Shaka passed his first test

[Elonsmusk]

Yep.  Coming off a loss in which he was excoriated by some Scoopers, how does his team and players respond?  A resounding win, and best effort game of the year all around.

Some Scoopers should revisit their comments in the Creighton game thread and topics thereafter and acknowledge they were off base and embarrassingly puerile.

[tower912]

You can say that about any loss.   

[Goose]

Elon

Bright days are coming for the program.

[Elonsmusk]

Elon

Bright days are coming for the program.

100% Goose.  So good to have legitimate reason for optimism once again.

[CountryRoads]

It was a great win. They really need to take care of business in these next two games against Georgetown and DePaul to get some good momentum going. That's something Wojo failed miserably at during his tenure. Usually one step forward and two steps back. I say usually because oftentimes it was just steps backwards.

[Elonsmusk]

It was a great win. They really need to take care of business in these next two games against Georgetown and DePaul to get some good momentum going. That's something Wojo failed miserably at during his tenure. Usually one step forward and two steps back. I say usually because oftentimes it was just steps backwards.

True.  What I'm optimistic about is our defense.  We were so connected defensively tonight, and defense travels.  MU has played a really tough schedule, and I think some in our fanbase underestimated the difficulty of the schedule, coupled with the lack of experience and roster cohesion we have this season.

Being down 1 point to UCONN and Xavier with under a minute left and going to OT with Creighton were good signs.  Losses?  Yes.  Frustrating?  Yes.  However, lots of silver linings could be taken from those games.

OMax, Oso, Kolek, and Kam can take this program to great heights in the next 3 years.

[Goose]

Elon

Omax is going to be fun to watch develop. Love his motor and once he slows things down he is going to be tough. Nice outside jumper as well.

[MU82]

Last game was not Shaka failing "his first test." And this game was not Shaka passing "his first test."

His actual first test as Marquette's coach was the SIUE game, and he almost flunked it but ultimately passed it with a C. His first big test was the Illinois game, and he passed it with an A.

He's had other tests since, passed some and didn't pass others. His next test will be Friday, because it would suck to follow this tremendous victory with a clunker.

[Elonsmusk]

Elon

Omax is going to be fun to watch develop. Love his motor and once he slows things down he is going to be tough. Nice outside jumper as well.

100% agree.  I also don't recall a big we've had as bouncy as Oso.  He is so quick off the floor.  2 more years of strength and conditioning for those two and we are looking REALLY good.

[JakeBarnes]

Elon

Omax is going to be fun to watch develop. Love his motor and once he slows things down he is going to be tough. Nice outside jumper as well.

Omax has improved greatly so far this year. Much more in control. So excited for what is to come

[mileskishnish72]

Kudos to Shaka for getting it together and  getting these guys to play so hard after he screwed them out of a win vs. Creighton. Perhaps the relationship building will pay off. They came out with  an energy level I wouldn't have expected.

[Elonsmusk]

Last game was not Shaka failing "his first test." And this game was not Shaka passing "his first test."

His actual first test as Marquette's coach was the SIUE game, and he almost flunked it but ultimately passed it with a C. His first big test was the Illinois game, and he passed it with an A.

He's had other tests since, passed some and didn't pass others. His next test will be Friday, because it would suck to follow this tremendous victory with a clunker.

I agree.  The topic title was more a shot at the ridiculous thread that was started after Creighton.

[MU82]

I agree.  The topic title was more a shot at the ridiculous thread that was started after Creighton.

Fair enough. That WAS a ridiculous thread.

[We R Final Four]

This team sucks.

[Uncle Rico]

https://twitter.com/painttouches/status/1478743377382453253?s=21

[tower912]

IMO, part of the problem was when Creighton did it and where MU was on the stamina scale.    Jones out, Greg puking, Morsell cleared one day prior, second OT after a gut punch at the end of the first OT.    MU stood and looked at it.   After a few seconds, both Justin and OMP headed for the high post.    And the shot went up.    Clang.    And a little more air went out of the balloon.   

MU had a full roster.    They had two full good days of practice.    And MU was rolling the entire game, as opposed to Creighton when they were grinding.       

It was very frustrating.    To my eyes, it was a team that had hit their wall that game and lacked the mental and physical energy to continue to grind.   3 days later, different story.   

[JakeBarnes]

IMO, part of the problem was when Creighton did it and where MU was on the stamina scale.    Jones out, Greg puking, Morsell cleared one day prior, second OT after a gut punch at the end of the first OT.    MU stood and looked at it.   After a few seconds, both Justin and OMP headed for the high post.    And the shot went up.    Clang.    And a little more air went out of the balloon.   

MU had a full roster.    They had two full good days of practice.    And MU was rolling the entire game, as opposed to Creighton when they were grinding.       

It was very frustrating.    To my eyes, it was a team that had hit their wall that game and lacked the mental and physical energy to continue to grind.   3 days later, different story.

I do think the "let the hair down" concept is good for this team. They looked like they were having fun--combining that with the grind part will help them break through the wall they faced against X, UConn and Creighton. Good steps forward today.

[Goose]

Jake

This style of ball is extremely fun to play and even more fun when the ball goes in the hoop. They guys were having a blast night. On another note, Kolek is the key to success moving forward. He plays nonstop for a reason.

[JakeBarnes]

Jake

This style of ball is extremely fun to play and even more fun when the ball goes in the hoop. They guys were having a blast night. On another note, Kolek is the key to success moving forward. He plays nonstop for a reason.

It was quite encouraging to see that Kolek's passing is rubbing off on others as well. Passes looked crisp tonight--especially the JLew to Oso pass from the top. Great things seem to happen when spacing is right and the guys "lose themselves in each other" during the game.

What an absolutely fun game last night. Even the defense flows  better when the team feels like it can get a bucket when it needs to (seriously, 20 points against the zone was great) rather than just have to stop every bucket--which adds to a lot of tension. Looking forward to Friday night's game--let's start a streak here.

[MU82]

Jake

This style of ball is extremely fun to play and even more fun when the ball goes in the hoop. They guys were having a blast night. On another note, Kolek is the key to success moving forward. He plays nonstop for a reason.

For awhile this season, it looked like we needed at least 2 of 3 of Kolek, Lewis and Morsell to excel to beat a good team, and all 3 to play well to beat a very good team.

Now that Morsell has reverted to his 4-years-at-Maryland offensive level, I'd say we need that from Kolek, Lewis and then another of any number of other players who on any given night can have a strong game -- Jones, Morsell, Oso, Kuath, O-Max, Elliott, etc.

It is very difficult for us to overcome a bad game by either Kolek or Lewis because each has a skillset that nobody else on the team can replicate.