St John's thoughts

[brandx]

MU got outworked today.
 They played like they expected it to be easy.
 SJU played harder. 
 As opposed to Rutgers, who deserved their fate, SJU probably deserved this game.   
 Gardner played like his girlfriend just dumped him.
FT shooting is like a norovirus, for better or worse. 
 STjr is going to be really good by the end of his MU career.
 I thought Lavin outcoached Buzz. 
 Buzz went man when the zone was working. 
 Buzz had his players attacking the shotblocker without getting into his body.   
*Take the road win, enjoy the BEast championship.* 

Don't you think that is a characteristic of most of the guys on the team - except DV who initiates contact and maybe Lockett.

Looks like the rest of the guys try to avoid the contact which plays directly into the hands of a shotblocker.

[GGGG]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/men/gameflash/2013/03/09/79515/?sct=uk_t2_a5#boxscore

Steve Taylor had 7 rebounds and six points in only 12 minutes.  He needs to play more.

[connie]

Steve Taylor had 7 rebounds and six points in only 12 minutes.  He needs to play more.

Agree strongly.

[RushmoreAcademy]

A really awful final two minutes in which nobody seemed to want to stop the ball, but they did what they have been doing all season and found a way to win.  You can find fault in the team sure, but they are a special team and they've accomplished a ton this season!  Congratulations boys!!! Now let's go get in the BE Tourney.

[mr.MUskie]

That white boy is our best 3 point shooter.
Not his day today.

We have one of those, too.

[ChicosBailBonds]

MU got outworked today.
 They played like they expected it to be easy.
 SJU played harder. 
 As opposed to Rutgers, who deserved their fate, SJU probably deserved this game.   
 Gardner played like his girlfriend just dumped him.
FT shooting is like a norovirus, for better or worse. 
 STjr is going to be really good by the end of his MU career.
 I thought Lavin outcoached Buzz. 
 Buzz went man when the zone was working. 
 Buzz had his players attacking the shotblocker without getting into his body.   
*Take the road win, enjoy the BEast championship.* 

I didn't get to see game until about an hour ago.  Couldn't believe the last few minutes, our defense was so poor.  No one was taking ball.  Very frustrating.  Glad we got the win, super glad we won the championship.....however, wished we performed better the last two games against subpar opponents.  Hopefully we get that straightened out quickly.

[96warrior]

Agree the last two games were UGLY. I like that we pulled this off on the road, though, having been criticized for not being able to win away from the BC this season. Had we played at home today, like Georgetown and Louisville, our final score would have been the same as theirs. Our challenge was tougher and we grinded it out. Pretty much the theme song of this team. So proud of what they've done!!

[NotAnAlum]

I thought the same thing.  Both the other Co-champs got to clinch on their home floor.  That is a big advantage so our win should be as impressive as theirs.  That said our inability to close the door is very concerning because it seems to be a tendancy.  From here on out the games are going to go down to the wire and if we don't have the ability to make free throws and tough it out away from the BC we won't last long.

[barfolomew]

BTW, what does ESPN have against Steve Taylor, Jr.?
For most of the year, his name and position in the box score have been "Steve, Jr. / NA". I'm sure Buzz, in his infinite quest for switchables, likes the "NA" part, but for the love of Pedro, give the kid a last name in the box score. He deserves it.

[MU82]

Gardner played like he wolfed down a family-sized pizza before the game.  Has he put on weight?  He's too fat!  Played in slow motion today.

My wife said the light blues make him look especially large.

And she's a girl, so she notices those kinds of things.

[GGGG]

BTW, what does ESPN have against Steve Taylor, Jr.?
For most of the year, his name and position in the box score have been "Steve, Jr. / NA". I'm sure Buzz, in his infinite quest for switchables, likes the "NA" part, but for the love of Pedro, give the kid a last name in the box score. He deserves it.

Noticed that all year.  Pretty sure its a data formatting issue.

[AZWarrior]

Yes - darker colors tend to be "slimming colors", or so I've been told.  

So the "baby blues" and whites should be worn often, as they make us look larger and more intimidating.

[CTWarrior]

The thing I noticed was that our press breaker line-up (Cadougan, Blue, Mayo, J Wilson, Gardner) isn't that adept at breaking presses and is a horrific defensive unit.  I don't know what to do about it, but I worry that someone will wise up and just pressure us for the better part of 40 minutes.

On the plus we continue to make plays when we absolutely have to. 

Was a great day in NY, very big MU crowd pre-game at Mustang Harry's and a good MU turnout at the game.

[ChicosBailBonds]

As mentioned earlier, I had to watch the game late due to kids sporting activities today so the game is very fresh in my mind.  Had two of my brother-in-laws over watching the game...one is the son of a Marquette grad...the other is an IU grad.

At any rate, when we pissed away the lead at the end of the game it was tough to be in the room. I was pissed, they were pissed.  We couldn't believe how horrible the defense was in the last 3 minutes, the last second shot attempt that we never even got off.  UGH.  I kept thinking, how can we be doing this?  They kept showing their two studs in street clothes on the bench.  @$#@#@$   As my one bro-in-laws said, you guys just choked away your first Big East title.  Couldn't help but think he was right.

In OT, much of the same feeling until VB hits the shot with under 1 second.  The line was so close today from being a very depressing day to one of a ton of joy.  A bunch of high fives in our family room when it went in, and a huge sense of relief.  Not a roller coaster ride was hoping for but thought it would go that way so no shock. We got two wins this week against two so so teams, but the team won.  They found a way.  There are no average teams left to play...need to really step it up a notch in the next 14 days.

[Lennys Tap]

I guess I could whine about our defense, ball handling and free throw shooting in the last three minutes. Or Davante and Todd having subpar games.

