Hamstrung

[MU82]

Kolek is Example #1 of a player who improved during a season ... and in his case spectacularly so.

One year ago, he was a 9ppg scorer, and there wasn't a soul who thought he'd be BEPOY, BETOP and a 2023-24 first-team All-American.

Obviously, players improve during a season.

Now, to expect anything close to THAT kind of improvement would be setting oneself up for disappointment. But we don't need that.

If at least 2 of our big 3 play great and if a couple of our role players do what they've already shown they're capable of, we're tough to beat. If Oso, TK and Kam all excel and we get anything from anyone else, we are championship-caliber.

Every team in the country is still trying to figure things out, even the few remaining unbeatens.

It's still December.

[Farley36]

All the back in forth in this thread is silly.  Of course scoop overall is a ludicrous place and the fact that microphallus idiots like VBMG take it so seriously is embarrassing.   The bottom line is MU is like most top CBB teams in this day and age.  They are good, not great.  They are capable of great nights like against Kansas.  They are capable of poor nights like UW and Providence.   They will be a top BE team and a higher seed in the tourney.  What they do there depends on who they play and which version of their team shows up.  That's it.  If you expect a team that is perfect and never loses and is without flaws you'll be disappointed.   Just see what happens.  There will be highs and lows.  Stop embarassing yourself in VBMG fashion by acting like 12 year olds.   Most of you are 60+ years older than that. 

[Vander Blue Man Group]

All the back in forth in this thread is silly.  Of course scoop overall is a ludicrous place and the fact that microphallus idiots like VBMG take it so seriously is embarrassing.   The bottom line is MU is like most top CBB teams in this day and age.  They are good, not great.  They are capable of great nights like against Kansas.  They are capable of poor nights like UW and Providence.   They will be a top BE team and a higher seed in the tourney.  What they do there depends on who they play and which version of their team shows up.  That's it.  If you expect a team that is perfect and never loses and is without flaws you'll be disappointed.   Just see what happens.  There will be highs and lows.  Stop embarassing yourself in VBMG fashion by acting like 12 year olds.   Most of you are 60+ years older than that.

Rent-free. 🤡

[Goose]

I think Farley is spot on. I think everyone has seen enough to know what the very good MU looks like and hopefully what the bad looks like. I almost look at this season like MU is an NBA team and March/April is the goal. Not that they will not go hard on regular basis, but very difficult to bring the A game every night, especially with the schedule they play.

In addition, this team is loaded with experienced guys, and they know what to do and what the goal for the season is. While every game is very important, getting a top three seed is the most important goal for the regular season. MU has used a bunch of different lineup combo's this season and some have worked better than others. Possibly some of the combo's will improve during the season. I do think the last few games of the season will make or break a top three seed.

When it is all said and done MU will have far more good performances over duds. That said, I would not be a bit surprised if they have 2-3 more bad games. Between last season and the first 12 games this year they have not had many easy games, especially starting with BE play last year. I would assume it is very difficult to have A game for 50+ straight games.

[MU82]

I also agree with what Farley says about this season's Marquette team, Goose. You and I have been saying similar. Going into each game, I expect MU to play well, but I'm not surprised by the occasional dud because it's simply not realistic to think every performance over the course of a long season will be like what we did against Kansas. Plus, the other teams also have good players and coaches, and also are motivated to succeed.

Of course, Farley calling out others as immature is a whole 'nother thing. He stomped his feet and declared that he was officially finished with Marquette basketball after Shaka's first season, even saying Shaka should have been fired.

[tower912]

He will revert back to his average of around that.  Shots will fall.

Agreed.

[Farley36]

I also agree with what Farley says about this season's Marquette team, Goose. You and I have been saying similar. Going into each game, I expect MU to play well, but I'm not surprised by the occasional dud because it's simply not realistic to think every performance over the course of a long season will be like what we did against Kansas. Plus, the other teams also have good players and coaches, and also are motivated to succeed.

Of course, Farley calling out others as immature is a whole 'nother thing. He stomped his feet and declared that he was officially finished with Marquette basketball after Shaka's first season, even saying Shaka should have been fired.

Shaka's first season was Wojoesque.  He turned it around.  I'm big enough to admit that.  But much of that was intentional hyperbole to rile you boomers up.  I know VBMG doesn't understand what hyperbole is but  surely you do.   Unlike some posters, I don't take this stuff seriously all.  I certainly wouldn't come on here and think I'm hilarious because I make a small penis comment or call someone names.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Shaka's first season was Wojoesque.  He turned it around.  I'm big enough to admit that.  But much of that was intentional hyperbole to rile you boomers up.  I know VBMG doesn't understand what hyperbole is but  surely you do.   Unlike some posters, I don't take this stuff seriously all.  I certainly wouldn't come on here and think I'm hilarious because I make a small penis comment or call someone names.

