A Win. Trust in the bench

[MULaw14]

Honestly not as worried about Joey as some here have mentioned lately... he's a freshman, downturns are bound to happen.

Obviously not mentioned here by myself, but I remember being plenty vocal in the stands at how terrible Sam's post game was last year (one of his few weaknesses at the time IMO). Watching his back down mid-range game tonight, and the majority of this season, goes to show how much can change over one offseason. Theo's defense is another prime example.

Joey is going to evolve into an all-around great inside out player when it's all said and done. I look forward to the game (and Scoop comments) when he finally captures that swagger and never looks back.

[We R Final Four]

Long time reader, innagural post.

Best ball movement I've seen all year. By far.

Theo's weak-side help / shot blocking is just as fun to watch as Markus. Wow.

Loved the WAM chants filling the arena at the end.

You could tell Ed wanted a big night playing back home. He delivered.

A 2 seed might still be in play if we sweep @Nova and a BEast Tournament final appearance happens.

Rest up, get Sam an eye patch. See you in 8 days, Butler.

Right on Law14....right on.

[WarriorDad]

There were actually some DePaul fans that thought the refs were screwing the Blue Demons.  Warriors in total control throughout.  What is latest on Sam Hauser? 

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Nice W.

DePaul is pretty good. Reed is man, and they have some other very nice senior pieces. Too bad they didn't play a little better in non con.

[tower912]

I had predicted this as (one of) our WTF? losses.

Very glad it wasn't.

Respect to DePaul for improving.

Still waiting for one of those.

[Dr. Blackheart]

With competent officiating this is easily a 30+ point W. Feels good to womp a team on the road. Proud of our boys tonight.

+1.  This crew was widely inconsistent.  Wojo was about ready to pop a buttton 3-4 times. Teams are muscling Markus and the Hausers and they are busy calling feather touches on the bigs. 

[tower912]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=401083263

Box

[WarriorFan]

Still waiting for one of those.

Now I'm hoping we don't have any.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Still waiting for one of those.

St. John's at home?

[Its DJOver]

When was the last time we had more blocked shots than turnovers?  If we only turn the ball over 6 times per, we're not going to lose very many games.

Also, was watching at a bar that had a live band so the game was muted.  What was the deal with that review in the first half after that mix up between Theo and (Gage?)?  The only replays they showed only had the start of it in frame.

[lawdog77]

trying to  erase Dickie's commentary out of my memory, but he was praising the DePaul player and saying Theo was pushing him around...uh OK? Maybe that is why Theo gets called for so many touch fouls. Dickie has an influence.

[jsglow]

When was the last time we had more blocked shots than turnovers?  If we only turn the ball over 6 times per, we're not going to lose very many games.

Also, was watching at a bar that had a live band so the game was muted.  What was the deal with that review in the first half after that mix up between Theo and (Gage?)? The only replays they showed only had the start of it in frame.

That happened RIGHT in front of us.  My limited view (haven't seen any replay) is that the DePaul guy on the ground (Gage?) tried to grab and impede Theo as he was about to head down the court on defense so it wouldn't be a 5 on 4.  Theo clearly took pretty serious offense but, as usual, calmed himself in a nanosecond as the ref called the foul on the DePaul player.  I think they went to the monitor simply to see if Theo crushed his skull in retaliation.  Out on Cermak away from the court, that punk would have been a dead man.

DePaul was incredibly physical all night.  Our guys did a fine job of maintaining composure.  The only way they beat us is by turning it into a brawl.  Frankly, the officials let way too much go on the DePaul end.  I'm told (away from us so couldn't see) Sammy got hit like 3 times before they finally injured him.  Inexcusable.

[Lighthouse 84]

Another observation.  For a top 5-6 POY candidate, Markus gets very few calls.  He got absolutely mugged on a few possessions and the refs kept the whistles in their pockets.

[drewm88]

That happened RIGHT in front of us.  My limited view (haven't seen any replay) is that the DePaul guy on the ground (Gage?) tried to grab and impede Theo as he was about to head down the court on offense so it wouldn't be a 5 on 4.  Theo clearly took pretty serious offense but, as usual, calmed himself in a nanosecond as the ref called the foul on the DePaul player.  I think they went to the monitor simply to see if Theo crushed his skull in retaliation.  Out on Cermak away from the court, that punk would have been a dead man.

Glow and I were behind one of the baskets. A couple of guys in DePaul sweatshirts behind us were acting like first-class a-holes.
A minute or two into the game, one of them shouted at Theo, "Just foul out again already! " Theo shot him a look that would have made that guy pee his pants if the two of them were standing out on Cermak Avenue.

Glow family have a history of Cermak brawls?

[drewm88]

I noticed 3 times when Wojo was screaming at Bailey for being out of position as they got into their sets. Even for a freshman, you'd hope to have that cut way down by mid-February.

[jsglow]

Another observation.  For a top 5-6 POY candidate, Markus gets very few calls.  He got absolutely mugged on a few possessions and the refs kept the whistles in their pockets.

Another area of his game that he can improve on.  He needs to 'force' the whistle.  When you're five foot nuthin' it'll always be a challenge.

[jsglow]

Glow family have a history of Cermak brawls?

Ha! Nope, but I'm taking Theo and Ed with me.  I do the yappin', they do the enforcin'.   

[jsglow]

I noticed 3 times when Wojo was screaming at Bailey for being out of position as they got into their sets. Even for a freshman, you'd hope to have that cut way down by mid-February.

Yep.  There was a point in the second half when Brendan and Cain were in the game together.  Brendan was playing in the 'Joey/Sam' spot but went to his 'traditional' assignment where Cain properly was.  Neither Wojo nor Markus were pleased at all and both let him know vociferously.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Ha! Nope, but I'm taking Theo and Ed with me.  I do the yappin', they do the enforcin'.   

I'd take Ed in a heartbeat. Dude is from Englewood, he doesn't need to do any talking.

[MU82]

St. John's at home?

I'd rate that more as simply "losing one we should have won" vs. a "WTF loss."

To me, the latter implies an inexplicable loss to a team considered much worse -- kind of like Nova falling to Furman or Michigan just losing yesterday to Penn State. After seeing each of those scores, I literally said, "What the ----?!?!?"

We should have beaten St. John's at home, but I don't think too many were absolutely shocked that we lost.

Semantics, I know. Others may disagree.

[JakeBarnes]

That happened RIGHT in front of us.  My limited view (haven't seen any replay) is that the DePaul guy on the ground (Gage?) tried to grab and impede Theo as he was about to head down the court on defense so it wouldn't be a 5 on 4.  Theo clearly took pretty serious offense but, as usual, calmed himself in a nanosecond as the ref called the foul on the DePaul player.  I think they went to the monitor simply to see if Theo crushed his skull in retaliation.  Out on Cermak away from the court, that punk would have been a dead man.

DePaul was incredibly physical all night.  Our guys did a fine job of maintaining composure.  The only way they beat us is by turning it into a brawl.  Frankly, the officials let way too much go on the DePaul end.  I'm told (away from us so couldn't see) Sammy got hit like 3 times before they finally injured him.  Inexcusable.

I was on your side of the court as well. I was impressed with theo's composure. That said, when Gage tried to step up to Theo, it made it clear that Theo is much, much bigger.