All good things must end

[Elonsmusk]

Okay. Your post said Shaka made a big mistake by keeping him out. The numbers show it wasn't a big mistake. You are arguing a hypothetical then that Kolek would have been better than he had been all game.

Here we go again with the "numbers."  Much like when you argued earlier this season that Wojo's first team was better offensively than this team based on numbers at that time - anyone who knows basketball knew this team was more talented/better offensively.  Just as anyone who knows basketball knows the team is better with Kolek on the floor, and particularly on a day with zero tournvoers, 5 rebounds, 13 points on a 124 O-Rating.  He created good looks again for others but today they didn't hit them. 

Maybe you're just trying to be obtuse, because in my experience here you do know a lot about basketball and have good takes.  Just think you are way off on these two instances.

[muwarrior69]

There are some people here that like to see the 30+ point shellacking we gave PC at home. I prefer the game we saw yesterday. Sure we came up short but it was a great game. How man NC championship games do you remember that were bow outs that are highlighted: very few. The games people remember are the close ones, the buzzer beaters with the last shot going in or bouncing out. We celebrate our 77 championship, but we remember Whiteheads basket at the end of the semi-final game.

Let the complainers complain. For a young team to play this competitive shows the program is in good hands, regardless if the players are 3, 4 or 5 stars. I am enjoying this season more than any over the past 7 years.

[1SE]

There are some people here that like to see the 30+ point shellacking we gave PC at home. I prefer the game we saw yesterday. Sure we came up short but it was a great game. How man NC championship games do you remember that were bow outs that are highlighted: very few. The games people remember are the close ones, the buzzer beaters with the last shot going in or bouncing out. We celebrate our 77 championship, but we remember Whiteheads basket at the end of the semi-final game.

Let the complainers complain. For a young team to play this competitive shows the program is in good hands, regardless if the players are 3, 4 or 5 stars. I am enjoying this season more than any over the past 7 years.

I'm not jumping off a cliff based on yesterday's loss, but this is a strange take. I would ALWAYS take a curb stomp win as opposed to a close loss over the same team. I would always take any win over any loss.

[MU82]

There are some people here that like to see the 30+ point shellacking we gave PC at home. I prefer the game we saw yesterday. Sure we came up short but it was a great game. How man NC championship games do you remember that were bow outs that are highlighted: very few. The games people remember are the close ones, the buzzer beaters with the last shot going in or bouncing out. We celebrate our 77 championship, but we remember Whiteheads basket at the end of the semi-final game.

Let the complainers complain. For a young team to play this competitive shows the program is in good hands, regardless if the players are 3, 4 or 5 stars. I am enjoying this season more than any over the past 7 years.

Aside from the 1-2 people here who hate Marquette basketball -- actually only 1 repugnant twat that we all know of -- I don't know of anybody here who is unhappy with what's going on with the program.

We gave away a winnable game yesterday, a situation that always makes fans analytical and/or cranky. If you can't take that, maybe you need to find another fan board where everybody's giddy even after losses.

But I do hope you stick around and enjoy the full MU hoops experience that only Scoop can offer -- and at a bargain price, too!

[Viper]

I'm not jumping off a cliff based on yesterday's loss, but this is a strange take. I would ALWAYS take a curb stomp win as opposed to a close loss over the same team. I would always take any win over any loss.

100%. Win...win bigly, every night out. Put fear in the heart of the opponent from the time the schedule is released.

[mug644]

I sure would've liked to have MU win yesterday, and it was absolutely a win that was there for the taking. It was stressful and frustrating. And it was also a great game, fun to watch and full of tension.

Having the streak end gives a moment to reflecting on how awesome it's been to be watching over the past month, in a way the "another" win might not have lead to. I'd rather have 8 wins than this time to look back and appreciate, yet it is what it is.

Time to start another streak and continue to love the direction of the program, and this team overall.

[Goose]

A disappointing loss but it was an exciting game. If you told most MU fans, we would be playing a truly meaningful game on 1/30 at the start of the season everyone would have signed up for it. Best part, every game in February is going to be truly meaningful. I am over the loss and looking ahead.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

There are some people here that like to see the 30+ point shellacking we gave PC at home. I prefer the game we saw yesterday.

Yeah, no, give me the dumptrucking win over the close loss 100 times out of 100.

[Goose]

I was thinking this morning about the last time a good home team thought beating MU was a a big win. It sure seemed like the Friars and the fanbase felt they stole a game yesterday. IMO, we went from the guys stealing games to the team others are trying to steal wins from us. There is no doubt in my mind that every team in the BE is not looking past MU.

[brewcity77]

I think it's worth noting that MU has been in a position to win all 11 of their BEast games.  This is a much more well rounded and solid overall roster than I had anticipated .  We have all mentioned some of our deficiencies but we can absolutely compete against the top teams in the country.  Let's take care of business Wednesday and move on to better things from there.

