Shaka Postgame Presser - Georgetown

[BLWarrior91]

Shaka is so good at this.  Very insightful as always.  Great stuff about last year's finish and working to avoid it this year. 

https://youtu.be/rQuLF560PVw

[Goose]

I have said it many times, last year's finish was the best thing that could have happened for this season. That was a part of my optimism going into this year. Losing two road games to the bottom part of the BE cost MU dearly last season. This year, MU is much better than the lower half and need to continue to take care of business. If they do, a much better seed over last year and much higher probability for March success.

[MuggsyB]

I have said it many times, last year's finish was the best thing that could have happened for this season. That was a part of my optimism going into this year. Losing two road games to the bottom part of the BE cost MU dearly last season. This year, MU is much better than the lower half and need to continue to take care of business. If they do, a much better seed over last year and much higher probability for March success.

Goose,

Any concerns about our defense vs Creighton or XU?  Ty.

[tower912]

Both are good teams, Muggsy.  You watched both games.  What do you think MU should do?

[Goose]

Muggsy

The defense remains an unknown. It seems like they are capable of having stretches of lockdown D and then the offense struggles a bit. I think Creighton is the real deal and going to be tough win, and probably need to outscore them in a high scoring game. As for X, I think they hold serve and win the game regardless of high or low scoring game.

[We R Final Four]

Both are good teams, Muggsy.  You watched both games.  What do you think MU should do?

He's so helpless.

[MuggsyB]

Both are good teams, Muggsy.  You watched both games.  What do you think MU should do?

I think we need to do a better job protecting the vertical dribble drive.  Sometimes Oso hedges too high.  I'd also like to see us take a few charges.  Obviously on Tues UCONN went bananas from distance but they also killed us on the glass.  I'm of the belief that at times we over-trap and over switch. 

[Scoop Snoop]

Muggsy

The defense remains an unknown. It seems like they are capable of having stretches of lockdown D and then the offense struggles a bit. I think Creighton is the real deal and going to be tough win, and probably need to outscore them in a high scoring game. As for X, I think they hold serve and win the game regardless of high or low scoring game.

Yep on Creighton.

Who is "they"? Xavier or Marquette?

[MU82]

I think Creighton is the real deal and going to be tough win, and probably need to outscore them in a high scoring game.

Creighton hasn't been the high-scoring team of some past years, and their D is 12th on kenpom. Their last four games, they have won 63-53, 66-61, 75-62, 56-53, and they only scored 58 in the game at Fiserv (though they were without Kalkbrenner). They often milk the clock, with Scheierman, Kaluma or Kalkbrenner (or even a guard) backing down his man.

So it's gonna be interesting to see what kind of pace our game with them has. If our guys are successful at pushing it, maybe it will be higher-scoring. Doesn't matter to me as long as blue and gold finishes with more points!

[Goose]

82

I agree on your post. My thought is MU would struggle in a low scoring game, but getting it into a shootout will be a challenge.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Creighton hasn't been the high-scoring team of some past years, and their D is 12th on kenpom. Their last four games, they have won 63-53, 66-61, 75-62, 56-53, and they only scored 58 in the game at Fiserv (though they were without Kalkbrenner). They often milk the clock, with Scheierman, Kaluma or Kalkbrenner (or even a guard) backing down his man.

So it's gonna be interesting to see what kind of pace our game with them has. If our guys are successful at pushing it, maybe it will be higher-scoring. Doesn't matter to me as long as blue and gold finishes with more points!

Out of six games left, Creighton has four on the road and with that aforementioned scoring, anything can happen to upset the apple cart.

[Uncle Rico]

82

I agree on your post. My thought is MU would struggle in a low scoring game, but getting it into a shootout will be a challenge.

UConn had open looks yesterday but only shot 7-27 from 3.  Shoot 30% and they win

[wadesworld]

I'm looking for a split of our last two big games. Think we probably beat Xavier and lose to Creighton.

I think MU and X have a deeper run than Creighton in the NCAA Tournament. Obviously matchups are important. But the combination of a team with no depth that doesn't shoot well isn't great come Tournament time.

[tower912]

UConn had open looks yesterday but only shot 7-27 from 3.  Shoot 30% and they win

30% and they tie.

[Uncle Rico]

30% and they tie.

33% wins but 30% sounds cooler

[tower912]

Channeling my inner sultan.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm looking for a split of our last two big games. Think we probably beat Xavier and lose to Creighton.

I think MU and X have a deeper run than Creighton in the NCAA Tournament. Obviously matchups are important. But the combination of a team with no depth that doesn't shoot well isn't great come Tournament time.

Can't believe you are looking ahead to the Creighton game. Don't you know the most important game of the season is the next one? 

[bilsu]

I'm looking for a split of our last two big games. Think we probably beat Xavier and lose to Creighton.

I think MU and X have a deeper run than Creighton in the NCAA Tournament. Obviously matchups are important. But the combination of a team with no depth that doesn't shoot well isn't great come Tournament time.

I think MU beats Xavier. I think Creighton is the last Big East team standing in the NCAA tournament. They almost beat Kansas last year in the first game after Kalkbrenner got hurt.

[BallBoy]

I'm looking for a split of our last two big games. Think we probably beat Xavier and lose to Creighton.

I think MU and X have a deeper run than Creighton in the NCAA Tournament. Obviously matchups are important. But the combination of a team with no depth that doesn't shoot well isn't great come Tournament time.

I agree with this analysis. Creighton and fans will be in full force. X is a must win game which I think we will. The UConn game was important because going into Omaha plus one game would have aligned us to a Big East championship no matter what. I don't think providence can beat Creighton so I think BE Champion is determined by the winner of our game with them.

[Lennys Tap]

Channeling my inner sultan.

Thoughts and prayers for your recovery.

[1SE]

I agree with this analysis. Creighton and fans will be in full force. X is a must win game which I think we will. The UConn game was important because going into Omaha plus one game would have aligned us to a Big East championship no matter what. I don't think providence can beat Creighton so I think BE Champion is determined by the winner of our game with them.

As it should be. BE champ needs to beat a real team on the road. If we can't do it we don't deserve the title.

[Scoop Snoop]

As it should be. BE champ needs to beat a real team on the road. If we can't do it we don't deserve the title.

OUCH!

Wish I could argue the point, but I cannot. You're right.

[MU82]

I agree with this analysis. Creighton and fans will be in full force. X is a must win game which I think we will. The UConn game was important because going into Omaha plus one game would have aligned us to a Big East championship no matter what. I don't think providence can beat Creighton so I think BE Champion is determined by the winner of our game with them.

You might be right about Creighton beating Providence, but to say Providence can't win is over the top. Creighton barely beat Providence in Omaha when The Provi was without Bynum, and recently nearly lost at home to Nova and UConn. They are 3-4 on the road, including losses to X and UConn (and MU without Kalkbrenner). Oh, and Providence is 13-0 at home.

[brewcity77]

UConn had open looks yesterday but only shot 7-27 from 3.  Shoot 30% and they win

This is why I wasn't that put off by our result at UConn. Had they shot like that against us, we would've won. They just had a fortunate shooting game.

[DoctorV]

As it should be. BE champ needs to beat a real team on the road. If we can't do it we don't deserve the title.

This is rubbish.

If Marquette loses at Creighton and still wins the BE they will have earned it, and sure as hell deserve it.