Is MU for real this year?

[mviale]

will find out tonight.

[tower912]

You need to define your terms like a good Jesuit.   If by 'for real', you mean "is our ranking justified by our accomplishments until now?", the answer is yes.   If you mean "can we do well in the Big East and the Big Dance?" then the answer is that we are certainly capable, but we need to stay healthy, never take a night off, and get some breaks in the tourney.   

[The Lens]

It's been 5 years since we've won a NCAA game and 25 years (or so) since we've gone to 3 NCAAs in a row.  That can all change this season.  And if both do, I think you'll see a lot of the naysayers (myself included) happily eat crow.

It all starts tonight - can't wait!

[MarquetteVol]

Well, we're going to the tournament this year. I can't foresee a situation where that doesn't happen. Actually, hard to see a situation where we're not in the dance next year, too.

This team has a look and feel much different than last year's squad. There is certainly a confidence to this group and a business-like approach game in and game out. Should be a really fun ride!

[chefrad]

I's not "hard" at all envisioning how MU could be left out: lose a few BE games close, get blown out on national TV at least once, or just suffer a McNeal-type injury.

My god man, UNC loses Hansborough and even they are vulnerable. NE without Brady? 

[bilsu]

The weakness to this team is size. The strength to this team is its unbelievable depth. I do not think injuries matter, except for Hayward. I believe that Acker and Culliban are as good as or better than most guards we will see this season.
I also think the Big East as a whole is overrated. With Pitt's and Syracuse's injuries I do not see them making the NCAA's. Louisville with losing to Cincy have put themselves behind the 8 ball. If they lose to Kentucky they will really be hurting.

NCAA bids Georgetown, Marquette and Villanova and two more teams for five bids.

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

will find out tonight.

Why tonight?

I think the real test comes Saturday. Quick turnaround. Top ten team coming into Morgantown. Bob Huggins. Size and 3-point shooting. If MU wins on Saturday it will truly be a statement of intent.

[NotAnAlum]

If memory serves last year Clemson was like 14-1 with 2 wins in the ACC, went on a big losing streak and missed the tournement.  We ain't in yet.  That said, I feel much more confident at this point than I did last year at the same time.  I really want this team to run through the tape and if possible get a 1-3 seed.  Getting to the sweet 16 is soooo much easier from one of the top 3 seeds.  To do that we probably need to finish no lower than tied for 2nd in the BE and hang around the top 10.  That's a tall order but with consistant play, no more injuries and a little luck we could do it.

[ChicosBailBonds]

As I said before, I'll take that bet everyday of the year.  No way we get only 5 bids.

The current RPI has the BEAST 3rd in the nation.  This conference gets 7 bids and perhaps 8

[Doctor V]

dont complicate things. the answer to this question is a plain and simple YES. half the doubters have started to come around, and more will follow. Is an early NCAA upset possible? it is with every team on any given day. Is the Final 4 possible- absolutely...and i was accused for hitting the bottle when I first suggested that. The more the season goes on the more people will see that this team is capable of greatness

[79Warrior]

will find out tonight.

Why tonight?

I think the real test comes Saturday. Quick turnaround. Top ten team coming into Morgantown. Bob Huggins. Size and 3-point shooting. If MU wins on Saturday it will truly be a statement of intent.

Isn't that game Sunday?

[mviale]

size doesnt matter

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

will find out tonight.

Why tonight?

I think the real test comes Saturday. Quick turnaround. Top ten team coming into Morgantown. Bob Huggins. Size and 3-point shooting. If MU wins on Saturday it will truly be a statement of intent.

Isn't that game Sunday?

Yes, WVU is on Sunday. I mixed that up. The turnaround I was thinking of was Sunday in Morgantown and Seton Hall at home on Tuesday. If they are able to pull off the road win, cannot let the tired legs stumble against the Pirates.

[Pardner]

size doesn't matter

Our frontcourt scored almost half our points tonight and grabbed almost two thirds of the rebounds--with us usually going with three (or four guard sets) that says a lot.  I think the tendency is to overlook how much more experienced and improved our depth is on the backline--although they are not flashy.  Lazar, Trend and Burke make us so much deeper here than we were last year--and Hazel is coming around.  Plenty of fouls to give also (almost 50% of our fouls tonight) to allow us to remain physical when we got in early foul trouble.  Trend's jam was a beaut.  We are going far.

[Big Papi]

size doesn't matter

Our frontcourt scored almost half our points tonight and grabbed almost two thirds of the rebounds--with us usually going with three (or four guard sets) that says a lot.  I think the tendency is to overlook how much more experienced and improved our depth is on the backline--although they are not flashy.  Lazar, Trend and Burke make us so much deeper here than we were last year--and Hazel is coming around.  Plenty of fouls to give also (almost 50% of our fouls tonight) to allow us to remain physical when we got in early foul trouble.  Trend's jam was a beaut.  We are going far.

You mentioned the backline and I can't help but comment on Hazel.  I know we have only seen him receive limited garbage minutes but I am impressed with his ability on the offensive end.  He knows how to finish around the basket and I feel once he becomes more consistent on the defensive end he will play some important minutes at some point in time during the course of this season and I for one won't be fearing a dropoff in production.  He looks like a very solid player who would have been receiving a lot more minutes if he was enrolled at MU the previous 3 years.  I think his potential down low has allowed TC to go after Jamil Wilson even with the verbal of Erik Williams and not have to worry about getting a big.

[skianth16]

The weakness to this team is size. The strength to this team is its unbelievable depth. I do not think injuries matter, except for Hayward. I believe that Acker and Culliban are as good as or better than most guards we will see this season.

Apparently our big men handle themselves alright though, because Wisconsin is probably one of the best frontcourts in our schedule and Ouse and Burke and Lazar played very well against them

[BaltimoreMC]

Big are showing up, which is key to our success - good balance.  However, our bigs success stems from from the guards getting into the interior of the defense and droppin' dimes to them rather than feeding the ball into the post and have our bigs do low post moves.  Key to our offensive success is getting into the interior - it sets up both our big guys (defensive bigs need to help out and leaves our bigs open) as well sets up better open looks from the outside.  I think that this year's teams understands that and is doing a good job of executing.  Last year, we would settle for the outside shots before trying to get into the defensive interior.  So, as long as we don't get lazy and settle for outside shots and try to get our guards into the interior, we'll be really good this year.