Nova Prediction: What you're feeling and what is realistic

[mu03eng]

A little bit different unscientific poll for the Nova game tomorrow: What are you feeling will be the result AND if you had to get the prediction right otherwise you die, what would it be?

I have this feeling that Marquette will really put up a fight, take it to the last seconds and lose on a heartbreaker: 61-59 Nova

If I'm worried about my life, I predict a 71-58 Nova victory

How about you guys?

[fjm]

Let's be honest, I am very optimistic as a person! But there is a different between choosing with your heart and choosing with your mind...
My gut feeling is that the crowd will be energetic and help this team to a lead at half. Sadly we lose 66-58.

If I had to bet my life, 81-69. We run into a Nova buzz saw that is pissed about their loss to Xavier.

That being said, I hope I leave the game with no voice and a win! Then be blacked out following 5 games of beer pong at dukes/scooters and in bed by 6pm with some real chili on my pillow.

[WarriorPride68]

MU down 10 at half & Wojo says enough is enough. Markus Howard, Herro & the Hauser bro's suit up in the 2nd half & carry the Warriors to victory in a game that will not soon be forgotten

[79Warrior]

Nova should win this game going away. They are the better team and do not want to lose two straight and fall down to the two line.
We were fortunate Creighton was shooting bricks the other day. Nova will be ready to play. I would love to see MU win, but highly unlikely.
Nova by 10

[Windyplayer]

Nova should win this game going away. They are the better team and do not want to lose two straight and fall down to the two line.
We were fortunate Creighton was shooting bricks the other day. Nova will be ready to play. I would love to see MU win, but highly unlikely.
Nova by 10

I don't know. This team is playing pretty well now and Henry has clearly turned a corner. If he goes off for 30 or more, we win. Anything short of that, it's hard to find a scenario in which we win.

[KampusFoods]

30 pts and 15 lucky rebounds for Henry. We still lose by 6.

[4everwarriors]

Has Fahrenheit 451 listed his post game observations yet, hey?

[MerrittsMustache]

MU hangs around but Nova is too good. One of those games where MU is never really out of it, but Nova leads by 6-10 points for most of the game and MU can't quite close the gap.

Nova 80-72

[Henry Sugar]

Most likely scenarios are that Nova wins by about 3-8 points. However, I calculate a 35% chance of a MU victory. HECK YEAH

[dgies9156]

We're going to have to play one of the meanest, nastiest and almost harshest game we've ever played.  In effect, we need to play football on hardwood! Take no prisoners and expect lots of contact.

They're not my favorite team, by any stretch of the imagination. But if we have ANY hope of an NCAA tournament bid (and I've pretty much written that off), we have to win almost convincingly. I want Jay Wright up, screaming and accusing us of being the nastiest badas*es in the conference.

Sadly, I think Luke will get into early foul trouble (uhh, gee, that's an original thought) and we'll be playing outside our best game. We'll go about six minutes without a basket (another original thought) and Villanova will take a close game and blow it open.

I hope I'm eating this Saturday night and someone on Scoop is saying, "I told you so..." That abuse I will gladly take.

[brewcity77]

Gut feeling...well, I'm an optimist by nature. I think we have a chance. We've played well in our last 5, despite the 3-2 record. We weren't far away from beating Xavier on the road (honestly did better than 'Nova did) and let Creighton steal one at the end. We match up pretty well with 'Nova. They still aren't a great 3-point shooting team and take too many threes for their own good. We have the edge inside. And honestly, we played them really well for 20 minutes in Philly.

My gut says Marquette rides the best crowd of the year to a 72-68 win, forcing turnovers and winning the battle beyond the arc. Luke stays out of foul trouble enough to keep our best lineup on the floor and we steal the emotional win.

But gun to my head...can't go that way. Villanova comes out pissed and builds a 15 point halftime lead before we fight back, but can never quite get it to a single possession game and lose 75-67.

[wadesworld]

They're better than us and they'll get the calls.  I don't think their loss at Xavier has one iota of an effect on how they play.  They're simply a better (and more experienced and mature) basketball team than we are.  They win by 13.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

We're going to maul them.

we probably lose but I hope its close

[Loose Cannon]

  Feelings:  We Win

  Realistic:  We Win

  I Trust this Team, and Sandy contributes.  and that the name of that Tune!!

