Sunday may tell the tale for this team

[79Warrior]

Can we put it together after a horrible night @ The Ville. A loss will put us squarely in the middle of the pack in the conference. This is a veteran team we have. I hope the guys come out with some fire in the belly.

[NavinRJohnson]

A loss will put us squarely in the middle of the pack in the conference.

With 2/3 of the season left to play, and our toughest road games pretty much behind us. Anyway, Sunday is a win.

[Big Papi]

A loss on Sunday is not the end of the world, unless you were one of the few who expected MU to win the conference title before the season started.  Nevertheless, here is hoping we win on Sunday so some of you can get off the ledge for a few days.

[NavinRJohnson]

I still expect MU to win the conference (Pending DJ injury status), and I'm not the least bit panicked about last night. I went into ND wnating 2 of 3 against ND, @UL, and @UConn. I still think well get that.

[bilsu]

In the past some Big East teams with 9-7 records did not get bids to the NCAA tournament. I think this year a Big East team has to be 10-8 and win the first game in the conference tournament to guarantee not being left out on selection day. We have three very tough home games left against Pittsburg, Louisville and Georgetown. If we fail to win any of those games we will need to win 4 road games to achieve a 10-8 record. Given the strength of our road schedule and how we played at West Virginia and Louisville, I do not see us winning 4 road games. If we gon undefeated at home, which is very possible, we will need to win only one road game, which we should be able to do. I will feel much better about this team after it gets a road win.

[79Warrior]

In the past some Big East teams with 9-7 records did not get bids to the NCAA tournament. I think this year a Big East team has to be 10-8 and win the first game in the conference tournament to guarantee not being left out on selection day. We have three very tough home games left against Pittsburg, Louisville and Georgetown. If we fail to win any of those games we will need to win 4 road games to achieve a 10-8 record. Given the strength of our road schedule and how we played at West Virginia and Louisville, I do not see us winning 4 road games. If we gon undefeated at home, which is very possible, we will need to win only one road game, which we should be able to do. I will feel much better about this team after it gets a road win.

Completely agree with you on this. It is a tall order to think we will win all three home games you cited. In addition, we lose @ UCONN and I really believe the pressure on this team will rachet up.

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

Can we put it together after a horrible night @ The Ville. A loss will put us squarely in the middle of the pack in the conference. This is a veteran team we have. I hope the guys come out with some fire in the belly.

But if James doesn't play what does that do to your dire predictions?

[ecompt]

A loss Sunday and I think we start questioning ourselves as to when our first road win will come. We seem incredibly intimidated on the road, moreso than we were last year.

[Pardner]

Worst part, if we lose on Sunday, the rodents will be ranked above us with their cupcake league schedule.  ???

Bad news:  CT is deep and talented.  Good news:  they are young and erratic.  I think our pressure can wilt them, but we need to get some focused energy right at the tip.  First four minutes on the road in the BE has been our undoing.  TC will have us ready on the boards.  And, we cannot shoot that badly back to back.  This is a "must win" only for our confidence.

[mviale]

TC will have these guys rolling again -  no worries

[Eye]

10-8 looks like bubbleland to me. 11-7 should get it done for any of the 10 teams that have legitimate shots of making it. Eight bids looks like the best bet at this point.

[79Warrior]

Can we put it together after a horrible night @ The Ville. A loss will put us squarely in the middle of the pack in the conference. This is a veteran team we have. I hope the guys come out with some fire in the belly.

But if James doesn't play what does that do to your dire predictions?

Makes no difference. I do not see Pitt making excuses losing two key starters.

[Coobeys Oil Depot]

Can we put it together after a horrible night @ The Ville. A loss will put us squarely in the middle of the pack in the conference. This is a veteran team we have. I hope the guys come out with some fire in the belly.

But if James doesn't play what does that do to your dire predictions?

Makes no difference. I do not see Pitt making excuses losing two key starters.

Pittsburgh beat co-#1 Georgetown at home and Marquette beat co-#1 Notre Dame at home. Pittsburgh's road games were Villanova and South Florida. Marquette's road games were West Virginia and Louisville. There's a difference there.