Hinkle mystique vanquished

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Butler was a missed three point shot vs Purdue to be in the Sweet 16 last season.

Yes and then lost all their good players

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

It was really poor in second half tho. A lot of fighting for balls and letting it go to the 1 butler guy

But yeah in the 1H it was great

This

[1SE]

Yes and then lost all their good players

Right - I meaning winning in a place where we haven't won since the USSR was still standing is huge - but this Butler team isn't great. If half the wide-open looks they clanked had dropped it would have been a pretty tight game.

That said we did what we were supposed to do and then some.

Two big tests coming up - if we win those I think we can start realistically hoping for a 2 seed.

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Right - I meaning winning in a place where we haven't won since the USSR was still standing is huge - but this Butler team isn't great. If half the wide-open looks they clanked had dropped it would have been a pretty tight game.

That said we did what we were supposed to do and then some.

Two big tests coming up - if we win those I think we can start realistically hoping for a 2 seed.

The whole 1990 got annoying, gimme a fn break it was 5 games, 5 crapty games with me there for 3 of them including the 18 point blown lead.  But its not like we have been in the same conference, as it alluded to.  In fact, Butler was in  horizon league for much of that, and they looked like a Horizon league team last night.  Hope im wrong but always felt letting Butler in might end up a mistake.

[warriorchick]

Raff and Brando have total man-crushes on Markus. Completely effusive in their praise.

They were chuckling every time he hit a shot.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Cain. What a puzzle. And it wasn’t even like BB played particularly well. I don’t know what’s going on but I hope he can get it turned around and still make a meaningful contribution this season because at some point I think we’ll want another 6’7” pogo stick who can hit the open corner 3. Don’t want to beat the horse, but if he keeps drawing DNPs hard to see what keeps him around for next year.

I don't *know* what is going on, but I have a good guess.  Bailey is a better defender and his offensive downside isn't all that great compared to Jamal.  We have five players who can hit that corner 3 better than Jamal can right now.

He may play himself back into the rotation, but if he doesn't I'm OK with that.  And if he leaves, he leaves.  Why worry?

[Ellenson Guerrero]

The whole 1990 got annoying, gimme a fn break it was 5 games, 5 crapty games with me there for 3 of them including the 18 point blown lead.  But its not like we have been in the same conference, as it alluded to.  In fact, Butler was in  horizon league for much of that, and they looked like a Horizon league team last night.  Hope im wrong but always felt letting Butler in might end up a mistake.

That board is pretty remarkable. It’s like they are oblivious to the blatantly obvious talent gap between MU and BU this year. They seem to want Lavall fired because he is not turning Holtzmann’s 3* leftovers into All Big East players. Lavall will get it together down there once he has his own players.

[CTWarrior]

D boards in the second half the only real disappointment after the early TOs.

The defense is niiiiiiiiice tho

Butler missed a ton of easy and/or wide open shots in the first 10 minutes of the game.  I thought the first shot defense was better after that  (although defensive rebounding was poor) even though they started scoring some.

I don't know if Butler is really any good, but they were not good last night. 

A lot of credit to Wojo overall for our defense.  It is better than it ought to be, as Howard is very small and the Hausers not blessed with quickness, but we do a good job anyway. 

[tower912]

That board is pretty remarkable. It’s like they are oblivious to the blatantly obvious talent gap between MU and BU this year. They seem to want Lavall fired because he is not turning Holtzmann’s 3* leftovers into All Big East players. Lavall will get it together down there once he has his own players.

So a whole lot of guys who sound like ners.

[MU82]

Great for Marquette basketball to be fun again. Stayed up late for the game last night for a 3 continent, 4 time zone group WhatsApp game watch party. Wouldn’t have done that for the team last year. Thanks Wojo.

Markus was definitely STOG, but was really excited about Sacar’s game last night. Took charge in the 1st half with some nice drives and finishes  when nothing was falling, hit that lovely 3 in corner. With a reliable 4th scoring option I really like where this team is at.

Ed and Joe also had perfect role games last night - did what they were supposed to, gave 10-15 solid minutes. Markus needed that blow in the 1st half - I think he had scored like 2pts in the first 8 minutes? After that he came out in video game mode. Great that Wojo can still be confident enough in JC to
sit his star in the 1st half on the road in a tough game.

Cain. What a puzzle. And it wasn’t even like BB played particularly well. I don’t know what’s going on but I hope he can get it turned around and still make a meaningful contribution this season because at some point I think we’ll want another 6’7” pogo stick who can hit the open corner 3. Don’t want to beat the horse, but if he keeps drawing DNPs hard to see what keeps him around for next year.

Barring an unthinkable collapse this season I am fully and totally on the Wojo wagon. Thrilled that I was wrong even though I would have liked to be here sooner. Even if for some reason we flame out in the NCAA (madness happens) we’ve checked all the boxes. Would love to win out at the FF, take the BE crown and make an NCAA run but that would really all be icing on what is already a great season.

Next challenge is can we sustain - not only next year but beyond. Am optimistic.

