Shaka has lost this team.

[Shooter McGavin]

I do not think Shaka has lost the team. The team is very close knit, so when injuries happen to Ross and Jones during games it has a negative emotional effect on the whole team.

That doesn't explain the sporadically poor play prior to those injuries but point well taken.  Serious injuries to major contributors can be dispiriting to a team as a whole.  Nagging injuries to players who play through them can also make great players look pedestrian. 

Next man up philosophy on the major injuries and hopefully the minor ones heal quickly.

[StillWarriors]

Bottle has been tipped over. Where is Brent

Funny to see this. I was just thinking yesterday that perhaps Shaka should dig up the Buzz bottle tipped over lecture and show the team.

[El Guerrero 2]

Incredible coaching effort by Shaka to reel off 8 straight Big East victories immediately after losing the team. He should win National Coach of the Year again.

[DoctorV]

Has to be between Hurley and Shaka.

To the Saturday winner go the spoils?

Honorable Mention to Shaheen and Sean Miller imo.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Has to be between Hurley and Shaka.

To the Saturday winner go the spoils?

Honorable Mention to Shaheen and Sean Miller imo.

Fox Studio says Shaheen hands down right now

[tower912]

Love the thread theme.

[DoctorV]

Fox Studio says Shaheen hands down right now

Donyell Marshall- I think that was him- also said that Butler is the biggest darkhorse outside of the big challengers to win the BET....

Nah

[Uncle Rico]

Donyell Marshall- I think that was him- also said that Butler is the biggest darkhorse outside of the big challengers to win the BET....

Nah

I mean, they would be a dark horse. 

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Donyell Marshall- I think that was him- also said that Butler is the biggest darkhorse outside of the big challengers to win the BET....

Nah

It was Lavalle Jordan. I seem to remember Marshall casually talking up Hurley- shocker. 

[BallBoy]

It was Lavalle Jordan. I seem to remember Marshall casually talking up Hurley- shocker.

.

Shaheen shouldn't be in conversation. He could easily lose 5 of his last 7. 

The only rationale was he was picked 9th and is currently sitting in 4th.

Hurley and Shaka should both be ahead of him.

[Lennys Tap]

Has to be between Hurley and Shaka.

To the Saturday winner go the spoils?

Honorable Mention to Shaheen and Sean Miller imo.

We were the higher ranked team at the start of the season. We were picked by the coaches to win the title. UCONN was picked 2nd. If they win, Hurley gets the hardware.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

.

Shaheen shouldn't be in conversation. He could easily lose 5 of his last 7. 

The only rationale was he was picked 9th and is currently sitting in 4th.

Hurley and Shaka should both be ahead of him.

That was Jordan's rationale except he said they were third.

[BallBoy]

We were the higher ranked team at the start of the season. We were picked by the coaches to win the title. UCONN was picked 2nd. If they win, Hurley gets the hardware.

I tend to agree with this but also because there is a good chance UConn sets the record for most wins in the Big East regular season or at least ties MU from last year.

[DoctorV]

I mean, they would be a dark horse.

Sure, but I'd pick pretty much every other one before them.

I'll list them
StJ
Nova
SH
X
Providence

Butler would slot in after those other dark horses for me. They've got a lot of grit, but seem to be punching way above their weight because of it. Seems like bubble should burst but we will see what Thad's squad has

[BallBoy]

That was Jordan's rationale except he said they were third.

At the time he was correct, they were tied with Creighton for 3rd but Creighton is currently demolishing Georgetown so they are 4th.

[MU82]

Just think how well we'll do when Shaka finds the team!

[StillAWarrior]

At the time he was correct, they were tied with Creighton for 3rd but Creighton is currently demolishing Georgetown so they are 4th.

The Big East standings are so tight in the middle that any prediction for awards premised on current standing is a questionable. When the one guy mentioned Holloway as BECOY because they were picked 9th and are currently 3rd (now 4th), my immediate thought was, "wait a couple weeks before making a prediction on that because they're only two games above 9th" (now 2.5 games). A loss to X tonight would drop them into a tie for 4th with a very desperate SJU next on the schedule. The league is so bunched up, any of those teams in the middle are potentially just a week or two away from being in 9th.

[Pepe Sylvia]

Seton Hall might have trouble winning 11 league games. Depaul is the only sure win left on their schedule, with this Xavier home game and Butler later their 2 best chances to get there, and Im not sure they can.

[The Sultan]

Why are we assuming the "coach of the year" should go to the coach of the team that exceeded pre-season expectations?

[StillAWarrior]

Why are we assuming the "coach of the year" should go to the coach of the team that exceeded pre-season expectations?

I don't think "we" are. I was commenting on what one of the studio guys said last night and "he" was; it was the only thing he cited in support of his contention that Holloway is the favorite for BECOY (which I think it ridiculous).

[The Sultan]

That's fair.

But I can see a case for both Hurley and Shaka depending on how the season turns out.

[StillAWarrior]

That's fair.

But I can see a case for both Hurley and Shaka depending on how the season turns out.

Agreed. If I were voting today, I'd probably give it to Hurley. But there's a lot of basketball to be played and it would be stupid to vote before we see how that plays out. But it's even more stupid -- in my opinion -- to base it on standings versus predicted standings when there are seven teams within 2.5 games of each other.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I think Hurley is the clear leader at the moment. But we got 7 games left,  lots a basketball to be played. If one of the lower teams suddenly goes 6-1 down the stretch they could make a case

[CTWarrior]

Donyell Marshall- I think that was him- also said that Butler is the biggest darkhorse outside of the big challengers to win the BET....

Nah

Donny Marshall.  Donyell Marshall is a different guy, though they played at UConn at the same time.

[brewcity77]

That's fair.

But I can see a case for both Hurley and Shaka depending on how the season turns out.

I think whichever of those two gets the 1-seed deserves it. No one else has stood out enough vs expectations like Shaka did last year to take it. Getting a team picked 8th-11th to the bubble isn't COY stuff.