The St.J scare...

[TrojanWarrior]

Interested in the Board's take on today's scare. I am sort of glad it happened. We had way too much swag in the first ten minutes.

[WarriorDoc]

Better to learn through wins versus losses.  Plenty of tape on this one.

[Uncle Rico]

Neither.  It's March

[tower912]

It wan't a scare.  It was a Big East tourney game.

[Shooter McGavin]

I think it will pay dividends in the real tournament.  This team is still learning what it takes to win as a favorite, with a target on their back in a one and done scenario. The more experience the better.  Going home too early (today after the game) would not have been a positive in any way shape or form IMO.

Looking forward to tomorrow.  Hopefully the jitters will be gone and the team will get a huge win over a sweet sixteen type of team in UConn.

[jimmybutlerfanatic]

This was a GREAT tune up 2 game tune up run for UCONN and I think a lot of people are going to be surprised at the results. This team is like the old MJ Bulls who were getting beat by the Pistons until they beat them and everyone in IL/WI knows how the next
half decade+ went!

Was worried about UCONN until I came across this post game:

https://youtu.be/D58fdueIvxc

This team looks and talks like a team playing for a National Championship. UCONN win will really get press and hype about legitimate dark horse National Championship talk going into the tournament.

Team is gaining confidence. Shots will drop. Guys like Chase keep stepping up in the moment...everyone hitting on all cylinders...look out anyone!

Anyways, dare to dream. Watch the post game above and tell me these guys, coach and story don't scream for a storybook ending!

[Scoop Snoop]

As we watched Marquette get back into the game and heard the UCONN fans loudly cheering SJ on, I turned to my wife late in the game and said "it's Kolek time". And it was.

[TrojanWarrior]

As we watched Marquette get back into the game and heard the UCONN fans loudly cheering SJ on, I turned to my wife late in the game and said "it's Kolek time". And it was.

Has 'It's Kolek Time' replaced 'It's Butch Lee Time'?

[StillWarriors]

I think yesterday may benefit us in the first round NCAA tourney game to provide a reminder of the need to bring intensity and focus from the start. These guys have been having praise thrown at them like crazy the past couple weeks. Human nature is strong, and it was not surprising to me that St. John's came out with more fire. This game will be a fresh reminder of the need to lock in for the tourney opener.

The biggest concern for me about yesterday was the reliance on 3s. Kam has had a few bad shooting games lately, and he hasn't gone inside as much. That is attributable to teams sagging off Oso in my opinion. I was impressed with how Kolek was relentless in going inside despite it not being easy. That was the key factor in the win to me. Kam had one nice drive late as well. We can't give up on that aspect of the game given our two point shooting %.

[BrewCity83]

Has 'It's Kolek Time' replaced 'It's Butch Lee Time'?

Haha...I remember it as "BLT Time!"

[wadesworld]

I think yesterday may benefit us in the first round NCAA tourney game to provide a reminder of the need to bring intensity and focus from the start. These guys have been having praise thrown at them like crazy the past couple weeks. Human nature is strong, and it was not surprising to me that St. John's came out with more fire. This game will be a fresh reminder of the need to lock in for the tourney opener.

The biggest concern for me about yesterday was the reliance on 3s. Kam has had a few bad shooting games lately, and he hasn't gone inside as much. That is attributable to teams sagging off Oso in my opinion. I was impressed with how Kolek was relentless in going inside despite it not being easy. That was the key factor in the win to me. Kam had one nice drive late as well. We can't give up on that aspect of the game given our two point shooting %.

You would've hoped that the fact St. John's was a missed free throw away from taking us into overtime at home in the last game we had played would've been enough of a wake up to have that fire under us from the start.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Has 'It's Kolek Time' replaced 'It's Butch Lee Time'?

"Fook'em Time"

[RJax55]

I think yesterday may benefit us in the first round NCAA tourney game to provide a reminder of the need to bring intensity and focus from the start. These guys have been having praise thrown at them like crazy the past couple weeks. Human nature is strong, and it was not surprising to me that St. John's came out with more fire. This game will be a fresh reminder of the need to lock in for the tourney opener.

The biggest concern for me about yesterday was the reliance on 3s. Kam has had a few bad shooting games lately, and he hasn't gone inside as much. That is attributable to teams sagging off Oso in my opinion. I was impressed with how Kolek was relentless in going inside despite it not being easy. That was the key factor in the win to me. Kam had one nice drive late as well. We can't give up on that aspect of the game given our two point shooting %.

