"Experts Talk ..Marquette" - USAToday

[mu_hilltopper]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/mensbasketball/2007-01-25-roundtable_x.htm?csp=34#marquette

3. Marquette has been up and down this year but does have big wins over Duke and Pittsburgh. Do the Eagles have enough to make a run at the Big East title? What do you see in their future in the Big Dance?

Steve Rivera: Now, speaking of shooting, this team is dependent upon it. In the losses, it shot poorly, in the wins it went away from the shot and drove to the basket.

Jeff Zillgitt: I like this squad a lot, though I could just be wrongly influenced by watching a handful of their recent wins.


Tim Gardner: You beat me to the punch, Steve. Like Villanova last year, this team is completely dependent on guard play, and if they shoot well, they win. If they don't, they lose. It's pretty much that simple.

Jeff Zillgitt: I don't know if they can win the Big East. That's a tough task for anyone in that league, though someone has to win it. But I like Marquette making a run in the tourney.
 
Steve Rivera: Remember, they've only lost four. I know that seems like a lot, but it truly isn't. Aren't we (media) being too harsh on teams with a number of losses?

Tim Gardner: Doesn't everyone this year (save UCLA) have a few losses?
Steve Rivera: Exactly.

Tim Gardner: With the Eagles, it seems if they shoot over 40% from the field, their chances of winning increase tenfold.
Steve Rivera: Wouldn't you want to face a tough schedule heading into the tournament? That's, of course, if it doesn't kill you first.

Jeff Zillgitt: Tom Crean got Marquette to a Final Four a few years ago, and he was on Michigan State's staff when the Spartans made a couple of deep runs. He can prepare a team well on short notic,e and that's huge come March.

Steve Rivera: I've met Crean a couple of times. I like what he's done. He's a good coach. It also helps to have D-Wade and Travis Diener (2003).

Tim Gardner: I don't think they'll win the league. That's for Pitt to lose (even though the Eagles already got them). But as for the Big Dance, Crean has been there and done that. All it takes is one hot streak in the tourney.

Steve Rivera: Problem is, defenses tighten in the tournament. If Marquette shoots poorly, it's history.

Tim Gardner: Exactly. Goes back to our original point ... they can't afford an off night.
Steve Rivera: And we all know in a six-game stretch, an off night is more likely to happen than not.

Jeff Zillgitt: Speaking of four-loss teams and what losses mean right now ... Michigan state has just four losses (17-4) but they face a 10-game stretch where they could go 3-7, 4-6, 5-5, 6-4, etc. The next month is key for many teams.

Tim Gardner: That would be February ... and I can't wait.

Steve Rivera: If teams haven't hit the wall yet, that's when it happens. First week of February.

[rocky_warrior]

Tim Gardner: Exactly. Goes back to our original point ... they can't afford an off night.
Steve Rivera: And we all know in a six-game stretch, an off night is more likely to happen than not.

1) So, uh...if we win at USF then we'll have a six-game stretch without an off night?  Which means the NC is the only thing left to conquer?   

2) Hey, we've got over 10,000 posts!!!

[LastWarrior]

Tim Gardner: Exactly. Goes back to our original point ... they can't afford an off night.
Steve Rivera: And we all know in a six-game stretch, an off night is more likely to happen than not.

1) So, uh...if we win at USF then we'll have a six-game stretch without an off night?  Which means the NC is the only thing left to conquer?   

2) Hey, we've got over 10,000 posts!!!

Rocky - I hope you just didn't jinx us for Sunday!!

[rocky_warrior]

No worries, I'm anti-superstitious.  Nothing I say ever affects the outcome of sporting events

If it makes you feel better though, I crossed my fingers on both hands when typing that 

[spiral97]

doesn't crossing the fingers on the second hand cancel out the finger crossing on the first hand?   

[muwarrior87]

knock on wood

[rocky_warrior]

Well, apparently crossing the second finger cancels out any other superstitions happening at the time   8)