No gloom and doom here...GU played great

[jutaw22mu]

I've had time to sit down and reflect on what ended up being a somewhat disappointing outcome for MU today.  I think Georgetown played great, they were firing on all cylinders and everytime we managed to get close to them, someone would step up and a hit a big shot.  Hibbert would build the lead for them, we would close in, and then Green or Sapp or Wallace, et al. would end our threats with big baskets.  Honestly, how many of you going into the game thought we would win this?  I certainly had this one pegged as a loss, mostly because of the way Gtown has been playing lately, in addition to the fact that they were celebrating 100 years of basketball today.  Those guys didn't want to lose on such an important day for their school and their program...they all came out more hungry than MU did.  We also had an 8 game winning streak coming into the game today.  8 games!  When was the last time we experienced an 8 game conference winning streak?  Not since the days of DWade and that was Conference USA, mind you.

This game was much closer than the final score indicated.  Towards the end of the game DJ was trying to close the deficit, but his shots weren't falling.  McNeal had fouled out and the only one on the court that could really create anything was DJ.  I am not upset that he was the one taking shots at the end...he is our star, sometimes those shots will go in and he will be a hero, other times they will miss.  I would give DJ the ball everytime at the end of the game.  Even though the basket has gotten smaller for DJ these past few games, and certainly today, like every star, he will break out of his slump.  How many of you remember the DePaul game DWades last year when he couldnt buy a basket...even got a steal at the end of the game, went in to dunk and completely missed.  That game was close but MU won because his supporting cast stepped up...and it was also DePaul.  We lost today because we were playing a much better opponent than DePaul, and the only guys who really stepped up were McNeal (when he wasnt being called for questionable fouls), Ooze, and Lazar.  

McNeal may be the heart and soul of this team, but without DJ we can hardly expect to beat Pitt on March 3rd.  That being said, DJ still can choose to go to the NBA after this year, but he would be much better suited staying at Marquette.  DWade stayed for 3 years and I would expect at least 3 out of DJ as well...there are areas of his game that will improve with another year of college ball under his belt.  Anyway, please don't get down on DJ, he needs your support not your criticisms (that is what Crean is for).  

Lets just continue to enjoy the ride this season.  We still are in the running to win the Big East...anything can happen.  And even if for some reason GU goes undefeated the rest of the season (meaning pitt will have to lose vs. GU) and March 3rd comes around and we dont have a shot of winning the regular season title, we still get to play spoilers to one of the other teams....hopefully for us we spoil Pitts season.  Plus personally, I'd rather have a fellow Catholic school win the Big East regular season than Pitt.

[mu_hilltopper]

Very nice analysis, jutaw .. I agree.  Few here had this game as a W at the beginning of the year .. plus, up until the 7 minute mark, we were tied on the road with 3 starters playing poorly/few minutes/unhealthy .. the 17 points don't look good, but it wasn't like we got crushed the whole game.  Play that 10 times, I think we win 5 of them.  I don't feel that bad.

[jutaw22mu]

By the way, I think this quote is interesting in light of today's game.  I hope DJ continues to want the ball in his hands at the end of the games...he is a true competitor, and I feel really bad for DePaul.  Really bad.  Even the great ones lose games for their team, but they manage to show up to the games that follow.  (Just to be clear, I do not think DJ lost the game for us...)


"I have missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game's winning shot...and missed. And I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why...I succeed." -Michael Jordan