Tom Crean on Kansas State

[AzCat]

NCAA rules mandated it couldn't be publicized, scores couldn't be kept and no one other than team personnel were allowed.

That aside, the marathon practice session the Marquette Golden Eagles went through at Kansas State last weekend was so productive that coach Tom Crean is now considering doing it twice next season - effectively replacing both the exhibition games his team would otherwise play - if it makes sense financially.

"It's by far one of the most valuable things I've ever done in my eight years of being at Marquette for us to help prepare our basketball team to be better," he said. "No question about it."

Crean and new Wildcats coach Bob Huggins worked out the details earlier this off-season and on Sunday MU made its way to Manhattan, Kan. where the two teams practiced for about three hours total, with a three-hour break in between.

Just about every type of game and time situation was covered, and an all-out scrimmage took place as well.

"It was a late January, early February environment; there just weren't any people there," said Crean. "But as far as the competitiveness on the floor, the quickness, the speed, it's just really hard to duplicate that in your practices.

"We got a chance to get a look at just about everything under game conditions, with top-notch referees and going against a team that really is going to be a tough, tough team. I love the road value that you get from it as well."

Crean said the Golden Eagles also got a good look at what they need to improve upon.

"There are a lot of flaws and at this time of year, every program is going to be the same way," he said. "Obviously we saw a lot of different screen-and-cut situations to give us something to work toward on the defensive end. We've got to rebound better on both ends, no question about it. We have to improve our spacing and our ability to make perimeter jump shots. And we've got to be able to play harder longer."

Once rivals in Conference USA when Huggins was at Cincinnati, each coach spoke to the other's team at one point during the day.

"We have a mutual respect for each other," Crean said. "I said to my team that we'd go as far as Fairbanks, Alaska to scrimmage a Bob Huggins team because you're going to walk out of there having a feel for where your toughness is, what your ability is to rebound, how you execute under pressure and how you compete at a high level.

"We were not disappointed one iota with what we were able to learn. I feel really good for Bob in the sense that if they learn to listen to him and buy into his ability to mold championship-level basketball teams, they will be really surprised at how much better they're going to get. Because they're pretty good right now, with the ability to get a lot better."

Crean said Huggins has already committed to coming to MU next season under the same circumstances.

"That's what we talked about," said Crean, who added there were also no injuries of note. "Both of us plan on Kansas State coming back to Marquette."

MU, ranked 17th in the pre-season ESPN/USA Today coaches poll, hosts Cardinal Stritch in an exhibition game on Sunday, then opens the regular season Nov. 10 against Division II Hillsdale College.

[Dirty Sanchez]

Something is telling me that the prognosticators have underestimated this team more than the football team.

[michigancat]

Something is telling me that the prognosticators have underestimated this team more than the football team.

overestimated less.

[coitus]

the suckage is over.

[Dan Rydell]

As I said on an earlier thread, I think we may have underestimated the potential of this team led by Huggins.  As in top 3 Big XII, sweet sixteen underestimated.

[Dirty Sanchez]

Top 3 nothing.  Why play for #2 when #1 is available?

[michigancat]

Marquette exhibition benefits Wildcats

Marquette's Dominic James might be the best point guard in the country.

Only a sophomore, the 5-foot-11 James has been named to several preseason All-America teams. He averaged 15.4 points and 5.3 assists as a freshman, and those numbers should improve this season.

Bob Huggins and the Kansas State Wildcats saw him up close Sunday, during a closed-door scrimmage at Bramlage Coliseum, and Huggins came away impressed.

"He's good, really good," he said. "He's the real deal."

But James didn't go off. That was confirmed by Marquette associate athletic director Mike Broeker, who attended the scrimmage. It was an off day for the Golden Eagles, whose coaches were out on the recruiting trail and were not available.

Score wasn't kept, but Broeker said K-State's defense was not only solid but familiar. The Wildcats' effort reminded him of Huggins' teams at Cincinnati.

"The experience was invaluable and the quality of play was high," Broeker said.

Instead of playing another exhibition game against another Division II opponent, Huggins and Marquette coach Tom Crean decided to meet. The Wildcats will return the favor next season.

"I thought it was great being able to work against a team of that caliber," Huggins said of Marquette, which is ranked 17th in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll.

The intensity, which Broeker equated to a conference game in January or February, was top-notch.

"From a pure basketball standpoint, it doesn't get any better than scrimmaging Marquette," Huggins said.

As for standouts, Huggins didn't mention how well Cartier Martin and David Hoskins performed, but he said those two are the only certain starters for Saturday's exhibition against Washburn (for which 13,200 tickets are accounted for, according to sports information official Tom Gilbert). He said Lance Harris and Akeem Wright played well, raving particularly about Wright's shot, which was falling with regularity.

There was plenty, however, Huggins wants to see improved, such as rebounding, offensive execution, defensive intensity -- basically, everything.

But Broeker was impressed.

"That's a pretty good team they have down there," he said.

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/sports/colleges/kansas_state_university/15897172.htm

[JavaCat]

I'm still keeping expectations low.

