I try to treat the season in chunks, and the next 4 are what I would describe as a critical stretch.
We will be favored, in my mind, in 3 of the 4 and probably a 1 or 2 point dog at Cincinnati.
We need to win 3 of these 4 and have an opportunity to win all 4. If we do, we're in great shape. If we split 2-2, then it's going to be a dogfight the rest of the year. If we do the unthinkable and go 1-3, well then we're really in trouble.
Great opportunity in front of us. Next two at home against DePaul (ahead of us in the standings) and South Florida. Must win those two.
Then at Cincinnati, also ahead of us in the standings, then Louisville back at the Bradley Center.
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on January 21, 2008, 09:15:09 PM
I try to treat the season in chunks, and the next 4 are what I would describe as a critical stretch.
We will be favored, in my mind, in 3 of the 4 and probably a 1 or 2 point dog at Cincinnati.
We need to win 3 of these 4 and have an opportunity to win all 4. If we do, we're in great shape. If we split 2-2, then it's going to be a dogfight the rest of the year. If we do the unthinkable and go 1-3, well then we're really in trouble.
Great opportunity in front of us. Next two at home against DePaul (ahead of us in the standings) and South Florida. Must win those two.
Then at Cincinnati, also ahead of us in the standings, then Louisville back at the Bradley Center.
Kinda think we are in a dogfight already @ 3-3. I think DePaul will be a very tough game. We are ripe to be upset and the Demons know it.
Okay, the antidepressants have kicked in finally. Looking objectively, we can sweep--with a good run starting with some home cooking to get back on track. Us alumni easily forget the pressure on student athletes with the short turnaround on these away BE games--sleeping and studying on a plane, in terminals or some hotel. The boys are in a funk but are too talented to stay there.
Plus, DePaul DeBlows. Very easy BE schedule so far. They have two very good players who we can neutralize. We own the match-up. Got to get back to pressuring the ball to create our energy. The # of steals is our key stat as it creates an "active" turnover (not a deadball).
MU would be in a hell of a dogfight to beat UWM.
Oh, stop. That's just stupid talk. We played 3 sub-30 RPI teams on the road against great coaches and lost. We haven't regressed tenfold to make a game vs. UWM a "dogfight" .. to suggest that is simply asinine. Knock it off.
Quote from: 79Warrior on January 21, 2008, 09:27:25 PM
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on January 21, 2008, 09:15:09 PM
I try to treat the season in chunks, and the next 4 are what I would describe as a critical stretch.
We will be favored, in my mind, in 3 of the 4 and probably a 1 or 2 point dog at Cincinnati.
We need to win 3 of these 4 and have an opportunity to win all 4. If we do, we're in great shape. If we split 2-2, then it's going to be a dogfight the rest of the year. If we do the unthinkable and go 1-3, well then we're really in trouble.
Great opportunity in front of us. Next two at home against DePaul (ahead of us in the standings) and South Florida. Must win those two.
Then at Cincinnati, also ahead of us in the standings, then Louisville back at the Bradley Center.
Kinda think we are in a dogfight already @ 3-3. I think DePaul will be a very tough game. We are ripe to be upset and the Demons know it.
ripe to be upset? you mean ripe to be really pissed off, prepared, and with a chip on their shoulder? if MU doesnt win this game big I would be shocked. However, that wont mean much until they go into cincy and get a much needed W. Marquette has all the motivation in the world in these next 4 games, including coming back big after being embarassed 2 games in a row, winning on the road, and showing that they are a better team than louisville
Quote from: mudimitri on January 21, 2008, 10:00:03 PM
Quote from: 79Warrior on January 21, 2008, 09:27:25 PM
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on January 21, 2008, 09:15:09 PM
I try to treat the season in chunks, and the next 4 are what I would describe as a critical stretch.
We will be favored, in my mind, in 3 of the 4 and probably a 1 or 2 point dog at Cincinnati.
