MUScoop

FINAL RESULTS AS OF UC TIP
So there were 6 votes after UC tip.
133 at that point.
UC-W, STJ-W, CR-W -27
UC-W, STJ-W, CR-L -19
UC-W, STJ-L, CR-W -40
UC-L, STJ-W, CR-W -4
UC-L, STJ-L, CR-W -6    +1
UC-L, STJ-W, CR-L -2    +1
UC-W, STJ-L, CR-L -30  +1
UC-L, STJ-L, CR-L -5      +3
==========================



This is the most interesting series of 3 games on MUs schedule in my opinion. In a way they'll be defining.
One could say there's a better chance of losing all three than winning all three. I'm guessing we'll be favored in the first one only. Maybe I have that wrong, but three tough, tough games.

I'm saying 2-1 with a loss to Creighton...but I think 2-1 in any case....I'm an optimist not a realist. We will see.

VOTE CLOSES SUNDAY MORNING....so technically you could vote after the UCONN game. Please vote before. But I'm going to snap the results up to game time and will post that as the official results.
Thanks.

3-0.

Otherwise am I really a fan?

St. John's worries me.  Especially seeing the "aggressive" defense they were allowed to play against Xavier.

Flip side, if they let us get away with it too that will help our defense.

I can't accept anything less than 4-0 in these next 3 games.

Quote from: The Sultan on January 30, 2025, 10:05:31 AM3-0.

Otherwise am I really a fan?

Ah, Sultan, we're still not playing cards are we?

3-0 - love to see this. Hope you are right and I am wrong. :)

This will be our hardest stretch of league play, so I think 1-2 is realistic and a fair baseline.

Anything above that would be massive. 0-3 wouldn't be the worst, but it would definitely be much less than satisfactory.

Ping!

I voted 0-3.  This team has been clueless for a month

at the start of conference play, I wouldn't have chalked UConn up as the expected win during the stretch, but I am now.

We always seem to play well against Creighton.  St. John's in on the road so seems a difficult win and UConn is home for us and they are not playing well as late.

I'm at 1 and 2. Think we can lock down UC at home on D and shoot a few threes. We seem to struggle at creighton and I think they have good home court advantage and are well coached. Expect this game to be close. I have watched SJ play a few times this year and they are rugged. Play tough D like us but with bigger dudes. Kam struggles against these type of teams. Will be are most difficult game in BE, see a 7+ point loss.

Let's win the next one.

I voted 0 because Shaka still hasn't learned anything from Marcus Freeman.

If Kam rides the bench, we can find a win in there

I am just hoping for good, clean competition.

Is St. John's the new Louisville?

Quote from: tower912 on January 30, 2025, 03:18:19 PMI am just hoping for good, clean competition.

Honestly I just hope everyone has fun these next three games.

This is kind of like trying to predict not just how many times you'll get heads when tossing a coin 3 times but also predicting which of the tosses will be heads.

Quote from: wisblue on January 30, 2025, 04:40:27 PMThis is kind of like trying to predict not just how many times you'll get heads when tossing a coin 3 times but also predicting which of the tosses will be heads.

Thankfully we're playing with a 2-headed coin this year. gg ez

Quote from: Juan Anderson's Mixtape on January 30, 2025, 02:40:25 PMI voted 0 because Shaka still hasn't learned anything from Marcus Freeman.

Superb.

There are currently 64 Wojo mojo's in this thread.

I'm not saying it's your fault marquette has looked doodoo against the zone, but I ain't saying it isn't.

Quote from: wadesworld on January 30, 2025, 11:04:14 AMPing!

And again to make the poll visible. Once more tomorrow afternoon and then a recap after we beat UCONN.

Hope that's not too annoying.

Is this Heise?

Vote!

Quote from: wadesworld on January 31, 2025, 04:28:16 PMIs this Heise?

That's interesting. You're the second person who thought I was someone else.
I'm sure I'm no one you know.

I did have a scoop nic for a season many years ago but can't even remember it.

I hope we win two games in February since we usually fade

Today's game is the battle for third place.
If we win, the St. John's game is the battle for 2nd place.
If we win, the Creighton game is the battle for 1st place.

