According to this, the West is actually the most difficult region and the committee didn't do MU any favors with their path.
I actually thought MU got a pretty favorable draw this year but there are a lot of people who seem to think otherwise.
http://vegaswatch.net/2009/03/evaluating-draw.html
probably because people think that Memphis is so good. I think that our win against St. John's is indicative of what we could have done against C-USA this year.
What hurts us the most is a center who can alter shots in the paint when the guards penetrate. And Johnny Flynn, AJ Price, and Lavance Fields. All things that are not in our bracket. I have us in the Elite 8 and losing to UConn.
Though the old cliche is one game at a time, I am not worred about USU. Their top wins do not compare to our top wins, DJor no DJ. They are a mid-major, we are in the BEast. If we can hang with Nova, we can definitely beat USU.
Mizzou I will admit I don't know too much about other than they seem to be an up-tempo team like us. I am going to give us the benefit of the doubt, as we are more athletic and have won against better competition than they have.
Memphis does seem to be the wild card though. Calipari knows how to go far in the tourny, but with the team he has this year, can he beat one of the big boys? I think, assuming we make it that far, that this will be our biggest game of the tourny.
Objectively, I don't see us beating Memphis, but knowing that Wes and Jerel will take this team on their shoulders, I think we can get to the Elite 8. If that does happen to be the case, let's hope UConn gets upset.
And if I may add... USU looks like another ND. Except I'd take Harangody over Wilkinson 99 times out of 100. I'd say let Wilkinson get whatever points he can, but reading the USU board, they think their guards can easily guard Jerel and Wes. Let's inform them of what our remaining seniors can do.
Im not exactly sure when the Big 12 teams were ranked or not, but I see that Mizzou has beaten Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. Baylor or A &M might have been ranked also. So, let's just give them the benefit of the doubt that they have beaten 5 ranked teams.
Adding in Memphis' zero wins against ranked opponents and Utah State's lack of a win against ranked opponents, I'd say it's pretty fair that Marquette is a tad more battle-tested.
So Mizzou might be a challenge, I agree.
But going onto the other MU message board and how it's being invaded by Aggies, you'd think they've been a top 10 team all season long and we just can't do anything against big men *cough*overrated ND*cough*
I think we beat USU easily as long as we come in with a mindset of playing great defense. Play man to man, forget the help defense, focus on the 3 ball, and prepare for some long defensive possessions.
Quote from: PE8983 on March 18, 2009, 07:17:40 AM
I think we beat USU easily as long as we come in with a mindset of playing great defense. Play man to man, forget the help defense, focus on the 3 ball, and prepare for some long defensive possessions.
Agreed. Don't need fouls on reach-ins and reach-arounds. Play defense with the feet. Don't allow dribble penetration.
The wild card here, I think, is Jimmy Butler. USU may do its best to stop Jerel and Wes and take away Lazar's inside game, but JB has been our best player the past three games and I think his athleticism and quickness could be something USU has never had to deal with.
Quote from: PE8983 on March 18, 2009, 07:17:40 AM
I think we beat USU easily as long as we come in with a mindset of playing great defense. Play man to man, forget the help defense, focus on the 3 ball, and prepare for some long defensive possessions.
We need to be extremely patient on the defensive end. I still have a hard time believing that all of the Utah State players look over to the sideline at notebooks to run plays. That sounds insane. I don't know how a team is able to do that when the shot clock is winding down and they have someone playing hounding defense in their face.
Quote from: Nukem2 on March 18, 2009, 09:24:32 AM
Agreed. Don't need fouls on reach-ins and reach-arounds. Play defense with the feet. Don't allow dribble penetration.
You said reach arounds. :D
Yes, I am 12 years old.
I'm counting on Maryland knocking Memphis out in round 2. They can't stop Vazquez.
Quote from: MUSig54 on March 17, 2009, 11:51:23 PM
Though the old cliche is one game at a time, I am not worred about USU. Their top wins do not compare to our top wins, DJor no DJ. They are a mid-major, we are in the BEast. If we can hang with Nova, we can definitely beat USU.
Mizzou I will admit I don't know too much about other than they seem to be an up-tempo team like us. I am going to give us the benefit of the doubt, as we are more athletic and have won against better competition than they have.
Memphis does seem to be the wild card though. Calipari knows how to go far in the tourny, but with the team he has this year, can he beat one of the big boys? I think, assuming we make it that far, that this will be our biggest game of the tourny.
Objectively, I don't see us beating Memphis, but knowing that Wes and Jerel will take this team on their shoulders, I think we can get to the Elite 8. If that does happen to be the case, let's hope UConn gets upset.
We have 1 top win, Nova. Underestimate the opponent is a sure fire way to get hammered.