climb the rankings

[scooter]

If we win we should pass Dayton, Villanova, Pittsburgh and maybe Mississippi - They all lost. 

[77ncaachamps]

If we win we should pass Dayton, Villanova, Pittsburgh and maybe Mississippi - They all lost. 

Think Stanford will jump over us? I think so...

[ATWizJr]

Not to be a wet blanket, but our expectations greatly exceed our potential.  As a long time Hilltopper, Warrior, Golden Eagle fan, this year's edition reminds me of the "scrambled eggs" unit of the McGuire era. 

For those with less perspective, in the early McGuire days, when the Warriors were less talented, at some point in the game, McGuire would insert a brand new five whom he called the "scrambled eggs".  Their job was to play at a frantic pace and do anything and everything they could to disrupt the opponent.  This would go on for about a five minute span while the starters got a rest and quite often resulted in tiring the opposition, whlle holding or adding to the MU lead.

To my eyes, this is the way we now play all the time. I attribute the reason Crean has recruited so many "smalls" is, in the absence of some true "bigs" we really have no option but to play as the scrambled eggs did.  And you better have lots of bodies because  to do that for 40 minutes is exhausting. That may work, for a while. 

But, realistically, without that good post up game, we really have to work hard for our shots, even on the perimeter, and unless we are shooting the lights out, getting deflections and pushing the pace, our long term outlook remains iffy. 

This might be a good time to adjust our expectations for this valiant but undersized team.

[Schoonts]

I like the Al Maguire story but I can't agree....

Are you saying "scrambled eggs" can beat Wisconsin @ Wisconsin?

Are you saying "scrambled eggs" can anihilate Notre Dame?

Guard play wins NCAAs...

[Final Four or Bust]

Yes, you need good guard play, but you need some inside play.  We had good guards last year- how did they do against the msu bigs? Heck we've had lots of good guards in the crean era(and the deane and oneill era) beyond the final four and sweet sixteen years we don't have lots of ncaa wins.  Of note is those teams had some of the better big post men at mu (rob Jackson, Damon key, and jimmy mac)

[MarquetteDano]

Well, we are a little off-topic for this post since it was originally about our ranking on Monday.  I think we will climb the rankings, but only slightly.  We will need a road win for a significant climb.

Onto the other discussion here regarding expectations for the team... I expect about a 11-7 Big East record, which very well could get us a 'bye' in the BE Tournament.  Perhaps a win or two in the BE tournament, but no championship.

As it relates to the NCAA's, I think it is all about matchups.  Our toughest matchups are teams that play great defense (all around, inside and perimeter) and/or teams with multiple good bigs (3 or more).  Without that matchup, we can beat anyone.  If you look at the potential field, we could meet that type of team in the first round, or not until the Sweet Sixteen.  So, in terms of the NCAA's, I hold off on my expectations until I see our bracket.

[77ncaachamps]

I like the Al Maguire story but I can't agree....

Are you saying "scrambled eggs" can beat Wisconsin @ Wisconsin?

Are you saying "scrambled eggs" can anihilate Notre Dame?

Guard play wins NCAAs...

Guard play might win the NCAAs, but let's make sure we get there with great guard play.