St. John's

[MuMark]

I'm good with JJ playing if Wojo decides it's best......but he isn't a good defender so not sure why we would need him defensively .. .....good JJ can help on offense......he can get boards if he is motivated....but he hurts more then he helps on D most of the time.

[bilsu]

The MU guard play was horrendous that game.  I am sure that Rowsey and Howard ever played against that quickness in the backcourt, were not prepared.  I might
have Duane or Cheatham handle the ball more.  Or when Reinhardt is in the game let him bring the ball up.  Have to get the lead early and there guards will start
jacking up bad shots, not the smartest team in the BE as they are so young.

You must not have watched Cheatham handle the ball against St. John's. He had the ball stolen several times from him. It made me realize how bad we were at point guard last year.

[vogue65]

I was embarressed to be at the St. John's game, took more abuse than on MUScoop.

[Herman Cain]

I was embarressed to be at the St. John's game, took more abuse than on MUScoop.

We will improve next time we play in the Garden.

[WarriorFan]

5 out.
Occasional Heldt.
JJJ for first 4 mins.  If it's good JJJ, he plays more.  if it's bad JJJ he sits.
Should have had time last week to install a press break.  I look for Katin and Du to have a big role. 
Lots of zone.
I think St. John's is dangerous.  They shoot well, they drive well, they have good size, they have good coaching.

[vogue65]

5 out.
Occasional Heldt.
JJJ for first 4 mins.  If it's good JJJ, he plays more.  if it's bad JJJ he sits.
Should have had time last week to install a press break.  I look for Katin and Du to have a big role. 
Lots of zone.
I think St. John's is dangerous.  They shoot well, they drive well, they have good size, they have good coaching.

They have a very good coach, interesting to watch him coach, I don't get it.  He has charisma or something, he wills victory.   Mullin must do the work in practice or something because he doesn't appear to  coach much during the game.   I suppose he knows his players and they are a combination of skill set and playground, they really bring it.

Our best/only chance is a closely officiated game, if the refs allow sandlot, we lose.  And I agree, they are very dangerous and they appear to have a lot of fun playing the game. 

[cheebs09]

I thought Mullin was regarded as a poor coach. His assistants seem to do most of the coaching and he watches. Maybe he's improved this year.

[Stretchdeltsig]

I think we should score more points.

Agree. N

[Golden Avalanche]

I thought Mullin was regarded as a poor coach. His assistants seem to do most of the coaching and he watches. Maybe he's improved this year.

Mullin is the candy that attracts talent. Abdelmassah is the guru who charms it. St. Jean handles the bench coaching.

[BallBoy]

I think St John's is a bad matchup for us.  I thought it was optimistic to think we were going to sweep them.  St John's presents a problem because they have a very athletic big...Luke struggles against athletes.  With the fact, St John's has this rim protector, their guards can play out closer to the three.  With the length at guard they can then challenge the three. 

I don't think that JJJ really helps in this situation unless he develops a pull up jumper.  The curl to the right, head down until the basket plays into that strength.  A potential solution would be to go with a small line-up with Katin or Hauser playing the 4-5 and getting St John's into a Zone or getting the big out of the middle by forcing him to switch to a smaller guard.

[21rooster]

Anyone else completely baffled by the MU-9.5 line? 

[Golden Avalanche]

Anyone else completely baffled by the MU-9.5 line?

I don't see the cover either.

[barfolomew]

Anyone else completely baffled by the MU-9.5 line?

Didn't you see us against X? We're an unstoppable juggernaut. Nary a chink in the armor.
Impossible to make this spread too high.
Vegas knows which way the wind blows, baby.

Also, Heldtasaurus Rex with the triple double is also close to a can't-miss prop bet.

[Nukem2]

I thought Mullin was regarded as a poor coach. His assistants seem to do most of the coaching and he watches. Maybe he's improved this year.

Mostly its better talent with Ponds, Lovett, Ahmed and Owens.

[Lennys Tap]

Anyone else completely baffled by the MU-9.5 line?

Not saying I like our side of the bet, but why would this line baffle you? We're home and by the numbers a much better team.

[21rooster]

It's a team we don't match up well against due to their ability to press, block our shots and crowd the three point line.  We're talking about a 24 point projected swing for a team that has played one good game since Nova.  I think we win, but 9.5 is a lot. 

[Goose]

Lot of points to lay. MU with the win and will not cover, IMO.

[MUBigDance]

I think we should score more points.

Or maybe we should make them score less points...perspective

[Coleman]

Anyone else completely baffled by the MU-9.5 line?

Yeah, that really surprised me. No way I'd take that bet.

We win tonight, but do not cover.

It would have to be like -4.5 for me to think about betting on MU tonight.

[brewcity77]

Anyone else completely baffled by the MU-9.5 line?

No, not at all. St John's beat Providence and DePaul away, but lost their other 5 conference games by an average margin of 18.6 ppg. The closest margin in any of those games was 13 points.

I'm not saying tonight will be indicative of that, but generally, when St John's drops a road Big East game, they don't just lose, they get crushed.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Anyone else completely baffled by the MU-9.5 line?

I think MU fans that watched the game at MSG, and have maybe caught a few minutes of SJU games other than that game, have a bit of warped sense of SJU.  They played about as well as they can play against MU the first time.  MU played right into their hands.  But they're not nearly that good, and have been pretty awful on the road.  I get the 9.5 line, though I wouldn't bet on it. 

[MUBigDance]

No, not at all. St John's beat Providence and DePaul away, but lost their other 5 conference games by an average margin of 18.6 ppg. The closest margin in any of those games was 13 points.

I'm not saying tonight will be indicative of that, but generally, when St John's drops a road Big East game, they don't just lose, they get crushed.

expanding on this. Pretend to be an objective observer...you're a Nebraska fan.

STJ is 2-5 away as mentioned with two fairly close wins 5 or 6 pts.
MU is 5-2 at home with two squeaker losses.

STJ is 2-3 in last 5 coming off a bad away loss.
MU is 2-3 in the last 5 coming off a good win at home.

Betting on MU....and pretty happy about the huskers win over Ohio State

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Don't make the mistake of thinking St. John's is a good team. They aren't. They win by getting teams to play a game of street ball instead of executing their offense or defense. MU let them dictate the game from beginning to end last time. Markus and Haanif got their lunches eaten as they combined for 11 of the team's 17 turnovers. I don't think that happens again. If I'm Wojo, I'm telling the team to commit to the offensive plan, make the extra pass and take the open shot when you have it. I tell Luke that Yakwe and Owens go for the block every time and bite on every shot fake. If he fakes before he makes his move he will be able to go up and get the foul or spin right around them for an easy bucket. On defense, this is the one game where I'd advocate for zone. Use an aggressive 2-3 and make them a jumpshooting team. They simply don't have the discipline to beat a zone and will take a lot of bad shots and drive into traffic.

I'm feeling a double digit win tonight. If Marquette executes, it will be a blowout. If they play like they did in MSG, they will lose, but not by much. SJU is an entirely different beast on the road.

[MUBigDance]

I tell Luke that Yakwe and Owens go for the block every time and bite on every shot fake. If he fakes before he makes his move he will be able to go up and get the foul or spin right around them for an easy bucket.
...
I'm feeling a double digit win tonight.
...

Especially agree with this.

[GoldenDieners32]

Big game tonight lets get this win