To Put The Losses In Perspective

[TallTitan34]

Below are all of our non-conference losses over the last 5 years.  Despite some of these bad losses, all of these teams made the NCAA Tournament.  If we split the games with Vanderbilt and Wisconsin we will have a better OOC resume than last year.

2010 OOC Losses: #1 Duke, #18 Gonzaga
2009 OOC Losses: Florida State, NC State, #20 Wisconsin
2008 OOC Losses: Dayton, #16 Tennessee
2007 OOC Losses: #13 Duke
2006 OOC Losses: North Dakota State, #17 Wisconsin
2005 OOC Losses: Nebraska, Wisconsin

[Skatastrophy]

Your logic has no place on this forum.

[APieperFan3]

I was hoping someone was going to post something like this. Thanks Titan.

[NYWarrior]

Below are all of our non-conference losses over the last 5 years.  Despite some of these bad losses, all of these teams made the NCAA Tournament.  If we split the games with Vanderbilt and Wisconsin we will have a better OOC resume than last year.

Tough losses, not 'bad' losses.  (in the Selection Sunday sense).  thx for sharing that

[madtownwarrior]

hopefully we do not have a bad loss to a low-mid major this weekend...

[Benny B]

Titan... couldn't you put that into some sort of bar or pie chart?

Mmmmmm.... pie.

[TallTitan34]

Titan... couldn't you put that into some sort of bar or pie chart?

Mmmmmm.... pie.

[Ready2Fly]

As frustrating as the last two nights were, I like to remind myself of the Dayton game.  It was early in Buzz' tenure, and we looked abominable.  Jimmy Butler was clueless and the offense had no flow.  I thought it was the beginning of MU's downfall.  As the season played out, we became a legit top ten team.  I had to do the same thing after the NC State game last year, and that was at home no less.  We looked uninspired and lethargic, got killed on the glass, and went long stretches without scoring.  I can't really think of a time the rest of the season that we played as poorly as that second half.  But we pulled it together, gelled as the season progressed, and earned a 6 seed.

I hate when MU loses, but you do have to put these losses in perspective.  It's early and this team is still finding its identity.  I have faith that we will do just that, and it will be really fun to watch.

[jaybilaswho?]

Buzz just said on Bob and Brian... we were 3 possessions away from being 6-0.

We lost to the #1 and 18 teams by a combined 8 points.

losses put into perspective.

[brewcity77]

Buzz just said on Bob and Brian... we were 3 possessions away from being 6-0.

We lost to the #1 and 18 teams by a combined 8 points.

losses put into perspective.

Well, that's not exactly true. We were two made three's away from beating Duke, which is two possessions, but not the way we've been shooting. And we were a made three away from going to OT with Gonzaga, which isn't the same thing as a win.

The problem isn't the number of possessions we were away from going 2-0 in KC, but that we had the possessions and just couldn't convert.

[TallTitan34]

And we were a made three away from going to OT with Gonzaga, which isn't the same thing as a win.

What if we got fouled on the made three and made the free throw! 

[willie warrior]

Buzz just said on Bob and Brian... we were 3 possessions away from being 6-0.

We lost to the #1 and 18 teams by a combined 8 points.

losses put into perspective.

Don't think we should be pitting losses  in perspective. Sounds too much like "it's OK" we should hate losses. I sure do.

[jaybilaswho?]

Don't think we should be pitting losses  in perspective. Sounds too much like "it's OK" we should hate losses. I sure do.

I think its quite obvious that everyone would prefer wins to losses, but we just lost to two ranked teams by less than 10 points. Ignoring all else, you have to be hap-- OK-- with that.

[StillWarriors]

I am always amazed at the "the sky is falling" approach to almost every loss by so many fans. Losses are going to happen, particularly to top 25 teams. Hell, Michigan State almost lost to Chaminade, and did lose to UConn. Does that mean they aren't very good, or won't be very good when it counts most? No.

MU is blending in a lot of new parts, and that is going to take time. DJO isn't going to shoot like he is now for the whole season, and guys will grow up as the season progresses. Yes, the losses are frustrating b/c we could and should have won one of those games. Again, look around. Most teams have close calls and lose a game or two they shouldn't in the out of conference part of the schedule. Hopefully we can avoid a bad loss, and still get a couple quality wins in the upcoming games, but either way I think it's unfair to expect a team relying on a bunch of new guys playing big roles to be in mid-season form at this point. Some of the stuff on the board, while out of in the moment frustration, is pretty mean spirited and angry as soon as MU struggles. I don't really get that. Of course it's frustrating, but no need to run to the ledge so quickly. Teams are always going to have ups and downs, be it in a game, half or season. That's kind of sports. Have some faith in your team that they will come through those times.

[willie warrior]

Sounds a little like Bob Knight interview with Connie Chung about 10 years ago.

"If rape is inevitable, you might as well lay back and enjoy it"

If losses are inevitable, you might as well accept them as satisfactory.

