MU -2.5 vs Johnnie’s

[Mr. Nielsen]

Cousin Sal and Todd on Lock It In, which is shown everyday on FS1 likes Marquette with the  -3.5. Clay Travis picked St. John's.

[Dish]

MU -4.5 seems insane to me. Johnnie's at home, have MU's number this year, MU ice cold. Even if MU wins, I can see it being a close game. Hope I'm wrong, but this number just feels so far off.

[Lennys Tap]

Difficult to beat a team 3 times in one season even when you're the better team. almost impossible if you're not. We are the better team, right? We've got this.

[willie warrior]

Difficult to beat a team 3 times in one season even when you're the better team. almost impossible if you're not. We are the better team, right? We've got this.

Yeah, we got this, we are the better team, even though the Johnnies kicked our ass twice.

[Aircraftcarrier]

Who are the incompetent refs tonight?

[4everwarriors]

Wee wer da bedder teem wen St. John's wuz da Redmen, aina?

[MU82]

What a hilarious thread to look back on.

[Cheeks]

Yeah, we got this, we are the better team, even though the Johnnies kicked our ass twice.

A one point loss is getting our ass kicked?  SMDH

[Cheeks]

Difficult to beat a team 3 times in one season even when you're the better team. almost impossible if you're not. We are the better team, right? We've got this.

Mostly a myth.

In college basketball, similar.  As of March 2015 "According to STATS LLC., there have been 981 similar matchups across Division I college basketball over the past 10 seasons. The teams entering the third game 2-0 are a combined 710-271 (.724 winning percentage) in the third meeting."

Similar results in the NFL

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Mostly a myth.

In college basketball, similar.  As of March 2015 "According to STATS LLC., there have been 981 similar matchups across Division I college basketball over the past 10 seasons. The teams entering the third game 2-0 are a combined 710-271 (.724 winning percentage) in the third meeting."

Similar results in the NFL

Think you need to read Lenny's post more closely. Yes, "hard to beat a team three times in a season" is a myth....but my guess is that it is very hard to upset a team three times in a season. MU was the favorite in all three games.

[Cheeks]

Think you need to read Lenny's post more closely. Yes, "hard to beat a team three times in a season" is a myth....but my guess is that it is very hard to upset a team three times in a season. MU was the favorite in all three games.

Yup, that's why I said mostly a myth.

[MU82]

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.

Offensively futile Theo had two beautiful baskets and went 5-for-7 from the line. As usual, Wojo got the most out of his 5 position.

[leever]

St. Johns lost because their horrendous red chicken mascot is significantly worse looking than our chicken.

[barfolomew]

St. Johns lost because their horrendous red chicken mascot is significantly worse looking than our chicken.

The hell you say.
If they can base a mascot on a superhero, why can't we?
If we were still playing in the BMOHBC, I'd say maybe Batman.

[NickelDimer]

Really happy with the wrinkles we saw from Wojo. There were definite adjustments made with the game plan and in game and that's a huge reason why we won

[tower912]

Really happy with the wrinkles we saw from Wojo. There were definite adjustments made with the game plan and in game and that's a huge reason why we won

There always are.  Whether or not they are noticed or successful is a separate issue.

[Lennys Tap]

Think you need to read Lenny's post more closely.

It's what I've been tellin' him for years. Thanks for noticing!

[Cheeks]

It's what I've been tellin' him for years. Thanks for noticing!

I provided the facts, it is not almost impossible even if you are the lesser team nor is it difficult even if you are the better team. 

Mostly a myth with a huge sample size. 

[NickelDimer]

There always are.  Whether or not they are noticed or successful is a separate issue.

Sometimes the prominence of them is why they're more noticeable too

[BrewCity83]

I provided the facts, it is not almost impossible even if you are the lesser team nor is it difficult even if you are the better team. 

Mostly a myth with a huge sample size.

What are the percentages of an underdog in all three games winning all three games?  Has it EVER happened?

[Dr. Blackheart]

There always are.  Whether or not they are noticed or successful is a separate issue.

I think the adjustments are less visible to some as Wojo makes his adjustments within a system. He is a system coach like K, Bo or Bobby Knight.

Wright, on the other hand, employs more visible changes to mix it up, using more situationals. I think most BE coaches are this way because of the round robin with a short BET turnaround. Buzz was this way too but he was also tied to his base systems (see Cuse Elite 8 game). This is why Wright recruits interchangeable parts.

There is no right or wrong.  Just that a fan needs put things in context and understand the base systems as the changes are more subtle in one and more visible in the other.

[brewcity77]

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??

If we had 4 senior starters and no bench or recruiting class, I'd agree. We return everyone and seem to have quality in our sophomore & freshman classes, as well as one promising commit & other promising targets. The trending arrow is clearly headed up.

[Cheeks]

What are the percentages of an underdog in all three games winning all three games?  Has it EVER happened?

Difficult to say, data isn't available.  Begs some questions.

Who decides the underdog?  Vegas?  A ranking system?

How big of an underdog? If a team is +1 all three times and wins all three times, they are technically an underdog just slightly worse than a pick'em....does that count?  Vs a team that was +5 or +8.  So on and so forth.

Point is, this myth that keeps coming up about beating a team 3 times is hard to do....not really....the data shows more often than not when that situation comes up, the team that won the first two will also win the third.  Which is why when it is said it is DIFFICULT for the better team to do it, that is factually wrong based on the outcomes.  Whether it is "nearly impossible" for the lesser team to win, as stated,  I don't know.  Not enough clear data to answer that one, but logically it would seem likely it would be more difficult especially if that team was significantly worse than the other.  The term "significantly" leaves a lot of wiggle room and is highly subjective.  My view...using Vegas betting lines is not a good idea for a myriad of reasons....odds move based on $$$ bet and doesn't always mean the better team is picked to win....lines move to keep the betting house from losing their shirt.

[MU82]

Really happy with the wrinkles we saw from Wojo. There were definite adjustments made with the game plan and in game and that's a huge reason why we won

IMHO, we won because we did a much much better job, man-up, on Ponds (cut off the head, the snake dies); because we shot nearly 50% overall and shot 43% from 3 (quite a bit better than when we lost to them by 1 last month); because we dominated the boards; because we outhustled them pretty much all game. Plus, St. John's was probably a little tired, leading to fouls on them, open looks for us, etc.

But as a Wojo fan, sure, if you want to credit him I'm good with that.

[Cheeks]

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??

Trajectory, Trajectory. Trajectory. 

Not on the front pages of Chicago Tribune for the wrong reasons.  No police blotters. 

Young team, good Sophomores and Bailey looks very promising as Fresh, transfer players coming in solid rep, nice recruits on the way.....trajectory, trajectory. 

This is what the university wants, fine by me.  We spend at a high level, trending up and what appears to be fine people representing the school, though who knows as all it takes is an incident to get sideways.  The administration has to balance a lot of things, based on the number of sellouts and people excited about this year, I'd say they feel pretty damn good about things right now....and they should.