Five Points for a National Championship...

[MU Buff]

Sorry, happy to define further.

Yes, theoretically every team is a Final Four team by definition.  Ask Butler, George Mason, Wichita State, etc. 

By the way, I'm deeply offended that you referred to me as chief and think that is racial and uncalled for. 

My analysis....the game is at the Kohl Center, our guards are unproven, they've lost 3 straight to MU, I think they will have the edge.  It will be our first true hostile road environment (sorry, I don't count Tempe or Disneyland adjacent in that same realm).  Just a guess, nothing more.  50-50 proposition.  UWGB was unbalanced last year, and they beat us.  Syracuse was better than MU, but MU beat them at home.  Anything can happen, I just think they get us this year at their place.  Probably not the context or deep analysis you are looking for.   

A little picky, but it's only two straight losses

[Spotcheck Billy]

A little picky, but it's only two straight losses

it will be 3 come Pearl Harbor Day!

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

My analysis....the game is at the Kohl Center, our guards are unproven, they've lost 3 straight to MU, I think they will have the edge.  It will be our first true hostile road environment (sorry, I don't count Tempe or Disneyland adjacent in that same realm).  Just a guess, nothing more.  50-50 proposition.  UWGB was unbalanced last year, and they beat us.  Syracuse was better than MU, but MU beat them at home.  Anything can happen, I just think they get us this year at their place.  Probably not the context or deep analysis you are looking for.   

Chicos - I'll take a little action there... 6 pack of beer, winner's choice?

[Lennys Tap]

My analysis....the game is at the Kohl Center, our guards are unproven, they've lost 3 straight to MU, I think they will have the edge.  It will be our first true hostile road environment (sorry, I don't count Tempe or Disneyland adjacent in that same realm).  Just a guess, nothing more.  50-50 proposition.  UWGB was unbalanced last year, and they beat us.  Syracuse was better than MU, but MU beat them at home.  Anything can happen, I just think they get us this year at their place.  Probably not the context or deep analysis you are looking for.   

So, basically it's a crapshoot.

[mu03eng]

tOSU lost their best player to the draft, as well as their most experienced center. But we can't take this team lightly. They will roll out a much more balanced attack this year and potentially be better than last year's elite 8 squad.

I'm projecting their starters as:
Aaron Craft
Lenzelle Smith Jr.
Sam Thompson
Quinton Ross
Amir Williams

Craft and LSJ are one of the strongest defensive backcourts (if not the most) in college ball. Their backup Shannon Scott is also very talented. With us relying on either frosh or last year's back ups at the guard position, I see a lot of turnovers and easy scores for the Buckeyes. Thompson and Ross are big athletic forwards who will be able to keep up with and match J Wil, McKay, and Taylor. Thompson is a freak athlete (some of last year's best dunks) and Ross is a sharpshooter. Williams was underwhelming last season but he was a top 50 center coming out of high school. If he realizes his potential, that can be dangerous.

The Buckeyes weakness is their depth. Their recruiting class this year was good but not up to usual Buckeye standards (neither was their class last year). The bench players who are returning from last season are Della Vella, a sharpshooter from Italy, and Trey McDonald, an undersized center. Both only played garbage minutes last season and average around 2 ppg.

So to beat the Buckeyes, we need to keep Craft and LSJ from turning TOs into easy buckets. That's going to mean early passes into the paint. Let Big Smooth work his magic on Williams (very foul prone last season). If Williams gets in foul trouble, tOSU will be playing seldom used 6"8 backup center Trey McDonald who can be abused in the paint. On defense, stop the Buckeyes from raining threes. Four of their projected starters shot better than 30% from beyond the arc last season. This will be an early test of our three point D.

I think tOSU has a better starting lineup, but our depth might be enough to win the game. It will be a tough one. Until I see the frosh in action, I don't feel comfortable calling the game for either side.

Not taking them lightly, just have some confidence in the match-up on paper....of course games aren't played on paper....they are played in television sets, so we'll wait and see.

[ChicosBailBonds]

A little picky, but it's only two straight losses

Well crap, then I am changing my pick.  MU wins going away.   

[Jay Bee]

If anyone is nervous and wants to short something for the upcoming weeks, WFM asking $59.45 in after hours; looks ripe for a tumble. Stock has gotten out ahead of itself.

