I know some might laugh at me

[Doris Burkes Thong]

But I really think this team could do some damage in the NCAA's. It's a great year to make a run and MU is currently healthy. The one thing I like about this team that we haven't had in the past few years is they actually have some semblance of an interior post-up game. And we actually have a guy that is 6'10" and can be a defensive presence down low. In other words, we're not as vulnerable to just getting dominated in the post like the past few years. The botttom line is they just have to get in it. Still believe in this team and think they're a Top 5 BE team despite where they sit in the rankings/standings. The only team I think is definately better than them is Pitt in this conference. UCONN is a bad matchup for us like MU is for ND. Other than that, I don't think Gtown, Louisville, ND, or 'Nova is better than MU on a neutral court.

[ChicosBailBonds]

But I really think this team could do some damage in the NCAA's. It's a great year to make a run and MU is currently healthy. The one thing I like about this team that we haven't had in the past few years is they actually have some semblance of an interior post-up game. An we actually have a guy that is 6'10" and can be a defensive presence down low. In other words, we're not as vlunerable to just gettign dominated in the post like the past few years. The botttom line is they just have to get in it. Still believe in this team and think they're a Top 5 BE team despite where they sit in the rankings/standings. The only team I think is definately better than them is Pitt in this conference. UCONN is a bad matchup for us like MU is for ND. Other than that, I don't think Gtown, Louisville, ND, or 'Nova is better than MU on a neutral court.

I wouldn't laugh at that at all...that's why so many people are FRUSTRATED!  The talent is there, but they are where they are in the standings because of lapses, etc.  The talent is there.

[Doris Burkes Thong]

I wouldn't laugh at that at all...that's why so many people are FRUSTRATED!  The talent is there, but they are where they are in the standings because of lapses, etc.  The talent is there.

Yep, I agree. This MU team reminds me of that ND team a few years back that had the talent, but just lost every close game on their schedule. And I think every one of ND's conference losses that year were by one point it seemed like...lol.

[warriors1965]

I wouldn't laugh at that at all...that's why so many people are FRUSTRATED!  The talent is there, but they are where they are in the standings because of lapses, etc.  The talent is there.

If the talent is there, then the coaching is not.

[avid1010]

If the talent is there, then the coaching is not.

Awesome post. 

[Lennys Tap]

I wouldn't laugh at that at all...that's why so many people are FRUSTRATED!  The talent is there, but they are where they are in the standings because of lapses, etc.  The talent is there.

Why are you FRUSTRATED about a team that's basically meeting your expectations? Doesn't seem rational.

[nyg]

If the talent is there, then the coaching is not.

The blame has to go somewhere and maybe it is time to place some on the staff.  

But, MU has got to get over the scoring droughts that have plagued them.  Today it was end of first half into second half where seven minutes went by and not one basket.  In almost all of the losses this has been the case.  Heck, Blue didn't even take a shot today.  Well, some might think that is a good thing.  

[romey]

Why are you FRUSTRATED about a team that's basically meeting your expectations? Doesn't seem rational.

Did he say HE was frustrated?

[NickelDimer]

If this team had that night in night out centerpiece I could see a run.  But I just don't see that player on this roster and it's so vital for tourney success.  Maybe someone steps up between now and then.  I believe there are a few who are capable.

[Fullodds]

If you can't win on the road or on a nuetral court I don't see how we are a dangerous team. Rightr now we are a bubble team with little room for error if we're are to make the dance. I think we need 10 wins or 9 +2 in NYC. Shoukd be a fun month.

[only a warrior]

we are who we thought we were, so crown our asses!

Can't believe we lost that game today.

[Lennys Tap]

Did he say HE was frustrated?

First he capitalizes FRUSTRATED, then repeats twice that the talent is there. So, to any fair or logical reading, yes.

[willie warrior]

But I really think this team could do some damage in the NCAA's. It's a great year to make a run and MU is currently healthy. The one thing I like about this team that we haven't had in the past few years is they actually have some semblance of an interior post-up game. And we actually have a guy that is 6'10" and can be a defensive presence down low. In other words, we're not as vulnerable to just getting dominated in the post like the past few years. The botttom line is they just have to get in it. Still believe in this team and think they're a Top 5 BE team despite where they sit in the rankings/standings. The only team I think is definately better than them is Pitt in this conference. UCONN is a bad matchup for us like MU is for ND. Other than that, I don't think Gtown, Louisville, ND, or 'Nova is better than MU on a neutral court.

