NCSTATE is evil

[tower912]

I am feeling better about this game than I probably should.  If MU plays its game, I think they win by 10.   Move the ball, hit open shots, trap effectively, get some turnovers.  Be MU.

[The Sultan]

Yeah. I was feeling that way until I saw the upsets yesterday. Now I'm all nervous. 10 hours to go? Yikes.

[Uncle Rico]

Yeah. I was feeling that way until I saw the upsets yesterday. Now I'm all nervous. 10 hours to go? Yikes.

As far as the upsets go, Arizona couldn't make buckets.  3's and a fair amount of bunnies despite a lot of second chances.  Clemson made a lot of lucky/weird shots. Upset recipe.

Bama-UNC was more of a toss up than the seeding indicated just because Bama can get buckets, just a matter of they could get enough stops and they did late.

Between the two, I'd guess if Marquette were to lose, it'd be more of the first scenario.

[tower912]

Fair.  If MU has a game reminiscent of the Butler game they will lose.  It would be helpful if NCState decided to play defense like Villanova in game one.  Who wouldn't love 60 points at the hoop?   I am not optimistic about that.

[Jay Bee]

I am feeling better about this game than I probably should.  If MU plays its game, I think they win by 10.   Move the ball, hit open shots, trap effectively, get some turnovers.  Be MU.

Same. Don't go 18% from deep and I think we're going to be good

[cheebs09]

As far as the upsets go, Arizona couldn't make buckets.  3's and a fair amount of bunnies despite a lot of second chances.  Clemson made a lot of lucky/weird shots. Upset recipe.

Bama-UNC was more of a toss up than the seeding indicated just because Bama can get buckets, just a matter of they could get enough stops and they did late.

Between the two, I'd guess if Marquette were to lose, it'd be more of the first scenario.

I think someone made a post a few days ago that showed a lot of teams have shot really poorly from 3 against NC State on their run. I think if we shoot our average from 3, we will be in good shape.

I think it's good the team was able to see some upsets yesterday. Especially because now we wouldn't be the first 1/2 seed to lose, it may take a little pressure off.

[Scoop Snoop]

I wrote that I am "cautiously optimistic" in my email to Marquette alumni family members about the game. Despite the three losses without Kolek (and one without Oso also), our team stayed in those games until late. We also played well in the other two BET games. Add our regular season to all of this and I think that a cautious optimism is very reasonable. Had NC State not taken down UNC and Duke in the ACC tourney, I would be very optimistic. 

[wisblue]

Didn't realize until I looked at their roster that NCS only has 1 guy in their 8 man rotation (a freshman) who hasn't played in one or two other division 1 programs.

This will be a clash of philosophies. I guess it shouldn't be surprising that a team pieced together that way would take some time to jell.

[DoctorV]

It's normal to feel cautious.

It's also normal to realize this team is ready for its moment.

Let's fu*king go!!

[Jay Bee]

I'm not really buying the 'well they gelled' stuff. Burns has heated up, but they're just on a seven-game run... which started with beating crappy Louisville and gross Syracuse. Other wins include Virginia (in OT), Oakland (in OT).. so that leaves us with Duke, UNC and Tech...  those teams shot 25.0%, 26.7% and 22.6% from three.

In the seven game stretch, the eclipsed 1.20 ppp once – against Louisville – while also giving up 1.19 to the Cards. They've had one game where they've allowed less than 0.98 ppp in the stretch (to Syracuse, whose offense blows).

As a comp, we've scored >1.20 ppp eleven times this year. We've allowed less than 0.98 ppp sixteen times.

They've had a nice streak, but there's nothing about this team that makes me think anything other than 'wow, what a middling, mediocre team in every way except not coughing up the ball'. Feb 27 – Mar 9 isn't that long ago. They went 0-4 in that stretch prior to the seven-game winning streak. They were 5-1 in conference at one point.. and finished out 4-10 the rest of the way. Did they gel early, lose it, they re-gel?

No, they're just not a great team.

[rocky_warrior]

No, they're just not a great team.

