Starters for our first tourney game?????

[denverMU]

First, without McNeal we would not have had the great season we have had so far.  But since DJ was injured (and maybe a couple games before) McNeal has had his head has been up his ass!!!  I think Buzz should start Hayward, Matthews, Burke, Acker, and Butler.  McNeal should sit and relax a bit. OBTW, if McNeal does not blow this game Butler would have been Stud of the Game hands down.

[MUBBau]

Anyone who would not want McNeal to start is a moron

[Brewtown Andy]

Yes, let's bench the All Big East 1st teamer.

[NavinRJohnson]

FAIL!

[CTWarrior]

McNeal should start and play major (35+) minutes, but Buzz shouldn't be afraid to pull him out when he tries to "take over" and not involve his teammates.

Butler is really coming on but I don't see the need to rock the boat and start him now.

[denverMU]

1st team All American also, Who cost us the Syracuse game and this game!  I did not say don't play him, but sit for the first minute or so.

[NavinRJohnson]

Four year starter playing what could be his last game...good idea!

[MUhoops12]

I didn't catch the first half of today's game but when I was looking at the box score, I noticed that Butler was listed a starter with McNeal off the bench. Is this accurate?

[MUBBau]

1st team All American also, Who cost us the Syracuse game and this game!  I did not say don't play him, but sit for the first minute or so.

How does this benefit the team? Would we have 20+ point lead in that first minute that McNeal wouldn't possibly be able to blow?

[denverMU]

Butler did not start today.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

The same people that are blasting McNeal are probably the people blasting Wade for not being a good enough ball handler and missing key free throws.

The kid (McNeal) is an awesome player. Deal with it.

[Hards Alumni]

this thread gets my vote for dumbest thread EVER.

[dwaderoy2004]

no one has questioned mcneal's skills.  they are questioning his decisions.  and there is no way you can look at the last 7 games we've played and say he has made good decisions.  Even that 3 he made against cuse near the end of regulation was put up too soon.  he could have had that same shot 10 seconds later.

[MU B2002]

The kid (McNeal) is an awesome player. Deal with it.

I agree.  Did he F-up? Yes.  Would we be here without him?  Not even close.

I am remembering a couple years ago when we got to experience an NCAA tourney game without McNeal...  

[GGGG]

1st team All American also, Who cost us the Syracuse game and this game!  I did not say don't play him, but sit for the first minute or so.

Why?  You want to mess with his head even more?

Right...McNeal's a four year starter, the best player on your team, and a 2nd team All American, and your going to sit him "for the first minute or so?"

Seriously dumb.  He's going through a bad stretch.  Sitting him won't help.

[AlumKCof93]

I'm as critical of McNeal as anyone.  But you can't bench him - it would be a slap in the face to a player who has played his heart out for 4 years.  It would create unnecessary ill will.  What Buzz can do is take McNeal out of the game if he continues to make bad, selfish decisions.  The only game we won out of the last 6 is when we went on a huge run when McNeal was on the bench against SJU.

[The Lens]

When I first saw this I assumed it was intended to get our best 5 on the floor...ie start Butler over Burke or Acker.  The thought of McNeal not starting is asinine. 

End of discussion.

[NavinRJohnson]

Who said Acker shouldn't start? Show yourselves.

He's the only true PG we have and all he has done thus far is everything that has been asked of him.

[GGGG]

Exactly.  Everybody knows there roles.  No reason to change now.

[denverMU]

Yeah, you guys are right, why change anything now? We are 1-4 in our last 5 games and besides if our best player keeps screwing up then we can bench him, that won't mess with his head like not starting him!

[NavinRJohnson]

Yeah, you guys are right, why change anything now? We are 1-4 in our last 5 games and besides if our best player keeps screwing up then we can bench him, that won't mess with his head like not starting him!

Yeah, that's really a great point, but I guess I have two questions...

1. Of the 4 teams they lost to, MU is better than _________________.

2. What changes to the starting lineup would make MU better than the remaining teams, and how?

[denverMU]

On any given day, all of them.  At least, Syracuse/Villanova and lost to Lville by 4 pts  As far as what changes would do to the outcome of the games...As I said in my original post, without McNeal we would not have had the great season we have, but he has been making some poor decisions lately.  I have not seen anyone argue that he didn't cost us the game yesterday.  Sitting McNeal might bring him back to prime form it might not.  Definition of insanity, doing the same thing you've always done and expecting a different result.

[GGGG]

We're 1-4 in the last four games!!???!!  Let's start Otule!!!!  You can't get more different than that!!!

[MarquetteFan94]

Please tell me this thread is a joke.

[denverMU]

1-4 in our last FOUR games??? not a stats major I guess and my suggestion is stupid??