Some love from Grantland

[Zar Zar Binks]

Every week mark Titus does a NCAA power rankings. I think this was the first time MU made the list:

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9048035/mark-titus-top-12-ncaa-power-rankings-why-teams-win-ncaa-championship-suffer-early-round-upset

Not much that hasn't already been discussed (at length). Great point about how this team has had basically everything thrown at it this year and still found a way to win.

[Dawson Rental]

"... its overtime win over a struggling St. John's squad last weekend..."

A struggling St. John's squad?  Obviously, Grantland didn't watch the game.  St. John's was smoking! (what exactly, I don't know)  Teams can get on an emotional roller coaster, and Saturday St. John's was on a definite high point.  Psyched because people were writing them off at home because Harrison and Pointer were out? Maybe.  Who knows?  All I know is I saw an inspired team running around with a ton of energy, and I don't think that's how they've been playing all year.  Keeping their cool after St. John's made a number of tough runs at them - particularly the last two minutes of the second half to tie the game - was an impressive exhibition of keeping a cool head and persevering by Marquette.

[Pakuni]

"... its overtime win over a struggling St. John's squad last weekend..."

A struggling St. John's squad?  Obviously, Grantland didn't watch the game.  St. John's was smoking! (what exactly, I don't know)  Teams can get on an emotional roller coaster, and Saturday St. John's was on a definite high point.  Psyched because people were writing them off at home because Harrison and Pointer were out? Maybe.  Who knows?  All I know is I saw an inspired team running around with a ton of energy, and I don't think that's how they've been playing all year.  Keeping their cool after St. John's made a number of tough runs at them - particularly the last two minutes of the second half to tie the game - was an impressive exhibition of keeping a cool head and persevering by Marquette.

St. John's had lost five of six heading into that game (and now seven of eight), the only winning coming at home over South Florida. And they were down two starters. Struggling is a fair description.

[Golden Avalanche]

St. John's had lost five of six heading into that game (and now seven of eight), the only winning coming at home over South Florida. And they were down two starters. Struggling is a fair description.

Not to mention the bomb they threw down last night. Since February started the Johnnies have been a terrible team. "Struggling" may have been too nice a description.

[MUMonster03]

St. John's had lost five of six heading into that game (and now seven of eight), the only winning coming at home over South Florida. And they were down two starters. Struggling is a fair description.

St. John's really disappointed me this year. I thought this was the year they would finally start turning the corner with Lavin.

[96warrior]

"... its overtime win over a struggling St. John's squad last weekend..."

A struggling St. John's squad?  Obviously, Grantland didn't watch the game.  St. John's was smoking! (what exactly, I don't know)  Teams can get on an emotional roller coaster, and Saturday St. John's was on a definite high point.  Psyched because people were writing them off at home because Harrison and Pointer were out? Maybe.  Who knows?  All I know is I saw an inspired team running around with a ton of energy, and I don't think that's how they've been playing all year.  Keeping their cool after St. John's made a number of tough runs at them - particularly the last two minutes of the second half to tie the game - was an impressive exhibition of keeping a cool head and persevering by Marquette.

I agree with this. I watched the game again a couple nights ago and St Johns played a lot better than they had been to that point. I never thought that game was going to be a gimme but they put up way more of a fight than I expected them to.

[Henry Sugar]

St. John's really disappointed me this year. I thought this was the year they would finally start turning the corner with Lavin.

Agreed, but they were super-young this year. Both STJ and PC will be good next year.

[Abode4life]

Agreed, but they were super-young this year. Both STJ and PC will be good next year.

I feel like a lot of people said this same thing last year.

[Henry Sugar]

I feel like a lot of people said this same thing last year.

Fair.

Both last year and this year STJ was #345ish in the country in terms of experience. I don't know why they didn't improve this year. How much of that talent sticks around is a legit question.

I do feel more comfortable in saying PC will be good next year. Also young, plus had a few transfers sitting out this year.

[MUMonster03]

I feel like a lot of people said this same thing last year.

I gave them a pass for last year since Lavin was out for most of it.

[RJax55]

Both last year and this year STJ was #345ish in the country in terms of experience. I don't know why they didn't improve this year. How much of that talent sticks around is a legit question.

That's the big question with Steve Lavin. Without a doubt, he can recruit players. But, can he coach them, develop them and more importantly, keep them?

I suspect that SJU under Lavin will always be athletic and talented, but also raw and very young.