Marquette - Providence game thread

[IWB]

No surprise that when I got an e-mail this week making sure I would be in my media seat that every NBA scout around would be here to see Dunn and Ellenson, I was right. Media rows packed with scouts.

Refs for tonight...
Jeff Clark, Tim Clougherty, Tom Eades

Starters
Marquette
Wilson
Ellenson
Johnson
Cheatham
Fischer

Providence
Bentil
Dunn
Bullock
Cartright
Lomomba

[IWB]

Big game, CBS Sports, where in God's name are the students? Worse showing than Christmas break.

[IWB]

I do recall last time MU played Providence I asked Wojo about lack of offensive rebounds and he responded that because of Dunn's ability to get out and run, they decided it was more important to set up the defense, so don't expect too many offensive boards.

[IWB]

Student section....

875

[TulsaWarrior]

I'd like one of those seats.

[milkbone]

Might be more Scouts than Students:rolleyes:

[IWB]

Third foul on Fischer an obvious moving screen, now sitting with three. Need to play smarter basketball.

[IWB]

MU started the game protecting the ball pretty well, but in that latter part of the first half the turnovers reared their ugly heads and MU is on track for 10 at the half.

[TulsaWarrior]

No Carter after the turnovers.

[IWB]

Team has 7, only 2 on Carter

[Markedman]

Offense really bogged down after Luke and JJ went out with fouls. Nothing from Traci, Duane or Sandy. Henry forcing things ....not letting game come to him.

Friars torching the zone tonight

[Mucrisco]

Student section....

875

Wow. Is the student section still that empty? Where is the poster that said the student section should be around the court in the new arena?

[IWB]

Probably 100 more than there were when I took the picture.

[IWB]

Talked to various people about it at the half, various theories, but many have a similar theme.

[IWB]

Riverside's Terrence Lewis sitting in the recruiting section tonight.

[Markedman]

Having a real hard time defending penetration. No perimeter offense tonight at all.

[dubs98]

Talked to various people about it at the half, various theories, but many have a similar theme.

which is?

[IWB]

Someone just mentioned to me the lack of ball movement.

At this point...
Providence has 15 assists on 17 made baskets.
Marquette has 7 assists on 17 made baskets.

Quite a difference.

[Markedman]

JJ has been fantastic.....his decision making is so much improved its amazing

[IWB]

Surprising stat at this point is MU's 11 offensive turnovers. They started the game with the 'get back' mentality, but ever since Providence had foul issues they have adjusted and it is paying off.

7 turnovers in first half, at midway point only 3 in second half, need to keep that number where it is.

[IWB]

Poor shooting all around - Providence 0 of their last 4, MU 2 of their last 9.

[IWB]

I mentioned MU's big turnaround in offensive rebounds? It has converted to 16 2nd chance points. That may be the most of the year.

MU also with 32 points in the paint as opposed to Providence' 20

[IWB]

Side note, 20 seats taken up by NBA scouts tonight. About a dozen teams, some of which have multiple. Bucks (2), Bulls (2), Heat (2), Lakers (3), Pelicans, T-Wolves (3), Clippers, Suns, Hornets (2), Mavericks, Nuggets, 76ers.

Bucks are only listed with 2, but I have seen four of them here.

[IWB]

MU just can't pull away - keep letting them back in with easy baskets/dumb mistakes.

[pbiflyer]

And an untimely turnover there.

[AbovetheRim]

Funny how there was a thread about Lamomba not being a Big Ten player. I'd challenge any Badger idiot to watch him play tonight and tell me Zach Showalter is better.

[mcwman]

Offense needs to run through HE side not the LF side

[dubs98]

despite the small crowd, is it still loud. hopefully everyone is getting into giving it being such a close game. this cbssn is killing me. dont get that channel

[AbovetheRim]

MU just can't pull away - keep letting them back in with easy baskets/dumb mistakes.

Story of the season when MU has a lead.

[IWB]

MU now with 15 offensive rebounds resulting in 20 2nd chance points.

[IWB]

Refs have now called 39 fouls in this game - crazy.

[Markedman]

Been a brutal last 4 minutes

[IWB]

Providence now playing for last shot, who will Wojo have on Dunn & Bentil?

[IWB]

Answer: Cohen on Dunn, Henry on Bentil...

And it worked.

[IWB]

Now what does Wojo have for a 3/4 court 2 second play? He has been lacking with in-bound quick hitters, we'll see what happens here. Providence will likely focus on Henry, who takes last shot?

[IWB]

Amazing how many people leaving at end of regulation.

41 fouls called in regulation, enough to foul out 8 players.

OT will be tough with no Luke.

[dubs98]

did we get a decent look at the hoop at the end

[AbovetheRim]

did we get a decent look at the hoop at the end

Open 50 footer qualify?

[mcwman]

3 seconds on the six put back attempts?

[IWB]

45 fouls and 51 free throw attempts. Can the Big East be the best conference in the country when they have the worst refs?

