Raise your hand,

[nyg]

If you actually thought MU would be 4 and 1 in BE play at this point. I did not.

Three overtime games, two buzzer beaters, fouling a player on a closing three point shot, letting a player hit an open three to tie, hitting free throws to tie twice (on the road), offensive woes at times, well alot of times, etc.

Three out of conference losses, one on a buzzer beater impossible throw up and the other they had a chance to win at buzzer.

All very exciting and at times insane to watch. 

[MerrittsMustache]

Makes you wonder how good MU will be under Buzz in a couple years with a top 5 recruiting class coming in...

[brewcity77]

I had us at 3-2 but finishing 13-5. I still honestly think we could win the league. We've already played 2 of our 4 toughest road games. If (and it's a big if) we take care of business at home and beat the teams we should beat on the road, there's no reason we can't win the league.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I had us at 3-2 but finishing 13-5. I still honestly think we could win the league. We've already played 2 of our 4 toughest road games. If (and it's a big if) we take care of business at home and beat the teams we should beat on the road, there's no reason we can't win the league.

If we win this league, I'll send you a case of beer...your choice.  Just because.  

We are 4-1, could be 1-4 just as easily.  Literally one possession per game could have dictated three of our wins.  I could easily see us losing at USF, at Seton Hall, at Villanova, at SJU, and at Rutgers...not all of them, but all those are games we "should" win but my guess is we drop at least two of those.  We won't beat UL on the road and the Cuse at home will be a stretch.  Lots of golf left.  On paper, things look good, but we are 3 possessions from being 1-4.  

[Avenue Commons]

If we win this league, I'll send you a case of beer...your choice.  Just because.  

We are 4-1, could be 1-4 just as easily.  Literally one possession per game could have dictated three of our wins.  I could easily see us losing at USF, at Seton Hall, at Villanova, at SJU, and at Rutgers...not all of them, but all those are games we "should" win but my guess is we drop at least two of those.  We won't beat UL on the road and the Cuse at home will be a stretch.  Lots of golf left.  On paper, things look good, but we are 3 possessions from being 1-4.  

And a single possession in both UWGB and Butler from having 2 extra non-conference wins. It cuts both ways. Good teams find a way to win.

[AirPunches]

So, basically 6 possessions is the difference between being 16-1 and 10-7. I think 13-4 is about right and I think MU is in a good position.

[Lennys Tap]

If we win this league, I'll send you a case of beer...your choice.  Just because.  

We are 4-1, could be 1-4 just as easily.  Literally one possession per game could have dictated three of our wins.  I could easily see us losing at USF, at Seton Hall, at Villanova, at SJU, and at Rutgers...not all of them, but all those are games we "should" win but my guess is we drop at least two of those.  We won't beat UL on the road and the Cuse at home will be a stretch.  Lots of golf left.  On paper, things look good, but we are 3 possessions from being 1-4.  

Or 5-0. This team was picked to finish 8th, so the fact that there won't be many (any?) easy games isn't exactly a revelation.

I don't know which is worse, losing or dealing with your half empty negatism when we lose or don't win going away. You didn't think we were any good when the conference season started yet you bitch about our energy when we lose a heartbreaker on the road as an 8 point dog. Funny, but I don't recall you constantly looking for the clouds behind every silver lining until April 8, 2008. Wonder why? (That's a rhetorical question)

You know, our 2003 Final Four team was a bounce or two from losing in the first or second round. Still, I think it's probably unanimous on this board that our team was good that year, not some lucky group that could/should have lost early. But I'm sure you were all over the team and coach back then, pointing out that they were lucky, not good. Yeah, I'm real sure of that. LOL

[MarquetteDano]

Funny, but I don't recall you constantly looking for the clouds behind every silver lining until April 8, 2008. Wonder why? (That's a rhetorical question)

I was about to post exactly the same thing.  This board has some negativos, some positivos.  I like hearing from both sides as it gives one differing perspectives.

However, I know of only one poster on this board who used to be a positivo and now is a negativo.  And it would appear that switch happened right about the time there was a coaching change.  The coincidence is uncanny.

[brewcity77]

If we win this league, I'll send you a case of beer...your choice.  Just because.  