Quote from: bilsu on February 01, 2025, 06:36:39 PMToday's game is the battle for third place.
If we win, the St. John's game is the battle for 2nd place.
If we win, the Creighton game is the battle for 1st place.

The battle for third place? What?

Can I change my predictions?

Ping!

83% of the entries are already wrong.

Quote from: wisblue on February 01, 2025, 10:04:22 PM83% of the entries are already wrong.

Cancel the season.

Can I change from 1-2 to 0-3?

Quote from: wadesworld on February 01, 2025, 06:53:37 PMThe battle for third place? What?

The loser is going to finish 4th in the league. After losing to UConn at home there is very little reason to believe we will win at St. John's, at Creighton and at UConn. It is a good thing we have a big enough lead on Xavier and Villanova to hang on to fourth.

Quote from: bilsu on February 02, 2025, 02:55:24 PMThe loser is going to finish 4th in the league. After losing to UConn at home there is very little reason to believe we will win at St. John's, at Creighton and at UConn. It is a good thing we have a big enough lead on Xavier and Villanova to hang on to fourth.

I still think we finish 7th.  Might not win in February and Creighton, UConn and St. John's won't lose another game the rest of the year

Can't tie the 18-19 23-4 start if they don't start playing ball.  Ah, the good old days.

Quote from: tower912 on February 02, 2025, 03:06:51 PMCan't tie the 18-19 23-4 start if they don't start playing ball.  Ah, the good old days.

Honestly, Shaka hasn't accomplished much at Marquette and it's time to turn the fire up on him.  He's basically Wojo, Jr. at this point

Quote from: bilsu on February 02, 2025, 02:55:24 PMThe loser is going to finish 4th in the league. After losing to UConn at home there is very little reason to believe we will win at St. John's, at Creighton and at UConn. It is a good thing we have a big enough lead on Xavier and Villanova to hang on to fourth.

Lol.  Not Eeyore at all...

Quote from: bilsu on February 02, 2025, 02:55:24 PMThe loser is going to finish 4th in the league. After losing to UConn at home there is very little reason to believe we will win at St. John's, at Creighton and at UConn. It is a good thing we have a big enough lead on Xavier and Villanova to hang on to fourth.

Marquette definitely wins 1 of these 3.

I'd say there's a better chance of winning 2 than 0

predict a 3-7 finish to the season ala 2018....

5-4 to finish.

@ SJU- L
@ CU- L
DPU- W
Hall- W
@ VU- W
PC- W
@GT- W
@UConn- L
SJU- L

3-7.  Add in losses to GT and Villanova.

Haha this is awesome.  Went from people thinking we couldn't be challenged in the BE and would be 18-2 at worst, to now we're going to lose every game against a decent team left.

Quote from: wadesworld on February 03, 2025, 09:59:47 AMHaha this is awesome.  Went from people thinking we couldn't be challenged in the BE and would be 18-2 at worst, to now we're going to lose every game against a decent team left.

I'm pulling for a complete and total collapse.  I genuinely want people to be happy and it's a lot easier being happy when you don't have the burden of cheering for a good team

Quote from: Uncle Rico on February 03, 2025, 10:25:03 AMI'm pulling for a complete and total collapse.  I genuinely want people to be happy and it's a lot easier being happy when you don't have the burden of cheering for a good team

As a matter of fact, since next year is going to be a bigger disaster, just shut the whole thing down and go D3.

Quote from: wadesworld on February 03, 2025, 09:59:47 AMHaha this is awesome.  Went from people thinking we couldn't be challenged in the BE and would be 18-2 at worst, to now we're going to lose every game against a decent team left.

The three roadies against SJU/Creighton/UConn would be tough even when the team is playing well.

If the guys were so mindf*cked by NMD, Senior Day is gonna be a problem.

Quote from: MUfan12 on February 03, 2025, 10:46:22 AMThe three roadies against SJU/Creighton/UConn would be tough even when the team is playing well.

If the guys were so mindf*cked by NMD, Senior Day is gonna be a problem.

Look around the Big East.  Every game is going to be tough.  We'll have more bad halves and bad games.  We'll also have good halves and good games.

