*** Official #5 Marquette vs #6 IOWA STATE Game(Day) Thread ***

[bawbie]

Beyond the win, I think there's a lot to like about last night. There's still a lot of ceiling to be explored, with Tamin's struggles and MM not being a super consistent performer yet.

The main thing to me, though, is that the defense returned last night. Not so much in forcing turnovers (though Marquette is a low turnover team, and there were some key steals in the last 5-10 minutes), but especially in two-point defense. In the Auburn and Dayton games, they were getting easy looks at the rim by getting through ISU's double teams, which amounted to 59% and 69% two-point field goal percentages for them. Last night, it seemed that we were a bit more select in terms of double teams and hard hedges and focused more on making sure that no one got an uncontested look at the rim. It resulted in 6 blocks and a 41% two-point field goal percentage for Marquette, who is at 59% from two for the season.

THIS!! This is the best analysis I've seen of this game - and 100% the key. Specifically Jones was shooting >75% on two-point field goals on the season - and went 5-16 last night.

There will be times when both strategies are useful (more aggressive traps and steal attempts vs. more of a straight-up defense) but last night it was beneficial against a seasoned team that wasn't going to turn the ball over a ton. It also helped keep Marquette's free throw rate way down compared to the games in Maui.

I think we've seen enough this season - at least against the good teams - to say that the defensive strategy overall has changed from the more aggressive approach that leads to the scramble and recover, to more of a "grind it out" and defend for the full shot clock approach. It shows up in the very high 'average defensive possession' metric on KenPom.

It's also notable that for the last 2 years we were first in the country in metrics around not allowing shots at the rim

This is very deep into the statnerd side - but the site haslemetrics calls it "proximity" or "Near Proximity Attempts Allowed" (NPAR). And we've dropped off quite a bit on that - probably mostly a testament to what BRE and company did really REALLY well, but it a big difference:

 

[CychiatricWard]

He needs to shoot more. He's not a good defender. He's not a great passer. He's not a great off the dribble. He's not great driving to the rack.

He's great at putting up shots. Take your longer twos and three and shoot them. His value is in shooting and scoring, and if he's not doing that, then he's delivering very little value right now. It's okay to miss. Just shoot.

TJ said in the offseason the emphasis was for him to shoot the damn ball! I’m not sure why he’s afraid sometimes, almost like he is too passive. If he’s got a sliver, drain that ************!

 

[madguy30]

TJ said in the offseason the emphasis was for him to shoot the damn ball! I’m not sure why he’s afraid sometimes, almost like he is too passive. If he’s got a sliver, drain that ************!

To me it looked like he was covered pretty well last night. MU probably emphasized it to take away a big scoring threat.

That makes it harder to just start firing off 3s.

 

[bawbie]

Winning a top 5 game with our starting point guard and sharpshooting forward being non-factors shows just how good this team is. Marquette didn't play a bad game and they couldn't miss from deep. Once Marquette tied things up in the second half our guys went nuts and quickly put the game away. These guys are exciting and fun to watch.

Marquette got about 1000% (an exaggeration) more from their bench players than they have at any point this year. If their bench plays like they did against Purdue, Georgia or Maryland, we beat them by 20+.

That said, Parham and Owens are really skilled freshman on their bench

 

[CloniesForLife]

Heise played FANTASTIC defense on Kam the final minutes. Swung the game

Kam got hot and was taking over the game. Felt like it was going to be a tight game down the stretch and Heise totally shut him down

 

[CloniesForLife]

This isn’t a knock on him but what’s been with Milan this year? He’s had a couple really good games and then he disappears. I was really hoping he would come out firing this year and that really hasn’t been the case. We need him to get going a bit.

He's been pretty bad on defense. Been really slow on the perimeter

 

[cyatheart]

This isn’t a knock on him but what’s been with Milan this year? He’s had a couple really good games and then he disappears. I was really hoping he would come out firing this year and that really hasn’t been the case. We need him to get going a bit.

Just certain games there isn't anyone for him to guard. And if he doesn't have a matchup he can really exploit on the offensive end there isn't room for him on the floor. Again, it's all matchups, just certain teams depending who they have on the floor, he just ends up not having anybody to match up with.

Like who you going to pull off so he gets more minutes? Just a matchup thing depending on the other team.

 

[BigJCy]

Field of 68 guys talking about the game last night at the 39:26 mark:

 

[CloniesForLife]

He's been pretty bad on defense. Been really slow on the perimeter

Thinking more on this about Milan. Last year the defense from Rob, Hasan, and King probably covered up more of Milan's defensive struggles (I would be interested to see who we had Milan guarding last year vs this year. With Ward and Jones they could guard quicker players if needed and you could stick Milan on slower players but this year you aren't doing that with Jackson so maybe Milan is being forced to guard a different type of player) and this year we have more offensive firepower elsewhere. So depending on matchups and how Milan is shooting I can see his minutes being pretty up and down.

