MU -2.5 vs Johnnie’s

[CTWarrior]

OK then tell me if tonight MU doesn't have the advantage of rest of St. Johns then when exactly is MU going to beat them?

I think whatever points you take away from them being tired you give back to them for having played a game and being used to the environment, etc with more recent playing time.  These are young kids in great shape, I do not think fatigue will be much of a factor tonight. 

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

IMO, this is why we have trouble with SJU.  Other teams make them pay for their lack of size inside to help offset their speed.  We don't do that.

Theo is futile offensively, cannot score n cannot make FTs, and cannot guard any SJU players.  If it was me we would play Ed or Joey at the 5 tonight, bring in Theo for spot minutes or when Keita is in the game.

[StillWarriors]

If you play man all game, MU will lose again, do not have enough team quickness to guard them, have to try something different, much like St. John's played DePaul and played a different D on DePaul, basically only guarded 4 of DePaul players and let there point shoot the ball which they could not and lost, lots of double teams.

Haven't seen a team sag so far off a guard since the D Wilson days. That was something. St. John"s defenders were below the free throw line on Gage when he brought the ball up. Bizarre to see, especially when so used to seeing our guys picked up well past the three point line. St. John's was totally freed up to double Strus constantly and never let him get going. Pretty impressive St. John's had all five starters in double figures last night.

St. John's launched a lot of bricks last night, but certainly also displayed the athleticism that gives us fits at times. I really think we need to control tempo and beat pressure with passing rather than dribbling. Live ball turnovers leading to run outs can't happen with regularity. Shooting decent and controlling the live ball tos are the two keys to a W in this one.

[StillWarriors]

I will preface this comment by saying I know tonight is the most important game of the season and the only one that matters right now...but I think I will feel more confident if we can get to the semis than I do going into this one. Hard not to be shaken by the 4 losses and playing the only team that beat us twice at their home. Hopefully the team doesn't feel that way and comes out ticked off and hungry.

My unease aside, after the loss at home to St. John's I remember thinking I wouldn't mind seeing them again-we'd have a hard time shooting that poorly again. We shall see. Want this W so bad to regain the good feelings through most of the season. Let's go!! Have to avoid the slow start tonight from a confidence and crowd standpoint!

[79Warrior]

Theo is futile offensively, cannot score n cannot make FTs, and cannot guard any SJU players.  If it was me we would play Ed or Joey at the 5 tonight, bring in Theo for spot minutes or when Keita is in the game.

I see SJU turning this into a turnover fest. They are just too quick for us.

[RideMyBuycks]

It has moved to -4 where I'm looking.

[PGsHeroes32]

Spread is ballooning.

Sharps all over the team that's lost 4 in a row playing a virtual road game??

I just pounded that SJU ML. Hoping for a loser.

[willie warrior]

Mazos Burgers should definitely make a Snickers style commercial out of wee wittle willie's posting habits on Scoop.  Maybe eating something called the W burger.  Show Marquette losing a close game on his TV, cut to wee wittle willie hammering a laptop's keyboard with MUScoop up on a screen, have wee wittle willie's mom calling from upstairs, "wee wittle willie, we can hear you striking those keyboard keys again!  Eat your Mazos burger!"  Cut to wee wittle willie leaning back taking a big old bite out of his Mazos burger and Marquette closing out a win on the television screen in front of him, wee wittle willie closing the laptop and relaxing.

wadesworld whining woutinely whenever willie weighs in on wojo. Wadesworld woefully wong on widentity of Wazowurger.

[withoutbias]

Spread is ballooning.

Sharps all over the team that's lost 4 in a row playing a virtual road game??

I just pounded that SJU ML. Hoping for a loser.

ive never understood mu fans betting on mu games.  there are a group of maybe 6 guys that sit right around where i do at the fiserv that are loud as can be and for 95% of the game theyre talking about what they need to hit their bet related to the game.  mu goes to the line and while everyone else is quieting down theyre yelling "come on joey!  i took the over!"  sadly theyre so loud the players actually probably hear that at the line.  nobody gives a flying eff that you bet $10 on the over and are living and dying by that.  if youre attending a game and you cant control your wild cheering for your own bet dont bet on the game.  it makes it impossible to enjoy simply sitting and enjoying the game.

they also love to talk about their personal plus minus (if a couple of them go to the bathroom and mu goes on a run, the other 4 yell at them to leave for the next 10 minutes of game time).  so very obnoxious.

