3-1 in last four... to whom does MU lose?

[Benny B]

Assuming for a moment that Marquette does not win out and loses one game.  Which loss would be least damaging?

You definitely want to avoid a home loss.  Even losing to the best remaining team (UL) would be a loss at home, and that is a psychological and resume killer.  You absolutely cannot (and should not) lose to ND on the last day of the season. 

You could make the argument that if you're going to lose one, lose now to a St John's team that is a 50-100 RPI team and end with a three game win streak.  But Seton Hall is a decent, middle-of-the-pack team... a loss to them wouldn't sting that much less than St. John's, but it would be a tremendous lost opportunity to get another decent (not "good") win in the last four.

In a 3-1 scenario, I think a loss to St. John's is least damaging.

[Clam Crowder]

St. John's is a scary team to me after the USF win

[HoopsMalone]

Louisville has always had our number.  Jerry Smith might come back to Milwaukee at the end of his senior season and have a game.  That is our most likely loss.

[MUBurrow]

I agree with the Louisville prediction as most likely.  I know we have mentioned big men that could kill us all year, but Samardo Samuels is really coming on, and he hits his free throws.

[MHMUFAN]

I'm guessing if we go 3-1....it doesn't really matter who we would lose to. I'm guessing 11-7 in the BE....20 wins heading into the BE tourney would pretty much be a lock. Any .500 team in the BE will get serious consideration.....4 games over and 20 wins seem like a lock.

[dwaderoy2004]

I agree that as long as we get 3 wins, it doesn't really matter who we lose to.  I think our most likely loss is @ seton hall.

[Doris Burkes Thong]

IMO, it will be either Seton Hall or SJU that we lose too. Something tells me it will be SJU because we play them in that little bandbox on their campus and I think that's a huge advantage for them.

[radome]

If we have to lose one please win the next 3 so that 1 won't be so important.  I am most worried about Seton Hall.  I know that we have had their number but it is on the road and they are a good team.  Louisville is a close 2nd though.

[warthog-driver]

Is it just me or does anyone else wonder how many years Smith and Sosa have been at Louisville? Seems like they've been there for a decade.

[TallTitan34]

Louisville.  I actually think we will find a way to "contain" Samuels, however, Louisville has had our number recently.

[muballer10]

Home vs. Away certainly has a bearing on RPI and what not, but I still think losing to the "best" team would do us the least damage, and that would be Lousiville. Thank god this is a home game. If you look at what that goof from Pitt did to us inside, Samuels has to be licking his chops. That fella is a straight up MAN.

[GoldenWarrior]

I would say Louisville is our most likely loss.

The most damaging loss would be between St. John's or Notre Dame at home.  Losing to Notre Dame at home would be really pathetic for a tournament contending team in my opinion and could leave a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths about Marquette when it comes to that final decision of in or out.  Either way though, I think if we go 3-1 these last 4 we are essentially in, especially with a Big East tournament win, but even without that I think we'd still be in as long as we didn't get blown out in that tournament game (which shouldn't happen given this year).

[DCWarriors04]

Louisville

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

Louisville. They have had our number, especially at the BC (4-1 since 2003).

Reece unnatural carnal knowledgeing Gaines
Francisco unnatural carnal knowledgeing Garcia
Jerry unnatural carnal knowledgeing Smith

[PGsHeroes32]

I think Seton Hall would be most likely especially since we are on the road. But lets not over look the St Johns game first. We NEED to win that one.

[Golden Avalanche]

With the way this season has gone, MU will sweep the Johnnies and Hall and then come home looking tired and lose to Louisville before beating ND.

It doesn't make sense. So it will happen.

[Daniel]

I just want to recycle the sign at the BC from a few years ago: "We gave up losing for Lent"

[war1980rior]

I'm willing to bet that as of today, the team is practicing to go 1-0 over the next game.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Notre Dame at home.  RPI killer, they're another bubble team, home loss, etc.  That's the most damaging.

[nyg]

St. Johns or Seton Hall.  Road games in BE are tough. 

[Ahoya06]

Louisville. They have had our number, especially at the BC (4-1 since 2003).

Reece fracking Gaines
Francisco fracking Garcia
Jerry fracking Smith

Those buzzer beaters all came on odd-numbered years (03, 05, 07). Man, was I happy to see no home game with them last year.

[jtsanto]

I am going to be positive for the first time this year and say we will win all four!!!! If we lose I think it is to the Hall. They are the final game of the road trip and we have Louisville right after them....

[Ari Gold]

Seton hall. 3rd away game in 8 days.
No stronger argument... just a feeling.
I'm more confident about UL and ND because they are at home.

[DavantesInferno]

Seton hall. 3rd away game in 8 days.
No stronger argument... just a feeling.
I'm more confident about UL and ND because they are at home.

I'm not so sure about losing to Seton Hall due to it being the 3rd road game in 8 days because the team will be back on campus between the St. John's and Seton Hall games.  I bet that they fly back tomorrow (Wednesday) night after the game and are back on their normal schedules until they leave Saturday afternoon.  I think if anything that would mess them up it would be coming back from the Seton Hall game on Sunday and then having a 1.5 day turn around to play Louisville.  As Buzz has said many times before, the team prepares one game at a time and for them to digest all of the Louisville scouting report in such a short time frame (made shorter by the fact that they have classes as well on Monday and Tuesday) could hurt them more than just being on the road.  I would say Louisville is going to be the toughest.  However I feel what would hurt most would be a loss to Notre Dame since they are the weakest and we play that one a home.

[Steve Buscemi]

Good Point, B