[ksu_FAN]

Yeah, I'm still sticking with 10-6 and around 5th in the league (which is still pretty high).  I want to see the PGs play, our inexperienced 5 spot, and how good Martin and Hoskins can be for several games before I raise them. 

[TheShocker]

Top 3 nothing.  Why play for #2 when #1 is available?

 

[michigancat]

Yeah, I'm still sticking with 10-6 and around 5th in the league (which is still pretty high).  I want to see the PGs play, our inexperienced 5 spot, and how good Martin and Hoskins can be for several games before I raise them. 

9-7, 5th.

[cireksu]

I'll be dissapointed if we aren't 10-6.  We should be everyone in the North 2 times with the exception of ku.  Then we just have to beat 2 south teams.

[WildCatzPhreak]

Marquette exhibition benefits Wildcats

Marquette's Dominic James might be the best point guard in the country.

Only a sophomore, the 5-foot-11 James has been named to several preseason All-America teams. He averaged 15.4 points and 5.3 assists as a freshman, and those numbers should improve this season.

Bob Huggins and the Kansas State Wildcats saw him up close Sunday, during a closed-door scrimmage at Bramlage Coliseum, and Huggins came away impressed.

"He's good, really good," he said. "He's the real deal."

But James didn't go off. That was confirmed by Marquette associate athletic director Mike Broeker, who attended the scrimmage. It was an off day for the Golden Eagles, whose coaches were out on the recruiting trail and were not available.

Score wasn't kept, but Broeker said K-State's defense was not only solid but familiar. The Wildcats' effort reminded him of Huggins' teams at Cincinnati.

"The experience was invaluable and the quality of play was high," Broeker said.

Instead of playing another exhibition game against another Division II opponent, Huggins and Marquette coach Tom Crean decided to meet. The Wildcats will return the favor next season.

"I thought it was great being able to work against a team of that caliber," Huggins said of Marquette, which is ranked 17th in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll.

The intensity, which Broeker equated to a conference game in January or February, was top-notch.

"From a pure basketball standpoint, it doesn't get any better than scrimmaging Marquette," Huggins said.

As for standouts, Huggins didn't mention how well Cartier Martin and David Hoskins performed, but he said those two are the only certain starters for Saturday's exhibition against Washburn (for which 13,200 tickets are accounted for, according to sports information official Tom Gilbert). He said Lance Harris and Akeem Wright played well, raving particularly about Wright's shot, which was falling with regularity.

There was plenty, however, Huggins wants to see improved, such as rebounding, offensive execution, defensive intensity -- basically, everything.

But Broeker was impressed.

"That's a pretty good team they have down there," he said.

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/sports/colleges/kansas_state_university/15897172.htm

Did anybody else see that quote and get an immediate thought of WTF???

[ksu_FAN]

Huggins is great, but IMO we will lose at least 2 road games to north teams, possibly 3 (counting Lawrence).  Someone will come up and bite us, whether it be NU playing a solid game with decent talent, MU taking advantage of our PGs with pressure, or even Roby going off for 45 in Boulder.  We have a solid team, but I'll be shocked if we sweep the north in games not against ku.  I will be very disappointed if we lose to one of those teams at home, but I think the road is tough in college basketball, even against average or worse teams.

[kougar24]

Calling NU's talent level "decent" is a bit of a stretch, in my opinion.

[jmlynch1]

We won't lose to NU, however I can definitely see the other two scenarios you mentioned playing out.

[ksu_FAN]

Good point koug.  My vision is colored by Maric, who is solid and might be a pro.  Outside him, White and Richardson are decent and maybe Perry.  None of their new guys look like impact players.

[sys]

your view should be colored by maric.  he's the best player in the north not playing at ku or ksu.  and nu has a few decent shooters they can fill in around him if defenses pack it in.  i'll be surprised if nu doesn't come in 3rd in the north.

[michigancat]

your view should be colored by maric.  he's the best player in the north not playing at ku or ksu.  and nu has a few decent shooters they can fill in around him if defenses pack it in.  i'll be surprised if nu doesn't come in 3rd in the north.

Roby.

[sys]

Roby.

i didn't forget about him.


(spelling edit)

[michigancat]

How about Wright nailing shots, though?

[sys]

How about Wright nailing shots, though?

a one scrimmage fluke.  hopefully wright is improved offensively, but noone goes from as poor a shooter as he was to a good shooter in one year.

[michigancat]

How about Wright nailing shots, though?

a one scrimmage fluke.  hopefully wright is improved offensively, but noone goes from as poor a shooter as he was to a good shooter in one year.

You obviously haven't seen shooters that have spent an offseason working with me. 

He could have gone from poor to mediocre, which would be great.

[sys]

He could have gone from poor to mediocre, which would be great.

that would be great.  and the best that can be hoped for. 

[ksu_FAN]

You obviously haven't seen shooters that have spent an offseason working with me.

[Joker]

Bob Huggins on Tom Crean on Kansas State....

"Tom is a very positive guy. You have to understand that going in. Tom is a pretty positive guy. He was good, very complimentary of our guys, but that's him, he's going to do that anyways. Not that it's bad. He talked to our guys for probably 10 minutes afterwards and did a good job."