Simple Thoughts--- The Last 9 Games

[oilcan]

Simple Thoughts--- The Last 9 Games:
Five at home (including Villanova, Xavier) I think MU has more talent than Nova, finally. Xavier is the team that will present the biggest challenge. Tied for 1st place in the Big East.
That will be the test. Is MU a really good team or a special team? Win that game and drink champagne.  Or at least buy a case or two to bring to Madison Square Garden. With confidence.

The toughest game on the road will be Creighton. At Uconn will be a challenge as well. 
Georgetown and Butler. No problem. That will be an opportunity to develop young players. And that certainly is important right now. 

Kam Jones hurt his hip. We don't know how serious it is, but I just think he needs treatment and rest. Right now there are players that need more minutes to develop. And that will be a Godsend in six weeks. Kam will be back soon enough. Ready to run. And he's a shooter. You don't lose that, it's mechanics and repetition.  And of course, the one thing that every player needs to play at a high level— Confidence.

Other things to focus on. Stevie Mitchell needs more situations where he is the pg setting up scoring opportunities.  He was a pg in high school and drove to the basket relentlessly and successfully. I know that sounds ridiculous because Kolek is turning into John Stockton, but I can't help myself when I think how more valuable he would be if he stuck his nose in the lane more often. Who doesn't think more minutes will turn Joplin into a star? Give me some Jimmy. And Gold? I need minutes and if I get more minutes I'll be able to be there when it counts.

What a great place to be for the team. Playing in big games. Winning big games. A team that's deep and wide. Chase Ross. Itejere needs to give more. He's a junior next year. Give me something.

I know this team isn't big. Not as big as Sanogo or Soriano or the guy at Creighton with the long name. Kalkbrenner.  Those guys can push butt.  So you teach technique. Box out. Get up. Get up. I'm sorry to go on and on about obvious basketball thoughts but I'm dedicated. Forgive me.

[MU82]

You're forgiven, Jack Handy.

We Are Marquette!

[pbiflyer]

You're forgiven, Jack Handy.

We Are Marquette!

Sir, this is scoop. Clever, funny, well thought out posts are not welcome here! 

[We R Final Four]

I would be shocked to see Stevie start to be our new found PG.

[oilcan]

Of course not. I would like Stevie to develop his ball handling and be able to dribble out of a double team. And I want him to shoot like Chartouney.

[We R Final Four]

Stevie Mitchell needs more situations where he is the pg setting up scoring opportunities. 

[jesmu84]

Wut

[Oldgym]

Wut

+1

[Scoop Snoop]

Of course not. I would like Stevie to develop his ball handling and be able to dribble out of a double team. And I want him to shoot like Chartouney.

Although he did it in quite a few games, Chartouney had a habit that would have been hilarious to me if he was playing for anyone but Marquette. He would be near the 3 point line and watch our guys rotate into position in the paint and then stare right at them as if to say, "be ready to catch the pass that I'm about to send to you.". It was the polar opposite of the no-look pass. I had trouble seeing the humor in his odd habit at the time, but I'm sure the defenders got a good laugh out of it.

Getting back to the thread's title- agree with your analysis with a slight exception possibly regarding Nova. Yes, we have more talent but if Whitmore and Moore get hot, we will have our hands full. I'm confident that we win with a far better coach and PG to go along with our home court advantage but remember that they made us really earn that W in Philly.   

[MU82]

Although he did it in quite a few games, Chartouney had a habit that would have been hilarious to me if he was playing for anyone but Marquette. He would be near the 3 point line and watch our guys rotate into position in the paint and then stare right at them as if to say, "be ready to catch the pass that I'm about to send to you.". It was the polar opposite of the no-look pass. I had trouble seeing the humor in his odd habit at the time, but I'm sure the defenders got a good laugh out of it.

That's hilarious.

My main Chartouney memory was that he missed an easy layup but then scored on the put-back in that game at Creighton, leaving 0.9 seconds on the clock. Had he made the first layup, as 95% of college basketball players would have, there would have been something like 2.5 seconds left and the ending of the game would have been vastly different. Thanks to his incompetence, one of the most improbably wonderful endings to a regular-season game in MU history was able to take place.

[rgoode57]

Of the last nine games, only four should be sure-fire wins - 2 with Butler, DePaul at our place,  and at Georgetown. The other five will all be tough. Villanova is having their struggles, but with Moore playing again, they are dangerous. St. John's is who they are, but on any given night they can still beat you. Playing at Creighton is a nightmare, and at UConn will be very tough. And, X in Milwaukee will be a war that can go either way.  If MU can end up with a 16-4 conference record, they will have had a magnificent season. But to get there is not going to be easy. Remember, on any given night in the BE, anyone can beat anyone - just ask X.

[Scoop Snoop]

Of the last nine games, only four should be sure-fire wins - 2 with Butler, DePaul at our place,  and at Georgetown. The other five will all be tough. Villanova is having their struggles, but with Moore playing again, they are dangerous. St. John's is who they are, but on any given night they can still beat you. Playing at Creighton is a nightmare, and at UConn will be very tough. And, X in Milwaukee will be a war that can go either way.  If MU can end up with a 16-4 conference record, they will have had a magnificent season. But to get there is not going to be easy. Remember, on any given night in the BE, anyone can beat anyone - just ask X.

