I think 3-0 (assuming we take care of business against NIU and American) gives us so much more room for error in BE play.
3-0 is definitely attainable.
2-1. I think we lose at the Kohl Hole. UGA has been a pleasant surprise this season, I thought they would struggle to find a PG after Frazier but the Jackson kid has stepped up nicely. Still think we have enough firepower to beat them. If Maten scores 2, we'll score 3. Vermont is a great mid-major but in 6 years under their current coach (I think 6 is right), they have never won at a high major gym. Hopefully we're not the first. Very disciplined team. Bucky is hard to get a gauge on, my eye test says they are Ethan Happ, D'Mitrik Trice surrounded by a bunch of nonsense. I just have been burned too many times by underestimating the Badgers to be confident about beating them. I do think that 3-0 is more likely than 1-2...but this was all before Cheatham left. Still need to see how they adjust to life after Haanie.
Any decent big will just feast under the basket against us.
Any decent big will just feast under the basket against us.Yes. Happ, Ethan.
I also think its great we have a bunch of 0-3 votes early! So spirited "I-Told-You-So" coming to Scoop real soon!
The only way you can stop Happ is double teaming like Virginia did and let the threes rain, if they are off like VA, MU wins, or if they are on, good night. I see UW winning
Or just foul him. Happ is a sub 60% career FT shooter. This would be a game where having Harry eligible or Ike on the court would be useful. Just let Theo bang away at him.
Tough to hack-a-happ with 8 players, though.
Somone had the idea to just send Cam out to kick him in the nads. Might not be a terrible idea.
Somone had the idea to just send Cam out to kick him in the nads. Might not be a terrible idea.
I like it. Or even the Leito kid. At lest he's got a little size. Just send him out there with 10 minutes left in the game and direct him to jump on Happs back everytime hes about to shoot!
I think Georgia is the game I am most confident about. Vermont's discipline, experience, and pace scares me a bit. Feels like a trap game before the rivalry game with Bucky.
Then Vermont... they are exactly the team that can beat us. Lamb can do it all. They have two 3 point gunners. Decent on offensive boards. Decent defensive team.
I think this underestimates UVM. They were one of the best defenses in the country last year. Maybe even a top 10?
I really think you should be prepared for a loss in Madison. Happ is going to brutalize MU's interior defense, and UW's defense is good enough to shut down a one-dimensional team. UW has lost to four ranked teams. Two of those games were within five points at a neutral site, and another (Xavier) was close until the last few minutes.
They aren't as good as they have been previously, but I don't get where the assumption that MU should win this game comes from.
I think this underestimates UVM. They were one of the best defenses in the country last year. Maybe even a top 10?
Only seen them play once this year but last year and this year ranked around #70 in defense per Pomeroy. They play super slow which makes their defense look better.
Of these 3 teams, I'm thinking Georgia will have the worst record / lowest RPI and probably won't make the tournament. This is probably our best shot for a win. The other 2 games will be tough, and winning either of them will be a big plus in my eyes.
I think Vermont is going to have a shot another undefeated conference run and might be sniffing the 30 win mark again. This team is experienced and has 4 starters back from last year, when they held their own against Purdue (with Swanigan) in the tournament. They were one of the best defensive teams in the country last year too, so expect that to continue. I'm not optimistic about this one.
That makes me feel a little better. I think I had seen rankings just based on points allowed, which is obviously not always the best metric. On the other hand, though, I worry about the pace if UVM is able to slow it down. We're such a heavy volume offense that having fewer possessions could be an issue.
I guess the good news is that Vermont's slow down game and patient offense will have us prepared to play the Badgers.
We can beat all 3 teams just need everyone to be committed on the defensive end we all know we can score when ever we want
Just looked at VermontBut they have experience, don't turn the ball over, and play good defense.
At least it appears they don't have too much size(like most mid majors).
But they have experience, don't turn the ball over, and play good defense.
Not really expecting our D to force many TOs anyways.
We're forcing 14 turnovers a game. Not an elite number certainly but above average.
I voted for Trimtone (https://www.sfgate.com/market/article/trimtone-review-16535793.php) as I look on the optimistic side but digging a little deeper I think Georgia is a tougher test for us that that team west of us. Georgia's length could bother all shooters but Sam, and that might lead to Rowsey playing a little hero ball (which that can doom us quickly if the shots don't fall). I still think we should be able to pull away but double teaming Maten needs to happen early.
As for the game at the Kohl, no one outside of Happ intimidates me. I watched the second half of the Virginia game and gained more optimism for our chances. Virginia would double Happ and shooters were open, but it was clank after clank after clank. I think Badger fans were hoping that Pritzl and King would be the answers, but neither have been good to the start of the season.
I voted 3-0 as I look on the optimistic side but digging a little deeper I think Georgia is a tougher test for us that that team west of us. Georgia's length could bother all shooters but Sam, and that might lead to Rowsey playing a little hero ball (which that can doom us quickly if the shots don't fall). I still think we should be able to pull away but double teaming Maten needs to happen early.
As for the game at the Kohl, no one outside of Happ intimidates me. I watched the second half of the Virginia game and gained more optimism for our chances. Virginia would double Happ and shooters were open, but it was clank after clank after clank. I think Badger fans were hoping that Pritzl and King would be the answers, but neither have been good to the start of the season.
Not that I disagree and hope you are right, but against us those clanks will be swoosh after swoosh after swoosh. It's uncanny how teams get hot when playing us.
Actually they don't. Marquette has held every opponent except VCU to under their season 3P%, and VCU only shot .02% over. MU's 3P defense isn't elite but it is top third of all D1 programs.
2P fgs on the other hand....
Actually they don't. Marquette has held every opponent except VCU to under their season 3P%, and VCU only shot .02% over. MU's 3P defense isn't elite but it is top third of all D1 programs.
2P fgs on the other hand....
I don't believe in addition by subtraction in the overall quality of a team....but the graduation of Rowdy will do wonders for our defense next season
Only if a point guard with size is brought in on Cheatham's open scholarship. Morrow will definitely bring size, strength, and toughness. I am picturing a starting front court of Sam, Morrow, and Froling. Possibly Cain at the 2. So, when Froling hedges out high, and his man rolls, the weak side wing coming down to help will be Hauser, Morrow, or Cain. As opposed to Markus and Rowsey.
Only if a point guard with size is brought in on Cheatham's open scholarship. Morrow will definitely bring size, strength, and toughness. I am picturing a starting front court of Sam, Morrow, and Froling. Possibly Cain at the 2. So, when Froling hedges out high, and his man rolls, the weak side wing coming down to help will be Hauser, Morrow, or Cain. As opposed to Markus and Rowsey.
I really think you should be prepared for a loss in Madison. Happ is going to brutalize MU's interior defense, and UW's defense is good enough to shut down a one-dimensional team. UW has lost to four ranked teams. Two of those games were within five points at a neutral site, and another (Xavier) was close until the last few minutes.100% and judging from the poll most agree with you. My guess is that the "if we don't beat UW we have issues" sentiment comes from being too emotionally invested in the outcome of this one specific game because in-laws/neighbors/coworkers are UW fans.
They aren't as good as they have been previously, but I don't get where the assumption that MU should win this game comes from.
Yeah, having two diminutive guards really hurts. Our team length will be significantly improved next year, even with Markus playing 30+ MPG. It will definitely be the tallest MU team in the last decade.Acker and Cubillan were as small. But they were good on-ball defenders.