The “Feb. Fade”

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Ok take Wojo out it. Will Shaka make the right adjustments or will he fold? It's an honest question and one that it totally appropriate to be asking about a first year coach.

And I don't really have any issue with that question, although I'm not concerned enough at this point to ask it.

[muwarrior69]

It's unnerving how bad they've played

Hmm...I wonder how much influence Vegas has on these games.

Ok, enough with outrageous speculation and lets see if we can win all our home games and take at least one of the remaining road games.

[NCMUFan]

At least we know BlueMan is this way for all sports teams he likes, not just the Chicago professional sports teams. If anyone dares criticize any of those teams he's in all out war mode.

It's okay to be critical of a team you like. The team stunk today, flat out. And they didn't play well at UCONN this week either. Are people overreacting? Some. But the team didn't play well this week and it'd be nice to see that turn around. It's a message board. It's okay to discuss the negatives.

Great point, easily forgotten.  It is healthy to discuss other viewpoints.

[Viper]

I think we'll win out. At DeP will be tough...they looked stout last night at Providence...but I believe we'll hold home court, get the W at Creighton and DeP. 13-6 BE record would be incredible. Even if just 1-1 in the BE tourney, should be at least a 6-seed in the ncaa, imo.

[Uncle Rico]

Ok take Wojo out it. Will Shaka make the right adjustments or will he fold? It's an honest question and one that it totally appropriate to be asking about a first year coach.

Well, he's not a first year coach.  He has a decade under his belt

[MUDPT]

Ok take Wojo out it. Will Shaka make the right adjustments or will he fold? It's an honest question and one that it totally appropriate to be asking about a first year coach.

The 4 game sample size you are talking about, MU was supposed to go 1-3 and went 1-3.

[goldeneagle91114]

Well, he's not a first year coach.  He has a decade under his belt

Have you read the Texas board? ALOT of posters have said they felt our Jan. success would be short lived and that our coach would "Shaka it up". Now we've lost 3 of 4 and are coming off our worst defensive performance since 2008... under a coach that emphasizes team defense.

Not sure how any of this qualifies as dumb/stupid to bring up and question.

Listen, I think we'll find a way, but this month has  given me pause.

[Uncle Rico]

Have you read the Texas board? ALOT of posters have said they felt our Jan. success would be short lived and that our coach would "Shaka it up". Now we've lost 3 of 4 and are coming off our worst defensive performance since 2008... under a coach that emphasizes team defense.

Not sure how any of this qualifies as dumb/stupid to bring up and question.

Listen, I think we'll find a way, but this month has  given me pause.

No, I don't read Texas message boards

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Have you read the Texas board? ALOT of posters have said they felt our Jan. success would be short lived and that our coach would "Shaka it up". Now we've lost 3 of 4 and are coming off our worst defensive performance since 2008... under a coach that emphasizes team defense.

Not sure how any of this qualifies as dumb/stupid to bring up and question.

Listen, I think we'll find a way, but this month has  given me pause.

Yep, pay more attention to losing 3 of 4, including two on the road against good teams, than winning 8 of 9. Makes perfect sense.

[goldeneagle91114]

Yep, pay more attention to losing 3 of 4, including two on the road against good teams, than winning 8 of 9. Makes perfect sense.

Incorrect, in order to have a fade, you first need to have had success, which we have and I recognize

[Pakuni]

Just a wild thought, but hear me out ... how about fans stop telling other fans what they should and should not think and how they should and should not react.
Want to panic? Cool, go panic.
Want to shrug and think 'no big deal'? Cool, shrug and think 'no big deal.'

[The Sultan]

Have you read the Texas board? ALOT of posters have said they felt our Jan. success would be short lived and that our coach would "Shaka it up". Now we've lost 3 of 4 and are coming off our worst defensive performance since 2008... under a coach that emphasizes team defense.

Not sure how any of this qualifies as dumb/stupid to bring up and question.

Listen, I think we'll find a way, but this month has  given me pause.