Good, positive, realistic post. Appreciate you owning up to prematurely judging Wojo.

Only slight nit is that you shouldn't assume that just because BB isn't scoring it means he's playing poorly. On this team, his job is to play D, hustle, grab a couple of rebounds, take care of the ball. Very similar role to Sacar's -- do the (not so) little things, scoring is a bonus. My only complaint about BB last night is that he took an early 3 that was completely unnecessary; he could have settled for that shot 20 seconds later if necessary.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Don’t want to beat the horse, but if he keeps drawing DNPs hard to see what keeps him around for next year.

Playing for a national championship contender?

[willie warrior]

Right - I meaning winning in a place where we haven't won since the USSR was still standing is huge - but this Butler team isn't great. If half the wide-open looks they clanked had dropped it would have been a pretty tight game.

That said we did what we were supposed to do and then some.

Two big tests coming up - if we win those I think we can start realistically hoping for a 2 seed.

A #2 seed would be sensational, but we should not stop there. If we can beat Nova once and say go 6-3 for rest of regular season, a 2 seed should be a given. Win the Beast tourney, then we should demand a 1 seed.

[warriorchick]

A #2 seed would be sensational, but we should not stop there. If we can beat Nova once and say go 6-3 for rest of regular season, a 2 seed should be a given. Win the Beast tourney, then we should demand a 1 seed.

Or else what?   

[tower912]

We should demand a 1 seed.   I didn't know that the tournament committee listened to demands.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

That board is pretty remarkable. It’s like they are oblivious to the blatantly obvious talent gap between MU and BU this year. They seem to want Lavall fired because he is not turning Holtzmann’s 3* leftovers into All Big East players. Lavall will get it together down there once he has his own players.

I always poke my head into opposing fan boards right before and after games just to see what they are saying. Holy crap I thought Scoop was bad. Jordan gets them to the Round of 32 in his first year and has them at least in the bubble conversation and it seems like 75% of that board doesn't just want him fired, they want him jailed and his firstborn child in compensation. If they had to go through our first two years of the rebuild they would have burned Hinkle to the ground.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Or else what?   

Go to the NIT!!!

[lawdog77]

I always poke my head into opposing fan boards right before and after games just to see what they are saying. Holy crap I thought Scoop was bad. Jordan gets them to the Round of 32 in his first year and has them at least in the bubble conversation and it seems like 75% of that board doesn't just want him fired, they want him jailed and his firstborn child in compensation. If they had to go through our first two years of the rebuild they would have burned Hinkle to the ground.

Brad Stevens isn't walking through that door.

[wadesworld]

The way Jamal was dancing around on the bench last night, I'd be more surprised if he left this offseason than if he redshirted.  I could see Wojo pointing to Sacar as an example, explaining that nobody that is getting his potential minutes right now is leaving next season so he might be in the same situation, and Jamal buying into the program and getting back into the same graduating class as his buddy Greg.  The kid's never pouted and has been ready when he's been called upon.  He seems to love the team.

Guess we'll see.

[willie warrior]

Or else what?   

I guess you did not realize that "demand"  was hyperbole. We could always then pull an Al McGuire and go to the NIT

[willie warrior]

We should demand a 1 seed.   I didn't know that the tournament committee listened to demands.

Of course they do
 Whatever coach K wants.

[CTWarrior]

I guess you did not realize that "demand"  was hyperbole. We could always then pull an Al McGuire and go to the NIT

I know you're kidding, but actually we can't.  After what McGuire did, NCAA instituted a rule that if you turn down an NCAA bid, you cannot go to any other postseason tournament.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

The way Jamal was dancing around on the bench last night, I'd be more surprised if he left this offseason than if he redshirted.  I could see Wojo pointing to Sacar as an example, explaining that nobody that is getting his potential minutes right now is leaving next season so he might be in the same situation, and Jamal buying into the program and getting back into the same graduating class as his buddy Greg.  The kid's never pouted and has been ready when he's been called upon.  He seems to love the team.

Guess we'll see.

I don't think reading body language means much. He could very well be happy because he is part of a team that is doing great and he loves his teammates, but still feels that it might be better for his development if he leaves.

But you are right.  We will see.

[NickelDimer]

https://twitter.com/mubbnation/status/1090810584541683713?s=21

Everyone is watching the bench’s reaction to the step back three but watch Wojo’s reaction in this GIF.

Haha that’s awesome. Sometimes even as a coach you watch like a fan

[IrwinFletcher]

https://twitter.com/mubbnation/status/1090810584541683713?s=21

Everyone is watching the bench’s reaction to the step back three but watch Wojo’s reaction in this GIF.

I was at the game last night and think I remember watching Wojo after the play, though I can’t be sure if this was the shot or not.  But I believe that MH had just committed a stupid TO.  So after he hits this shot and you see Wojo’s short reaction, Wojo turned around to the scorers table and took a sip of his water and it was almost like he was thinking “how can I yell at MH for the TO when next trip down he makes that play”.  Was funny to watch.

[The Thing]

Go to the NIT!!!

This made me laugh!