Must win?

[1SE]

This one feels extra big to me. With tough home games still to come w Butler, Seton Hall and Creighton and roads wins a challenge for this (all) team, it would be tough to overcome a second home L to a mediocre team.

[Goose]

I think the remainder of the schedule is going to ongoing surprises. Other than winning at Nova, there is no game that they cannot win or cannot lose. I would not be shocked if they ended up with 7 wins or 11 in the BE.

[Cheeks]

Must win

[Johnny B]

It's not a must win. However it ain't to far off. I'm not sure how much deeper they can dig this hole and still be able to climb out of it

[MU82]

I think the remainder of the schedule is going to ongoing surprises. Other than winning at Nova, there is no game that they cannot win or cannot lose. I would not be shocked if they ended up with 7 wins or 11 in the BE.

Agree ... except for the part about it being impossible to win at Nova. We match up well with them, and DePaul just took them into OT there. Certainly not predicting a win, but I honestly, objectively don't think it's a "lost cause" as it has been some years.

When the regular season ends, our BEast record could be anywhere from 5-13 to 13-5.

[tower912]

It would be helpful.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Must win

Gotta defend home.

[Warrior1969]

YES

[Shooter McGavin]

Yep.  Must win.  A loss would be a very bad indicator of how the rest of the season will go.   If they are not motivated or prepared to play their best for this game then something is very wrong chemistry wise or we simply don't have the talent to play in this conference as the team is currently constructed.

[Lennys Tap]

O.A. (Bum) Phillips, when asked if Earl Campbell was the best RB in football, said "I don't know if Earl's in a class by hisself (sic), but it don't take long to call role".

To paraphrase Bum, I don't know if tonight is a "must" win but it ain't far from it.

[brewcity77]

It's not must win, but it's close. This is about as significant a game as you can play in mid-January.

[Goose]

It is a must win for James on Jeopardy tonight. I will be watching him deliver a clutch performance and bringing home win #2.

[Dr. Blackheart]

MU is 1-3 in its last four home BE games at FF. Gotta defend the home hardwood. It's a must win on many levels.

[muguru]

Absolutely 100% must win..you have already lost at home to Providence...how many more mediocre teams can/will they lose to at home?? They don't get this one...stick a form in 'em unfortunately.

[WarriorPride68]

T Rank has Xavier odds of making tournament at 27.4%. Meanwhile MU is at 65.8%.

a loss at home to fall to 1-4 in Big East, joining the cellar with the likes of St.Johns, GTown (whats left of them), and Depaul would be less than ideal

[muguru]

MU is 1-3 in its last four home BE games at FF. Gotta defend the home hardwood. It's a must win on many levels.

This should NEVER happen...having a stretch like that on your home floor. Especially when you consider one of them was to a BAD Georgetown team last year, and a very mediocre Providence team this year.

[SaveOD238]

It is a must win for James on Jeopardy tonight. I will be watching him deliver a clutch performance and bringing home win #2.

You must have missed last night.

[vogue65]

This team is on a learning curve.  The coach is on a learning curve.  The fan base is on a learning curve.

Can the team learn how to relax, the coach to adjust, the fans to accept reality?

How about some zone, spread the floor, run plays, pass the ball, paint touches, don't dribble into trouble, press once and a while, play small, play big, lots to learn.

What have they learned so far?

Don't shoot hook shots, don't give up, play harder, stop watching Marcus, call time out to stop a run.  Not bad. 

[BrewCity83]

It's not a must win.  It would (will) be a much-needed win, but not a must win.  A loss puts us at 1-4.  A winning streak (an unlikely, but not impossible one) could still result in a 14-4 finish.

[Goose]

Save OD

LOL...obviously I did. Was at the Buck's game and thought game 4 was tonight. Very disappointed to see James did not deliver.

[StillWarriors]

Very close to a must win in that a dramatic change in course will be necessary with a loss. Unfortunately, X is just as desperate as we are at this point, but since it is a home game for us it is even more "must win" for us. Frankly, it is a game we should win if X shoots like they have been most of the season. Teams have been able to lay off Goodin entirely and he has not been able to make them pay. X took 17 threes in the first half against Creighton despite being successful when they went inside. Easy to fall into the trap of taking wide open 3s, but they were open for a reason. I suspect they will look to pound the ball into Jones and look for dribble penetration from Scruggs, Naji and Goodin since we have struggled to stop the dribble drive. It will be a bad sign if Jones is getting alley oops off dribble penetration early. We seem to be giving up a bunch of those lately.

Given the desperation levels, I suspect the first five minutes or so are going to be very physical and possibly sloppy tonight. MU by 8.

[79Warrior]

A 1-4 start in BE play would be a big hole. MU really needs this game. As others have said, this probably goes in the must win column.

[GooooMarquette]

As long as the BET winner gets an automatic bid, "must-win" games don't start until we get to NYC.

But yeah - we'd be well on our way to needing the auto bid if we lose tonight....

[Silent Verbal]

As long as the BET winner gets an automatic bid, "must-win" games don't start until we get to NYC.

But yeah - we'd be well on our way to needing the auto bid if we lose tonight....

If we're at the point where a BET game is a "must win", then we're in trouble.  If we lose tonight, we'll have almost no margin for error the rest of the year.  Let's get these next 3.

[cheebs09]

Echoing others. Mathematically, this is not a must win. However, if we lose, I'm not sure I see 7 wins left on the schedule.