If Marquette had PC's luck, we'd be undefeated in league play. 1-2 more shots that were in and out drop in the first half yesterday, we foul against Creighton, or score on the possessions where we got within 1 with the ball against both Xavier and UConn and who knows where we could be. But this is still way ahead of schedule and honestly, I think we are probably the most likely Big East team to make a deep tourney run, outside maybe Villanova. Our defense is good enough that we can be in position to win even when the shots aren't falling. This feels like a second weekend team.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Here we go again with the "numbers."  Much like when you argued earlier this season that Wojo's first team was better offensively than this team based on numbers at that time - anyone who knows basketball knew this team was more talented/better offensively.  Just as anyone who knows basketball knows the team is better with Kolek on the floor, and particularly on a day with zero tournvoers, 5 rebounds, 13 points on a 124 O-Rating.  He created good looks again for others but today they didn't hit them. 

Maybe you're just trying to be obtuse, because in my experience here you do know a lot about basketball and have good takes.  Just think you are way off on these two instances.

Numbers like the score? Kolek went out with MU in the lead and came back in the lead, which MU then lost when he returned.  Yet, you called out Shaka for his bad mistake for sitting him. I am not knocking Kolek, PC earned the victory. I am knocking your take that Shaka made a bad mistake for sitting him an extra minute waiting for the media time out.

As to MU's offense AT THAT TIME when I posted, as I have stated numerous times, it was statistically worse per Pomeroy than Wojo's first team. It was playing too fast for the talent. And has been documented on other MU blog sites, MU has since slowed it down and improved. Kudos.

[MUfan12]

Numbers like the score? Kolek went out with MU in the lead and came back in the lead, which MU then lost when he returned.  Yet, you called out Shaka for his bad mistake for sitting him. I am not knocking Kolek, PC earned the victory. I am knocking your take that Shaka made a bad mistake for sitting him an extra minute waiting for the media time out.

In the moment, I thought he sat him too long as well. The argument being the offense was stalling without him.

But in hindsight, looking at the way PC schemed for MU in the halfcourt, I don't know if Tyler would have made an appreciable impact on that end the way he usually does.

[Elonsmusk]

Numbers like the score? Kolek went out with MU in the lead and came back in the lead, which MU then lost when he returned.  Yet, you called out Shaka for his bad mistake for sitting him. I am not knocking Kolek, PC earned the victory. I am knocking your take that Shaka made a bad mistake for sitting him an extra minute waiting for the media time out.

As to MU's offense AT THAT TIME when I posted, as I have stated numerous times, it was statistically worse per Pomeroy than Wojo's first team. It was playing too fast for the talent. And has been documented on other MU blog sites, MU has since slowed it down and improved. Kudos.

"Playing too fast for the talent?"  I'm not even sure what that means.  I believe the "slow down" you mention has been roughly 1 second per possession. The reason our offense is better now is we are shooting it better. (Yesterday we didn't.) We are still playing at the 7th fastest pace in D-1.  Further we have played the 5th most difficult schedule as it relates to strength of opposition defense.

Kolek should have played more than 27 minutes yesterday.  He sat too long.  Was it Kolek's fault Oso missed two no-footers that Kolek created for him?  Looking at the numbers of when he was on the floor versus off is a fools errand. 

End of the day, do you believe our team is better when Kolek is on the floor or off?

[Shooter McGavin]

If Marquette had PC's luck, we'd be undefeated in league play. 1-2 more shots that were in and out drop in the first half yesterday, we foul against Creighton, or score on the possessions where we got within 1 with the ball against both Xavier and UConn and who knows where we could be. But this is still way ahead of schedule and honestly, I think we are probably the most likely Big East team to make a deep tourney run, outside maybe Villanova. Our defense is good enough that we can be in position to win even when the shots aren't falling. This feels like a second weekend team.

Agreed Brew and Goose.  Can't wait to see how this team responds on Wednesday and look forward to the NCAA tournament. 

[Lennys Tap]

There are some people here that like to see the 30+ point shellacking we gave PC at home. I prefer the game we saw yesterday. Sure we came up short but it was a great game. How man NC championship games do you remember that were bow outs that are highlighted: very few. The games people remember are the close ones, the buzzer beaters with the last shot going in or bouncing out.

Respectfully disagree. If MU isn't involved, give me a nail biter every time. But my favorite games to watch over the last 20 years were Marquette stomping on Kentucky to reach the FF and us destroying Miami to reach the E8. I don't need an extra heavy dose of stress to enjoy a Warrior win, let alone an excruciating loss.

[The Sultan]

Numbers like the score? Kolek went out with MU in the lead and came back in the lead, which MU then lost when he returned.  Yet, you called out Shaka for his bad mistake for sitting him. I am not knocking Kolek, PC earned the victory. I am knocking your take that Shaka made a bad mistake for sitting him an extra minute waiting for the media time out.

I am pretty sure what Ners is saying is that it is his opinion that playing TK more would have been hypothetically better in the long run.  Which is not a bad opinion to have, but is clearly one not objectively provable.

