Lets get a feel of the confidence level for the Providence game

[mu03eng]

How confident do we feel out there for the PC game on Saturday?  Does every feel like we should win, anyone certain we will win?  Anyone have doubts?


Personally, I am pretty confident about the game.  As always it can be anybodies game in the Big East and PC has beat us already this season but a couple of things are different now.  We are on a hot streak.  McNeal will play in this game.  We had a scare on Sunday so no one on the team should be looking past PC.  We have had a week of rest and practice and gameplanning.  Its at home.

What are your thoughts?


PS Had to start this since 1996 killed the fun in the hate thread

[dwaderoy2004]

providence still scares me.  we seem to struggle with any team that has multiple quality "true" bigs.  south florida, providence, even syracuse all have multiple guys who park themselves in the post and know how to play with their back to the basket.  granted, when providence smoked us earlier this year, we did not have mcneal, and our overall play has improved since then, but it'll be interesting to see how crean decides to match up with providence.  i still think we win this game, but i hope to see better post defense in the process...

[rocky_warrior]

I was posting on the providence board earlier in the week (before scout made a mess of the forums!), and I made the point that we can struggle against teams with multiple talented big guys - ala USF.  They didn't take kindly comparing them to South Florida - but my point was that Provence has the big guys that give3 us trouble.  Also, though, PC has much better guards, and plays a good zone.  The guards don't scare me much, 'cuz I think our guys can handle them - but we haven't really played a good zoning team since 'cuse.  A few coaches have thrown it at us (ala Louisville), but it really wasn't their forte. 

So, I'm confident we'll have a better game than we did at their place, but I can't count it as an easy win. The Bradley Center atmosphere should be excellent, but then again, the last time it was excellent we lost to Wisconsin 

[spiral97]

I'll agree with Rocky's thoughts.. I have additional points I am still trying to gauge as far as how much of an impact they'll have for us:
1.) The fact that mcneal wasn't 100% in the last game and should be this time around
2.) The fact that fitz is hot from 3-land - a semi-effective zone-killing strategy
3.) DJ refinding his groove
4.) Being at home on DW3's day and the atmosphere
5.) Matthews contributions becoming more noticeable - being more able to take over a game

All this could make for a VERY different game.. still thinking it through though. hrmm....

[rocky_warrior]

1.) The fact that mcneal wasn't 100% in the last game and should be this time around

Matthews wasn't 100%, but played.  McNeal didn't even make the trip to PC.

[tower912]

Revenge will be taken, it will be sweet, and, if the meteorologists are correct, it will be taken cold.

[Djgoldnboy]

Not worried, this SHOULD be a win for us, but stranger things have happened.  That's why they play the games.

[MU gimp ONE]

there is always a little worry in my mind during a big east game since no team can be over looked.  however, i feel good about the game.  we are a completely different team, chemistry wise, since the last time we played them.  having mcneal back is huge and having the team shoot better as a whole will make a difference in the zone game.

i am looking for big games out of our bigs to help with this victory.  if ooze does his usual big east 13 and 10, along with some solid D from burke, lott, and some breather minutes from kinsella (yes i said kinsella) we should fair better than game 1.

[4everwarriors]

and the bag's in the river on this one. Warriors kick major heine, win by 12 and send Herbert and the Friars back to Providence looking for what's been stuffed in their cannoli.

[MUMac]

And he tickles the twine for the very first time.  Ah, Rod Luck specials.

[SGWarrior]

I will be walking into the BC tomorrow more confident than I have ever been entering a Big East game.  I hope I'm not putting the jinx on here but.....  Our guys are extremely competitive and they will show up to play all 40 minutes.  Its all about revenge this week.  There's also the fact the DWade will be in the house.  Earlier in the season MU squeked out an unimpressive win with DWade in attendence which I think will also add fuel to the fire.  These guys want to perform at their top level with a top 5 NBA player and former MU players in the house.  Then you have to figure that we are relatively healthy and a completely different team now than we were on the road in the conference opener.  IMO we win by 20 or close to 20.

[Gomarq1]

Win by 20??  Wow, considering we were completely handled at their place that is a pretty aggressive view. Please pass whatever you're smokin!!

Hope you are right, but based on our history of struggling against teams with solid bigs (they have 2 of the BEAST's best), and against good zoning teams, I see this a a very close game - with MU pulling it out!