Hoya suxa

[5DollarPitcher]

Are people really upset we tried some different guys together up a million with 12 minutes left? Who cares lol. We won - we weren't in danger to lose at any point.

You play to win the game and we won. Cry more because we made you a little anxious.

[MuggsyB]

Did Shaka put the bench in a little early?  Sure.  But the game was never in doubt at that point.  That 15 minute stretch from 10:00 in the first half to 15:00 in the second was the best they have played in a couple of weeks.  The ball movement was great.  They weren't settling for 3s.  Defending well.  Rebounding well.

I don't know exactly what people are expecting.  A 30 point lead stretching to 50?  Even then Scoop would find something to complain about.

We didn't play well after we pushed it to 24 with 17 mins to go.  In the grand scheme of things it doesn't mean a whole lot but we did lose focus which was disappointing.  You can never win by too many points and bludgeoning teams can be a confidence booster.  Regardless, Sunday is the key game.  We must take care of business, it's imperative. I fully expect to get back on track and our swagger back.

[The Sultan]

NBA teams lose focus when they are blowing teams out.  The difference is the opponent usually has the ability to score in bunches and actually come back. Georgetown wasn't coming back from that. 

Regarding the substitutions, I understand the disappointment from the metrics point of view, but sometimes coaching decisions are not about the metrics.

[StillAWarrior]

Are people really upset we tried some different guys together up a million with 12 minutes left? Who cares lol. We won - we weren't in danger to lose at any point.

You play to win the game and we won. Cry more because we made you a little anxious.

Agreed.

We didn't play well after we pushed it to 24 with 17 mins to go.  In the grand scheme of things it doesn't mean a whole lot but we did lose focus which was disappointing.

Also agreed.

You can never win by too many points and bludgeoning teams can be a confidence booster.

And so can holding on to win a game with three freshman, one "freshman" and one super senior on the floor. With the added benefit of potentially helping the team down the road by getting some of the young'uns a little bit of run.

We won. Awesome. On to the next game.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

We're 15 games through a ~20 game Big East grind.  The game was never in doubt once we built the lead. 

Since we have been fading, I would have loved to see us keep the pedal down and blow them out of the building.  Reality though is we don't need that.  We need the W and to get ready for the weekend.

[MU82]

Are people really upset we tried some different guys together up a million with 12 minutes left? Who cares lol. We won - we weren't in danger to lose at any point.

You play to win the game and we won. Cry more because we made you a little anxious.

I don't think a single Scooper has said he or she was "anxious" about the W/L outcome. There was 0.00% chance we were gonna lose that game. Anybody who knows anything knew that was the case before tip-off, during the first 10 minutes, during the next 10 minutes, during the first 8 minutes of the second half and during the last 12 minutes of the game. 0.00% chance of losing.

Some folks are a little disappointed and/or frustrated because ...

1. You want to play the game "right," no matter who's in the game. Sloppy passing, stoopid shots, lack of D, whatever, aren't acceptable. Shaka waited a little too long, but he showed that HE felt it was unacceptable when he put the starters back out there (minus Morsell). He was disappointed and frustrated with how it was going. I hope you think it's OK that the coach "cares."

2. We want the best seed possible for the NCAA tournament ... and like it or not, hammering horrible, horrible teams by 20+ points goes into the formula that helps decide that. So again, it felt like a missed opportunity. And again, the coach recognized that. HE wasn't saying, "Who cares lol."

Most folks aren't depressed or angry. Maybe a couple are, but I'm not. I just thought it was a bit of a missed opportunity, and I'm glad our coach confirmed that belief.

[StillAWarrior]

I don't think a single Scooper has said he or she was "anxious" about the W/L outcome. There was 0.00% chance we were gonna lose that game. Anybody who knows anything knew that was the case before tip-off, during the first 10 minutes, during the next 10 minutes, during the first 8 minutes of the second half and during the last 12 minutes of the game. 0.00% chance of losing.

Some folks are a little disappointed and/or frustrated because ...

1. You want to play the game "right," no matter who's in the game. Sloppy passing, stoopid shots, lack of D, whatever, aren't acceptable. Shaka waited a little too long, but he showed that HE felt it was unacceptable when he put the starters back out there (minus Morsell). He was disappointed and frustrated with how it was going. I hope you think it's OK that the coach "cares."

2. We want the best seed possible for the NCAA tournament ... and like it or not, hammering horrible, horrible teams by 20+ points goes into the formula that helps decide that. So again, it felt like a missed opportunity. And again, the coach recognized that. HE wasn't saying, "Who cares lol."

Most folks aren't depressed or angry. Maybe a couple are, but I'm not. I just thought it was a bit of a missed opportunity, and I'm glad our coach confirmed that belief.

Absolutely, Shaka cared, and that's good. He should. However, it would seem that he also cared about getting that lineup some time on the floor. In fact, given how long he went with that lineup, one could surmise that he cared even more about that. And that's OK too.

