NEWS FLASH: QUIT THE FRIGGING 3 POINT SHOOTING!!!!

[79Warrior]

who the F are we kidding jacking that garbage. again and again and again.

[CTWarrior]

Did you enjoy watching Hayward getting his shot blocked by Louisville's defender's chests?  This team better learn how to knock down a 10 foot mid range jumper or we have nothing on offense against a team like that.

[Jackson_Downer]

I love the three's.  Love them.  I am afraid this team just doesn't have the touch for it.  There's no bonafide threat for the three and anyone who puts one up - it's pretty much, your guess is as good as mine whether it'll go in or not.  Has Fitz just lost confidence out there?  Kinda makes me wonder what this team practices during the week.  It's obviously not free throws.

[79Warrior]

Did you enjoy watching Hayward getting his shot blocked by Louisville's defender's chests?  This team better learn how to knock down a 10 foot mid range jumper or we have nothing on offense against a team like that.

I agree. Problem is it might be a little late for the amigos. Mid way through your junior year you would think the shots might start falling. The backcourt will be pretty crowded next year now that DJ may have no choice but to return. Nobody is talking NBA now for him.

[mhendrick]

Tough to win as a guard oriented team when the guards can't shoot the ball!!!Maybe its time to put S.C. into the game and let him stretch the defense so are guards who can only drive and throw up wild uncontrolled shots have more room to do so.  Scott C. might not be ready defensively, but at this point we need to do something about the offense.

[CTWarrior]

This fascination with Christopherson amazes me.  He made a shot against Cincy.  Let's start him!   He hasn't really even proved himself to be a real good shooter.  Besides, he is a guy that is easily taken away by a good defensive team like Louisville.  If he makes one 3, he won't get another.  He can't get his own shot and he can't shoot over anyone.  He cannot defend anyone.  You wanna give him a few minutes against ND, go right ahead.  No way against UL or UConn, please.

[DonCornholeone]

I absolutely agree.  Fitz appears to have lost confidence, combined with the offense's lack of running plays to get him open perimeter looks (he certainly has little ability to create his own shot), he doesn't do us much good out there.  SC (aka "Golden Boy") has a high level of skill shooting 3s and I think we would benefit greatly by getting him in for 15 minutes a game, and running plays specifically designed to get him open looks from the perimeter.  No one can hit 3s with any consistency, thus why wouldn't every defense just pack it in every time down the floor?

[augoman]

I absolutely agree.  Fitz appears to have lost confidence, combined with the offense's lack of running plays to get him open perimeter looks (he certainly has little ability to create his own shot), he doesn't do us much good out there.  SC (aka "Golden Boy") has a high level of skill shooting 3s and I think we would benefit greatly by getting him in for 15 minutes a game, and running plays specifically designed to get him open looks from the perimeter.  No one can hit 3s with any consistency, thus why wouldn't every defense just pack it in every time down the floor?

word.  I have been amazed since Novak was a soph, that we didn't have screens, double-screens, whatever it takes, to get Novak -now Fitz, SC, whomever, a good 3-pt look.  The little 'rub-offs' won't (obviously) work.
and, yes, every defense does just pack it in.  Those of us enamored by our speed have to realize we've been 'stomped by as fast a team w/size..., again.

[Dave Andrews]

Time to throw in the towel and build for next year

[77ncaachamps]

Fitz sucks.

Always been the hesitant one. He's the guy you think may be a ringer and when you finally get him on your blacktop team, he's passing the ball. Speaking of balls, he needs to grow some. This is Division-I basketball. This is Big East basketball. You're playing with the best DI has to offer. Man up, or sit down.

Next to your coach, hopefully.

[1990Warrior]

Fitz sucks.

Always been the hesitant one. He's the guy you think may be a ringer and when you finally get him on your blacktop team, he's passing the ball. Speaking of balls, he needs to grow some. This is Division-I basketball. This is Big East basketball. You're playing with the best DI has to offer. Man up, or sit down.

Next to your coach, hopefully.

I thought Fitz played reasonably well at the end of last season and have thought that he had enough offensive talent to score 10 pts just by getting out of bed.  He has really regressed to the point where you would think that there is something that we fans don't have enough info about like a wrist injury.

[Pago Warrior]

Two things:

The biggest reason we lost was because our defense stunk!  Plain and simple.  They didn't respond and when they tried to, they were slow.  No movement, no help, no fire.  Poor defense leads to really bad (half court) offense for this team that can't establish a half court traditional high-low type offense.

Secondly, this thread was started by urging to Quit the 3 Point Shooting.  That and those who agree are short-sighted.  True this team lacks a consistent true Novak type player, but its not like this team is incapable of shooting well from deep.  Remember this is the team that beat a balanced ND team with the help of 12 made 3-pointers (12-24 for a 50% clip).  I wouldn't expect that to continue and understand that this team hasn't shot as well since then but I'd be happy with a high 30% performance and think this team can do it with the likes of Mo, Cube, Fitz and even DJ and Wes.  But again, this doesn't matter if we can defend on the other end.

[NavinRJohnson]

Two things:

The biggest reason we lost was because our defense stunk!  Plain and simple.  They didn't respond and when they tried to, they were slow.  No movement, no help, no fire.  Poor defense leads to really bad (half court) offense for this team that can't establish a half court traditional high-low type offense.

