BE SEC rundown on ESPN

[LAMUfan]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/8688020/at-watercooler-preview-big-east-sec-challenge-men-college-basketball

Another game not to be slept on: Marquette-Florida. Myron, did you know that Dean Oliver's RPI-alternative Basketball Power Index does not list either Indiana or Duke as the No. 1 team in the country?



And did you also know that the team it does list is the Florida Gators?



Before our readers start furiously clacking four-letter words in our general direction, I am not saying that I think Florida is better than Indiana or Duke. (Numbers and November don't go together well. Small sample sizes and all that.) But it is worth mentioning, if only to drive home the fact that this Florida team has been pulverizing people.



MM: I love the way Mr. Oliver thinks. I'm with you. I'd take Duke and Indiana over Florida right now. But let's not pretend that the Gators are outside the conversation. It's like Beyonce, Selita Ebanks and Halle Berry. They're all in the same league. If Florida would have beaten Georgetown in the aircraft carrier game that was canceled, then I think folks would view the Gators differently right now. But they destroyed a Wisconsin squad that's not as bad as Florida made it look. That's why Florida could enter SEC play as the league favorite over Kentucky. The Gators are that good, especially with Scottie Wilbekin back from suspension. They're legit.



But I really don't know what to say about Marquette. The Golden Eagles also lost a measuring stick game when their aircraft carrier matchup against Ohio State was canceled due to ... condensation. Marquette had Butler on the ropes but blew it down the stretch in Maui. Todd Mayo would really help right now. So many question marks for Buzz Williams' squad. I don't think the ceiling is as low as it looked in the final minutes of the Butler loss. Here's their chance to prove that they can make some noise in the Big East.

[KipsBayEagle]

I have a strong feeling this person did not watch the Marquette-Butler game as he claimed.

[JakeBarnes]

I have a strong feeling this person did not watch the Marquette-Butler game as he claimed.

That's how I'd describe the game.  Marquette was up big in the first half and then let Butler back in it.  Sure, the fluky shot made it worse, but Marquette should have had the game well in hand given how the game started.

[LAMUfan]

yeah, didn't butler score on 12 of 13 possessions to end the game or something like that

[chapman]

yeah, didn't butler score on 12 of 13 possessions to end the game or something like that

Yeah, it was a layup drill for the last 8 minutes or so.

[bradley center bat]

That's how I'd describe the game.  Marquette was up big in the first half and then let Butler back in it.  Sure, the fluky shot made it worse, but Marquette should have had the game well in hand given how the game started.

MU was only up by 9 points the first 5 minutes of the game. Butler got back into the game after that. That's basketball.

[The Equalizer]

I have a strong feeling this person did not watch the Marquette-Butler game as he claimed.

I think he was probably referring to the fact that MU was up 67-62 with under two minutes to go.  Butler scored 5 straight to tie it.

yeah, didn't butler score on 12 of 13 possessions to end the game or something like that

I'm not seeing this in the play-by-play.  If they did, then we didn't capitalize on it as our largest 2nd half lead was just 6.  

http://www.gomarquette.com/sports/m-baskbl/stats/2012-2013/mugame03.html#GAME.PLY

[LAMUfan]

it was a lot of made shots by butler at the end of the game is my point, poor defense on drives to the hoop by MU 

[martyconlonontherun]

I think he was talking along the lines of losing to what was thought of a bad Butler team. Look at this board before the game and the reaction right after the game. Our offense played like crap, lost to a weak Butler team and we blew our chance at UNC. Our outlook was temporarily bleak. We then started playing some good bball on the second and third day and Butler looked better then we gave them credit for at the time.