Why were we so tired?

[CTWarrior]

I know, three games in three nights and Louisville with their waves of players and constant pressing style is not the ideal team to play when you're not at 100%, but we were out of gas by the second media timeout.

I know I'm an old man and I only played through high school, but I remember the games being the easy part.  Practice was way more physically demanding (though certainly not more mentally demanding) than the games  (and yes, I played 80-100% of game minutes). 

Does anybody know if Buzz scaled back the intensity of the pre-game walk throughs?  This is two years in a row that we were basically unable to compete in the second half of our third game of the BE tournament due to exhaustion. 

UConn played a tough physical team in Pitt and they weren't too tired to go at it for 40 minutes.  I'm still happy with the performance in NY, we did what had to be done, but I'm curious if Buzz will change his approach to this tournament in future years.

[GGGG]

We were slow in the first half, but only down by five at halftime.  I'm not exactly sure what you can do when you are playing your third game in as many nights, but UL is playing their first.

[tower912]

You printed the answer.   It was our third game in 3 nights.   Just like last year against G-town.   I think our two worst losses under Buzz our the third game in 3 nights.    Our next worse was our second game in two nights against Dayton, IIRC.    And playing against Louisville's waves was the worst team at the worst time.    Almost would have been better off playing ND and the 'burn'.

[NavinRJohnson]

And playing against Louisville's waves was the worst team at the worst time.    

Exactly correct. I'd have a hard time coming up with a list of teams I would not like to play in that situation (3 games in 3 days vs. their zero)  that didn't have UofL near the top. This as exactly the result I expected.

All in all, not a bad situation. They were able to play three games, secured their spot, and now they can get a day or two off and still have plenty of opportunity to get some regular work in before the tournament.

[schuess56]

I'm ok with it.  Good week.  Huge vs West Va.  The legs were gone against L ville who was playing their first game.

But Crowder was really unplayable ... the most gassed of all.   Just watching guys go by him, and couldn't even put up a free throw.   Why did he play so much?   I love Crowder, but it should have been obvious that he was not going to be making any plays last night.   It would have been a great night to play E Williams.

[MU1980]

Are you really trying to compare playing 80% of a 32 minute high school game to playing three nights in a row of a 48 minute Big East basketball game?  Why would you even think of trying to make that comparison. 

And yes, what UConn did was impressive, but the norm is for a team playing three nights in a row against a fresh team to be more tired and play below their level. 

[APieperFan3]

Are you really trying to compare playing 80% of a 32 minute high school game to playing three nights in a row of a 48 minute Big East basketball game?  Why would you even think of trying to make that comparison. 

And yes, what UConn did was impressive, but the norm is for a team playing three nights in a row against a fresh team to be more tired and play below their level. 

40 minute.

[MikeyT42]

Don't compare what we did to what UCONN is doing. They played a Depaul team who couldn't hold a candle to anyone in the big east. That game was presumably over at halftime. They then played a undermanned GTOWN team who didn't put up much of a fight in the second half.

Our game vs. PC was fast, uptempo, back and forth. The WVA game was a grinder, mentally and physically.

[jt92]

UConn also played at noon.  I know the games hours a part are the same but there is a difference playing at 12 then playing at 9:30 everynight.  Don't be surprised if MU gets that play in game. 

[MU1980]

40 minute.

Thanks for catching that.  Thought the Big East played by NBA rules.    

[NavinRJohnson]

Don't be surprised if MU gets that play in game. 

I will be. I think you can probably pencil the loser of the Illinois/Michigan game today into one of those slots right now. That leaves three open, and I don't see MU in that mix with the likes of BC, Georgia, VT, UAB, etc.

[APieperFan3]

I will be. I think you can probably pencil the loser of the Illinois/Michigan game today into one of those slots right now. That leaves three open, and I don't see MU in that mix with the likes of BC, Georgia, VT, UAB, etc.

I agree Navin.

MU will be a 10-11 seed. "Bookmark it"

(I will keep my lenten promise through NEXT EASTER if we get the 10 seed and play #2 BYU in 2nd round)

[reinko]

UConn also played at noon.  I know the games hours a part are the same but there is a difference playing at 12 then playing at 9:30 everynight.  Don't be surprised if MU gets that play in game. 

False.

[CTWarrior]

Are you really trying to compare playing 80% of a 32 minute high school game to playing three nights in a row of a 48 minute Big East basketball game?  Why would you even think of trying to make that comparison. 

