UNO Game Thread

[The Reptile]

Tough to see where we're at considering how I felt less than 2 years ago coming off an Elite 8. When it looked like we had Vander, Jamil, and Davante all coming back as seniors, quality developing depth in Steve, Juan, CO, and Derrick, and a landmark class with Deonte, Duane, and Jajuan. Who would have imagined it would all turn into what feels kind of like a dumpster fire this quickly?

It's not fair to put this all on Wojo. He is trying to manage another guy's players, and has very few guys with much defensive acumen. But still, this could be a tough season to watch. Hopefully they will develop and start to get it, but if not, how long will it take to really retool the roster? Fischer, Heldt, and Ellenson give us some size, and you figure the defense almost has to get better as these guys figure it out, but it could be 2-3 years before we really see what Wojo wants to do here.

When we went to the Elite 8 we had better guard play. Today, we have guards that can score but can't defend or guards that can defend that can't score. In a guards game that's not ideal.

[MUwarrior1090]

We can score points. We can't stop anyone. Maybe we should try a zone or pack line defense.

[kneelb4zerg]

I was more worried about the offense than the defense. Wojo has been publicly stressing defense. Aside from forcing turnovers what is different about the defense Wojo is trying to run? Does he not have the right personnel to run what he wants?

Say what you want about Buzz, but that guy adapted to his personnel.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

I definitely see the deficiencies, just amazing how we feel so far so fast. That got me thinking of the differences between the team Buzz inherited and the one he left us with. What I wouldn't give for a Dwight Burke type on this team. And when you look at the Amigos they were all pretty good two way players. Same with Lazar. As good a recruiter as Buzz is, Crean did a much better job assembling a team.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

We can score points. We can't stop anyone. Maybe we should try a zone or pack line defense.

I was thinking about a zone but how well would it work with such a small team? Seems like the gaps in the zone would be bigger and easier to exploit.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

I think it is a bit of a cop out to say that this is another guy's players. He's had eight months to make them his players. Now I am not jumping off the ledge here, but this looks like a young team coached by someone without a great deal of experience. How they rebound from this over the next two weeks I think is going to tell a lot about how this season is going to pan out.

8 months isn't really that long, is it? Love him or hate him, I do think Chicos' philosophy about giving a coach 5 years before you really evaluate him is fair. I'm not saying you can't make some judgments earlier than that, but 8 months in the career of a college player is a pretty short time period.

[MUwarrior1090]

I was thinking about a zone but how well would it work with such a small team? Seems like the gaps in the zone would be bigger and easier to exploit.

Yeah, I'm not sure. What I do know is that the high, tight ball pressure isn't going to work when the guards can't stay in front of their man. Breaks down the entire defense right from the point.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

The worst for me was in the second half when Carlino got blown by, chased his man, and fouled him from behind. One of those awful fouls you can see coming from a mile away. And a fifth year senior...

[Nukem2]

The worst for me was in the second half when Carlino got blown by, chased his man, and fouled him from behind. One of those awful fouls you can see coming from a mile away. And a fifth year senior...

Derrick and Juan each had 2 bad turnovers in 2nd half when MU had tied the score or went up by 2. More senior leadership.

[Nukem2]

I was thinking about a zone but how well would it work with such a small team? Seems like the gaps in the zone would be bigger and easier to exploit.

Yep not enough height or length to be effective in a Zone. Forget pressure and get the heck back on defense.