Upset Alert

[DavantesInferno]

On Sportscenter, one of the anchors had us on as an "Upset Alert".  They said that Isaiah Thomas will be too difficult for us to handle.  The other anchor chose the Clemson game as the upset.  Not too sure what to think of it but I think our guards should be able to handle theirs. 

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

What's with that anchor? Clemson game as the upset? The 7-10?

Jeez. Wanna pick any 8-9 games while you're at it, as long as you're being bold?

[HoopsMalone]

Would Isaiah Thomas even be one of the top 10 guards we have played this year?  He is good, but we have seen this before.  Villanova has probably 4 guards ahead of him (Reynolds, Fisher, Stokes, their freshman) so we are pretty well tested.

[prestonluv]

Would Isaiah Thomas even be one of the top 10 guards we have played this year?  He is good, but we have seen this before.  Villanova has probably 4 guards ahead of him (Reynolds, Fisher, Stokes, their freshman) so we are pretty well tested.

The reason he causes so many problems is because he is left handed.  He may or may not be better players than all those listed...but, how many quick lefties have you played against this year?

1..maybe 2....anyway you get my point....practice wise its impossible to prepare for a quick ultra talented left handed guard like Thomas...its why he was so successful his freshman year....this year, his sophmore year he kind of flattened out because many teams got used to him...but, for Marquette, it will be new and this is why he can be so frustrating to new opposition.

[wyoMUfan]

those idiots can blow me. obviously its a trendy upset pick.
Don't let it get in the head, we've seen MU play all season and we know what we are capable of.
This game has intrigue, but to be honest look at the seeding and you know it is over before it started.

[boyonthedock]

well, DJO is a lfty, so it wont be too touhg to practice against

[rocky_warrior]

well, DJO is a lfty, so it wont be too touhg to practice against

Exactly my thinking....I'm guessing somebody on the team has been the best at guarding DJO in practice this year, and that guy will get the IT assignment.

[prestonluv]

well, DJO is a lfty, so it wont be too touhg to practice against

thats helpful(practicing against a lefty), but, i think you will understand better when you see him play..on how he can penetrate at will and is a master at drawing fouls.

I think the peeps over on the Washington board are complaining that they get little recognition by the press and many of you peeps say look  at the seed, those people are wrong who pick against us....fact is, i am sure all the other 5 vs 12, 6 vs 11, 7 vs 10 and 8 vs 9 teams are saying the same thing on their boards.

have fun, relax...it should be a fun game to watch and remember...both teams have exceeded fans expecations already...Marquette was not even a NCAA tourney team at the beginning of the year in most people's eyes...and 1 month ago Washington was left for dead...so this all is icing on the cake imo....enjoy.

[Warrior]

Just wait until you see DJO play!

[77ncaachamps]

Early charges on the UW squad will have them thinking twice about driving.

[downtown85]

We're all doomed!  I think Washington is much too tough for us as they are peaking at the right time.  Watching them cut through our undersized defense is going to be like watching a pre-game layup drill

Seriously, I expect a close game because they are talented.  I think it is very likely to be a "one possession game."   I am not sure how many close games Washington has had but MU has figured out how to close out games toward the end of the season.  Should be fun. 

[Skatastrophy]

thats helpful(practicing against a lefty), but, i think you will understand better when you see him play..on how he can penetrate at will and is a master at drawing fouls.

I think the peeps over on the Washington board are complaining that they get little recognition by the press and many of you peeps say look  at the seed, those people are wrong who pick against us....fact is, i am sure all the other 5 vs 12, 6 vs 11, 7 vs 10 and 8 vs 9 teams are saying the same thing on their boards.

have fun, relax...it should be a fun game to watch and remember...both teams have exceeded fans expecations already...Marquette was not even a NCAA tourney team at the beginning of the year in most people's eyes...and 1 month ago Washington was left for dead...so this all is icing on the cake imo....enjoy.