[IWB]

I believe the ball goes up and hits the rim, the count starts over

[IWB]

Up four with a free throw and Dunn fouled out, can MU put them away?

[AbovetheRim]

45 fouls and 51 free throw attempts. Can the Big East be the best conference in the country when they have the worst refs?

Lots of phantom calls in there.

[dubs98]

Open 50 footer qualify?
only if it came from an extended picket fence

[AbovetheRim]

Henry with one of the dumbest fouls you will ever see. I get that Bentil has been knocking them down, but he's 25% on the year. Geez!

[mcwman]

Never touched him on the three point attempt

[AbovetheRim]

Dumbest team in the country.

[Mucrisco]

Why the heck are we shooting???

[Markedman]

Wow.....inexperience just cost us this game

[AbovetheRim]

Buycks Jr, I mean Cheatham, is the scariest player down the stretch I've ever seen.

[mcwman]

Wow!!!no f×××××× foul on Carter??? Wow

[IWB]

Never touched him on the three point attempt

Not on the actual shot, but then he turned and backed in to him taking out when he hadn't had a chance to land from the attempt. That was a foul. I said the only argument that he could make was that it was after the shot, but as I said, Bentil hadn't fully landed yet.

I don't think any fans near that shot were complaining.

[pbiflyer]

Wow, just wow.

[Markedman]

With the foul situation we are going to end up with Anim and Heldt in there before it's over

[IWB]

After first overtime, 48 fouls and 58 free throw attempts.

[WindyCityGoldenEagle]

Talk inexperience all you want, the end of ot was some of the dumbest bball I've seen in a while by our guys.

[sailwi]

Talk inexperience all you want, the end of ot was some of the dumbest bball I've seen in a while by our guys.

and that is saying a lot. Agree 100%.

[IWB]

These guys are exhausted.

[AbovetheRim]

Huge 3 JJJ!

[mcwman]

Bentil feel untouched. Watched replay on tv.

[dubs98]

with dunn out is there any reason we are not faceguarding bentil and denying all passess to him (ala dunham the other day)

[IWB]

And that "Should" do it.

[mcwman]

Can Johnson be any more situationally unaware on defense

[WindyCityGoldenEagle]

Jj going for that steal is yet another example of how low our bball iq is. It's truly amazing.

[Markedman]

I have no words......lol

[AbovetheRim]

How can Dwight Buycks have so many kids playing on Marquette?

[Mucrisco]

Not on the actual shot, but then he turned and backed in to him taking out when he hadn't had a chance to land from the attempt. That was a foul. I said the only argument that he could make was that it was after the shot, but as I said, Bentil hadn't fully landed yet.

I don't think any fans near that shot were complaining.

Yeah, you have to let him land. It's like when a guy is moving while trying to take a charge.

[mcwman]

Watched it on replay, they never touch. ..even feet. He was fading on the shot and sat down on the landing

[Mucrisco]

Watched it on replay, they never touch. ..even feet. He was fading on the shot and sat down on the landing

Gotcha.

[Markedman]

Traci came up really big in the 2nd half and over times.

[Mark Miller]

That was a crazy game. From start to finish.

MU kept battling. Kept trying. Kept the turnovers down.

Carter, Ellenson and Cheatham were very good at times. JJ as well. Luke was good, but again, too many fouls.

But the team is getting better.

[Mark Miller]

By the way, I cannot remember a guy in the Big East improving more in one season than Ben Bentil.

Wow.

[pbiflyer]

Watched it on replay, they never touch. ..even feet. He was fading on the shot and sat down on the landing

His hands were on the shooter after the shot. With him falling, you know they were going to call it. Not saying it was a foul, but they were going to call it.

[pbiflyer]

And that "Should" do it.

Thank god we made both of those free throws at the end to go up 5. With the way the game was going, I could see us fouling as a desperation 3 went in for Providence. ;)

[Markedman]

RPI at 97 now.....only 40 or 50 points to go!

[TedBaxter]

The game was never in doubt.

[MUfan12]

By the way, I cannot remember a guy in the Big East improving more in one season than Ben Bentil.

Wow.

He's something else, man. Looks like the perfect NBA stretch 4. Nice shot, athletic, strong. Real deal.

[Nukem2]

The game was never in doubt.
Well, maybe just a bit. :). A stressful but very enjoyable night at the BC...!

[MUfan12]

Those kids played their tails off. Had a moment of madness at the end of the first OT, but really showed a lot of toughness to shake that off.

Especially happy for Traci. Not playing at the end of the Butler and Xavier games was getting to him. Got his chance and was outstanding down the stretch. That three point play was massive.

[mcwman]

plus he should have had the game winning FTs at end of 1st OT. Totally blown call where guy holds his forearm on the shot right in front of the ref...no call...

https://vine.co/v/inWvggeWMIF

[Djgoldnboy]

We are going to have a very capable backcourt with Carter, Cheatham, Rousey and Wilson next year. Cheatham has been impressive as a freshman and it feels like Carter is getting comfortable at this level too now. Carter can blow by anyone when he uses his quickness and he'll use it more and more.

