Team Stats
- Although the game was sloppy, Offensive Efficiency (120.8) and Defensive Efficiency (92.3) were consistent with last year.
- Marquette launched 26 threes. They averaged just shy of 20 threes per game last season. MU only shot 26 or more 3FGA three times (UWM 26 ; SHU 28 ; Stanford 30). Is this a trend or a single game aberration?
- The game was played at a quicker pace (about 78 possessions). Marquette only played one game last year at a pace of 78 possessions (UWM), and averaged 68 possessions / game. Buzz said he wanted to lengthen the game. Another trend?
- Last year, Marquette was #9 in the country at 3-point FG%. Opponents averaged 30.4%, but CS-Pueblo shot 41%. It's probably not worth noting, except to highlight how good our perimeter D was last year. However, based on the new three-point line, I plan on paying attention.
- I didn't see anything especially noteworthy in the Four Factors. Despite being a little loose on Defensive eFG%, Marquette won easily. MU crushed on Offensive Rebounding percentage and Free Throw Rate. I did find it interesting that MU only forced a turnover rate of 20.2% (which is average), despite forcing a TO% of 23.4% last year.
Individual Stats
- Net positive points contributors were Lazar (8.1 net points), Jerel (5.7 net points), Wesley (3.7 net points), Jimmy Butler (3.6 net points), and Patrick Hazel (1.6 net points). These players had an overall positive contribution to the margin of victory.
- Net negative points contributors were Burke (-0.2), Otule (-0.3), Dominic (-0.7), and Acker (-1.7).
- Jerel used 26% of all possessions (last year he averaged 20%), and only had an Offensive Rating of 100.1. That usage is too high for an offensive rating worse than the team average.
Finally, I plan on keeping track of McNeal's usage this year. He's always had a fairly high usage (~20%), even when his offensive rating was horrible (87.5 as a freshman). What was unique last year was that he increased his usage to about 25% while simultaneously improving his offensive rating. That doesn't usually happen, so I plan on tracking to see what happens this year with both his usage and his offensive rating.
Based on his postgame interview with Homer and Jim (which occurred immediately after the game, instead of 30 minutes later), Buzz wasn't too pumped about the threes, especially in the first half. I haven't checked the stats, but I would guess they limited their attempts in the second half. I can think of two plays specifically where they ball-faked and drove successfully. Based on the second-half adjustments and Buzz's postgame comments, the first half chuck-fest will be a rarity...and I hope that's the case.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. And the stats were 5-15 in the first half and 3-11 in the second half.
ReplyDeleteI just found it interesting that it was so much higher than almost every game last year. Just like the pace numbers. I guess we'll see.
The pace and the 3s are symptoms of an exhibition game. There are exceptions, but in general exhibitions tend to have more possessions, more turnovers and often more 3 point FGAs than "regular" season games. Players, sometimes upper classmen tend to freelance a bit more in these games than they would against D1 opponents. Consider that the 78 possession game last season was played against UW-Milwaukee, one of the lowest ranked teams (and played in December I believe, when the Marquette players had relatively fresh legs) they faced last season. Hopefully Coach Williams can get them focused for the season opener. Good write-up btw.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your feedback, greycat. You're probably right, but I was just curious because there's been a LOT of speculation about how the team will play differently with a new coach.
ReplyDeleteBTW - I'm looking forward to your continued "quartile" season preview.
is cubillan hurt? i have been trying to find some info on him and havent come up with anything. I wasnt able to make the exhibition, but noticed he wasnt in the box score...anybody know anything?
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