Revenge is a grind

[nyg]

Weve played Gtown, so definitely have played the worst team.

Shoot, they are so bad I forgot. OK, we have St. Johns and Nova at home, so let's make it seven wins possible. 

[MuggsyB]

Marquette shot 58% on 2s, 42% on 3s, and had just 9 turnovers.  We've become spoiled with how good this offense is.

No question about it.  But I do think we can get better defensively and on the glass. 

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Ben Gold in Shaka doghouse, he hardly played at all, again. 

There is a pretty massive drop off from our starters to our bench. But, our bench consists of three freshmen and a sophomore that played sparingly last year, so the future looks bright. You can probably play them more against Butler, G'Town, etc., but not so much against the top four teams in the league.

[DoctorV]

Marquette shot 58% on 2s, 42% on 3s, and had just 9 turnovers.  We've become spoiled with how good this offense is.

This ^^^

Shut it down.

It wasn’t pretty, and everyone felt that.

The fact that this team still did this offensively on one of its off nights says everything.

Tidy up the boards, lock in on D, and take down Shaneen

[nyg]

There is a pretty massive drop off from our starters to our bench. But, our bench consists of three freshmen and a sophomore that played sparingly last year, so the future looks bright. You can probably play them more against Butler, G'Town, etc., but not so much against the top four teams in the league.

I was just hoping for more BE experience which would be beneficial for him.  He will be needed in future if Oso gets in foul trouble, Joplin replacing Oso is a defensive nightmare.

Gold's playing time lately is:

4 minutes tonight
3 minutes
4 minutes
14 ( blowout game)
7 minutes
3 minutes

[MU82]

When it comes to Gold's playing time, I'm gonna trust the coach who sees him for multiple hours every single day.

[DoctorV]

I was just hoping for more BE experience which would be beneficial for him.  He will be needed in future if Oso gets in foul trouble, Joplin replacing Oso is a defensive nightmare.

Gold's playing time lately is:

4 minutes tonight
3 minutes
4 minutes
14 ( blowout game)
7 minutes
3 minutes

I get it, but at the same time I don’t.

You have to win game, Marquette has been winning games.

The rotation will get tighter when the conference title is in play.

Shaka will have to balance, but he has the rope

[Dr. Blackheart]

Wade no match for Diener in the beer chugging contest.

[wadesworld]

I’d be interested to see Stevie get a shot defensively at some of the stronger wings. OMax seems to be much better chasing around perimeter players and using his length to make their lives miserable. Stevie looks like he’s built to take on a bigger, stronger wing and make the guy take contested shots over the top, like Jrue Holiday does.

Also, Oso I thought Oso was too conservative with his foul trouble down the stretch. With 3 fouls and 10 minutes left? Sure, don’t battle as hard on the boards. But with under 4 minutes left and 3 fouls? Get after it again.

[UWW2MU]

Can't believe DWade thought he could out-slam Diener.  Fool!

[DoctorV]

I’d be interested to see Stevie get a shot defensively at some of the stronger wings. OMax seems to be much better chasing around perimeter players and using his length to make their lives miserable. Stevie looks like he’s built to take on a bigger, stronger wing and make the guy take contested shots over the top, like Jrue Holiday does.

Also, Oso I thought Oso was too conservative with his foul trouble down the stretch. With 3 fouls and 10 minutes left? Sure, don’t battle as hard on the boards. But with under 4 minutes left and 3 fouls? Get after it again.

Good point.

Oso on a lead guard and Steve in a bigger wing likely worse well

[Newsdreams]

Does 8 points count as a close win?

No less than 5 pts. Were still lacking on that skill, will hurt seeding.

[PointWarrior]

Kenpom #13, not that Kenpom matters

[Ellenson Guerrero]

Kenpom #13, not that Kenpom matters

How is it possible that Creighton is 14 with 8 losses and St. Mary’s is number 8 with 4 losses in the WCC. Something wonky going on with his model.