But I can't. I'm too freakin' excited about winning our first ever Big East championship. With a team that was supposed to finish in the middle of the pack. By winning our last 4 (last 2 on the road) and 6 of our last 7. With a schedule that was "easy" early but tough late. This was the second greatest accomplishment by an MU team in 36 years by a team that was all grit but nowhere near our second most talented over that period. Any Marquette fan who is "happy, but..." tonight is, in my opinion, full of it and can bite me.

[Lennys Tap]

Second biggest day in Marquette basketball history in the last 36 years and all you want to talk about is how bad we sucked, how depleted St Johns was and how if we don't step it up we'll be toast. WTF is wrong with you?

[Warriors10]

Second biggest day in Marquette basketball history in the last 36 years and all you want to talk about is how bad we sucked, how depleted St Johns was and how if we don't step it up we'll be toast. WTF is wrong with you?

Keith Bogan's bum ankle is the only reason we made the Final Four.

[Scooter22]

Just watched the game on my computer...  SJU played well, our defense was a bit worrisome in that it seems we forgot the old adage about stopping the ball...  too many coast to coast layups!

[keefe]

As mentioned earlier, I had to watch the game late due to kids sporting activities today so the game is very fresh in my mind.  Had two of my brother-in-laws over watching the game...one is the son of a Marquette grad...the other is an IU grad.

At any rate, when we pissed away the lead at the end of the game it was tough to be in the room. I was pissed, they were pissed.  We couldn't believe how horrible the defense was in the last 3 minutes, the last second shot attempt that we never even got off.  UGH.  I kept thinking, how can we be doing this?  They kept showing their two studs in street clothes on the bench.  @$#@#@$   As my one bro-in-laws said, you guys just choked away your first Big East title.  Couldn't help but think he was right.

In OT, much of the same feeling until VB hits the shot with under 1 second.  The line was so close today from being a very depressing day to one of a ton of joy.  A bunch of high fives in our family room when it went in, and a huge sense of relief.  Not a roller coaster ride was hoping for but thought it would go that way so no shock. We got two wins this week against two so so teams, but the team won.  They found a way.  There are no average teams left to play...need to really step it up a notch in the next 14 days.

I am optimistic. As of tomorrow I can do that too.

2013 Men's Basketball Conference Champions

[muwarrior97]

First game all year I couldn't catch on TV, PC or radio.......man so glad, would have have a heart-attack and MF-droppin' fest that would have had my wife kicking me out to the garage BUT dang what a cool result, never pretty but getting it done and getting the W, thank you MUBB!! Keep it going for another month

[ChicosBailBonds]

Second biggest day in Marquette basketball history in the last 36 years and all you want to talk about is how bad we sucked, how depleted St Johns was and how if we don't step it up we'll be toast. WTF is wrong with you?

First off, it's not the second biggest day in MU basketball history the last 36 years by a long shot.

If you would have noticed the first messages I posted, were all in excitement about MU winning.  My concern, sorry if I'm unable to have any, is that we were up 9 points with 1:50 remaining and went to OT.  That should concern anyone.  We have no more games at the BC, they're all neutral or away at this point.  It was a little shocking to see what we did that last 1:50 against a team that was severely depleted knowing what was on the line.  Yes, concerning. 

My point was, if you had read it, is how thin the line is.  If we lose that game in OT how totally devastating it would have been to have had the game and lost in that manner.  The difference between total despair and joy literally changed in about 1 second of time.  I'm sorry that I pointed that out.

[ChicosBailBonds]

First game all year I couldn't catch on TV, PC or radio.......man so glad, would have have a heart-attack and MF-droppin' fest that would have had my wife kicking me out to the garage BUT dang what a cool result, never pretty but getting it done and getting the W, thank you MUBB!! Keep it going for another month

Yup, that's how I felt.  That last 2 minutes was surreal to say the least.

[Pakuni]

First off, it's not the second biggest day in MU basketball history the last 36 years by a long shot.

<gulp> I actually agree here.
Bigger days (in no particular order):
- Beating Kentucky to go to the Final Four
- Dwyane Wade signs to play for Marquette
- MU hires Buzz Williams
- MU hires Tom Crean
- MU hires Kevin O'Neill
- Appearing in the Final Four (despite the painful result)
- Beating Kentucky in 1994 to go to the Sweet 16 (MU becomes relevant again)
- Getting invited to the Big East
- Getting invited to C-USA
- Beating Syracuse in 2011 to make Sweet 16

I'm sure there are others.
Winning a share of the conference regular season title is a great accomplishment, but ultimately the BE deems its tournament winner as the "official" champion. MU has had, and will have, bigger and brighter days.

[Goose]

Pakuni

Agree completely with your post and I guess Chico's as well. It was great and exciting day but not high on list. I have said the shot was high simply because you do not have many buzzer beaters to win championships or very big games. The shot goes in the history books higher than the conference regular season shared title to me.

[muwarrior69]

First off, it's not the second biggest day in MU basketball history the last 36 years by a long shot.

If you would have noticed the first messages I posted, were all in excitement about MU winning.  My concern, sorry if I'm unable to have any, is that we were up 9 points with 1:50 remaining and went to OT.  That should concern anyone.  We have no more games at the BC, they're all neutral or away at this point.  It was a little shocking to see what we did that last 1:50 against a team that was severely depleted knowing what was on the line.  Yes, concerning. 

My point was, if you had read it, is how thin the line is.  If we lose that game in OT how totally devastating it would have been to have had the game and lost in that manner.  The difference between total despair and joy literally changed in about 1 second of time.  I'm sorry that I pointed that out.

Joy? ....more like relief. Yes, I too am concerned. We have not handled the ball very well and where was our defense? Both Rutgers and St. Johns out hustled us. It will catch up with us at some point, but hope I am wrong.