Do you feel MU is getting better as it nears tournament time?

[Marqevans]

It seems Georgetown, Louisville, and Villanova are all peaking as the tournament nears, don't know if MU has shown as much improvement.

[Benny B]

They're certainly on a much better trajectory than the team they beat two weeks ago today.

They've improved significantly. Whether they continue to improve depends on whether someone else steps up (or perhaps is freed).

[NavinRJohnson]

They are a Sweet 16 caliber team. Doesn't mean they will necessarily get there, but that's what they are entering the tournament. I guess I'd also say that the only way the BET teaches us anything more about them is if they win, or at least play on Saturday. I wouldn't consider a loss to ND (though I think there is a possibility DePaul could take hem out), or Louisville would be particularly telling.

[bilsu]

No, the coaching staff is lost without the student section. That is why we are undefeated at home and have a losing road record.

[RJax55]

No, the coaching staff is lost without the student section. That is why we are undefeated at home and have a losing road record.

Your posts make me laugh... I guess MU does have the best student section in the country.

[Galway Eagle]

They are a Sweet 16 caliber team. Doesn't mean they will necessarily get there, but that's what they are entering the tournament. I guess I'd also say that the only way the BET teaches us anything more about them is if they win, or at least play on Saturday. I wouldn't consider a loss to ND (though I think there is a possibility DePaul could take hem out), or Louisville would be particularly telling.

Glad someone else thinks Depaul could take ND out, I mean they've already beaten Rutgers and taken ND to overtime twice so I wouldn't be surprised to see that third time go Depaul's way. 

[Aughnanure]

No, the coaching staff is lost without the student section. That is why we are undefeated at home and have a losing road record.

We won't be on the road. We will be on a neutral court.

[Aughnanure]

They are a Sweet 16 caliber team. Doesn't mean they will necessarily get there, but that's what they are entering the tournament. I guess I'd also say that the only way the BET teaches us anything more about them is if they win, or at least play on Saturday. I wouldn't consider a loss to ND (though I think there is a possibility DePaul could take hem out), or Louisville would be particularly telling.

Agreed. Considering we will have to face a 1 seed to reach the Elite 8, expecting anything more than a Sweet 16 (emphasis on "expecting") is setting yourself up for disappointment.

[BCHoopster]

The last 2 games MU played 2 teams without there best player or players, then you throw in the Notre Dame game when Cooley was sick, tells me that MU might have played down to
the talent they played or they are just a little over-rated.  The next game will be very important to beat a good team but I really would like to see how MU does against Louisville. Hoping
that have 1 good game in them to beat Dame, then we will see where they stand.  These are good tests for the tournament.

[nyg]

I don't know if they are getting better, let's see how they do against ND with Cooley back. But some other teams are hot now.

Gonzaga looks awesome
Duke is 18-0 with Kelly, who just returned.
Loserville has won 10 of last 11, with only loss that overtime ND debacle
Georgetown is 12-1 in last 13 games
Ohio State is playing very good. 
Indiana will cause major matchup problems for every team.

Can't wait till next week. 

[MU82]

We've been good at home all season and decent enough on the road to beat inferior teams, hang with good teams (Nova, Cinci) and get crushed by great teams. I'm not giving away any company secrets there. There are no home or road games the rest of the season, so that won't be part of the equation  anymore. Our perimeter shooting hasn't improved, we still have too many turnovers and we still allow too many open treys. On the plus side, we have great stretches where we get in the lane and impose our will on the opponent, we've gotten even more hard-nosed and tough, we are at the point where I'm very confident with several of our guys shooting FTs late in games (St. John's was an aberration, I hope!).

Individually, Jamil, Taylor and Otule have been getting better and have been rewarded with increased playing time. Lockett has settled nicely into his role; you know what you're gonna get, and Buzz finds comfort in that. Vander and Davante have been kind of up and down and I wouldn't say they've "improved" over the last month or so ... though Vander could be at an all-time confidence high now so we'll see what that brings. Junior's career is almost over and I'm still trying to figure out if he's good, mediocre or whatever; I guess the answer is all of the above, and sometimes all in the same game. Mayo has proven to be totally unreliable. Nothing Derrick Wilson has done makes me feel confident when he is on the floor. After showing improvement early, Anderson is on a very short leash with Buzz.

So do I feel MU is getting better? Not especially. Do I feel MU is getting worse? Nope. We are what we are ... and hopefully we will do more of what we do well and less of what we do bad over these next 2, 3 or -- dare I say it? -- 4 weeks!!

[Goose]

Whenever I have counted these guys out I have been shocked by their next performance. Counting on being surprised one way or another the next several weeks.

[Mu2323]

 I feel that this year vander blue is going to have a game like what mcneal did against stanford.

[Lennys Tap]

I feel that this year vander blue is going to have a game like what mcneal did against stanford.

Hope we don't lose the game.

[Sunbelt15]

Does anyone know how Steve Taylor is doing? Will he be ready to play?

[Silkk the Shaka]

Does anyone know how Steve Taylor is doing? Will he be ready to play?

Did I miss something? Is he injured?

[TallTitan34]

Does anyone know how Steve Taylor is doing? Will he be ready to play?

If you are talking about the rolled ankle from the Rutgers game, he played in the St Johns game.

[leever]

Your posts make me laugh... I guess MU does have the best student section in the country.

I have noticed that Davante misses more free throws without the automatic chant.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Individually, Jamil, Taylor and Otule have been getting better and have been rewarded with increased playing time. Lockett has settled nicely into his role; you know what you're gonna get, and Buzz finds comfort in that. Vander and Davante have been kind of up and down and I wouldn't say they've "improved" over the last month or so ... though Vander could be at an all-time confidence high now so we'll see what that brings. Junior's career is almost over and I'm still trying to figure out if he's good, mediocre or whatever; I guess the answer is all of the above, and sometimes all in the same game. Mayo has proven to be totally unreliable. Nothing Derrick Wilson has done makes me feel confident when he is on the floor. After showing improvement early, Anderson is on a very short leash with Buzz.

Spot on. The only thing to add is that ST, Jr. has been playing better and better, though is still somewhat limited minutes.

[RawdogDX]

It seems Georgetown, Louisville, and Villanova are all peaking as the tournament nears, don't know if MU has shown as much improvement.

We just won 4 in a row, with wins against 2 ranked teams and 2 road wins.

A few months ago we lost a green bay.  I think we have improved.