The finish

[mu03eng]

99.9% at 10-8.

I'll go 80% at 9-9 with one win in the BET

40% at 9-9 with a first round BET loss.

I also agree with this analysis

[brewcity77]

The NIT is gross.

I'm glad the gophers are finally done being a "make an NIT run" type of team.

Progress isn't always quick, nor is it always a straight line. A NIT bid would be an improvement on last year, even if it's not the improvement we want.

[jsglow]

On the upside, I think we are in very good position for a NIT berth. It's not what anyone wants, I realize, but it would still be marked improvement from a year ago despite losing a top-20 NBA pick.

Let's not discount this.  Baring something crazy, we're not going to be clamoring for a Vegas invite.

As to Saturday.  We're the better team.  Let's prove that in front of their donut eating fans.

[amen426]

We'll especially be in trouble if PV wins at Creighton. They will see daylight and be hungry.

Or maybe the opposite.

If they beat Creighton. They could look ahead and see MU, STJ, and Depaul as 3 games that they'll likely be favored in on their path to 10 wins - and perhaps lose a bit of fire. Maybe get a little fat and happy.

Motivation is difficult to predict. Can't assume that they'll be an even more difficult matchup for us if they enter the game coming off a win vs. a loss..

[jsglow]

Or maybe the opposite.

If they beat Creighton. They could look ahead and see MU, STJ, and Depaul as 3 games that they'll likely be favored in on their path to 10 wins - and perhaps lose a bit of fire. Maybe get a little fat and happy.

Motivation is difficult to predict. Can't assume that they'll be an even more difficult matchup for us if they enter the game coming off a win vs. a loss..

Cough, Nova, cough.

[MU82]

Saturday is a must win, IMO. Making the NCAA is obviously the goal and the win is needed. More importantly, it will show the character of the team Wojo has assembled. He was a tough player and we wil Saturday if that toughness carries over to his coaching career. Fingers crossed.

By most definitions of a "must win," I don't think this is one. St. John's was. Xavier almost certainly was. But we can lose here and at X, beat Creighton at home and still realistically go dancin'.

Still, I do agree that we have something good going now and it would be nice to keep it going. And I do agree our road to the tourney (and not the NIT) would get significantly easier if we win Sat.

Do remember that the Warriors could play with toughness and "character," and Wojo could coach well ... and we could still lose. It happens.

Not gonna happen Saturday, though. We're gonna kick some Friar fannies!

[fjm]

I agree with brew. My goal this season was a high NIT seed.

So right now this is gravy.

Not saying I don't want NCAA, but looking for progression in year 3 of a rebuild had me thinking NIT.

On the other topic, I feel confident that 9-9 and us at 5th in the BE gets us in.

The bubble last night was kind to us in other teams losses. 

[amen426]

I agree with brew. My goal this season was a high NIT seed.

So right now this is gravy.

Goals can tend to change throughout the season. My goal was similar, but my goal was to be in the conversation on Selection Sunday as a legitimate bubble candidate. Barring an 0-3 + 0-1 finish, I think we will reach that goal.

As a Packers fan, I was expecting to lose to Seattle back in 2014 in the playoffs. But 55 minutes into that game the probability of winning was so high that I adjusted my expectations.

At the end of the day, they lost that game. I initially expected them to lose. But it was the manner in which they lost that was worse than the loss itself.

Many of us will be in that same category for Marquette, if they miss the tournament. There was a high probability of us getting into the tournament after the 5-3 start & Creighton/Villanova back to backs. Especially given the remaining schedule in conference play.

And even after our recent skid, we answered the bell with two must wins to put us back in a "more likely than not" scenario.

If we go 0-3 down the stretch and miss the tournament, I'm sure you and I will be playing the "what if" game all offseason -- rather than simply being happy that they met our preseason expectations.

Even if the NIT/bubble was our hope going in - expectations changed. It will be a bitter pill to swallow, given how the season unfolded.

[manny31]

NIT vs NCAA? I surely want  the NCAA bid but was thinking what if?? If MU goes NCAA and lays an egg, say the Warriors get beat by 15 or more in the first round. Would an NIT bid be better(assuming we would go very far in NIT)? Fron the perspective of whatever benefits MU the most for next year. Could MU win the he NIT? I think there are a couple of scenarios in which MU is better off in the NIT.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

NIT vs NCAA? I surely want  the NCAA bid but was thinking what if?? If MU goes NCAA and lays an egg, say the Warriors get beat by 15 or more in the first round. Would an NIT bid be better(assuming we would go very far in NIT)? Fron the perspective of whatever benefits MU the most for next year. Could MU win the he NIT? I think there are a couple of scenarios in which MU is better off in the NIT.

NIT IS NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER BETTER THAN NCAA. EVER. 

Plus, if you want to play the what if game, MU could get bounced in the first round of the NIT.  You take the NCAA bid every single time.

[Bocephys]

NIT IS NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER BETTER THAN NCAA. EVER. 

Plus, if you want to play the what if game, MU could get bounced in the first round of the NIT.  You take the NCAA bid every single time.

Unless Western Michigan is in the NIT field, I think we're safe.

