Guess What?

[4everwarriors]

I'm not here to brown nose up to anyone, but this MU team is so far from the top half of the BE, it's embarrassing. Time to man up and play some Warrior style hoops.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I not here to brown nose up to anyone, but this MU team is so far from the top half of the BE, it's embarrassing. Time to man up and play some Warrior style hoops.

Imagine how long this thread would get if I started it by saying it.  LOL.  5 pages at least by the end of today.

Glad you said it.  Doesn't mean the sky is falling, but as stated weeks ago....this team has a LONG LONG LONG way to go. 

[tower912]

We have a long way to go.   I still think the building blocks are there talentwise, but having exactly 3 players currently in our rotation with any meaningful D1 experience is taking its toll.    Higher ceiling than recent teams, but lower floor, too.   

[NickelDimer]

I think at this point it's clear this team is missing that "it" which has allowed less talented MU squads to succeed. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

We have a long way to go.   I still think the building blocks are there talentwise, but having exactly 3 players currently in our rotation with any meaningful D1 experience is taking its toll.    Higher ceiling than recent teams, but lower floor, too.   

That's a fair statement.

[brandx]

Of course they have along way to go! Just as they did last year after losing to Florida St. and NC State and depaul after having leads (must've been a lack of leadership!).

Smith, Blue, Cadougan, Crowder, Gardner, Otule little or no Div. 1 experience. It figured that it would take at least half a season for the team to come together. And yet, if DJO was hitting his shot, they would be undefeated and ranked in the top 10 - 15. The best is yet to come with this team - the sky is definitely not falling.

It took the Heat with 2 of the premier players in the world + another all-star 2 months to get their act together - but you criers are up in arms cuz it's taking a young team some time to put it together.

[MUfan12]

Did anyone really expect a crisp game after finals week? Practices were disjointed, and 4 freshmen were taking them for the first time. The first half was brutal, no doubt. But they made adjustments and played a much better second half.

Also, if games like this can give Jones and Williams confidence going forward, it's well worth it. Erik rattled out a couple of jumpers, he could have easily had a double-double. Jones could be exactly what this team needs, a shooter off the bench. He's just gotta be more aware defensively. One thing I did watch more closely is they were better with their rebounding positioning, and the guards were better about not ballwatching.

Now that they are on break, I think we'll see rapid improvement since practice time won't be capped. The way I see this team is this, they're a lot of "little things" away from being really good. And hopefully the next two weeks can shore up some of those little things.

[ChicosBailBonds]

No brandx, we're not crying or up in arms.  That's where you fail.

[wojosdojo]

R

Of course they have along way to go! Just as they did last year after losing to Florida St. and NC State and depaul after having leads (must've been a lack of leadership!).

Smith, Blue, Cadougan, Crowder, Gardner, Otule little or no Div. 1 experience. It figured that it would take at least half a season for the team to come together. And yet, if DJO was hitting his shot, they would be undefeated and ranked in the top 10 - 15. The best is yet to come with this team - the sky is definitely not falling.

It took the Heat with 2 of the premier players in the world + another all-star 2 months to get their act together - but you criers are up in arms cuz it's taking a young team some time to put it together.

EXACTLY.. Folks, we were 11-8 last year!! I

[brandx]

Chico - I wasn't referring to you specifically - more as a geeral statement gleaned from several of the threads.

[mviale]

The sky is falling. I cant believe it takes time for new players to gel.  I thought this would not happen. I said it before, but this team will not make the final four. It feels like the year we lost to western michigan.  Didnt JMac and Key do better their frosh years.

[pillardean]

The way I see this team is this, they're a lot of "little things" away from being really good. And hopefully the next two weeks can shore up some of those little things.

My sentiments exactly.  I believe they will figure out the little things and that "it" will appear as if it were there all along.

I firmly believe they will get it, like someone retorted to me once-will it be soon enough?  I believe yes, others do not.

[GGGG]

Imagine how long this thread would get if I started it by saying it. 

Always got to make it about you...insufferable...

[VegasWarrior77]

If you want to read some great "the sky is falling" verbiage go over to the Illinois boards.  They lost to Illinois-Chicago (57-54) today.  MU will get better as the season progresses!

[NCMUFan]

We lost to the National Champions, and two annual NCAA tournament bound teams.  All of the games were close.  I am not one for moral victory, but let Buzz do his job.  Vandy will be another excellent test to check the progress of the team.  I am still psyched for the season.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Always got to make it about you...insufferable...

To show the hypocrisy on here, I'm happy to do it.  When the hypocrisy stops, I'll be happy to stop. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Now that they are on break, I think we'll see rapid improvement since practice time won't be capped. The way I see this team is this, they're a lot of "little things" away from being really good. And hopefully the next two weeks can shore up some of those little things.

That's well said and what I'm hoping is the case.



For the poster that said we were 11-8 last year, that's absolutely true....but last year the Big East was softer and our schedule early in the season was a bear.  This year, the Big East is tougher and our early season schedule not as strong (our first 19 games last year will be tougher than our first 19 games this year).

[pillardean]

That's well said and what I'm hoping is the case.