[PGsHeroes32]

ive never understood mu fans betting on mu games.  there are a group of maybe 6 guys that sit right around where i do at the fiserv that are loud as can be and for 95% of the game theyre talking about what they need to hit their bet related to the game.  mu goes to the line and while everyone else is quieting down theyre yelling "come on joey!  i took the over!"  sadly theyre so loud the players actually probably hear that at the line.  nobody gives a flying eff that you bet $10 on the over and are living and dying by that.  if youre attending a game and you cant control your wild cheering for your own bet dont bet on the game.  it makes it impossible to enjoy simply sitting and enjoying the game.

they also love to talk about their personal plus minus (if a couple of them go to the bathroom and mu goes on a run, the other 4 yell at them to leave for the next 10 minutes of game time).  so very obnoxious.

Ha I bet on the opponent of big games or great ML value.

That way if we lose I at least get something for it.

I don't even bet on my teams. Winning is enough for me.

And yeah, I never bet on sh it like those guys.

[oldwarrior81]

Theo is futile offensively, cannot score n cannot make FTs, and cannot guard any SJU players.  If it was me we would play Ed or Joey at the 5 tonight, bring in Theo for spot minutes or when Keita is in the game.

Theo and Ed stepped up in the second half of game 2 against St John's.
Played key roles in overcoming the 13 point Johnnies lead.  They combined for 12 points and 10 rebounds in the second half.

Chartouny also has played fairly well in the previous games.

[Dr. Blackheart]

wadesworld whining woutinely whenever willie weighs in on wojo. Wadesworld woefully wong on widentity of Wazowurger.

Willie wupping wiz wame

[muguru]

FIFY. I know this is what you actually meant.

Wojo tried a bunch of adjustments during the 4 game losing streak (and in the second game against St. John's). We still lost. We ignore those and claim that he didn't make any adjustments because that's easier to blame than "we played like crap" or "the other team played really good." And let's be honest, Wojo could make all the adjustments you suggest....but if we lost, you would still think he was an idiot who couldn't coach. So let's cut out the noise and get to the heart of it. If we lose, he can't coach, if we win, maybe he can coach but he still has to make up for the unacceptable losses.

Hyperbole much?? Where have been the changes I suggest?? He's not trying different things...he's "tweaking" things here and there. Throw different looks at them...who has seen zone from MU this year?? Or trapping?? Or a little full court pressure. It's the un scouted looks that make a difference, especially when you are playing someone for the third time. As much of this falls on the guys for not executing...but there are things Wojo can do beyond certain little "tweaks" to try to help them be in a better position.

For example..last week against Georgetown, where were the traps?? I don't think it's rocket science to figure out that "Hey...these guards are both Freshman, on the road in a hostile environment"...let's see how they handle trapping?? I can guarantee you there would have been turnovers...that's what freshman do. Use it 3-4 possessions(or more), they turn it over twice..that's two extra possessions..when you are going through a slump like they have been, extra possessions can be all the difference in the world...Force the action some.

Look what SJU did last night defending DePaul..They hadn't seen that yet...and guess what?? they didn't handle it well and it worked. It was actually a RADICAL change, playing off someone that much...it allowed them to never let Strus get going. Huh, imagine that, different things do work. Who knew??

[brewcity77]

Or he will be shown the door.

Shown the door, like "hey coach, this is a door, just wanted to show you that." Because he's not getting fired coming off at worst a 2nd place league finish & top-6 seed in the tournament.

[muguru]

Shown the door, like "hey coach, this is a door, just wanted to show you that." Because he's not getting fired coming off at worst a 2nd place league finish & top-6 seed in the tournament.

I'd say only because the expectations for the program by the higher ups are substantially lower now then they once were. In all honesty, at a place like MU, should a 2nd place conference finish and a top 6 seed be acceptable as the best you have done in 5 years??