St. John's just beat Providence by 2 at home.  They needed the refs to allow them to start playing football to get Xavier into overtime at home.  Does that mean we'll go in there and beat them?  No.  But people here are acting like Marquette's 9-2 is ass because they've struggled against mid tier teams while St. John's, Creighton, and UCONN are just rolling through everyone and it's laughable, because that's not been the case at all.

Quote from: wadesworld on February 03, 2025, 10:48:46 AMBut people here are acting like Marquette's 9-2 is ass because they've struggled against mid tier teams while St. John's, Creighton, and UCONN are just rolling through everyone and it's laughable, because that's not been the case at all.

Not saying that at all. Just looking at MU's performance in league play. The offense is sputtering, and the defense isn't stopping anyone if they don't force a turnover.

From where I'm sat, I think it's the check coming due for all the hard minutes they played in the non-con and early BE season. I sure hope they can find that level again, but I see a beat up basketball team right now.

Quote from: tower912 on February 03, 2025, 10:31:49 AMAs a matter of fact, since next year is going to be a bigger disaster, just shut the whole thing down and go D3.

We don't have to do that.  Firing Shaka is step one and running off the current roster is step two.  Step three is profit

Quote from: wadesworld on February 03, 2025, 10:48:46 AMLook around the Big East.  Every game is going to be tough.  We'll have more bad halves and bad games.  We'll also have good halves and good games.

St. John's just beat Providence by 2 at home.  They needed the refs to allow them to start playing football to get Xavier into overtime at home.  Does that mean we'll go in there and beat them?  No.  But people here are acting like Marquette's 9-2 is ass because they've struggled against mid tier teams while St. John's, Creighton, and UCONN are just rolling through everyone and it's laughable, because that's not been the case at all.

And not just the Big East, as the Upset Saturday thread shows.

Folks act as if all a ranked team has to do is show up and it will win.

I have a buddy who is a UConn fan and he is bemoaning the turnovers. Here's the text he sent me: "When we shoot like we did, and you shoot like you did, we should win by 30. But we've played like sh!t for two months now. We're lucky you guys couldn't make a shot."

But, as you said, if you read Scoop, you'd think that Marquette is a disaster (instead of 18-4) and that every other ranked team is rolling through its schedule.

And no, other ranked teams losing shouldn't necessarily make MU fans feel better about our losses (or our "horrible wins"). Those teams losing is just another fact when having any of these discussions.

Quote from: MU82 on February 03, 2025, 11:52:10 AMAnd not just the Big East, as the Upset Saturday thread shows.

Folks act as if all a ranked team has to do is show up and it will win.

I have a buddy who is a UConn fan and he is bemoaning the turnovers. Here's the text he sent me: "When we shoot like we did, and you shoot like you did, we should win by 30. But we've played like sh!t for two months now. We're lucky you guys couldn't make a shot."

But, as you said, if you read Scoop, you'd think that Marquette is a disaster (instead of 18-4) and that every other ranked team is rolling through its schedule.

And no, other ranked teams losing shouldn't necessarily make MU fans feel better about our losses (or our "horrible wins"). Those teams losing is just another fact when having any of these discussions.

For me, it's not only that we lost.  It's that we lost while the same issues that have been popping up in conference play continue to pop up.  We don't seem to realize the game starts when the ball is tipped.  We can't shoot.  If we don't turn the other team over, our defense gives up tons of good looks which decent-to-good teams will take advantage of. 

I get it.  We'll sometimes play poorly, just like other top teams will sometimes play poorly.  Plenty of examples.  On the other hand, there are also plenty of examples of those same teams playing really well and beating the crap out of a good opponent, while we continue to scuffle along, struggling to beat the Georgetowns and DePauls of the world.  When is the last time we put together the kind of performance that left you saying, "wow, this team can really do some damage in March"?  Against a decent team.  Wisconsin?  That's 2 months ago...need to see that again against a team with tournament hopes to really believe this team is going to do anything in March.  Hoping tomorrow night is the start.

