Wichita predictions

[tower912]

Purdue part dos.  WSU 91-80

[Galway Eagle]

If I knew how to post the gif of Mr T saying “Pain” in Rocky three I would

[zcg2013]

Woke up being a bit too optimistic for today. Shockers will be somewhat tired from yesterday and might be drained. Here's to hoping Rowsey can beat their press as well as he did VCU's.

[robmufan]

We turn the ball over with their press.

Not looking forward to this one (but hey, it helps the SOS and RPI!)

[naginiF]

BTK 88 Dahmer 84

[warriorchick]

If I knew how to post the gif of Mr T saying “Pain” in Rocky three I would

Here you go, honey.   

[warriorchick]

BTK 88 Dahmer 84

Our serial killer > Your serial killer

[Loose Cannon]

I Don't know the score, but I think we become better at breaking the Press and that will help us as the season continues.

[muguru]

I have a strangely good feeling about this one. I mean, one game compared to another means nothing, but this is the same Wichita team that was trailing a VERY bad Cal team by 18, and was losing by double digits for a decent portion of the 2nd half yesterday.

I'd love to see MU up by 18 in the 2nd half because I don't think they'd blow it the way Cal did.

[DUNKS45]

We need to hit the boards hard again. Heldt and Theo stay out of foul trouble. I think we'll play hard and keep it close, GO MU!!

[brewcity77]

Marquette 87-85 Wichita State

A game of runs where they can never put us away because of our long range shooting. WSU runs out of gas late after yesterday's crazy comeback. Rowsey seals it with a three in the waning seconds.

[cheebs09]

I'd love to see MU up by 18 in the 2nd half because I don't think they'd blow it the way Cal did.

MU has scarred me to the point where I feel no lead is safe.

[MUWarrior4Life]

Warriors 78- Shockers 75

[TallTitan34]

MU has scarred me to the point where I feel no lead is safe.

That's how I feel about all my sports teams.

[GGGG]

That's how I feel about all my sports teams.

That's how I feel about life.

[fjm]

Remember how everyone thought we were minced meat vs nova last year? We won that game.

We won't win today, but I am not in the club that we are screwed. Think it could be a close game with a punchers chance. If the Big3 are feeling it we have a real shot. Maybe. Kinda.

[LoudMouth]

MU has scarred me to the point where I feel no lead is safe.

Butler last year cemented that in my mind as well

[MUfan12]

Think they get rolled today, but I'd love to be wrong.

[warriorchick]

MU has scarred me to the point where I feel no lead is safe.

As I said several years ago (and it still holds true today)

Don't assume we will lose because we are down by 20.

Don't assume we will win because we are up by 20.

Personally, I can't relax when we are winning until we have the ball with the shot clock turned off - and that's if we have at least an 8-point lead.

[GooooMarquette]

We got this.

[LoudMouth]

Thinking its similar to the Purdue game. We hang in there for a while but end up in foul trouble. Theo looked alot better yesterday than in the Purdue game so maybe he learned.
Either way...with an o/u of 160 anyone with a bookie should be hammering that over

[leever]

With blue and gold glasses off, double digit loss.  Matt and Theo both foul out trying to guard Shaq.  Hope I'm wrong.

[MerrittsMustache]

MU starts quickly and hangs around for most of the game. Morris is too much inside and Wichita State pulls away late.

Shockers 90-78.

[real chili 83]

327 - 5. MU, of course.

[leever]

327 - 5. MU, of course.

Going for the over, eh?

[GoldenDieners32]

Hopefully mu can contain Shamet and Morris if we can get them into foul trouble and hit our shots we should keep this close

[Herman Cain]

Our Big 3 have a game under their belts with those loose rims out there. I think we get another strong performance from them and more confidence from the rest of the team. Will be close but we will win this .

[PGsHeroes32]

WSU wins 88-73.

Just can't see us stopping Morris at all.

Good early test tho.

[Dawson Rental]

Is there a God?

And if there is, does God intervene in daily life?

If the answer to both questions is yes, then MU 87-82.

[MomofMUltiples]

Our team is also tired from a tough game yesterday, and their bigs are really big! WSU by 10.

[Marcus92]

Wichita State had just 5 losses last season — with 4 of them away from home and 3 on neutral courts. In other words, we have the best possible setting for an upset.

On the other hand, the Shockers didn't lose to a team ranked lower than #49 by KenPom.com. We're currently ranked #54. So there's that.

I'd give us a 1-in-3 chance. Not great odds, but you never know.

Go MU!

[tower912]

Is there a God?

And if there is, does God intervene in daily life?

If the answer to both questions is yes, then MU 87-82.

Hello, God?  It's me, Marquette fan.

[Loose Cannon]

Is there a God?

And if there is, does God intervene in daily life?

If the answer to both questions is yes, then MU 87-82.

That's one of the Best Box out this season.

[Oldgym]

Hello, God?  It's me, Marquette fan.

Oh well done.

[CreightonWarrior]

Please beat them, I hate Wichita State

[MU82]

The objective observer in me can see the Shockers manhandling our young lads (no Spacey jokes, please).

We need to shoot extraordinarily well, handle the press brilliantly and battle on the boards while avoiding fouls. The optimist in me says it could happen ... but it's tough for me to see all of that going our way.

Shockers 80, Warriors 70.

I will be absolutely thrilled to be wrong about this.

