Expectation for First Weekend

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

At this point just hoping for a Friday night game so I can go through the whole first 2 days without having the interest sapped from me.  Was pumped to watch CBB all this weekend, and yesterdays result already kind ruined that for me.

Same.

[CountryRoads]

At this point just hoping for a Friday night game so I can go through the whole first 2 days without having the interest sapped from me.  Was pumped to watch CBB all this weekend, and yesterdays result already kind ruined that for me.

Since the Fiserv games are on Friday, we will likely play Thursday. Although it's not a hard and set rule, we will likely be playing on Thursday.

I agree though, the tournament sort of gets ruined for me when MU loses so I'm hoping it's at least a night game.

[MU82]

I'm too lazy to look it up, but I'm wondering how many Scoopers who are predicting certain loss in the NCAA tournament were also predicting certain loss to St. John's just last week.

My expectations are for a win in our first tournament game. I'm realistic enough to know that might not happen, but I'll be disappointed if it doesn't. Beyond that, I'll wait to see who the opponent is.

We Are Marquette!

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Since the Fiserv games are on Friday, we will likely play Thursday. Although it's not a hard and set rule, we will likely be playing on Thursday.

I agree though, the tournament sort of gets ruined for me when MU loses so I'm hoping it's at least a night game.

Thanks for pissing in my cheerios. (Even tho you're absolutely correct.)

[79Warrior]

I'm too lazy to look it up, but I'm wondering how many Scoopers who are predicting certain loss in the NCAA tournament were also predicting certain loss to St. John's just last week.

My expectations are for a win in our first tournament game. I'm realistic enough to know that might not happen, but I'll be disappointed if it doesn't. Beyond that, I'll wait to see who the opponent is.

We Are Marquette!

I am not predicting a certain loss, obviously every team has a chance to win.  But playing at home against SJU is a far cry from an NCAA tourney game. MU is a very young team on a very big stage.

[MU82]

I am not predicting a certain loss, obviously every team has a chance to win.  But playing at home against SJU is a far cry from an NCAA tourney game. MU is a very young team on a very big stage.

It simply goes to the credibility of the prognosticators. They didn't just say they thought Marquette would lose at home to StJ ... they were sure of it. So that they're now sure we'll lose our next game, even though we don't even know who the opponent will be ...

[BrewCity83]

I'm hoping for a Thursday afternoon game.  Get an early win and it's a great springboard to the St. Paddy's day revelry that will fill the rest of Thursday afternoon and night.  Being one of the first teams in the field of 32, we can watch all the Friday games in peace looking forward to the big Saturday game.

Yeah, I know, losing a Thursday afternoon game would put a huge damper on the whole rest of the week, but I prefer to anticipate this in a positive manner.

[axaguy]

We need to go back to earlier year formula of full court  defense for 40 minutes. Floor slapping, relentless kind that nets turnovers and disrupts the other guys flow and concentration. Offense will feed off that on turn overs, touches and frantic foes. Back to what was successful......

[Elonsmusk]

Despite the poor play in Creighton game, I feel the team is due for a bounce back game.  Hoping the staff has given the kids today and tomorrow off to reset/recharge, clear their minds from the game, and then to enjoy selection Sunday.

[Goose]

79warrior

No doubt they have not played well over the past month, fortunately they locked up a bid a month ago. Like I have said all year, they will be competitive in more games than not and I think that continues.

[We R Final Four]

I guess we'll see but I'm starting to believe that right now our free fall has more to do with what we are doing wrong than what the competition is doing right.  The offense is simply pathetic.  They were playing better together in mid November than they are now.  And the biggest concern is that Shaka seems powerless to do anything to change things.  They have not played well in over a month.  Over that long a period of time you would think that he could try something different on offense to break through.  That is what worries me most.  If the future is as bright as many Scoopers want to believe Shaka is going to have to be able to fix problems without going into a tailspin.

Agreed. What's most concerning to me is the stupid plays are not corrected. Bounce passes to Kur in the lane do not work. Don't do them. Oso cannot handle a bullet pass...especially behind him. Don't do that. Stop sending cross court passes from wing to wing.....its a turnover. When I watch JLew not even consider to box out his guy.....that needs to be corrected, but unfortunately its not being addressed.
I'm hopeful for Thursday, but am expecting more of the same.

[PhillyWarrior]

Oso had better numbers in conference than non-conference except rebounding.

Oso was very disappointing in the second half of the year.  Too timid, inconsistent, lack of hustle, afraid to mix it up.  Needs to really toughen up ASAP, but I don't expect that

[Uncle Rico]

Oso was very disappointing in the second half of the year.  Too timid, inconsistent, lack of hustle, afraid to mix it up.  Needs to really toughen up ASAP, but I don't expect that

Why not?  Just curious.  Felt like Shaka's bigs at Texas were tough enough and certainly were at VCU. 

[79Warrior]

79warrior

No doubt they have not played well over the past month, fortunately they locked up a bid a month ago. Like I have said all year, they will be competitive in more games than not and I think that continues.

