Expectations - Feb. 28 Edition

[jfp61]

I'd suggest close the laptop, stop looking at the spreadsheets and watch him play. You may actually learn something.

I was just dishing back man.

I am not as strongly convicted in that morsell take as i was partly because he played well offensively for the first time since early january, but mostly because Greg can't make a basket right now and well Kam is lights out his defense is very bad.

If there is a stats based "move" to make right now it is to play oso as much as possible vs any team without a traditional center. Improves both the offense and defense. Helps with turnover rates on both sides. Unexplainably doesn't change the rebounding rates.

[panda]

I was just dishing back man.

I am not as strongly convicted in that morsell take as i was partly because he played well offensively for the first time since early january, but mostly because Greg can't make a basket right now and well Kam is lights out his defense is very bad.

If there is a stats based "move" to make right now it is to play oso as much as possible vs any team without a traditional center. Improves both the offense and defense. Helps with turnover rates on both sides. Unexplainably doesn't change the rebounding rates.

We'll see about that in the next two games as DePaul really isn't playing with a traditional big on offense and sju definitely  doesn't.

It's pretty easily explained. Oso gets pushed off his spot a lot and is poor at boxing out. Not a great stationary jumper. Hopefully those traits will improve as he bulks up but he's not a great rebounder in traffic. 

[Newsdreams]

Is that similar to feeling like a soaking wet crepe paper tiger?  Asking for a friend.

Now I feel soaked

[MU82]

We'll see about that in the next two games as DePaul really isn't playing with a traditional big on offense and sju definitely  doesn't.

It's pretty easily explained. Oso gets pushed off his spot a lot and is poor at boxing out. Not a great stationary jumper. Hopefully those traits will improve as he bulks up but he's not a great rebounder in traffic.

I actually think Oso boxes out better than just about anybody on our team. He isn't a quick leaper, though, and he does get pushed off his spot because he needs to get stronger. And he also has to surrender his rebounding position sometimes when an opponent beats one of our perimeter defenders and drives to the hoop. Many times, however, Oso has his man boxed out but a different opposing player soars in from the wing because our perimeter guys are just watching.

Hence Shaka constantly having to remind everybody to think about rebounding.

[shoothoops]

My expectations for MUBB are the same or similar most years.

Each season is evaluated individually after the completion of that season.

Right now is the time to be preparing to be...wait for it...Lost in the Fight...against DePaul.

[MU82]

According to BetOnline, our odds to win the national title are now 125-1. They were 300-1 at the start of the 2022 calendar year.

Gonzaga is the 4-1 favorite, followed by Kentucky (13-2), Arizona (8-1) and Duke (9-1).

Nova is 18-1 ... UConn is 55-1 ... Providence is 66-1 ... Madison is 80-1.

Oscar Tshiebwe is the prohibitive 1-4 favorite to win POY, followed by Johnny Davis at 8-1.

[GoldenEagles03]

Lucky sham of a team. Ripe for early exits from every March contest they play in. Not just a paper tiger, but a soaking wet crepe paper tiger.

Agreed.  Everyone is lumping Providence and UW-Madison together as lucky teams that could get bounced early.

I agree with Providence. They are an early exit. UW-Madison on the other hand might be the best team in America. I'd be surprised if they didn't make the Final Four or at least Elite 8.  (That was painful to say).

[MU82]

UW-Madison on the other hand might be the best team in America.

Uh ... no.

[PGsHeroes32]

Agreed.  Everyone is lumping Providence and UW-Madison together as lucky teams that could get bounced early.

I agree with Providence. They are an early exit. UW-Madison on the other hand might be the best team in America. I'd be surprised if they didn't make the Final Four or at least Elite 8.  (That was painful to say).

You need to watch more hoops

[GoldenEagles03]

You need to watch more hoops

I dont know that it is possible for me to watch more hoops than I already do on a nightly basis.

Madison is 24-5 with a Big Ten title and 16 Q1 and Q2 wins.  Baylor, Kentucky, Gonzaga, Duke, Auburn might be the only 5 teams I could see beating them right now.  Things could change but they are the hottest team in the country at the moment.

Providence is a fraud though in my opinion. I'd be surprised to see them in the 2nd weekend.

[Uncle Rico]

I dont know that it is possible for me to watch more hoops than I already do on a nightly basis.

Madison is 24-5 with a Big Ten title and 16 Q1 and Q2 wins.  Baylor, Kentucky, Gonzaga, Duke, Auburn might be the only 5 teams I could see beating them right now.  Things could change but they are the hottest team in the country at the moment.

