Next 3

[avid1010]

We can beat anyone...including UCONN.  Pressure the wings to make feeding the post difficult...double the post when they do get it in there...get up and down the court at a fast pace...team rebound...and do what we do on offense.  If UCONN hits their 3's it's a tough game to win...but we played Purdue tough...and kicked the sh1t out of Baylor.  This team isn't backing down to anyone.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Marquette will be ready to play Wed night Dr.V and the crowd will be ultra-electric.  I think UCONN is one of the most talented teams in the country but are streaky from the perimeter and they don't have a pure PG.  Their bigs can be a significant problem for sure but as a team they have looked mediocre on the road.  I'd like to see us jump on them early and inflict relentless damage to their psyche.  My guess is we will be 3pt favorites.  This is a difficult match-up but nothing we can't handle.

We will not be 3 point favorites. More likely we will be 3 point underdogs

[MuggsyB]

We will not be 3 point favorites. More likely we will be 3 point underdogs

At worst I'm guessing 1pt underdogs. 

[CountryRoads]

Just because we're outperforming what guys like Lunardi, DeCourcey, Parrish, Katz and 50 other guys predicted 3 months ago, doesn't mean we're overachieving. It means these so called experts didn't know their asses from a hole in the ground when it came to evaluating   the talents of our roster and our coaching staff.

I thought it was obvious MU would take a step forward this year. Many were just lazy and thought losing Lewis meant MU would automatically be a bottom feeder.

I don't think MU is overachieving this year and we are definitely not playing with house money in these games. Anything worse than 2-1 would be disappointing.

[4everwarriors]

Y'all don't know ball. We beat UCONN, hey?

[Uncle Rico]

Y'all don't know ball. We beat UCONN, hey?

Trade Giannis

[tower912]

Fire Budenholzer.

[Newsdreams]

Fire Budenholzer.

No, he is white

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

At worst I'm guessing 1pt underdogs.

Maybe. Vegas uses Kenpom to inform their lines. Currently a 3 point underdog.

[GoldenEagles03]

13-4, 5-1 and I bet just about no one who gets paid to talk about basketball thinks Marquette is going to win either of the next 2.

I like it that way as a fan and I think Shaka embraces that too.  He seems motivated to continue to win games "they aren't supposed to."

He mentioned postgame that Marquette was picked 9th.  He said something along the lines of :
"That's all of us, myself included picked 9th.  Players, Program, Coaches, WE were picked 9th."

Seems to be taking it personal and I think this team should have motivation all year.  Monster games ahead, wouldn't have it any other way!

[DoctorV]

DoctorV‐-----I always enjoy your posts because I think you are a knowledgeable fan and poster. But I am going to respectfully disagree with a couple of points you made regarding "overachieving".

I have always thought that to say someone is "overachieving" is a pejorative and not a compliment. At 17 games into the season (13-=4), I think the sample size is large enough to quote football coach Dennis Green ( I think??) " we are who are record says we are". To say, a really good team.

Just because we're outperforming what guys like Lunardi, DeCourcey, Parrish, Katz and 50 other guys predicted 3 months ago, doesn't mean we're overachieving. It means these so called experts didn't know their asses from a hole in the ground when it came to evaluating   the talents of our roster and our coaching staff.

Pejorative, good diction.
Dennis Green with the "they are who we thought they were, and we let 'em off the hook!" is definitely an all-timer.

Good points made, and you are right that the evaluations were way off for this years Marquette squad.

I more-so meant our expectations as a fanbase, or perhaps just my expectations as a fan.
As of this point in the season I'm extremely pleasantly surprised, and I definitely think Marquette has over-achieved what I would have expected.

Sometimes we get caught up mid season and that's all good, it's what being a sports fan is all about, but it's important to always keep the big picture in mind.

Like if the next 3 don't go our way, this season still isn't a disappointment, far from it.
If they do go our way, it'll be hard to not get crazy.
Then we can all agree on over achieving!

[JakeBarnes]

Just f'ing win. That's it.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

We can beat anyone...including UCONN.  Pressure the wings to make feeding the post difficult...double the post when they do get it in there...get up and down the court at a fast pace...team rebound...and do what we do on offense.  If UCONN hits their 3's it's a tough game to win...but we played Purdue tough...and kicked the sh1t out of Baylor.  This team isn't backing down to anyone.

This.  This.  This.

[GoldenEagles03]

Creighton and Baylor are barely hanging on as Q1 wins.

We might have to go .500 against PC, UConn, and Xavier to have a respectable resume because both of our ACC opponents are sitting at Q3's, Georgetown and DePaul are Q4's.

Not many Q1 opportunities available compared to years past.  Hopefully the home crowd is raucous against the Huskies and Friars!

[WarriorFan]

This is the 3 biggest games stretch in Shaka's coaching career.  With Brian Wardle's success at Bradley this season, one wonders if Shaka will start feeling the heat if Marquette goes 1-2 or 0-3 in this stretch.

Plus Crean is waiting in the wings... itching for a comeback.  "New Man" and all...

[MU82]

Just because we're outperforming what guys like Lunardi, DeCourcey, Parrish, Katz and 50 other guys predicted 3 months ago, doesn't mean we're overachieving. It means these so called experts didn't know their asses from a hole in the ground when it came to evaluating   the talents of our roster and our coaching staff.

The so-called experts who coach in the Big East apparently didn't know their asses from a hole in the ground for the second straight year.

Anyhoo ... shoot 3s at a decent clip at all and keep Oso out of foul trouble, and we beat UConn.

[wadesworld]

Creighton and Baylor are barely hanging on as Q1 wins.

We might have to go .500 against PC, UConn, and Xavier to have a respectable resume because both of our ACC opponents are sitting at Q3's, Georgetown and DePaul are Q4's.

Not many Q1 opportunities available compared to years past.  Hopefully the home crowd is raucous against the Huskies and Friars!

We're boarderline top 20 in both NET and KenPom. Our resume is just fine.

[GoldenEagles03]

We're boarderline top 20 in both NET and KenPom. Our resume is just fine.

Our metrics as it stands right now are great, that much is for sure.

[BM1090]

At worst I'm guessing 1pt underdogs.

You'll be incorrect, unless heavy money comes in on MU. We'll open as 2 or 3 point underdogs.

Doesn't mean we can't win.

[Newsdreams]

Creighton and Baylor are barely hanging on as Q1 wins.

We might have to go .500 against PC, UConn, and Xavier to have a respectable resume because both of our ACC opponents are sitting at Q3's, Georgetown and DePaul are Q4's.

Not many Q1 opportunities available compared to years past.  Hopefully the home crowd is raucous against the Huskies and Friars!

How do you get to .500 in three games?

[panda]

How do you get to .500 in three games?

Ties or mutual forfeit. Duh

[Scoop Snoop]

How do you get to .500 in three games?

Creative math.

[Newsdreams]

Creative math.

Lose 3 / win 3 halves.

[tower912]

500 what?

[Scoop Snoop]

500 what?

Deflections.