Go Butler

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

I can understand the fear of disappointment but there is no team next week that we can't beat.  Most teams we SHOULD beat. Let's have fun for once.

[DoctorV]

And if you're a UCONN fan you root for the 8 seed over the 1 seed.

But if we can't beat SJU, we're in trouble.

Well yea, if we can't we are out of the Big East Tournament.

I wouldn't necessarily say in trouble though, because we almost couldn't beat them yesterday and I wouldn't think Marquette is in trouble.

We are at the elimination stage of the season, it's a whole new ballgame with an entirely new set of rules, the rules of the bright lights and the win or go home rules.

That's what makes March Madness one of, if not the best, sporting events on the planet

[BLWarrior91]

Yea sir, DoctorV.

It's the best sporting event of the year. 

[BLWarrior91]

Guys are knocking me for saying that SJU presents a tougher crowd than Butler. 

The name of the post is "Go Butler". 

Yes, we shouldn't fear facing St. John's but it's disingenuous to say we would t prefer to face Butler.

[DoctorV]

Guys are knocking me for saying that SJU presents a tougher crowd than Butler. 

The name of the post is "Go Butler". 

Yes, we shouldn't fear facing St. John's but it's disingenuous to say we would t prefer to face Butler.

Yep, you're correct. At this point of the season matchups really matter.
It's not that Marquette should fear either side they might play, it's just that one would seemingly be a better matchup than the other.

Soriano feasts down low and StJ bullies. They will do more of that on Th if they play MU. It's fine, because Marquette will see that again in the dance so they have to prepare for it, but they are likely the worse of the two matchups.

That said, this is actually the first year in a long time where I didn't really care who was on Marquette's side of the bracket, and it's a good feeling.
Just means that this squad has had such a magical season that it doesn't matta to me.
Bring on StJ, bring on UConn, no matta.
That doesn't change the fact that UConn is probably the worst matchup for Marquette and StJ is a worse matchup than Butler.

[MU82]

They should fear having to match up with Marquette.

[BLWarrior91]

Agreed.  We beat every team in the conference so we shouldn't fear anyone.  But we'd certainly prefer playing DePaul and Georgetown over UConn.

I think the last minute of yesterday's game was a huge wake up call that Shaka can use to teach the teach a very valuable lesson. 

[MU82]

Yes, by a smidge, I'd rather play Butler than St. John's. But we'll easily beat either of them.

[GoldenEagles03]

We shouldn't worry about who they will play next.  Whoever it is is in the way of the goal and whoever it is isn't going to wake up excited to play Marquette that day.

The Golden Eagles are in a position to dictate exactly how this tournament plays out.

[mug644]

We shouldn't worry about who they will play next.  Whoever it is is in the way of the goal finish line that doesn't exist and whoever it is isn't going to wake up excited to play Marquette that day.

The Golden Eagles are in a position to dictate exactly how this tournament plays out.

FIFY

[real chili 83]

Looking past, what about Providence?  If they come out with a chip after
Saturday, watch out UConn.

[MU82]

Looking past, what about Providence?  If they come out with a chip after
Saturday, watch out UConn.

A chip won't matter if they play like chit.

But sure, The Provi has a chance. UConn is very good but hardly unbeatable.

[wisblue]

I was talking about Scooper angst, that's all. I've been saying all along that Marquette's gonna romp on Thursday against the Johnnies-Bulldogs winner -- and yes, that has nothing to do with anything that happened in the past.

What some call angst, others call respecting opponents and recognizing that stuff happens, including upsets in sports.

Even if I think MU would or should beat either Butler or St. John's on Thursday, I personally think that SJU is more dangerous and creates some personnel challenges for MU that Butler doesn't. So, I'll be rooting for Butler on Wednesday to either win or make SJ exert a lot of energy to win.

[wisblue]

I can understand the fear of disappointment but there is no team next week that we can't beat.  Most teams we SHOULD beat. Let's have fun for once.

After Thursday, MU will only be playing teams they CAN beat, not teams they SHOULD beat. MU would be an underdog against UConn and probably a tossup at best against Xavier, Creighton, Providence, or Villanova.

Anyone who thinks MU SHOULD beat any of those teams wasn't paying attention to how tightly contested MU's games against those teams were, especially when they were at full strength.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

After Thursday, MU will only be playing teams they CAN beat, not teams they SHOULD beat. MU would be an underdog against UConn and probably a tossup at best against Xavier, Creighton, Providence, or Villanova.

Anyone who thinks MU SHOULD beat any of those teams wasn't paying attention to how tightly contested MU's games against those teams were, especially when they were at full strength.

Uconn and Creighton (barely) are ranked ahead of us in kenpom.  So those two are dogs/tossups.  All other teams we will likely be favored.

