Am I the only one?

[Goose]

It has been a bad several weeks for MU basketball and it has caused a great deal of disappointment and frustration to the fanbase. That said, am I the only one that still feels this team has a lot of upside and will get much better for the season ends?

I believe that adversity might be exactly what this team needs to turn things around. We have debated why the reasons the team has played poorly and things they need to improve on for 2-3 weeks and nothing new to be said, imo. Like many on here, I have watched every about 99% of the points scored during the Shaka era and that is a big body of work. There is no way this team is as bad as they have looked of late.

I will add, I do think there is a lot of unrealistic expectations on what good or very good basketball looks like. Not going to bring old topics back up, but even very good teams can play poorly. To be honest, I would rather they struggle now than a month from now.

[The Sultan]

Sure it is in their capability to turn things around, but really the only way that happens is if they shoot better.

Also depth is suddenly an issue.

[tower912]

Bless you, Goose.   Perhaps you had forgotten how dystopian scoop becomes when the team is not playing well.   Putting that aside....
   The freshmen have an opportunity now.   Step up, young men.
UConn started out with what record in the conference last year?
Stevie dropped 10 and 8 last night.

But it all comes down to this.   TKo and Kam make this team go.   When they break out of their slumps, the rest will fall into place.    If they don't, it will be a long, cold rest of the season.

[ATL MU Warrior]

After last night, the only way to go is up.

The upside is dwindling in my mind as the shooting woes continue and the injuries pile up.  I have a hard time seein this team do much in conference or the tournament the way they are playing now, and am losing confidence that they'll turn it around with a depleted bench.

[Judge Smails]

My hopes for better upside are diminishing quickly. Not sure these guys can turn it around.

[swoopem]

I'm not worried. Sucks that Sean is out but now Kolek will have to play more point guard which I think will help. This time last year we had 2 big east loses, now we have 3. It's not that big of a difference. I expect the shooting slumps to end and we'll all enjoy a trip to the promised land come March. Can't wait to make some tee times in Scottsdale

[The Sultan]

I am 100% convinced they will turn it around. I am not very convinced that it will be enough to meet pre-season expectations.

[Goose]

Sultan

I do not disagree on meeting preseason expectations entirely, but anything can happen in March. Again, I have said many times that this season feels like they have played 30 games already to me. Once Maui concluded I felt this was going to be the longest regular season I could ever remember. I did not care about BE title or BET run, I simply was looking at the tournament. Possibly that was similar mindset to the players.

These guys have played a lot of big games together and have been living 24/7 for two years together and that takes a toll, imo. They probably thought they were better than they were after Maui and got themselves into a funk. Again, last night they had a ton of wide open shots. When that stops, I will concede it could be a long, cold winter. Though, I simply do not see that happening.

Do think it is time to put the milkshakes away and put on their big boy pants. Maybe Kolek can do a lot less interviews, no podcasts and less showboating on social media. It is time to get work. These guys are kids and they have real money in their pocket for the first time probably in their lives, have received more national attention then they have earned of late and maybe it has gone to their heads.

Time will tell, but I am 100% still on the bandwagon. I am going to focus on this season and not worry if Gold can play the 5 next year or if the freshmen can actually play or not. We will learn that between now and early April.

[Viper]

It has been a bad several weeks for MU basketball and it has caused a great deal of disappointment and frustration to the fanbase. That said, am I the only one that still feels this team has a lot of upside and will get much better for the season ends?

I believe that adversity might be exactly what this team needs to turn things around. We have debated why the reasons the team has played poorly and things they need to improve on for 2-3 weeks and nothing new to be said, imo. Like many on here, I have watched every about 99% of the points scored during the Shaka era and that is a big body of work. There is no way this team is as bad as they have looked of late.

I will add, I do think there is a lot of unrealistic expectations on what good or very good basketball looks like. Not going to bring old topics back up, but even very good teams can play poorly. To be honest, I would rather they struggle now than a month from now.

