Butler Starting PG Concussed

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Just noticed that starting PG Tyler Lewis has missed the past two games with a concussion. There's a chance he'll be back on Saturday but no updates on his condition have been given since Tuesday. Lewis is the only true PG on Butler's roster. Without him they'll either use backup SG Jordan Gathers or force Roosevelt Jones to stay in the point forward position. Lewis leads the Big East in A/TO ratio.

If he's out, which is a big if, Marquette has a good chance to win. Butler's bench is short enough already and it forces their best player to play out of position.

[MerrittsMustache]

If he's out, which is a big if, Marquette has a good chance to win. Butler's bench is short enough already and it forces their best player to play out of position.

Unfortunately, Rosie out of position might still be better than anyone on MU in position.

[jesmu84]

Hack-a-Rosie?

[wadesworld]

Not a fan of Lewis.  I don't think his availability changes the outcome of this game either way.  Either we play well and win or we don't and we lose.  I'm thinking the latter, unfortunately.

[UticaBusBarn]

It would be a true surprise if the Warriors actually played basketball for 40 minutes, instead of the usual 20, or 25 minutes. Can you imagine how good the team would? Actually, 35 minutes would work for me.

Have to ask after 21 games, four games in Italy, and one exhibition why the team has not yet "jelled?" After 25 games, it seems a bit weak to say, "Well, they are freshman, after all."

[Irishdawg]

Hack-a-Rosie?

Prior to this year, I would have said that's a sound strategy, but he's shooting 71% from the foul line this year, and over 80% during conference play.

If Lewis is out (he wasn't even practicing prior to Wednesday, so he very well could be), then Butler's ball movement will be hindered, but it hasn't been great to begin with even when Lewis is around during conference play.

It's going to be a grinder of a game either way.  I certainly hope Butler can win, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them lose on the road against Marquette.

[wadesworld]

Prior to this year, I would have said that's a sound strategy, but he's shooting 71% from the foul line this year, and over 80% during conference play.

If Lewis is out (he wasn't even practicing prior to Wednesday, so he very well could be), then Butler's ball movement will be hindered, but it hasn't been great to begin with even when Lewis is around during conference play.

It's going to be a grinder of a game either way.  I certainly hope Butler can win, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them lose on the road against Marquette.

Sounds like the rough conference starts for both Marquette and Butler have their fans in the same frame of mind.

[WarriorPride68]

I certainly hope Butler can win, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them lose on the road against Marquette.

Have you seen us play in the last few weeks  ?

[Windyplayer]

Have you seen us play in the last few weeks  ?

I'm an eternal optimist and I give MU almost a zero percent chance of winning at home in front of a big, supportive crowd.

This team is so disjointed and Wojo seems lost as to how to fix it.

[bilsu]

I think MU actually plays better on the road.

[Windyplayer]

I think MU actually plays better on the road.

I don't think there's any question:

Wins on road/neutral: LSU, ASU, UW, and Providence on the road.

Losses at home: Belmont, DePaul, Seton Hall (OT win against IUPUI).

[NotAnAlum]

I think MU actually plays better on the road.

There is something to this.  I don't know if MU "tries too hard" in front of the home fans and hence tightens up or if there are too many distractions playing at home.  I remember hearing that Buzz used to put the team up hotel in downtown Milwaukee and go through the same sequence of team meals, practice, meetings etc that they would do if they were on the road.  Maybe that would work for this team.

[Windyplayer]

There is something to this.  I don't know if MU "tries too hard" in front of the home fans and hence tightens up or if there are too many distractions playing at home.  I remember hearing that Buzz used to put the team up hotel in downtown Milwaukee and go through the same sequence of team meals, practice, meetings etc that they would do if they were on the road.  Maybe that would work for this team.

Team breakfast in white undershirts?

[Windyplayer]

There is something to this.  I don't know if MU "tries too hard" in front of the home fans and hence tightens up or if there are too many distractions playing at home.  I remember hearing that Buzz used to put the team up hotel in downtown Milwaukee and go through the same sequence of team meals, practice, meetings etc that they would do if they were on the road.  Maybe that would work for this team.

In all seriousness, not a bad idea.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

There is something to this.  I don't know if MU "tries too hard" in front of the home fans and hence tightens up or if there are too many distractions playing at home.  I remember hearing that Buzz used to put the team up hotel in downtown Milwaukee and go through the same sequence of team meals, practice, meetings etc that they would do if they were on the road.  Maybe that would work for this team.

