UCONN -1.5

[BM1090]

Easy money betting against UConn again. Marquette as home dogs against anyone in the BE is free.

That'll be the last time this year.

[1SE]

I love this team.   If I were to bet, I would put my money on UConn.  Both Xavier and Providence had enough size to go toe to toe with Sanogo and Clanigan.  MU doesn't.   The UConn guards shot and missed way too many 3's.

I predict an emphasis on pounding the ball inside and hitting the offensive boards hard.   

IF MU can force turnovers and not get blown up on the boards, MU can win.   I am not feeling it.

Hopefully this win finally helps you get over your coleitis. We're a top 25 team at home. I expect to win them all on our court.

[tower912]

MU forced turnovers and didn't get blown up on the boards.

[1SE]

MU forced turnovers and didn't get blown up on the boards.

Yes, but you didn't expect them to. Next time "We'll find a way to force turnovers and hang with them on the boards. I'm feeling it."

Let go of the COLE - it's liberating.

[rocket surgeon]

the play i definitely thought was going to kill us if it came down to a close game-i mean tied or a one possession game with seconds left-

     that damn pick and roll by uconn with clingon setting the high pick and would literally roll to the basket wide arse open.  i mean the guy could've been 5'1" and it would have been a devastating play, but for a 7'er...geez that was too easy time after time.  i was hoping someone would call in to shaka's bat phone and tell him to STOP that play.  uconn should have run that play every time down the floor, but i'm sure glad they didn't.  omax was always caught between staying between his guy and the baseline 3 or collapsing and risking giving up the 3

[zcg2013]

Was listening to Field of 68 Best Bets yesterday and Shaka as a home dawg at MU is 16-5 (including last night) vs the spread. Again, won't happen again this year of being an underdawg, but still an insane stat.

[PGsHeroes32]

Was listening to Field of 68 Best Bets yesterday and Shaka as a home dawg at MU is 16-5 (including last night) vs the spread. Again, won't happen again this year of being an underdawg, but still an insane stat.

Thats a dog in general for Shaka at MU

We have not been a home dog 21 times in 1.5 years ha

Vegas would be shut down.

[The Sultan]

Yes, but you didn't expect them to. Next time "We'll find a way to force turnovers and hang with them on the boards. I'm feeling it."

Let go of the COLE - it's liberating.

Not every prediction needs to be called out here.

[panda]

That'll be the last time this year.

Agree - their value will be much more accurately reflected in lines moving forward after last night/previous conference games

[tower912]

Not every prediction needs to be called out here.

Meh.  I missed one.  I'll be fine.

[1SE]

Not every prediction needs to be called out here.

Right, since he's usually predicting that we win by 20.

I realize that after Wojo it's hard to feel like we deserve to be respected, but I will go into every game for the rest of the season thinking we will win.

[MU82]

1SE:

tower actually predicted we'd be better this season than last, which a whole lot of Scoopers didn't do. Like all of us, he's made a few wrong individual game predictions. Or are you 18-out-of-18?

It's not like he's the guy who predicted we'd have a losing record, said we'd lose to Georgia Tech, said there was no "realm of possibility" in which we could beat Baylor, predicted we'd only win one road game all season, etc. THAT guy deserves a little good-natured ribbing.

Picking UConn to win last night's game? Not exactly a crazy prediction. UConn was favored.

I mean, one could easily ask you when it's safe to say that Shaka has finally passed his first test!

[4everwarriors]

Those of us who know ball and sequently don't speak out of our asses know differently, aina?

[Goose]

Doc

Thanks for breaking home the win last night!! Job well done.

[1SE]

1SE:

tower actually predicted we'd be better this season than last, which a whole lot of Scoopers didn't do. Like all of us, he's made a few wrong individual game predictions. Or are you 18-out-of-18?

It's not like he's the guy who predicted we'd have a losing record, said we'd lose to Georgia Tech, said there was no "realm of possibility" in which we could beat Baylor, predicted we'd only win one road game all season, etc. THAT guy deserves a little good-natured ribbing.

Picking UConn to win last night's game? Not exactly a crazy prediction. UConn was favored.

I mean, one could easily ask you when it's safe to say that Shaka has finally passed his first test!

I know he's more even handed than lots of other folks - and I'm not coming down hard on him or anyone else for a single game prediction (and I maintain the test :-) ! - my two big critiques of Shaka remain that he's not great in close, end-game situations and the March success thing).

It's just those that consistently expect that MU success will be on the low side  of the potential outcomes - I get that - some folks are glass half empty and like to be pleasantly surprised. But I think there was an interesting point in the other thread about COLE-orientation based on your personal tenure at MU. I'm an '00-'04 guy who had only marginally followed the program as a kid (it wasn't "my team") but had an amazing experience as a student those years - was at every one of the 28 game home winning streak - f Reece Gaines.

I want a team that I expect to win every time they step on the court (especially at home). Of course they won't - but I want a team where that is a reasonable expectation. We have that this year and it is tons of fun. I will expect MU to win every game the rest of the year and will disappointed in any that they lose. I want a team where there are no "good losses". Of course there are tougher games (Saturday could well be our toughest game of the year) but this team can win that game. I think a lot of the the 81 game streak era and the Buzz streak era folks feel the same way.

It makes sense that if one's experience instead of Dukeit or Majerus or Wojo maybe that's not your understanding of the program.

But last night was a great win and is a great team. I hope the COLEs can convert - even if it sets them up for heartbreak and disappointment. This is a team to believe in.

[MU82]

Those of us who know ball and sequently don't speak out of our asses know differently, aina?

