POETIC JUSTICE

[MountainCreekHouse]

Washington gets a taste of their own medicine, great way for MU to stick it to both UWMadison and UWash.

It seems like whats different about this team this year than the last two is:

1) Team chemistry. So important.
2) Diversity. So much diversity.
3) Ball movement. We create shots so much better than we searched for shots last couple of years
4) Depth. Already talked about ad nauseum.
5) True Grit. (If you don't know what I mean by this, take a second, collect yourself, and really think about it. You'll discover it.)

[seakm4]

nice Bart Scott reference.

Marquette see you in Milwaukee...CAN'T WAIT!

[MountainCreekHouse]

holla at fam

[muwarrior69]

What is even sweeter is they really out played us, but we won anyway.

[Wade for President]

Definitely the biggest difference thus far in this young season is that we're closing games out. 

Whether it's Norfolk St in the Virgin Islands, @ Madison, or against Washington...we're on the winning side.  Years past we definitely would've lost at least one...or possibly all of them.

Win and move on baby.

[MountainCreekHouse]

Definitely the biggest difference thus far in this young season is that we're closing games out. 

Whether it's Norfolk St in the Virgin Islands, @ Madison, or against Washington...we're on the winning side.  Years past we definitely would've lost at least one...or possibly all of them.

Win and move on baby.

It goes back to that age-old saying: Good teams find a way to win games. I can legitimately say that this team is better than the last two years' teams, and most likely conclude that because of the chemistry of this team it's also better then the 3 Amigos last season together. And honestly, from what I've seen thus far, it is still very much a possibility that this team is better than the team with Wade-Diener-Novak.

Que the volatile Alums to give me a good spanking, but it's a possibility.

[Silkk the Shaka]

It goes back to that age-old saying: Good teams find a way to win games. I can legitimately say that this team is better than the last two years' teams, and most likely conclude that because of the chemistry of this team it's also better then the 3 Amigos last season together. And honestly, from what I've seen thus far, it is still very much a possibility that this team is better than the team with Wade-Diener-Novak.

Que the volatile Alums to give me a good spanking, but it's a possibility.

Oh, I definitely think it's a possibility - IF Otule is healthy.  Without him we're a sweet 16/borderline elite 8 team.  Still not shabby, but sans Otule we lack a dimension that FF team had in multiple post players.

[real chili 83]

We played poorly last night in many circumstances.....missed critical free throws, missed bunnies under the basket, too many back door points and offensive rebounds for them (missed O'Tule a lot)......and we still won!

Just imagine what this team can do when it starts putting all of the pieces together consistently....game after game.

[Goose]

In my book Poetic Justice happens in early April!!

[MUMac]

It goes back to that age-old saying: Good teams find a way to win games. I can legitimately say that this team is better than the last two years' teams, and most likely conclude that because of the chemistry of this team it's also better then the 3 Amigos last season together. And honestly, from what I've seen thus far, it is still very much a possibility that this team is better than the team with Wade-Diener-Novak.

Que the volatile Alums to give me a good spanking, but it's a possibility.

I agree, which is why I hope Otule's injury is not severe.  This team is the deepest, most complete that I have seen at MU in many, many years.  Size, athleticism, offensive scoring, decent shooting, good defense ... they are so much fun to watch.

[NersEllenson]

I agree, which is why I hope Otule's injury is not severe.  This team is the deepest, most complete that I have seen at MU in many, many years EVER.  Size, athleticism, offensive scoring, decent shooting, good defense ... they are so much fun to watch.

Fixed.  (In my opinion) 

[Lennys Tap]

Fixed.  (In my opinion)  

Sorry, Ners. This probably is MU's deepest team ever, but no way its most talented. All 5 starters from the '76 team (Ellis, Whitehead, Tatum, Walton and Butch Lee) played in the NBA. Can't be much more complete than an NBA guy at every position. And that's just one example. Every team from 70-78 was loaded.

[MUMac]

Fixed.  (In my opinion) 

I had come close to making that statement.  Some of Al's teams and the '77/78 team were one's that kept me from that statement.  

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

I had come close to making that statement.  Some of Al's teams and the '77/78 team were one's that kept me from that statement.  

I'll make a suggestion I usually hate, but aren't NBA players now on average more talented than in the 70s? Without an disrespect for Al's teams, the athleticism and speed today are way above that older style of play.

Is it a question of Al's teams being better in the context of the 70's than this team is in the context of 2011? Or is it "If today's team played the '76 team they'd win/lose?"

[Lennys Tap]

I'll make a suggestion I usually hate, but aren't NBA players now on average more talented than in the 70s? Without an disrespect for Al's teams, the athleticism and speed today are way above that older style of play.

Is it a question of Al's teams being better in the context of the 70's than this team is in the context of 2011? Or is it "If today's team played the '76 team they'd win/lose?"

Of course athletes today across the board are much better than they were 30-40 years ago - comparisons are always relative. Put the hapless 2011 Minnesota Vikings in a time machine and they'll go back and crush the 1967 Packers but that's meaningless when comparing the two.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

This probably is MU's deepest team ever, but no way its most talented. All 5 starters from the '76 team (Ellis, Whitehead, Tatum, Walton and Butch Lee) played in the NBA.

Isn't that what you're saying here?

