Markus Slump?

[Duke Blue Blood]

While I am aware foul trouble has limited his minutes, he does not seem to be playing with the energy we have seen from him at his peak. He was absolute non-factor last night and he played 20 minutes.

At Temple he had a good shooting game, but their lack of size should have lead to more rebounds it seems.

Rutgers, again limited minutes, but he just did not seem to try to take the game on.

DBB

[ponyinNC]

feel like the early foul trouble really takes him out of his game, and he becomes much less aggressive

[ponywhupp9202]

I did not hear the entire context, but I caught a little of a Larry Brown interview (770 am) while driving home from the game last night, and he did say that he wants to see Kennedy step up. Relative to his high productivity and effectiveness earlier this season, I think I see what he means.

He also praised Frazier and Sterling Brown for the way they played last night and the way they practiced this week.

[SMU 86]

feel like the early foul trouble really takes him out of his game, and he becomes much less aggressive

I agree. If he can stay out of early foul trouble he will be fine.

[EconPony'10]

It seemed like he was a little tentative offensively and on the glass. He also had a couple of TO's with passes if I can recall. I am sure LB has preached to him about this but I feel he needs to go balls to the wall (not out of control of course) and foul trouble should not be a concern of his because we have great backups. It doesn't do any good if he is playing cautiously trying to stay in the game longer. I do agree he should have got a few more foul calls on the offensive end. Nic Moore too for that matter. Poor guy was getting hammered.

[GiddyUp]

He has been nowhere near what we have seen - Cinn and other games. I wonder if he is hurt? Just not the same energy. We need him of we have any chance of beating Lou or Uconn

[ponyte]

One wonders if opponents have adjusted their defenses to make Markus' offensive production more difficult.

[ponyscott]

No he just isn't playing up to his potential....LB needs to give him his Godfather talk again...

[ponyfan37]

We don't seem to be running the offense through him as much recently. Not getting him the ball at the top of the key, which seemed to get the offense flowing.

[PonyKris89]

maybe it's just a matter of hitting a wall late in the season. Markus and Nic Moore might be experiencing this, as both sat out last season.

You usually get in early foul trouble because you aren't moving your feet. Hopefully the rest for him with less minutes, and seeing Cannen get his minutes will light him back up.

[SMU Section F]

I think it's really just the last two games, although statistically you could say it's a little longer. Might be the early foul trouble causing him to play tentative. If that is the case he just needs to realize that 2 strong minutes is better than 20 tentative minutes, especially with a deep bench behind you.

I don't think there's any cause for fans to worry though. It's likely we're just seeing the regular ebb and flow of the season, but if there is an issue I'm sure it'll be addressed. (I love the feeling of having faith in a staff/program... it's been a while.)

[birddogger]

Agree that this may be an ebb, not only for MK but the others, too. Hopefully it doesn't last long and the team will be hitting on all 10 cylinders come tourney time.

[East Coast Mustang]

I thought foul trouble was the big problem- tough for him to get in a rhythm

It's nice we have so many other guys who can step up when a key contributor like Markus has an off night

[GiddyUp]

We don't seem to be running the offense through him as much recently. Not getting him the ball at the top of the key, which seemed to get the offense flowing.

exactly what I was thinking. We just to go down low as the 1st option in the first few series. Perhaps opponents are denying the entry pass, haven't noticed.

[ojaipony]

Sometimes it depends on the opponent. Against UConn, for example, I'd be feeding the beast early and often (rebounding! will be absolutely critical). He needs to take his motor consistently up to an 11 and then he'd be all world. We win that game with solid perimeter D and own the rim offensively. Do that and we have a chance. Do it not and we get embarrassed. It's that simple.