Congrats on correctly predicting the results of all 18 games this season, Doc!

Since calling for the Bucks to be broken up about 10 seconds before they won the NBA title, you must have really studied up. I guess sitting in the basement listening to the police scanner for hours at a time can get pretty boring, so why not use some extra time to learn ball.

BTW, lots of us who know ball picked Marquette to win last night, but it's OK if your ego needs you to believe you're the only one who did.

[Hards Alumni]

I know he's more even handed than lots of other folks - and I'm not coming down hard on him or anyone else for a single game prediction (and I maintain the test :-) ! - my two big critiques of Shaka remain that he's not great in close, end-game situations and the March success thing).

It's just those that consistently expect that MU success will be on the low side  of the potential outcomes - I get that - some folks are glass half empty and like to be pleasantly surprised. But I think there was an interesting point in the other thread about COLE-orientation based on your personal tenure at MU. I'm an '00-'04 guy who had only marginally followed the program as a kid (it wasn't "my team") but had an amazing experience as a student those years - was at every one of the 28 game home winning streak - f Reece Gaines.

I want a team that I expect to win every time they step on the court (especially at home). Of course they won't - but I want a team where that is a reasonable expectation. We have that this year and it is tons of fun. I will expect MU to win every game the rest of the year and will disappointed in any that they lose. I want a team where there are no "good losses". Of course there are tougher games (Saturday could well be our toughest game of the year) but this team can win that game. I think a lot of the the 81 game streak era and the Buzz streak era folks feel the same way.

It makes sense that if one's experience instead of Dukeit or Majerus or Wojo maybe that's not your understanding of the program.

But last night was a great win and is a great team. I hope the COLEs can convert - even if it sets them up for heartbreak and disappointment. This is a team to believe in.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_NCAA_Division_I_men%27s_basketball_tournament

[4everwarriors]

Doc

Thanks for breaking home the win last night!! Job well done.

Goose, that was easy and for those of us who know ball, the game was never in doubt, hey?

[4everwarriors]

Congrats on correctly predicting the results of all 18 games this season, Doc!

Since calling for the Bucks to be broken up about 10 seconds before they won the NBA title, you must have really studied up. I guess sitting in the basement listening to the police scanner for hours at a time can get pretty boring, so why not use some extra time to learn ball.

BTW, lots of us who know ball picked Marquette to win last night, but it's OK if your ego needs you to believe you're the only one who did.

My pleasure and if you need a prediction on the next presidential election, I'm happy to give you that result also, hey?

[1SE]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_NCAA_Division_I_men%27s_basketball_tournament

... at Marquette...

[Hards Alumni]

... at Marquette...

Meh, sample set of one, and we weren't even supposed to be there... and we played the National Champion runner up... who was seeded wayyyy to high.

I'm going to give him a pass for last year for sure. 

[tower912]

I know he's more even handed than lots of other folks

I certainly try to be.  I try to base my expectations on what I would expect from a team made up exactly like this without Marquette on the jersey.    So, for this team, I saw potential to be really good, based on everybody returning and improving a normal amount.   
     I thought this team could be bullied down low.   They have been at times, but just enough defense and an amazingly efficient offense has allowed them to not be defined by it.    Specific to last night, I expected UConn to emphasize Sanogo and Clanigan and basically run the offense through them.   Dump down, force help, either score or pass to the open shooter.  Because that is what I would have done if I was coaching UConn.
   Macro, MU is doing a very good job of emphasizing their strengths and finding ways to compensate for their weaknesses.  They are also doing a nice job of minimizing an opponent's strength.   The next challenge will be the second trip through the conference.   What will MU's counters be?
    I will never be a cheerleader.   It just isn't me.   Losses do not cause me to lose a nanosecond of sleep.   COLE?   I thought this team would have a similar to slightly better record compared to last year, maybe getting to 22 regular season wins.   March success?   Tell me how healthy MU will be, who they are playing and where.   Then I will worry about March success.

Enjoy the ride.  Go Marquette!
   

[MU82]

My pleasure and if you need a prediction on the next presidential election, I'm happy to give you that result also, hey?

Well, that would be politics, and we don't discuss that on The Al board. Which you know.

[4everwarriors]

Ur write. Neva diskussed, always dictated, doe, hey?

[Newsdreams]

I know he's more even handed than lots of other folks - and I'm not coming down hard on him or anyone else for a single game prediction (and I maintain the test :-) ! - my two big critiques of Shaka remain that he's not great in close, end-game situations and the March success thing).

It's just those that consistently expect that MU success will be on the low side  of the potential outcomes - I get that - some folks are glass half empty and like to be pleasantly surprised. But I think there was an interesting point in the other thread about COLE-orientation based on your personal tenure at MU. I'm an '00-'04 guy who had only marginally followed the program as a kid (it wasn't "my team") but had an amazing experience as a student those years - was at every one of the 28 game home winning streak - f Reece Gaines.

I want a team that I expect to win every time they step on the court (especially at home). Of course they won't - but I want a team where that is a reasonable expectation. We have that this year and it is tons of fun. I will expect MU to win every game the rest of the year and will disappointed in any that they lose. I want a team where there are no "good losses". Of course there are tougher games (Saturday could well be our toughest game of the year) but this team can win that game. I think a lot of the the 81 game streak era and the Buzz streak era folks feel the same way.

It makes sense that if one's experience instead of Dukeit or Majerus or Wojo maybe that's not your understanding of the program.

But last night was a great win and is a great team. I hope the COLEs can convert - even if it sets them up for heartbreak and disappointment. This is a team to believe in.

We won't lose Saturday.