 

[SoleCyclone]

Thinking more on this about Milan. Last year the defense from Rob, Hasan, and King probably covered up more of Milan's defensive struggles (I would be interested to see who we had Milan guarding last year vs this year. With Ward and Jones they could guard quicker players if needed and you could stick Milan on slower players but this year you aren't doing that with Jackson so maybe Milan is being forced to guard a different type of player) and this year we have more offensive firepower elsewhere. So depending on matchups and how Milan is shooting I can see his minutes being pretty up and down.

I think teams that go 4 guards/ combo guard-forwards, Milan will struggle defensively. He can get heavy minutes with longer teams.
On offense he can thrive in either and actually dominate a smaller guy guarding him. In TJs view, it seems like in most lineup rotations we have enough scoring where he would trade the best defense over extra offense

 

[cayin]

Good, B12 was trash in the tourney last year.

and a lot of injuries on Big 12 teams in last years tournament though

 

[Cyclonsin]

Field of 68 guys talking about the game last night at the 39:26 mark:

Hearing Rob so matter-of-factly say "nobody goes into Hilton and wins" brings a tear to my eye.

 

[cayin]

Hard to compare eras. Texas, Kansas, Okie State, and Oklahoma were all extremely good (and tough) teams in 2000. Studs on all those rosters, each with a mix of young and old talent. We also lost to an absolutely loaded Cinci team in November prior to Kenyon Martin’s injury.

That was the game where LE thought we really had something. He said he could see this teams potential during that game. Late in the year, that 2000 team could beat anyone, even Cincy with Martin.

 

[Cloned4Life]

That was the game where LE thought we really had something. He said he could see this teams potential during that game. Late in the year, that 2000 team could beat anyone, even Cincy with Martin.

Yep!

That team deserved a #1 seed. They clearly showed all conference season that they were a top 3/4 team in the country. Getting the worst 2 seed is a bigger screw job than the Big 12 not getting a Bye in this year’s CFB playoff.

 

[Thomasrickj]

Marquette got about 1000% (an exaggeration) more from their bench players than they have at any point this year. If their bench plays like they did against Purdue, Georgia or Maryland, we beat them by 20+.

That said, Parham and Owens are really skilled freshman on their bench

That's true. At the same time they were both top 100 recruits. Freshman aren't always ready immediately, but there are plenty that are ready to contribute right away (Niang, THT, Wigginton are great examples of freshmen that were immediately ready to be huge contributors from our end). If the contributions from Parham and Owens are close to what they were last night for Marquette, they're easily a top 10 team the rest of the way. We need Marquette to continue to be a top tier team because an out of conference win, which the committee seems to value over the top, like this, will be great if we are teetering between the 1 and 2 seed lines.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

This and Dayton is going to prove big come seeding time. Take down Iowa and you have 3 non-con wins over tournament teams (yes, I think Iowa probably makes the tournament). It's a huge relief to know you have those in your pocket as you go into the Big 12.

Another thing to keep in mind in regards to last night is that Milwaukee is a first round site and that head to head win could be huge as far as locking down a Milwaukee slot goes.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Milan had 24 last game.
This team has several ways to score. It's not possible for everyone to score 15-20 every game. I guarantee Gilbert will have a game in which he's in foul trouble and/or just not scoring. Having Jones off the bench is great and having 2 bigs who can score moves this team to another level. Scoring in the 80's against Auburn and Marquette, 2 excellent defensive teams, demonstrates how good this offense is.

Yep, and I'd have to go back and look to be sure, but Marquette was more of a quick team than a bulky team in their front court, which allowed us to eat them alive in the paint, but probably helped them defend the perimeter better.

 

[theshadow]

Another thing to keep in mind in regards to last night is that Milwaukee is a first round site and that head to head win could be huge as far as locking down a Milwaukee slot goes.

It'll help as far as a Q1 win goes, but ISU isn't competing against Marquette for a spot in Milwaukee. As host, Marquette can't play there.

 

[cycloneman003]

We've got three bigs still getting comfortable with our system and rotation, our starting PG is not healthy/playing well, and two wings (one transfer, one true freshman) who are adjusting to the new level of play. All that and we were clearly better than Marquette and every bit as good as Auburn. This team is GOOD. More time playing together and getting Tamin right, look out.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

This isn’t a knock on him but what’s been with Milan this year? He’s had a couple really good games and then he disappears. I was really hoping he would come out firing this year and that really hasn’t been the case. We need him to get going a bit.

Yep, and I'd have to go back and look to be sure, but Marquette was more of a quick team than a bulky team in their front court, which allowed us to eat them alive in the paint, but probably helped them defend the perimeter better.

I think this is the correct answer. We had a noticeable advantage in the paint and TJ exploited it with the presidents. With those two controlling the paint, we needed three sets of quick feet to scramble the back court.

Marquette is a very good team and run a similar offense to what Fred ran while here. They design plays to get open 3 point looks. Milan has gotten better on defense and will continue to get better, but he's not the best defensive match-up against Marquette. He'll have plenty of games to shine this year.

The ability for us to mix and match lineups is gonna make us an absolute pain in the ass to game plan against. I'm here for it.