Exceeding Expectations?

[StillAWarrior]

Overall, I think this team is exceeding my expectations -- slightly.

Like a lot of people, I figured that we'd be 0-4 or, maybe, 1-3 after the first four Big East games.  But, I figured we'd have at least one (WVU in a revenge game) and probably two ('Nova on the road) butt-kickings in there.  So, they exceeded my expectations by playing very competitively in four straight games against good competition.  I'm cautiously optimistic for the rest of the season.  I just hope that they don't lose many games that they clearly should win.

[Benny B]

Non-conference, they lost one more game (NC State) than I pegged them for (I predicted 2-1 in the OSC, but going W-L-W, not W-W-L).  Conference, I figured they had to pull off one of the first four (they nearly pulled off all four).

Of course, this prediction was made when Otule was healthy and JMay was still on the team.  Given that, they've far exceeded my expectations.

[mug644]

Their level of play, especially with the losses of Otule and Cadougan and the transfer of Maymon, has exceeded my expectations, but their record has not. The remain a young team that needs nearly everything to go right in order to make the tournament. It might happen, but it might not. Still, gotta be generally happy with the season, even during the frustrating games.

[StillAWarrior]

Of course, this prediction was made when Otule was healthy and JMay was still on the team.  Given that, they've far exceeded my expectations.

A very good point.

[NotAnAlum]

I think we are good at playing the under/spoiler role.  When our guys are totally focused we're better than teams expect us to be.  My fear is that when we think we can get by with a little less than max effort we're thin enough to get beat by any BE team. (see NCSt which would be lower tier BE)  I see us losing a couple games to teams that we really feel we should beat based on the way we've played so far.  That will put us at 9-9 which is good for a rebuilding year and given injuries I would be satisfied.

[damuts222]

 Great topic, I have felt this way as well. People can critique the team and Buzz all they want but given the injuries, transfer, and a lack of depth I am happy with the way we have competed.

Yes I understand their are no moral victories, but its better to lose by 2 points to Nova than by 20 points.

[StillAWarrior]

Yes I understand their are no moral victories, but its better to lose by 2 points to Nova than by 20 points.

My feeling all along has been that it's very unlikely that MU will make it to the NCAA tournament this year.  I hope I'm wrong, but I think our bench is to thin, we're too small and we're too inexperienced.  I think it's encouranging that they are playing very competitive basketball against some good teams, but I'm still thinking we're NIT bound.

That said, I do think that if we end up on the bubble, many people will remember that these three losses against very good teams were very, very close games.  Not moral victories, but it can't hurt come selection Saturday to have a reputation as a team that comes to play, plays hard and is always in the game (e.g., three Big East losses by a combined total of five points).

[MUCrew]

My feeling all along has been that it's very unlikely that MU will make it to the NCAA tournament this year.  I hope I'm wrong, but I think our bench is to thin, we're too small and we're too inexperienced.  I think it's encouranging that they are playing very competitive basketball against some good teams, but I'm still thinking we're NIT bound.

That said, I do think that if we end up on the bubble, many people will remember that these three losses against very good teams were very, very close games.  Not moral victories, but it can't hurt come selection Saturday to have a reputation as a team that comes to play, plays hard and is always in the game (e.g., three Big East losses by a combined total of five points).

Totally agree here.  I am hoping for a bid to the Dance this year, but I'm not sure if we'll get there.  I also don't know how much weight these past 4 conference games will hold when it's all said and done, but I hope the committee looks at it and sees a competitive basketball program that will help put out a good product come March.  Considering that we just begun January, there's plenty of conference games left to build that resume.

[ErickJD08]

HELL YES exceeding expectations.  Coming into this season, I was gonna be happy with an NIT bid and now we are an average season and a couple more big wins away from the dance because we will be a bubble team. 

Coming into this season, I think we had the fewest returning minutes and points in the Big East.  I don't think anyone would EXPECT one win in our first four games and to think that we easily could be 4-0 (and 0-4) makes be feel great about MU's future. 

I pound my fist and pull my hair after all these close losses but when I wake up the next morning, I feel great about the program. 

[Niv Berkowitz]

While there may be no such thing as "moral victories" to some, there is - or should be - perspective.

That being said, this team has far exceeded my expectations that I had once Otule and JMay were gone for the year. They are scrappy, have tons of heart, and the guys who will be around next year (and years after that) have me very excited for the future. In college basketball, I can handle that as you have to go through a re-building year/two when top players all graduate/leave at the same time. Nature of the beast.