We all know that message boards are the place for cool and calm discussion between fans who set their emotions aside, and who are truly knowledgeable about the sports they follow.  Therefore I am now panicked because of what Texas fans think about Shaka Smart.  At this point, I hope we manage to make the NIT.

[Uncle Rico]

Just a wild thought, but hear me out ... how about fans stop telling other fans what they should and should not think and how they should and should not react.
Want to panic? Cool, go panic.
Want to shrug and think 'no big deal'? Cool, shrug and think 'no big deal.'

No

[tower912]

   Bad loss, crap lost, scoopers blasting each other.   To borrow from the Mandalorian, This is the way.

[Merit Matters]

Just a wild thought, but hear me out ... how about fans stop telling other fans what they should and should not think and how they should and should not react.
Want to panic? Cool, go panic.
Want to shrug and think 'no big deal'? Cool, shrug and think 'no big deal.'

This is the way, and not just for basketball.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Just a wild thought, but hear me out ... how about fans stop telling other fans what they should and should not think and how they should and should not react.
Want to panic? Cool, go panic.
Want to shrug and think 'no big deal'? Cool, shrug and think 'no big deal.'

Sir, this is Scoop

[MUDPT]

In the last 2 weeks, including the Providence game, MU is the 65th best team in the country, not great, not terrible. 

Providence is 4-0 and is the 64th best team.

https://barttorvik.com/?year=2022&sort=&hteam=&t2value=&conlimit=All&state=All&begin=20220130&end=20220501&top=0&revquad=0&quad=5&venue=All&type=All&mingames=0#

[willie warrior]

It's league play.  3 losses on the road with a home win over Villanova.

UConn has lost 3 of 4.  🤷🏼‍♂️

Top teams should win on the road against Butler.
UConn beat our ass both games.

[Uncle Rico]

Top teams should win on the road against Butler.
UConn beat our ass both games.

UConn is a better team.  There are no givens in sports, only idiot fans

[tower912]

UConn is a better team.  There are no givens in sports, only idiot fans

Idiot fans are the 'given'.

[willie warrior]

UConn is a better team.  There are no givens in sports, only idiot fans

Thanks for stating that UConn is better. Wish we were.

[NCMUFan]

When we beat Georgetown on Wednesday, tranquility will be restored in Scooptown.

[tower912]

Only if MU wins 90-20

[goldeneagle91114]

Only if MU wins 90-20

Amen haha!!!

[DoctorV]

February fade is a stretch that is exacerbated by the wojo years, that's not fair to coach Shaka.

That said, playing down to competition is a legitimate comparison imo.
That is because we have see in from this Shaka squad several times this season.

Now, plenty of those were early before this team became this team and we saw the basketball we saw over the last month.
Losses @Providence and @UConn, close losses at that, are of ZERO concern. Those are two top 4 league teams on the road. That's why the idea of a "February fade" is silly.

Heck, even a loss at Butler typically isn't a big concern imo- but this Butler squad isn't quite as good as they have been and it was another game where Marquette played down to competition this season.

Coach Shaka has a recent history of fumbling some big time games to teams he shouldn't have lost to (mostly at his previous stop) so that is a legitimate concern for the time being.

I came into this stretch that began against Butler thinking to myself that it might end up being one of the hardest of the season for Shaka, not because the opponents are the hardest but because the expectations are.

This team has way exceeded expectations and now gets a month full of games it's expected to win before the conference tournament and big dance, and that's not the easiest thing in the world to coach up.

Lets keep the big picture in mind- still need two more wins to get to 10-9 in conference and clinch a bid- everything after that is "gravy."
Have 3 home games versus lower half competition so that should be doable fairly comfortably.
Sure 2-3 with an early exit in the conf tournament would have everyone here reeling but a bid is a bid, and anythings possible in the big dance.

One win in the NCAA tournament is the goal I've set, a goal I considered pretty unlikely before the season started.
Need Marquette and Shaka to get the recent monkey off the back this season