Quote from: ATL MU Warrior on February 03, 2025, 01:41:42 PMFor me, it's not only that we lost.  It's that we lost while the same issues that have been popping up in conference play continue to pop up.  We don't seem to realize the game starts when the ball is tipped.  We can't shoot.  If we don't turn the other team over, our defense gives up tons of good looks which decent-to-good teams will take advantage of. 

I get it.  We'll sometimes play poorly, just like other top teams will sometimes play poorly.  Plenty of examples.  On the other hand, there are also plenty of examples of those same teams playing really well and beating the crap out of a good opponent, while we continue to scuffle along, struggling to beat the Georgetowns and DePauls of the world.  When is the last time we put together the kind of performance that left you saying, "wow, this team can really do some damage in March"?  Against a decent team. Wisconsin?  That's 2 months ago...need to see that again against a team with tournament hopes to really believe this team is going to do anything in March.  Hoping tomorrow night is the start.

No question that other top 10 teams (well, we were top ten)... :D ) have some bad games, play poorly, and lose on their home courts. I have been reluctant to criticize the team's performance after any loss and try to not be an armchair coach. It's not that Marquette is doing terrible at 18-4, 9-2, but rather that we were playing better earlier in the season and need to get back to that level if we are going to have success in the tourney.

I think it is reasonable to express the opinion that our problems have not been one-offs. You have expressed your opinions well and I agree. Now that SJU is ranked right next to us, let's hope Marquette can get Pitino to go ballistic as we take them down at MSG.

So there were 6 votes after UC tip.
133 at that point.
UC-W, STJ-W, CR-W -27
UC-W, STJ-W, CR-L -19
UC-W, STJ-L, CR-W -40
UC-L, STJ-W, CR-W -4
UC-L, STJ-L, CR-W -6.  +1
UC-L, STJ-W, CR-L -2.  +1
UC-W, STJ-L, CR-L -30. +1
UC-L, STJ-L, CR-L -5.  +3

Thanks for voting. After Saturdays game will be a post mortem then we can let this thing go to it's firey end.

Quote from: MU82 on February 03, 2025, 11:52:10 AMAnd not just the Big East, as the Upset Saturday thread shows.

Folks act as if all a ranked team has to do is show up and it will win.

I have a buddy who is a UConn fan and he is bemoaning the turnovers. Here's the text he sent me: "When we shoot like we did, and you shoot like you did, we should win by 30. But we've played like sh!t for two months now. We're lucky you guys couldn't make a shot."

But, as you said, if you read Scoop, you'd think that Marquette is a disaster (instead of 18-4) and that every other ranked team is rolling through its schedule.

And no, other ranked teams losing shouldn't necessarily make MU fans feel better about our losses (or our "horrible wins"). Those teams losing is just another fact when having any of these discussions.

Actually, I think if you read Scoop more closely, you would see that some posters have reacted with some concern to how MU has played in its conference games against mostly weak opponents, knowing that much tougher tests were coming up. I don't think there are many who have seriously called the team a disaster, unless you count the few posters who routinely pollute the board with inane sarcastic comments.

In their 11 conference games to date, MU has been favored by 14, 4, 6, 10, 13, 13, 10, 13, 9, 8, and 6 points. So, losing 2 of the home games,and having a few others when they've been favored by double digits go down to the wire, does not send some a vibe of a team that is clicking on all cylinders and gearing up for a run at the conference title.

I'm really glad that the next two games are against St. John's and Creighton. We're finally going to see some of the games that are really going to decide the conference race. After Saturdays depressing game I would have a hard time getting excited about another game against a conference bottom feeder. We'll see now how the team plays as an underdog. I think they are 1-2 in that role so far.

ATL, Snoop and wisblue:

I respect your opinions and understand where you're coming from. One certainly could argue that we haven't played a "great" game since Providence. Though I think any win over Creighton is pretty darn good. And the Villanova game was A-OK - an inferior team (but one that had beaten UConn) mucked things up but we controlled the game from wire-to-wire.

But I get it. Since Creighton, we've had far too many games in which we've only played one good half, and that's frustrating to watch for all of us.

Our flaws are pretty evident, but almost every team has a flaw or two, in many cases major flaws. So I choose to concentrate on the way Marquette has repeatedly fought to overcome its flaws and the adversity we've faced to win 18 of 22 games - and to even give ourselves a shot at winning the other 4.