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

I'd say only because the expectations for the program by the higher ups are substantially lower now then they once were. In all honesty, at a place like MU, should a 2nd place conference finish and a top 6 seed be acceptable as the best you have done in 5 years??

It took 5 years to get here.  Forget the past, the future is bright.  The next 5 years will be better.

[Disco Hippie]

I'd say only because the expectations for the program by the higher ups are substantially lower now then they once were. In all honesty, at a place like MU, should a 2nd place conference finish and a top 6 seed be acceptable as the best you have done in 5 years??

Unfortunately I think the answer to this is yes.   In order for a 2nd place conf. finish and at least a 6 seed to be considered the floor moving forward, I posit that we would need to have at least 3 more consecutive years of performing at least as well as we did this season.  Wish it weren't so but it is.  As one poster said on here a few weeks ago when we lost to STJ or Creighton, this is exactly the type of loss that would move us down a seed line, but would have no impact on a Kentucky or Michigan St. or Villanova and their ilk.   Well, we're not them, at least not yet, and it takes a lot more than one successful season build up that benefit of the doubt equity. 

[The Sultan]

I'd say only because the expectations for the program by the higher ups are substantially lower now then they once were. In all honesty, at a place like MU, should a 2nd place conference finish and a top 6 seed be acceptable as the best you have done in 5 years??

Are they substantially lower than they once were?  I get the impression that a 2nd place conference finish, a six seed, and a clean program is just fine by Marquette administrations going back 40 years.

[muguru]

Are they substantially lower than they once were?  I get the impression that a 2nd place conference finish, a six seed, and a clean program is just fine by Marquette administrations going back 40 years.

And that my friend is the entire issue...it obviously IS acceptable because Wojo will keep his job. And if the same thing happens the next few years, he will continue to Coach the team..but should he?? A program that was once going to Elite 8's and Sweet 16's fairly regularly only 7 years ago..To me this should be the floor going forward, not the ceiling.

[The Sultan]

And that my friend is the entire issue...it obviously IS acceptable because Wojo will keep his job. And if the same thing happens the next few years, he will continue to Coach the team..but should he?? A program that was once going to Elite 8's and Sweet 16's fairly regularly only 7 years ago..To me this should be the floor going forward, not the ceiling.

It would be fine by me if that's the "average" season.  Sometimes do better.  Sometimes do worse.  Keep it clean.

[Sir Lawrence]

5dimes has it at -4.5

[Loose Cannon]

They've beat us twice and we've lost four straight. Wojo sure as hell better have some new wrinkles planned

Yep, Better to be Better.

[Goose]

Like your style, Sir Lawrence.

Oh, thought you were going 5dimes at -4.5

[Disco Hippie]

And that my friend is the entire issue...it obviously IS acceptable because Wojo will keep his job. And if the same thing happens the next few years, he will continue to Coach the team..but should he?? A program that was once going to Elite 8's and Sweet 16's fairly regularly only 7 years ago..To me this should be the floor going forward, not the ceiling.

Let's hope so!

[MuMark]

Sweet 16s and Elite 8s has never been the floor......at least since Al left.

Buzz had a great run of sweet 16 sweet 16. And elite 8......then he missed the tournament when he was picked to win the league and bailed. Guess sweet 16 wasn't the floor after all.

Tell me how many programs have a floor of sweet 16 and Elite 8s? Floor meaning it happens every year......since that is the definition of the floor......the lowest possible outcome.

I'll wait

Some fans never disappoint in their inability to enjoy college sports for what they are.

If you haven't enjoyed this season.......no matter how it ends from here......then you have a problem that has nothing to do with the MU administration or Wojo.

I hope we win tonight......I hope we win a game or 2 in the tournament.......if it doesn't happen I'll still have enjoyed watching a bunch of good kids win 23 games and have some incredible moments.

Only 1 team wins their last game(not counting the NIT)........the whining from our fan base is embarrassing ......go 3 months and only lose a couple of games.... everybody is on top of the world.......hit a rough patch and the true colors show.......easy being a fan when you win every winnable game but 1 from November 23 to February 23......i can only imagine what the players and coaches who have busted their asses all year would think after reading some of these posts from supposed " fans" of the program.