I agree Goose. I do think the youth has caught up to them though. Glad we made the tourney and better days are ahead.

[MU82]

I feel real good about winning our first game, and I'm hoping it's Thursday.

We Are Marquette!

[We R Final Four]

I feel real good about winning our first game, and I'm hoping it's Thursday.

We Are Marquette!

Weve been playing terrible bball of late.
We haven't won away from Fiserv in a month+.
We are not improving.
We will be the underdog in Thursday game to a team seed higher than us.

Other than that, I feel real good about a win too!

[Goose]

TAMU said ten days ago that this season would be a B+ if we lost our last four games and I agree completely. Winning the opening round makes this year an A in my book. I never thought Shaka had the '76 Hoosiers on the court this year and there is a serious need for better players moving forward. I will add, I did not criticize Shaka much the first year because of the current roster and the bar rises the day this season comes to an end.

Shaka and the team delivered a ton of excitement this year and I have enjoyed every minute of it. Moving forward I am not just looking for excitement from the program. Not sure what my expectations for next year are the moment, but I do know they will be much higher than being the surprise team from the BE.

I truly believe that winning a game next weekend would be a very big building block for the future. The program needs a win next week and I am counting on it.

[Goose]

We R

Of course, they have not played great ball of late and that is disappointing. I have said all season that MU paid an experience, top level coach a lot of money to win basketball games. Shaka has a monkey to get off his back and so does the program. I would be shocked if they did not bring up the level of intensity next week. I also said playing with the intensity they did in January is virtually impossible to do for two months and we saw the results when urgency is not there.

I will go on record today, I would be beyond shocked if the team does not play at high level next week. I am pretty certain that Shaka knows the stakes, both for himself and the program, and he will have guys ready. If not, a big opportunity for the program slipped away.

[We R Final Four]

We R

Of course, they have not played great ball of late and that is disappointing. I have said all season that MU paid an experience, top level coach a lot of money to win basketball games. Shaka has a monkey to get off his back and so does the program. I would be shocked if they did not bring up the level of intensity next week. I also said playing with the intensity they did in January is virtually impossible to do for two months and we saw the results when urgency is not there.

I will go on record today, I would be beyond shocked if the team does not play at high level next week. I am pretty certain that Shaka knows the stakes, both for himself and the program, and he will have guys ready. If not, a big opportunity for the program slipped away.

Goose—I wish I shared your optimism. I do hope they turn things around and get right.
A first round quick exit would prohibit a B+ grade imo.

[GoldenEagles03]

I just read on Twitter that the committee has the 1-9 seeds locked in.

Not sure what that means for Marquette.

[Uncle Rico]

I just read on Twitter that the committee has the 1-9 seeds locked in.

Not sure what that means for Marquette.

That they're on the bubble

[JakeBarnes]

TAMU said ten days ago that this season would be a B+ if we lost our last four games and I agree completely. Winning the opening round makes this year an A in my book. I never thought Shaka had the '76 Hoosiers on the court this year and there is a serious need for better players moving forward. I will add, I did not criticize Shaka much the first year because of the current roster and the bar rises the day this season comes to an end.

Shaka and the team delivered a ton of excitement this year and I have enjoyed every minute of it. Moving forward I am not just looking for excitement from the program. Not sure what my expectations for next year are the moment, but I do know they will be much higher than being the surprise team from the BE.

I truly believe that winning a game next weekend would be a very big building block for the future. The program needs a win next week and I am counting on it.

Cheers to that Goose. I said it last week, but I thought a little time to rest and recalibrate would help the team. I Imagine Shaka has a good film session guest coming in to get the guys on the right track. Maybe Wes again?

[AlienWarrior]

I think we get blown out by Buzz's A&M team in the 8-9 matchup

[Uncle Rico]

I think we get blown out by Buzz's A&M team in the 8-9 matchup

A&M wasn't even in anyone's bracket before today and they're playing in an 8-9 game all of a sudden is interesting

[MU82]

Weve been playing terrible bball of late.
We haven't won away from Fiserv in a month+.
We are not improving.
We will be the underdog in Thursday game to a team seed higher than us.

Other than that, I feel real good about a win too!

We played pretty darn bad ball while going 3-6 from Nov. 21 to Jan. 1.

During that stretch, there were lots of Scoop takes about how this player or that player wasn't improving - O-Max, Kolek, Morsell, Stevie, Elliott, etc. Shaka's coaching ability was being questioned, too. One Scooper summed things up succinctly: "This team sucks."

Starting Jan. 4, we were underdogs in 7 of our next 9 games ... and we won 8 of them. An awful lot of money was made by Scoopers betting on our team. IIRC, you were one of those making money, which is great!

I obviously am not guaranteeing that history similar to that last paragraph will repeat. What I'm saying is that there are twists and turns to every season, and so I am choosing to be optimistic about our next twist and turn.

We started 5-0. We then went 3-6. We then went 8-1. We then went 3-5. We're overdue for a good run, and I feel good about that run starting in a few days.

We Are Marquette!