I think it's a slog from here on out. Overrated early. Somewhat exposed at WI. Smoked an overrated Texas, but eventually the weaknesses catch up. I'm hoping for no lower than 5th in conference. Not sure 6th gets a tournament bid. Our season seems rather similar to Wisconsin and North Carolina last year! Hot outta the gate, then a rough January/February that cost both those teams a ncaa tournament bid with bottom half conference finishes respectively.

[The Sultan]

Do think it is time to put the milkshakes away and put on their big boy pants. Maybe Kolek can do a lot less interviews, no podcasts and less showboating on social media. It is time to get work. These guys are kids and they have real money in their pocket for the first time probably in their lives, have received more national attention then they have earned of late and maybe it has gone to their heads.

Sorry but I think this is just too easy of a target. You can drink milkshakes and work hard. You can do interviews, earn NIL money, and still perform. In fact I would suggest that if that type of stuff can get basketball out of their head a little bit, it may not be a bad thing.

[dgies9156]

Most of us drank the early-season Kool-Aid. We thought, hoped, expected we had something truly special. Illinois, Kansas, Texas, UCLA all led to more Kool Aid being slurped as many of us, myself included, thought we were possibly the best team in the country.

We're good, but we're not THAT good. Last year, we snuck up on people. The fact that the coaches considered us one of the worst teams in the conference spoke for itself. That didn't happen this year. By the time we went to the Kohlhole, a formula developed on how to beat us. It's no secret that when we win, it's because we get hot from three-land. In our wins this year, we have shot threes at a near 50 percent rate. Last night, if Shaka had given the ball to one of our players at Bradford Beach and asked him to throw it into Lake Michigan, as Al did, I'm not sure many of them could have done it!

This is still a pretty good team, with lots of holes. Lest you think we're unique, look at the number of Top 10 teams that went down in the past 48 hours. Everyone has holes. It's not like UCLA of the late 1960s or Indiana of 1976.

Where this team goes is an open question. I don't have the confidence in them I did in December. Sadly, I don't think they have the confidence in themselves they did in December. That's one thing that showed last night. One thing we're going to begin to see is how good Tre Norman and Zaide Lowrey really are.

Here's hoping we regain what we had!

[Goose]

Sultan

They drink milkshakes on the bench, and I do not care. My point was simply there are more distractions this season than last season. Just maybe, it is not easy for 20y to manage instant "fame" and focus on the job at hand. You obviously are an exception to the rule on being able to handle more money than you have ever had in your life, school, social media, basketball and not let some things slip in your life. I think it is time to buckle down and playing basketball is the one thing that they cannot take out of their busy lives.

[The Sultan]

We're good, but we're not THAT good. Last year, we snuck up on people. The fact that the coaches considered us one of the worst teams in the conference spoke for itself. That didn't happen this year. By the time we went to the Kohlhole, a formula developed on how to beat us. It's no secret that when we win, it's because we get hot from three-land. In our wins this year, we have shot threes at a near 50 percent rate. Last night, if Shaka had given the ball to one of our players at Bradford Beach and asked him to throw it into Lake Michigan, as Al did, I'm not sure many of them could have done it!

Good lord. This is just factually incorrect.

Our three point percentages in big game wins.

Illinois: 29.4
UCLA: 32.4
Kansas: 24.0
Texas: 46.7
Creighton: 29.0

Anyway, Marquette was the defending Big East champion returning nearly all of its minutes. It had nothing to do with Kool-Aid. There was definitely reason to be hyped.

[The Sultan]

Sultan

They drink milkshakes on the bench, and I do not care. My point was simply there are more distractions this season than last season. Just maybe, it is not easy for 20y to manage instant "fame" and focus on the job at hand. You obviously are an exception to the rule on being able to handle more money than you have ever had in your life, school, social media, basketball and not let some things slip in your life. I think it is time to buckle down and playing basketball is the one thing that they cannot take out of their busy lives.

I certainly am not the exception, but there seem to be plenty of players in college and in the pros that can manage it just fine. Again, I think its an easy target to assume these are actual distractions. And they could be!  But who know if they actually are.