Secondly, this thread was started by urging to Quit the 3 Point Shooting.  That and those who agree are short-sighted.  True this team lacks a consistent true Novak type player, but its not like this team is incapable of shooting well from deep.  Remember this is the team that beat a balanced ND team with the help of 12 made 3-pointers (12-24 for a 50% clip).  I wouldn't expect that to continue and understand that this team hasn't shot as well since then but I'd be happy with a high 30% performance and think this team can do it with the likes of Mo, Cube, Fitz and even DJ and Wes.  But again, this doesn't matter if we can defend on the other end.

Testify Brother!

[jaybilaswho?]

you cant win a game shooting .200 from behind the arc and doing nothing but shoot more threes. you cant win a game when the only penetration that you have in the paint is an overhead pass from 25 feet out to Os right under the basket. there is a whole lot of open space inside the arc that our "talented" guard fueled offense should be able to exploit. 

if we want to shoot nothign but threes all game... bring that kid in who won free tuition for a semseter with his three ball.

[RawdogDX]

Two things:

The biggest reason we lost was because our defense stunk!  Plain and simple.  They didn't respond and when they tried to, they were slow.  No movement, no help, no fire.  Poor defense leads to really bad (half court) offense for this team that can't establish a half court traditional high-low type offense.

Secondly, this thread was started by urging to Quit the 3 Point Shooting.  That and those who agree are short-sighted.  True this team lacks a consistent true Novak type player, but its not like this team is incapable of shooting well from deep.  Remember this is the team that beat a balanced ND team with the help of 12 made 3-pointers (12-24 for a 50% clip).  I wouldn't expect that to continue and understand that this team hasn't shot as well since then but I'd be happy with a high 30% performance and think this team can do it with the likes of Mo, Cube, Fitz and even DJ and Wes.  But again, this doesn't matter if we can defend on the other end.

What?  No, we lost because we missed wide open shots.  Not just threes but all kinds.

[muwarrior87]

Two things:

The biggest reason we lost was because our defense stunk!  Plain and simple.  They didn't respond and when they tried to, they were slow.  No movement, no help, no fire.  Poor defense leads to really bad (half court) offense for this team that can't establish a half court traditional high-low type offense.

Secondly, this thread was started by urging to Quit the 3 Point Shooting.  That and those who agree are short-sighted.  True this team lacks a consistent true Novak type player, but its not like this team is incapable of shooting well from deep.  Remember this is the team that beat a balanced ND team with the help of 12 made 3-pointers (12-24 for a 50% clip).  I wouldn't expect that to continue and understand that this team hasn't shot as well since then but I'd be happy with a high 30% performance and think this team can do it with the likes of Mo, Cube, Fitz and even DJ and Wes.  But again, this doesn't matter if we can defend on the other end.

What?  No, we lost because we missed wide open shots.  Not just threes but all kinds.

There was a 20% spread btwn our shooting percentage and theirs! when it's that much, we didn't just missed shots, we let them hit a lot more than they should have. 52% compared to 32%, one very good shooting night and one very poor shooting night. L'ville shot well with the open looks we gave them from overrotating on help D and not staying with our men enough...and this in turn, allowed them to play a full court pressing zone and force us to play half court offense which we cannot do against a zone.  plain and simple.

[Pago Warrior]

Two things:

The biggest reason we lost was because our defense stunk!  Plain and simple.  They didn't respond and when they tried to, they were slow.  No movement, no help, no fire.  Poor defense leads to really bad (half court) offense for this team that can't establish a half court traditional high-low type offense.

Secondly, this thread was started by urging to Quit the 3 Point Shooting.  That and those who agree are short-sighted.  True this team lacks a consistent true Novak type player, but its not like this team is incapable of shooting well from deep.  Remember this is the team that beat a balanced ND team with the help of 12 made 3-pointers (12-24 for a 50% clip).  I wouldn't expect that to continue and understand that this team hasn't shot as well since then but I'd be happy with a high 30% performance and think this team can do it with the likes of Mo, Cube, Fitz and even DJ and Wes.  But again, this doesn't matter if we can defend on the other end.

What?  No, we lost because we missed wide open shots.  Not just threes but all kinds.

There was a 20% spread btwn our shooting percentage and theirs! when it's that much, we didn't just missed shots, we let them hit a lot more than they should have. 52% compared to 32%, one very good shooting night and one very poor shooting night. L'ville shot well with the open looks we gave them from overrotating on help D and not staying with our men enough...and this in turn, allowed them to play a full court pressing zone and force us to play half court offense which we cannot do against a zone.  plain and simple.

Precisely, MuWa87.
This team's success (more than most) is predicated on how well they play defense first.
It maybe because TC and staff realize how streaky the team's outside shooting is, or it could be the make up of the team is better suited to play good defense to create offense (or it could very well be both).  Either way, the team will live and die by its defense and not necessarily its shooting.
This team will win when its defense is aggressive, active and swarming.  All this will create the transition offense that this team's players are very well suited to do.  They are not the best shooters but they are athletic and despite what others have posted, quick to best handle a true uptemp transition offense.  Even on an opponent's made shots, the best chance of scoring for this team is to push the ball up court as quickly as possible.
Consequently, this team will lose when the defense is slow, unable to create deflections and provide help and rotation.  This leads to more makes by the opponent which ultimately causes us to play out of a half court set offense which requires more consistent outside shooters and/or skilled post play, neither of which MU has right now.

Now this will lead some to argue that we need better recruiting of players that can shoot or big post players instead of what we got.  That becomes an entirely different philosophical discussion and there are advantages to both.  We have the more athletic and up tempo type players who should be doing better on defense.  Sometimes they have shown that, but not to the degree that I think anyone is happy with right now.