[robmufan]

They're better than us and they'll get the calls.  I don't think their loss at Xavier has one iota of an effect on how they play.  They're simply a better (and more experienced and mature) basketball team than we are.  They win by 13.

I can't argue with this...

Will we hang around in the first half, most likely. But the talent gap will be shown, and we will lose by double digits.

[GGGG]

We're going to have to play one of the meanest, nastiest and almost harshest game we've ever played.  In effect, we need to play football on hardwood! Take no prisoners and expect lots of contact.

They're not my favorite team, by any stretch of the imagination. But if we have ANY hope of an NCAA tournament bid (and I've pretty much written that off), we have to win almost convincingly. I want Jay Wright up, screaming and accusing us of being the nastiest badas*es in the conference.

Sadly, I think Luke will get into early foul trouble (uhh, gee, that's an original thought) and we'll be playing outside our best game.

I would not be surprised if we play "football on hardwood" that one of our players would end up in foul trouble.

Marquette cannot be too geeked up to start this game.  They have to be smart.  Don't get into a track meet.  Run the offense.  Pound it down low.

I'm thinking 8 point loss.

[Stronghold]

For every beer, cocktail, or glass of wine drank by a Scooper tomorrow Marquette will score a point.  Here's to 10,000 points.....................................................................................in the half!

[tower912]

I had a positive feeling against Creighton that came through.   We played 1/2 a game against Nova last time.     Sandy comes back from his suspension breathing fire and goes for 2 and 1... err 15 and 8 and MU continues a late push with a stirring upset.


Realistically:   Marquette plays tough for 35 minutes, but Villanova makes more plays down the stretch and wins by 5-8.   Foul trouble and youth versus poise and experience dictate the outcome. 

[GooooMarquette]

We got this.

[Benny B]

If we played Villanova eight times, we might win once.






Fortunately for us, Nova has a seven-game win streak against MU.

[greenman]

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/game?gameId=400840287

A lot of us seem to be spelling out the story line of the first game:
Play them tough for 30 mins, then experience talent take over for Nova and its over. Im in that camp as well (although play like we did against X and we have a legit shot at the W).

78-68 Nova.

[SuddenSam]

Going with the odds on this one - Nova 82...MU 73.5

[bilsu]

It is hard to equate what effect the Xavier loss has on this game, Villanova could be looking to take it out on their next opponent. However, they also could of have their confidence shaken. I am sure they were sky high for the Xavier game, so they could have an emotional let down. I think we win by two or lose by 20.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

My head tells me we are in for a 11 point loss.

My heart is going a win. I have say, there's a feeling of almost story book optimism in the air. This is going to be the biggest crowd at the bc in three seasons.Three huge recruits will be in the building. Number 1 coming to town. Young team is clicking but needs to win out to make the tourney. It feels like this could be a defining victory. Wojo gets his biggest win to date, Howard commits on the spot, Joey h and herro don't but they know in their hearts that they are coming to mu, scoopers finally let go of the leash. Seems like a fairy tale waiting to happen.

Sadly, I have a brain, eyes, and passable understanding of college basketball. I think we try hard but nova is too good.

[mu03eng]

My head tells me we are in for a 11 point loss.

My heart is going a win. I have say, there's a feeling of almost story book optimism in the air. This is going to be the biggest crowd at the bc in three seasons.Three huge recruits will be in the building. Number 1 coming to town. Young team is clicking but needs to win out to make the tourney. It feels like this could be a defining victory. Wojo gets his biggest win to date, Howard commits on the spot, Joey h and herro don't but they know in their hearts that they are coming to mu, scoopers finally let go of the leash. Seems like a fairy tale waiting to happen.

Sadly, I have a brain, eyes, and passable understanding of college basketball. I think we try hard but nova is too good.

This is the crux of why I wanted to start this thread. Just based on the conversations I've had in person and online, there is almost a sports movie quality to what's going on here. Feels like everyone counted MU out but there is the tiniest of cracks in the door and this team have the feel of a team that just might claw that crack open.

I think the atmosphere will be ridiculous, best in quite a while. What will be interesting is if the team feeds on that successfully or if they get overhyped and it plays out negative.