College Basketball 2011-2012

[DHonks]

I was so excited when Marquette made that mini-run, but the non-call on the Flagrant really iced the game. All tourney long they've been going to the monitor and calling those plays as Flagrants. Heck, by not calling anything on Fla, and by calling a foul on Marquette, the result was something between a 2 and 7 point swing.

 

Still, Marquette had a good opportunity. Fla didn't play well, but MU didn't control the tempo and couldn't buy a bucket. Good news is that the future is bright. Cadougan is getting better, Otule should return with Gardner and Wilson upfront. Mayo has great potential and is a legit scorer. Blue is an early pick for breakout player. He handles the ball well and is a good defender and FT shooter, but needs to learn to hit open shots. I'm hoping for him to progress like McNeal did before his Jr year. Throw in that Anderson and Jones were thought highly of in HS, and Marquette has the makings of another very good season next year.

[paul253]

I find it ironic that just moments before, DJO was called for a foul for slapping the FLA player on the forehead as he dribbled by him. Then just minutes later FLA"s player elbows Wilson in the face and nothing. I don't like to blame refs for losses, and certainly MU could have played better, but I was not happy with the officiating.

[Oldcity]

I don't know. I know Mayo is a freshman, but his basketball IQ is pretty terrible. Jacking up threes with nobody under the basket, poor decisions on the break, bad turnovers... I've thought the same thing about Cadougan, Blue, and Jamil Wilson at times as well.

 

From what we've been hearing, it sounds like recruiting is getting even better for both UW and Marquette. Hard to get excited about that now, though. Tonight sure sucked.

[TooLiveBrew]

Outmatched athletically but they missed a lot of throws and played pretty poor defense today. Bucky should have won that game.

It was there for the taking, that's for sure. And I really am a fan of Badger hoops, I just get frustrated with Bo's approach at times.

 

And I was sorry to see Marquette go, but Florida sure looks better than a 7 seed right now. Marquette can hold their heads high for this season. I'll be interested to see what Buzz can do without Crowder & DJO. Part of me wonders if this might be a perfect season for him to move to a different job, although I know his recruiting has been very good... so the cupboard shouldn't be bare.

[Baldkin]

just got done watching the game off the DVR, so I haven't read any posts from tonight yet . . . .

 

who the heck called that play to end the game? Beetle Bailey? I so hate playground ball and 1-on-1 isos which end up 1-on-3 because the defense actually plays college defense instead of the stuff you'd see at Rucker Park.

 

It was actually a great play by Taylor. He drew the double team out, 5+ feet from the 3 point line and dished it to Wilson. If Wilson does what he's supposed to -- dribble towards the rim, or pass the ball to anyone but JT or anything but what he actually did, he either gets fouled, gets a dunk or Gasser gets a wide open jumper to win the game. Instead, he gave it right back to the guy getting double teamed, 8 feet from the 3-point line.

[PeaveyFury]

Right, but the ball went out of bounds so the clock was stopped.

 

Whoops, you are correct, sir. I know he was at the scorers table, but have no explanation for why he didn't get back in.

If Wilson does what he's supposed to

 

Correct. Charles Barkley pointed out that as soon as Wilson gets the ball, he needed to go inside and either try for the hoop/foul or kick it out, and it seems like Rob panicked or something.

[Glennron]

just got done watching the game off the DVR, so I haven't read any posts from tonight yet . . . .

 

who the heck called that play to end the game? Beetle Bailey? I so hate playground ball and 1-on-1 isos which end up 1-on-3 because the defense actually plays college defense instead of the stuff you'd see at Rucker Park.

 

It was actually a great play by Taylor. He drew the double team out, 5+ feet from the 3 point line and dished it to Wilson. If Wilson does what he's supposed to -- dribble towards the rim, or pass the ball to anyone but JT or anything but what he actually did, he either gets fouled, gets a dunk or Gasser gets a wide open jumper to win the game. Instead, he gave it right back to the guy getting double teamed, 8 feet from the 3-point line.

 

As much as I love Jordan Taylor, I think this is exactly why the offense may run more smoothly without him. So much of their offense the last couple years has been standing around for the first 25 seconds of the shot clock and then passing it to Taylor without a set play. It's insane how much the offense has relied on him. Then again, they did the same thing with Hughes before Taylor so who knows if that'll change.

[LouisEly]

"I don't know. I know Mayo is a freshman, but his basketball IQ is pretty terrible. Jacking up threes with nobody under the basket, poor decisions on the break, bad turnovers..."

 

I think you just answered why - he's a freshman. Freshmen tend to do things like that. The fact that he's playing this much as a freshman (as opposed to Juan Anderson or sophomore Jamail Jones, supposedly a high recruit) says he actually has an above-average basketball IQ. For a freshman.

 

Mayo will likely be their go-to guy next year, barring a big improvement in shooting % from Blue. Blue significantly improved his free throw % from last year, so he may make a big jump. Cadougan isn't a great shooter, and is even worse than Blue at free throws. Mayo and Gardner are going to be their biggest offensive threats, unless this juco transfer TJ Taylor is the next DJ-O.

[MJLiverock]

just got done watching the game off the DVR, so I haven't read any posts from tonight yet . . . .

 

who the heck called that play to end the game? Beetle Bailey? I so hate playground ball and 1-on-1 isos which end up 1-on-3 because the defense actually plays college defense instead of the stuff you'd see at Rucker Park.

 

It was actually a great play by Taylor. He drew the double team out, 5+ feet from the 3 point line and dished it to Wilson. If Wilson does what he's supposed to -- dribble towards the rim, or pass the ball to anyone but JT or anything but what he actually did, he either gets fouled, gets a dunk or Gasser gets a wide open jumper to win the game. Instead, he gave it right back to the guy getting double teamed, 8 feet from the 3-point line.

