Record over first 5 games

[HowardsWorld]

Its slow in the offseason so I figured I would start one of these earlier than normal.

Mon, Nov 6   vs Northern Illinois
Fri,  Nov 10  vs Rider
Tue, Nov 14  @Illinois
Mon, Nov 20 vs UCLA
Tue, Nov 21 vs Kansas

[HowardsWorld]

I believe MU is going to win the Maui Invitational. Kansas might have more talent but will they have the chemistry? Early season games are always a toss up but would not be surprised to see them in the Finals for Purdue/Gonzaga.

[Dickthedribbler]

@Illinois, UCLA  and Kansas ( both neutral)-----all away from home in 8 days. That's a lot of firepower to contend with. In spite of that, in answer to your question, I'll say 4-1

[DoctorV]

I voted 4-1 but thought about it for 10 seconds and now I think 5-0

[Goose]

I went run the board.

[brewcity77]

Going with undefeated in non-con, so that means I think we get through the first five unscathed.

[Jay Bee]

2-2. Chaminade no count

[UWW2MU]

4-1

This may be an unpopular take (or I'm just still having PTSD from Wojo era let downs), but I think competitively and mentally, there will be some adjustments going from "hunter to hunted."  In addition, figuring things out against real opponents what it means to not have Omax on defense will bring a bit of it's own learning curve.  I always had a sense last year that in our toughest games or even halves, the better/worse Omax did translated to the success of the team more than most people realized, other than maybe the MSU game.  Despite having almost everyone back, I think there's still a bit of real game transition that will take place.

All this is to say, I'm very optimistic and excited for the season but I can't help but to have some deep seeded doubts that refuse to go away.

All I can do is trust in Shaka and enjoy the ride.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

4-1

This may be an unpopular take (or I'm just still having PTSD from Wojo era let downs), but I think competitively and mentally, there will be some adjustments going from "hunter to hunted."  In addition, figuring things out against real opponents what it means to not have Omax on defense will bring a bit of it's own learning curve.  I always had a sense last year that in our toughest games or even halves, the better/worse Omax did translated to the success of the team more than most people realized, other than maybe the MSU game.  Despite having almost everyone back, I think there's still a bit of real game transition that will take place.

All this is to say, I'm very optimistic and excited for the season but I can't help but to have some deep seeded doubts that refuse to go away.

All I can do is trust in Shaka and enjoy the ride.

I am amused that you are talking about pessimism...while predicting we go 4-1 in a 5 game stretch that includes a road game against a top 25 team and a neutral court matchup against the preseason #1 team in the country. At worst, 4-1 is a neutral prediction, no way is it pessimistic.

[StillAWarrior]

I am amused that you are talking about pessimism...while predicting we go 4-1 in a 5 game stretch that includes a road game against a top 25 team and a neutral court matchup against the preseason #1 team in the country. At worst, 4-1 is a neutral prediction, no way is it pessimistic.

For the record, that 4-1 prediction could mean a road game against a top 25 team and a neutral court matchup against a D2 team. Your post assumes a 4-0 start with a loss in game five as opposed to a 3-0 start with a loss in game 4.

That said, I don't disagree with your post.

We really need to beat UCLA. I think we will.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

For the record, that 4-1 prediction could mean a road game against a top 25 team and a neutral court matchup against a D2 team. Your post assumes a 4-0 start with a loss in game five as opposed to a 3-0 start with a loss in game 4.

That said, I don't disagree with your post.

We really need to beat UCLA. I think we will.

True, though the OP made that assumption as well.

[StillAWarrior]

True, though the OP made that assumption as well.

Also true.

I think it really highlights the importance of the UCLA game. Going 4-1 with a loss to UCLA and one of those wins against Chaminade feels really different than going 4-1 with the loss to the No. 1 team.

[GoldenEagles03]

3-2.

7-4 in the NonCon should have us in a good spot.

[GoldenEagles03]

Also true.

I think it really highlights the importance of the UCLA game. Going 4-1 with a loss to UCLA and one of those wins against Chaminade feels really different than going 4-1 with the loss to the No. 1 team.

Winning at Illinois will be quite tough. They have a strong group of front court players in Guerrier, Domask, Dainja, Hawkins.

[wadesworld]

3-2.

7-4 in the NonCon should have us in a good spot.

Radford going to catch us again this year?

[Uncle Rico]

1-4, only win over Chaminade and that’ll take overtime probably

[GoldenEagles03]

Radford going to catch us again this year?

I said Radford could keep it close because it is an early season game and anything can happen and they did for a good portion of the game. Strange thing to remember, but ok.

I think 7-4 would be good with this schedule. Should be a better team this year but the record will almost certainly be worse. They may end up playing more ranked teams than non-ranked teams in the non-con

[UWW2MU]

I am amused that you are talking about pessimism...while predicting we go 4-1 in a 5 game stretch that includes a road game against a top 25 team and a neutral court matchup against the preseason #1 team in the country. At worst, 4-1 is a neutral prediction, no way is it pessimistic.

I'm so pessimistic/worried that even my optimism is pessimistic!

[wadesworld]

I said Radford could keep it close because it is an early season game and anything can happen and they did for a good portion of the game. Strange thing to remember, but ok.

I think 7-4 would be good with this schedule. Should be a better team this year but the record will almost certainly be worse. They may end up playing more ranked teams than non-ranked teams in the non-con

We're ranked 5th in the country going into the season.  7-4 is "good" if we were a bubble team.  If we're going to live up to the preseason hype, 7-4 is not "good."  "Adequate?"  Sure.

