Extenuating Circumstances

[Maryland Warrior]

   Blizzard conditions Maryland forced  postponment of tonights game in College Park with Virginia untill Monday(2/15).  Now will play within a 5 day period the Cavs, then North Carolina and Duke both on Tobacco Road.  The Washington Post reports Dan Guerrero, UCLA athletic director and chair of the Tournament selection committe as saying ... (sic) We will take into consideration and evaluate  such unique situations as we make decisions on who makes the field.

Maybe I've been stuck in the house too long and paranoia is decending ...so somebody assure me this development holds little sway on Marquette's tournament status.

[MarquetteDano]

I know they say they take injuries into consideration and along the lines of schedule (e.g. Maryland) I was wondering about margin of victory.  It has been reported on nearly every sports broadcast how we lost such close games to most teams.  Even a Californian (non Marquette fan) mentioned to me a couple weeks ago how we have lost some close ones. 

I still wonder if that could help us with the committee, hurt us, or it is neutral.  Time will tell.

[avid1010]

I know they say they take injuries into consideration and along the lines of schedule (e.g. Maryland) I was wondering about margin of victory.  It has been reported on nearly every sports broadcast how we lost such close games to most teams.  Even a Californian (non Marquette fan) mentioned to me a couple weeks ago how we have lost some close ones. 

I still wonder if that could help us with the committee, hurt us, or it is neutral.  Time will tell.

I've wondered the same...  Do close losses to good teams help a team with MU's credentials?  I have to believe it's better then getting blown out, especially if they finish strong.  The argument can be made that they lost so much, and they were really coming together and playing well as the season progressed.  Wishful thinking maybe.  In all honesty, I have very little faith of what they're going to do in that room.  The fact that Lunardi has them figured out blows my mind

[Benny B]

Every bubble team will have its entire season scrutinized.  So yes, the committee will see that the losses to Nova and WVU were by a single possession and they played Cuse close... the question is, how will each committee member interpret those losses?  I think they help MU's case, but others may subscribe to the mindset that "a loss is a loss" or "you are what your record is."

First... MU has to get onto the bubble.  Then, it will all depend on who else is on the bubble.

[Ron Paul]

If Marquette is not on the bubble, who is?

[MUBurrow]

maybe this is sacrilege, but its been on my mind for awhile:  am i the only one that doesn't really think the syracuse game was that close? i know we got it down to single digits, but by the time that happened, we were getting toyed with.  im glad that the guys never gave up and got the score to look less ugly, but that wasnt a very competitive game for most of the second half - or at least it didnt feel like it.

[Ron Paul]

No you are right, after Dickey Simpkins almost messed his pants after the goaltend MU fell apart for about 5 minutes.    Even so that game was competitive except for that 5 minutes.

[TallTitan34]

So will the commitee consider our injuries to Junior and Chris?  With several one and two point losses even the smallest injury could be the difference in those games.

[NavinRJohnson]

So will the commitee consider our injuries to Junior and Chris? 

Only if one/both come back and makes some sort of contribution. If Junior starts to play and have an impact then the team that is being considered for the tournament is not necessarily the same one that lost those games. If he doesn't play however, there is no reason for the committee to give injuries any thought.

[Benny B]

Only if one/both come back and makes some sort of contribution. If Junior starts to play and have an impact then the team that is being considered for the tournament is not necessarily the same one that lost those games. If he doesn't play however, there is no reason for the committee to give injuries any thought.

I think the only "injury consideration" we'd likely get would be if CO returns this year (which according to Buzz is a no go).  If Junior is going to make an impact, he is going to have to do it against other bubble and fringe teams.  That may not hold enough sway with the committee for them to definitively say whether he could have been the cause for one extra basket against Nova or WVU.  Plus, we're not lacking in the guard department and Mo and Coobie have actually done a decent job this year.  It's going to be difficult to explain why MU is any better with another PG who has yet to impact the team as much as the other seniors have this year.

CO was actually showing signs of improvement before his injury.  If he were to come back, the fact that he would give the team much needed size in the paint would probably be more of a factor in the eyes of the committee than how he actually performed.  It's no secret that size is MU's biggest weakness.  Even if he could close the season with 5ppg and 5rpg, that would be enough to make a solid case to the committee that MU is more competitive with CO.

[muhoops1]

Otule is awesome on EA Sports NCAA Basketball 2010.  Maybe the selection committee will take that into consideration.  He had 28 against UW and 32 against Cuse.  The guy carries the team.