Generally agree.  The only thing scary about them is that they "shouldn't" be in the S16.  But here we are.

[avid1010]

Majority of bets have been on NC State but the line moved from -6.5 to what looks like will land on -7.5.  Sharp money is on MU.

[Uncle Rico]

Generally agree.  The only thing scary about them is that they "shouldn't" be in the S16.  But here we are.

Always a team like this.  Generally believe this staff won't let Marquette overlook them.  Think it kind of helps it's an ACC 11-seed and not a mid-major 11-seed. 

[zcg2013]

Same. Don't go 18% from deep and I think we're going to be good

Also, don't have someone pull a Caleb Love and take just horrible shots. Still thinking about that 20 foot one-legged floater that hit only air.

[denverMU]

...and must be destroyed!!! Let's go Warriors!

[nyg]

- Burns has one move.  He gets to the lower block by the paint on the left side.  He then turns to his right and uses his left hand to make a shot that usually banks off the glass.  Defense for that.  When he is doubled, Burns is an excellent passer to the open man for a three.  O'Connell and Horne are dangerous ones. So, MU needs to be careful of that.

- Mitchell shut down Horne.  Don't let him go off, he is sort of due.

- If you Scoopers thought Providence's Oduro is a hated player, get ready for Middlebrooks.........

Good luck to the team.  #2 seeds should beat #11 seeds. 

[Big Papi]

As far as the upsets go, Arizona couldn't make buckets.  3's and a fair amount of bunnies despite a lot of second chances.  Clemson made a lot of lucky/weird shots. Upset recipe.

Bama-UNC was more of a toss up than the seeding indicated just because Bama can get buckets, just a matter of they could get enough stops and they did late.

Between the two, I'd guess if Marquette were to lose, it'd be more of the first scenario.

NC got outcoached.  They got caught up in the run and gun game and that favored Bama.
Arizona got outcoached.  They kept chucking 3s when they had success down low.  We have been prone to do that for stretches as well.
I never believed the Iowa St hype train so Illinois winning was not a surprise.

My biggest worry is foul trouble.  Second biggest worry is 3-point shooting going cold.

[Uncle Rico]

NC got outcoached.  They got caught up in the run and gun game and that favored Bama.
Arizona got outcoached.  They kept chucking 3s when they had success down low.  We have been prone to do that for stretches as well.
I never believed the Iowa St hype train so Illinois winning was not a surprise.

My biggest worry is foul trouble.  Second biggest worry is 3-point shooting going cold.

UNC plays uptempo.  Don't think that was an issue.  They weren't going to slow it down

[Big Papi]

UNC plays uptempo.  Don't think that was an issue.  They weren't going to slow it down

Not the way Bama plays it.  Not saying they needed to play slow, just a little slower than the tempo last night.  Everything was short for UNC as that game went along.

[Uncle Rico]

Not the way Bama plays it.

It was a 72 possession game.  UNC averaged 70.5 possessions a game, Bama 73.

The Michigan State was a 71-possession game.

Tempo wasn't an issue.  Missing shots in the second half was an issue

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Took a look at the 247 NC State message board.  Among my favorites:

-Force Kolek right
-Morsell will be on Kolek so we don't have to worry about that

Also, no inclination about how good Kam has been. 

Obviously none of that matters and every board has some wild takes but the "force Kolek right" is always a classic. 

[tower912]

Missing shots cost Arizona, too.   5-28 from 3 in a 5 point game.   

[tower912]

Took a look at the 247 NC State message board.  Among my favorites:

-Force Kolek right
-Morsell will be on Kolek so we don't have to worry about that

Also, no inclination about how good Kam has been. 

Obviously none of that matters and every board has some wild takes but the "force Kolek right" is always a classic.

They aren't wrong.  Easier said than done.

[PGsHeroes32]

They aren't wrong.  Easier said than done.

Maybe it's semantics. But as I said in another thread. There isn't forcing him right. He's not gonna do that.

Take away him going to his left? Sure. But easier said than done.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

It just amuses me because what else do you think team's have been trying to do the past 2 seasons?