One thing I think losing Otule and Junior to injury has done is also given Buzz another "gimme" year to evaluate him fairly. Now, life's not fair and who knows if that happens cuz it always comes down to W/L for a lot of people. But realistically, Buzz still doesn't have a full squad of his players on the floor yet due to the injuries of the big men. Really optimistic over what we are doing in one/two seasons from now with balanced classes and a balanced roster...that is if we can escape the injury bug.

But...all things considered, I don't see how you can say this team is underperforming expectations as of now.

[mu-rara]

My feeling all along has been that it's very unlikely that MU will make it to the NCAA tournament this year.  I hope I'm wrong, but I think our bench is to thin, we're too small and we're too inexperienced.  I think it's encouranging that they are playing very competitive basketball against some good teams, but I'm still thinking we're NIT bound.

That said, I do think that if we end up on the bubble, many people will remember that these three losses against very good teams were very, very close games.  Not moral victories, but it can't hurt come selection Saturday to have a reputation as a team that comes to play, plays hard and is always in the game (e.g., three Big East losses by a combined total of five points).

Were you expecting an NCAA bid?   If you expected that going in, you were expecting too much.  Replacing the Big 3 was huge.  We had an inexperienced team (D1 experience).  I am very happy that we can even discuss an NCAA bid.

Maybe as a coach you tell the team that a bid is what you're playing for, but as a fan, I look at it realistically.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Overall, I think this team is exceeding my expectations -- slightly.

Like a lot of people, I figured that we'd be 0-4 or, maybe, 1-3 after the first four Big East games.  But, I figured we'd have at least one (WVU in a revenge game) and probably two ('Nova on the road) butt-kickings in there.  So, they exceeded my expectations by playing very competitively in four straight games against good competition.  I'm cautiously optimistic for the rest of the season.  I just hope that they don't lose many games that they clearly should win.

From a wins and losses perspective, they're right on expectations...+/- one game.   From an on court playing perspective, they have exceeded for the most part.  FSU and NCSU really stick in my craw, but the NOVA games and even at Wisconsin I thought we played very well.

[akmarq]

More than anything, I am excited about the culture that Buzz is building around this team. In a sort of roundabout way, having to deal with this sort of adversity in our rebuilding year might be a good thing. Buzz has shown that, even more than last year, he has created such a positive atmosphere around the program. These guys are out there dying for each other every game, and that attitude will carry over to next year through Jimmy, DJO (who I expect to take a leadership role next year) and others. You don't think Otule is going to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder next season after not having played significant time for two years?

Vander, Jamail, Reggie, etc excite me, but they excite me even more when I consider that they are coming to a team where the expectation is that you play your hardest at all times.

[NersEllenson]

More than anything, I am excited about the culture that Buzz is building around this team. In a sort of roundabout way, having to deal with this sort of adversity in our rebuilding year might be a good thing. Buzz has shown that, even more than last year, he has created such a positive atmosphere around the program. These guys are out there dying for each other every game, and that attitude will carry over to next year through Jimmy, DJO (who I expect to take a leadership role next year) and others. You don't think Otule is going to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder next season after not having played significant time for two years?

Vander, Jamail, Reggie, etc excite me, but they excite me even more when I consider that they are coming to a team where the expectation is that you play your hardest at all times.

+1:  In Buzz I Trust.  My personal belief is that Buzz Williams will be Tom Crean's biggest contribution to the MU program, as history unfolds.  Obviously D-Wade, Diener and the Final Four are great accomplishments in Tom Crean's career, but I believ Buzz Williams will be here for 10+ years and in that time take us to at least one Final Four, perhaps 2.  Why do I say that, just based on this body of work so far, and his character and approach.

[MUrugger]

I second that last thought.  We are better off with Buzz than we might have been long term with his predecessor yet we have his predecessor to thank for bringing Buzz here.

If we get 9 or more years from Buzz as we did from the guy before him I think that the 'body of work' comparison will be interesting.  As interestingly, the expectations for this year have been exceeded while at the same time the expectations for the Buzz "era" have been raised.

I also will take that comparison over the 'body of work' the other guy will put up at II, II. (doubt there will be a 9-year 'body of work' at IU). And for me, I will take the character of our current coach over his predecessor 100 times in 100 opportunities.

[TJ]

Were you expecting an NCAA bid?   If you expected that going in, you were expecting too much.  Replacing the Big 3 was huge.  We had an inexperienced team (D1 experience).  I am very happy that we can even discuss an NCAA bid.

Maybe as a coach you tell the team that a bid is what you're playing for, but as a fan, I look at it realistically.

Why shouldn't he have expected an NCAA bid?  Especially before losing Junior, Otule, & Timmay's son.  We had Lazar, Jimmy, and a top 10 recruiting class coming in.  I was expecting a successful season with the potential for an NCAA bid.  Why should we expect anything less?