We won't make the dance, so this is wishful thinking

[79Warrior]

If you can't win on the road or on a nuetral court I don't see how we are a dangerous team. Rightr now we are a bubble team with little room for error if we're are to make the dance. I think we need 10 wins or 9 +2 in NYC. Shoukd be a fun month.

DIng Ding Ding

[ChicosBailBonds]

Why are you FRUSTRATED about a team that's basically meeting your expectations? Doesn't seem rational.

Because the beauty of being a sports fan is hoping your team wins.  The frustrating as a sports fan is knowing your team can win, or should win but doesn't.  There is nothing "rational" about being a sports fan, that's why fan comes from the word FANATIC. 

fanatic [fəˈnætɪk]
n
1. a person whose enthusiasm or zeal for something is extreme or beyond normal limits
2. Informal a person devoted to a particular hobby or pastime; fan

When rational and fandom start to co-exist, let me know.  As far as I can tell, they don't.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Did he say HE was frustrated?

  Yes, I am frustrated as are many others.

[chren21]

Anyone else notice that when it comes down to it our big guys stink?

[4everwarriors]

Laughing so hard I'm peeing myself.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I'm thinking of that U of Georgia team that got in with a 16-14 record and went to the Sweet 16.

[lab_warrior]

Anyone else notice that when it comes down to it our big guys stink?

Yeah, 12 points from our freshman big, and our other sophomore big, OTule, being the best shot blocker in the Big East.  They stink.

[NotAnAlum]

The talent is there, but they are where they are in the standings because of lapses, etc.  The talent is there.

I don't think the talent is there.  We have 3 BE quality starters in Jimmy, Jae and DJO.  Neither DB, JC or CO would start for anyone above 12th place in the BE.  And I doubt most anybody ranked in the BE would trade their 3 for our 3 straight up.  Vander may be good in a year or two but right now he is not as good as anybody else in the top of the BE's 6th man.  By comparison I'd much rather have Jimmy as soph in his role as 6th man at this point than Vander.  Our talent is "close" and that is why we are losing "close".  Simple as that

[MUBurrow]

Why are you FRUSTRATED about a team that's basically meeting your expectations? Doesn't seem rational.

Maybe because he wants Marquette to win every game they play?  Funny that Chicos often gets hated on for not being enough of a fan, then when he expresses desire for positive results, he gets attacked as being inconsistent or irrational. Cmon guys.

[brewcity77]

I thought I'd take a look at a few bracket projections and see how we might do...

Bracketology

Lunardi has us against Washington in the first round, a rematch of last year. I think we'd have a chance there. Then we'd meet BYU in the second round. I think we'd have a decent chance, they have yet to beat a decent high-major team, with all of their good wins against the likes of SDSU, Utah State, and Nevada. Their defense is worrisome, and we'd certainly be underdogs, but it remains to see how they'd do against an offense like ours. In the Sweet Sixteen, we'd most likely face Texas A&M or Georgetown. We know we can play with the Hoyas, and would probably have an even better chance on a neutral court. A&M is an underwhelming defensive team, which would play to our advantage. The biggest danger is their offensive rebounding (6th in the nation per kenpom), but it'd be a close matchup. Odds: I think this bracket plays in our favor, we'd have a decent shot at either the Sweet 16 or even Elite 8.

Sports Illustrated

Glockner has us meeting Missouri in the first round. They're a little worse than us offensively, a chunk better defensively, and like us, woeful away from home (best road win Oregon, best neutral win Illinois) where they have 5 of their 6 losses (counting Georgetown as home in their backyard). This would be a tough, close matchup, but certainly one we could win. The second round would also be BYU, a team we could beat if we played well. In the Sweet 16, we would most likely see Notre Dame, a team I'd love a third shot at on a neutral court. With this projection, the Elite 8 would at least be possible. Odds: If we get out of the first round, I think we'd have a very good shot at the Elite 8.

