Marquette game thread 1/23/2022

[XU2011]

I think we need to take the best 7 overall players the day of the game, play them, and let chips fall where they may. Minimize the continuous substitution.

Players don’t get in a rhythm shooting the ball or for the flow of the game coming in and out every 4 minutes.

It will leave some getting minutes now disappointed, but you’d get better team play and shooting percentages. If you aren’t one of the best 5 guys, get better and become one of them.

Good teams (and I think this can be one) aren’t regularly limited to scoring in the 60s.

[XU85]

MM,
I think you might have misunderstood. I didn’t say take out a certain player. My point is we all ask for substitutions after poor/sloppy play. My point was right now who’s does he play, Hoping it gets better but not a lot of guys I trust right now. Have to keep playing, plugging away hoping for some consistency.

I think the big mystery is Nate. Last year he has a slump in Big East and some were saying he only scored against non-conference inferior teams which was a wrong take but he has become progressively less effective since the BE started. overall in the big east he is around 35-36% which for him is bad.

The second big mystery is Colby looking solid and then looking timid. I think Colby could be a consistent 18-22 point games

The third mystery is finishing and the follow up! X came out and the first two scored were dunks and I know every score cannot be a dunk but when it is there those little layups are not working

I think the big mystery is that Steele's teams seem to peak early and don't significantly improve.

[muskieman]

MM,
I think you might have misunderstood. I didn’t say take out a certain player. My point is we all ask for substitutions after poor/sloppy play. My point was right now who’s does he play, Hoping it gets better but not a lot of guys I trust right now. Have to keep playing, plugging away hoping for some consistency.

I think the big mystery is Nate. Last year he has a slump in Big East and some were saying he only scored against non-conference inferior teams which was a wrong take but he has become progressively less effective since the BE started. overall in the big east he is around 35-36% which for him is bad.

The second big mystery is Colby looking solid and then looking timid. I think Colby could be a consistent 18-22 point games

The third mystery is finishing and the follow up! X came out and the first two scored were dunks and I know every score cannot be a dunk but when it is there those little layups are not working

I think the big mystery is that Steele's teams seem to peak early and don't significantly improve.

maybe but the season if far from over.

[Jesseandrippers]

Not desirable but a semi expected outcome play Marquette on the road in front of 15k. Honestly, not the end of the world. A few thoughts:

1) Justin Lewis is the real deal. Hope he goes pro soon.
2) If we dont fix our 3 point shooting, we will wilt in the postseason. Glad he is letting Johnson continue to shoot is way out of it.
3) Our veterans need to cleanup the turnovers

[muskieman]

Not desirable but a semi expected outcome play Marquette on the road in front of 15k. Honestly, not the end of the world. A few thoughts:

1) Justin Lewis is the real deal. Hope he goes pro soon.
2) If we dont fix our 3 point shooting, we will wilt in the postseason. Glad he is letting Johnson continue to shoot is way out of it.
3) Our veterans need to cleanup the turnovers

might add we need to dominate on the rebounds, it is a desire thing they need to have to become successful

[longliveskip]

as i stated in the other thread and it completely applies to this game and most of college basketball:

when you make shots you look better than you are. when you miss shots you look worse than you are.

that was this game in a nutshell. for both teams.

[skyhops]

I didn't get to watch the game til later since we had another game to attend, but I figured we would lose based on what I have seen recently from Marquette and they play hard and are very well coached. Once again we can't play a complete game, which is the reason why Steele coached teams at Xavier have struggled in BE play on the road. I have to agree with AH that Scruggs careless play along with poor shooting from Johnson took us out of the game. Scruggs and Johnsons play has regressed this year, which is not a good sign from your upper classmen. I really don't expect much from Freemantle these days especially on the defensive end. Steele always says he needs to be aggressive and keep his head in the game, which is a problem if has to remind him of these things. I anticipate another .500 or less finish in league play, which has been par for the course with these staff over the last four years. Playing a complete game should not be much to ask.