 

You have to also remember that Wilson has spent his whole career on the bench and if he did get in a game, take a shot and miss, he was parked on the bench for the remainder. The whole team plays timid most of the time and looks afraid to shoot, Gasser passed up open looks multiple times during the game, but of course only 10 or 15 seconds had run off the shot clock then. I think these guy have the don't shoot mentality drilled into their heads so much they just automatically look to Taylor to jack it up whenever the clock gets low. Tough to change an entire season's mentality for one play, let alone not even taking a timeout to set something up or remind them Taylor doesn't have to shoot from 25 feet.

[craigharmann]

The more I think about that game, the more frustrated I am. They could have very easily won the game before the last 15 seconds. They ran clock the last 2+ minutes of the game, while down 3. While not a big deal, they needed to get some points on the board. Just frustrating. Oh well. Such is life. At least they made it to the sweet 16.

[RockCoCougars]

If you have possession down by one with a minute to play, you don't run the game clock under 30 seconds, creating a make it or start fouling situation- you go for the two for one.... preferably taking the ball toward the hoop (yes, I know, novel concept- and I don't want to hear about Syracuse's zone either). Regarding the final possession, everyone knew that Taylor was going to shoot it, most notably Syracuse. It was glaringly obvious that no one else wanted any part of the final shot. Yes, Taylor had canned threes with a guy (or two) in his face in the game, but that shot was very low percentage. On a positive note, that was the best lob pass that I've ever seen him throw.

[homer]

If you have possession down by one with a minute to play, you don't run the game clock under 30 seconds, creating a make it or start fouling situation- you go for the two for one.... preferably taking the ball toward the hoop (yes, I know, novel concept- and I don't want to hear about Syracuse's zone either). Regarding the final possession, everyone knew that Taylor was going to shoot it, most notably Syracuse. It was glaringly obvious that no one else wanted any part of the final shot.

 

 

Which is the bigger problem rather than the design of the play. If you watch it again, Wilson hesitated which killed the advantage they had. He definitely had some options had he been aggressive there.

 

So blame Bo for not preparing them better on the play but the one they drew up created the space they needed. Just didn't execute.

[RockCoCougars]

Another problem is that they didn't really draw up anything because they didn't use the time out. Why, I have no idea, because it's not like they were going to take a quick shot (with a chance to foul and get the ball back if they missed)

[jjfanec]

Another problem is that they didn't really draw up anything because they didn't use the time out. Why, I have no idea, because it's not like they were going to take a quick shot (with a chance to foul and get the ball back if they missed)

 

They actually had a play called before the missed free throw. They knew what they were running but they didnt execute the play. Bo said it was a play they had a lot of success on over the night but they movement wasnt there

[PeaveyFury]

Bo specifically said he didn't want to use the timeout because we've struggled inbounding the ball this year.

[Funketown]

Well, so it goes.

 

Nothing to be ashamed of for Carolina. Played hard down to the last second against a very strong two seed on the road. Hats off to Stilman White for really stepping it up. Outside of missing a couple of open looks, he played really well under a huge amount of pressure. I suppose after losing 3 of their top seven to what would be season-ending injuries, this should have been expected.

 

Cheering for Kansas from here on out.

[TooLiveBrew]

My uncle (KS native) calls Roy Williams "Deputy Daawwg" (think Kansas/great-plains-almost-southern accent). I can never un-hear that now.

[fondybrewfan]

I hate every single Final 4 team; I going to dread next weekend.

 

Kentucky just recruits a bunch of one and dones; an all star team if you will

Louisville because of Rick Pitino

Ohio St because they are Ohio State

Kansas because they should have done this last year when it actually mattered to me

 

A true blue blood tournament this year and not especially exciting; Kentucky will have to choke to lose this

 

This tournament has had a huge lack of close and exciting games; pretty disappointing

[TooLiveBrew]

Kentucky just recruits a bunch of one and dones; an all star team if you will

 

Not to mention that Calipari has cheated in recruiting at all of his D1 jobs. Gee, I wonder if he's finally broken those habits...

[ttsather]

My uncle (KS native) calls Roy Williams "Deputy Daawwg" (think Kansas/great-plains-almost-southern accent). I can never un-hear that now.

 

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[owbc]

Yawwwwn. What a boring final four. The usual suspects again. Definitely not making any plans to watch those games.

[craigharmann]

Wake me when it's time for "One Shining Moment"

[Funketown]

I know I'm probably in the minority, but I like having elite teams in the final four. At the start of the tournament, OSU, Kentucky, Kansas, and UNC were probably the four scariest teams, and without Marshall, OSU, Kentucky, and Kansas are probably the three best teams in the country.

 

I don't like to watch Louisville, because they bore the heck out of me, but that is one of the classic rivalries in college hoops and they're meeting on a huge stage. Kansas-OSU should be a great game, and either of those teams playing Kentucky in the final should be another great game. Does anybody remember how horrendous last year's final was?

[jjfanec]

Craziest rumor of the off-season has to be the SMU going after Buzz Williams rumor. Didnt see that coming. Crazier part is it sounds like Buzz is listening. This doesnt seem like a power play to get more money since he got a big extension last year. Not sure what to make of it but Marquette insiders are saying the rumor has legitimacy.

[owbc]

Buzz should stay put this year and wait for a better job to open up. Pure speculation, but maybe Texas in a year or two if they remain mediocre? I guess Martin might leave K-State eventually so that could be another option if he wants to go back to the Big 12. But Marquette has a good reputation and I think it would take a huge opening (like Crean to Indiana) to move him.