MU needs to win this game
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=293350152
if MU loses this game they are in MAJOR trouble. I watched the game and NC St. looked slow, undisciplined, lazy and not all that skilled.
NW is a scrappy bunch, though. Have to give them credit.
Northwestern beat Notre Dame last week, though, so they deserve credit. Held Harangody to "only" 21 points. So yes we need to beat NC State, especially if they're slow, undisciplined, etc, but at 6-1, it's not like they're losing to cupcakes.
Yes, MU will beat NC State at home. But, NU winning on the road was no fluke. They've learned Carmody's system and execute it very well. Meanwhile their best player, Kevin Coble, is out for the year. Go Cats.
Quote from: muole on December 01, 2009, 09:51:03 PM
NW is a scrappy bunch, though. Have to give them credit.
Yeah, but are they junk-yard dogs?
If MU finishes the non-conf schedule 10-2, that will have exceeded my wildest expectations. 11-1 would be out of this world. I still see a rather rude awakening come BE time, but it would be nice going into it with some hope. NC State seems winnable, and would be nice to get.
I don't necessarily see MU getting to .500 in the BE, but for the sake of argument, if they dd that and beat NC State and UW, they almost certainly make the NCAA. Go 1-1 vs. those two teams, and still have a good shot, but its tougher.
I'm more worried about NC State than I am UW.
NC State may not be a top 25 team, but they are good enough to the point that they will likely finish the year in the top 50 RPI and have a shot at the dance. Believe me, this game means a lot more to NC State (quality win against the Big East on the road) than it does to MU. They have no quality wins yet and after MU, they only have a chance at one more quality OOC win for their resume (vs. Florida), two if you consider @Arizona a quality game. Given the Florida game might be just out of their reach, this game very well could be a must-win for them (as much as a game in December can be a must-win, that is).
MU has two quality wins under their belt already and will have a chance at one more after Saturday. I'm sure Buzz has the guys focused only on this Saturday, but I fear that NC State will want this game more and will challenge MU to the very end.
In the end, I do predict a win for MU, but I also predict no fingernails for me Sunday morning.
Quote from: NavinRJohnson on December 02, 2009, 08:24:56 AM
beat NC State and UW, they almost certainly make the NCAA. Go 1-1 vs. those two teams, and still have a good shot, but its tougher.
Honestly, with a young team -- even if they have exceeded our expectations so far -- I don't think it would be reasonable to expect better than 1-1 in vs NC State and UW. Esp. @ UW where they're always tough.
p.s. - sold that our backcourt is adequate now?
Quote from: rocky_warrior on December 02, 2009, 08:50:04 AM
p.s. - sold that our backcourt is adequate now?
No. I'm am please with what DJO and Bucks have shown, but PG remains a big area of concern for me. They have exceeded expectations thus far, but I remain very uncomfortable with Cubillan and Acker when the BE begins.
Kevin Coble is out for the season I thought that Northwestern would take a major step back. I question how good NC State really is, and/or I'm just underestimating how good Northwestern is even w/o Coble.
I was worried about NC State (more because I think the Warriors will be slow in the early-going) before last night. Now, I realize they no good. Any team that gets controlled like that on their home court to a lower tier major conference team has some serious problems.
NW also beat ND....
So these are now two absolute have to have games....
From what I have seen of the competition....
We will have to have a major "f up" to lose these two!
I think the NW 'cats have put it together w/out Coble, and I am glad we don't play them. I think I'll try to get tickets for the UW-Madison, NW game in Evanston. Might be as much fun as the football game was!!!