Is Big Monday going to be our 1st Top 25 win

[79Warrior]

I certainly hope so. I think this game is a better matchup for us than Pitt. Here's hoping the students can give the team a lift.

[AlienWarrior]

Yes , I was at the Rutgers game and this team is quick and will defend. The quality wins will come....

[PE8983]

Nothing I love more than beating ND.  That said, I think we lose.  If you think Pitt can shoot it, wait til ND comes to town.  If it ends up a half court game, we lose, and it won't be close.

[MuMark]

ND makes 49% of their 2's and 38% from 3.

Pitt makes 53% of their 2's and 38% from 3.

ND is good....Pitt is better.

[PE8983]

The problem with that argument is that Pitt shoots about 17 threes per game, whereas ND shoots about 23 of them.  If they get open threes like we've been allowing all year, it won't even be close.

[MuMark]

Duke is a much better 3 point shooting team then ND and we didn't get blown out. Gonzaga is just as good...we lost by 3.

Vandy gets 31% of their points from 3...the same as ND...we lost by 1 on the road. UW gets 36% of their points from 3 and shoot it just as well as ND.....we lost by 3.

I suppose its possible we could get blown out but how many times does that happen to MU at home?

I expect it to be a close game.

Even good 3 point shooting teams have off games...especially on the road.

[willie warrior]

We absolutely must win this game for many obvious reasons, among them:
~~It is No Dick, who I absolutely hate
~~A ranked opponent, which we must get several of to do anything this year
~~Keeps us in the thick of things in BEast
~~At home--this is a game we should win--a loss shows we cannot handle quality teams even on our own floor, especially after UW loss
~~It is ND who have the most arrogant fan base in the country

[MuMark]

Certainly we need the win.

ND is better then we are so not sure if I would say we should win even though it is at home.

Should be a competitive game between 1 excellent team and 1 good team.

Hopefully we can pull out a close one.

[4everwarriors]

Don't see it happenin'. Terrible match-up problems for MU with so many traditional players for ND.

[karavotsos]

Was thinking about the matchups, and this could be a game in which we don't need a big -- Gardner or Otule -- out there very often.  Abromaitis is their top rebounder.  Nash posts, but I would think Crowder is big enough to guard him in the post.  Butler is our best rebounder. 

Scott is their other big guy, and he didn't play last night.  I think that Butler and Crowder could handle Cooley.  I would think that we would be better defensively without Otule and Gardner getting spread out and exposed on the perimeter.  After yesterday, I'm still very concerned with perimeter d even without either big in there obviously, but I would be very afraid of either of them being exposed with the way Notre Dame spreads their offense.

Obviously, it puts a lot of pressure on Crowder to play big without fouling, but it's something he's got to learn to do. 

[Mr. Nielsen]

It needs to be. Must win for MU.

[brewcity77]

Was thinking about the matchups, and this could be a game in which we don't need a big -- Gardner or Otule -- out there very often.  Abromaitis is their top rebounder.  Nash posts, but I would think Crowder is big enough to guard him in the post.  Butler is our best rebounder.

If we get a lead, however, that could lead to us seeing more of Gardner and/or Otule. Especially if their forwards are in foul trouble. They don't really have a dedicated center-type player, and teams lacking that have been the times that those guys really shone bright for us. Of course, the all-around talent on ND is much higher than that of South Dakota, Longwood, or Prairie View A&M, so it comes with more risk, but the reward could also be better than against a Pittsburgh or other team with more accomplished legitimate big men.

[MuMark]

Scott has a hamstring injury and will not play against us.

ND played very well last night without him.

[MuMark]

The problem with that argument is that Pitt shoots about 17 threes per game, whereas ND shoots about 23 of them.  If they get open threes like we've been allowing all year, it won't even be close.

You were right....it wasn't close.....