POLL IS LIVE: MU Scoop Mid-Season Poll

[MUFlutieEffect]

I apologize for the delay, but the Mid-Season is poll is live:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5mMPeP046Dd_BZ-_2FxIaJVIq86t9LAwzzYphOezvsh_-6A/viewform

The results should give us an idea of how expectations have changed following the first 12 games, as well as the collective tenor on a few other issues.

Merry Christmas, Scoopers!

[GoldenWarrior11]

All things considered, if we enter Big East play with a 9-3 record (win expecting wins over St. Francis and SIU Edwardsville), that's still pretty solid.  We went 10-2 in OOC last year and 8-4 the year before that.  It will come down to conference play.  You can't make the tournament in OOC play, but you can certainly lose a spot because of it.  With wins over Georgia, Vanderbilt, and Fresno State, each are each solid wins.  Losses against Michigan, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin hurt, but those are all very strong teams.  I would have loved to be 4-2, or even 5-1, but we just got dominated by Michigan, and it was never really close. 

We will need to beat DePaul, St. Johns and Georgetown twice (all are struggling this year).  I would love to sweep Providence again, but Ed Cooley has them well positioned after losing Bentil and Dunn last year.  Seton Hall also looks like yet another tough out with Delgado and Carrington.  If we can win just steal a game or two of Creighton, Butler, Xavier and Villanova, that would set us up looking like 19-12/20-11 entering the BET. 

If we lose to an underachieving DePaul team for the third year in a row, or St. Johns, that will be devastating.

[GGGG]

IMO we will be in the NIT this year.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

My personal prediction was NIT this year.  Half way through the rebounding and offense is much better than I would have expected.  Unfortunately the defense is much worse.

They have a lot of work to do in conference to get to the NIT.

For me this team has the tools to be ok but not great - hopefully Wojo can wring out as much as possible from the crew. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

At the beginning I predicted 3-3 against meaningful non-con opponents and perfect against cupcakes. I'm doing perfect so far (okay, I had us beating Pittsburgh and losing @Georgia, so not perfect). I predicted this team to go 9-9 in conference. Unfortunately, I think 10-8 will be required to make the tournament. Hoping I was too pessimistic by a game.

[muwarrior69]

I think we should only play the first half of each game going forward.

[rocket surgeon]

    it depends on what we get from each player and when.  individually, we have some nice talent.  in order for us to win, and i mean win the games we aren't supposed to, we need all the pieces to come together for 40 minutes, eliminate or minimize the opposition's 16-0 runs and execute.

      we were in that wiscy game thru the 3 minute mark if we execute, create some turnovers, hit some shots...we cannot afford to have 1 or 2 guys play really well while the other 4-5-6 get in the way.  synchronize baby-we literally need 110% while other teams can get away with 90%.  i realize we are young, but so what...just win baby

[tower912]

MVP so far?    Probably Luke.    Team performance vs my expectations?   When the players are moving and sharing the ball, the fluidity of the offense reminds me of the midget year.    Which is the highest compliment I can give when it comes to offense and ball movement.   The defensive rebounding has been better than I expected.   The freshmen have been better than I expected.  There are two areas that are worse than I expected are on ball defense and on court leadership.     

I knew that every opposing coach with any skill on his team and a brain in his head was going to run the high pick and roll with Luke's man setting the screen.    What has disappointed me is the inability to contain the dribbler.      And the fact that we have had yet to see an upperclassman, when the opposing team is making a push in the second half, take over.   

[muwarrior69]

MVP so far?    Probably Luke.    Team performance vs my expectations?   When the players are moving and sharing the ball, the fluidity of the offense reminds me of the midget year.    Which is the highest compliment I can give when it comes to offense and ball movement.   The defensive rebounding has been better than I expected.   The freshmen have been better than I expected.  There are two areas that are worse than I expected are on ball defense and on court leadership.     

I knew that every opposing coach with any skill on his team and a brain in his head was going to run the high pick and roll with Luke's man setting the screen.    What has disappointed me is the inability to contain the dribbler.      And the fact that we have had yet to see an upperclassman, when the opposing team is making a push in the second half, take over.   

None of our "upperclassman" had "upperclassmen" to teach them to be team leaders. Renting a "team leader" for the past few seasons is not quite the same as having an established "team leader". Hopefully HC, MH and SH will fill that role over the next few years.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Flute:  You launching the poll?  Warriors right as expected at end of OOC.  Better on offense, worse on defense.  7th place is about right still. NIT

[WellsstreetWanderer]

Will the Grey unis be a charm or bad luck?