The beginning of this vid has a couple of DJO's drives (highlights from our game against L'ville earlier this month).  As a lefty he can also put in on the floor effectively with his right (that seems to make the defenders forget he's a lefty and he'll end up with an easy lay-in with his "off-hand").  The last clip in the highlight-reel is a DJO putback that had Buzz dancing down the sidelines.  And don't forget that this kid shoots about 47% from 3

http://www.youtube.com/v/h6unMJayqnc

[chapman]

They act like this midget is going to score 30 points.  He's good, but he's not an All-American.  And if we're talking about quick left-handed guards, DJO has way, way more NBA potential.  And you can't tell me Butler isn't just as good at drawing fouls.

[mugrad2006]

Butler:      FT's 183-239 .766
Thomas:   FT's 151-205    .737

So yeah, Jimmy's pretty good at getting to the line, and he makes more when he gets there.

[ceh]

Chap, I agree, everything I have read about these guys makes me wonder why they aren't the #1 seed.  It's been the same story all year for this Marquette team - Louisville, too big, talented and quick...Villanova, best guard play in the country, no way we can hang with that talent level.  Georgetown, too big, too talented (I guess it looked that way in NYC ...anyways, I think you get my point.  This team gets very little respect because it lacks talent of KNOWN quantity.

I can say that I have not watched one UW game, and only have knowledge from what I have read on UW boards like this and from scouting reports.  All indicators point to a close match-up, but really, this Marquette team has seen it ALL, the good, the bad and the ugly.  

If we hit a few shots and allow for our defense to create some points off turnovers, this one is in the bag.  This UW team has had some success in recent weeks, but they were not cutting their teeth on top talent.  Our defense is going to be a real eyeopener for them and this "punch in the face" early will set the tone.  Just my opinion.

[cheebs09]

Hubert Davis picked UW and Jay Bilas was the other analyst who picked Clemson. Granted he has Cornell in the elite 8 (he picked them as most likely seed 4 and above to get there but also on the Bracketology show had them going). I'm not too worried about the upset talk because last year we were the big upset pick to pick against Utah State and I believe 2 years ago Kentucky was a pretty popular upset pick against us too. By the sounds of it if we play at our pace, hit our 3's, and stay out of foul trouble we will win. Which pretty much sounds like the recipe for any game we play.

[GoldenWarrior]

both teams have exceeded fans expecations already

Washington utterly under performed and failed to meet fan expectations on the year so far if you consider they were a top 25 team at the beginning of the season... but once they started off so horribly bad their fans expectations had to be adjusted and now just making the NCAA tourney has exceeded those lowered expectations... so it's kind of a weird situation.

In the end though I agree... just enjoy this game, will probably be one of the most purely entertaining 1st round games

[GGGG]

Chap, I agree, everything I have read about these guys makes me wonder why they aren't the #1 seed.  It's been the same story all year for this Marquette team - Louisville, too big, talented and quick...Villanova, best guard play in the country, no way we can hang with that talent level.  Georgetown, too big, too talented (I guess it looked that way in NYC ...anyways, I think you get my point.  This team gets very little respect because it lacks talent of KNOWN quantity.

I can say that I have not watched one UW game, and only have knowledge from what I have read on UW boards like this and from scouting reports.  All indicators point to a close match-up, but really, this Marquette team has seen it ALL, the good, the bad and the ugly.  

If we hit a few shots and allow for our defense to create some points off turnovers, this one is in the bag.  This UW team has had some success in recent weeks, but they were not cutting their teeth on top talent.  Our defense is going to be a real eyeopener for them and this "punch in the face" early will set the tone.  Just my opinion.

I really cannot understand why someone, and it's not just you, readily admits that they haven't seen them play, and then acts all indignant when people predict against them.  Marquette *has* seen it all...won some games they should have lost and lost some they should have won.  They can be ridiculously inconsistent, not only between games, but in the same half of games.

This means that while they can beat anyone, they can most certainly lose to anyone too.  I would not be surprised if we lose tomorrow...nor will I be surprised if they make the Sweet 16.

[ceh]

TSSW - I'm not sour about any of the picks.  However, a great deal of the opinion, press and reports from the UW side have all pointed to the superior attributes of their team over ours.  Sounds familiar right?

