakeBarnes]

It looks like a different system.   Less switching 1-5.

but somehow worse hedging at the key.

[Farley36]

At this point we're missing Wojo.

[wadesworld]

Keep in mind, this is Shaka's first team that is his 100%.  So . . . What will we see going forward.....

I'm not worried at all about Shaka and his teams going forward. I am worried about this year's team.

The good news is the offense looks okay, even with a bunch of missed bunnies and open threes.

But this program needs to defend.

[JakeBarnes]

I'm not worried at all about Shaka and his teams going forward. I am worried about this year's team.

The good news is the offense looks okay, even with a bunch of missed bunnies and open threes.

But this program needs to defend.

Hey now. they got like 3 stops today.

[tower912]

but somehow worse hedging at the key.

IU did a great job of running DeVries and Wilkerson off screens. MU looked indecisive on how to defend that.  Too often, the screener's defender did not jump out at the shooter.  Too often the shooter's defender was trailing too far behind.  Then, on the rare occasion that both defenders went for the shooter, the screener rolled and there was no weak side help.

Better communication, better switching, more reps, please.

[willie warrior]

Keep in mind, this is Shaka's first team that is his 100%.  So . . . What will we see going forward.....

Hmmmm....

[Elonsmusk]

The refereeing today totally took MU's defense out of what it does best - heat up ballhandlers/body to body.  IU got called for plenty of tick tack fouls too - but we rely so much on physical, ball pressure defense to create turnovers - refs took that away today.

[mileskishnish72]

The refereeing today totally took MU's defense out of what it does best - heat up ballhandlers/body to body.  IU got called for plenty of tick tack fouls too - but we rely so much on physical, ball pressure defense to create turnovers - refs took that away today.

Hard to blame the refs for that performance.

[GB Warrior]

Hard to blame the refs for that performance.

No kidding. We were in the double bonus for nearly 30 minutes and couldn't do sh!t

[tower912]

No kidding. We were in the double bonus for nearly 30 minutes and couldn't do sh!t

MU shot and made a ton of free throws.  Also scored more points in the paint.  3's and TO's.

[GB Warrior]

MU shot and made a ton of free throws.  Also scored more points in the paint.  3's and TO's.

Yes that's my point. The officials had a positive impact for Marquette.

Edit: see why that was confusing. We were *shooting* the double bonus for nearly 30 mins

[Daniel]

MU shot and made a ton of free throws.  Also scored more points in the paint.  3's and TO's.

and 10 assists vs 27 for IU. 

[Nukem2]

and 10 assists vs 27 for IU. 

The experience of all those 4, 5 and 6 year guys for IU certainly showed today.

[MU82]

The refereeing today totally took MU's defense out of what it does best - heat up ballhandlers/body to body.  IU got called for plenty of tick tack fouls too - but we rely so much on physical, ball pressure defense to create turnovers - refs took that away today.

C'mon, man.

[Elonsmusk]

C'mon, man.

If you don't understand the way the game was called today was a big reason why we gave up 100+, I don't know what to tell you.

Doesn't matter that we shot a ton of FTs. MU's defense is predicated on heating the ball handler up and playing physically. It couldn't do that today. Neither could Indiana..I just doubt IU's defensive identity is the same as ours.

[MU82]

If you don't understand the way the game was called today was a big reason why we gave up 100+, I don't know what to tell you.

Doesn't matter that we shot a ton of FTs. MU's defense is predicated on heating the ball handler up and playing physically. It couldn't do that today. Neither could Indiana..I just doubt IU's defensive identity is the same as ours.

C'mon, man.

[Elonsmusk]

C'mon, man.

Perfect example of my point was when MU cut the lead down to 10 or 12 in the second half - Nigel James pretty much took the ball away from IU guard in the backcourt right in front of Shaka.  Whistle. Crean thought the foul was called on the IU player as Nigel was attempting to take it the other way.  Never should have been a whistle on Nigel. 

[GoldenEagles03]

Perfect example of my point was when MU cut the lead down to 10 or 12 in the second half - Nigel James pretty much took the ball away from IU guard in the backcourt right in front of Shaka.  Whistle. Crean thought the foul was called on the IU player as Nigel was attempting to take it the other way.  Never should have been a whistle on Nigel. 

I know the exact play you are talking about. Nigel stepped out of bounds.

The officials were equally bad both ways. We lost because we stink on defense. We will get better, but we sucked.

A humbling experience that could be a fun look back if we build off of it.