As highly unlikely as it is, being ambushed by Georgetown in DC is by far my biggest nightmare. I will be at the game and both expect and hope that we will win easily, but weird crap happens in college bball.

[wisblue]

On Jones being a shooter and hurting his hip, it's easy to understate how much a lower body injury can affect shooting because of the push you need from your legs to shoot a shot of any length.

Hopefully his injury is just a bruise that can be loosened up in a couple of days with proper treatment. He will be needed against Villanova and the rest of the way.

[Goose]

57

If MU finishes 16-4 it will be a fantastic regular season. It is going to be a tough task, but it can be done. IMO, my main interest is them continuing to play well and get better on defense. Need the guys playing well in 5-6 weeks and that is what I am watching for in the upcoming games.

[tower912]

Will Kam and Sean bounce back quickly?  If Kam has to miss a game, who starts, Joplin or Ross?    If Kam and Sean both miss the next game, I have to believe it is Joplin.   Leaving Ross, Gold and Keeyan as the bench.

It has been so much fun so far.  I am still unwilling to assume anything.  IF Kam and Sean heal quickly and there aren't more injuries, 16-4 is on the table.

[wisblue]

Will Kam and Sean bounce back quickly?  If Kam has to miss a game, who starts, Joplin or Ross?    If Kam and Sean both miss the next game, I have to believe it is Joplin.   Leaving Ross, Gold and Keeyan as the bench.

It has been so much fun so far.  I am still unwilling to assume anything.  IF Kam and Sean heal quickly and there aren't more injuries, 16-4 is on the table.

Losing both Joneses for even one full game would put a serious strain on the team's depth. Keeyan is not ready for prime time minutes and Gold can only be used for a few minutes against top competition. That would leave MU with essentially 6 players to cover all but a few of the game's 200 minutes. If any of those 6 gets into foul trouble....

MU has good depth and balance among its top 8 players. But after that it gets dicey.

[rgoode57]

I agree that the game at GT is dangerous because GT has shown flashes of playing fairly well in spurts. And, they did win a game against DePaul and then almost beat Villanova. I will also be at the game and am holding my breath a little bit but have confidence we will get a win in that game. As we all know, it's BE basketball.

[jesmu84]

16-4 gets at least a share of the title, IMO

[tower912]

Losing both Joneses for even one full game would put a serious strain on the team's depth. Keeyan is not ready for prime time minutes and Gold can only be used for a few minutes against top competition. That would leave MU with essentially 6 players to cover all but a few of the game's 200 minutes. If any of those 6 gets into foul trouble....

MU has good depth and balance among its top 8 players. But after that it gets dicey.

Correct.  This is where losing Wrightsil and Ellis hurts.   They didn't have to be great, but they were bodies.   I can't decide on a rotation I like with both Kam and Sean out.  I guess you start Joplin so you can have one guard and one forward off the bench.  I would almost rather start Ross over Stevie so that Stevie can come in and run the point when TK needs a break.

[wisblue]

16-4 gets at least a share of the title, IMO

Unless the four contenders start losing games to teams in the league's lower tiers, it's going to take at least 16-4 to get a share of the title, and that might not be good enough.

I will be surprised if at least one team doesn't finish 16-4 or better.

[PGsHeroes32]

Unless the four contenders start losing games to teams in the league's lower tiers, it's going to take at least 16-4 to get a share of the title, and that might not be good enough.

I will be surprised if at least one team doesn't finish 16-4 or better.

No one is finishing 17-3.

16-4 may not be good enough to get sole possession of the crown though.

[Goose]

My take, Creighton ends with at least a share of BE title. It is going to be a battle for top four teams and think it will take some luck for a solo league champion. I think MU finishes 16-4 and it might not be enough. Only disclaimer, I think MU has better shot to win at Creighton than UConn, but would not place any money on it at the moment.

[We R Final Four]

Will Kam and Sean bounce back quickly?  If Kam has to miss a game, who starts, Joplin or Ross?    If Kam and Sean both miss the next game, I have to believe it is Joplin.   Leaving Ross, Gold and Keeyan as the bench.

It has been so much fun so far.  I am still unwilling to assume anything.  IF Kam and Sean heal quickly and there aren't more injuries, 16-4 is on the table.

Tower—you certainly have supported Keeyan this year, more than anyone on here.
I hope he gives the rest of us reason to believe what you think he is.
If the Jones boys are out, we may need him for 2-4 minutes/half....wouldn't expect anymore than that. Shaka would ride essentially ride with eight.

[tower912]

My expectations have ebbed.  If the Jones's are out he may end up in the game out of necessity.   If he plays double digit minutes, somebody else is sick or hurt.

[Goose]

I would be surprised if Keeyan got playing time if the either Jones is out. Not opposed to it, just think it is doubtful since he has not really seen any real action. Possibly a better chance of seeing Gold and Oso playing more together.