[StillAWarrior]

Why shouldn't he have expected an NCAA bid?  Especially before losing Junior, Otule, & Timmay's son.  We had Lazar, Jimmy, and a top 10 recruiting class coming in.  I was expecting a successful season with the potential for an NCAA bid.  Why should we expect anything less?

Incidentally, I thought my post made it pretty clear that I didn't expect an NCAA bid: "My feeling all along has been that it's very unlikely that MU will make it to the NCAA tournament this year.  I hope I'm wrong, but I think our bench is to thin, we're too small and we're too inexperienced.  I think it's encouranging that they are playing very competitive basketball against some good teams, but I'm still thinking we're NIT bound."

[bilsu]

I am still worried about making the NIT. However, if we can soundly beat the teams we are expected to beat and continue to lose the tough games by slim margins, I see some hope to get an NCAA bid. I doubt their is any other 6 loss team in the country with as impressive of a record in their six losses. Purdue and Duke lost at UW and our other five losses are by a combined total of 10 points against some teams that will be in the NCAA tournament. The only real stinker in my opinion is losing to NC ST at home and that was by 1 to an ACC team.

[mug644]

I doubt their is any other 6 loss team in the country with as impressive of a record in their six losses.

While I don't disagree, I crack up at the idea of this statistic. Think about it, we are a lot closer to 6-0 in those games than our 0-6 record shows. 

What could we call it to attract the Selection Committee's attention and increase our chances of getting in the tournament?

[ErickJD08]

I really laugh when people say that we should have expected a solid basketball season.  (Someone correct me if I am wrong) Marquette had the fewest returning points and minutes.  If you thought going into this season that we were tourney bound, that means you think we were one of the top 6/7 teams in the Big East.... I can name 5 teams that consistantly recruit better than MU year after year AND other teams with a better returning cast.  I just think this season proves that Buzz can make the most of what he has got and I really can't wait to see what he does when he gets more weapons.

[damuts222]

Why shouldn't he have expected an NCAA bid?  Especially before losing Junior, Otule, & Timmay's son.  We had Lazar, Jimmy, and a top 10 recruiting class coming in.

  Jimmy was a good role player last year but he has improved a lot over the course of the off-season. Plus, did you really think that DJO and Buycks would step right in and give us quality minutes from the start?? I always expect growth throughout a season with 1st year Division 1 players, I didn't expect us to get a NCAA bid.

  Looking at the Big East schedule alone you could have said, we will lose 5 of them, toss-up for 3 or 4 other games, and then we should win the majority of the rest.

[bilsu]

While I don't disagree, I crack up at the idea of this statistic. Think about it, we are a lot closer to 6-0 in those games than our 0-6 record shows. 

What could we call it to attract the Selection Committee's attention and increase our chances of getting in the tournament?

It comes into play, if we are one of the bubble teams the NCAA is considering. Than they look at every team on the bubble with a microscope. Every team on the bubble has major blemishes. The key is to win enough games to get on the bubble. Then these close losses to good teams look good compared to another team on the bubble that has been blown out by some lower rated teams.

[MUrugger]

One had to be high to be expecting an NCAA bid this year before the season started.

I would assume that Big East coaches have some smarts about them and that they are pretty plugged into the college bball scene in terms of returning players, recruits and the relative strength of their own conference.

They picked Marquette 12th of 16 in the conference, sight unseen.  While many might amend their ranking half way through, the expectation was that MU would be 12th, with no shot for an NCAA bid.

I'd say that Buzz and the team have exceeded those expectations.  Unless some of us are smarter than the conference coaches, B and the team should have exceeded ours.  (Some, I know, view themselves as smarter than the coaches.)

[rocky_warrior]

They picked Marquette 12th of 16 in the conference, sight unseen.  While many might amend their ranking half way through, the expectation was that MU would be 12th, with no shot for an NCAA bid.

I'd say that Buzz and the team have exceeded those expectations.

Well, we are 12th in the conference as of today.  The 4 teams below us have only played 3 games.  Yes, we've play 4 exceptionally tough games, but I think it's a little early to say we've exceeded any expectations.

[TJ]

I know this argument gets beaten down around here every time it comes up, but we made the tournament in 2005 under similar circumstances.  We had Novak, Barro, and Fitz coming back, some role players and a solid recruiting class going into that season.  I'd say Hayward and Butler vs Novak/Barro/Fitz is a toss up, but maybe others feel differently.

I don't know why we wouldn't expect guys that Buzz recruited to be Big East players to come in and play at a high level.

So maybe expecting an NCAA bid is too strongly worded, but why should it have been out of the question?  We just did it with a senior leader and a solid group of newcomers 4 years earlier.