[Cracked Sidewalks] Rinse, repeat, rinse, repeat.

[CrackedSidewalksSays]

Formally Offensive Title

Written by: noreply@blogger.com (muwarrior92)




Been there, done that and that and that and that again.

Marquette with lead in the second half finds way to piss it away and lose again.  We have this one done pat it seems.  It's not the first time this year, hell it's not the first time in the last 4 days.  Once again Marquette finds away to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Up 60 to 55 in the second half, MU allows a 13-0 run to #5 UCONN killing any hopes Marquette had of a victory tonight against the Huskies.  If this sounds familiar, it is.  MU led by 11 at Notre Dame on Saturday and pissed that game away.  Only 7 days earlier MU led by 18 points against Louisville with barely five minutes to play and wet the bed to lose by 1.  Three blown games in 10 days...that's impressive.  Of course earlier in the year MU also blew a late lead against Vanderbilt and nearly choked it all away against a dreadful UW-Milwaukee team.

Why is this happening?  For starters, our defense is brutal.  The easy baskets we allow teams to "earn" is amazing.  We seem to value this concept of shooting more free throws than our opponents take, but that has made us into a defensive team that fears fouling.  Fears physicality on the defensive side of the ball.  That's strange, because offensively our guys are tough as nails, they take it to the hoop, they get hit, they bang, they're warriors.  Flip to the defensive side of the ball, and you would think they were playing flag football instead of tackle.

Ok, enough of the defensive lapses, what about offense.  Marquette scored at the 11:25 mark on a Jimmy Butler layup and foul.  Butler made the free throw for the old fashioned 3 point play.  MU had the Big Mo, we were leading by 5 points and the crowd was rocking.  So what happens?  Marquette notches it's next field goal over 9 minutes later at the 1:50 mark on a DJO layup.  Incidentally, that was DJO's first bucket in 15 minutes.  In our 9 minute drought, MU managed to miss 7 shots, several free throws and turned the ball over 4 times (three of them by our point guards).

Some will argue it is because we aren't deep.  Wait a minute, don't we have more top 100 players on our team than anytime in decades?  We have plenty of depth, we just don't want to play these kids or have no confidence in them.  Either that, or the kids were overrated and we made bad recruiting mistakes.  It has to be something because there are plenty of warm bodies on the bench that have lots of pretty stars next to their names according to the recruiting services.

But should any of this really surprise anyone?  Harken back to what the University of New Orleans fans said about Buzz several years ago.  Two points stick out like a sore thumb.

• He has a short rotation
• His defenses stink

Sound familiar?   Quotes like this from Jimmy Butler raise an eyebrow as well.  "We were so concerned on offense that we were ready to get the ball back  and try to score on that end," Butler said. "We weren't even worried  about guarding them on the defensive end of the floor."  We missed the context in which that answer was given and will provide an update if we can find it.

MU still has a chance to turn things around.  Their RPI is in the zip code of an at large berth, they have plenty of top teams still to play to get back in it and the with 68 NCAA bids and seemingly ho-hum teams scattering the landscape nationwide, the opportunity is there.  Will MU be tough enough to take it?  Another opportunity presents itself against Syracuse later this week.  A team MU has never beaten since joining the Big East.  A team that is on a 3 game losing streak and looked beyond pathetic tonight against Seton Hall.  Dare we say a MUST WIN for MU?  Yes, it's a MUST WIN for MU at this point.

Three years into the Buzz Williams regime many didn't expect a potential NIT year this season, especially coming off 5 straight NCAA appearances and several stellar recruiting classes.  In year three of the Tom Crean era MU went to the NCAA tournament after two misses.  We may be seeing the reverse of that in year 3 with Buzz.  We're not ready to throw in the towel yet, but the time to get things in gear is right now without a moment to waste.  There is no more room for errors.  There are no more games that can be pissed away at this point.  Marquette needs to start winning and winning now.

On a positive note, Jimmy Butler's 21 points put him over 1,000 for his career.  He is the 42nd player to accomplish that feat at Marquette.

This entry is dedicated to Rocky

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2011/01/marquette-choking-dogs-pee-themselves.html

[willie warrior]

In Buzz we trust: Meltdown after meltdown.

[mugrad99]

for me at least. Not in any way, shape, or form is this an acceptable way to treat this group of young men.

This board has become one giant turd sandwich......Adios

[tower912]

I feel ya, indee.   Who knew that MU produced so many whiners?