[JakeBarnes]

Providence apparently gets the "floor condensation, no travel" calls even away from home.

Marquette fought hard and took home a win. This team has heart and grit. Good win.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

How is it possible that Creighton is 14 with 8 losses and St. Mary’s is number 8 with 4 losses in the WCC. Something wonky going on with his model.

The answer is always margin of victory:

St. Mary's:
26 point win over #166 Vermont
30 point win over #65 North Texas
18 point win over #229 Southern
28 point win over #127 Hofstra
10 point win over #90 Vanderbilt
20 point win over #128 Missouri State
13 point win over #167 New Mexico State
12 point win over #163 Wyoming
42 point win over #168 Portland
14 point win over #99 Loyola Marymount
17 point win over #113 San Francisco

Their four losses are by a combined 15 points (12 points if you count their 4 point OT loss as a 1 point loss)

Creighton:
12 point win over #214 St. Thomas
35 point win over #325 North Dakota
29 point win over #343 Holy Cross
29 point win over #159 UC Riverside
11 point win over #63 Texas Tech
22 point win over #93 Butler
15 point win over #130 DePaul
22 point win over #50 Seton Hall
21 point win over #93 Butler

5/8 of their losses are by 5 or less and 3 of those are to top 20 teams. 2 of their remaining losses are to top 13 teams on the road. 10 point loss to #92 Nebraska is really their only bad result.

There's also a gap between MU at #13 and CREI at #14. MU is actually closer to becoming #9 then they are to becoming #14.

[Shooter McGavin]

There is a pretty massive drop off from our starters to our bench. But, our bench consists of three freshmen and a sophomore that played sparingly last year, so the future looks bright. You can probably play them more against Butler, G'Town, etc., but not so much against the top four teams in the league.

I agree with this.  Plenty of playing time to come this season.  Have to tighten the rotation against the best teams.  Gold and Sean will be ready to roll against the Hall. 

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Gosh, you mean all the pre-season talk of nine players getting big minutes has turned into a shortened rotation come Big East season?

You don’t say.

[tower912]

I disagree with the shortened rotation philosophy.    Play the bench as much as you can to save wear on the starters and to develop the young guys.   I look at how Stevie started playing better late last season as an example.

Mine is not the popular opinion. 

[tower912]

Coach Smart Speak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8dJo_Ervos

Coach Cooley Speak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUup-4EEr-Y

A lot of class and respect.

[Goose]

tower

I want to see as many guys get as many minutes as possible. It was a tough three hand stretch and they really did need the win last night and shortened bench was not surprising. I am hoping that in the back portion of the schedule our bench can get a lot of minutes and get ready for March.

[muwarrior69]

I disagree with the shortened rotation philosophy.    Play the bench as much as you can to save wear on the starters and to develop the young guys.   I look at how Stevie started playing better late last season as an example.

Mine is not the popular opinion.

I'm with you all the way, especially Ben Gold. We might not have Oso or Omax or both next season, but someone is going elsewhere next season. I really hope they stay as the team can really be something next season.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

It’s time to play for this year…we have a shot to win the big east.  It’s nice to be in that position after so many years of wandering around aimlessly

[tower912]

One way to avoid a late season swoon is to have your best players fresh.   The best way to keep your players fresh is to play the bench.  I get that team has very little experience coming off the bench and that the starters are phenomenal together.   Everyone is getting excited about MSG and the tournament.    What kind of legs will the team have left with 4 starters playing 30 minutes per game?

[PGsHeroes32]

One way to avoid a late season swoon is to have your best players fresh.   The best way to keep your players fresh is to play the bench.  I get that team has very little experience coming off the bench and that the starters are phenomenal together.   Everyone is getting excited about MSG and the tournament.    What kind of legs will the team have left with 4 starters playing 30 minutes per game?

Basically the same legs and freshness as the rest of the teams