... the next game (against Rutgers at the RAC) is a classic trap game. Rutgers just came off playing against the numbers 1, 2, 3, teams in the country and will not be intiminated by MU. In fact, they will consider this a game they can win. They made it a close game against Pitt. Although the UNC and UConn games weren't very close, they were road games. I expect the game to be very tough on Wednesday.
We have a senior team on the road, playing well with a chip on their shoulder. Four New York guys close to home. Wet Nurse Hurley in the stands. Big game in the Big East. I think we have some motivation too.
Quote from: MarquetteDano on January 04, 2009, 11:25:18 PM
:D Great Line.
To give full props, I stole it from someone on here back in the TT soap opera days...always cracked me up and was dead on.
Rutgers will be a tough road game for us - Sunday game (today) and a quick turn-around road game Wednesday. It will be a tough one for sure, and I will be happy to get out of there with a win. We need to win this one - BE road and we may be ranked on Monday. So a must win - going to get tougher!
GO MARQUETTE!
I'm a bit concerned about this one, but think we'll be alright because of what I saw today.
Not the shooting, which was ridiculous, and won't happen often.
MU's defensive effort was absolutely outstanding, and that's what fueled the run. They got stops, forced some silly TO's, and finally hit the defensive glass. If they guard like they did today they'll win, no doubt.
The RAC is a tough place to play. Pitt was losing there until the end.
Two years ago we lost there in front of about 200 people to a Rutgers team whose coach couldn't even make it due to a snowstorm.
that was three years ago, i believe, as novak was on the team, and quincy douby lit us up for like thirty. While it may be true that the Rutgers Head coach did not show because of the snowstorm, the coach for that game turned out to be current coach Fred Hill. And because of that snowstorm, our travel was delayed and moved around, while the rutgers team slept in their beds that night. Regardless, this is a different team. The RAC is historically a difficult place to play, but i do believe we will win handily.
Quote from: Pardner on January 04, 2009, 11:21:20 PM
We have a senior team on the road, playing well with a chip on their shoulder. Four New York guys close to home.
Who are you, Len Elmore? ;)
MU will win in a game that will not be as close as the score will seem to indicate.
Quote from: reinko on January 05, 2009, 05:44:15 AM
Who are you, Len Elmore? ;)
Dookie V was quoting that the other day in the Pitt-Gtown game. Could ESPN pander more to the NY TV market?
Anyway, good fodder for us. "It's NY, it's NY"
It's reasonable to be worried about this game but I think it's more reasonable to have confidence that our guards are just too good and experienced to lose a game like this. Maybe two years ago (see: losses at PC and DePaul), maybe even last year. But not this year.
If we bring it on D and get some contributions from our 4/5s and bench, like we did yesterday, we'll win, regardless if Jerel "Dan Majerle" McNeal appears again or not.
Quote from: downtown85 on January 04, 2009, 11:13:16 PM
... the next game (against Rutgers at the RAC) is a classic trap game.
There really is no such thing as a trap game on the road in the Big East. There are no gimmies on the road in this league, each and every conference road game will be difficult for MU.
Quote from: MDMU04 on January 05, 2009, 12:33:31 PM
There really is no such thing as a trap game on the road in the Big East. There are no gimmies on the road in this league, each and every conference road game will be difficult for MU.
while they are all difficult, this game is really not viewed in the same light as at Pitt or at ND by many casual fans. I'm hoping the players know how difficult each game will be but relatively speaking, it's not like going into the number 1 team's packed house at the end of the conference season. If there is a mental lapse on the road, which there shouldn't ever be, it will most likely be this game.
I fear the return of muwarrior87 to Milwaukee. Marquette is 2-0 in his absence.
A big part of my Rutgers fear is playing at the RAC. They really seem to step it up on their home turf. Fans or no fans.
It will be a good test of Buzz's ability to keep the team focused on the task at hand. So far, he says that the players get to enjoy a win until midnight and they never look past the game in front of them. If he is correct, and the team only focuses on Rutgers today, tomorrow, and Wednesday, we should win. BUT, Rutgers has already played a lot of good teams and is tough at home. All in all, a good barometer game. Are we as good as we think we are?
Team left for Jersey this evening, should be rested and acclimated, and focused for the game.
Like the fact they went out early, schools not in session so why not.
I've got confidence in our guys. They're playing like seniors, already got a tough win in hostile territory over a better NC State team, and i don't think they'll get caught up in 'trap' games as much as they would have their freshman and sophomore years. If Rutgers had a better team I'd be more worried, but I say experience and poise gets them through this game with a W.
Beats the team's remake of Planes, Trains and Automobiles from a few years ago! ;D
Quote from: TallTitan34 on January 05, 2009, 07:30:06 PM
I fear the return of muwarrior87 to Milwaukee. Marquette is 2-0 in his absence.
A big part of my Rutgers fear is playing at the RAC. They really seem to step it up on their home turf. Fans or no fans.
Have no fear TT. I'll be in Door County by tipoff so you can't use me as an excuse if we slip up for some reason. ;) Will be back for WV though.
Quote from: muwarrior87 on January 05, 2009, 07:26:42 PM
while they are all difficult, this game is really not viewed in the same light as at Pitt or at ND by many casual fans. I'm hoping the players know how difficult each game will be but relatively speaking, it's not like going into the number 1 team's packed house at the end of the conference season. If there is a mental lapse on the road, which there shouldn't ever be, it will most likely be this game.
The fact that the fans may not view this game as important as other games on the schedule is completely irrelevant. The fans may not view this game in the same light as Pitt or ND, but you or I sitting at home watching the game on TV have absolutely nothing to do with the outcome.
Buzz cannot afford to let his team have any lapses in concentration. He is in charge of keeping his team's mental focus sharp, and he can ill afford any such lapses in his first season as head coach here. If you take Buzz at his word, he fully understands the epic task of winning road games in this conference. Not to mention that he also has 3 seniors on the court who have been through 3 Big East regular seasons and need no reminders of task at hand. If MU does lose this game, it will not be due to a lack of preparation or mental focus.
that's what i'm saying. I think he has these guys thinking that way and the leaders of this team know they can't have a let down like that. I don't think the team is viewing it as an easier game because of that.