[MUfan12]

Talked to various people about it at the half, various theories, but many have a similar theme.

Would love to hear more about this, because that student showing was pathetic.

[Gato78]

Side note, 20 seats taken up by NBA scouts tonight. About a dozen teams, some of which have multiple. Bucks (2), Bulls (2), Heat (2), Lakers (3), Pelicans, T-Wolves (3), Clippers, Suns, Hornets (2), Mavericks, Nuggets, 76ers.

Bucks are only listed with 2, but I have seen four of them here.

John Hammond was in the house.

[IWB]

The Bucks had everyone there, John Hammond, Billy McKinney, Dave Babcock and Chris Gilmartin.

[ge1974]

I saw Mr and Mrs Gato signaling for Wojo to use his final timeout prior to Lindsey shooting his free throws at the end of the first overtime with 6 seconds left. Wojo decided otherwise and Lindsey hit both to tie it.

[Gato78]

I thought freeze him and set up a play.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

Regarding Bentil, maybe he's peaking now, but I could see him being a Jimmy Butler type. The kid has gone from decent fill-in big man to the best player in the Big East over a summer. If I'm a scout, I'm thinking he is worth a lottery pick. Great frame, strength, and can shoot. Ideal stretch 4. Just baffles me how he isn't in any of the mock drafts I've looked at today.

EDIT: And when I say Jimmy Butler type, I don't mean play style but rather that they just keep getting better. Even watching Bentil this year it's like he keeps discovering new things he can do. Sky is the limit for that kid.

[Nukem2]

plus he should have had the game winning FTs at end of 1st OT. Totally blown call where guy holds his forearm on the shot right in front of the ref...no call...

https://vine.co/v/inWvggeWMIF
Sure looked that way from my vantage point last night. DVR replay today shows the same. Refs swallowed their whistles on that one. Then, you have the opposite in the call on Luke at the end of the DePaul game. Get no love from the refs at the BC.

[ge1974]

FWIW - Big East referee supervisor John Cahill was in attendance last night. As most of us know, he wouldn't know a good ref if he saw one. I wonder if he visited the corner in front of the visitors bench where he made the awful foul call on Dominic James at the buzzer which cost us the game against Georgetown a few years ago. You know for old time's sake. Anyway , he must have been real happy with the foul call on Henry giving Bentil 3 free throws near the end.

[Gato78]

If you are GM and you have Bentil and Henry on the board, who do you take?

[Nukem2]

If you are GM and you have Bentil and Henry on the board, who do you take?
Well, Henry did win the tip for both OTs. :). Tough call. Henry is probably more well rounded and Bentil more athletically gifted. Depends on the teams needs.

[Markedman]

Bentil is not even in any mocks for 2016 that I have seen.

I think the concern about him is he is a bit of a tweener at the next level. 6'8 power forwards are great in college but guys that height play the 3 and some times even the 2 in the NBA.

So to answer the question.....Henry will be drafted before Bentil if Bentil decides to enter the draft. IMO

[Gato78]

Based on his recent play, Bentil has been in at least one mock as a first rounder. Last night, with all of the NBA guys in the house, I think he made a damn good case to be a first rounder. The guy can shoot and play inside.

[pbiflyer]

If you are GM and you have Bentil and Henry on the board, who do you take?

I take Bentil, getting him the hell out of the BEast and counsel Henry to stay in school for all 4 years. :D

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

If you are GM and you have Bentil and Henry on the board, who do you take?

I think that's a very good question. Bentil is only a sophomore and started playing basketball late. Stronger in the post. I'd probably lean toward Bentil, even if it seems like blasphemy.

[mufan2003]

I think Bentil's ceiling is a player like Draymond Green for Golden State. Both 6'8", both can defend bigger players. Golden State went small last year in the Finals and had him playing the 5 with Iguodala guarding LeBron at the 4. All 5 Golden State players could score from anywhere on the court.

Bentil and Kelan Martin of Butler, 2 BE sophomores that have quickly appeared on NBA scouts' radar this year.

[MUwarrior1090]

I think Bentil's ceiling is a player like Draymond Green for Golden State. Both 6'8", both can defend bigger players. Golden State went small last year in the Finals and had him playing the 5 with Iguodala guarding LeBron at the 4. All 5 Golden State players could score from anywhere on the court.

Bentil and Kelan Martin of Butler, 2 BE sophomores that have quickly appeared on NBA scouts' radar this year.

Draymond Green is 6'5 with PG skills. I don't think Bentil is like him at all, even though I really like Bentil as a player.

[mufan2003]

Draymond Green is 6'5 with PG skills. I don't think Bentil is like him at all, even though I really like Bentil as a player.

Green is listed at 6'7" 230 lbs. Green would not have been able to play center last year in the Finals if he was only 6'5". Green does have a good handle, but not quite PG skills IMO. I think they are similar in being able to defend bigger players and yet stretch the floor on offense with a good 3-point shot.

http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6589/draymond-green