[Dr. Blackheart]

None of us would have predicted a MU win in the preseason for this weekend...the fact that we took a great Duke team down to the wire and a very good GU team (our depth is better, their starters are better right now) down to the last shot is reflective of our talent.  GU only scored 24 2nd half points, we were able to get their studs into foul trouble as well, forced a ton of turnovers on both Duke and GU.  We are actually establishing a "points in the paint plus FTM" game.  Let's remember all the close games we lost in a row last season before our luck turned--and that Zar started slow on treys like DJO is.

Jimmy Butler got some great pub in KC as he is learning he is the go-to guy.  The guard rotation is figuring itself out, we are dribbling too much on offense, our big men were playing their first games against top tier talent.  Our "glue guy", Fulce, is out.  We are not working the offense to give us the shots our talent can make.  

Preseason, my first real test I thought we could win was the Badgers.  Vandy on the road will be tough....but plenty of practice time to go before these match-ups.

[hairy worthen]

Sounds a little like Bob Knight interview with Connie Chung about 10 years ago.

"If rape is inevitable, you might as well lay back and enjoy it"

If losses are inevitable, you might as well accept them as satisfactory.

Really?

[RJax55]

Our "glue guy", Fulce, is out.  We are not working the offense to give us the shots our talent can make.  

Missing Fulce is certainly hurting. I think its quite possible that his presence  (rebounding and baseline jumpers) could have flip yesterday's game.

Hopefully, he can come back soon. MU needs him.

[mu-rara]

Sounds a little like Bob Knight interview with Connie Chung about 10 years ago.

"If rape is inevitable, you might as well lay back and enjoy it"

If losses are inevitable, you might as well accept them as satisfactory.

If you were running a company, you would be changing strategy every week.  If you were an investor in April 2000, you would be putting all your money in tech stocks.  Thank God Buzz takes a longer view, as do most posters on this board.

[brewcity77]

I am always amazed at the "the sky is falling" approach to almost every loss by so many fans. Losses are going to happen, particularly to top 25 teams. Hell, Michigan State almost lost to Chaminade, and did lose to UConn. Does that mean they aren't very good, or won't be very good when it counts most? No.

I think the hope is to always come out of the preseason tournament with one quality win. It's all about resume building. Now Wisconsin becomes a must-win game in terms of the NCAAs. Even if all four are close, we're in a lot of trouble if we go 0-4 against Duke, Gonzaga, Wisconsin, and Vandy.

[willie warrior]

If you were running a company, you would be changing strategy every week.  If you were an investor in April 2000, you would be putting all your money in tech stocks.  Thank God Buzz takes a longer view, as do most posters on this board.

What longer view is that? Play Bucyks at point when he is gone after this year while Cadougan is behind him and is the future?

That Crowder will start next year when he should be starting now?

That we have two perimeter player commits to go with the 7 returnees next year at the perimeter, and do not have a quality big commit, while we continue to get slaughtered on the glass.

Exactly what "long view" are you referring to?

[MarquetteDano]

As frustrating as the last two nights were, I like to remind myself of the Dayton game.  It was early in Buzz' tenure, and we looked abominable.  Jimmy Butler was clueless and the offense had no flow.  I thought it was the beginning of MU's downfall.  As the season played out, we became a legit top ten team.  I had to do the same thing after the NC State game last year, and that was at home no less.  We looked uninspired and lethargic, got killed on the glass, and went long stretches without scoring.  I can't really think of a time the rest of the season that we played as poorly as that second half.  But we pulled it together, gelled as the season progressed, and earned a 6 seed.

Thanks for this.  I was at that Dayton game and it was brutal.  They had more fans than us despite being in Chicago.  And we got are arse's kicked.  The season turned out okay though.  Things can turn around quickly.

Beat UWM on Saturday, have a couple of cupcakes after that, and then beat the Rodents and things will be looking up.

[ErickJD08]

Honestly, I hate to say this, but the upperclassmen, not named Jimmy Butler, need to step up.  DJO and Buycks need to really step up. 

When you think about the seniors from the last two years, three amigos, and Hayward, Acker, and Cubes, these guys all stepped up and performed at a pretty high level.  It worries me to think that this season will be successful IF our freshmen grow up. 

[BrewCity83]

Beat UWM on Saturday, have a couple of cupcakes after that, and then beat the Rodents and things will be looking up.

In this scenario we are 10-2 going into the Vandy game.

[GGGG]

What longer view is that? Play Bucyks at point when he is gone after this year while Cadougan is behind him and is the future?

That Crowder will start next year when he should be starting now?

Willie, I am going to make these points one more time.  Junior was our PG for 25 minutes last night...and had ONE assist.  When he was running the point, we were by and large ineffective against the zone.  I'm not saying Buycks is better, although his ratio was better, but this isn't as black and white and you make it out to be.

As for Crowder, he was tied for second in minutes last night with 32....ahead of DJO, Blue and Otule.  He is getting plenty of playing time.  Would he have played more if he started?  I doubt it.  But I guess you just like to hear is name during introductions or something because that's about all that matters when it comes to starting.