MU was up 21 with 6 minutes left against Radford before they called the dogs off.

[Uncle Rico]

We're ranked 5th in the country going into the season.  7-4 is "good" if we were a bubble team.  If we're going to live up to the preseason hype, 7-4 is not "good."  "Adequate?"  Sure.

MU was up 21 with 6 minutes left against Radford before they called the dogs off.

If we start 5-6, I’ll be very happy. 

[StillAWarrior]

Winning at Illinois will be quite tough. They have a strong group of front court players in Guerrier, Domask, Dainja, Hawkins.

In that case, going 4-1 would mean a road loss a ranked team (at least ranked pre-season) and neutral site wins over UCLA and Kansas. Also much better than 4-1 with the loss being to UCLA.

[HowardsWorld]

My 5-0 vote implies wins over UCLA and Kansas. We are #5 not a fridge bubble team. We are day and night better than UCLA. We have no excuse to lose to them.  UCLA lost 8 players from last years team.

[mugrad_89]

If we start 5-6, I’ll be very happy.

Damn - you’ve got me super nervous now about the DePaul and Georgetown games.  👀

[tower912]

Farley36 and nolongerwarriors were right.   Just a season early.

[Stretchdeltsig]

Surprised by so much pessimism. I feel bullish that we have the talent and coaching to run the board 5-0.

[tower912]

Surprised by so much pessimism. I feel bullish that we have the talent and coaching to run the board 5-0.

70% say 4-1 or better.   That is seashells and balloons optimistic by scoop standards.

[PointWarrior]

Likely stub our toe on Georgia Tech too...

Radford going to catch us again this year?

[HowardsWorld]

3-0 as most of us expected. Next game is big for a few reasons. Not only would it get us on the winners side of the bracket, it would also guarantee we have 2 quad 1 matchups in Kansas and one of Tenn/Gonzaga/Purdue. Lose to UCLA and we more than likely play D2 school followed by Syracuse/Gonzaga.

I got to admit i don't know if I have ever been this excited for a early tournament as I am for Maui. Most likely because its the most stacked tournament there has ever been. Possibly 5 top 10 teams.

Gonzaga vs Purdue could be a elite 8 final four match similar to Tennessee vs Gonzaga/Purdue.
Marquette Kansas could be elite 8 match up or final four. Its an absolute insane field.

[StillAWarrior]

3-0 as most of us expected.

The prediction thread doesn't support the claim that "most" of us expected 3-0. Although this poll certainly suggests that was the case.

[rocky_warrior]

The prediction thread doesn't support the claim that "most" of us expected 3-0. Although this poll certainly suggests that was the case.

By your own count, only 28 game-by-game predictions, 167 votes here.  Lots of us are lazy

[StillAWarrior]

By your own count, only 28 game-by-game predictions, 167 votes here.  Lots of us are lazy

Agreed. As soon as I did the initial post I realized that it was pretty stupid. I added the second sentence, but probably should have just gone with a simple "NM"

[dgies9156]

The Illinois game was a watershed moment for me.

We played poorly, especially in the first half. We faced a ranked team in a tough venue to win.

Yet we pulled out a victory.

That's a game that in years past, we likely would have lost, perhaps significantly. We would have started blaming the refs, bad coaching or a young team. We'd make excuses.

No need for excuses any more.

Whenever Illinois put on a run, we found a way to respond. Our turnovers were way down and that showed some discipline.

The most important thing, though, is we are a TEAM! We aren't looking for Markus or Andrew Rowsey to chuck one. Or somebody to step up and make a stop. Our guys buy in and they know what they are going to do.

God Love 'Em because they're a special group. If anyone can beat Kansas......

[muwarrior69]

The Illinois game was a watershed moment for me.

We played poorly, especially in the first half. We faced a ranked team in a tough venue to win.

Yet we pulled out a victory.

That's a game that in years past, we likely would have lost, perhaps significantly. We would have started blaming the refs, bad coaching or a young team. We'd make excuses.

No need for excuses any more.

Whenever Illinois put on a run, we found a way to respond. Our turnovers were way down and that showed some discipline.

The most important thing, though, is we are a TEAM! We aren't looking for Markus or Andrew Rowsey to chuck one. Or somebody to step up and make a stop. Our guys buy in and they know what they are going to do.

God Love 'Em because they're a special group. If anyone can beat Kansas......

So when we lose our first game no excuses like:

Oso's free throws don't matter

Ty was selfish and did not distribute the ball

Our rebounding sucked

Jop can't dribble in the paint

Too many tit tac calls on Stevie took him out of his game

We missed so many open shots

Missed easy lay ups; can't even dunk the ball

The other team did not beat us, we didn't play our game. Heck that was our excuse this last game: We played our C game but still won.

Sorry, Scoop is full of excuses; its in our nature.

[dgies9156]

So when we lose our first game no excuses like:

Oso's free throws don't matter
Ty was selfish and did not distribute the ball
Our rebounding sucked
Jop can't dribble in the paint
Too many tit tac calls on Stevie took him out of his game
We missed so many open shots
Missed easy lay ups; can't even dunk the ball
The other team did not beat us, we didn't play our game. Heck that was our excuse this last game: We played our C game but still won.
Sorry, Scoop is full of excuses; its in our nature.

About the only thing on that list you might hear me say is "G****** Hack an Oso!" I wish he would practice free throw shooting!"