[Goose]

I would like to have Kolek in the game a bit earlier but am happy to see young guys get pressure playing time. Over this run Shaka has been successful with different lineups and I like that. In the long haul I think it will pay dividends both this year and upcoming years.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Frustrating game. Had plenty of opportunities.  Can't win em' all though.

[MU82]

End of the day, do you believe our team is better when Kolek is on the floor or off?

I believe our coach has an excellent feel for which players to use and when, which is one reason we were the hottest team in the country.

I also believe you have the right to criticize the coach -- just as I have for our poor plays at the end of the half and the game (the latter of which was too darn much Kolek dribbling to nowhere).

Just realize that what you're saying is an opinion, not a fact. Maybe if Kolek plays another 6 minutes, he bricks 3 shots and commits 3 live-ball turnovers. We just don't know.

For myself, I'm fine with Kolek's PT yesterday. Given the way both he and Morsell played throughout the game, I'd have put the ball in Morsell's hands on the final play instead of having him stand in the far corner doing nothing.

But I also realize that I don't have any more proof that Morsell having the ball there would have led to victory than you have of Kolek playing more leading to victory.

[Elonsmusk]

I believe our coach has an excellent feel for which players to use and when, which is one reason we were the hottest team in the country.

I also believe you have the right to criticize the coach -- just as I have for our poor plays at the end of the half and the game (the latter of which was too darn much Kolek dribbling to nowhere).

Just realize that what you're saying is an opinion, not a fact. Maybe if Kolek plays another 6 minutes, he bricks 3 shots and commits 3 live-ball turnovers. We just don't know.

For myself, I'm fine with Kolek's PT yesterday. Given the way both he and Morsell played throughout the game, I'd have put the ball in Morsell's hands on the final play instead of having him stand in the far corner doing nothing.

But I also realize that I don't have any more proof that Morsell having the ball there would have led to victory than you have of Kolek playing more leading to victory.

I agree that Shaka has been great all year on substitutions, rotation, etc.  Just felt he kept him on the bench too long yesterday. 

I also agree that it probably would have been better to put the ball in Morsell's hands on the final possession, yet Shaka clearly feels Kolek is a playmaker and could either collapse D and kick to an open shooter or possibly get all the way to the rack and score on his own.  It's possible the thought was that they'd be able to create an open 3 and shoot for the win...

[MU82]

I agree that Shaka has been great all year on substitutions, rotation, etc.  Just felt he kept him on the bench too long yesterday. 

I also agree that it probably would have been better to put the ball in Morsell's hands on the final possession, yet Shaka clearly feels Kolek is a playmaker and could either collapse D and kick to an open shooter or possibly get all the way to the rack and score on his own.  It's possible the thought was that they'd be able to create an open 3 and shoot for the win...

I think that was the plan. Kolek drives and if he's not picked up he hits a layup; if the big picks him up, he dishes to Lewis for the dunk or layup; if a perimeter player helps he zips a pass for an open 3. Shaka had the exact lineup that I would have had out there, with our PG and our 4 best 3-point shooters, including one who also has power at the rim.

Unfortunately, Cooley outmaneuvered Shaka. He put a taller player who's a decent defender on Kolek, and the perimeter defenders stayed home. It was a miracle that Lewis ended up with a bunny after Kolek's scud off the rim.

I'd have liked Kolek and Morsell to be in some kind of screen action up top. Morsell could have brushed and popped, or dived into the lane, and either way would have gotten the ball with 10 seconds left. If Morsell had the ball inside the FT line, it would have created all kinds of havoc.

Or so I say. Maybe Cooley would have had the right defense for that, too. We'll never know!

[Galway Eagle]

Random question but do you think th players opted for Kolek to try and be the hero in his home town? I mean usually on an iso play like that Morsell would take the shot I feel especially given Tyler's layup "inconsistencies".

[tower912]

I believe our coach has an excellent feel for which players to use and when, which is one reason we were the hottest team in the country.

I also believe you have the right to criticize the coach -- just as I have for our poor plays at the end of the half and the game (the latter of which was too darn much Kolek dribbling to nowhere).

Just realize that what you're saying is an opinion, not a fact. Maybe if Kolek plays another 6 minutes, he bricks 3 shots and commits 3 live-ball turnovers. We just don't know.

For myself, I'm fine with Kolek's PT yesterday. Given the way both he and Morsell played throughout the game, I'd have put the ball in Morsell's hands on the final play instead of having him stand in the far corner doing nothing.

But I also realize that I don't have any more proof that Morsell having the ball there would have led to victory than you have of Kolek playing more leading to victory.

Greg started in that corner, then he left that corner.  When TKo stopped, he looked to that corner like he thought someone would be there.   Ah, well.   Get back on the horse Wednesday.

[lawdog77]

He didn't throw him to the ground.

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=33180342

[The Sultan]

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=33180342

Yep.  Thanks for the confirmation.  Kur clearly tried to box him out, stumbled and fell as Watson moved.