We are 4-1, could be 1-4 just as easily.  Literally one possession per game could have dictated three of our wins.  I could easily see us losing at USF, at Seton Hall, at Villanova, at SJU, and at Rutgers...not all of them, but all those are games we "should" win but my guess is we drop at least two of those.  We won't beat UL on the road and the Cuse at home will be a stretch.  Lots of golf left.  On paper, things look good, but we are 3 possessions from being 1-4.  

The second half against Cincy was some of the best basketball we've played all season. Yes, we could have more losses, but we don't, and this team is getting better every week. There's not a game on our schedule we can't win, and that includes Louisville.

Especially as long as they give the ball to Peyton Siva in crunch time. Pitino said he didn't think there was a better PG in the country. That's funny, because I'm not sure he's even top-10 in the Big East. I'd take Napier, Wright, Collins, MCW, Cotton, Woodall, Boatright, and Atkins without much of a thought. Is Siva better than Mack, Young, and Cadougan? I'm not sure. As long as you have a PG who is turnover-prone, you can be beat. If anyone knows that, it's Marquette fans on bad-Junior nights.

[GGGG]

I think this is Buzz's best coaching job so far.  Not only has the team improved over the season, but it shows improvement during games.  Perhaps Wainwright is paying dividends?

[TheTulsaWarrior]

Wainwright and Reynolds bring years of head coaching experience.  Chew's resume on the AAU circuit and as a top assistant is impressive.  With the holdovers and additions this is Buzz's best staff ever.  I'm impressed as much with how he has built a staff over the years as I am with his recruiting of players.

[ChicosBailBonds]

And a single possession in both UWGB and Butler from having 2 extra non-conference wins. It cuts both ways. Good teams find a way to win.

Yup, of course it cuts both ways.  It also means the margin for error is small with this team. My comments were almost verbatim to what Buzz, himself, said.  The line is very thin.  If that makes me a negativo then I guess Buzz is a negativo...or maybe it makes us both merely observant of what has occurred.  I'm opting for the latter.

If we win the conference, I'll buy a case of beer to Brew.  That's a bold pick and he would deserve something for that pick. I don't see us anywhere close to the class of UL or Syracuse and think too many potential losses are out there in other games.

[muarmy81]

I think this is Buzz's best coaching job so far.  Not only has the team improved over the season, but it shows improvement during games.  Perhaps Wainwright is paying dividends?

Agree, mid-way through non-conference I didn't think we looked like an NCAA tourney team.  These guys have really found their identity and it's great to see Vander and Devante becoming the go to guys for this team.

Not as good as the past 2 teams, yet.  I think they could surprise some folks.

[MUBurrow]

More than make me think about winning conference this year, this makes me crazy excited for what next year's team will look like.  

Our big problem this year is, and I think will be all year, putting the ball in the hoop. As gritty and easy to love as this team is, you will lose some games you should win if you can't score consistently, and you will have a really tough time winning some games you should lose. If this team wills itself to a top four seed in the BEast tourney, I will be tickled pink.  A month ago, this season had bubble written all over it.  Since then, MU hadn't lost until last night and saw some of its losses really start to look better (Butler especially).  

Sure last night was a great second half of basketball, but the whole thing was predicated on draining the 3 - something I just dont think this team can do with enough regularity to play a lot of stretches like the final 20 minutes last night.  Vander doesnt knock down those threes early, and that half never opens up the way it does.  After another year of focusing on more consistent long range shooting (and another year of general offensive polish on Vander, Jamil, Juan and ST Jr) this team gets scary. But until then, they just dont score enough to win other way than they have been - and I dont think that leaves you with enough W's to start talking about conference championships in a mix with L'ville and Cuse.

[4everwarriors]

Yup, of course it cuts both ways.  It also means the margin for error is small with this team.  y comments were almost verbatim to what Buzz, himself, said.  The line is very thin.  If that makes me a negativo then I guess Buzz is a negativo...or maybe it makes us both merely observant of what has occurred.  I'm opting for the latter.

If we win the conference, I'll buy a case of beer to Brew.  That's a bold pick and he would deserve something for that pick. I don't see us anywhere close to the class of UL or Syracuse and think too many potential losses are out there in other games.

What's he buyin' you if they crap their pants?

