Early CBE Loss to Duke = Forgone Conclusion

[MUCam]

Apparently Yahoo's Jason King thinks so....

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news;_ylt=ApzLhGaUt7Pv66cs0fFr9ovevbYF?slug=jn-tourneys081010

...some hype for Vander Blue too.

[NavinRJohnson]

Though I am one who thinks MU is going to be quite a bit better than most people think (I think they will be a cinch for the NCAA tournament), I don't have much problem with what was written there. As he points out, Duke and KSU, look to be two of the best teams in the country this year.

[4everwarriors]

Why even bother playing?

[MUCam]

Though I am one who thinks MU is going to be quite a bit better than most people think (I think they will be a cinch for the NCAA tournament), I don't have much problem with what was written there. As he points out, Duke and KSU, look to be two of the best teams in the country this year.

Nor do I. Lots of new faces. Lots of talent. Can it parlay into big wins? Who knows. But, as with the triplets Big East inagrual season, I am quietly excited about the potential. I really think we can surprise people, as is our m.o.

[Benny B]

Though I am one who thinks MU is going to be quite a bit better than most people think (I think they will be a cinch for the NCAA tournament), I don't have much problem with what was written there. As he points out, Duke and KSU, look to be two of the best teams in the country this year.

It's deja vu all over again.



I can get used to this.

[RubyWiscy]

We all know about Irving and Curry. Flying under the radar, though, is Marquette freshman Vander Blue, a point guard who could keep the Golden Eagles in the NCAA tournament picture despite the loss of Lazar Hayward.

Not sure if Blue will play the point. At least not most of the minutes. Junior will likely be the first option there.

[HoopsMalone]

Duke will be a tough, tough game.  MU will have to beat a talented team with a lot of experience and to most fans I am sure it will appear we have to beat the officials as well once the game starts. 

But I don't fear Duke.  Last year's win was as much a product of other teams getting upset as it was them. 

Beating Duke would be an upset, but not impossible.  We matchup well.  We may have the quickness edge on Duke though it is a close one, and Duke does not have a big post player who would punish us inside.  Our best player matches up with their best player and we both have a lot of young talent.  This is a good matchup and good game for basketball fans to watch early in the year.

[kmwtrucks]

I look at it Differently, We returned 1 of our top 4 player's last year, and were a pretty solid team.  This year we return 2 of our Top 3.  The reason we get very little national Pub is both of these guys were 1 year Juco's and nobody pays attention to them. The only National guys that know about them are True students of the game like Bilas.  The same thing for Crowder.  Plus most of these guys forget they were raving about Jr last year and now he is not getting any press at all.  Those 4 plus Dwight is my guess to start.  I would love to have one more Big, but considering we went 5-7, 6-0,6-2,6-6, 6-7 last year.  I will take 6-1, 6-2,6-3,6-6,6-7, Figuring the 1st 3 guys off the bench will be 6-4 VB, 6-6 JF, 6-10 CO.

[GGGG]

Duke will be a tough, tough game.  MU will have to beat a talented team with a lot of experience and to most fans I am sure it will appear we have to beat the officials as well once the game starts. 

But I don't fear Duke.  Last year's win was as much a product of other teams getting upset as it was them. 

Beating Duke would be an upset, but not impossible.  We matchup well.  We may have the quickness edge on Duke though it is a close one, and Duke does not have a big post player who would punish us inside.  Our best player matches up with their best player and we both have a lot of young talent.  This is a good matchup and good game for basketball fans to watch early in the year.

Actually I don't think we match up well at all.  Duke tends to destroy teams with inexperienced backcourts. 

[Steve Buscemi]

The reason we get very little national Pub is both of these guys were 1 year Juco's and nobody pays attention to them. The only National guys that know about them are True students of the game like Bilas.  The same thing for Crowder.

I agree.  He mentions Vander Blue in the article as 'flying under the radar,'  but Crowder is flying so low, he isn't even mentioned as 'flying under the radar.'  I still think, at first, he will be a much bigger asset to this team than Blue, considering Blue will be sharing time with J.C.

[OhioGoldenEagle]

I completely forgot that Curry was there now.  Yikes they have a good team!  No doubt Duke should win this game as they will be #1 in the nation, but I agree with many above that again MU is flying under the radar a bit and could surprise Duke.  Duke has a number of newcomers that will get heavy minutes, just as MU.  That being said, November is a time when good teams are most vulnerable as the team is still trying to find its groove.  I don't think it's going to be as lopsided of a game as most of the media thinks.

[willie warrior]

Duke gets all the pub and bennies. They will go down--bank it!

[GGGG]

Duke gets all the pub and bennies. They will go down--bank it!

Seriously, outside of completely blind loyalty, I am baffled how you can even say that.  Can MU win?  Of course.

However, Duke is the defending national champion, likely #1 ranked team in the country, probably stronger this year given their freshman class...and we should "bank" an MU win???

[RJax55]

Seriously, outside of completely blind loyalty, I am baffled how you can even say that.  Can MU win?  Of course.

Come on, Sultan... MU should win every game!

And if MU loses to Duke, I wager the first guy b1tching and moaning about it will be willie.

[Shaka Shart]

If we don't blow them out by at least 50, it is the ref and Tom Crean's fault.

[MUCam]

If we don't blow them out by at least 50, it is the ref and Tom Crean's fault.

...and Trevor Mbakwe's fault.

[HoopsMalone]

Actually I don't think we match up well at all.  Duke tends to destroy teams with inexperienced backcourts. 