[SonOfWarrior]

The people quickest to the bandwagon are the quickest to exit. 

[MuggsyB]

It has been a bad several weeks for MU basketball and it has caused a great deal of disappointment and frustration to the fanbase. That said, am I the only one that still feels this team has a lot of upside and will get much better for the season ends?

I believe that adversity might be exactly what this team needs to turn things around. We have debated why the reasons the team has played poorly and things they need to improve on for 2-3 weeks and nothing new to be said, imo. Like many on here, I have watched every about 99% of the points scored during the Shaka era and that is a big body of work. There is no way this team is as bad as they have looked of late.

I will add, I do think there is a lot of unrealistic expectations on what good or very good basketball looks like. Not going to bring old topics back up, but even very good teams can play poorly. To be honest, I would rather they struggle now than a month from now.

I think your points are fair but losing Chase and JTY really hurts Goose.  Zaide is certainly capable and perhaps Norman but that was an abomination yesterday.  Good teams also find ways to win when they play poorly, especially against mediocre teams who play poorly for 30 mins.  Butler was very good vs UCONN over the weekend, they weren't last night.  Monday is absolutely critical.  It's a must win at home for our psyche and moving forward.  My take is we will get it done but I'm still dumbfounded by our performance last night. 

[nyg]

They may be able to turn it around, but very good teams shouldn't lose to lower conference foes at home.  But, Butler as with numerous BE teams, have relied upon the portal transfers to solidify and add experience to the team.  Butler started five players who all transferred in. 

Future results will, as all noted rely upon making the threes, but the bench is crucial, now with the injuries.  After watching Lowery get significant minutes, and playing effectively, I hope this is his moment to display to the coaching staff that he is capable of playing in BE games.  Norman, not so good so far and Amadou is MIA.

Ben Gold is next man up, but he has one role on the team.  He stands at the three point line perimeter, awaiting a pass to take a three.  So far this season:

Has taken 66 field goal attempts, 47 of which are threes.  71% of his shots are threes and has not made a three since the Georgetown game.

Has had one free throw attempt in the last 8 games and has taken 7 the entire year, with 4 of them in the first two games against the cupcakes.  Thats 3 free throws in the last 14 games played.

Maybe he can drive to the basket bit more, who knows.  Last night I thought he had a good rebounding game, but hopefully more inside presence as the remainder of schedule goes. 

Lowery and Gold hopefully are going to step it up and assist the struggling issues of the starters that have been discussed in detail. Lastly, the look on Kam Jones's face and waving his arms in air in frustration, after actually hitting a three from the right corner when game was already decide, was precious.  Almost like, finally.  But too late.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Did Shaka serve the team milkshakes at halftime?  Of the four quarters of last night's game, MU won three (up 10 points) but lost the quarter out of halftime 24-7. 

Why? Matta said he made defensive adjustments to muck up the paint.  Just like MU's other losses. Cause and effect.

[muwarrior97]

Basketball is much easier when you make baskets 

[LloydsLegs]

They may be able to turn it around, but very good teams shouldn't lose to lower conference foes at home.  But, Butler as with numerous BE teams, have relied upon the portal transfers to solidify and add experience to the team.  Butler started five players who all transferred in. 

Future results will, as all noted rely upon making the threes, but the bench is crucial, now with the injuries.  After watching Lowery get significant minutes, and playing effectively, I hope this is his moment to display to the coaching staff that he is capable of playing in BE games.  Norman, not so good so far and Amadou is MIA.

Ben Gold is next man up, but he has one role on the team.  He stands at the three point line perimeter, awaiting a pass to take a three.  So far this season:

Has taken 66 field goal attempts, 47 of which are threes.  71% of his shots are threes and has not made a three since the Georgetown game.

Has had one free throw attempt in the last 8 games and has taken 7 the entire year, with 4 of them in the first two games against the cupcakes.  Thats 3 free throws in the last 14 games played.

Maybe he can drive to the basket bit more, who knows.  Last night I thought he had a good rebounding game, but hopefully more inside presence as the remainder of schedule goes. 

