Were I Coach Crean (which of course I am not)...
He's been pretty clear that he thinks they got jobbed from a seeding perspective, I can only assume the players feel the same way. Against MSU, there is one way to prove it. That should probably be all the motivation they need. They just need to be careful not to mope about it, but rather use it as rallying point and go out and kick some...
Now, as it relates to game 2 - and there will be a game 2, its going to take a little something extra to come out of there with a W. Given the opponent and situation, coupled with the idea that 30 years earlier MU defeated that same opponent to win the National Title, I would do all I can to impress upon the them the ability to leave their mark on MU history (Unfortunately, the reality is that the only thing anybody remembers is what you do in March.). It is not just the next game, it's a program builder and it should be treated as such. Should that game take place, I would assemble a group of MU royalty to be there that night (on MU's dime of course) - 77 team members, Wade is obviously available, etc...say a word or two in the locker room, talk about what its like to face that uniform under the brightest lights, and what it means to win. I have been very impressed by the attitude of this team that it is simply not ok to lose when that MU royalty is in the house. They seem to take that responsibility very seriously and have proven throughout the season that when they are focused and motivated, they can beat anyone. (You get the doctors to say that Jerel McNeal can suit up, and there's a little bit of an additional boost.). If they come out and play with that focus and effort and suddenly the youth of UNC's guards could become a real issue for them.
I think back to the Pitt game and there was a tremendous amount of pressure/responsibility on them - the '77 team, College Gameday, national TV, a full house, no Jerel McNeal, they needed a win, Pitt playing for the BE title. They responded as well as they possibly could have. Theoretically they would enter a game with UNC with nothing to lose, but I would emphasize the everything to gain aspect much more. I assume he probably already has something special in mind, but this is just my .02.
Or if McNeal really can't play this weekend, but could the next, they can rally around "giving him the opportunity to compete in the tourney" by making it to the next round.
Quote from: NavinRJohnson on March 13, 2007, 09:58:15 AM
Were I Coach Crean (which of course I am not)...
He's been pretty clear that he thinks they got jobbed from a seeding perspective, I can only assume the players feel the same way. Against MSU, there is one way to prove it. That should probably be all the motivation they need. They just need to be careful not to mope about it, but rather use it as rallying point and go out and kick some...
Now, as it relates to game 2 - and there will be a game 2, its going to take a little something extra to come out of there with a W. Given the opponent and situation, coupled with the idea that 30 years earlier MU defeated that same opponent to win the National Title, I would do all I can to impress upon the them the ability to leave their mark on MU history (Unfortunately, the reality is that the only thing anybody remembers is what you do in March.). It is not just the next game, it's a program builder and it should be treated as such. Should that game take place, I would assemble a group of MU royalty to be there that night (on MU's dime of course) - 77 team members, Wade is obviously available, etc...say a word or two in the locker room, talk about what its like to face that uniform under the brightest lights, and what it means to win. I have been very impressed by the attitude of this team that it is simply not ok to lose when that MU royalty is in the house. They seem to take that responsibility very seriously and have proven throughout the season that when they are focused and motivated, they can beat anyone. (You get the doctors to say that Jerel McNeal can suit up, and there's a little bit of an additional boost.). If they come out and play with that focus and effort and suddenly the youth of UNC's guards could become a real issue for them.
I think back to the Pitt game and there was a tremendous amount of pressure/responsibility on them - the '77 team, College Gameday, national TV, a full house, no Jerel McNeal, they needed a win, Pitt playing for the BE title. They responded as well as they possibly could have. Theoretically they would enter a game with UNC with nothing to lose, but I would emphasize the everything to gain aspect much more. I assume he probably already has something special in mind, but this is just my .02.
I love it, Naivin. Great idea. I wonder if we do get the opportunity to face UNC, if Marquette would be on board with something like that (more in terms of helping to round everyone up -- I doubt Crean would need MU's blessing on it).
As for the game itself, if it were truly a neutral court, I'd take our guys probably 4 times out of 10. Our athleticism matches theirs, at least in terms of starting line-up, and I think Ouse would be able to use his size and running ability to frustrate Hansborough a bit. The X-factor, I think, will be Brandan Wright. He fits the mold of the kind of player we have yet to prove we can handle. Add to that the likelihood that Jerel won't play, and it further complicates the situation for MU.
I don't know about everyone else, but I'm not convinced we won't be playing over the second weekend of this thing.
FIRE UP MARQUETTE!