I agree, but Oso is the key for us offensively. When he is aggressive, that's when the offense really gets going. It completely opens up the paint.

But, yesterday was another illustration of some of the issues that MU has seen the second half of conference play. Oso led the team with 42 minutes played, but he only attempted 7 shots. And, that wasn't because St. Johns was forcing the ball out of his hand. When he gets tentative, that's when the turnovers come and the offense clogs up.

[StillWarriors]

You would've hoped that the fact St. John's was a missed free throw away from taking us into overtime at home in the last game we had played would've been enough of a wake up to have that fire under us from the start.

Good point, but I think it was easy to overlook that based upon the flukey shots they hit and the fact we had already clinched the title. In any event, surely they got the message yesterday!!

[StillWarriors]

I agree, but Oso is the key for us offensively. When he is aggressive, that's when the offense really gets going. It completely opens up the paint.

But, yesterday was another illustration of some of the issues that MU has seen the second half of conference play. Oso led the team with 42 minutes played, but he only attempted 7 shots. And, that wasn't because St. Johns was forcing the ball out of his hand. When he gets tentative, that's when the turnovers come and the offense clogs up.

I agree 100%. When they sag all the way to the basket, I'd like to see him dribble once in from the free throw line with no hesitation and take it. He's reliable enough, and regardless, they will come out some after a couple of those. Hated to see him so tentative last night.

[Hards Alumni]

I agree 100%. When they sag all the way to the basket, I'd like to see him dribble once in from the free throw line with no hesitation and take it. He's reliable enough, and regardless, they will come out some after a couple of those. Hated to see him so tentative last night.

I miss the points in the season when they'd sag on him and he'd just take two steps and throw it down on whoever sagged.

[RJax55]

I agree 100%. When they sag all the way to the basket, I'd like to see him dribble once in from the free throw line with no hesitation and take it. He's reliable enough, and regardless, they will come out some after a couple of those. Hated to see him so tentative last night.

He did it in overtime. One dribble into the paint, jump hook. Big basket.

Oso's aggressiveness in the tournament is going to be the difference between a short or long run.

[Elonsmusk]

He did it in overtime. One dribble into the paint, jump hook. Big basket.

Oso's aggressiveness in the tournament is going to be the difference between a short or long run.

I agree.  There was a point during this past season - and Shaka commented on it - to where Oso was just turning into a dude.  Like he started to realize how good he is/can be, and he started to play with more assertiveness.  Assertive Oso is needed.  I wouldn't mind seeing a few sets early in games where they clear his side and give him an iso at the wing and let him go to work 1-on-1.

[muhoops1]

Players and coaches got the mini, proverbial monkey off their backs.  Neither had won a BET game.  Now they have.  Pressures off, move forward.  TKO is the new "engine".

[lawdog77]

Tower would have named this thread "The Red Scare"

[Shooter McGavin]

He did it in overtime. One dribble into the paint, jump hook. Big basket.

Oso's aggressiveness in the tournament is going to be the difference between a short or long run.

100% percent agree with you and the several poster before your comment. He can't be timid on offense for this team to go a long way.

[MU82]

He did it in overtime. One dribble into the paint, jump hook. Big basket.

Oso's aggressiveness in the tournament is going to be the difference between a short or long run.

Yep - the couple times Oso did look to take 1-2 dribbles and shoot the hook, he swished them. If they're gonna give it to him, he needs to take it. St. John's did a good job making him think he had clear passing lanes and then deflecting the ball after he let it go. It hasn't been a problem for Oso most of the season, and he needs to clean that up.

Has 'It's Kolek Time' replaced 'It's Butch Lee Time'?

I hope so. Butch was a great player but he's almost 70 years old now.

Players and coaches got the mini, proverbial monkey off their backs.  Neither had won a BET game.  Now they have.  Pressures off, move forward.

This is a reasonable take. Plus, another chance to play the underdog card.

[RJax55]

I agree.  There was a point during this past season - and Shaka commented on it - to where Oso was just turning into a dude.  Like he started to realize how good he is/can be, and he started to play with more assertiveness.  Assertive Oso is needed.  I wouldn't mind seeing a few sets early in games where they clear his side and give him an iso at the wing and let him go to work 1-on-1.

They have been. No team is going to double him.

To me, Oso can't take a bad shot. MU's offensive is better when he's attempting 12-14 shots a game, compared to 8-10.

[tower912]

Tower would have named this thread "The Red Scare"

I bequeath post game threads to you.  And I like your thread title idea.