I'm sorry the truth hurt your feelings so much.  You and NLW should start a support group. 

Again, your post history tells the story.  Any reasonable or positive posts are complete outliers.  Typically only shows up during or after a bad loss.   

No need to derail this thread or the other one any further. 

[tower912]

This board is legendary for how rational and level headed it is after losses.   

[Viper]

I think Farley is spot on. I think everyone has seen enough to know what the very good MU looks like and hopefully what the bad looks like. I almost look at this season like MU is an NBA team and March/April is the goal. Not that they will not go hard on regular basis, but very difficult to bring the A game every night, especially with the schedule they play.

In addition, this team is loaded with experienced guys, and they know what to do and what the goal for the season is. While every game is very important, getting a top three seed is the most important goal for the regular season. MU has used a bunch of different lineup combo's this season and some have worked better than others. Possibly some of the combo's will improve during the season. I do think the last few games of the season will make or break a top three seed.

When it is all said and done MU will have far more good performances over duds. That said, I would not be a bit surprised if they have 2-3 more bad games. Between last season and the first 12 games this year they have not had many easy games, especially starting with BE play last year. I would assume it is very difficult to have A game for 50+ straight games.

Goose, haven't you said you feel this current team is one of MU's great teams? Historic, or something to that effect? If you are hedging some from your earlier enthusiasm, I'd agree with that hedge. This is a good team. Not great. As some of the weaknesses come to the fore, I'm not sure this team is anything more than a one-win -then-out tournament team. Certainly matchups and player health are huge where this is concerned. But even with experienced guys, the weaknesses are tough ones to overcome...poor bench scoring production and rebounding are two that jump out at me. I'm thinking this is a 9- loss team heading to the ncaa. From there...?

[Goose]

Viper

I believe I said there were at least three better teams and likely a couple more. That said, if this team has a deep run, it will climb the list. It has no chance to be top three, IMO and I think I stated that during Maui. I had this team at 24-7 and sticking with that. I will add that this team can be great in today's game and I believe compete for a NC. I am no less excited than I was a month ago and think there will be far more good performances over bad ones. The three best teams in MU history had their share of dud games but they usually won with those games.

To sum it up, I think the good version of this team is extremely good and the most fun team ever to watch at MU. I thought last year going into March they could win it all and feel the same way about this year, just two months earlier than last year.

Not sure how old you are Viper, but if more than 10 years younger than me I would have to think the Kansas game was a top five performance by MU in your lifetime. IMO, the Illinois game, Maui and Texas proved to me this team can be great in the current college game.

[MU82]

Shaka's first season was Wojoesque.  He turned it around.  I'm big enough to admit that.  But much of that was intentional hyperbole to rile you boomers up.  I know VBMG doesn't understand what hyperbole is but  surely you do.   Unlike some posters, I don't take this stuff seriously all.  I certainly wouldn't come on here and think I'm hilarious because I make a small penis comment or call someone names.

Well, that was a LOT of hyperbole on your part, so much that calling it hyperbole now sure seems convenient for you. But it is nice to see you admit that you went a little off the deep end back then.

I totally agree about name-calling. You should take your own advice on that, too.

Anyway ... welcome back to being a fan of the team again?

We Are Marquette!

[wombataholic]

Is there any reason 3-2 zone wasn't played at all?  I want to say it was used for the first 15ish seconds of a possession a couple of times per game before Providence.  Not saying it would have affected the outcome, just curious.

[Viper]

Viper

I believe I said there were at least three better teams and likely a couple more. That said, if this team has a deep run, it will climb the list. It has no chance to be top three, IMO and I think I stated that during Maui. I had this team at 24-7 and sticking with that. I will add that this team can be great in today's game and I believe compete for a NC. I am no less excited than I was a month ago and think there will be far more good performances over bad ones. The three best teams in MU history had their share of dud games but they usually won with those games.

To sum it up, I think the good version of this team is extremely good and the most fun team ever to watch at MU. I thought last year going into March they could win it all and feel the same way about this year, just two months earlier than last year.

Not sure how old you are Viper, but if more than 10 years younger than me I would have to think the Kansas game was a top five performance by MU in your lifetime. IMO, the Illinois game, Maui and Texas proved to me this team can be great in the current college game.

+50 but -60...I'll leave it at that 😂

[wisblue]

This board is legendary for how rational and level headed it is after losses.

Just like every single message board for every sports team there is.

[Goose]

Viper

Depending on how you fall in that range we are pretty close together. I hit a round number this year and not a fan!!