Bu 75 wsu 73!

[Buesch N Chips]

Our defense was not good in the 2nd half. We slipped back into some old routines and it almost bit us.

However, BU made enough plays to win.

I agree. Good post.

[BradleyBrave]

Any recruits on hand last night?

[houstontxbrave]

Ummm, those 3's weren't guarded by anyone within 3 feet on at least 6 occasions that I went back and counted. they were uncontested in every sense of the word

Come on Chitown dont get caught up in what you see. We won and regardless of how we got there or how little we guard shooters or rebound, none of that means a thing as long as you win the game.

Great we won, but it means nothing this team is so undisciplined and has no regards for defensive principles or has any interest in getting a rebound there is no way in the world it can win 3 straight games in 3 days.

Sure teams make runs in basketball but it seems lots of teams have no issues with making very big runs versus us on our home court. Im fine with a team making a run but come on 19 point lead and it is lost, same old song and dance. Grow a pair, put a foot on a throat and put someone away.

Personally I am not in the least excited about STL simply because we have no possible way of winning that tournament with the way we insist on playing basketball.

[LittleBrave]

Maniscalco kick started the game with a dunk and a three. [/I][/B]

Somehow, I missed Sam Maniscalco's dunk!

Isn't that why Sammy was limping in the 2nd half? From his sky-high dunk where he landed wrong? I thought Coach Les tried to discourage him from dunking. He's definitely has found multiple ways to score - now adding his dunking prowess! (Little humor all around there! )

[LittleBrave]

I didn't get to see the game last night - no T.V. and I'm in Chicago.
I didnt' get to listen from the 13 minute mark to the 3 minute mark.
They had a 12-pt. lead - when I returned, the lead was gone.
If Wichita played a superb 2nd half and shot the lights out, that's great.
But when I heard that BU only had 4 rebounds at the 3 minute mark of the 2nd half, I was wondering, "Where's the intensity to get the boards?"
It sounded like the comeback was due to the Braves letting the Shockers get offensive rebounds and 2nd chance points.

Just wanting to know - was it a matter of lack of rebounding that led to the meltdown? How does WE end up with 1 rebound in 20+ minutes???

[BradleyBrave]

I didn't get to see the game last night - no T.V. and I'm in Chicago.
I didnt' get to listen from the 13 minute mark to the 3 minute mark.
They had a 12-pt. lead - when I returned, the lead was gone.
If Wichita played a superb 2nd half and shot the lights out, that's great.
But when I heard that BU only had 4 rebounds at the 3 minute mark of the 2nd half, I was wondering, "Where's the intensity to get the boards?"
It sounded like the comeback was due to the Braves letting the Shockers get offensive rebounds and 2nd chance points.

Just wanting to know - was it a matter of lack of rebounding that led to the meltdown? How does WE end up with 1 rebound in 20+ minutes???

It was a combination of lazy defense on the 3, and getting absolutely abused on the glass. If I had to pinpoint one area, it would be getting killed on the glass. Had we matched them rebounding wise, we could have weathered the barrage of 3's rather easily. We were matching them almost shot for shot (we shot well both halves), but they were getting twice as many chances when they missed. We were not. I believe with about a minute left in the game we only had 5 rebounds for the entire half, they had 20. I think that's all you need to know.

[Beninator]

Any recruits on hand last night?

I was wondering the same thing???

[Beninator]

It was a combination of lazy defense on the 3, and getting absolutely abused on the glass. If I had to pinpoint one area, it would be getting killed on the glass. Had we matched them rebounding wise, we could have weathered the barrage of 3's rather easily. We were matching them almost shot for shot (we shot well both halves), but they were getting twice as many chances when they missed. We were not. I believe with about a minute left in the game we only had 5 rebounds for the entire half, they had 20. I think that's all you need to know.

I would add that WSU did a full court press for most of the game. While most of the time it was token in nature, I thought that the press wore us down toward the middle part of the second half.

