Tonight is enormous

[MuggsyB]

I really think this particular game has more importance than the average November non-conf.  I have my doubts about Wisconsin and certainly Notre Lame.  Baylor is going to be a monumental challenge but yet a massive opportunity.  All that said, because it appears the BEast is down this year, we may not have as many resume builders as we have had in recent seasons. 

I'm hopeful that we learned a bit from our Purdue struggles down the stretch.  The most promising thing I saw is that these guys are fighters, we just could not make shots when it mattered.  I fully expect a strong performance from the Warriors with better poise and execution of both ends of the floor.  If that's not good enough we will have to tip our caps but my gut feeling is tonight we get a big W.

[MU82]

I also predict a victory.

And yes, that would be preferable to the alternative.

[Retire0]

Just another game.

[Uncle Rico]

I really think this particular game has more importance than the average November non-conf.  I have my doubts about Wisconsin and certainly Notre Lame.  Baylor is going to be a monumental challenge but yet a massive opportunity.  All that said, because it appears the BEast is down this year, we may not have as many resume builders as we have had in recent seasons. 

I'm hopeful that we learned a bit from our Purdue struggles down the stretch.  The most promising thing I saw is that these guys are fighters, we just could not make shots when it mattered.  I fully expect a strong performance from the Warriors with better poise and execution of both ends of the floor.  If that's not good enough we will have to tip our caps but my gut feeling is tonight we get a big W.

Like I said, a loss puts Shaka firmly on the hot seat

[Goose]

Muggsy

I wish I had a feel for the game tonight. Definitely looking forward to the game, but in no way would I place a wager either way. I think it is going to take awhile before I have a true feel on this team. Not hedging my bets on the season, but possibly it is going to  be a strong finish to the season. That said, would be nice to get a good W tonight.

[Newsdreams]

Just another game.

How dare you say that

[wadesworld]

Biggest game of the season.

[GoldenEagles03]

I don't feel great about a win tonight. I'm sure it will be a close game but based on the closing efforts at Purdue I don't know what to expect from this team in big games.

The bright side is that Purdue is now ranked 24th in the AP poll and Mississippi State is receiving a vote to be ranked in the Top 25.

I agree though. This is as must-win as a November game gets for Marquette and the Big East.

[MuggsyB]

Muggsy

I wish I had a feel for the game tonight. Definitely looking forward to the game, but in no way would I place a wager either way. I think it is going to take awhile before I have a true feel on this team. Not hedging my bets on the season, but possibly it is going to  be a strong finish to the season. That said, would be nice to get a good W tonight.

Fair enough Goose.  But I do think we saw vs Purdue that we're capable.   I suppose the fact that I really want this win for us is clouding my overall analysis of this team, but I disagree that this game isn't particularly important.    It's time to get our first quality win of many this season.

[tower912]

Everyone is happy when it is enormous.

[Goose]

Muggsy

I think tonight is a big game for the NC schedule and it would be a nice win. I just have not seen enough of the team to see any trends as of yet. To be honest, if they won by 20 or lost by 20 I would not be surprised. Obviously, I am pulling for the win.

[rocky_warrior]

The bright side is that Purdue is now ranked 24th in the AP poll and Mississippi State is receiving a vote to be ranked in the Top 25.

Oh great, now everybody will want to beat Marquette so they can be ranked too!

[MuggsyB]

Muggsy

I think tonight is a big game for the NC schedule and it would be a nice win. I just have not seen enough of the team to see any trends as of yet. To be honest, if they won by 20 or lost by 20 I would not be surprised. Obviously, I am pulling for the win.

I guess I'm trying to will us a win.  I have to admit that trends are very difficult to spot through 4 games. 

[GoldenEagles03]

Marquette scores around 85 a game.

Mississippi State is only allowing around 47 points a game.

Something has to give.

Also, Marquette is 3rd in the country in assists per game. I love that number.

[Newsdreams]

Marquette scores around 85 a game.

Mississippi State is only allowing around 47 points a game.