For the poster that said we were 11-8 last year, that's absolutely true....but last year the Big East was softer and our schedule early in the season was a bear.  This year, the Big East is tougher and our early season schedule not as strong (our first 19 games last year will be tougher than our first 19 games this year).

In comparing the schedules what makes last years schedule more difficult than this years?  I'm not seeing it.  Only thing I see is At Bucky instead at home.  But then we had NC State at home compared to at Vandy.  We are missing one game against a BCS conference team; however, Michigan was heinous.

[ChicosBailBonds]

In comparing the schedules what makes last years schedule more difficult than this years?  I'm not seeing it.  Only thing I see is At Bucky instead at home.  But then we had NC State at home compared to at Vandy.  We are missing one game against a BCS conference team; however, Michigan was heinous.

Well, here's what the computers say.

In 2009-10 season at the end of week 6 we had a RPI of 90.

This year (2010-11) at the end of week 6, we have a ranking of 198 (games are not done for today so this number will move before it settles tonight).

Our strength of schedule today is rated as low as 291 by RPI.  I've seen it as high as 232 including today's game, but nothing better (at least one that includes today's game).

I don't have last year's numbers, if someone has them at this point in the season from last year, that would be great.  With Gonzaga struggling a bit (hoping they can hang on against Baylor), Wisconsin already with a few early season losses, along with our usual cupcake appetite, I would be very surprised if our schedule wasn't worse this year at this same point compared to last year.  I'd argue it will stay that way for a few more weeks.  Remember we opened up the Big East last year with an absolute gauntlet...this year we don't.

[NersEllenson]

Well, here's what the computers say.

In 2009-10 season at the end of week 6 we had a RPI of 90.

This year (2010-11) at the end of week 6, we have a ranking of 198 (games are not done for today so this number will move before it settles tonight).

Our strength of schedule today is rated as low as 291 by RPI.  I've seen it as high as 232 including today's game, but nothing better (at least one that includes today's game).

I don't have last year's numbers, if someone has them at this point in the season from last year, that would be great.  With Gonzaga struggling a bit (hoping they can hang on against Baylor), Wisconsin already with a few early season losses, along with our usual cupcake appetite, I would be very surprised if our schedule wasn't worse this year at this same point compared to last year.  I'd argue it will stay that way for a few more weeks.  Remember we opened up the Big East last year with an absolute gauntlet...this year we don't.

We are screwed.  There is no hope for this team.  Memphis - which beat Centenary by 61 - only beat Austin Peay by 2 points in Overtime...and Memphis went to overtime with Arkansas State.  Gonzaga, at present is leading Number 9 Baylor (on the orad) by 1 point.  DePaul beat UWM by 14.  Number 3 Kansas only beat USC by 2 points.  We have no leadership.  We have no heart.  We have no toughness.  We have a weak strength of schedule.  We have computers that aren't ranking MU as high after week 6 as last year.

Newsflash:  Who the freak cares what our RPI is in December?

[reinko]

Good christ Ners, these are facts and opinions and we are on a message board. 

[GGGG]

To show the hypocrisy on here, I'm happy to do it.  When the hypocrisy stops, I'll be happy to stop. 

Until you learn that you bring a lot of this upon yourself, the "hypocrisy" won't stop.

But continue playing the victim...

[NersEllenson]

Good christ Ners, these are facts and opinions and we are on a message board. 

Ok Reinko - And I'm simply expressing my opinions and facts as well..as this is a message board.

[pillardean]

Well, here's what the computers say.

In 2009-10 season at the end of week 6 we had a RPI of 90.

This year (2010-11) at the end of week 6, we have a ranking of 198 (games are not done for today so this number will move before it settles tonight).

Our strength of schedule today is rated as low as 291 by RPI.  I've seen it as high as 232 including today's game, but nothing better (at least one that includes today's game).

I don't have last year's numbers, if someone has them at this point in the season from last year, that would be great.  With Gonzaga struggling a bit (hoping they can hang on against Baylor), Wisconsin already with a few early season losses, along with our usual cupcake appetite, I would be very surprised if our schedule wasn't worse this year at this same point compared to last year.  I'd argue it will stay that way for a few more weeks.  Remember we opened up the Big East last year with an absolute gauntlet...this year we don't.

I completely agree with the Big East schedule portion of your argument.  However, at the end of the six week portion when RPI was 90 that probably included Michigan in the good win category when in reality they ended near 100 or worse in the RPI (not exact, please correct if wrong).

I am just saying from an "eye" test and retrospective point of view that last years schedule looks extremely similar to this years without that Xavier quality win yet.  We had an at home loss last year to an NC State team that was not good.  IF we have an on the road win in Vandy this years team may have a stronger NC performance than last years.

I believe that is arguable.

BTW nice little win by the Zags in Texas against a top 10 team.

[77ncaachamps]

Granted, ZERO significant non-conference wins BUT...

The way the CBB landscape is changing weekly, MU still can make the dance.

IF they can put the pieces together and get some chemistry, they can win some significant games and sneak into the tourney.
Granted, sneaking into the tourney is not ideal...but when you're in, you have a shot at the Title.