Providence is a fraud though in my opinion. I'd be surprised to see them in the 2nd weekend.

If Providence is a fraud, then Wisconsin is, too.

[BrewCity83]

If Fraudy Providence can beat Wisconsin, anyone in the tournament can.

[GoldenEagles03]

If Fraudy Providence can beat Wisconsin, anyone in the tournament can.

Providence can't beat Wisconsin.  They can without the National Player of the Year in the lineup for UW but that's not relative to now.

You can tell by watching them that UW is good and Providence is...meh.

I hope they get upset but right now I think UW would be my favorite to win it depending on matchups.  Baylor, Kentucky, Auburn, Gonzaga, Duke are the only 5 I see maybe knocking them off.

I think Nova would be in the conversation too if they had size.

[Uncle Rico]

Providence can't beat Wisconsin.  They can without the National Player of the Year in the lineup for UW but that's not relative to now.

You can tell by watching them that UW is good and Providence is...meh.

I hope they get upset but right now I think UW would be my favorite to win it depending on matchups.  Baylor, Kentucky, Auburn, Gonzaga, Duke are the only 5 I see maybe knocking them off.

I think Nova would be in the conversation too if they had size.

UW is 246th in the nation in effective fg%.  Only UConn in 2011 would have had a worse % of any national champ.

[MarquetteMike1977]

Ticker on the bottom of the screen on ESPN News a couple days ago had UW at 60-1 and Marquette at 80-1 to Win it all.

[GoldenEagles03]

UW is 246th in the nation in effective fg%.  Only UConn in 2011 would have had a worse % of any national champ.

And 24-5 with 16 Q1 and Q2 wins.  Their style of play and rare Turnovers cause the opponent to be near perfect and causes panic in win or go home games.  They definitely play well above their talent bracket, but they are a good team.

I wouldn't mind Marquette getting a 6 seed to matchup with a 3 seeded UW in the 2nd round!

[BrewCity83]

I wouldn't mind Marquette getting a 6 seed to matchup with a 3 seeded UW in the 2nd round!

Why would you want your favorite team to have to face what you called the "best team in America" in the 2nd round??  I smell a Badger troll...

For the record, I'd love to face Bucky again.  I think MU has improved more than UW-M since they met on December 4.  But not because I want to beat the "best team in America" in the 2nd round.  It's because I think they've been lucky and are overrated and I'd love to send them home early.

[Jay Bee]

Providence can't beat Wisconsin.  They can without the National Player of the Year in the lineup for UW but that's not relative to now.

I recall 2.5 weeks ago your hero playing 34 minutes while taking a home loss to Rutgers.

The Badgers blow

[BrewCity83]

The National Player of the Year plays for Kentucky.  And it's not gonna be close.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Per Pomeroy, PC is the 2nd luckiest team followed closely by UW at #5. CU at #13, btw.  MU has four losses to those teams.

[GoldenEagles03]

Why would you want your favorite team to have to face what you called the "best team in America" in the 2nd round??  I smell a Badger troll...

For the record, I'd love to face Bucky again.  I think MU has improved more than UW-M since they met on December 4.  But not because I want to beat the "best team in America" in the 2nd round.  It's because I think they've been lucky and are overrated and I'd love to send them home early.

Because I hate UW and would love to knock them out ourselves.

I think they are playing as if they are the best team in America right now.  Like I said, things can change. I'm not running from anybody with this Marquette team. I know they'll battle to the end.

[BM1090]

Because I hate UW and would love to knock them out ourselves.

I think they are playing as if they are the best team in America right now.  Like I said, things can change. I'm not running from anybody with this Marquette team. I know they'll battle to the end.

They are nowhere near it. They could make a run. They are solid and experienced. But if Davis has one bad game after the first round, they are done.

[BrewCity83]

They are also the worst 3-point shooting team in the Big14Ten.  And they're prone to long scoring droughts.  Not the profile of a team that I would bet on to make a deep tourney run.

[tower912]

Back to MU expectations.    I expect MU to come out slow tonight.    DePaul will get a lead.   Scoop heads will explode and some really spectacular takes will be dropped in the game chat.    I expect MU to come back and make it close.    Win?    MU is a narrow road favorite against a conference opponent who is playing better lately.    I think the coin flip Vegas odds are fair.   

[GoldenEagles03]

They are nowhere near it. They could make a run. They are solid and experienced. But if Davis has one bad game after the first round, they are done.

Davis hasn't been good for a few weeks and they still dont lose even to teams like Purdue.

I love the BIG14TEN comment lol.  I don't understand that league. Also the Big 12 has 10 teams...at least the teams in the Big East are all East of something.