Is West Virginia a must win game?

[nomorebuycks]

IMO, it absolutely is.  MU gets through this game OK, and the season is still in play.  Lose and not only is any chance of an NCAA bid long gone, but a few of the players are likely to pack it in mentally and emotionally. 

[brewcity77]

Twice in two days, I agree with you. Lose and we have a near insurmountable hill to climb. We'll already need 12 conference wins to get in. Lose any of the ones we have at home against unranked teams and that's a top ten team we have to beat to offset the loss.

[Canadian Dimes]

I am almost completely convinced that nomorebuycks is retarded.  MU most likely needs 10 BE wins to go dancing.  WVU is not a must win we have no must wins until we have at least 8 BE losses.  nomorebuycks has become my second ignored poster.

[79Warrior]

IMO, it absolutely is.  MU gets through this game OK, and the season is still in play.  Lose and not only is any chance of an NCAA bid long gone, but a few of the players are likely to pack it in mentally and emotionally. 

WTF???? Lose one big east game and the season is over?  If these guys pack it in they have no business putting on any teams uniform. Step back from the ledge.

[sailwi]

Every BE game @ home is a must win, win at home and hopefully steal 2 on the road or 3 or 4 if we drop a home game or 2.  As Broeker tweeted last night the grind begins.  The BE is a grind and we need to stay level headed, get to 10 wins and we should be dancing.  I still am amazed at at times what a great conference we are in and the success we have had, a huge step up from the old NASCAR league we were in.

[brewcity77]

I am almost completely convinced that nomorebuycks is retarded.  MU most likely needs 10 BE wins to go dancing.  WVU is not a must win we have no must wins until we have at least 8 BE losses.  nomorebuycks has become my second ignored poster.

Barring five wins against top ten opponents, there is no way 10-8 and a first round BEast loss gets us in. You're delusional if you believe that. I'll agree that nmb is for the most part an idiot, but with no quality non-con wins we're looking at needing 12 conference wins to really feel secure come March.

[ChicosBailBonds]

It's been a must win game when the season started IMO.  Even moreso now.  I had us at 10-8 when doing the preseason picks and that was only seeing them play an exhibition game...it was a must way back in November.  Now having watched them this much, Saturday's game is a collosal must.  There are only so many opportunities to win the games you need to get to a reasonable number and WVU at home for us is one of those games.

[muchamps]

We can beat WV they are not the 08 or 09 team. However our best center played 3min and 45sec last night, received 1 pass and beat their center, Its going to be a long list of L's, if Gardner isn't played, and he won't progress for next season, like what was done with Ewill.

[IAmMarquette]

In a sense, yes, it's a must win. This is a "winnable" game and as such "must" be won.

[Boone]

Absolutely. If not now, then when exactly should we focus on getting our first meaningful win?

[77ncaachamps]

duh

[MarquetteFan94]

As long as Buycks is our starting PG on Saturday I like our chances.

[willie warrior]

As long as Buycks is our starting PG on Saturday I like our chances.

Me too. He is the type of player, much like Jordan, who can put the team on his back and carry it throughout the season. He has demonstrated that already, judging by the many posts here.

[GGGG]

We can beat WV they are not the 08 or 09 team. However our best center played 3min and 45sec last night, received 1 pass and beat their center, Its going to be a long list of L's, if Gardner isn't played, and he won't progress for next season, like what was done with Ewill.

Otule is our best center.  Gardner cannot defend nor can he rebound.  And Otule has two years left.

[M@RQUETTEW@RRIORS]

I think this team needs this game from a confidence/identity standpoint.  They need to learn how to win a close gome against a quality opponent.  When they figure that out it will help them out in the confidence area and they will grow quickly from that point on.  Lets hope it happens sooner rather than later.

[brewcity77]

I think this team needs this game from a confidence/identity standpoint.  They need to learn how to win a close gome against a quality opponent.  When they figure that out it will help them out in the confidence area and they will grow quickly from that point on.  Lets hope it happens sooner rather than later.

Sounds a lot like last year. Where's Georgetown when you need them?

[willie warrior]

Otule is our best center.  Gardner cannot defend nor can he rebound.  And Otule has two years left.

Rrebounds per minute:
Otule: .23
Gardner: .26
Just the facts Sultan Man! Who is the better rebounder?

[cheebs09]

Rrebounds per minute:
Otule: .23
Gardner: .26
Just the facts Sultan Man! Who is the better rebounder?

A lot of Gardner's rebounds are off his own miss. Also, I think Otule may not get more rebounds than Gardner but Otule's man doesn't get it as often as Gardner's man. I think we are a better rebounding team with Otule in than Gardner. I think Fulce is our best rebounder though.

[Mobot]

Seth Davis predicts an MU win, even calls it a no brainer...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/seth_davis/12/30/weekend.picks/index.html

[ChicosBailBonds]

Seth Davis predicts an MU win, even calls it a no brainer...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/seth_davis/12/30/weekend.picks/index.html

Agree completely.  WVU just isn't that good this year.  MU must win and SHOULD win this game at home.

[willie warrior]

A lot of Gardner's rebounds are off his own miss. Also, I think Otule may not get more rebounds than Gardner but Otule's man doesn't get it as often as Gardner's man. I think we are a better rebounding team with Otule in than Gardner. I think Fulce is our best rebounder though.

All subjective opinion. What stat tells you that Otule's man doesn't get the ball as often as Gardner's? You have no way of determining that. What stat says that"a lot of Gardner's rebounds are off his own miss"? That is ridiculous.
Again:
Rebounds per minute:
Otule: .23
Gardner: .26

[MarquetteFan94]

Me too. He is the type of player, much like Jordan, who can put the team on his back and carry it throughout the season. He has demonstrated that already, judging by the many posts here.

Glad you agree.  Although Jordan only had a 1.9 TO/AST ratio over his career, may be too turnover prone for you.  Unless you're speaking of his son, Marcus, who's lighting it up for UCF this year.

[flash]

Vanderbilt was much more of a must win game than West Virginia would be.  There are plenty more opportunities for quality wins in conference, not so many out of conference, and MU blew all those chances.  A loss against West Virginia would hurt, but it surley is not a must win. 

[MarquetteFan94]

All subjective opinion. What stat tells you that Otule's man doesn't get the ball as often as Gardner's? You have no way of determining that. What stat says that"a lot of Gardner's rebounds are off his own miss"? That is ridiculous.
Again:
Rebounds per minute:
Otule: .23
Gardner: .26

Rebounds per minute is as useful as looking at assits per minute...or any stat per minute for that matter....not very.  Otule has played 60 min more than Gardner this yr and averages more mpg.  A true measuring stick is to compare rebounds per 40 min...which is still subjective based on MU's, and opponents, shooting percentage, garbage time minutes, etc.  Either way, Garder averages 4.9 rebounds/40 min vs. Otule's 4.7....splittling hairs.  Both need work and both have great potential.

[bilsu]

It is a must win. It is a home game against a middle of the road Big East team. It  will be highly unlikely that we get to 10 Big East wins, if we lose this game. It is also a must win for West Virginia. Neither team is going to contend for the title. We are fighting to be one of the 8 bids the conference will get. Assume we lose to West Virginia and both teams finish 9-9. The home losss to West Virginia wll put them ahead of us in the NCAA selection committees eyes.