Glass Half Full

[Dawson Rental]

All good points, Brew. Let's just hope that Duke and Bucky go 10 rounds on Wednesday, and they come out flat on Saturday.

I'm hoping that Wisconsin blows Duke out, and the team does some serious celebrating.

[Texas Western]

I am in the focus on one game at a time mode with this team. Let's see if we can do a respectable job against Wisky. To me that means staying relatively close all game ,our key players showing they can perform against another good team and no injuries.  That will give us some nice momentum going into the Luke era.

[THRILLHO]

Way ahead...good thing fans are allowed to do that

The thing is...if Omaha just wins the games they are favored in the rest of the year, they won't be a sub-150 RPI team. I ran them through RPI Wizard as well, and if they win the games they are over 50% on, they finish 20-8 with a RPI of 101. If they can win one more game, they would be a top-100 team. Of course, a lot of those games projected to be wins and losses are close to the line. But even if they go 17-11 (as Pomeroy projects) they still finish just inside the top-150.

It's unlikely this will be a good loss by any stretch, but even at the end of the year I don't think it will be nearly as bad a loss as most Marquette fans are fearing.

At the risk of blowing past "glass half full" optimism and into "multiple empty pint glasses" optimism, if this team continues its trajectory it is possible that the bad loss will be mostly discounted by the committee. While they do consider RPI they are not robots. If we are on the bubble (as has been the best case scenario most of us had in mind), presumably it will be with other teams with bad losses and similar RPIs, and this bad loss came at a time that makes it easier to discount.

[PGsHeroes32]

I am definitely more positive regarding our teams BE prospects(really only Nova scares me) especially considering Luke adds size(any skill he adds is just another bonus).

The BE is will be big for us. Try and get to 11-7 and end up with a bid. Otherwise win 3 straight the hard way in March. I think both can be done.

Truthfully I am not any more optimistic regarding the Wisky game. I think they will destroy us but really no shame in that this year. I've always expected us to beat ASU so now with seeing the improved play I would be really, really disappointed in that loss.

[brewcity77]

The BE is will be big for us. Try and get to 11-7 and end up with a bid. Otherwise win 3 straight the hard way in March. I think both can be done.

Amazing that so many of us are now mulling NCAA possibilities when a week ago some were questioning if we'd win a Big East game

I agree that both are possible, though the NIT and other postseason tournaments are also options. While I understood why they didn't want to spend money to get into the CIT last year with a senior-laden team that wouldn't be back, I think it would be good to take any tournament bid we could get this year, even if it meant spending money to get in. The atmosphere alone would be great for such a young team. Definitely NCAA first, NIT second, but I really hope that the team will take any postseason play that is offered, if any is.

[PGsHeroes32]

Amazing that so many of us are now mulling NCAA possibilities when a week ago some were questioning if we'd win a Big East game

I agree that both are possible, though the NIT and other postseason tournaments are also options. While I understood why they didn't want to spend money to get into the CIT last year with a senior-laden team that wouldn't be back, I think it would be good to take any tournament bid we could get this year, even if it meant spending money to get in. The atmosphere alone would be great for such a young team. Definitely NCAA first, NIT second, but I really hope that the team will take any postseason play that is offered, if any is.

Yeah I just think 11-7 is possible seeing us with the zone and factoring in continued improvement plus Luke.

My expectations are still around 7 or 8 wins. Is be pretty pissed if we did worse than that.

[Jay Bee]

Out of curiosity, I ran the numbers. That loss cost them about 30 spots in the RPI. Gonna need to steal a game or two to make that up.

Would love to see what you did. RPI is quite tricky and it's easy to mess it up.

Losing to Wisconsin (as opposed to winning; i.e., considering only the outcome of the game) would hurt MU's RPI this year LESS than losing to Omaha.

[muwarrior69]

Well the team is playing a lot better than my Giants. Oops, wrong sport.

[MU82]

Not talking about the team.  I am talking about our (Scoopers) expectations.  

We are who we said we are.  A young inexperienced team working to improve (and showing progress over the weekend).  Stick to the plan.  

I meant "respect the process"

I know you weren't talking about the team. I'm just saying that me and you looking ahead doesn't matter. It's what fans do.

I coach a middle-school team in a highly competitive environment. I never look ahead. So when I'm a fan of a team I have absolutely no control over, I'll look ahead all I please!!

Marquette ... 2016-17 National Champions! Duane Wilson ... National Player of the Year. Henry's a teeny little jealous but only for a second; his consolation prize is being the No. 3 pick of the draft.

How's that for looking ahead?

[mu-rara]

I know you weren't talking about the team. I'm just saying that me and you looking ahead doesn't matter. It's what fans do.

Marquette ... 2016-17 National Champions! Duane Wilson ... National Player of the Year. Henry's a teeny little jealous but only for a second; his consolation prize is being the No. 3 pick of the draft.

How's that for looking ahead?

Just trying to keep people focused.  You and I both know there will be ups and downs, and this is a rebuilding year.  I agree that 2017 NC is a perfect goal. Just respect the process.   I have more of a general manager mentality than coach.  I enjoy the building process and watching this team take 2 steps forward and a step back while seeing the overall progress over this year, and a lot more progress next year.  Drives me crazy reading posts about Wojo being over his head after 2 games.  Anyway, let's kick some Vadger a**.

[jsglow]

Amazing that so many of us are now mulling NCAA possibilities when a week ago some were questioning if we'd win a Big East game

I agree that both are possible, though the NIT and other postseason tournaments are also options. While I understood why they didn't want to spend money to get into the CIT last year with a senior-laden team that wouldn't be back, I think it would be good to take any tournament bid we could get this year, even if it meant spending money to get in. The atmosphere alone would be great for such a young team. Definitely NCAA first, NIT second, but I really hope that the team will take any postseason play that is offered, if any is.

+1.  I'm still thinking a growing Wojo team finishing mid BEast is a great NIT get.  Let's earn it.  Unlike last year, I'd be excited to drive up to either the BC, Arena or Al for an opening round game.  But lots to play for before then.

[MU82]

Just trying to keep people focused.  You and I both know there will be ups and downs, and this is a rebuilding year.  I agree that 2017 NC is a perfect goal. Just respect the process.   I have more of a general manager mentality than coach.  I enjoy the building process and watching this team take 2 steps forward and a step back while seeing the overall progress over this year, and a lot more progress next year.  Drives me crazy reading posts about Wojo being over his head after 2 games.  Anyway, let's kick some Vadger a**.

Again, though, whether you and I look ahead doesn't matter. We don't have to stay focused on the next game. It doesn't affect anything.

Hell, I'm already looking past Bucky to better things!