Malinsky Write Up
6* #524 WEST VIRGINIA over MARQUETTE
Marquette has to go into Big East play lacking in size, depth and
experience. So to borrow an oldie but a goodies, <i>?Outside of that
Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play??</i> Buzz Williams is
facing a most extreme challenge, and we do not believe the markets
have this priced properly.
This was already going to be a difficult transition season after
losing that James-McNeal-Matthews triumverate, but it quickly went
from bad to worse with the losses of Junior Cadougan, the expected
starting point guard, Chris Otule, whose size would have been badly
needed up front, and Jeronne Maymon, who was bringing some punch off
of the bench. We got a chance to buck them a couple of weeks ago with
a 5* win from Wisconsin, and since then there has not been any
opportunity to develop, with only walk-overs vs. North Florida and
Presbyterian in the last 17 days. They have not played on an
opponents home court outside of their home state of Wisconsin so far,
and the weaknesses are easy to spot ? rebounding will be a major
issue with a small and depth-shy front court that has few fouls to
give; and without experience at PG the offense flow is erratic ? in
losing at Wisconsin they had 13 turnovers vs. only six assists, and
in an earlier defeat vs. Florida State on a neutral court it was 16
turnovers vs. five assists. And the depth issues speak for
themselves, especially in this type of road trip.
This size issue here is at an extreme. Every West Virginia starter is
at least 6-7, and they are all athletes. It means that while the
Mountaineers have every bit of the size advantage that shows on
paper, they do not give up all that much in terms of quickness. And
typical of a Bob Huggins team, they bring a lot of passion to the
court. That means 40 relentless minutes in their Big East home
opener. The schedule also has them much more ready to play near their
park than Marquette ? while the Golden Eagles have no traveled or
faced quality competition since that loss at Wisconsin, W.V.U. was
winning at Seton Hall and Cleveland State, and beating Ole Miss in
this court, in that same span.
The Mountaineers are one of the toughest teams to matchup against in
the nation. Imagine a guy with the size and talent of 6-9 Devin
Ebanks running the point? Yet that is where Huggins has him, and he
played the entire 45 minutes in Saturday?s O.T. win at Seton Hall
without turning the ball over, while scoring 22 points, grabbing 17
rebounds, and dishing out seven assists. It was a Mgic Johnson-level
of performance, and no one has played a better game this season.
Marquette?s tallest starter, 6-7 Jimmy Butler, is the same height as
the shortest starting Mountaineer, and Williams knows what that means
- ?I think that they?re extremely tough, hard-playing, and they?re
playing with nine Jimmy Butlers and one point guard, and the point
guard weighs as much as the nine Jimmy Butlers. I think they?re as
good as any team I?ve coached against in my career?head coach or
assistant?free throw line and own, and I think that?s why they
haven?t lost a game.?
This one is just a matter of time. Marquette is very hard-pressed to
score in this matchup, which means some forced bad shots that lead to
easy Mountaineer transition opportunities, which breaks this one open
early, and the major edge in depth keeps the margin growing. And do
not underestimate what Saturday?s bizarre collapse at Seton Hall can
mean going forward ? after seeing a 10-point lead get away in the
final 0:50 of regulation, before they finally won it in O.T., they
are reminded to not let up at any time.
nothing to worry about.....just read above !!
6* #524 WEST VIRGINIA over MARQUETTE
Marquette has to go into Big East play lacking in size, depth and
experience. So to borrow an oldie but a goodies, <i>?Outside of that
Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play??</i> Buzz Williams is
facing a most extreme challenge, and we do not believe the markets
have this priced properly.
This was already going to be a difficult transition season after
losing that James-McNeal-Matthews triumverate, but it quickly went
from bad to worse with the losses of Junior Cadougan, the expected
starting point guard, Chris Otule, whose size would have been badly
needed up front, and Jeronne Maymon, who was bringing some punch off
of the bench. We got a chance to buck them a couple of weeks ago with
a 5* win from Wisconsin, and since then there has not been any
opportunity to develop, with only walk-overs vs. North Florida and
Presbyterian in the last 17 days. They have not played on an
opponents home court outside of their home state of Wisconsin so far,
and the weaknesses are easy to spot ? rebounding will be a major
issue with a small and depth-shy front court that has few fouls to
give; and without experience at PG the offense flow is erratic ? in
losing at Wisconsin they had 13 turnovers vs. only six assists, and
in an earlier defeat vs. Florida State on a neutral court it was 16
turnovers vs. five assists. And the depth issues speak for
themselves, especially in this type of road trip.
This size issue here is at an extreme. Every West Virginia starter is
at least 6-7, and they are all athletes. It means that while the
Mountaineers have every bit of the size advantage that shows on
paper, they do not give up all that much in terms of quickness. And
typical of a Bob Huggins team, they bring a lot of passion to the
court. That means 40 relentless minutes in their Big East home
opener. The schedule also has them much more ready to play near their
park than Marquette ? while the Golden Eagles have no traveled or
faced quality competition since that loss at Wisconsin, W.V.U. was
winning at Seton Hall and Cleveland State, and beating Ole Miss in
this court, in that same span.
The Mountaineers are one of the toughest teams to matchup against in
the nation. Imagine a guy with the size and talent of 6-9 Devin
Ebanks running the point? Yet that is where Huggins has him, and he
played the entire 45 minutes in Saturday?s O.T. win at Seton Hall
without turning the ball over, while scoring 22 points, grabbing 17
rebounds, and dishing out seven assists. It was a Mgic Johnson-level
of performance, and no one has played a better game this season.
Marquette?s tallest starter, 6-7 Jimmy Butler, is the same height as
the shortest starting Mountaineer, and Williams knows what that means
- ?I think that they?re extremely tough, hard-playing, and they?re
playing with nine Jimmy Butlers and one point guard, and the point
guard weighs as much as the nine Jimmy Butlers. I think they?re as
good as any team I?ve coached against in my career?head coach or
assistant?free throw line and own, and I think that?s why they
haven?t lost a game.?
This one is just a matter of time. Marquette is very hard-pressed to
score in this matchup, which means some forced bad shots that lead to
easy Mountaineer transition opportunities, which breaks this one open
early, and the major edge in depth keeps the margin growing. And do
not underestimate what Saturday?s bizarre collapse at Seton Hall can
mean going forward ? after seeing a 10-point lead get away in the
final 0:50 of regulation, before they finally won it in O.T., they
are reminded to not let up at any time.
nothing to worry about.....just read above !!