I spent pretty good coin to travel to Milwaukee and go to the UConn game, and I hated that we lost to them on NMD. Still, even though I know there are no banners for playing hard, I was proud of the team for rallying in the second half - I'll take that over Iowa State's effort against a 9-11 K-State team.

It doesn't make a person a "bad fan" to wish we were doing better or to point out our flaws. Hell, in the moment, I'll shout plenty of stuff at the TV. But when the game ends, I'll get over my crankiness pretty quickly and realize again that we're all pretty lucky to have gotten to root for the team we've had these last few years.

I do understand that we're all different so we naturally react differently to stuff we see on the court. And of course, here on Scoop, lots of us react to the reactions, often with sarcasm.

We Are Marquette!

MU has not played their best.  They are still 18-4.  That gives me comfort. 

Quote from: MU82 on February 03, 2025, 07:13:34 PMI was proud of the team for rallying in the second half - I'll take that over Iowa State's effort against a 9-11 K-State team.

It doesn't make a person a "bad fan" to wish we were doing better or to point out our flaws. Hell, in the moment, I'll shout plenty of stuff at the TV. But when the game ends, I'll get over my crankiness pretty quickly and realize again that we're all pretty lucky to have gotten to root for the team we've had these last few years.

We Are Marquette!

Nice!

Quote from: MU82 on February 03, 2025, 07:13:34 PMATL, Snoop and wisblue:

I respect your opinions and understand where you're coming from. One certainly could argue that we haven't played a "great" game since Providence. Though I think any win over Creighton is pretty darn good. And the Villanova game was A-OK - an inferior team (but one that had beaten UConn) mucked things up but we controlled the game from wire-to-wire.

But I get it. Since Creighton, we've had far too many games in which we've only played one good half, and that's frustrating to watch for all of us.

Our flaws are pretty evident, but almost every team has a flaw or two, in many cases major flaws. So I choose to concentrate on the way Marquette has repeatedly fought to overcome its flaws and the adversity we've faced to win 18 of 22 games - and to even give ourselves a shot at winning the other 4.

I spent pretty good coin to travel to Milwaukee and go to the UConn game, and I hated that we lost to them on NMD. Still, even though I know there are no banners for playing hard, I was proud of the team for rallying in the second half - I'll take that over Iowa State's effort against a 9-11 K-State team.

It doesn't make a person a "bad fan" to wish we were doing better or to point out our flaws. Hell, in the moment, I'll shout plenty of stuff at the TV. But when the game ends, I'll get over my crankiness pretty quickly and realize again that we're all pretty lucky to have gotten to root for the team we've had these last few years.

I do understand that we're all different so we naturally react differently to stuff we see on the court. And of course, here on Scoop, lots of us react to the reactions, often with sarcasm.

We Are Marquette!

Yeah, I'm usually more positive and applaud the fight and resiliency we've shown in overcoming our poorer performances to gut out wins. I do think that's a great trait this team has.

Don't know why this last performance set me off, but it did.

Well kind of felt this could happen. January was the practice squad and February is against the big boys.

I'm still in the running with my 1-2 with a win over Creighton.

The books in Vegas will have us losing our 3rd straight game.

We haven't lost 3 straight games in 1,141 days. All the way back in the 2021-2022 season.

We didn't lose 2 games in a row a single time in 2022-2023. We lost 2 in a row twice last season.

Need a bounce back in a big way this weekend. We have the ability.

Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on February 04, 2025, 11:49:06 PMThe books in Vegas will have us losing our 3rd straight game.

We haven't lost 3 straight games in 1,141 days. All the way back in the 2021-2022 season.

We didn't lose 2 games in a row a single time in 2022-2023. We lost 2 in a row twice last season.

Need a bounce back in a big way this weekend. We have the ability.

This team is not as good as those of the previous two seasons. One of those teams had 4 NBA players (including Kam); the other had 3; both had an All-American. I'm not sure if anyone here has ever stated at any point this season that this team was better; I sure as hell haven't.