WFM has continued to rise before releasing earnings after market close today. Closed up 1.22% to $64.47.

After hours has 'em at down around $58.50, a drop of more than 9%.

Get at your boy.

[Ooops]

Nostradamus clearly has nothing on you guys.

[wardle2wade]

Nostradamus clearly has nothing on you guys.

This post was written prior to losing three players who were supposed to make an impact... Jameel McKay (last-second transfer), Duane Wilson (medical redshirt), and Steve Taylor (missed lot of action and still recovering from surgery.)

[downtown85]

Nostradamus clearly has nothing on you guys.

Great first post! Lots of constructive comments there.

[GooooMarquette]

Great first post! Lots of constructive comments there.

Maybe his handle is what his mom and dad said when he was born.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Nostradamus clearly has nothing on you guys.

Tu Holloway fan?

[Jay Bee]

If anyone is nervous and wants to short something for the upcoming weeks, WFM asking $59.45 in after hours; looks ripe for a tumble. Stock has gotten out ahead of itself.

If anyone can bet on Northwestern making the NCAA tourney for a nice payoff, I'd consider that one. Wonder what kind of odds are out there for that bet?...

Finally. WFM tumbles to $38.92, down 34.5% since my Oct 7 note.

Meanwhile, the Nasdaq composite is up 7.2% during the same period.

$$$.

[tower912]

MU's season is controlled by how well the freshman guards play.    If they are ready from day 1, a la the amigos, MU is a legit final 4 team.    If they aren't, all bets are off.   How they handle OSU and Craft will be an early indicator.  

Bump.

[tower912]

This is a crazy statement to make, but could Derrick Wilson ever evolve into a Craft type of player?  Craft is a beast defensively, due to his physicality and quickness - similar to Derrick.  I don't think Craft is much of a shooter, perhaps a better facilitator/penetrator than Derrick - yet I see similarities in their styles of play.  Derrick is strong/solid with the ball - don't see Craft being able to turn him over - yet don't see Derrick doing much beyond being able to initiate offense.

Ironic bump.

[Skatastrophy]

Ironic bump.

Ners is a woman scorned

[Lennys Tap]

Ners is a woman scorned

Ohio State would have won the National Championship with John Dawson playing 30+ minutes at the point! LOL

[MU82]

Oh boy.

Now you see why things went the way they did at Jonestown.

[The Lens]

Sometime in January or February, in The Al's media room.

Michael Hunt:  "Coach have you seen what respected Scoop poster Ners says about Derrick Wilson?"

Buzz: "Yes, he likened him to Aaron Craft, and while I have had my doubts, I'm going to give Derrick a longer leash because I have great respect for Ners basketball knowledge"

[Skatastrophy]

Sometime in January or February, in The Al's media room.

Michael Hunt:  "Coach have you seen what respected Scoop poster Ners says about Derrick Wilson?"

Buzz: "Yes, he likened him to Aaron Craft, and while I have had my doubts, I'm going to give Derrick a longer leash because I have great respect for Ners basketball knowledge"

Oh man, I just lost my crap laughing at work!

[🏀]

Finally. WFM tumbles to $38.92, down 34.5% since my Oct 7 note.

Meanwhile, the Nasdaq composite is up 7.2% during the same period.

$$$.

You can stop talking about $$$ until you frame some pictures around your place.

[MU82]

Sometime in January or February, in The Al's media room.

Michael Hunt:  "Coach have you seen what respected Scoop poster Ners says about Derrick Wilson?"

Buzz: "Yes, he likened him to Aaron Craft, and while I have had my doubts, I'm going to give Derrick a longer leash because I have great respect for Ners basketball knowledge"

To be fair to Ners, this was before John Dawson established himself as the next Magic Johnson!

[GooooMarquette]

Sometime in January or February, in The Al's media room.

Michael Hunt:  "Coach have you seen what respected Scoop poster Ners says about Derrick Wilson?"

Buzz: "Yes, he likened him to Aaron Craft, and while I have had my doubts, I'm going to give Derrick a longer leash because I have great respect for Ners basketball knowledge"

Perfect.

[ChicosBailBonds]

This is a fun thread, especially the first 20 posts or so......people were just a weeeeeee bit overvaluing.

[keefe]

Maybe his handle is what his mom and dad said when he was born conceived