[jsglow]

NIT vs NCAA? I surely want  the NCAA bid but was thinking what if?? If MU goes NCAA and lays an egg, say the Warriors get beat by 15 or more in the first round. Would an NIT bid be better(assuming we would go very far in NIT)? Fron the perspective of whatever benefits MU the most for next year. Could MU win the he NIT? I think there are a couple of scenarios in which MU is better off in the NIT.

Go stand in the corner and think about what you said for awhile.

[reinko]

NIT vs NCAA? I surely want  the NCAA bid but was thinking what if?? If MU goes NCAA and lays an egg, say the Warriors get beat by 15 or more in the first round. Would an NIT bid be better(assuming we would go very far in NIT)? Fron the perspective of whatever benefits MU the most for next year. Could MU win the he NIT? I think there are a couple of scenarios in which MU is better off in the NIT.

[manny31]

Go stand in the corner and think about what you said for awhile.

I know... I think "BREW" first mentioned the three letters that we won't mention again. Ok how about a 15 point loss in round 1 of NCAA vs winning the "_ _ _"? I know we are playing what if and I think in this scenario I would rather win the "_ _ _". I would love to see MU playing on Saturday or Sunday in the NCAA,  the other thing, I think, could potentially be more beneficial.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I know... I think "BREW" first mentioned the three letters that we won't mention again. Ok how about a 15 point loss in round 1 of NCAA vs winning the "_ _ _"? I know we are playing what if and I think in this scenario I would rather win the "_ _ _". I would love to see MU playing on Saturday or Sunday in the NCAA,  the other thing, I think, could potentially be more beneficial.

Recruits care most about making the tourney.  Snapping this ugly three year drought is far more valuable than the guys playing a few more games together this year.  But again, this whole I would trade a 1st round NCAA loss for a NIT championship talk is so silly.  Thats not a trade this is possible to make in any realm of reality.  YOU TAKE THE NCAA BID EVERY SINGLE TIME.

[reinko]

I know... I think "BREW" first mentioned the three letters that we won't mention again. Ok how about a 15 point loss in round 1 of NCAA vs winning the "_ _ _"? I know we are playing what if and I think in this scenario I would rather win the "_ _ _". I would love to see MU playing on Saturday or Sunday in the NCAA,  the other thing, I think, could potentially be more beneficial.

[PGsHeroes32]

NIT vs NCAA? I surely want  the NCAA bid but was thinking what if?? If MU goes NCAA and lays an egg, say the Warriors get beat by 15 or more in the first round. Would an NIT bid be better(assuming we would go very far in NIT)? Fron the perspective of whatever benefits MU the most for next year. Could MU win the he NIT? I think there are a couple of scenarios in which MU is better off in the NIT.

Please stop

[DUNKS45]

everything revolves on getting to the NCAA. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO nit.

[Newsdreams]

NIT vs NCAA? I surely want  the NCAA bid but was thinking what if?? If MU goes NCAA and lays an egg, say the Warriors get beat by 15 or more in the first round. Would an NIT bid be better(assuming we would go very far in NIT)? Fron the perspective of whatever benefits MU the most for next year. Could MU win the he NIT? I think there are a couple of scenarios in which MU is better off in the NIT.

Congratulations you made Scoop Takes!

[brewcity77]

I know... I think "BREW" first mentioned the three letters that we won't mention again. Ok how about a 15 point loss in round 1 of NCAA vs winning the "_ _ _"? I know we are playing what if and I think in this scenario I would rather win the "_ _ _". I would love to see MU playing on Saturday or Sunday in the NCAA,  the other thing, I think, could potentially be more beneficial.

I'd rather lose in the NCAA than win the NIT, even though in retrospect the latter might end up more fun, because the goal all season long is to make the NCAAs.

That said, the NIT would be progress on last year no matter the circumstance. We'll all be hoping for a NCAA bid, but if we end up in the NIT, anyone calling that berth a failure is a complete and utter moron. And that's regardless of how expectations may have "changed" over the course of the season. Progress is more than a day-to-day thing.

[mileskishnish72]

The Not Invited Tournament hasn't been a better option than the NCAA for, uh, 47 years.

[brewcity77]

Actually...I might like the NIT more, but only because it would piss off so many people here. The fallout would be hilarious. That's something I could get behind.

[jsglow]

I'd rather lose in the NCAA than win the NIT, even though in retrospect the latter might end up more fun, because the goal all season long is to make the NCAAs.

That said, the NIT would be progress on last year no matter the circumstance. We'll all be hoping for a NCAA bid, but if we end up in the NIT, anyone calling that berth a failure is a complete and utter moron. And that's regardless of how expectations may have "changed" over the course of the season. Progress is more than a day-to-day thing.

Of course.  But what was proposed was the 'one and done' scenario vs. 'deep NIT run'.  Look, if we fail to take care of business here we're all going to be glued to our TVs for NIT action and hope to hang a banner.  But let's not be forced to do that.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Actually...I might like the NIT more, but only because it would piss off so many people here. The fallout would be hilarious. That's something I could get behind.

Brew, I am worried about you lately. 

[Loose Cannon]

Brew, I am worried about you lately.

Seconded.