[damuts222]

Whatever happened to everyone predicting score, high scorer for MU, total points, etc....

84-80 MU!

[79Warrior]

Unless Hauser, Howard and Rowsey shoot lights out, WS will pull away in the second half and win comfortably.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I just hope we keep it interesting.

[Clam Crowder]

If we get Morris in foul trouble early I could see us up by a good margin for a bit of the first half. I think we cover but lose by 5 or so

[Dr. Blackheart]

WSU was beat. They settled early for threes and those weren't falling so they regrouped at halftime and almost exclusively went to the paint. MU has one of the worst two point defenses in the country at this point (309). If our bigs can stay out of foul trouble and we get theirs in foul trouble on their press, we got this in a very high tempo game.  Should be fun!

[PGsHeroes32]

On the bright side I'm gonna lay $500 on Wichita to win straight up. Pays $55.

We might just win this game

[Osiris]

WSU 85 - MU 69.  Unless Heldt and John learn the art of flopping and Shaq picks up a couple quick fouls, then it could tighten up.

[Jockey]

I think it will be our ugliest game all year.

Heldt will get killed inside and Theo has no chance. The small lineup will get manhandled.


Hope I am wrong.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Warriors 83, Wichita State 78.  Matt and Theo will keep their big guys out and in foul trouble.  Sam will have a big game.

[brewcity77]

Thus far, Wichita gives up a lot of looks from three and can be overaggressive in terms of fouls. If we're hitting outside shots and getting to the line, we can win this. If we try to pound inside and play the physical game, we likely lose. I think we'll play to our strengths.

[damuts222]

Is the line really +12..ouch no respect i tell ya

[GoldenZebra]

The press is gonna bother MU, but maybe today is the day where everyone can not pick up quick fouls and we might be given a chance to beat the press. If there is any early foul trouble I just dont see it. Hopefully WSU is too tired to play, but our guys are probably just as tired as they fought to win last night as well.
88-80 Wichita...ugh.

[#UnleashSean]

Rowsey drops 40. John doesnt foul once, MU wins by 3.

[MU82]

Rowsey drops 40. John doesnt foul once, MU wins by 3.

Unleash him, baby!

[GoldenDieners32]

Rowsey hits 10 3s

[Osiris]

There were positives to take away from this game.  Enough that lead me to believe that their ceiling is higher than first imagined. There were also plenty of deficiencies exposed that if left uncorrected, will not allow them to reach those heights.

In the negative column:
1.  Rowsey.  His worst performance as the floor general.  Despite his senior status, he still allows his emotions to lead him into poor decisions.  It’s always bitter-sweet to see him drain one from 28 ft knowing that the heat check will be coming from even further ....and with 20 plus seconds on the shot clock.  When two’s are given, they should be taken no matter how ‘hot’ one might feel. 
2.  Same as item 1. except insert Howard and to a lesser degree.  Ultimately this will be up to Wojo to hold them accountable with bench time and he won’t have that option until he gets comfortable with Elliott bringing the ball up.
3.  Shooting.  A 9/33 three point performance is well....not good.  Especially for a team built on shooting.  Everyone touching the ball, moving and shooting should lead to everyone’s offensive game improving.  Fix 1 and 2 then 3 takes care of itself. 
4.  Some here have disparaged our interior offense.  While I have listed it under the ‘negatives’, I will reserve judgment until that first post entry.
5.  Cheetham.  He played some solid D per usual but seems to undo on the offensive end any positive he provides on the defensive end.

In the positive column:
1.  Freshmen Decision Making.  Anyone complaining about the freshmen’s decision making is expecting too much from guys with 30 or so minutes of D1 ball under their belt.  All of Cain’s shots were good decisions, they just didn’t fall.  Theo is learning a little more about what he can and can’t get away with every time out.  Now he’ll never know the difference between a legal and illegal screen but I’ve yet to see an official have any clue either so I won’t hold that against him.
2.  The interior D.  It was ok considering what they were up against.  Heldt battled and played 30 plus minutes without fouling out against a far superior opponent that didn’t eat him alive.  That in itself is big step forward.  Now rebounding, we’ll that’s another story.
3.  The freshmen defensive skill set.  This group, especially Elliott, gives them some serious length on defense, shutting down driving lanes, passing lanes and challenging shots the way Rowsey and Howard just can’t.  When they’re on the court there’s at least the possibility of a steal and run-out on the perimeter.
3.  The Coaching staff adjusted nicely after early decisions to front the post led to easy baskets from Morris and Nerger.  The question isn’t always wether or not to double the post; it’s when and from where.  They did a really good job of mitigating Morris by switching up where the double was coming from and pinning him from clear passing outlets.  Not perfect, but way, way better than the Purdue game.

The referring was maddening of course but isn’t that college basketball?  They add a handful of D1 teams every year which means they need to find 20 or so more D1 quality referees every year from a pool that’s already depleted.  It won’t get better so don’t expect it to.  All we can do is start the long over due petition calling for 6 personal fouls. 

[MUEng92]

I am starting to think the foul call on the screen depends on the age of the screener.  I swear I’ve seen screens by Heldt where he steps into the defender who then flails, but no foul.

John sets a pick where you can’t notice a change in the motion of the defender, foul.

Of course there are times where John lays into the guy that could be a misdemeanor on a sidewalk. He “earns” those and makes me think the defender will think twice next time.