Yikes

[mu03eng]

My god we have a bunch of entitled whiners cheering for Marquette these days.  What the hell is up with booing the players AT HOME for missed free throws?  Do we really think that helps a team that has a confidence issue right now?  What is with people stepping out to the ledge when we have won 4 out of our last 6 in Beast play?

I clearly see some negatives with this team and yes its not playing well.  Should we discuss that, absolutely.  However, some people need to realize its a conference season of 18 games, we are in a funk, but we have talent and will likely get out of said funk.  We don't need to be all doom and gloom.  Its no different than baseball, teams can go on 12 game skids and still make the playoffs, hell look at the Rockies they sucked the first half of the season last year and still made the World Series.  Are we playing our best basketball right now?  No, but we should be playing our best basketball in March.  I am certain we learn things from every game and come March we will be poised to do damage in the tourny.  Lets have a little confidence in the fanbase here that things will improve....do we have any reason to believe we won't?

[Chili]

My god we have a bunch of entitled whiners cheering for Marquette these days.  What the hell is up with booing the players AT HOME for missed free throws?  Do we really think that helps a team that has a confidence issue right now?  What is with people stepping out to the ledge when we have won 4 out of our last 6 in Beast play?

I clearly see some negatives with this team and yes its not playing well.  Should we discuss that, absolutely.  However, some people need to realize its a conference season of 18 games, we are in a funk, but we have talent and will likely get out of said funk.  We don't need to be all doom and gloom.  Its no different than baseball, teams can go on 12 game skids and still make the playoffs, hell look at the Rockies they sucked the first half of the season last year and still made the World Series.  Are we playing our best basketball right now?  No, but we should be playing our best basketball in March.  I am certain we learn things from every game and come March we will be poised to do damage in the tourny.  Lets have a little confidence in the fanbase here that things will improve....do we have any reason to believe we won't?

Well said.

[Big Papi]

Define "fine".

ill do it for him.

i dont think this team is less talented than the top tiers of this league- sometimes u have to step away from the recent performances and remember that we have, on paper, the BE defensive player of the year and another possible all league defender(james); two potential first teamers, mcneal and james; another guy who was expected to be atleast an honerable mention in matthews; a surprise and probable all BE selection in Hayward; a few good options off the bench in cubes, acker, fitz, barro, etc etc..........that said, i understand that potential and performance are different, but lets not say we dont have the talent, lets say it isnt performing

EDIT: removed flame

Yes we do have some great talent that you mention but it is the 5 spot where we are probably the worst in the league and our lack of a real inside game that keeps us from being a legit contender of the Big East title and a tier below Georgetown and others.  That is why we can really struggle at times and look great in others.  When our great perimeter talent struggles with their outside shot for whatever reason we are not good and that ebbs and flows not only game to game but during a game.  The game yesterday is a perfect example.  We struggle with our outside shots for most of the game and we struggle with South Florida.  All of a sudden, Matthews gets hot, Hayward nails a 3 and in a matter of 2 minutes, game over.  That works against the bottom half of Big East teams but against teams that are NCAA worthy, we can't afford to struggle with our outside game and expect to win so when its on, its blow out city and when its not, it can get ugly.  Overall we do have more talent than most teams and that is why we are ranked and deserved to be ranked, its just our reliance on our perimeter game that can frustrate any die hard MU fan because when we are off, we don't look good.

[mugrack]

Previously this team has been great in January and awful in March.  I'd rather be awful for a few games in January and great in March.

[NavinRJohnson]

I'll take the optimists view on this one...earlier in the year I was of the belief that Matthews was struggling a bit as he had not really established himself, or established his own identity or role on this team.  That situation has done a complete 180, as after last night, there is no question who the leader on this team is. Wes did it on both ends last night, and has for the past few games. Hayward has obviously stepped into a major role as well. Beyond that, the bench delivered quality minutes last night while McNeal and James were doing whatever it is they were doing.

So here it is, you have Matthews and Hayward playing a at a very high level, and providing some desperately needed leadership. The bench that has been good all year, continues to contribute, maybe more now than earlier in the season with the addition of Blackledge. The key now is to get McNeal and James in particular, along with Barro to work their way out of this funk that they seem to be in. If they can manage to do that, there is not a game left on the schedule that we can't win. I won't pretend to know what is causing the problems for James and McNeal whether it is simply on court, off court, injury, or some combination thereof. Nor does it really matter, but I do have faith in Crean and staff to use the right combination of shame, film study, encouragement, etc. to snap 'em out of it. Once that happens, we will again be the team that beat Wisconsin and ND - maybe better.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I agree with Navin about Hayward and Matthews. It's great to see them playing well. Neither one of them is close to as frustrating to watch as McNeal or James.

[jaybilaswho?]

it doesnt matter how ugly it was... that game was enjoyable when your sitting in a suite enjoying free beer and free food. Thanks Miller.

[sigep80]

Here's how ugly it was - 2nd half scoring

1st 12 minutes - 4 points
13 minutes - 7 points
14 minutes - 10 points
15 minutes - 10 points
16 minutes - 14 points
17 minutes - 17 points
18 minutes - 23 points
19 minutes - 30 points

10 points in 15 minutes!!!!!!  No energy, no aggressiveness until the last three minutes of the game.

[spiral97]

Guys - knock it off.  Restrain your posts in this thread to those that the thread originally called for (i.e. about the game).  The salami throwing, prune juice pouring, grapefruit forcing, salt rubbing type posts are not welcome and will be deleted.  Now, back to your originally requested topic...