We are a good team. We have wins over other good teams. We have losses to good teams, too. A scheduling quirk has us playing 3 straight games against the Big East's only other real good teams, with 2 of them on the road. And it's caught us at a time when we can't make shots.

Iowa State, a team that just 10 days ago had been considered a shoo-in for a #1 seed, has lost 3 in a row, all by double digits. That's life in college hoops.

Quote from: MU82 on February 05, 2025, 10:16:01 AMThis team is not as good as those of the previous two seasons. One of those teams had 4 NBA players (including Kam); the other had 3; both had an All-American. I'm not sure if anyone here has ever stated at any point this season that this team was better; I sure as hell haven't.

We are a good team. We have wins over other good teams. We have losses to good teams, too. A scheduling quirk has us playing 3 straight games against the Big East's only other real good teams, with 2 of them on the road. And it's caught us at a time when we can't make shots.

Iowa State, a team that just 10 days ago had been considered a shoo-in for a #1 seed, has lost 3 in a row, all by double digits. That's life in college hoops.

Idk if they are better or worse or the same, too hard to compare. Through 23 games we've been 18-5 now for a 3rd consecutive season. They are capable of making it deeper than the Sweet 16 and that's all I care about at this point.

Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on February 05, 2025, 10:22:17 AMIdk if they are better or worse or the same, too hard to compare. Through 23 games we've been 18-5 now for a 3rd consecutive season. They are capable of making it deeper than the Sweet 16 and that's all I care about at this point.

I mean, you were the one who compared this MU team to those from 2022-23 and 2023-24.

But sure, if things break right for us, we can still have a very good March. As was the case each of the previous two seasons.

Quote from: MU82 on February 05, 2025, 10:52:45 AMI mean, you were the one who compared this MU team to those from 2022-23 and 2023-24.

But sure, if things break right for us, we can still have a very good March. As was the case each of the previous two seasons.

I was just noting a crazy fact that they hadn't lost 3 in a row since 2021 lol.

That's incredible.

It was willed into existence by the 8 who picked it.

Time to take care of the next 7.

So the 5 people who chose L,L,L weren't just trolls or naysayers....they were right.

Lesson learned.
Don't ignore the tea leaves... DePaul, Xavier, some other things.
Watch out for emotion.
Don't go to Vegas.

Quote from: FairWeatherEagle on February 08, 2025, 03:18:26 PMSo the 5 people who chose L,L,L weren't just trolls or naysayers....they were right.

Lesson learned.
Don't ignore the tea leaves... DePaul, Xavier, some other things.
Watch out for emotion.
Don't go to Vegas.

Thanks, I knew I was right but after dominating the prediction game for years, not surprised at my acumen

Quote from: GoldenEagles03 on February 04, 2025, 11:49:06 PMThe books in Vegas will have us losing our 3rd straight game.

We haven't lost 3 straight games in 1,141 days. All the way back in the 2021-2022 season.

We didn't lose 2 games in a row a single time in 2022-2023. We lost 2 in a row twice last season.

Need a bounce back in a big way this weekend. We have the ability.

https://x.com/ByJohnLeuzzi/status/1888337223033975134?t=GaodKI5nNoTUCBHnlHtGBg&s=19

Quote from: FairWeatherEagle on February 08, 2025, 03:18:26 PMSo the 5 people who chose L,L,L weren't just trolls or naysayers....they were right.

Lesson learned.
Don't ignore the tea leaves... DePaul, Xavier, some other things.
Watch out for emotion.
Don't go to Vegas.

We're doomed.

I have decided Rico and Sultan are my too favorite posters.  :o  :)

And props to brewcity77 for the articles.

Quote from: FairWeatherEagle on February 09, 2025, 08:22:44 AMI have decided Rico and Sultan are my too favorite posters.  :o  :)

And props to brewcity77 for the articles.

Wack job

Quote from: Newsdreams on February 09, 2025, 09:34:13 AMWack job

Up your game, pal

Quote from: wadesworld on February 03, 2025, 09:59:47 AMHaha this is awesome.  Went from people thinking we couldn't be challenged in the BE and would be 18-2 at worst, to now we're going to lose every game against a decent team left.

pretty much did...