[BradleyBrave]

I would add that WSU did a full court press for most of the game. While most of the time it was token in nature, I thought that the press wore us down toward the middle part of the second half.

I would agree B. No question that it wore us down a bit, and a credit to Marshall for sticking with it. He knows that we aren't overly deep. I actually thought Les did a real good job of balancing the minutes last night. If you look at the box score, we got twice as many minutes from our bench as WSU. Part of that was probably because of TB and WE's foul troubles, but nonetheless I thought the distribution was good.

[SFP]

it was fun to see the Braves pull out the W' .........we need to bring the intensity for a whole game and we can play with anyone.....we've beat 1 and 2 so there is no reason not to go on a major run!

WSU was going to and always plays for 40 minutes. I only wish our guys would do the same.

We played a very good team, and we at least were able to close this out. I'm not crazy that we lost that entire lead, but at least we had the passion to do what it took to pull out the victory. I think that shows how far our team has grown, and we are slowly but surely regaining our home court advantage. Hopefully this momentum continues into St. Louis and into next year.

I thought we played well in stretches and played our best O when we slowed it down. We also need to work on getting the ball up the court and not dribble into corners. On the rebounding side we again are not boxing out. The reffs allowed the game to be physical and we did a poor job matching up.

I did see JE putting his body on their bigs to box them out and that is why he is playing! CR also had a very good game. He has stepped it up a big notch lately. He is playing like I thought he was capable of. TB when he feels like it can rebound with the best. I'd rather see 10 rebounds, 10 points a game from him then 15 pts, 5 rebounds and that also goes with WE. AW went missing for a bit but hit a huge 3. One thing about him is that he does not press issue. He though is one guy that I wish would. DSE played a bit sloppy at times but he is the heir apparent to SM.

[Beninator]

.....The reffs allowed the game to be physical and we did a poor job matching up......

Speaking of the ref's, I thought that last night's game was very well officiated. The ref's were very consistant from the first half to the second half.

[Buesch N Chips]

I would agree B. No question that it wore us down a bit, and a credit to Marshall for sticking with it. He knows that we aren't overly deep. I actually thought Les did a real good job of balancing the minutes last night. If you look at the box score, we got twice as many minutes from our bench as WSU. Part of that was probably because of TB and WE's foul troubles, but nonetheless I thought the distribution was good.

It has shocked me that with our complete ineptitude at breaking presses earlier in the year, more teams have not gone to it. A couple of times it was not token and I know a few times it bit us. Over the course of a whole game that is bound to happen. How often do you see a press the whole game?

[SFP]

Speaking of the ref's, I thought that last night's game was very well officiated. The ref's were very consistant from the first half to the second half.

So did I! I wish the MVC reffs overall called games like they did last night. It looked like more of a Big X/Big East game and they allowed the game to flow. WSU though did commit some DUMB obvious fouls last night. I also loved the no call in which DSE drove in and hit a basket with a bit of contact underneath. Most MVC reffs would have blown their whistle.

BTW...Who were those guys because I never really noticed them and to me that is the biggest compliment I can give a ref.

[Chico]

BB, It was a well played game because WSU made it so. I'd rather watch a 5-6 point game, if we win, rather than a 19 point game winning/or losing. I guess I'm just more of a sports fan and like to watch the competition in a close game, win or lose.

Usually the bigger lead my team has, the better I like it. I like to know I'll be leaving happy after a win. But big leads seem to disappear with this team. Makes me nervous. I only like close games if I could care less who wins.

[Braveman]

So did I! I wish the MVC reffs overall called games like they did last night. It looked like more of a Big X/Big East game and they allowed the game to flow. WSU though did commit some DUMB obvious fouls last night. I also loved the no call in which DSE drove in and hit a basket with a bit of contact underneath. Most MVC reffs would have blown their whistle.

BTW...Who were those guys because I never really noticed them and to me that is the biggest compliment I can give a ref.

Tommy O'Neill was one of them- getting older- but a darn good official in my book!