R-E-L-A-X

[DoctorV]

The last 4 minutes today sucked, no sugar coating that. The last 45s were especially brutal.

Marquette has lost 4 of 6 after 7 game winning streak, that's the true data.

The seed is slipping, that's undeniable. The horrors of recent past February and Marches are creeping, hard to contain that.

There are definitely gripes, things to be concerned about. I won't dive deeper into todays game until later tonight or tomorrow but the clear main gripe is down the stretch. Shaka has a monkey on his back, Marquette has one on its, and it's not going away until March.

That said, the 4 losses were all roadies
@ Providence by 2
@ UConn by 8
@ Butler by 6
@ CU by 1

3 of the 4 are top 4 BE teams. The other is playing much better of late and difficult to beat at home (as Providence learned today).

You aren't supposed to roll into top 4 teams back yards and just come home with win after win, unless you're a title contender. Marquette had a chance to win all of those tough games on the road in the last 5-10 minutes, and that IMO says a lot more about the team overall than the 4 losses.

Get the heads right, rebound literally and figuratively and win the winnable games in front of you and end the season right.
It's possible, it's probable

We Are Marquette!

[Shooter McGavin]

Agreed Doctor V.  Clean up the little things and things should take care of themselves.

[panda]

Yep - all character building for neutral court post season games.

[bradforster]

The last time someone told a fan base to "relax" it was Aaron Rodgers, one of the biggest choke artists in modern NFL history.  At least he grabs the trophies he truly cares about - the individual ones!

[The Sultan]

The last time someone told a fan base to "relax" it was Aaron Rodgers, one of the biggest choke artists in modern NFL history. 

LOL.  What?

[bradforster]

By the way, we've been told the GTown double digit win was a bad one.  Isn't it worse to completely puke a Quad 1 win right down your own leg?

[GoldenWarrior11]

As gut punching a loss today has been, watching Marquette Basketball remains one of my favorite experiences I continue to look forward to.  We are in a slide but still miles better what everyone projected this year. 

Cannot wait until our next game. This group still has makings of something special.

[bradforster]

LOL.  What?

Yes, Rodgers is a choker.  He has a single SB appearance (yep, a win) to show for numerous one seeds throughout his career.  This last season's collapse was truly epic. 

[The Sultan]

Yes, Rodgers is a choker.  He has a single SB appearance (yep, a win) to show for numerous one seeds throughout his career.  This last season's collapse was truly epic. 

LOL.  Sure.  You really think that was primarily his fault?  You said "one of the biggest chokers in modern NFL history."  Which is a dumb statement.

[bradforster]

Yes, because that's the nature of the NFL.  The QB gets the glory and he's also saddled with the criticism when the team loses.  It's the most important position in sports and guys are judged by rings.  That's the way it works.

[The Sultan]

Yes, because that's the nature of the NFL.  The QB gets the glory and he's also saddled with the criticism when the team loses.  It's the most important position in sports and guys are judged by rings.  That's the way it works.

That's the way YOU think it works.  It's simplistic and lame.

[MuggsyB]

The last 4 minutes today sucked, no sugar coating that. The last 45s were especially brutal.

Marquette has lost 4 of 6 after 7 game winning streak, that's the true data.

The seed is slipping, that's undeniable. The horrors of recent past February and Marches are creeping, hard to contain that.

There are definitely gripes, things to be concerned about. I won't dive deeper into todays game until later tonight or tomorrow but the clear main gripe is down the stretch. Shaka has a monkey on his back, Marquette has one on its, and it's not going away until March.

That said, the 4 losses were all roadies
@ Providence by 2
@ UConn by 8
@ Butler by 6
@ CU by 1

3 of the 4 are top 4 BE teams. The other is playing much better of late and difficult to beat at home (as Providence learned today).

You aren't supposed to roll into top 4 teams back yards and just come home with win after win, unless you're a title contender. Marquette had a chance to win all of those tough games on the road in the last 5-10 minutes, and that IMO says a lot more about the team overall than the 4 losses.

Get the heads right, rebound literally and figuratively and win the winnable games in front of you and end the season right.
It's possible, it's probable

We Are Marquette!

You're my guy Dr. V but I respectfully disagree with you.  Here's why and there a number of reasons:

1)  FIrst and foremost our defense has quite frankly been bad the last several games.  We could of course say Butler and Creighton made some threes out of their ass but the real problem is we were dominated by Golden and Kalbrenner.  Totally dominated by two average players.  Can't happen Dr. V.,  it just can't happen.

2)  Our poise and execution down the stretch in many of these close games has been abysmal.  Not average, or even bad, but a complete and utter dumpster fire.  And no, this has nothing to do with experience .  If Justin Lewis is a legitimate BEPOY he has to play with far better poise and the same can be said for Morsell and our entire team.

3)  We tend to let things snowball and lose cohesion at various times during the course of games.  In other words our fundamentals go to Hell and we completely lose focus of what we're trying to do each possession .

4)  We continue to get bludgeoned at the FT line.  It's freaking killing us Dr. V.  We need to understand the importance of the foul game and figure out how to attack and at worst stay close in this stat.

5. Every team has one or two dud performances, I get that.  Throwing away games is a completely different story and that was number 3. 

