Can we still keep a strangle hold on that 2nd spot

[Doris Burkes Thong]

Without Gardner the next few weeks? I just can't see him being able to help us until after that week off we have coming up this month. Seeing him last night I see no way he is able to effectively take the court until Cincy at the earliest, however, I think this is more of a three week deal. Thoughts?

[frozena pizza]

I am hoping for a top 4 finish and a double bye in the tournament.  I think it's going to be close.

[Clam Crowder]

I think none of us really know when he will be back so we shouldn't speculate and assume the worst. Buzz said he didn't rtear anything I expect him to be back pretty soon.

[LloydMooresLegs]

I think none of us really know when he will be back so we shouldn't speculate and assume the worst."

AGREED

Buzz said he didn't rtear anything I expect him to be back pretty soon.

THEN WHY SPECULATE???

[Henry Sugar]

WILD SPECULATION AND ASSUMPTIONS

I think our chances are good to keep the #2 spot.  Right now we have a 1.5 game lead over GU, ND, and USF, and a 2.5 game lead over UL and Cincy.  (Forget USF.  They're not good.)  We have 8 games left, and our opponents have 9 remaining.

If we go 6-2, GU/ND need to go 8-1; UL/Cincy need to to 9-0
If we go 5-3, GU/ND need to go 7-2.  UL/Cincy need to go 8-1
If we go 4-4, GU/ND need to go 6-3.  UL/Cincy need to go 7-2
If we go 3-5, GU/ND/USF need to go 5-4.  UL/Cincy need to go 6-3

Let's say we have five more games until Gardner comes back.  @ND, @DPU, Cincy, @UConn, Rutgers.  We'll beat DPU and RU.  Cincy is at home, and for all their talent they're not playing great lately.  @ND depends on which team shows up for the Domers.  Same thing with @UConn.  Even without Gardner we're better than all three of those teams and more consistent.  (yes, two road games and yes, each team has shown amazing performances inconsistently)

Let's assume we lose two of the next five games without Gardner.  The rub comes in those last three games where he "returns" (@WVU, @UC, GU).  We'll be lucky to only lose one game.  I figure an optimistic view of 5-3 (or better) and a pessimistic view of 4-4. 

I don't believe GU or ND have the ability to go 7-2 down the stretch.  If we stumble and go 4-4, then it becomes more likely we lose out.  6-3 is possible for each team, even though they each have their own set of challenges.

my two cents

[WarriorDoc]

WILD SPECULATION AND ASSUMPTIONS

I think our chances are good to keep the #2 spot.  Right now we have a 1.5 game lead over GU, ND, and USF, and a 2.5 game lead over UL and Cincy.  (Forget USF.  They're not good.)  We have 8 games left, and our opponents have 9 remaining.

If we go 6-2, GU/ND need to go 8-1; UL/Cincy need to to 9-0
If we go 5-3, GU/ND need to go 7-2.  UL/Cincy need to go 8-1
If we go 4-4, GU/ND need to go 6-3.  UL/Cincy need to go 7-2
If we go 3-5, GU/ND/USF need to go 5-4.  UL/Cincy need to go 6-3

Let's say we have five more games until Gardner comes back.  @ND, @DPU, Cincy, @UConn, Rutgers.  We'll beat DPU and RU.  Cincy is at home, and for all their talent they're not playing great lately.  @ND depends on which team shows up for the Domers.  Same thing with @UConn.  Even without Gardner we're better than all three of those teams and more consistent.  (yes, two road games and yes, each team has shown amazing performances inconsistently)

Let's assume we lose two of the next five games without Gardner.  The rub comes in those last three games where he "returns" (@WVU, @UC, GU).  We'll be lucky to only lose one game.  I figure an optimistic view of 5-3 (or better) and a pessimistic view of 4-4. 

I don't believe GU or ND have the ability to go 7-2 down the stretch.  If we stumble and go 4-4, then it becomes more likely we lose out.  6-3 is possible for each team, even though they each have their own set of challenges.

my two cents

Nice writeup.  RealTimeRPI says we go 4-4 in the next 8 games, I think we can steal one away @WVU or at home against Cincy.

[GGGG]

I am hoping for a top 4 finish and a double bye in the tournament.  I think it's going to be close.

Top 3 would even be nicer so we can avoid a possible match-up with Syracuse until the finals. 

[PGsHeroes32]

This week will be a lot more telling. If Uconn can knock off Gtown tonight and we pull off a win at Notre Dame we will be 9-2 with every other team having at least 4 losses. Except USF but I havnt paid the slightest to their schedule in the coming week so whatever.

It will be big if we beat ND and even bigger if Gtown loses as well.

[Henry Sugar]

I'm not convinced at all by ND.  They are inconsistent as hell.  And although they have had four games at a top 10 level, they've had eleven games at a sub-100 level (including two of their last five games).  Even their other games are about top 30-ish.  They had a two game stretch of kickass games, preceeded by two stinkers and followed by an average game vs UConn.

Looking at MU for games without Otule.
Two top 10 games (USF / UL)
One sub-100 game (duh)
Since the Villanova game, MU has consistently played somewhere between the level of a top ten team and a top 30 team.

Marquette is a better team and more consistent.  I like those odds, even at the Joyce Center.

[PGsHeroes32]

No doubt we are the better team but we are still on the road where they beat Cuse and they just beat Uconn. Things  become more difficult with the likelyhood that Davante dont play. Can we win? No question. Will we? Gona be a battle.

People do blow this game out of proportion much like when a few weeks ago they though Seton Hall was gona be some death trap game because they won a few conference home games.

[MuMark]

You think winning at home against Cincy would be stealing a game? 

Nice writeup.  RealTimeRPI says we go 4-4 in the next 8 games, I think we can steal one away @WVU or at home against Cincy.

[/b]

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

You think winning at home against Cincy would be stealing a game? 
[/b]

Maybe in 2000.

[Silkk the Shaka]

You think winning at home against Cincy would be stealing a game? 
[/b]

Without Gardner?  It's a toss-up.  Margin of error is now down to '08/'09 & '09/'10 levels.  Foul trouble and mismatches on the glass are not easy to overcome for 40 minutes, especially without great 3 point shooting.  We can do it, but it's not going to be a walk in the park.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Am I the only one who thinks we'll beat GU at home? With how well we dominated them on the road, I feel like this is a lock.