10-3

[geps]

Is this record really that surprising? Other than winning at Pitt most games we were supposed to win. Not diminishing the season but I thought 9-4 at this point was pretty realistic.

[Niv Berkowitz]

No way. That's way To easy to say in hindsight. A .500 record at this point would have been good based on how they looked in November/early Dec. figure two Pitt losses and a grown loss and wham bam we are 7-6.

[honkytonk]

Well, Im not sure anyone predicted that the BE would be as weak as it is. Lets face it...of the BE title contenders (MU, Lou, GU, SU) all have major flaws. Heck, the best team out of the BE might not get a No 1 seed. Compare the top teams to just a year ago - no one comes close to that SU team...not even close.

[setyoursightsnorth]

I don't think many people thought we would beat Pitt...twice.
Georgetown and Uconn were games that could go either way, but I think people thought we wouldn't come out on top in those two either.

So you're looking at 4 games that we won that weren't given to us. I think being at 10-3 is something few of us thought was achievable.

[Lennys Tap]

Is this record really that surprising? Other than winning at Pitt most games we were supposed to win. Not diminishing the season but I thought 9-4 at this point was pretty realistic.

We were underdogs twice to Pitt and pick em at home vs UCONN and Georgetown. Splitting the two toss ups makes us 7-6. That's what we "should be" according to Vegas. So 10-3 is pretty good.

[Montana Warrior]

I hate to admit it because I started the season as a non-believer but the field is very weak and/or evenly matched.  The Sweet16 is realistic or maybe better.  That said only the 2009-10 team is weaker than this team under Buzz.

[The Lens]

I was on record as 13-5.  Let's beat Nova!

[JD]

Well, Im not sure anyone predicted that the BE would be as weak as it is. Lets face it...of the BE title contenders (MU, Lou, GU, SU) all have major flaws. Heck, the best team out of the BE might not get a No 1 seed. Compare the top teams to just a year ago - no one comes close to that SU team...not even close.

Agree, and that can be said with the entire country this year.  Indiana is the only real threat i see winning it all this year as far as "the best team in the nation"  However coaching, might be their downfall.

[Tugg Speedman]

Agree, and that can be said with the entire country this year.  Indiana is the only real threat i see winning it all this year as far as "the best team in the nation"  However coaching, might be their downfall.

+1

Everyone is flawed this year ... Not just the big east.

[bilsu]

I think the Big East is weaker than prior years, but is it weaker in relation to the other conferences? Conference strength is determined in November and December non-conference games. Once the conference season starts it is hard to tell which conference overall is improving more than another conference overall. It is easy to see individual teams improve more than other teams in their conference during the conference season. Obviously, both MU and UW have improved more than their respective conference opponents as born out by their current conference standings. It is a valid question to ask is MU being tied for first an indication of a weak Big East or an indication of a strong MU team? The same goes for UW. The question I have concerning UW is UW better than I thought or is the Big 10 not as good as everyone thinks? I think the answer is a little of both, that being that UW has greatly improved and the Big 10 is simply not as good as people think. The NCAA tournament is what determines who was the best conference.

[WarhawkWarrior]

I wouldn't say that all teams are flawed this year.  Just much greater parity.  This team has totally exceeded expectations in my book.  The Big East also has few significant seniors.

[connie]

I am pleasantly surprised.  I don't want to go too far in the way back machine and read the posts after the Florida game.

[klyrish]

I honestly believe we could (and should be) 11-2. That loss at Georgetown was simply bad playing and coaching. Had we shown up like we did at Pitt or Hall, we would've crushed Gtown.

But can't dwell on that. FORWARD. ONWARD. TO INFINITY AND BEYOND. ...and so forth.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Agree, and that can be said with the entire country this year.  Indiana is the only real threat i see winning it all this year as far as "the best team in the nation"  However coaching, might be their downfall.

Yeah, it wouldn't be because they shoot poorly one day, the other team shoots out of their minds...it will definitely be the latter.  LOL.

[77ncaachamps]

+1

Everyone is flawed this year ... Not just the big east.

Not Indiana.

[JD]

Yeah, it wouldn't be because they shoot poorly one day, the other team shoots out of their minds...it will definitely be the latter.  LOL.

From what i've seen from indiana this year, they definitely have the talent, but i haven't seen Crean make any in game adjustments when his team gets punched in the mouth that would make me think otherwise.  You could say the same for all 68 teams in march (poor shooting, slippery shoes, etc) but one thing you can control is coaching, and Crean is a recruiter, not a great in game coach.

By the way i always stick up for Tommy, so i'm not bashing him, your obsession is getting out of hand dont ya think?

[Windyplayer]

From what i've seen from indiana this year, they definitely have the talent, but i haven't seen Crean make any in game adjustments when his team gets punched in the mouth that would make me think otherwise.  You could say the same for all 68 teams in march (poor shooting, slippery shoes, etc) but one thing you can control is coaching, and Crean is a recruiter, not a great in game coach.

By the way i always stick up for Tommy, so i'm not bashing him, your obsession is getting out of hand dont ya think?

I work with a guy that went to MSU, and I've made a few comments in passing about Crean's inability to in-game coach. After the IU-MSU game last week, he came rushing to my office the morning after and said that Crean made an in-game adjustment at the end of the game--then he explained himself...

Apparently, on the inbound play at the end of the game for IU, the first inbound attempt was deflected out of bounds as Oladipo broke out down the floor, unguarded. On the next play, the "in-game adjustment" was not changing the inbound play which resulted in the inbounder connecting with Oladipo way down the floor for an easy two-handed flush.

Clearly, that's on Izzo who did nothing to adjust his defense to ensure Oladipo didn't break free again. Any coach with half a brain would run that same play again, but surely wouldn't expect to have his player as open again as Oladipo was on the initial inbound play. Of course, this co-worker wouldn't budge on calling the play an in-game adjustment. Evidently, all descendants of the Izzo coaching tree can do no wrong.

Anyway, talk about grasping at straws to identify a valuable in-game adjustment made by Crean.

[JD]

Haha, this made me laugh.

[setyoursightsnorth]

I'm picking Zaga to win it all. Might as well take a gamble.