[ChicosBailBonds]

What's he buyin' you if they crap their pants?

Nothing, this is just a proactive gesture on my part. 


"We could very easily, very easily be 0-4. That's the truth. This was a blowout. We won by seven. I think it's just going to be a grind. I think it's going to be ugly, and I don't think there's a thing we do that's pretty."
-Buzz Williams after win against Seton Hall...Mr. Negativo   

[Lennys Tap]

Yup, of course it cuts both ways.  It also means the margin for error is small with this team. My comments were almost verbatim to what Buzz, himself, said.  The line is very thin.  If that makes me a negativo then I guess Buzz is a negativo...or maybe it makes us both merely observant of what has occurred.  I'm opting for the latter.

If we win the conference, I'll buy a case of beer to Brew.  That's a bold pick and he would deserve something for that pick. I don't see us anywhere close to the class of UL or Syracuse and think too many potential losses are out there in other games.

The margin for error is very slim for everyone in the conference other than Syracuse and Louisville. Before the conference season started, that group at the top was supposed to include Pitt, Cincy, ND and maybe the now foundering Hoyas who took your beloved Hoosiers to overtime on a neutral court. So we're now in better shape than virtually anyone expected.

We've won 3 of 4 close games and you want to talk about the fact that, had we lost all 4, we would be 1-4 (the other side of 5-0, not 4-1 by the way). But had we lost all 4 you would be apoplectic about our lack of heart, poor strategy,etc. You'd  laugh at the "kool aid drinkers" who would dare to suggest we could be 5-0 and say a good team wins close games.

So if we win close, we're lucky. If we lose close, we're bad. I think that attitude is negative.

[NotAnAlum]

No way MU wins the league.  Anyone who watched the Syr - Ville game yesterday must be able to see the difference between those teams and MU.  But this was supposed to be a down your for us so if we can be competive in the BE and get into the dance in even in a rebuilding year that says a lot.  I just want a time that is fun to watch and that you can be proud of.  It was pretty hard to say that sitting through the 1st half last night.  But they came back and made it exciting in a game were weren't supposed to win anyway.  Pull this same thing and lose at S FL or Rutgers and it will be harder to take.

[john31]

If you told me a month ago that after 5 conference games that we were 4-1 I would have laughed at you. Here we are though, I think maybe some of us are a little bitter about the Cincinnati loss but I do think that the second half of that game may have been the best half of basketball that this team has played this year. Could it be that after three years of exceeding expectations this MU team is at or below our collective expectation? I am still positive, I think there is good reason to think that MU could go 7-6 the rest of the way maybe a game better. It will be interesting to see what happens the rest of the way in as far as who steps up and distinguishes and distances themselves from the rest of the rotation. Any leading candidates, Steve Taylor?

[GGGG]

Good question john.  I'm going to take the softball answer and say Todd Mayo.  I don't think the freshmen are going to get much more playing time, and don't think Juan is ready for that role yet.

[dwaderoy2004]

I did.  Guess you'll just have to take my word for it, though.

[ChicosBailBonds]

So if we win close, we're lucky. If we lose close, we're bad. I think that attitude is negative.

You're the one saying those words, I never have.  I'm saying exactly what Buzz is saying. 

[TallTitan34]

"We could very easily, very easily be 0-4. That's the truth. This was a blowout. We won by seven. I think it's just going to be a grind. I think it's going to be ugly, and I don't think there's a thing we do that's pretty."
-Buzz Williams after win against Seton Hall

If this was from the postgame, you left out what Buzz said after that.  I believe it went along the lines of "We don't do anything well but we are winning.  Maybe that's the one thing we do well: winning".

[ChicosBailBonds]

If this was from the postgame, you left out what Buzz said after that.  I believe it went along the lines of "We don't do anything well but we are winning.  Maybe that's the one thing we do well: winning".

I posted it from the article...the quote in the article didn't have the latter quote you stated, so I didn't leave anything out...the author of the article did.  Nothing in there from Buzz about winning, but if he said he is right.  No argument there.


http://msn.foxsports.com/collegebasketball/story/MarquetteCincinnati-Preview-00873923

[TallTitan34]

The author probably got the quote from the post game press conference then. With Mac and Homer he dropped the line about winning being the only thing they do well.