Calling my shot

[muguru]

Someone other than Nova, Xavier, Hall or PC WILL win the BE tourney. Just feels like it. Granted, I'm being overly optimistic but I honestlt think things may end up setting up nicely for MU. Assuming they get by SJU, I really think Xavier is beatable...MU matches up with them better than they do Seton Hall. Speaking of the Hall..no reason Creighton can't take them out...So...let's say MU can get by SJU and Xavier...I'd take Creighton any day for the right to play Saturday. Which brings me to the top half of the bracket...I could easily see PC or Butler knocking off Nova who really has nothing to play for(#1 seed pretty well assured). I'd take Butler or PC in the BET title game. A guy can dream can't he...

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

LETS HOPE SO!

[wadesworld]

Nova beats Xavier in the finals.

[forgetful]

I agree with much of what you say.

I think Creighton takes out Seton Hall.

I think we beat Xavier if we get a shot at them (I'm a bit worried we lay an egg and lose to St. John's though).

I also think Georgetown is going to make a run and wouldn't be surprised if they or Providence are playing in the championship.

[jesmu84]

Someone other than Nova, Xavier, Hall or PC WILL win the BE tourney. Just feels like it. Granted, I'm being overly optimistic but I honestlt think things may end up setting up nicely for MU. Assuming they get by SJU, I really think Xavier is beatable...MU matches up with them better than they do Seton Hall. Speaking of the Hall..no reason Creighton can't take them out...So...let's say MU can get by SJU and Xavier...I'd take Creighton any day for the right to play Saturday. Which brings me to the top half of the bracket...I could easily see PC or Butler knocking off Nova who really has nothing to play for(#1 seed pretty well assured). I'd take Butler or PC in the BET title game. A guy can dream can't he...

Crazy optimism here. Crazy negativity in the other threads reviewing the program/season. Strange.

[muguru]

Crazy optimism here. Crazy negativity in the other threads reviewing the program/season. Strange.

Because this team is talented enough to win the BE tourney, that's why i was so negative on the season and where the program is headed. You should never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever lose to DuhPaul...anywhere. EVER.

[esotericmindguy]

Because this team is talented enough to win the BE tourney, that's why i was so negative on the season and where the program is headed. You should never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever lose to DuhPaul...anywhere. EVER.

I keep hearing about how talented this team is, I just don't see it. I honestly think it's because everyone loves recruiting rankings on this board...which have proven to mean very little outside of the top 30.

MU has a 7 foot center that grabs 4 rebounds a game in conference and can't keep out of foul trouble, an inconsistent PG, 1 player who can hit an open 3, terrible perimeter defense and no bench. Xavier would be favored by double digits in that game....but I can see them losing to SJU.

[forgetful]

I keep hearing about how talented this team is, I just don't see it. I honestly think it's because everyone loves recruiting rankings on this board...which have proven to mean very little outside of the top 30.

MU has a 7 foot center that grabs 4 rebounds a game in conference and can't keep out of foul trouble, an inconsistent PG, 1 player who can hit an open 3, terrible perimeter defense and no bench. Xavier would be favored by double digits in that game....but I can see them losing to SJU.

Is that 1 player, Cheatham who is shooting 41% from 3 or JJJ who is shooting 39% from 3?

Even Du. Will is shooting 34.4% from 3, which is the same as Josh Hart (34.6%) and Archidiacano (34.4%). 

There is a lot of talent on this team.  Just not experience.  We put in a full 40 minutes, without our typical 4-8 minute lapses and we can beat anyone. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I keep hearing about how talented this team is, I just don't see it. I honestly think it's because everyone loves recruiting rankings on this board...which have proven to mean very little outside of the top 30.

MU has a 7 foot center that grabs 4 rebounds a game in conference and can't keep out of foul trouble, an inconsistent PG, 1 player who can hit an open 3, terrible perimeter defense and no bench. Xavier would be favored by double digits in that game....but I can see them losing to SJU.

IIRC the average team 3pt% for this season is ~34%. We are at 34.2%. I think we are an average 3pt shooting team. Haanif, JJJ, Duane and Sandy are great three point shooters....though Sandy disappeared in conference play until garbage time against Butler.

Agree with everything else though.

[MU82]

IIRC the average team 3pt% for this season is ~34%. We are at 34.2%. I think we are an average 3pt shooting team. Haanif, JJJ, Duane and Sandy are great three point shooters....though Sandy disappeared in conference play until garbage time against Butler.

I will pick a nit with the word "great."

Haanif is a very good 3-point shooter when wide open, JJJ has been hot lately and Duane is about average. And it's impossible to give Sandy a passing grade at pretty much anything, including 3-point shooting, because he has been invisible for two months.

Bryn Forbes and Buddy Hield are "great" 3-point shooters.

[MarquetteDano]

Someone other than Nova, Xavier, Hall or PC WILL win the BE tourney.

Well, other than us it better be Butler.  After all of these regular seasons winners from the small conferences not winning their tourneys, we cannot afford a team that should make the NCAA's sliding down to the NIT.

I am starting to fret that we HAVE to win two in the BET for feel comfortable about the NIT.