We need to win 3 of these 4 and have an opportunity to win all 4. If we do, we're in great shape. If we split 2-2, then it's going to be a dogfight the rest of the year. If we do the unthinkable and go 1-3, well then we're really in trouble.
Great opportunity in front of us. Next two at home against DePaul (ahead of us in the standings) and South Florida. Must win those two.
Then at Cincinnati, also ahead of us in the standings, then Louisville back at the Bradley Center.
Kinda think we are in a dogfight already @ 3-3. I think DePaul will be a very tough game. We are ripe to be upset and the Demons know it.
you mean ripe to be really pissed off, prepared, and with a chip on their shoulder?
That's what was said about the UConn game after the huge loss to Looeyville.
No expectations of this team. That's my approach now.
It'll help keep those Wins that much sweeter.
I think right now DePaul is the one we have to get. Lose, and we are in deep doo-doo. Win, and in all likelihood we take a two-game streak into Cincy, where we find out if our road woes are just a slump or something more serious. We go 1-3 in this stretch and I fear we will have to beat Gtown and Pitt at home just to get an NCAA bid.
Next game is in the bag! No worries - our guys will bounce back BIG
No doubt the next 4 games are huge. we need to win at least 3, if we really want to stay in contention for the title we need to win all 4. If we are going to keep playing the way we have on the road that makes all home games must wins. If we pick up our play on the road we can afford to lose 1 or 2 at home but I'm thinking at home we will be 8-1 and on the road we will be 4-5
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on January 21, 2008, 09:15:09 PM
I try to treat the season in chunks, and the next 4 are what I would describe as a critical stretch.
We will be favored, in my mind, in 3 of the 4 and probably a 1 or 2 point dog at Cincinnati.
We need to win 3 of these 4 and have an opportunity to win all 4. If we do, we're in great shape. If we split 2-2, then it's going to be a dogfight the rest of the year. If we do the unthinkable and go 1-3, well then we're really in trouble.
Great opportunity in front of us. Next two at home against DePaul (ahead of us in the standings) and South Florida. Must win those two.
Then at Cincinnati, also ahead of us in the standings, then Louisville back at the Bradley Center.
I was thinking the exact same thing earlier this evening, Chicos. The next 4 are crucial. We MUST hold serve at home, and I think we can get off the schneid on the road at Cincy. 2-2 over the next 4, IMO, is a failure. Gotta get at least 3.
Let's get back in the saddle guys and ride upright. #12 Texas beat Ok St. by two tonight who we ran out of Hawaii. #11 Rodent Prep got walloped by Duke who we played close--and had their home streak broken by us. #10 MSU scored 36 pts on Iowa and lost to a hs team in exhibition. #15 AM lost two games this week on the road to TT by 15 and KS State by 21. GT beat a mediocre Cuse at HOME by 2 in OT.
Not excuses, but just to point out others above us have struggled. We need to regroup with the lay-off and get our mojo back. The worst part of our away schedule is behind us. Let's hope our worst shooting games are too.
All I'm going to say is DePaul will not be an easy game. They have some serious talent. They have two very good frosh in Mac Koshwal and Dar Tucker. Those two will be all-league players during their time at Depaul and have good chances to play in the NBA when they leave Depaul. Koshwal is way better than any big man we have right now. Too bad we couldn't have gotten him to come to MU. He's from right there in Chicago. Add in Draelon Burns who's averaging just under 18 points/game along with Karron Clarke and you have some very good offensive firepower to deal with in Depaul.
Just don't tale us lightly, and look past us. You will have a tough game on your hands, Saturday.
Yeah, we have a couple of future pros in our 2 freshmen. Koshwal is solid in the middle, and Tucker has a highlight every game on ESPN, it seems.
We are just coming into our own. We are a much different team now then in November. I'd like to replay some of those losses to top 25 teams today. But, you can't do that.