Something has to give.

Also, Marquette is 3rd in the country in assists per game. I love that number.

You saying we might not score 50 points?

[tower912]

That is soooooo last year.

[cheebs09]

Marquette scores around 85 a game.

Mississippi State is only allowing around 47 points a game.

Something has to give.

Also, Marquette is 3rd in the country in assists per game. I love that number.

I wouldn’t put too much stock into that. It looks like the teams on Miss St.‘s schedule have the collective talent of this board (Ners excluded).

[DoctorV]

Muggsy-

The real question for tonight is what time will you be firing up your evening pour over?

As for the game, I don’t like the things I hear about Mississippi St.
Big, but long big and athletic as opposed to Edey big, kind of scares me.
I couldn’t help but think early and often during the Purdue game that a big/slow opponent works well to MUs strengths.

I can see this years team struggling against teams with long/athletic bigs- in others words struggling with teams that are built like them but with more options in the front court like it seems MSU have.

That said, I’m pretty excited about tonight’s game because if Marquette looks good it will really make me feel much better about the season as a whole.

It’s just one of those games where I can see any and all results
MU getting blown out, a close win/loss, or MU blowing them out.
That’s what makes it so fun

[GoldenEagles03]

You saying we might not score 50 points?

No but they'll probably have to score closer to 85 than 47 to win.

If they can score in the 70s I like their odds, and so would Vegas with the over/under being at 140.5

[barfolomew]

MU win tonight 72-67.
SOTG is toss-up between Jop (leading scorer) and TKO (NEAR double double).
JayBee ejected for spilling his light beer all over the lady in front of him.

[nyg]

I guess I'm trying to will us a win.  I have to admit that trends are very difficult to spot through 4 games.

The trend is to shoot three point shots and hope they fall.

In last three games they have shot 38, 35 and 35.  That is 50% of their total field goal attempts per game, so basically half their attempts are from three.  MU is averaging about 30% from the three.  Good trend is Joplin from the three, bad trend is everyone else. 

Tolu Smith is a very strong man, better hope that Ighodaro does not get two quick fouls.  He is going to be a problem. 

[MU82]

The trend is to shoot three point shots and hope they fall.

In last three games they have shot 38, 35 and 35.  That is 50% of their total field goal attempts per game, so basically half their attempts are from three.  MU is averaging about 30% from the three.  Good trend is Joplin from the three, bad trend is everyone else. 
 

Hey, O-Max just went 3-for-3. And Stevie is shooting .400, with one made 3 in each game. And Tyler has hit 1 in a row.

Just searching for positives!

[Daniel]

Hit our threes and get to the free throw line and we win I think.   Go. Marquette!

[TAMU, the Wizard of MU Basketball]

First round holiday tournament games always mean a little more than your average non-con match up. A win usually means a quality 2nd round opponent. A loss usually means a not so quality second round opponent. Not so much with this tourney though with their only being 2 teams and they put the top 2 teams on the same side of the bracket.

[Dr. Blackheart]

[GoldenEagles03]

First round holiday tournament games always mean a little more than your average non-con match up. A win usually means a quality 2nd round opponent. A loss usually means a not so quality second round opponent. Not so much with this tourney though with their only being 2 teams and they put the top 2 teams on the same side of the bracket.

I don't think that's necessarily the case in this tournament either.

Utah just lost to Sam Houston St. as a part of this event and Utah is favored by 5 over Georgia Tech.

Marquette and Mississippi State are clearly the 2 best teams but have to face off in round 1. If you lose 2 in this tournament it could be detrimental.

[wadesworld]

I don't think that's necessarily the case in this tournament.

Utah just lost to Sam Houston St. as a part of this event and Utah is favored by 5 over Georgia Tech.

Marquette and Mississippi State are clearly the 2 best teams but have to face off in round 1. If you lose 2 in this tournament it could be detrimental.

That's literally what he said.

