State of the Team... Your thoughts??

[LastWarrior]

Okay... let's not get carried away with the two losses so far this season.  I'm as pissed as anybody about the two losses and while I didn't see NDSU, I saw yesterday's game in person.  We didn't play with much emotion, we couldn't get the offense going at all, our defensive intensity was good at times but not consistent, and we shot like sh*t from 3 pt land.  With everything that went wrong, we lost by 4 to the #12 team in the country and one of our biggest rivals.  It sucks but it's not that bad a loss.  Wisconsin hit big shots at the end of the game but a few of those (two to my recollection) got lucky rolls and were wild, acrobatic shots.  We play marginally better and hit a couple more threes or some of their late game shots don't fall, we win!   As poorly as we played yesterday, you have to be encouraged by the play of the two freshmen, David & Lazar.  Both played big minutes early in the game and Lazar's 1st half putback dunk was very impressive.  The guy has some hops!! 

Fact is we have a lot of talent and we're still gonna finish in the top 5 of the Big East and we're still going to make the NCAA tournament.  We've got a lot of things that we need to improve before the end of the season but that's what is great about college basketball - we've got time to improve.  We're in no worse a position than we were last year at this time.  Our expectations are much higher this season, so that is why we're all upset.  This team is too talented to continue to play like this.  We will get better and the coaching staff has a few weeks to get things straightened out.

I'll agree with one thing that Murf said in his post... it looks like that we are being so agressive on defense and trying to get steals, that we get ourselves out of position on defense.  One other thing I have a problem with is that I have yet to see a team leader emerge.  I thought it was Wes but I didn't see that yesterday and I don't think the leader is DJ.  We need somebody to step and get the other guys inline when things are going bad.  If there are some poor relationships on the team or there are some hard feelings with one another, they have to hug it out.  The team is only gonna be strong as it weakest link and we need to be a close team (i know it sounds corny but...) , especially with the way we play and the need for communication on defense.  It's hard to talk on the court to another player if you've got some off the court issues with him.  Also, we got to be smart with the alley-ops... the one we missed yesterday was horrible.  At that point in the game, we needed points more than we did to pump up the crowd.  The guys have to play smart ball and that is something that a leader on the team needs to police... not the coach.

So while I'm worried about the way we're playing right now, I haven't changed my expectations for the team.  We've got a lot of season left to get better and the best time to be peaking is going into the NCAA tourney... not in December.  I have confidence in our talent and in our coaching staff to right the ship.

FIRE UP MARQUETTE!!

[4everwarriors]

=No Team Leaders.

[MilTown]

I think at this point we know a lot about our team. I think everyone can see that this team has some great strengths and some major weaknesses, but overall I am very happy with our team. Sure we have two losses, but, as a fan, this is by far the most exciting team since the Final Four squad. Its only going to get better once BE play begins. We probably won't dominate games in the BE, but we will not get blown out either. I think this is the type of team that, if they get hot at the right time, they could make some noise in the tourney. The Marquette program is in great shape. Let's just enjoy the ride.

[bma725]

=No Team Leaders.

None of those guys that left were leaders.  In fact Christian was a team cancer and has been kicked out of UCF for his bad behavior. 

Being a senior doesn't make you a leader.  Its something you're either born with or you aren't, and its not something you can generally find out when your recruiting someone. 

[williewarrior]

Strengths: Quickness, defense and ability to create opponents turnovers
Weaknesses: No inside game against good teams, and one of the poorest shooting teams, particularly from three point land, than I have seen on any Warrior Team in the last 20 years. These two weaknesses are huge.

[jmayer1]

I think I have finally sobered up from yesterady, I think.  Here are some of my obligations from yesterday:

I said on Friday that DJames would be the best player on the court.   Well, after yesterday, I have to put my foot in my mouth.  Tucker carried Bucky to that win yesterday.  It seemed like every time Marquette would get within 4 or 6 in the second half, the BC would rise to its feet waiting for a defensive stop to spur a Marquette run.  It never happened, instead Tucker would come back and score with a twisting, acrobatic, and athletic offensive move.  Hell of a game by Tucker.  Used to think he wasn't going to do anything in the pros cuz he's what scouts like to call a tweener, but now I can see him making an impact in the Assocation.  (of course, I also thought DWade wasn't gonna do much in the pros because of his size and shot so my projections aren't exactly accurate)

I still think Marquette is more talented, but Crean got outcoached.  If Ryan's Xs and Os could be combined with Crean's recruiting ability, I'd think that would be one heck of a coach.

Good game by Landry, he was a difference maker down low.  Matthews, not so much.  2 more opportunities for these 2 to square off, but I would have to say Landry is winning that battle thus far.

I was really surprised and disappointed by the amount of Wiscy fans at the BC.  Don't remember there being that many 2 years ago but I was in the student section then so maybe I just didn't notice as much.

Can still see Marquette winning 9 or 10 BE games and pulling a 4 or 5 seed.  Of course, I could also see MU being the teams that gets upset by a 12 seed.

2 years ago, we were one of the better outside shooting teams in the country with Diener and Novak.  This year we could be on of the worse outside shooting teams in the country, especially when were off, like yesterday.

Sorry this post was so long and I know my observations mean jack; just thought I would share them.  I also posted this at the JSonline forum if anybody reads that; don't want to be accused of copying somebody else's post.