[X-lucidity]

Caveat: Needless to say I bleed Xavier blue & white. I am an alum and my daughter will graduate in May. I love and respect all our players and am proud they chose to join my beloved school. I admire and respect our coaching staff.
Now for a reality check. It is normal for most folks to be optimistic. Human nature feeds off hope. The sky is not falling but trends are now firmly rooted and can no longer be ignored. Coach Steele can be excused in his first year after Vanilla Ice bolted and stabbed us in the back on the way out on his recruiting efforts, (or lack thereof). I even give Travis a partial break in year two. However - - - what we are witnessing here as we cross over into the 2nd half of the season are the same trends as the last 3 years. Player in-season development is non-existent. A previous post aptly noted Scruggs and Nate are regressing. I will throw Odom into that mix as well. AH & ‘Hops constantly reference the similarity to AAU ball describing our offensive sets and strategies, yes- spot on. Another trend is, for lack of a better description, we seem to peak early each year. By late December we are as good as we are going to be. Now let us turn to the defensive side of the ball. Not many talking about that today, but this is where I am most concerned. X’Bob rightly mentioned that, at some point, players gotta play and make some shots. There is a ring of truth to that where a coach is powerless. Our D though is woeful. Depaul & Marquette abused us with good ball movement. Our hedge/help/recover skills are pitiful. We are suspect to dribble drives and lately back-door cuts. Only Depaul wearing down in the 2nd half saved us from another debacle. I could go on but this is already akin to A Tale of Two Cities. So Coach Steele, here are my humble recommendations:
1) Go back to boot camp on D. Tenacious box out drills. Demand more energy, awareness and communication on D. Those that cannot physically hedge/help/recover should have their minutes reduced. No matter the name on their jersey.
2) Offense: the ball needs to move quicker, less dribbling unless a purposeful probe/attack. Emphasize a “good shot” versus a “bad shot” Too many “bad” shots gets your minutes reduced. No matter the name on the jersey.
3) Dabble with Adam running the point a bit. He can dribble and is basketball savvy. I am not saying to hand the job to him, but worth a few minutes now and then to think outside the box.
4) Finally, and I have no real solution to this, but Travis – for God’s sake, figure out what buttons to push to help this group get off to a better start the first 8 minutes of games.
• Thank you all for enduring my cathartic moment.

[AirJordan]

Caveat: Needless to say I bleed Xavier blue & white. I am an alum and my daughter will graduate in May. I love and respect all our players and am proud they chose to join my beloved school. I admire and respect our coaching staff.
Now for a reality check. It is normal for most folks to be optimistic. Human nature feeds off hope. The sky is not falling but trends are now firmly rooted and can no longer be ignored. Coach Steele can be excused in his first year after Vanilla Ice bolted and stabbed us in the back on the way out on his recruiting efforts, (or lack thereof). I even give Travis a partial break in year two. However - - - what we are witnessing here as we cross over into the 2nd half of the season are the same trends as the last 3 years. Player in-season development is non-existent. A previous post aptly noted Scruggs and Nate are regressing. I will throw Odom into that mix as well. AH & ‘Hops constantly reference the similarity to AAU ball describing our offensive sets and strategies, yes- spot on. Another trend is, for lack of a better description, we seem to peak early each year. By late December we are as good as we are going to be. Now let us turn to the defensive side of the ball. Not many talking about that today, but this is where I am most concerned. X’Bob rightly mentioned that, at some point, players gotta play and make some shots. There is a ring of truth to that where a coach is powerless. Our D though is woeful. Depaul & Marquette abused us with good ball movement. Our hedge/help/recover skills are pitiful. We are suspect to dribble drives and lately back-door cuts. Only Depaul wearing down in the 2nd half saved us from another debacle. I could go on but this is already akin to A Tale of Two Cities. So Coach Steele, here are my humble recommendations:
1) Go back to boot camp on D. Tenacious box out drills. Demand more energy, awareness and communication on D. Those that cannot physically hedge/help/recover should have their minutes reduced. No matter the name on their jersey.
2) Offense: the ball needs to move quicker, less dribbling unless a purposeful probe/attack. Emphasize a “good shot” versus a “bad shot” Too many “bad” shots gets your minutes reduced. No matter the name on the jersey.
3) Dabble with Adam running the point a bit. He can dribble and is basketball savvy. I am not saying to hand the job to him, but worth a few minutes now and then to think outside the box.
4) Finally, and I have no real solution to this, but Travis – for God’s sake, figure out what buttons to push to help this group get off to a better start the first 8 minutes of games.
• Thank you all for enduring my cathartic moment.

Very complete, unfortunately accurate and, to me, a bit depressing. We need to return to the program X once was.

[muskieman]

as i stated in the other thread and it completely applies to this game and most of college basketball:

when you make shots you look better than you are. when you miss shots you look worse than you are.

that was this game in a nutshell. for both teams.

100%