We certainly can get our heads right and finish strong.   This team is as talented as any in our conference.  But Shaka and our guys really have to figure out our best line-up to close games and we must play with far greater poise and intelligence.

[jfp61]

Uconn and Butler shot well from three. Vs. Providence Marquette couldn't make a three to save themselves. I accept those loses. They are variance inflicted.

Today's was inexcusable. It was coaching and defensive effort. Creighton made 22 of 35 shots inside the arc. Kam and Greg were turnstyles. Morsell didn't really play defense in the first half. Oso couldn't guard the rim. Kur couldn't stay in front of people. Lewis is slow footed, and struggled to help off ball.

A substitution of Kolek for Greg in the final 4 minutes of that game likely wins it for them.

[Newsdreams]

Uconn and Butler shot well from three. Vs. Providence Marquette couldn't make a three to save themselves. I accept those loses. They are variance inflicted.

Today's was inexcusable. It was coaching and defensive effort. Creighton made 22 of 35 shots inside the arc. Kam and Greg were turnstyles. Morsell didn't really play defense in the first half. Oso couldn't guard the rim. Kur couldn't stay in front of people. Lewis is slow footed, and struggled to help off ball.

A substitution of Kolek for Greg in the final 4 minutes of that game likely wins it for them.

Bad coaching decision at end of both halves giving Morsell the nod to be PG under pressure, same result a TO. Should have been TK.

[Daniel]

The good thing is the losses were all close - so we could have win.  Which is remarkable in year 9ne of Shaka and a team that has not played together.   
So.... The future is good.    And I for one was not thinking we'd have a chance for am ncaa bid this year.   So all in all.....
But.... We still want to win,

[Viper]

Yes, Rodgers is a choker.  He has a single SB appearance (yep, a win) to show for numerous one seeds throughout his career.  This last season's collapse was truly epic.

i'm not a Rodgers fan, but hard to hang the SF loss on him. His o-line was Swiss cheese. Special teams sucked. Hence, ballgame. Anyway, back to MU and my ulcer!

[GoldenEagles03]

I will not relax...

I was planning on going to NMD but tickets after fees for Saturdays game are no cheaper than $100 a piece.

Who the heck wants to pay that with how they have been playing.

Guess I'll watch from the couch 😂

[MuggsyB]

Uconn and Butler shot well from three. Vs. Providence Marquette couldn't make a three to save themselves. I accept those loses. They are variance inflicted.

Today's was inexcusable. It was coaching and defensive effort. Creighton made 22 of 35 shots inside the arc. Kam and Greg were turnstyles. Morsell didn't really play defense in the first half. Oso couldn't guard the rim. Kur couldn't stay in front of people. Lewis is slow footed, and struggled to help off ball.

A substitution of Kolek for Greg in the final 4 minutes of that game likely wins it for them.

Yes.  And this is the key, key, point here.  Our bigs in particular are not defending.   We had two average at best 5's shred our entire freaking team.  Our individual and help D inside has been late and they were all slow to react. If Kur and Oso are getting shredded, get them off the floor and slide Lewis to the 5 (assuming he isn't in foul trouble)   In fact maybe try O-Max.  Both guys are strong enough not to be bullied by whatever players.

[tower912]

Never un-relaxed.    But your reminder is well done.   

[MUfan12]

The high hedge with the bigs isn't doing anything but put them out of position at this point. Teams have adjusted.

[MuggsyB]

The high hedge with the bigs isn't doing anything but put them out of position at this point. Teams have adjusted.

Yep.  Kur can't get back to the rim to help.  Nemhard burned us on a key possession.

[panda]

I will not relax...

I was planning on going to NMD but tickets after fees for Saturdays game are no cheaper than $100 a piece.

Who the heck wants to pay that with how they have been playing.

Guess I'll watch from the couch 😂

A small baller that's who - check out tick pick. No fees

[Newsdreams]

The last 4 minutes today sucked, no sugar coating that. The last 45s were especially brutal.

Marquette has lost 4 of 6 after 7 game winning streak, that's the true data.

The seed is slipping, that's undeniable. The horrors of recent past February and Marches are creeping, hard to contain that.

There are definitely gripes, things to be concerned about. I won't dive deeper into todays game until later tonight or tomorrow but the clear main gripe is down the stretch. Shaka has a monkey on his back, Marquette has one on its, and it's not going away until March.

That said, the 4 losses were all roadies
@ Providence by 2
@ UConn by 8
@ Butler by 6
@ CU by 1

3 of the 4 are top 4 BE teams. The other is playing much better of late and difficult to beat at home (as Providence learned today).

You aren't supposed to roll into top 4 teams back yards and just come home with win after win, unless you're a title contender. Marquette had a chance to win all of those tough games on the road in the last 5-10 minutes, and that IMO says a lot more about the team overall than the 4 losses.

Get the heads right, rebound literally and figuratively and win the winnable games in front of you and end the season right.
It's possible, it's probable

We Are Marquette!

A loss is a loss just like a win is a win. Almost does not count.

[NickelDimer]

Good thread. Way too many hot takes. I see many reasons to celebrate in our near future

[Newsdreams]

Good thread. Way too many hot takes. I see many reasons to celebrate in our near future

Oh yes, I'm optimistic but this game like the previous Creighton game should had been won.