[spiral97]

=No Team Leaders.

soo.... wow.. I'm thinking back to 2003 team.. final four not too shabby.. who were the leaders on that team?  couldn't be wade or deiner.. nope.. they were both 2nd year players..

novak?  hardly.. he was a freshman..

merritt?? nope.. he was a junior..
there was ONE senior in that group.. Jackson.. as good as a post man as he was (relative to other bigs we've had or not had at MU) he was hardly the leader..

so...... either leaders aren't important to make it (in which case this whole thread and your arguments are bogus) or being a senior is not a prerequisite for being a leader.. in fact, I would argue that wade and diener WERE the primary leaders in that group.. with about the same experience level as our sophomores.. oh wait.. but they weren't seniors.. 

[MUDPT]

Yesterday was the third time I have seen MU play and it has been the same story every game (Valpo and NDSU) were the other two.  Like someone said above, we have no low post scorer to even keep defenses honest.  We just need someone who can take one dribble and hit a short jumper or lay the ball in, that's it.  We don't have anybody that can do that right now and that all comes down to recruiting.  I know of 2 Top 100 3/4s 2007 seniors out of Northwest Indiana that were not even sent a letter by our head coach.  I wouldn't really care if actually got some production.

Again. no outside shooting. I remember when we worried about Novak leaving that Lazar was a legit 3 point threat.  I haven't seen that.  I think he will be a fine player, but he is on about the same level as Travis was when he was a freshman (a solid player that can't really carry the team). He is not on the same level as James or Wade were in their first seasons.

Finally, something that always bothered me on the old board was the "Jerel McNeal is better than Dameon Mason and we are better off without him." Jerel has shown so far that he is Dameon Part 2.  And frankly I would rather have a senior Dameon than a sophomore McNeal at this point.

I disagree with the poster above that Landry outplayed Wes.  Wes was the best player on the floor for MU yesterday.  I don't know if you were at the floor but Wes was guarding Tucker one on one, he did pretty well.  Landry is a good player and I thought he played good as well.

[bma725]

Finally, something that always bothered me on the old board was the "Jerel McNeal is better than Dameon Mason and we are better off without him." Jerel has shown so far that he is Dameon Part 2.  And frankly I would rather have a senior Dameon than a sophomore McNeal at this point.

Offensively, sure.  But Dameon has never in his life played defense the way McNeal does.  Mason has just as much athletic ability, but he's never had the desire(even going back to high school) to defend people the way McNeal does. 

In fact, despite the fact that he averages two more turnovers per game than Mason, statistically McNeal creates more possessions, by averaging nearly 3 more steals per game than Mason.  Mason doesn't even average 1 steal per game, and has only one game in his career where he's had 3 steal.  McNeal already has 9 games this year where he's had more than 3.  That washes out a lot of his turnovers, which is something Mason could never do.

[ecompt]

Can we please stop this weave offense that is based on setting up perimeter shots when there is no one on this team who can consistently hit a 3-pointer? My God, not only is the offense unwatchable but it is unproductive when you are shooting 17 percent from outside the arc? Second, we need more plays in which Jerel gets nowhere near the ball. Every time he touches the ball he is a turnover waiting to happen. As great as he is defensively, he is that erratic offensively. What's especially distressing is that he has learned absolutely nothing from his freshman mistakes.

[jmayer1]

I was at the game yesterday and was basing my opinion on the difference Landry made in the game, especially on the defensive end.  Matthews didn't have his best game, but still showed a lot of heart and intensity.  Agree to disagree I guess.

I also hate that stupid weave.  That was basically the offense we ran in Diener's senior year; run the weave until the clock runs down and have TD shoot.  Doesn't seem like Marquette runs many screens which would create easier shots.  Of course its easy for fans to criticize.  Still a lot of season left; its not where this team is in November, its where they are in March.

[Harrison]

Guys both of your comments on the weave are off base.  I do not recall at any time yesterday the team funning the waeve to set up a three point shot.  The weaves that they run also have the option of a screener that usually pops out to the elbow.  Mu runs those weaves to allow for a guard to get dribble penetration.  It was very effective yesterday actaully...jumpers from 8-12 feet are not bad shot the frustration appears to be that they missed them.  I coached ateam three years ago that similar to Mu had little inside prescence and three awesome guards we ran it all the time. it gives the MU guarda a step and they dont need much more than that

[NYWarrior]

Can we please stop this weave offense that is based on setting up perimeter shots when there is no one on this team who can consistently hit a 3-pointer? My God, not only is the offense unwatchable but it is unproductive when you are shooting 17 percent from outside the arc? Second, we need more plays in which Jerel gets nowhere near the ball. Every time he touches the ball he is a turnover waiting to happen. As great as he is defensively, he is that erratic offensively. What's especially distressing is that he has learned absolutely nothing from his freshman mistakes.

Amen.

That Mike Deane weave is drivin' me nuts

[Nukem2]

Yep, that East - West stuff drove my group nutty!

[bma725]

Can we please stop this weave offense that is based on setting up perimeter shots when there is no one on this team who can consistently hit a 3-pointer? My God, not only is the offense unwatchable but it is unproductive when you are shooting 17 percent from outside the arc? Second, we need more plays in which Jerel gets nowhere near the ball. Every time he touches the ball he is a turnover waiting to happen. As great as he is defensively, he is that erratic offensively. What's especially distressing is that he has learned absolutely nothing from his freshman mistakes.

Amen.

That Mike Deane weave is drivin' me nuts

Its a Michigan State thing.  Crean, Deane and even Tom Izzo all run it because they learned while assistants to Jud Heathcote.