1) With MU struggling periodically in defeat and victory, what would you attribute that to? spotty shooting? not getting enough easy baskets via defense?
It’s 3 losses are to Q1 teams away from home, so the level of opponent is a factor. But I’m not that worried, as there have been different factors. Right now Stevie Mitchell has been out with a hamstring injury the past 3 games, and it has really exposed the thinness of MU’s bench.
2) Speaking of turnovers, has Smart deployed his complete pressure package? I've seen 2 different 1 2 2 3/4 court alignments. Also is that a 3-2 zone he sprinkles in?
We haven’t seen much full court pressure this year, and even less token ¾ court outside of Kansas in Maui. This team doesn’t really have a ton of length, and with a thinner than expected bench, the press is not really an option. But Shaka loves to go 3-2 and switch to man mid possession. Does it a few times a half to great success.
3) We all have heard of Kolek. Who is an x factor/subtle guy that's crucial for victory?
Oso Ighodaro might be the team’s MVP even over Kolek. His stats don’t always pop off the page, and he’s been very quiet in certain games, but even without scoring or grabbing rebounds, he is the lynchpin of Marquette, particularly the defense. Marquette’s D is 13.2 points worse per 100 adjusted possessions when he’s off the floor. I can’t say enough about what he does for MU.
4) Has Smart talked about the need to board better?
Ha, every week basically. Shaka’s teams switch everything and have for years, so the defensive rebounding has never been good no matter where he coached. But the key is to not be abysmal (sub-300). And surprisingly, the team is actually top-200 right now in opponent OReb%, per KenPom. So even though there are spurts where it’s not good, they have done well to mitigate it (outside Purdue and Wisconsin).
5) What's your prognostication for tomorrow?
Marquette could get tight if it’s close going into the 2nd half. Against St. Thomas, they were never able to push the lead up from around 14 in the start of the 2ndhalf, and it turned into a 1-possession game late.
But I don’t think that will happen tonight. Marquette is going to avenge it’s worst offensive performance in almost 2 years and come out swinging. I think Marquette can get what it wants against the Hoyas’ porous defense and wins going away.
It’s 3 losses are to Q1 teams away from home, so the level of opponent is a factor. But I’m not that worried, as there have been different factors. Right now Stevie Mitchell has been out with a hamstring injury the past 3 games, and it has really exposed the thinness of MU’s bench.
2) Speaking of turnovers, has Smart deployed his complete pressure package? I've seen 2 different 1 2 2 3/4 court alignments. Also is that a 3-2 zone he sprinkles in?
We haven’t seen much full court pressure this year, and even less token ¾ court outside of Kansas in Maui. This team doesn’t really have a ton of length, and with a thinner than expected bench, the press is not really an option. But Shaka loves to go 3-2 and switch to man mid possession. Does it a few times a half to great success.
3) We all have heard of Kolek. Who is an x factor/subtle guy that's crucial for victory?
Oso Ighodaro might be the team’s MVP even over Kolek. His stats don’t always pop off the page, and he’s been very quiet in certain games, but even without scoring or grabbing rebounds, he is the lynchpin of Marquette, particularly the defense. Marquette’s D is 13.2 points worse per 100 adjusted possessions when he’s off the floor. I can’t say enough about what he does for MU.
4) Has Smart talked about the need to board better?
Ha, every week basically. Shaka’s teams switch everything and have for years, so the defensive rebounding has never been good no matter where he coached. But the key is to not be abysmal (sub-300). And surprisingly, the team is actually top-200 right now in opponent OReb%, per KenPom. So even though there are spurts where it’s not good, they have done well to mitigate it (outside Purdue and Wisconsin).
5) What's your prognostication for tomorrow?
Marquette could get tight if it’s close going into the 2nd half. Against St. Thomas, they were never able to push the lead up from around 14 in the start of the 2ndhalf, and it turned into a 1-possession game late.
But I don’t think that will happen tonight. Marquette is going to avenge it’s worst offensive performance in almost 2 years and come out swinging. I think Marquette can get what it wants against the Hoyas’ porous defense and wins going away.