ND vs Pitt

[Jam Chowder]

Now this is interesting ...

MU has had a mediocre season so far.  I would agree with this in that we have had no bad losses and no good wins.  We have done what was expected and not much more.

That said, we play #5 Uconn tomorrow and we are the favorite!  

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=23894.0

KenPom, RPI Forecast and Vegas all have us winning.

So, how bad are we if we can be favored against the #5 team?  How many times since 1977 has MU been favored to beat a top 5 team?  I would guess not many.

So this is the state of our program ... we are stomping out feet in total frustration that we suck the night before we are favored to beat a top 5 team.

You'd think we were talking about Duke with expectations this high.

Who cares? MU could be favored against the Dream Team and it wouldn't mean a thing. Come back tomorrow night and we'll talk results.

[77ncaachamps]

The only factor I can think of as to why we're favored is that it's a HOME game.

Other than that, edge should really be UCONN and MU deserves to be the underdog...
As then a W would be viewed as an "upset"...

[brewcity77]

If Pitt loses to ND, should Dixon hire a good bench coach to help him Xs and Os?  I've see a lot of Hansborough layup drills this game.

Really? So you think Buzz is the equal of Bo Ryan, or Mike Kryzewski, or any of the other great technical coaches out there? I have been one to call for a bench coach, and I don't see it as an indictment of Buzz. Buzz does some things great, and in other areas shows his inexperience. That's going to be a common thread for most anyone who is new to their profession, as Williams is. In every job I've ever had, there's been a learning curve. As you progress in a job, the idea is that you learn from those with more experience than you. The problem Buzz has is that he is the boss on the coaching staff. He doesn't have that experienced hand. What is wrong with the idea of him going out and bringing in a guy who has more experience at defensive coaching and designing plays?

For chrissake, it's not like suggesting a bench coach is calling for his head. I support Buzz and am appreciative for what he has done and I believe will continue to do. But if an experienced guy like Lavin is smart enough to see that he can benefit from a Gene Keady on his bench, why wouldn't an inexperienced guy like Buzz benefit from a similar figure.

[ChicosBailBonds]

For chrissake, it's not like suggesting a bench coach is calling for his head. I support Buzz and am appreciative for what he has done and I believe will continue to do. But if an experienced guy like Lavin is smart enough to see that he can benefit from a Gene Keady on his bench, why wouldn't an inexperienced guy like Buzz benefit from a similar figure.

+1

There is nothing wrong with having an experienced mentor next to you on the bench, in business, etc.  It's part of the growth process.

[Tugg Speedman]

Buzz had what you suggest his first year in Dale Layer.  

Many times during the TOs, it was Layer designing the plays and Buzz was watching.

Bring back Layer?

[77ncaachamps]

Ben is a PRO...

...at using his off arm to ward. Mac mentioned how he uses the chicken wing to get past his defender on a crossover drive. I saw instances of this as well as his off arm ward to distance the defender.

Those are plays that take skill to sell, however.

[willie warrior]

Ben is a PRO...

...at using his off arm to ward. Mac mentioned how he uses the chicken wing to get past his defender on a crossover drive. I saw instances of this as well as his off arm ward to distance the defender.

Those are plays that take skill to sell, however.

Absolutely right about that. he gets away with that 3 or 4 times a game.

[willie warrior]

Getting tired of ND out performing us in Beast. Why? Why?
We have in Buzz we trust and 6 top 100 recruits on the team.

[tower912]

An all senior 5 on the floor.     In Rosiak's article, Buzz mentions that in South Bend, our defense did not do as good a job of defending Hansbrough before the catch, letting him get it too easily in spots he was comfortable.   

[willie warrior]

Let's see if we win, then we can celebrate.
Since we are favored, what does one say if we lose?

I am hoping for a victory--not quite as much as I would like to see us kick Boeheim's ass, though.

[Pakuni]

MU has had a thoroughly mediocre season so far, so however strong the offense is, it isn't good enough to overcome the porous defense.   

We'll see what happens during this crucial 3 game stretch...
The problems with defense and rebounding just stand out more.

At this point last season, MU was 11-8 overall and 2-5 in conference.
If this year has been "thoroughly mediocre," what was last? Really, really thoroughly mediocre?

[Pakuni]

Getting tired of ND out performing us in Beast. Why? Why?
We have in Buzz we trust and 6 top 100 recruits on the team.

Wait ... what?
Why bother letting facts get in the way, I guess.

MU vs ND head-to-head in BE play: 7-4

BE records since 2005 ...
MU: 58-35
ND: 45-40

Other than that, they've outperformed MU in the Big East.

[Da 'Lanche]

I was questioning N.D.'s legitimacy of a top 20 team last weekend....crow tastes pretty special for breakfast.

Impressive road win for N.D......I just threw up, a teeny bit, writing that.

[willie warrior]

Wait ... what?
Why bother letting facts get in the way, I guess.

MU vs ND head-to-head in BE play: 7-4

BE records since 2005 ...
MU: 58-35
ND: 45-40

Other than that, they've outperformed MU in the Big East.

My frame of refernce has been the last two years. I hate ND and their arrogant fans, so perhaps that is coloring my perception--but I do believe that they have done better than us last year and this. And I do believe we have had better talent.

[dsfire]

My frame of refernce has been the last two years. I hate ND and their arrogant fans, so perhaps that is coloring my perception--but I do believe that they have done better than us last year and this. And I do believe we have had better talent.

The only way in which they did better than us in the BE last year was the game they played here.  They were playing terrible defense for most of the year and looking at an NIT bid at 6-8 before going on a tear and winning their last 4 conference games and first couple in the BET.  Still had a worse BE record than we did.

[Lacrosse218]

Just wait till next year, have you seen who is returning?  That whole team is Seniors, Hansborough, Scott, Abromitis, Martin, and Nash.  They will be absolutely awful next year as their best returning player is a Freshman in Eric Atkins.

Also, talk about a team with a short bench, they BARELY use any of their reserves, so basically next year they will have an inexperienced team with no returning talent for the most part.  I can't wait to see them suck and watch Digger cry.

[d6]

Just wait till next year, have you seen who is returning?  That whole team is Seniors, Hansborough, Scott, Abromitis, Martin, and Nash.  They will be absolutely awful next year as their best returning player is a Freshman in Eric Atkins.

Also, talk about a team with a short bench, they BARELY use any of their reserves, so basically next year they will have an inexperienced team with no returning talent for the most part.  I can't wait to see them suck and watch Digger cry.

Three of those five are seniors academically, but still have eligibility left.  It was mentioned during last night's telecast.

[dsfire]

Abro and Scott both sat out a season as underclassmen.  This is actually only Martin's second season playing after sitting out a transfer year and then tearing his ACL... though I'd imagine he'd only have one more year to play given the 4 in 5 rule, barring a special exemption from the NCAA.