And yes, what UConn did was impressive, but the norm is for a team playing three nights in a row against a fresh team to be more tired and play below their level. 

I'm not really trying to compare, of course.  Forgetting the extra 8 minutes, the pace of the game is much faster and the level of play much higher.  (To give you an idea of how old I am, I played against Wesley Matthews' father in HS).  I think we are not the norm and seem to suffer much more from fatigue in consecutive game situations than other teams.  I think of Florida State/Dayton in recent seasons, Georgetown last season, Gonzaga this season, etc.  Not the end of the world and only matters in these consecutive days scenarios, which we are done with.

[MUMac]

I'm not really trying to compare, of course.  Forgetting the extra 8 minutes, the pace of the game is much faster and the level of play much higher.  (To give you an idea of how old I am, I played against Wesley Matthews' father in HS).  I think we are not the norm and seem to suffer much more from fatigue in consecutive game situations than other teams.  I think of Florida State/Dayton in recent seasons, Georgetown last season, Gonzaga this season, etc.  Not the end of the world and only matters in these consecutive days scenarios, which we are done with.

I thought the legs looked sluggish, but I really thought the fatigue was mental.  I think this team really focused on the first two games of the tourney.  They came out like caged tigers.  Last night, I did not see the same drive.  Difficult to get into it mentally 3 games in a row - especially when the other team is fresh.  You could see that when they cut the lead to 2 against UL and then UL went on a run.

[4everwarriors]

I dunno. ESPN showed their pre-game huddle and there was plenty of energy in that circle.

[MUMac]

So we're basing things on the energy of a pregame huddle?  Please tell me you meant to use teal ...

[Marquette84]

I thought the legs looked sluggish, but I really thought the fatigue was mental.  I think this team really focused on the first two games of the tourney.  They came out like caged tigers.  Last night, I did not see the same drive.  Difficult to get into it mentally 3 games in a row - especially when the other team is fresh.  You could see that when they cut the lead to 2 against UL and then UL went on a run.

What it comes down to is knowing you're in a potentially 5-day tournament, why on the first day with a 20 point lead are our starters playing so many minutes?  Butler, Cadougan and Crowder played more than their season average.  DJO played more.

Meanwhile, in a 21 point blowout, Jones has 5 minutes, Williams 9 and Frozena 1.  10 minutes each for those three would not have lost the game for us, and may have protected the legs of DJO, Crowder and Butler.

[GGGG]

I doubt an extra 5 min of rest on tues would have mattered by thurs.

[MUMac]

What it comes down to is knowing you're in a potentially 5-day tournament, why on the first day with a 20 point lead are our starters playing so many minutes?  Butler, Cadougan and Crowder played more than their season average.  DJO played more.

Meanwhile, in a 21 point blowout, Jones has 5 minutes, Williams 9 and Frozena 1.  10 minutes each for those three would not have lost the game for us, and may have protected the legs of DJO, Crowder and Butler.

PC made a few comebacks, and quickly, during that game.  They can score offensively.  I am sure Buzz was concerned with another UL debacle.  That game was a must win.  WVU was another big win.  Those were the games that you play for - not holding back hoping you get a game on Thursday.

[NavinRJohnson]

What it comes down to is knowing you're in a potentially 5-day tournament, why on the first day with a 20 point lead are our starters playing so many minutes?  Butler, Cadougan and Crowder played more than their season average.  DJO played more.

Meanwhile, in a 21 point blowout, Jones has 5 minutes, Williams 9 and Frozena 1.  10 minutes each for those three would not have lost the game for us, and may have protected the legs of DJO, Crowder and Butler.

Yeah, I agree looking ahead to a third game that may or may not happen would have definitely been the right call for a team trying to ensure its place in the NCAA tournament. BTW, Butler and Crowder both played less than their season averages. Check out UConn's minutes from their TWO blowout wins. But, what does Calhoun know?

Have you ever thought about coaching?

[Nukem2]

Also played Saturday nite, traveled back to MKE and then back to NYC inb short order.  At some point, the body and the mind simply gets tired.

[GGGG]

MU on spring break this next week. Gives them a couple days to both physically and mentally rest.

[NotAnAlum]

Don't be surprised if MU gets that play in game. 

PLEASE!  Villanova TIES with MU at 9-9 in the BE.  Proceeds to lose their first round game (a bad loss) while we win 2 including one against the 20th ranked team WVA and we end up in the play in game.  Ain't going to happen

[4everwarriors]

Yankee, back in the day when Wes' old man played at Bridgeport, were you the dude who taught him that choke
move?