Let's face it

[jesmu84]

North Carolina just has more talent then MU,hope Shaka cant start recruiting his guys and it changes.

I don't disagree with this perspective.

But then how do we explain January wins and then February/March losses?

[Johnny B]

Me too.  This sucks.  Also not going to lose my sh*t as this season turned out to be much more fun and successful than I hoped for.

it was fun until feb 3rd then not so much

[Pakuni]

North Carolina just has more talent then MU,hope Shaka cant start recruiting his guys and it changes.

Of course they do, but do they have 30+ points more talent? And, in theory, a distinct coaching disadvantage?

[Viper]

Sad part is I think Shaka is further from turning this program around at the end of this season than he was at the beginning of this season.

lots of IF's heading into next October. If incoming recruits are any good. If returning guys improve. If a difference-maker transfer is found.

[Fred Garvin]

Of course they do, but do they have 30+ points more talent? And, in theory, a distinct coaching disadvantage?

Yes they have that much more talent

[YaBlueIt]

I don't disagree with this perspective.

But then how do we explain January wins and then February/March losses?

In January we got hot from 3. PnR was working. Defensive identify was coming together.

Then we cooled off and BEast coaches figured out our system and exploited its flaws.

[wadesworld]

The book was out on this team by February. Said it early in the slide and people didn't like to hear it. But...

[Pakuni]

Yes they have that much more talent

No, they don't.
This UNC team lost to Pitt at home a month ago.

[JakeBarnes]

Me too.  This sucks.  Also not going to lose my sh*t as this season turned out to be much more fun and successful than I hoped for.

Way more successful than expected. Most expected every game to be like this.

That said: lots of hard conversations in the offseason ahead for Shaka. Stevie and Sean (maybe EE?) pg fight incoming. Omax  with Justin could be a super potent combo but imagine we see omax and jop instead.

Feeling less confident about anyone else.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

No, they don't.
This UNC team lost to Pitt at home a month ago.

So you're basing that decision off of one game?   

[bradforster]

The book was out on this team by February. Said it early in the slide and people didn't like to hear it. But...

This is three straight tournament blowouts, and the Carolinas have not been good to us! 

[IL Warrior]

Way more successful than expected. Most expected every game to be like this.

That said: lots of hard conversations in the offseason ahead for Shaka. Stevie and Sean (maybe EE?) pg fight incoming. Omax  with Justin could be a super potent combo but imagine we see omax and jop instead.

Feeling less confident about anyone else.

Nobody is that dumb.... expecting us to be outscored by 30 every game?

[Fred Garvin]

No, they don't.
This UNC team lost to Pitt at home a month ago.

It's not debatable,explain to me where Marquette is stronger?

[Pakuni]

So you're basing that decision off of one game?   

They lost to VaTech - then a bubble team - by 13 less than a week ago.
They lost to Miami by 28 points.
They lost to Wake Forest by 22 points.
They lost to Kentucky by 29 points.

Shocked that Vegas didn't install UNC as a 30-point favorite. Those guys know nothing.

UNC is more talented. They're not 30 points more talented, and saying so is just a bullsh*t excuse for this performance.

[jesmu84]

In January we got hot from 3. PnR was working. Defensive identify was coming together.

Then we cooled off and BEast coaches figured out our system and exploited its flaws.

So do we think it's all the short-comings of the players? Or is there any concern about shaka?

[Pakuni]

It's not debatable,explain to me where Marquette is stronger?

You're being willfully obtuse.
No one is saying MU is the more talented team. But it's ridiculous to suggest they're 30 points less talented.
By your logic, the talent gap between MU and UNC is wider than the talent gap between Gonzaga and Georgia State.

[Fred Garvin]

They lost to VaTech - then a bubble team - by 13 less than a week ago.
They lost to Miami by 28 points.
They lost to Wake Forest by 22 points.
They lost to Kentucky by 29 points.

Shocked that Vegas didn't install UNC as a 30-point favorite. Those guys know nothing.

UNC is more talented. They're no 30 points more talented, and saying so is just a bullsh*t excuse for this performance.

So they were losing to tournament teams,while we were getting blown out by DePaul and Butler. Makes more sense now.

[PointWarrior]

Marquette should refund the trips to the poor souls who had to watch this crap in person.

[Warrior of Law]

Frankenstein roster for 2020-21. Couple of surprises, but in general, they weren't any good. Players transfer for a reason: they think they are better than they are.  I would expect another roster overhaul again for next year.

[JWags85]

It couldn't have been a more different circumstance for the teams.

UNC is a incredibly talented team of very highly ranked recruits that underperformed most of the year but got hot late in the season and were getting it together

Marquette was a team that largely exceeded expectations, got hot in the middle of the year, and we're fading down the stretch.

It doesn't justify it or make it any better, it just is what it is.

[YaBlueIt]

So do we think it's all the short-comings of the players? Or is there any concern about shaka?

Like with most things in life, it's probably some of both. I don't know what "we" think and I definitely don't have all the answers. But in hindsight it's pretty clear that our run in January was unsustainable for one reason or another.

The more perplexing thing to me today is how our guys never had an answer this game. The whole season this squad always felt like it was putting up a fight even after getting knocked down early. Today looked like a completely different story.

[StillWarriors]

it was fun until feb 3rd then not so much

Agreed. Ever since has extinguished a lot of the enthusiasm and optimism that things look different going forward for me. Not just about the losses, but the regression and flaws that became very apparent.

It seemed mid-season like MU would be a very appealing place for transfers with the fun style of play and charismatic coach. Some of the luster is gone at this point. If JLewis leaves, we need some big-time transfers or next year will be rough. This sucks.

The enthusiasm will return next fall, but this is demoralizing as hell. The feeling I had watching today was too familiar to us getting embarrassed v. Kansas, Michigan State and Murray State.  March woes continue. At least we were there...I guess.

[bilsu]

This why the committee should go back to looking at the last 10 games. Based on those we did not belong in the tournament. The same thing when we lost to Murray St. under Wojo

[Pakuni]

So they were losing to tournament teams,while we were getting blown out by DePaul and Butler. Makes more sense now.

How far do you have Pitt and Wake Forest going in your bracket?

[willie warrior]

This team just doesn't have the horses to compete.  Completely lacking offensive firepower, shooting, rebounding, etc.  If it wasn't obvious before, watching the other teams in this tourney should make it crystal clear now.

Time to clean house.