[ATWizJr]

for me at least. Not in any way, shape, or form is this an acceptable way to treat this group of young men.

This board has become one giant turd sandwich......Adios

Agree.  Title is more than satirical. Offensive.

[CTWarrior]

for me at least. Not in any way, shape, or form is this an acceptable way to treat this group of young men.

+1000 - Unacceptable.  It would be one thing if the problem was a lack of effort.  These kids are playing hard but are struggling right now

[ATL MU Warrior]

+1000 - Unacceptable.  It would be one thing if the problem was a lack of effort.  These kids are playing hard but are struggling right now

The absolutely disgusting part is that the same jackasses that write this stuff will be back on the bandwagon when (ok...if) we start pulling some of these close games out.  And probably trying to figure out a way to take credit/share in the glory.  After all, they went to Marquette so they must in some way be responsible for any success, right?

The sense of entitlement of many of our fans is astounding.  I'm well on my way to thinking the UW-Madison's fan base is far more rational than ours. 

[rocky_warrior]

for me at least. Not in any way, shape, or form is this an acceptable way to treat this group of young men.

This board has become one giant turd sandwich......Adios

Just to clarify - this is a Cracked Sidewalks blog post which we pull in automatically (including the title). 

While many of the points are valid, it appears the author worked in a number of personal grievances, and is pissy because he was banned from MUScoop last night (hence the "This entry is dedicated to Rocky").

[ATL MU Warrior]

Just to clarify - this is a Cracked Sidewalks blog post which we pull in automatically (including the title). 

While many of the points are valid, it appears the author worked in a number of personal grievances, and is pissy because he was banned from MUScoop last night (hence the "This entry is dedicated to Rocky").

THANK SWEET BABY JESUS

[tower912]

344 D1 teams.   Two end the year with a win.   On any given night, at least 172 fanbases are unhappy.   Probably closer to 200, as several whine about the quality of a win.   I would like to expect a little maturity, a little evidence of a Jesuit education, from my MU brethren.    A loss does not reflect on you personally.   You are not somehow diminished today, unless you choose to tie your sense of self esteem to a bunch of young men who represent a university you once attended.    If you are ashamed of them, do you think that if they read this and realized that an MU education means nothing to some, that they would be ashamed of you and the way you react to the outcome of an athletic contest?     I feel ya, ATL MU.    We are lowering ourselves to an embarrassing level.  

[ATL MU Warrior]

344 D1 teams.   Two end the year with a win.   On any given night, at least 172 fanbases are unhappy.   Probably closer to 200, as several whine about the quality of a win.   I would like to expect a little maturity, a little evidence of a Jesuit education, from my MU brethren.    A loss does not reflect on you personally.   You are not somehow diminished today, unless you choose to tie your sense of self esteem to a bunch of young men who represent a university you once attended.    If you are ashamed of them, do you think that if they read this and realized that an MU education means nothing to some, that they would be ashamed of you and the way you react to the outcome of an athletic contest?     I feel ya, ATL MU.    We are lowering ourselves to an embarrassing level.  

You said this far better than I ever could have.  Thanks

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

This post on Cracked Sidewalks is a complete embarrassment to all Marquette fans.

First of all, it was a tough loss last night but anybody who was at the game could tell you that we lost to a better team. We didn't "choke" the game away. We were down 7 (or 9, I can't remember) at halftime, fought back to take the lead and couldn't hold on. Obviously, the Louisville game was another story but I thought we were simply outmanned last night. The "author" cites the Vanderbilt game as another choke job. Seriously? I was at that game. We played a helluva game. Had a chance to win and an unfortunate slip kept us from getting a shot off. What in the world is this guy talking about?

I mean...calling our players "dogs?" Totally and completely uncalled for and lacking in any sense. I seriously wonder if there is something personally wrong with the author this season as his tone has lacked any objectivity at all. Criticize the coach if you want. He's fair game, he gets paid to take the heat. Calling teenagers and kids in their early 20s "choking dogs" is about as pathetic as it gets.

[MarquetteFan94]

This BS blog post has no place on this board....embarrassing.

[MerrittsMustache]

I agree with the overall sentiment on this thread. Classless title and classless write-up.

If someone believes that a "choke job" entails losing a game against the #5 team in the country despite having a whopping 5 point lead with 7:30 remaining should not be writing about basketball.

My assumption is that the article was written immediately following the game with about 6-8 Miller Lites in the author's system.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Just to clarify - this is a Cracked Sidewalks blog post which we pull in automatically (including the title). 