Lowery and Gold hopefully are going to step it up and assist the struggling issues of the starters that have been discussed in detail. Lastly, the look on Kam Jones's face and waving his arms in air in frustration, after actually hitting a three from the right corner when game was already decide, was precious.  Almost like, finally.  But too late.

I wouldn't ignore Ben's rebounding.

I don't understand the 3 point shooting of TKO and Kam (who was magnificent in the first half going to the bucket- Matta adjusted by reminding his team that Kam is left handed and he was stymied the rest of the game on the drives).  That has to turnaround, and it can.

The bigger concern for me is lack of depth.  Teams will try to get us into early foul trouble.

But not giving up by any means.  Every team at the top of the rankings has lost in the past couple of days and hasn't looked good doing it.  It is our first home court loss in 21 games- it had to happen some time. 

[lawdog77]

Surprisingly (to me at least), we only dropped to 19 in the NET. Still a lot of basketball to be played. Our starting backcourt surely has to snap out of their funk.

[UWW2MU]

There's no way they continue to shoot 3's this bad.  They'll adjust to the mean, whenever their mean will be, and everything will be easier.   Depth may be an issue, but all the starters are in place and Chase should come back (I think, right??) and we'll need freshmen to step up a bit. 

Still lots of potential here and the ceiling is high.  As stated by others, this might be the thing that gives the team back their fighting edge. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGdGFtwCNBE

[MuggsyB]

There's no way they continue to shoot 3's this bad.  They'll adjust to the mean, whenever their mean will be, and everything will be easier.   Depth may be an issue, but all the starters are in place and Chase should come back (I think, right??) and we'll need freshmen to step up a bit. 

Still lots of potential here and the ceiling is high.  As stated by others, this might be the thing that gives the team back their fighting edge. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGdGFtwCNBE

The potential is there, I think that's why so many people are perplexed/frustrated. 

[MUBurrow]

I agree Goose, and thanks for starting this thread. Its a welcome respite from the cesspool of fan entitlement elsewhere on here right now.  Of course we all were on-the-edge-of-our-seats giddy with expectations for this year, and of course legit analysis and debate is why we're all here. But the way posters see guys be successful and then assume any future lack of success must be due to lack of effort, behind the scenes drama, or whatever else is gross (and also just not how basketball works).  We got really spoiled during last season's conference run.  I believe last year's roster had 0 missed game in the first 6 rotation players. That's unheard of and unrepeatable.  TK became a cheat code.  OMax flashed in a way that made him a first round NBA pick. 

This year's team has legit things to work through, and likely won't be BEast regular season champs.  Asking Jop to slide in the OMax role has not only not replaced OMax, but has made Jop less effective.  We don't have the personnel to consistently shoot a high enough 3pt% to be a good fit for Shaka's outside-in approach.  TK is going through it.  Injuries are piling up.  But this team is still going to defend and create TOs at a high level, the ceilings of TK, Oso, and Kam are still sky high.  Since the Providence game, this had the feel of a team that might take a step back during the regular season and then explode back onto the scene in late Feb/March, imo.  Even if the lows are lower than we would have thought, this still feels like that kind of team.  If anything, I hope it takes some of the weight off the guys shoulders to shed the conference championship expectation, sink into the 20s in the rankings, and just do them.

[Shooter McGavin]

It has been a bad several weeks for MU basketball and it has caused a great deal of disappointment and frustration to the fanbase. That said, am I the only one that still feels this team has a lot of upside and will get much better for the season ends?

I believe that adversity might be exactly what this team needs to turn things around. We have debated why the reasons the team has played poorly and things they need to improve on for 2-3 weeks and nothing new to be said, imo. Like many on here, I have watched every about 99% of the points scored during the Shaka era and that is a big body of work. There is no way this team is as bad as they have looked of late.

I will add, I do think there is a lot of unrealistic expectations on what good or very good basketball looks like. Not going to bring old topics back up, but even very good teams can play poorly. To be honest, I would rather they struggle now than a month from now.

You are not alone.  TK and KJ need to shoot better from three and the wins will come.