For the first time in a long while, we are actually traveling up to Milwaukee. Student tickets are sold out with a few busloads coming. And, there are a few Alumni groups coming to. You may see some blue in your crowd.
I'm really tired of all the gold at the Allstate.
Quote from: MUFanInGreenBay on January 22, 2008, 12:28:32 AM
Too bad we couldn't have gotten him to come to MU. He's from right there in Chicago.
You mean right where DePaul is located?
Well, I wanted 2-1 against ND, @UL, and @UConn, so I've got one to make up. I'll be ok with 3-1, but 4-0 has to be the goal especially when you consider the opponents (I too like to look at stretches rather than pick out individual wins and losses) DePaul and USF, obvious "Must win" games. UL at the Bradley Center - we need to win this one to draw back even with them. @UC? Well, this is a tough one. Certainly would have thought win a few weeks ago, but given the recent history, this is a tough one. I think 4-0 is acheivable, but I wouldn't be putting any money on it.
Quote from: 4everwarriors on January 21, 2008, 09:33:54 PM
MU would be in a hell of a dogfight to beat UWM.
Sheesh.
Against my better judgment, I'm going to respond.
In your honest assessment of watching UWM (I'm assuming you have watched them a lot), do you think they have improved tenough that they can beat/battle MU?
In your honest assessment of watching MU, do you think they have regressed so much that they would have to battle a team that they blew out earlier in the year?
I guess it's all conjecture and opinion, but I'm just not sure that I can believe that one team (UWM) has improved so greatly, while the other (MU) regressed.
MU has dropped a couple of games on the road, (and looked bad in the process), but I don't think they are bad. Conversely, if MU wins 5 in a row, I'm not going to call them great. It's a long season, and hopefully the boys figure out a way to string some wins together (I'm betting that they do).
I would be my house that we'll blow DePaul out of the building.
Of course, I thought the Pack was going to do the same to the Giants...you never know.
I say we go 2-2 in the next 4.
MU will beat DePaul ... They have talent, but are one of the worst coach teams in the country. Plus, MU matches up extremely well with them.
Quote from: dwaderoy2004 on January 22, 2008, 06:40:55 AM
Quote from: MUFanInGreenBay on January 22, 2008, 12:28:32 AM
Too bad we couldn't have gotten him to come to MU. He's from right there in Chicago.
You mean right where DePaul is located?
LOL.....that's a good one.
As for Koshwal, it helps to be a beast down low when you're 22 years old.
"DePaul DeBlows" and "Marquette = BEST"
I hope those signs are in mothballs and ready to come out at the BC. I almost wish this game was at Allstate (a.k.a. the Bradley Center Annex).
Quote from: Coobeys Oil Depot on January 22, 2008, 09:57:56 AM
Quote from: dwaderoy2004 on January 22, 2008, 06:40:55 AM
Quote from: MUFanInGreenBay on January 22, 2008, 12:28:32 AM
Too bad we couldn't have gotten him to come to MU. He's from right there in Chicago.
You mean right where DePaul is located?
LOL.....that's a good one.
As for Koshwal, it helps to be a beast down low when you're 22 years old.
22 years old. And he could barely get out of prep school last year. Crean wouldn't take the risk on Mac. We were high on him, and he was high on us. The offer was never made though considering his academics. If I remember correctly, he was coached by Loren Jackson, Ooze's mentor.
Quote from: marqptm on January 22, 2008, 10:52:54 AM
Quote from: Coobeys Oil Depot on January 22, 2008, 09:57:56 AM
Quote from: dwaderoy2004 on January 22, 2008, 06:40:55 AM
Quote from: MUFanInGreenBay on January 22, 2008, 12:28:32 AM
Too bad we couldn't have gotten him to come to MU. He's from right there in Chicago.
You mean right where DePaul is located?
LOL.....that's a good one.
As for Koshwal, it helps to be a beast down low when you're 22 years old.