[RushmoreAcademy]

The Top-16 Reveal is Saturday.

The Top 16 Reveal!!!!   
This is a thing now.  It's just for clicks and $$$.

[RushmoreAcademy]

I don't think a single Scooper has said he or she was "anxious" about the W/L outcome. There was 0.00% chance we were gonna lose that game. Anybody who knows anything knew that was the case before tip-off, during the first 10 minutes, during the next 10 minutes, during the first 8 minutes of the second half and during the last 12 minutes of the game. 0.00% chance of losing.

Some folks are a little disappointed and/or frustrated because ...

1. You want to play the game "right," no matter who's in the game. Sloppy passing, stoopid shots, lack of D, whatever, aren't acceptable. Shaka waited a little too long, but he showed that HE felt it was unacceptable when he put the starters back out there (minus Morsell). He was disappointed and frustrated with how it was going. I hope you think it's OK that the coach "cares."

2. We want the best seed possible for the NCAA tournament ... and like it or not, hammering horrible, horrible teams by 20+ points goes into the formula that helps decide that. So again, it felt like a missed opportunity. And again, the coach recognized that. HE wasn't saying, "Who cares lol."

Most folks aren't depressed or angry. Maybe a couple are, but I'm not. I just thought it was a bit of a missed opportunity, and I'm glad our coach confirmed that belief.

they need a hobby.

FIFY

[Mr. Nielsen]

Are people really upset we tried some different guys together up a million with 12 minutes left?

Some sound that way. I'm not. That is when you try new things. I'm disapointed that those guy who do get mintues played poor in the segement of the game.

[MU82]

Absolutely, Shaka cared, and that's good. He should. However, it would seem that he also cared about getting that lineup some time on the floor. In fact, given how long he went with that lineup, one could surmise that he cared even more about that. And that's OK too.

Or ... he waited a little too long to make a change. I REALLY like Shaka as a coach, but like all of us, he isn't perfect.

That he didn't give a single one of those guys (except Oso out of necessity) a second of playing time in the final 7:27 of a wrapped-up game tells you all you need to know about what Shaka's degree of contentment there.

I don't like that the current NET system incentivizes running up the score, but that's simply the way it is until it's changed. And Shaka has shown many times this season that he's well aware of it.

We won. I'm glad. It was never in doubt. I'm glad about that, too. We missed an opportunity to improve our NET or at least keep it level. I'm a little disappointed about that ... and I don't think that tiny degree of disappointment makes me hyper-critical or anything. Indeed, I'm guessing Shaka is a little more disappointed than I am.

On to Sunday. It's become a very big game in the grand scheme of things. We Are Marquette!

[MU82]

FIFY

nm

[muwarrior69]

Did Shaka put the bench in a little early?  Sure. But the game was never in doubt at that point.  That 15 minute stretch from 10:00 in the first half to 15:00 in the second was the best they have played in a couple of weeks.  The ball movement was great.  They weren't settling for 3s.  Defending well.  Rebounding well.

I don't know exactly what people are expecting.  A 30 point lead stretching to 50?  Even then Scoop would find something to complain about.

It wasn't about the game being in doubt. Vegas was on the hotline so Gtown could make the spread.

[Spotcheck Billy]

I mentioned this in the SOTG topic, but Kam's air ball heat check did not seem to make Shaka happy.  He barely played after that point.

Here's his quote about that:

"I had told him the timeout before, just keep taking good shots," MU head coach Shaka Smart said. "He didn't really admit that that wasn't a good shot. He just said the ball slipped. So he came over and we talked about it."

[Scoop Snoop]

Here's his quote about that:

"I had told him the timeout before, just keep taking good shots," MU head coach Shaka Smart said. "He didn't really admit that that wasn't a good shot. He just said the ball slipped. So he came over and we talked about it."

Love it! Also loved Kam's performance but don't let anyone get away with excuses-even when they are on a hot streak.

Edit: I would rather see Shaka's public comments be a little more diplomatic though, but that's not his style.

[GoldenEagles03]

Marquette dropped from 29 to 31 in the NET allowing Providence back into the top 30 making them a Q1 win again.

Seems like a win to me!

[MDMU04]

Situationally, I was OK with Kam's heat check 3. It was a bad shot, but they had a decent lead and he was really lighting it up. Sometimes those go in.

There was a teachable moment that came out of it, and I'm pleased that Shaka seemed to take advantage of it.

All-around, I thought it was fine and handled well.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I mentioned this in the SOTG topic, but Kam's air ball heat check did not seem to make Shaka happy.  He barely played after that point.

Maybe, but they were laughing about it on the bench right after it happened. Jones looked real sheepish.

[rocky_warrior]

Morsell isn't inconsistent. 

Huh?

There was 0.00% chance we were gonna lose that game.

Well, your % is a little off, but generally yes.  Had a couple more shots fallen for GTown during that stretch the win certainly would have been in danger.  But luckily they didn't and it wasn't.