Warren Nolan

First round matchup with Temple would pit us against a team that's 2-0 against the Big East, beating Seton Hall and Georgetown this year. Their defense is better than ours, though the level of competition hasn't been close. They are 2-5 away from home against kenpom top 200 teams, with the wins coming over Georgia and Maryland. They are a long team that would make life tough for us on the offensive glass. Temple worries me more than most of the other first-round matchups I see, our best chance would be to get hot from 3. They aren't very good from deep either offensively or defensively, but if the game is won down low, they'll give us fits. If we won, it'd again be BYU in the second round, should we just pencil that in now? The Sweet 16 would either match us (likely) with Georgetown or Tennessee. The Vols are tough to figure. They beat 'Nova and Pitt, but lost to Charlotte and Arkansas. If we get off and running, we can run them out of the gym. If Jeronne Maymon gets minutes, we're a veritable lock to win. If they can slow the pace, they can beat us. But looking at this bracket, I think that if we beat Temple, we have a shot at an Elite 8 appearance. Odds: Beat Temple, and we can make it all the way to the Elite 8. Still be a tough run as there's no bad teams, but there's no one we can't compete with either.

DailyBracket.com

First round against Tennessee. As I said, if we up the tempo, we win. Second round against San Diego State. I'm still just not impressed by them and like our odds. They haven't beaten a team rated better than #30 UNLV according to kenpom. Their defensive numbers are great, but against who? Get Thomas and White into foul trouble and we beat them. I maintain this team is flying high in the rankings largely based on beating Gonzaga early in the year and a mediocre schedule since. Sweet 16 most likely gives us Georgetown. Again, Elite 8 is possible. Odds: I think this all but locks us into the Sweet 16, and I think we'd have a 50/50 shot of making the Elite 8. One of the best brackets for us I've seen.

The Hoops Report

I doubt this bracket, just because of the second round matchup. We'd open with Kentucky, which I wouldn't have high hopes for. They are good defensively, have proven they can play away from home, beating Louisville away and Washington on a neutral court, can shoot the three, and are one of the longest teams in the country. Frankly, I doubt we win this. If we did, it'd be Wisconsin in the second round, though it's highly unlikely the committee would put us in position to play the Badgers that early. If we did...well, I wouldn't be optimistic there either. They are longer than us, shoot the 3 well, we all saw what happened on our home court. If we did get by them, we'd have a matchup with either Washington or Georgetown, both winnable games. Unfortunately, it's unlikely we'd get far enough to find out. If we did, hell, we may as well win the national championship, I'm not sure there are many teams we match up with worse than UK or Becky. Odds: This bracket is death on wheels. I don't think we go anywhere with it.

Beer at CBSSports.com

The terrifying first round matchup with Temple, but if we won I like our odds of getting past San Diego State. The problem comes in the Sweet 16, a rematch with either Vandy or UConn. Based on past performances, I'd much rather see Vanderbilt. We matched up well with them on their court, and on a neutral, we could get by them if we can get them in foul trouble up front. Odds: This is a tough one to predict. First round would be tough, but the Sweet 16 is possible. Elite 8 would be a very tall order, but not impossible.

In Summary...

Most have us as a 10-11 seed right now. Looking around the nation, I think that gives us a chance. As long as we avoid the 8-9 range, the Sweet 16 and even Elite 8 are possible. It also seems that we would likely run into either BYU or San Diego State in the second round, both teams that I think we could contend with. One advantage to playing in the Big East is that we are less likely to meet teams that we know can give us trouble in the second round. Of the teams currently in the 6-7 seed range, I think Temple looks like the toughest matchup, with Missouri and Illinois also being dangerous (especially McCamey). In the second round, I really think we get an edge because we're unlikely to see Duke or Wisco as we played them already, and we wouldn't likely see any Big East teams. That leaves BYU, San Diego State, and Purdue. The Boilermakers would be our toughest matchup, but aren't exceptionally long. Still, their defense would cause all kinds of problems. We'd definitely need to dictate tempo.

[T-Bone]

I thought I'd take a look at a few bracket projections and see how we might do...

Bracketology
Lunardi has us against Washington in the first round

Sports Illustrated
Glockner has us meeting Missouri in the first round.

With these mentions and the Utah State (even though we won) matchup in an older thread, it feels like someone wants to cause us undue emotional stress.  We need someone new to hate.  But at the same time, I wouldn't mind a second chance at Wash or Mizzou.  Clear out some of these ghosts.