[Shooter McGavin]

Muggsy

I wish I had a feel for the game tonight. Definitely looking forward to the game, but in no way would I place a wager either way. I think it is going to take awhile before I have a true feel on this team. Not hedging my bets on the season, but possibly it is going to  be a strong finish to the season. That said, would be nice to get a good W tonight.

Agreed Goose.  I don’t have a good feel for this team yet.  Many good pieces but I would not wager on the them against a solid  opponent yet, especially a strong, defensive athletic team. This game will tell us some really good information about them going forward.  Will be interesting to see who steps up in crunch time.  Hopefully there is a crunch time.  Need to Kolek to find his shot.

[Goose]

Shooter

I said all offseason that I expected OMax to have a big jump this season and that was a big part of my optimism. I actually am doubling down on that prediction. IMO, OMax becoming a consistent top tier performer is needed for this team to have success I believe they can have this season. He is the one guy that I still believe can change a game with his play and needs to do often this season. For the record, the big thing needed from OMax is to be consistent and be on the court.

I said on a thread last week, OMax making shots on a regular basis will change the conversation around how much he improved or did not approve. Based off his shooting form and range, he needs to be a difference maker for this team to have any real success this season. If not, it is going to take some time to find out who can step up on a regular basis.

[real chili 83]

I predict a win if we can just score more than them.

[panda]

I predict a win if we can just score more than them.

Just need to make shots

[mileskishnish72]

Everyone is happy when it is enormous.

Or even moderately large.

[NCMUFan]

Like I said, a loss puts Shaka firmly on the hot seat

Car seat heaters are the best.

[MuggsyB]

Muggsy-

The real question for tonight is what time will you be firing up your evening pour over?

As for the game, I don’t like the things I hear about Mississippi St.
Big, but long big and athletic as opposed to Edey big, kind of scares me.
I couldn’t help but think early and often during the Purdue game that a big/slow opponent works well to MUs strengths.

I can see this years team struggling against teams with long/athletic bigs- in others words struggling with teams that are built like them but with more options in the front court like it seems MSU have.

That said, I’m pretty excited about tonight’s game because if Marquette looks good it will really make me feel much better about the season as a whole.

It’s just one of those games where I can see any and all results
MU getting blown out, a close win/loss, or MU blowing them out.
That’s what makes it so fun

Dr. V,

I began my morning quite early with some double tier one 100% Organic Peaberry Kona Coffee beans, brewed/steeped to perfection in my larger French Press (4 cups).  I thought I might need a little extra boost today!

[bilsu]

Shooter

I said all offseason that I expected OMax to have a big jump this season and that was a big part of my optimism. I actually am doubling down on that prediction. IMO, OMax becoming a consistent top tier performer is needed for this team to have success I believe they can have this season. He is the one guy that I still believe can change a game with his play and needs to do often this season. For the record, the big thing needed from OMax is to be consistent and be on the court.

I said on a thread last week, OMax making shots on a regular basis will change the conversation around how much he improved or did not approve. Based off his shooting form and range, he needs to be a difference maker for this team to have any real success this season. If not, it is going to take some time to find out who can step up on a regular basis.

Omax had 31 pints last game. He also only had one rebound.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Omax had 31 pints last game. He also only had one rebound.

I thought he was a little wobbly.

[tower912]

Probably rebounded poorly because of all the pints.   

[NCMUFan]

Does anyone think Mississippi St will put up a bigger fight than LIU?

[tower912]

A more enormous fight.

[Newsdreams]

That is soooooo last year.

I like the past, the past was always better.

[DoctorV]

Omax had 31 pints last game. He also only had one rebound.

Hard to rebound when you’re making all your shots!

[DoctorV]

Dr. V,

I began my morning quite early with some double tier one 100% Organic Peaberry Kona Coffee beans, brewed/steeped to perfection in my larger French Press (4 cups).  I thought I might need a little extra boost today!

Can’t wait until you go all medieval like in the Gameday chat

[MuggsyB]

Can’t wait until you go all medieval like in the Gameday chat

We may have to go medieval to get this one!  Wow....Utah up on G.Tech?