Two losses, yes. One expected, the other not.
(Had we hit the damn free throws we would have won at Tampa.)
But Villanova at home? The was a likely loss and what were the chances we go 2-0 on the 14th ranked team in the country. They had seen us already this year and had to make a statement.
There was no way we were going to run the table in the Big East much as I dreamed we would...
So, let's win the remaining games we should win, knock off one that we shouldn't win and get ready for the tourneys.
I understand it isjust two losses, but we didn't play well against DePaul, either, and the Georgetown and ND wins are looking less impressive every day. USF was an UNEXPECTED LOSS, not an unexpected loss. They're really lousy and we should never, ever have lost to them. It took an incredibly across the board awful game to get the job done.
I certainly don't think losing to Nova is that bad, in fact I expected it. I would say there are only a small handful of schools that could go into that place and expect to come out victorious. I did not expect that we'd be run out of the gym, however. I did not expect the game would be over for all intents and purposes so early in the second half.
So I think the board is experiencing a reality check. Some were thinking after Georgetown that we were a legit top 8 team and if things broke just right, a Final Four appearance wasn't impossible. Now I think we're adjusting to the more realistic top 20 "we could make the sweet 16 if the match-ups work out right, and after that you never know" mode.
Agreed.
CTWarrior has it right - look at the trend of poor play over 3 games (giving up 102 and losing by 18 is not a good loss to Villanova), a MU team that appears tired team / has no reserves and the upcoming tough schedule - the ceiling for this team appears much lower than it was 3 games ago.
I hope we can reverse the trend, but 12 - 6 looks like out best shot right now - that does not bode well for a decent seed in the tourney for favorable matchups to get to/past the sweet sixteen...
I think people are panicking over this record without even considering how MU is still in good standing.
2 losses in the Big East.
Everyone I have talked to said if we split the ND/GT games and then penciled in this loss at Nova, 2 losses going into this home stand isn't too bad. Here we are, 2 losses going into this home stand. Yeah, both are bad losses as we didn't show much vs Nova and USF was an awful loss, but record wise we're still in good shape.
The concern lies behind the record.
1) Is this team is starting to show a wear from going only 7-8 deep?
2) Are the players getting more concerned about personal stats?
3) Have coaches finally figured out Buzz Williams?
etc etc etc
No one knows the answers to these questions. The last 3 games are very telling, and concerning to most fans.
Personally I thought MU looked great mid first half, and from then on looked awful. I don't know what the problem is, but whatever it is they better fix it soon because if they play like that the rest of the way we'll be in trouble
The trend is bad and the schedule is getting stronger. We did not just lose to villanova we got stomped. I believe we will beat St. John's, but Seton Hall has been playing well lately and that game worries me. We have a shot at Georgetown and at home against Syracuse. I see three 20+ losses coming in games against Uconn, Louisville and Pitt. Maybe the minutes played are starting to show up. The bad news is we already had our two breaks, so we play a game every 3 or 4 days.
There is no way this team loses at home by more than 20 points to UCONN. It might very well be a loss, but not in blowout fashion. I still believe the team is going unblemished at home this year. They have looked terrific in Big East play at the Bradley Center, especially in the second half of games.
echoing what others have said...
it's not the loss(es), by itself, that is causing concern, but how they've come.
* free throws weren't a liability early in the year, now they are.
* they've fallen into that trap they did last year: shoot, shoot, force, shoot. this team is fast and explosive, drive the lane.
* lots of games, LOTS of minutes, lots of worn down players. unlike teams of the past, there is no true 6th man here. no depth
if they go 0-7 but play close, drive to the hoop, take good (quality) shots, rebound, hit free throws, temper their love of the 3.... i'll be happy. they'll be tested and hardeded for the tournaments all while playing good, consistent ball.
the worry comes from winning big, then losing big, clsoe loss, close win. jacking up 3s at will, missing 10+ free throws/game, stupid fouls, James shooting first rather than passing first, etc. because those are habits that carry on and don't equal success for a team that should be able to achieve it.
maybe it's been addressed before: where is david cubillan? is he hurt or did he piss of buzz or what?