[Blue Horseshoe]

1) Team chemistry. So important.
2) Diversity. So much diversity.
3) Ball movement. We They create shots so much better than we they searched for shots last couple of years
4) Depth. Already talked about ad nauseum.
5) True Grit. (If you don't know what I mean by this, take a second, collect yourself, and really think about it. You'll discover it.)

Please use quantifiable stats and analysis to back up such claims.

[MU82]

Even if one takes the questionable leap that today's players are more athletic and talented than those of Al's era, don't forget that there were only 22 NBA teams in 1977, compared to 30 now. That means there were fewer opportunities to make NBA teams. So having five NBA players on one college team in 1976 is quite impressive.

Frankly, saying this team was better than pretty much any team in Al's last decade is wishful thinking (and/or downright silly).

As for 2003, that team could put five better players on the floor than anything Buzz can put on the floor now. Even if this team is deeper, which it certainly seems to be, don't forget that rotations are shortened in the conference season and then shortened considerably in the tournament.

Folks always seem to want the here and now to be better than what was. I'm very encouraged by what I've seen so far this season, but I'll believe we're better than the Wade-Diener-Jackson-Novak-Merritt team when I see it.

[mugrad2006]

It goes back to that age-old saying: Good teams find a way to win games. I can legitimately say that this team is better than the last two years' teams, and most likely conclude that because of the chemistry of this team it's also better then the 3 Amigos last season together. And honestly, from what I've seen thus far, it is still very much a possibility that this team is better than the team with Wade-Diener-Novak.

Que the volatile Alums to give me a good spanking, but it's a possibility.

Volatile alum here.  Let's not get ahead of ourselves claiming this team is better than the Final Four team.  Anybody that watched them dismantle Pittsburgh and beat consensus #1 Kentucky by 14 knows how ridiculously good that team was.  I'd favor that group against any MU team of the past two decades.  In case you need a reminder, check out this http://vault.ncaa.com/

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Even if one takes the questionable leap that today's players are more athletic and talented than those of Al's era, don't forget that there were only 22 NBA teams in 1977, compared to 30 now. That means there were fewer opportunities to make NBA teams. So having five NBA players on one college team in 1976 is quite impressive.

Frankly, saying this team was better than pretty much any team in Al's last decade is wishful thinking (and/or downright silly).

As for 2003, that team could put five better players on the floor than anything Buzz can put on the floor now. Even if this team is deeper, which it certainly seems to be, don't forget that rotations are shortened in the conference season and then shortened considerably in the tournament.

Folks always seem to want the here and now to be better than what was. I'm very encouraged by what I've seen so far this season, but I'll believe we're better than the Wade-Diener-Jackson-Novak-Merritt team when I see it.

Good points... to quote a personal favorite NBA player, "The ball don't lie." A deeper run in the NCAAs will be enough for me to believe this team is better than the 2003 FF team.

[MUMac]

I'll make a suggestion I usually hate, but aren't NBA players now on average more talented than in the 70s? Without an disrespect for Al's teams, the athleticism and speed today are way above that older style of play.

Is it a question of Al's teams being better in the context of the 70's than this team is in the context of 2011? Or is it "If today's team played the '76 team they'd win/lose?"

My comment was based in the context of the time they played.  I was not trying to compare era's or decades. 

[MUMac]

As for 2003, that team could put five better players on the floor than anything Buzz can put on the floor now. Even if this team is deeper, which it certainly seems to be, don't forget that rotations are shortened in the conference season and then shortened considerably in the tournament.

Folks always seem to want the here and now to be better than what was. I'm very encouraged by what I've seen so far this season, but I'll believe we're better than the Wade-Diener-Jackson-Novak-Merritt team when I see it.

I am not sure how you quantify the comment above.  I am guessing you are comparing this years players (first 8 games in their career for some) to the full careers of the 5 you mention.  I would take today's Crowder over the Freshman Novak.  He did not start on that team.  I would take this years DJO over the sophomore Diener.  Wade was in a league of his own. 

I don't know that the comparison of this years squad to that YEARS squad is as wide as you perceive it to be.

[jficke13]

I'm watching the MU-Kentucky Elite 8 game right now (first time since seeing it from the nosebleeds of the Metrodome). I remember Robert Jackson being a dominant big man, but I didn't really remember him being so dominant. Otule has skill; Gardner can score, but we haven't had a guy like Jackson in a looooong time.

[MUMac]

I'm watching the MU-Kentucky Elite 8 game right now (first time since seeing it from the nosebleeds of the Metrodome). I remember Robert Jackson being a dominant big man, but I didn't really remember him being so dominant. Otule has skill; Gardner can score, but we haven't had a guy like Jackson in a looooong time.

He could play the alley better than anyone I recall at MU.  He had some huge plays against Pitt and Kentucky.

[MU82]

1 - Cadougan vs Diener = Diener by far.

2 - DJO vs Wade = Duh.

3 - Blue vs Novak = Let's call it a tie for fun.

4 - Crowder vs Merritt = Crowder.

5 - Otule vs Jackson = Jackson by a lot (and I like Otule).

Even if you call DJO the 3 and give it to him over Novak, it's still a decisive win for 2003. And don't forget that Diener was only a soph and Novak a freshman.

All this is fun but goofy. The 2003 team went to the Final Four. We'll see how this team compares soon enough.

Until then, as Buzz says, I plan to enjoy the ride.