While many of the points are valid, it appears the author worked in a number of personal grievances, and is pissy because he was banned from MUScoop last night (hence the "This entry is dedicated to Rocky").

it's about damn time.

[MUBasketball]

I can't F'ing believe this.

Yeah, because a 5 point lead with a lot of time left is completely unacceptable to lose....vs. the #5 team in the country.

F*cking ridiculous.

[lab_warrior]

In Buzz we trust: Meltdown after meltdown.

Yeah, we all heard you.  Seriously, that crap is getting lame.  "In willie we trust:  stupid, repetitive, pseudo-cleverness--but only after losses."

[GGGG]

Just to clarify - this is a Cracked Sidewalks blog post which we pull in automatically (including the title). 

While many of the points are valid, it appears the author worked in a number of personal grievances, and is pissy because he was banned from MUScoop last night (hence the "This entry is dedicated to Rocky").

Who is it?

[Pakuni]

The irony here is that if the author is the person most of us think he is, it's the same guy who frequently bashed anyone who had the temerity to criticize a college kid who was giving his all for his school.
Now the same person is describing the current crop of college kids giving their all for his school as choking dogs who pee themselves.
I wonder what's changed between now and then.

[MUBurrow]

I'm glad that there is finally a thread on this board where reason is starting to take over.  I felt like the past 16 hours was like if Y2K had kicked in for a night and everyone had to hide in their homes in some sort of scary dark period. There were a lot of usernames that have just sprouted up spouting a lot of vitriol and embodying the type of (read: lack of) fandom we love to hate from other schools.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

Who is it?

your buddy.

[DrDestiny911]

So I am confused, we cannot hand Marquette players criticism now? I get that the tone was a bit harsh but the overall point is valid, MU is playing with no consistency right now, and I don't care if it is the #5 team in the country, or #18 or #16 the fact is the last three losses we had decent leads fairly deep in the second half and are pissing it away. Its time to stop continually coddling these players and calling them "kids." I'm pretty sure thousands of men and women their age overseas put up with a lot more strife than a few negative/unhappy posts. MU isn't playing well and the players and coaches are letting themselves get beat by teams that are very beatable. Theres this concept that its ok to post only when positive things are brought to the table. That "we can't fault these young men because they give it their all." That's bogus they signed with a team in a power conference and therefore they can put up with a little needed criticism. I for one am tired of seeing MU piss away late second half leads. I know I am going to get heat for this but whatever, its national college basketball these kids have full rides (except RoFro) and they're most important job is to do the one thing that they love, shooting hoops, sorry my sympathy is all but run out. Criticism of poor play isn't lack of fandom, its facing the reality that we need to right this ship and fast.

[MUBurrow]

Its time to stop continually coddling these players and calling them "kids." I'm pretty sure thousands of men and women their age overseas put up with a lot more strife than a few negative/unhappy posts

At least we're keeping perspective.

[Pakuni]

At least we're keeping perspective.

+1,000.
Anybody who analogizes college basketball to war needs to have their computer taken away.
That said, I'm glad to hear that calling players dogs who wet themselves is the kind of "needed criticism" that'll "right this ship and fast."

[SoCalwarrior]

So I am confused, we cannot hand Marquette players criticism now? I get that the tone was a bit harsh but the overall point is valid, MU is playing with no consistency right now, and I don't care if it is the #5 team in the country, or #18 or #16 the fact is the last three losses we had decent leads fairly deep in the second half and are pissing it away. Its time to stop continually coddling these players and calling them "kids." I'm pretty sure thousands of men and women their age overseas put up with a lot more strife than a few negative/unhappy posts. MU isn't playing well and the players and coaches are letting themselves get beat by teams that are very beatable. Theres this concept that its ok to post only when positive things are brought to the table. That "we can't fault these young men because they give it their all." That's bogus they signed with a team in a power conference and therefore they can put up with a little needed criticism. I for one am tired of seeing MU piss away late second half leads. I know I am going to get heat for this but whatever, its national college basketball these kids have full rides (except RoFro) and they're most important job is to do the one thing that they love, shooting hoops, sorry my sympathy is all but run out. Criticism of poor play isn't lack of fandom, its facing the reality that we need to right this ship and fast.

First, please use the return tab every so often so that we can read what you're saying. Second, I don't think most here would disagree with what you're saying. Criticize away, just do it with some class.