It's not about paying attention....

[tower912]

I think Butler would be easier to beat than SJU at the garden.  I don't think coming back from 19 down on the road was a fluke for SJU. I think they found their cheat code for playing MU.  I think their underachieving roster is a more difficult match up for MU because of their bulk and mass.  I think they will put their heads down and attack the basket for 40 minutes instead of 30.  I think they will have the crowd and the whistles.  Part of the crowd will be fans from other schools wanting to see the 1 seed go down.

So, yeah, go Butler.

Afraid of SJU?  Not really.  Respect for what they pulled on Saturday and aware they can just as easily do it at MSG?  Absolutely.

[Herman Cain]

Looking past, what about Providence?  If they come out with a chip after
Saturday, watch out UConn.

I agree with this analysis

[Elonsmusk]

What some call angst, others call respecting opponents and recognizing that stuff happens, including upsets in sports.

Even if I think MU would or should beat either Butler or St. John's on Thursday, I personally think that SJU is more dangerous and creates some personnel challenges for MU that Butler doesn't. So, I'll be rooting for Butler on Wednesday to either win or make SJ exert a lot of energy to win.

I agree with your analysis.  Matchups matter.  St John's is a physical, athletic, capable team that is much better without the clown Curbelo.  Plus, St. John's essentially is playing a home game.

Yes, we should win given how we've played this season, but let's not forget the 2003 Final Four team lost in the first round to the C-USA tournament to UAB...coached by....Mike Andersen.

[The Lens]

I'm worried that all 37 St. John's fans will show up and drown out the 2,000 #mubb that make the trek to NYC.

[Scoop Snoop]

I think Butler would be easier to beat than SJU at the garden.  I don't think coming back from 19 down on the road was a fluke for SJU. I think they found their cheat code for playing MU.  I think their underachieving roster is a more difficult match up for MU because of their bulk and mass.  I think they will put their heads down and attack the basket for 40 minutes instead of 30.  I think they will have the crowd and the whistles.  Part of the crowd will be fans from other schools wanting to see the 1 seed go down.

So, yeah, go Butler.

Afraid of SJU?  Not really.  Respect for what they pulled on Saturday and aware they can just as easily do it at MSG?  Absolutely.

You did a lot of thinking in your post- six times!    Agree that they will try to repeat what they did Saturday for 40 minutes, but really doubt that they will shoot 50% on 3s and 89% at the line. And that miracle 3 pointer? Not gonna happen again. Also agree not afraid of SJ.

Putting their BE season in perspective, their one big W was @ UCONN. Four of their seven Ws were vs.3-17 DP and 2-18 GT. 

[cheebs09]

The good news is no matter who we play, they would have played a game the day before. Plus, with the early start, it would be a quick turn around.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

While I am sure they aren't going to repeat their exact performance, SJU is responsible for two of the seven best EFG% performances against Marquette this year.  Another way of putting this is that two of SJU's top three Big East offensive shooting performances have been against Marquette.

It's not unfair to say that its not a great match up for our defense.

[tower912]

You did a lot of thinking in your post- six times!   

Thank you for that set up.  The punchlines  are endless.

My wife wasn't around, so I was allowed to think.
My brain is tired and I am done thinking for the day.  Time to sit back and watch/listen to (insert your least favorite media outlet here).
Will thinking get me booted from scoop/meat eaters?
Winnie the pooh saying 'think, think, think'.

And on....

[Scoop Snoop]

Thank you for that set up.  The punchlines  are endless.

My wife wasn't around, so I was allowed to think.
My brain is tired and I am done thinking for the day.  Time to sit back and watch/listen to (insert your least favorite media outlet here).
Will thinking get me booted from scoop/meat eaters?
Winnie the pooh saying 'think, think, think'.

And on....

If you are saying that when your wife is around, she does your thinking for you....I know the feeling! 

[wadesworld]

I think Butler would be easier to beat than SJU at the garden.  I don't think coming back from 19 down on the road was a fluke for SJU. I think they found their cheat code for playing MU.  I think their underachieving roster is a more difficult match up for MU because of their bulk and mass.  I think they will put their heads down and attack the basket for 40 minutes instead of 30.  I think they will have the crowd and the whistles.  Part of the crowd will be fans from other schools wanting to see the 1 seed go down.

So, yeah, go Butler.

Afraid of SJU?  Not really.  Respect for what they pulled on Saturday and aware they can just as easily do it at MSG?  Absolutely.

Kind of like when Butler had given the Big East the blueprint on how to slow Marquette down when they played a close game at Fiserv.  Wait, never mind.  We ran them out of the gym next time we played them.

I think going from down 10 with 23 seconds to play to having a free throw to send the game into OT is pretty dang fluky.  We'll be fine.