The “Feb. Fade”

[f/k/a humanlung]

If I'm not the poster child for calling out Wojo's late season collapses, then I'm close.

And even I think this is new level stupid.

[goldeneagle91114]

Can we now be honest with ourselves and admit that a February Fade is a real thing? i saw it after the 2/12 Butler game, the team seemed to be in auto pilot, emotionally empty after a 9 game Big East gantlet. It seemed like they forgot about the rest of league play.

Honest question, is this a product of better scouting, more tape on our team. Or something entirely different? I just can't wrap my head around how this team can beat teams like Nova and Providence, but cant take care of business against the bottom half of the conference.

Kur is no longer protecting the rim like he once did, Elliot is ice cold (29%), Tyler is lost, DEEP in his own head... the list can just go on.

Crazy how we were once ranked 18, and are now trying to prove we still deserve to be in the tournament.

[PointWarrior]

5-7 seed?   I have a bridge to sell you....

looking like a 9 seed....

Nothing to be concerned about yet. If we drop the next two or look uninspired, then I'll be a bit worried. As of now, we're in excellent position to be in the 5-7 seed range and every single one of us would have taken that prior to the year.

[rocky_warrior]

5-7 seed?   I have a bridge to sell you....

looking like a 9 seed....

That post was 2 weeks ago, and correct *at the time*

[brewcity77]

That post was 2 weeks ago, and correct *at the time*

Hell, it would've been correct today had we held on last night.

[mu_hilltopper]

I feel like this team is good only when they are coming from being down.   Many W's this year were after being down for a good part of the game.

MU struggles to close it out when they are winning for much of the game, games they are "supposed" to win.

Seems like the same is happening on a season-wide scale.  MU got to #18 and they flipped from being the hunter, to the hunted, just trying to get the season over.

[brewcity77]

I feel like this team is good only when they are coming from being down.   Many W's this year were after being down for a good part of the game.

MU struggles to close it out when they are winning for much of the game, games they are "supposed" to win.

Seems like the same is happening on a season-wide scale.  MU got to #18 and they flipped from being the hunter, to the hunted, just trying to get the season over.

This team seems better as an underdog, whether it's going into the game (Illinois, Villanova) or after falling behind (Ole Miss, WVU). That's actually consistent with Shaka, he had an incredible cover rate at Texas as an underdog.

[PointWarrior]

my bad, did not see the thread bump

That post was 2 weeks ago, and correct *at the time*

[MU82]

Can we now be honest with ourselves and admit that a February Fade is a real thing?

Well, it was February and we faded, so sure. Have to come up with another alliteration for March, though. March Misstep? March Mess? March Misadventure? March Mediocrity?

But it's not a "real thing" merely because our uniforms say Marquette on the front and "Marquette always fades." That's just silly.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Well, it was February and we faded, so sure. Have to come up with another alliteration for March, though. March Misstep? March Mess? March Misadventure? March Mediocrity?

But it's not a "real thing" merely because our uniforms say Marquette on the front and "Marquette always fades." That's just silly.

MU hasn't won since they changed the logo.

[MU82]

MU hasn't won since they changed the logo.

Damn logo!

[RushmoreAcademy]

I’m sure it’s been mentioned somewhere but any truth to tired legs having something to do with so many frosh getting used to the grind?

[jesmu84]

I’m sure it’s been mentioned somewhere but any truth to tired legs having something to do with so many frosh getting used to the grind?

We've been told this is not an acceptable excuse

[mileskishnish72]

We're tired, we're young, all echoes of the Wojo years.

We're 2-4 (and 3-5) AFTER completing the tough part of our schedule. Is it not possible to keep kids this age focused longer than three months?

Come on, Shaka, show us what you can do Saturday. Kamikaze effort at both ends, and get it done!

[GoldenEagles03]

We've been told this is not an acceptable excuse

The Freshman haven't looked like the tired ones. Its been guys like Greg, Justin, Kur who have looked tired mostly defensively.

On the good news front for Marquette, Michigan just lost their 13th game of the year and the NCAA wants them in the tournament.  No way you can put them in and leave Marquette out so we should be safe!

That being said, there's still a small window to a 7 seed and I'd like to get there. Let's win some games!

[#UnleashSean]

We've been told this is not an acceptable excuse

Oh no, not the marquette is tired while everyone else is immune argument.

[1SE]

Oh no, not the marquette is tired while everyone else is immune argument.

Yes, can we please stop this right now- especially since Marquette has and plays a relatively deep bench.

[Scoop Snoop]

Oh no, not the marquette is tired while everyone else is immune argument.

Yes! Tired legs, to be specific. And all the other BE coaches have figured out Marquette but Shaka has not learned anything from playing against them. Don't forget the bad shooting background at Fiserv.

[PointWarrior]

But we are guaranteed a win on senior night.

Yes! Tired legs, to be specific. And all the other BE coaches have figured out Marquette but Shaka has not learned anything from playing against them. Don't forget the bad shooting background at Fiserv.

[Newsdreams]

Yes, can we please stop this right now- especially since Marquette has and plays a relatively deep bench.

But very young

[MU82]

But very young

Yep ... everybody's a freshman!

[StillWarriors]

Oh no, not the marquette is tired while everyone else is immune argument.

Nova seems to rely on 6-7 guys every year. Never hear about them being tired.

[cheebs09]

Nova seems to rely on 6-7 guys every year. Never hear about them being tired.

To me the hitting of the wall would be as much mental as physical. MU only played 27 games last year. Kolek only played in 22 games last year.

This is kind of the team I was expecting to see for most of the year, so I’m not too worried. I was hoping we’d have looked better now than earlier in the year. So that has me slightly concerned. On the whole though, the season has definitely exceeded my expectations.

[JakeBarnes]

To me the hitting of the wall would be as much mental as physical. MU only played 27 games last year. Kolek only played in 22 games last year.

This is kind of the team I was expecting to see for most of the year, so I’m not too worried. I was hoping we’d have looked better now than earlier in the year. So that has me slightly concerned. On the whole though, the season has definitely exceeded my expectations.

I think a lot is mental. They're wearing it on their sleeve right now. Good time for Shaka to go back to the "let your hair down and play for each other" discussion. The abilities are there, but everyone is in their own head right now.

[MUfan12]

Again, no one is saying this is unique to MU. But the best teams are the ones who can deal with it. MU doesn't have the experience or talent to do that as well as other teams yet.

All part of the growth process for these guys.