I'm guessing that you don't like my "in the bag" comment, but really, if this Marquette shoots well and plays solid defense, you would pick against us?

[lifeguardhdb]

This is the game I never wanted to see. I am both a UW fan and a MU fan, with the edge going to MU. I have watched a lot of the UW games this year and have season tickets for MU. There are many similarities between the two teams.
For those you haven't seen much of UW this year, they are a quick team. They struggled early on in conference play but have been on a hot streak. Like MU they are a scrappy team that create turnovers. They push the ball up the floor quick and look to get a shot within the first 10 to 15 seconds. One name that has been overlooked that you will learn quick is Venoy Overton. He plays very tight defense and shoots the ball decent. Thomas is very similiar to Dominic James. He is quick, loves to drive, and will shoot the three. Pondexter is the Hayward of UW. He is strong inside can hit the three. They don't have a real strong big man, as in the case of other Big East teams; however, they do have players such as Bryan-Amaning that can rebound well.
Overall, this is a good matchup for both teams. UW has a very deep bench, with 11 players getting minutes. In regards to coaching, Romar is a great coach that can draw up quick plays.
I give the advantage to MU in the game. Playing in the Big East has been much more valuable to them getting experience over UW playing in the Pac 10.
Get ready for a fast paced game.

GO WARRIORS!

[ErickJD08]

OK, so anyone can lose.  ANYONE.  But honestly, how much better is Villanova from Marquette?  I don't see much but Villanova gets a ton of props.  And no one would pick UW to beat Villanova.  I agree with one of the posters.  If we come out and play bad, we could lose.  But if we play our game, we are fine.  How many games have we lost this season that we were "suppose" to win?  Two... and they were both on last second shots.  I think based on how both teams have played all season, we are "suppose" to win this game, and I think its unlikely that we come unprepared or asleep.  MU will cover.

[GGGG]

TSSW - I'm not sour about any of the picks.  However, a great deal of the opinion, press and reports from the UW side have all pointed to the superior attributes of their team over ours.  Sounds familiar right?

I'm guessing that you don't like my "in the bag" comment, but really, if this Marquette shoots well and plays solid defense, you would pick against us?

I wouldn't pick against any team that "shoots well and plays solid defense."  The problem is that MU has trouble consistently doing both over the course of a game....Louisville the obvious exception.

[ceh]

I hear ya Sultan, and I think the ND loss looms too close for there to be a great measure of confidence in thes team especially among the most loyal supporters. 

[Big Papi]

We have played really good teams and we have played not so good teams but most of our games are always close.  So, I will go out on a limb and say that this game will also be close at the end.  Its just the nature of the beast this year.  

IThomas might be ultra quick and a lefty but he is not a top 5 NBA star.  He does have weaknesses and I know that Buzz will be able to make adjustments and exploit those weaknesses.  So if IT is getting in the lane, we will make the adjustments and stop that from happening.  If IT is nailing 3 pointers a clip he never has before, Buzz will make the adjustments and stop that.  If IT is gambling too much on the defensive end, he will be exploited.  If IT is having troubles with screens, he will get mismatched with Butler or Hayward down low.  Lefty or not, I will safely say that we have played against way more players who are as talented or more talented than IT.  Doesn't mean we are going to win or lose but I don't think he is going to scare anyone on our team and we do play as a team which is probably our biggest strength.  The question will be as it always is, can we out work UW, can we hit our shots and can we limit our turnovers?  If we can, we have a good chance of winning.  

[JWags85]

I just don't understand how a quick lefty is "impossible" to practice for.  And then people figured him out after a year, but Marquette won't be able to, despite having all the tape?

UW fans have been cordial and pretty informative.  But I am kind of puzzled by their hubris when it comes to their team.  Im not sure how Marquette can win against Thomas (who is better than the original Isiah it seems), Overton (basically Ron Artest), and their other cast of characters.  "QPon", their star, seems to get the least billing in their boasts. 

Either way, Im beyond excited and ready for the game to speak for itself, not the chatter of fans.