Marquette's offense inept in loss to Vandy

MILWAUKEE The numbers were not pretty.Nineteen field goals in 59 attempts.Three three-pointers on 15 tries.Sixteen free throws in 30 attempts. Put it all together and No. 13 Marquette put together quite a stinker in its final non-conference tuneup, falling 74-57 to Vanderbilt Thursday night at the Bradley Center.It was ugly. It was disgusting. It was discouraging. It was the worst home loss in Buzz Williams four seasons as Marquette coach and first home non-conference loss since falling to Wisconsin, 69-64, on Dec. 11, 2010.Sadly, though, it was nothing new. Marquette hasn't shot better than 39 percent in it's last three games a loss at LSU, a victory over UW-Milwaukee and the loss to Vanderbilt the Golden Eagles have averaged just 60 points. In the ten games prior, they were averaging 84.Thursday, Marquette was cold from the start. The Golden Eagles opened the game 1-for-15 from the field and finished the first half shooting 7-of-33, with just one three-pointer in eight attempts. After starting center Davante Garnder scored the games first points at the 19:25 mark, Marquette wouldnt score a field goal until Darius Johnson-Odoms jumper with 10:35 remaining.They did what they wanted and we didnt do what we practiced," Williams said. Hence the 21 percent from the field. Thats what you get."Adding to the problem, the Golden Eagles found themselves in early foul trouble. Gardner picked up two in the first five minutes of the game and was limited to just five minutes in the first half. Vander Blue played just seven minutes in the half.That put added pressure on the Golden Eagles, who found themselves down by as much as 27 in the first half."We were too reliant on making shots in the hopes that would increase our energy and our emotion," Williams said. It doesn't work that way. Not the way we're built. We got exactly what we deserved." Marquette came into the game fresh off the heels of an extended, three-day holiday break feeling refreshed and eager to get back to work. If rust was a factor, nobody was admitting it afterward. "They were off longer than we were," Williams said. "We've been really good (in practice) since the break."Rest assured, though, Golden Eagles fans: this kind of performance won't repeat itself. Not as long as Buzz Williams has anything to say about it. The head coach didn't pull any punches in his post-game comments and vowed that his team will be ready when Villanova comes to town New Year's Day."Season No. 1 is over, season No. 2 starts in 65 hours," Williams said. "We'll see how we respond."