[bilsu]

The original prediction was generally a 7th place finish for MU. Since then we lost two players to mid-season transfers. The plus side to that is that it may somewhat have to do with Howard and Hauser taking away their playing time. This year's team more easily handled the bottom half of their non-conference schedule than last year's team, so it seems to have a higher floor. Bests wins this year at Georgia and neutral Vanderbilt is not as good as last year's at Wisconsin and LSU neutral. It does appear that Big East is stronger this year. Butler definitely better than I was expecting. Providence appears to be better than I thought. Creighton even better than I was expecting. Xavier, Seton Hall and Georgetown may not be as good as I expected, but are still good enough to be plenty of trouble.
Villanova 0-2
Creighton 0-2
Butler 0-2
Xavier 1-1
Seton Hall 1-1
Georgetown 1-1
Providence 2-0
DePaul 2-0
St. Johns 2-0
This comes to 9-9.

[GoldenDieners32]

The original prediction was generally a 7th place finish for MU. Since then we lost two players to mid-season transfers. The plus side to that is that it may somewhat have to do with Howard and Hauser taking away their playing time. This year's team more easily handled the bottom half of their non-conference schedule than last year's team, so it seems to have a higher floor. Bests wins this year at Georgia and neutral Vanderbilt is not as good as last year's at Wisconsin and LSU neutral. It does appear that Big East is stronger this year. Butler definitely better than I was expecting. Providence appears to be better than I thought. Creighton even better than I was expecting. Xavier, Seton Hall and Georgetown may not be as good as I expected, but are still good enough to be plenty of trouble.
Villanova 0-2
Creighton 0-2
Butler 0-2
Xavier 1-1
Seton Hall 1-1
Georgetown 1-1
Providence 2-0
DePaul 2-0
St. Johns 2-0
This comes to 9-9.

Georgia also lost to oakland. But i feel like we can get a win against any team in the conference besides Nova

[rocket surgeon]

We have very very little room for error.  Simple-win the games we are SUPPOSED to win and steal a couple we Won't supposed to win.  Is 500 on the road and kick some arse at home a reasonable expectation?  Then we will at least make the NIT, maybe the big one if we show that we are worthy.

[brewcity77]

We have very very little room for error.  Simple-win the games we are SUPPOSED to win and steal a couple we Won't supposed to win.  Is 500 on the road and kick some arse at home a reasonable expectation?  Then we will at least make the NIT, maybe the big one if we show that we are worthy.

If we go close to .500 (4-5) on the road and kick arse at home (8-1?) we are 12-6 and not just making the tournament, but probably doing so as a 6-seed or better.

[fjm]

Mid season poll for me:
Happy with our 9-3 (would be nice to have Pitt in the W column)
Expecting 9-9 in BE play.
JJJ is the MVP so far with Hauser as the break out.
My original thought on this team was high NIT seed and I still expect that as the outcome.

I think we are a year away because of no inside presence.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Georgia also lost to oakland. But i feel like we can get a win against any team in the conference besides Nova

This is why you don't schedule road games against mid-majors. No one cares if you win, it looks really bad if you lose.

[MUFlutieEffect]

Bumping in hopes of inducing some poll responses:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe5mMPeP046Dd_BZ-_2FxIaJVIq86t9LAwzzYphOezvsh_-6A/viewform

[Stretchdeltsig]

We win 23 + games and make the Big dance.  Go Warriors!

[muwarrior69]

We win 23 + games and make the Big dance.  Go Warriors!

What? We had 3 more rebounds against SIUE. Gtown is going to be a tough out, even at home. Our defense is our achilles heal.

[Jay Bee]

What? We had 3 more rebounds against SIUE. Gtown is going to be a tough out, even at home. Our defense is our achilles heal.

What does this mean?

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

10 BE wins. 1 BET win. 9 or 10 seed in the dance.

Don't let me down boys.

[fjm]

9 BE wins. #2 seed in NIT.

[wadesworld]

What does this mean?

+1

[MUBigDance]

I think JJJ has decided to step up this, his senior year.

That decision has gotten him into some trouble with heads down drives and heat check 3s...BUT...the decision to be-the-man is more important than the bumps along the way.

I think its worse for a talented player to never "step up" than to do so and live the risk.

Senior day, JJJ will stand tall.