Whew!

[CTWarrior]

Well, a great 28 minutes, anyway.  Went to the bench too early.  It's a bad sign that we can't trust having three bench guys on the floor with a 21 point lead with 12 1/2 minutes left in the game.

We looked dead tired at the end of this one. 

Good news is that we scored every time we absolutely had to.  McNeal and Hayward made the big FTs.

Bottom line is any road league win is a good win. 

[Sir Lawrence]

Whew is right.  Wow, glad that one is in the bag.

[willie warrior]

Where in hell was the defense the last 10 minutes? Hayward stunk it up big time in this game.

We also were killed on the boartds--outrebounded by 12.

Thank the Lord we pulled it out!!!

[TVDirector]

looks like we were bushed.
a lot of standing around, walking up on O, toreadors on D late...

Rosario is talented, but needs to remember he's part of a team... some of his shots were ridiculous.
Eschenique should have dominated but never got the ball.

MU did a great job penetrating.

whew is an understatement.

bring on Thuggins!

[BaltimoreMC]

good game from jimmy butler.  A close win on the road against a weak opponent could be a nice wake-up call w/o booking a loss.  3-0 in the Beast - I'll take it. 

[The Man in Gold]

Great start to the game by Burke and Butler.  I loved the flashes of brilliance from both early, but completely disappeared in the second half - offensively at least.

Buzz has some teaching opportunities from this and I expect MU to come out much sharper on Saturday.  Hopefully the last 12 minutes serves as a reality check.  We're good...but you better show up for more than 28 minutes.

[MR.HAYWARD]

Great start to the game by Burke and Butler.  I loved the flashes of brilliance from both early, but completely disappeared in the second half - offensively at least.

Buzz has some teaching opportunities from this and I expect MU to come out much sharper on Saturday.  Hopefully the last 12 minutes serves as a reality check.  We're good...but you better show up for more than 28 minutes.

+100 my sentments exactly

[Norm]

I hope Buzz also learns from this game and recognizes that he needs to call a time out after a 6-0 run after you were up 19 to wake the players up. Instead, he waited until it was a 10 or 12 point run and allowed RU to gain momentum.

[MarquetteDano]

Wes Matthews really had a great game and with the exception of a key missed free throw (or maybe two I forget) he stepped up big when our lead dwindled.  The difference between last year's team and this year's team in terms of personnel is: minus Barro but plus Matthews who really is a different player this year.

The Big Four has all played well  but Matthews has made a tremendous difference this year.

[Pardner]

FT rate won it for us as we got clobbered on the boards by 11.  Rutgers outscored us on second chance points 18-2.  Yet, we had 7 less turnovers and 7 more steals to make up those possessions.  Same amount of FG's made, but we only had 15 fouls vs. 24 for Rutgers.  Not pretty execution at the end, but game plan was good vs. a big frontline. We played it to our strengths, and our experienced guards carried us at the end on the road.  Our bench has got to board if they aren't going to score.  

Two tough ones upcoming.  Some practice time upcoming to work on the bench fixes.

[Niv Berkowitz]

One of my few gripes of Buzz this year is his poor use of timeouts, particularly when the opposition goes on a run of some sort. He seems to use the TO about one or two possessions too late. Could be rookie mistakes, could be trusting the three seniors a little too much.

But...that's about all I can be-atch about with him. And it's not even a big be-atch. Just a minor one since it happened to be brought up.

[MR.HAYWARD]

hayward disappeared for the second game in arow he needs to be at his best for us to play at the next level.

[Daniel]

I hope Buzz also learns from this game and recognizes that he needs to call a time out after a 6-0 run after you were up 19 to wake the players up. Instead, he waited until it was a 10 or 12 point run and allowed RU to gain momentum.

+1 the time out selection to me is questionable - we did the same thing against Villanova -  we were up 9 and he called a time out when we were down 1.  Al was the master at time outs.  I absolutely agree - time outs are critical and an integral part of a winning game.  I hope we get better at it.  Glad we won this one!

[ecompt]

Burke had his one dunk but was otherwise invisible. Butler still doesn't look completely comfortable, but his nine points proved crucial. Our defense the last 10 minutes was atrocious. And I think Buzz should never, never insert David Cubillan into a game unless we're up or down by 30 and there's only a minute left. Cubes came in and inside of two minutes Rutgers scored eight straight points. It wasn't all his fault, but the second he came in we stopped playing. Once that happened, it became a game.

[yellow chickens]

Burke had his one dunk but was otherwise invisible. Butler still doesn't look completely comfortable, but his nine points proved crucial. Our defense the last 10 minutes was atrocious. And I think Buzz should never, never insert David Cubillan into a game unless we're up or down by 30 and there's only a minute left. Cubes came in and inside of two minutes Rutgers scored eight straight points. It wasn't all his fault, but the second he came in we stopped playing. Once that happened, it became a game.

otherwise invisible?? what about his best post move of the year on top of hitting an 18 footer? i was so happy with burkes first half play

[Secret of the Ouse]

I was loving Matthews tear drop shots. Anyone else see those.  They dont look nice goin up but they went in and it looked like he has practiced those

[RawdogDX]

I hope Buzz also learns from this game and recognizes that he needs to call a time out after a 6-0 run after you were up 19 to wake the players up. Instead, he waited until it was a 10 or 12 point run and allowed RU to gain momentum.

+1 Hopefully that is something that he'll learn.  It will cost us a game soon.

[esotericmindguy]

I was loving Matthews tear drop shots. Anyone else see those.  They dont look nice goin up but they went in and it looked like he has practiced those

Really?  They don't look good going up?  I thought they were smooth, its about time one of these guys developed a "runner" or "tear drop".  Its always been my picky critisizm of the gaurds, its either a 3 or a drive all the way to the rim; partly because I think Crean coached them that way.  Wes looks really good right now, our offense sputtered during the second half when James dribbled to much and Wes wasn't given the ball.

[Markusquette]

hayward disappeared for the second game in arow he needs to be at his best for us to play at the next level.

Hayward did fine vs. Cincy.  Some stupid fouls called early but he lit it up 2nd half

[ChicosBailBonds]

15% from behind the arc tonight.  What a difference a game makes.


Providence
Marquette
Cuse

All 3-0

[Daniel]

The Big East has so many tems in the top 25, they keep swticing places etc. as they beat each other up.  Brutal.  We have very tough games ahead - but we could not have asked for a better start in the first 3 games

Let's buckle down and make it 4 in a row and beat West Virginia - that would be soooo sweet

[77ncaachamps]

The fact that Hayward "disappeared" this game yet MU wins is a testament to the those three seniors and their will to win.

It also helps that Butler is becoming an integral part of the team and Burke putting up some decent stats...and yet ANOTHER Big East team NOT pounding it inside - when they really should have done so.