[We R Final Four]

Bad win. Between this and Butler, we've dropped 2 seed lines in a week when winning both might've got us in the Top-16 Reveal. I know this is a champagne complaint for a team not expected to be in the field, but sticking with that lineup from up 26 to 13 was one of the worst coaching mistakes of the year. Do that stupid crap when there's 4 minutes left, not 12.

Brew—is a bad win based upon the point spread? If we will by 15 was it a good win, win by 11 is a bad win? Serious question.
Admittedly don't follow the numbers closely enough to know why such a small maryin can cause such a drop.

[StillAWarrior]

Or ... he waited a little too long to make a change. I REALLY like Shaka as a coach, but like all of us, he isn't perfect.

That he didn't give a single one of those guys (except Oso out of necessity) a second of playing time in the final 7:27 of a wrapped-up game tells you all you need to know about what Shaka's degree of contentment there.

I don't like that the current NET system incentivizes running up the score, but that's simply the way it is until it's changed. And Shaka has shown many times this season that he's well aware of it.

We won. I'm glad. It was never in doubt. I'm glad about that, too. We missed an opportunity to improve our NET or at least keep it level. I'm a little disappointed about that ... and I don't think that tiny degree of disappointment makes me hyper-critical or anything. Indeed, I'm guessing Shaka is a little more disappointed than I am.

On to Sunday. It's become a very big game in the grand scheme of things. We Are Marquette!

I agree. I wasn't really intending to defend Shaka's decision, but simply say that the fact that he did it seems to suggest that he cared more about getting those guys some playing time than he did about winning by 25-30. I'm sure he's very disappointed in how they performed and he's indicated as much. I suspect that is the source of his disappointment far more than the fact that those extra 15-20 points in the margin of victory might have helped our seed.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Are people really upset we tried some different guys together up a million with 12 minutes left? Who cares lol. We won - we weren't in danger to lose at any point.

You play to win the game and we won. Cry more because we made you a little anxious.

Sorry but this is dumb.  I'm generally very positive and don't enjoy criticizing.  In fact, there's been very little to criticize in regards to Shaka this season. 

However, I found the lineup decision and the length of time he stuck with that lineup to be bizarre.  I know when you're up 26 it's hard to maintain a level of intensity and focus but the rest of the game was a slog.  The starters had to come back in and it was clear they had lost focus already.  In fact, I think they could have been more likely to get hurt playing in such a listless and unfocused manner.  I don't mind trying to get them some extra rest in a game like that but I don't think the lineup or process made a whole lot of sense. 

And while we may not agree with how margin impacts some of the metrics the reality is it does.  A 15 or 20 point win would have been better and was easily attainable. 

[MU82]

Sorry but this is dumb.  I'm generally very positive and don't enjoy criticizing.  In fact, there's been very little to criticize in regards to Shaka this season. 

However, I found the lineup decision and the length of time he stuck with that lineup to be bizarre.  I know when you're up 26 it's hard to maintain a level of intensity and focus but the rest of the game was a slog.  The starters had to come back in and it was clear they had lost focus already.  In fact, I think they could have been more likely to get hurt playing in such a listless and unfocused manner.  I don't mind trying to get them some extra rest in a game like that but I don't think the lineup or process made a whole lot of sense. 

And while we may not agree with how margin impacts some of the metrics the reality is it does.  A 15 or 20 point win would have been better and was easily attainable.

Excellent comment. 100% true.

The fact that many of us agree with this shouldn't be confused with us being "outraged" or "upset" or any other extreme when it comes to last night's result.

It was a little disappointing as to how it wound up IMHO. I don't think saying that makes anybody over-critical or seeming as to not support Shaka or the team, and I'm actually a little surprised at the degree of pushback. I mean, it was clear that Shaka was a little disappointed, too.

[79Warrior]

Sorry but this is dumb.  I'm generally very positive and don't enjoy criticizing.  In fact, there's been very little to criticize in regards to Shaka this season. 

However, I found the lineup decision and the length of time he stuck with that lineup to be bizarre.  I know when you're up 26 it's hard to maintain a level of intensity and focus but the rest of the game was a slog.  The starters had to come back in and it was clear they had lost focus already.  In fact, I think they could have been more likely to get hurt playing in such a listless and unfocused manner.  I don't mind trying to get them some extra rest in a game like that but I don't think the lineup or process made a whole lot of sense. 

And while we may not agree with how margin impacts some of the metrics the reality is it does.  A 15 or 20 point win would have been better and was easily attainable.

I would say it's real progress when the discussion is about how much we won by. Much better than last season at this time.

[Elonsmusk]

Are people really upset we tried some different guys together up a million with 12 minutes left? Who cares lol. We won - we weren't in danger to lose at any point.

You play to win the game and we won. Cry more because we made you a little anxious.

200%. Some really childish comments on this easy win.