I don't know if that's true, maybe it depended on the game but there were times where I would walk to the Bradley Center and the team would be getting into the athletic vans at the Al.

[mu_hilltopper]

Just noticed that starting PG Tyler Lewis has missed the past two games with a concussion. There's a chance he'll be back on Saturday but no updates on his condition have been given since Tuesday.

If he's out, which is a big if, Marquette has a good chance to win. Butler's bench is short enough already and it forces their best player to play out of position.

If history is any guide, not only will (insert player here) be playing, they will have the game of their life against MU.

[The Lens]

Have to ask after 21 games, four games in Italy, and one exhibition why the team has not yet "jelled?" After 25 games, it seems a bit weak to say, "Well, they are freshman, after all."

I was with a pretty successful D1 coach in October and when told I was a MU fan he got real serious and said, you guys are going to be very good...you know why?

I expected Henry's name to come out of his mouth.  Instead he said Europe.  He thought the foreign trip was absolute gold.  Went on and on about how valuable the extra practice time was to a team.  He credited a past trip of his for recent success.

[WI inferiority Complexes]

I was with a pretty successful D1 coach in October and when told I was a MU fan he got real serious and said, you guys are going to be very good...

The successful D! coach was wrong. Dead wrong.

[Lennys Tap]

I was with a pretty successful D1 coach in October and when told I was a MU fan he got real serious and said, you guys are going to be very good...you know why?

I expected Henry's name to come out of his mouth.  Instead he said Europe.  He thought the foreign trip was absolute gold.  Went on and on about how valuable the extra practice time was to a team.  He credited a past trip of his for recent success.

I hate to imagine our season without the trip.

[BM1090]

If history is any guide, not only will (insert player here) be playing, they will have the game of their life against MU.

Jean fucking Felix.

[We R Final Four]

  I certainly hope Butler can win, but I wouldn't be surprised to see them lose on the road against Marquette.

I would be very surprised.

[Irishdawg]

Have you seen us play in the last few weeks  ?

To be fair, last year's Marquette team had just lost back-to-back league home games and was 2-6 in league play when Butler came to the Bradley Center, and by all accounts Butler SHOULD have lost that game before winning in OT.

I take nothing for granted no matter what when it comes to beating Marquette.  Since the teams started playing each other at least twice a year in the 2012-13 season, other than last year's 21 point win at Hinkle, the other 5 games have been decided by an average of 5 points a game, and 2 of those games went to overtime.

[jsglow]

To be fair, last year's Marquette team had just lost back-to-back league home games and was 2-6 in league play when Butler came to the Bradley Center, and by all accounts Butler SHOULD have lost that game before winning in OT.

I take nothing for granted no matter what when it comes to beating Marquette.  Since the teams started playing each other at least twice a year in the 2012-13 season, other than last year's 21 point win at Hinkle, the other 5 games have been decided by an average of 5 points a game, and 2 of those games went to overtime.

Yep, great series and rivalry.  Two years ago our personal road trip to Hinkle was particularly painful.  An overly optimistic Chick essentially calls 'dagger' at the 16 minute mark.  I remind her that there 'lots of basketball yet to be played'.  We know how that finished.   

[Windyplayer]

To be fair, last year's Marquette team had just lost back-to-back league home games and was 2-6 in league play when Butler came to the Bradley Center, and by all accounts Butler SHOULD have lost that game before winning in OT.

I take nothing for granted no matter what when it comes to beating Marquette.  Since the teams started playing each other at least twice a year in the 2012-13 season, other than last year's 21 point win at Hinkle, the other 5 games have been decided by an average of 5 points a game, and 2 of those games went to overtime.

Marquette has the talent to beat Butler especially at home. But the problem our fanbase has is that it's never come together for a whole game and given the relatively large sample size now, our optimism is seriously waning so much so that we're questioning our evaluation of talent and exactly what we have as a team (and a coach). 

[Benny B]

Yep, great series and rivalry.  Two years ago our personal road trip to Hinkle was particularly painful.  An overly optimistic Chick essentially calls 'dagger' at the 16 minute mark.  I remind her that there 'lots of basketball yet to be played'.  We know how that finished.   

So Chick is the one who's responsible for the Stinkle at Hinkle?