That's a good point.  Hopefully Junior will show some maturity and DJO steps up as a player early on.

[willie warrior]

Seriously, outside of completely blind loyalty, I am baffled how you can even say that.  Can MU win?  Of course.

However, Duke is the defending national champion, likely #1 ranked team in the country, probably stronger this year given their freshman class...and we should "bank" an MU win???

Then don't bank it. I happen to believe that Duke will go down.

[Lennys Tap]

Seriously, outside of completely blind loyalty, I am baffled how you can even say that.  Can MU win?  Of course.

However, Duke is the defending national champion, likely #1 ranked team in the country, probably stronger this year given their freshman class...and we should "bank" an MU win???

Simple really. Set expectations unrealistically high and there's much more room to criticize after the fact. And should we pull an upset he gets a big "I told you so". It's a win/win that's a favorite tactic with some of our posters.

[77ncaachamps]

Actually I don't think we match up well at all.  Duke tends to destroy teams with inexperienced backcourts.  

Frontcourts as well.

Thank God, no Zoubek or Scheyer! I'd hate for those punks to beat us!

BTW,  I just spied their roster and other than Singler and Smith (and possibly the Plumlees), I didn't notice any other standouts.

They look inexperienced in some positions but make up for it with talent.

15       Josh Hairston      F      6-7      210      Fr.      Fredericksburg, Va.  (Montrose Christian)
1      Kyrie Irving    G    6-2    180    Fr.    Elizabeth, N.J.  (St. Patrick's)
3      Tyler Thornton    G    6-1    185    Fr.    Washington, D.C.  (Gonzaga)
30      Seth Curry    G    6-2    180    So.    Charlotte, N.C.  (Charlotte Christian)
20      Andre Dawkins    G    6-4    205    So.    Chesapeake, Va.  (Atlantic Shores Christian)
34      Ryan Kelly    F    6-11    235    So.    Raleigh, N.C.  (Ravenscroft)
5      Mason Plumlee    F    6-10    240    So.    Warsaw, Ind.  (Christ School [N.C.])
52      Todd Zafirovski    F    6-9    235    So.    Lake Forest, Ill.  (Lake Forest Academy)
21      Miles Plumlee    F    6-10    245    Jr.    Warsaw, Ind.  (Christ School [N.C.])
53      Casey Peters    G    6-4    200    Sr.    Red Bank, N.J.  (Red Bank Regional)
12      Kyle Singler    F    6-8    230    Sr.    Medford, Ore.  (South Medford)
2      Nolan Smith    G    6-2    185    Sr.    Upper Marlboro, Md.  (Oak Hill Academy [Va.])

This is a big game for us.

The impact on potential recruits will be TREMENDOUS!

[Jacks DC]

I guess it's a credit to Duke's program that they can have a couple of 6-10+ McDonald's AAs in Plumlee and Ryan Kelly (plus the other Plumlee) and opposing team's fans will say they don't have much of a post presence and no real standouts.  Duke is unbelievably loaded this year with the additions of Curry and Irving and will give us fits.

Having said that, anything can happen on a neutral court in November and we have played Duke well in the past.  If we lose, there's no shame we still get an RPI boost that will help in March.  If we win, its a huge statement and confidence builder.

[MUfan12]

BTW,  I just spied their roster and other than Singler and Smith (and possibly the Plumlees), I didn't notice any other standouts.

They look inexperienced in some positions but make up for it with talent.

15       Josh Hairston      F      6-7      210      Fr.      Fredericksburg, Va.  (Montrose Christian)
1      Kyrie Irving    G    6-2    180    Fr.    Elizabeth, N.J.  (St. Patrick's)
3      Tyler Thornton    G    6-1    185    Fr.    Washington, D.C.  (Gonzaga)
30      Seth Curry    G    6-2    180    So.    Charlotte, N.C.  (Charlotte Christian)
20      Andre Dawkins    G    6-4    205    So.    Chesapeake, Va.  (Atlantic Shores Christian)
34      Ryan Kelly    F    6-11    235    So.    Raleigh, N.C.  (Ravenscroft)
5      Mason Plumlee    F    6-10    240    So.    Warsaw, Ind.  (Christ School [N.C.])
52      Todd Zafirovski    F    6-9    235    So.    Lake Forest, Ill.  (Lake Forest Academy)
21      Miles Plumlee    F    6-10    245    Jr.    Warsaw, Ind.  (Christ School [N.C.])
53      Casey Peters    G    6-4    200    Sr.    Red Bank, N.J.  (Red Bank Regional)
12      Kyle Singler    F    6-8    230    Sr.    Medford, Ore.  (South Medford)
2      Nolan Smith    G    6-2    185    Sr.    Upper Marlboro, Md.  (Oak Hill Academy [Va.])

Let me help. Their guard play will eat us up.

Ah well, I'm still going to KC anyway. Win or lose, I eat BBQ.

[kmwtrucks]

I think what people are saying is If we were going to be playing a Preseason #1 This Duke team scares us less than. Kansas last year with Aldrich, Collins, Taylor, the Morris Twins, and X Henry. Or NC team in 08, or the Florida team in 06. 

[Brewtown Andy]

I think Foregone Conclusion is a little strong.  The guy's writing a column about the non-con tourneys and as part of it, projected a title game for each one.  It's not like he's burying MU deep beneath the earth, but let's be honest, the game is against the presumed preseason #1 and defending national champion.  It's the right projected pick.

[bilsu]

Why even bother playing?
[/quote
Because it is a learning expereince for the players.