The good news

[Doris Burkes Thong]

We are back under the radar after that performance heading into the NCAA's. You can forget the sleeper Final Four crap talk. IMO, that's a good thing because I feel this team has kind of gotten the attitude where they can just show up and win on pure talent alone. Unfortunately, that's obviously not the case because they're aren't overly talented to begin with. This is a team that still has a small margin for error and ALWAYS has to play with an edge and feel like they're the underdog.

[MakeItRain11]

"you aren't talented enough to win on talent alone"
-Herb Brooks

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

"you aren't talented enough to win on talent alone"
-Herb Brooks

One of the best quotes from one of the best coaches is sports history. Put a smile on my face in an otherwise sh!tty night.

[CTWarrior]

This is a team that still has a small margin for error and ALWAYS has to play with an edge and feel like they're the underdog.

That's why I would have preferred Kevin Jones won POY.  Media spent the week blowing smoke up our butt and we weren't ready, except for DJO.

[MerrittsMustache]

That's why I would have preferred Kevin Jones won POY.  Media spent the week blowing smoke up our butt and we weren't ready, except for DJO.

Jae's award had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the team's performance tonight.

[CTWarrior]

Jae's award had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the team's performance tonight.

You have NO IDEA if what you are saying is true. 

[MerrittsMustache]

You have NO IDEA if what you are saying is true. 

You think Jae's award made Cadougan forget how to play basketball?

[brewcity77]

Tonight was a team loss. Cadougan wouldn't have turned it over so much if guys came to the ball to give him passing lanes. We wouldn't have given up 26 o-boards if Jamil and Gardner did a better job boxing out. We could have overcome Junior's turnovers if everyone else wasn't also trying to dribble through the press and make baseball passes left and right. We wouldn't have been short-handed if Jae didn't commit dumb fouls.

The only guy who really showed up was DJO, and even he disappeared in the second for a stretch. This is on the entire team.

[muwarrior97]

Only double-bye team to lose in quarters......NICE!

[WellsstreetWanderer]

All the other games in the BE tournament so far were close but this one

[wojosdojo]

Jae's award had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the team's performance tonight.

Absolutely played a factor. This team needs a chip on their shoulder to win.

[rocky_warrior]

All the other games in the BE tournament so far were close but this one

You must mean today, because yesterday Georgetown had a 12pt win over Pitt, and on Tues the *closest* two games were 14 pt wins, the other two were 21 and 32 pt blowouts. 

[MUMac]

Tonight was a team loss. Cadougan wouldn't have turned it over so much if guys came to the ball to give him passing lanes.

I dunno, where some of those passes went, I am not sure that anyone on the court could have caught those.  Plenty of forced errors, but far too many unforced as well.  In addition, he had a fascination with trying to dribble through 3 people.

We wouldn't have given up 26 o-boards if Jamil and Gardner did a better job boxing out.

Mayo was really poor at boxing out tonight.  Quite a few were on him as well.  This, though, is another reason why Crowder CAN NOT commit the senseless fouls.  Three of those last night.

[MerrittsMustache]

Absolutely played a factor. This team needs a chip on their shoulder to win.

Teal?

[Goose]

The real good news is that I was not among the Warrior faithful to spend money to be at the game. I only got stung for pizza and beer money. Watching them lose of the couch provided some relief.

[Aughnanure]

Only double-bye team to lose in quarters......NICE!

Yeah, this year. But its happened regularly in the past

[MerrittsMustache]

Yeah, this year. But its happened regularly in the past

Prior to the game, didn't they say that teams with the double bye were 8-6 all time?

[Aughnanure]

Prior to the game, didn't they say that teams with the double bye were 8-6 all time?

Yeah, something like that. Hell before this year, analysts were debating whether the double-bye was even an advantage b/c it allowed the teams that played earlier to get used to the lights and get some momentum.

[DoggyDaddy]

Rather lose the first one in this tourney then the next one.  What was prediction at the beginning of the year?  Was it not one and done in the NCAA?
If we win the next two we exceed expectations.  With a 3/4 seed we're more likely to win two than we were last year. 
With the chip firmly back on their shoulders, the team has more wins in them.     

[muwarrior69]

Is it just me? Patino and his team were all pumped ready to play. Buzz on the other hand did not seem to have the urgency to win. Next week we are playing for real and hope to see that will to win return. We are better than that game last night.

[mviale]

Buzz seems very practical to me and he knows the the BE tourney does not help his salary or his legacy.  Its all about the big dance

[MUMac]

Buzz seems very practical to me and he knows the the BE tourney does not help his salary or his legacy.  Its all about the big dance

This.  I will add that if you recall a comment by either DJO or Crowder from earlier this year.  They mentioned they realize their career is ending soon.  They remember the bitterness of last years defeat in the tourney.  They don't want to experience that again.

I am not condoning or excusing, but part of me wonders if their focus is next week and beyond.  This was a stepping stone.  Nice to have, but not necessary.

If they come out with fire in their eyes next week, that may be it. 

[CTWarrior]

Buzz seems very practical to me and he knows the the BE tourney does not help his salary or his legacy.  Its all about the big dance

You may be right, but I doubt this very much.  A Big East Tournament Championship would help his legacy more than anything he has done up to this point.  So far he's got one sweet 16 and a Paradise Jam title.  BET champs would be the best thing on his resume.  Further, it's not like losing last night helps them for the NCAA tournament at all.  If he wants to advance far in the NCAA tournament, improving your seed is the best way to do it.

Buzz is a competitor, as are Jae and DJO.  I don't think they took this game lightly or easily or didn't want to win really badly.  Buzz just planned and coached poorly and we just played poorly.  Another team matched our intensity and bettered our quickness and depth and we were beaten.  No practicality or excuses.

[ErickJD08]

The best thing that happen from this loss is that MU's odds to go to Final Four and Championship game went down.  I can put down less money to fund my trip to the Final Four.

[Hoopaloop]

Buzz seems very practical to me and he knows the the BE tourney does not help his salary or his legacy.  Its all about the big dance

He's a coach paid to win basketball games.  Are you suggesting he doesn't care about the Big East Tournament?