MU WINS. MATTHEWS A STUD.

[SoCalwarrior]

69-51 after only being up 1 at the half.

Matthews and James with 22.

Kuphall starts the game second half.

Kinella gets minutes.

[Marquette84]

Kuphall starts the game.

Actually, I think he only started the 2nd half.

Strong message to the team for letting Savannah State play close in the first half.  Looks like Crean got the response he wanted in the 2nd half.

[mu_hilltopper]

Crean on the post game sounded PISSED.  Lots of hints how the BE will be much tougher and we have a long way to go, it's tough to win anywhere and "we'll find that out against Prov next week."

Homer: So, we noticed there was an interesting lineup to start the 2nd half with Craig Kuphall

Crean:  Yup. 

(7 second pause)

Homer: So, anything you want to say about that?

Crean:  I wanted a different lineup.

(3 second pause).

Homer:  Ok, our next topic ...

[SoCalwarrior]

He was definitely surly.  And when asked about going into the Big East, he did not sound optimistic.

[SoCalwarrior]

Crean Post game summary.  He was obviously a bit pissed. 

- Good victory.  Puts us at 13 wins which is a good mark for the preseason.
- In regards to the different starting line-up for the second half.  "Just felt like it... We needed something different."
- On Matthews Performance.  He knew before the game he was ready to break out.  Been practicing very well.  Did a lot of good things.
- On D. James.  Excellent job.  Very solid game.  Lots of Richmond fans and friends in the stands.  His old coach, etc.
- Going into Big East.  Have to get better.  Have to play like we practice and we haven't really done that yet.  Providence will be tough.  Hard to win anywhere on the road in the Big East and we're about to find that out.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

This team is giving off a horrible vibe. I'm not optimistic heading into BE play.

[MU Avenue]

I know I and others have said it before, but it is frustrating to watch Marquette continue its longtime practices of starting slowly, playing to the level of its competition and not crushing teams that it should be crushing.

PuertoRicanNightmare writes: "This team is giving off a horrible vibe. I'm not optimistic heading into BE play."

"Vibes" aside, a main concern remains Dominic James' slow starts and spotty field goal and free throw shooting, especially early in most games -- including today's.

James is a terrific player, if he could only show it much more often from the opening tip.

That said, I feel, as I have all season and last season, too, that Wesley Matthews has the stuff to become one of the best ever to play at Marquette. Yes, his consistency is still lacking. Once he decides to go all out and take more chances every game, he will be the MU player about whom everyone is talking.

[Big Papi]

I dont know about the horrible vibe as I am not feeling that but this is a team that can win or loss any game from here on out.  I would not be surprised if we lose at Providence this Thursday.  A big east road game is always tough.  If we do in fact lose, it will be interesting to see how many "fans" do indeed flame out.

Anyways, I am disappointed that we can't seem to blow out inferior competition but that is really nothing new.  We have really not had those type of blowouts for a long time.  I don't really recall even having them the year we went to the Final Four but my memory does suck these days.   

[mviale]

Asking some 19 year olds to get excited abouta Savanah St game during xmas break is a big task. Lets hold comments until the BE season begins.

[NYWarrior]

Asking some 19 year olds to get excited abouta Savanah St game during xmas break is a big task. Lets hold comments until the BE season begins.

EXACTLY.

a win is a win......good to see.  the team is healthy -- lets play the big boys

[Murffieus]

mivale----not only asking 19 year olds to get excited about Savanah State is tough----but after playing one cupcake after another it's even tougher to get excited about SS.

I think you will see an accelerated motivation against Providence and in the BE schedule generally!

[mviale]

I saw a good WVU team today - made the younger Uconn team look silly

[HoopDreams]

It seems to me that Wes has good games only against weaker opponents. I am waiting to see him have a breakout performance against a superior team or even highly competitive team. Its all there he just needs to put things together on a consistant basis. Time will tell as the Big East games are beginning soon..