[CountryRoads]

I keep hearing about how talented this team is, I just don't see it. I honestly think it's because everyone loves recruiting rankings on this board...which have proven to mean very little outside of the top 30.

MU has a 7 foot center that grabs 4 rebounds a game in conference and can't keep out of foul trouble, an inconsistent PG, 1 player who can hit an open 3, terrible perimeter defense and no bench. Xavier would be favored by double digits in that game....but I can see them losing to SJU.

This team has a lot of talent but the lack of success comes down to two things imo. Almost the whole roster is incredibly weak physically. Gone are the days of "Marquette toughness". Teams used to dread playing MU. Not anymore. Secondly, it's very apparent that many of our guys had abysmal coaching growing up. They could get away with their lack of fundamentals in the AAU playground style of ball. That's why they were rated high and had impressive mix tapes. Unfortunately, that's also why we see so many head scratching plays/turnover.

Talented... but weak and dumb.

[GGGG]

Because this team is talented enough to win the BE tourney, that's why i was so negative on the season and where the program is headed. You should never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever lose to DuhPaul...anywhere. EVER.

Or put another way:

This team is finally going to live up to my (unrealistic) expectations. And if they don't, I'm going to have another reason to complain and rant away on Scoop.

Great.

[brewcity77]

Well, other than us it better be Butler.  After all of these regular seasons winners from the small conferences not winning their tourneys, we cannot afford a team that should make the NCAA's sliding down to the NIT.

I am starting to fret that we HAVE to win two in the BET for feel comfortable about the NIT.

Two gives us a shot, but certainly not comfortable. We need three to comfortably be in the NIT. Really need 20+ wins and an RPI in the 80s to be comfortable.

If we lose to Xavier, I expect we'll have to play in Vegas or the CBI.

[real chili 83]

We got this.

***Has second mimosa***

[SaveOD238]

IIRC the average team 3pt% for this season is ~34%. We are at 34.2%. I think we are an average 3pt shooting team. Haanif, JJJ, Duane and Sandy are great three point shooters....though Sandy disappeared in conference play until garbage time against Butler.

Agree with everything else though.

The difference isn't in percentage, it's in attempts.  Villanova is shooting a slightly worse percentage than us, but has taken 200+ shots from 3 than we have.  Georgetown too.  That's why they seem like prolific three point teams

[jt92]

Beat St. John's first.  I don't want to hear they have a home court advantage either!  2-4 against the new big east teams...lets make sure we can get Dayton in there so we can be 2-6!!!! 

[bilsu]

We beat St. John's in two close games. They were without their shot blocker in both games. We lost out on our chance to play at the Garden, because of the snow storm resulting in the game being moved to St. John's campus arena. We seem to be better lately, but I still do not like the idea of MU being pressed. St. John's with their shot blocker back could be even better at pressing than they were when we played them. Throw in first game jitters at the Garden and there is a chance St. John's press hits us hard in the beginning of the game. The positive is that St. John's has a history of giving games away at the end of games. I just do not see why posters assume we will win this game. I do think that if we can get by St. John's we have a good chance (45%) to beat Xavier. I always think it is an advantage to having won the first game while the other team gets a bye.

[rocky_warrior]

I just do not see why posters assume we will win this game.

Because they're F'in 1-17 in the BEast! With the one win coming against the 2nd worst team.  Even with the "improved play" you're talking about, in the last 3 games...
  Lost to Depaul by 8
  Lost to Creighton by 41!!!!
  Lost to Providence by 14

Not a team I "assume" we would lose to.  Could we lose...sure.  But we shouldn't.

[Hubert Davis]

BEAT ST. JOHN'S!

[RushmoreAcademy]

What are the odds that Depaul can win this thing?
What odds would you have to have to make a $2 bet on that?

[bilsu]

Because they're F'in 1-17 in the BEast! With the one win coming against the 2nd worst team.  Even with the "improved play" you're talking about, in the last 3 games...
  Lost to Depaul by 8
  Lost to Creighton by 41!!!!
  Lost to Providence by 14

Not a team I "assume" we would lose to.  Could we lose...sure.  But we shouldn't.

I just hope the team does not feel that way. They need to be ready to take care of business. I am not saying we are going to lose, but the game scares me.
However, if we do lose the melt down here should be fun.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Well, other than us it better be Butler.  After all of these regular seasons winners from the small conferences not winning their tourneys, we cannot afford a team that should make the NCAA's sliding down to the NIT.

I am starting to fret that we HAVE to win two in the BET for feel comfortable about the NIT.

I'm not gonna lose any sleep over playing in Vegas over the NIT. That said, I think we're a lock for the nit with a win tomorrow.

[PGsHeroes32]

Would be such a Treat and nice change of pace to be the team that completely demolishes other teams bubble hopes by rattling off 4 in a row.

A BET title is something we are really lacking.

Let's just steamroll them all!!

[rocky_warrior]

I just hope the team does not feel that way. They need to be ready to take care of business. I am not saying we are going to lose, but the game scares me.
However, if we do lose the melt down here should be fun.

Interesting thought based on your comment.  I actually would prefer the team be confident they can win, but prepared to play hard to prove it.  A team playing with confidence can be a good thing.  Playing scared and they're almost certain to lose.