22 years old. And he could barely get out of prep school last year. Crean wouldn't take the risk on Mac. We were high on him, and he was high on us. The offer was never made though considering his academics. If I remember correctly, he was coached by Loren Jackson, Ooze's mentor.
Can someone explain to me the difference between Koshwal's situation and Barro's?
Both were taken in by Loren; both had some bumps in the road with their academic path to get to college. Both are rumored to be older than "standard' for their class (there are many in the Chicago hoops crowd that swear Barro is in his mid to late 20's). However, interesting how Loren Jackson reported that Marquette did in fact offer a scholarship to Koshwal.
Quote from: Freshjive on January 22, 2008, 02:09:15 PM
Quote from: marqptm on January 22, 2008, 10:52:54 AM
Quote from: Coobeys Oil Depot on January 22, 2008, 09:57:56 AM
Quote from: dwaderoy2004 on January 22, 2008, 06:40:55 AM
Quote from: MUFanInGreenBay on January 22, 2008, 12:28:32 AM
Too bad we couldn't have gotten him to come to MU. He's from right there in Chicago.
You mean right where DePaul is located?
LOL.....that's a good one.
As for Koshwal, it helps to be a beast down low when you're 22 years old.
22 years old. And he could barely get out of prep school last year. Crean wouldn't take the risk on Mac. We were high on him, and he was high on us. The offer was never made though considering his academics. If I remember correctly, he was coached by Loren Jackson, Ooze's mentor.
Can someone explain to me the difference between Koshwal's situation and Barro's?
Both were taken in by Loren; both had some bumps in the road with their academic path to get to college. Both are rumored to be older than "standard' for their class (there are many in the Chicago hoops crowd that swear Barro is in his mid to late 20's). However, interesting how Loren Jackson reported that Marquette did in fact offer a scholarship to Koshwal.
Did anyone write that there was a difference? I think you're looking for a fight and being protective of your guy which is totally normal.
If Barro is indeed 27 then Crean was sold a bad deal and probably explains why he stayed away from Koshwal no matter how much talent the young man(?) has shown. Putting two and two together though there must be more to the story with Koshwal and Moses because considering Crean's dealings with Jackson re: Barro it would have been more then natural for them to matriculate to Marquette. Your sources in Chicago could probably explain all that.
And as far as the "offer" to Koshwal it doesn't mean much. As a DePaul guy you know, along with Illinois and Wisconsin fans, that Crean will offer anybody from age 10 up that can walk.
One of main differences is that Koshwal was going to go to an Adidas school first and foremost. Barro will be the last Loren Jackson coached player to sign at Marquette...unless our shoe contract changes.
FWIW. both Moses and Koshwal had no trouble getting through the NCAA Clearinghouse on the first pass. Jeremiah Kelly is the next at DePaul that Loren tutored. Coming next year.
We did, however, have 2 players not receive their Clearinghouse approval until very late in the OOC. They have requested redshirt status.
That's interesting about the Clearinghouse. Not sure if you bring it up purposely, but we've had one player in each of the past two years (Hayward and Mbwake) have to sit out practice time as their cases were reviewed.
I think the season now depends on the DePaul game. MU needs a confidence lifter. If we lose, I would expect to lose 3 more games at home. If we win I think we will have a good chance of having a 3 game win streak going into the Louisville game.
PR, there seem to be 2 different problems with our players getting through the Clearinghouse. I don't know your specifics on your players.
Obi, from Africa, through France, to the US: Clearinghouse had trouble determining the equivilency of French course work to minimum US standards for the same course.
Stula, from Croatia to the US: Clearinghouse investigated the European training camp methods, where kids are trained in BB camps, and play and travel throughout Europe. There were compensation issues (housing and travel expenses) questioned to NCAA acceptable standards.
A third player, Bizoukas, PG, is requesting redshirt for medical because he has had mono since Nov, and cannot play at full strength. Reports say he has lost 25 pounds.
With one player being released from school, that leaves 9 scholarship players on the roster for DePaul.