Awwwww, shoot

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Well he was sitting at 17/60, 28% from 3 going into the BET championship, so hard to tell much difference.

He had been about 40% in conference play after his horrid start.

[cheebs09]

He had been about 40% in conference play after his horrid start.

He was usually pretty good at the corner threes.

[warriors141]

Aw shoot, another season underperforming in the tournament........I guess MU fans are starting to get used to this

[MUMountin]

Mitchell, Joplin and Jones crapped the bed when it mattered. Case closed.

I don't think you can lay too much at Jones's feet.  He still scored 20 pts, and made some big buckets to keep us in striking distance.  Just never got into his full I'm-going-to-score-18-straight unconscious mode.  Stevie still brought his defensive intensity and had some good hustle plays. 

Joplin is the frustrating one for me.  He is so inconsistent—can have some games where he looks like he is all-world, but other times really seems to struggle locking in.  This was one of his stinkers. 

[willie warrior]

I don't think you can lay too much at Jones's feet.  He still scored 20 pts, and made some big buckets to keep us in striking distance.  Just never got into his full I'm-going-to-score-18-straight unconscious mode.  Stevie still brought his defensive intensity and had some good hustle plays. 

Joplin is the frustrating one for me.  He is so inconsistent—can have some games where he looks like he is all-world, but other times really seems to struggle locking in.  This was one of his stinkers.

Joplin is not and never will be all world. Time to start landing studs Shaka.

[wisblue]

He had been about 40% in conference play after his horrid start.

But, to my point, that 40% was 13 for 32 in 18 games.

So, that's less than 1 make in less than 2 shots per game.

Hardly an integral part of the offense. I'd say that Mitchell 3's "matta" less than free throws.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

But, to my point, that 40% was 13 for 32 in 18 games.

So, that's less than 1 make in less than 2 shots per game.

Hardly an integral part of the offense. I'd say that Mitchell 3's "matta" less than free throws.

That's fair. My point was he'd been pretty efficient with the shots from deep he was taking the last 3 months.

[tower912]

Aw shoot, another season underperforming in the tournament........I guess MU fans are starting to get used to this

If sweet 16 is the new normal, sign me up.

[Shooter McGavin]

The Sweet 16 is the ceiling for this program.
It pains me to say, but Marquette University is never winning another national title.
Have you seen what Duke has coming in next season and some of the other big boys? Good luck.

Disagree completely.  Elite 8 was there for the taking and possibly a final four with a match up with Duke.  Bad time for an F game when a D game would have done it.  We had the team this year.  They just melted for some reason last night. 

[SonOfWarrior]

I think overall Shaka got the best from every player. I knew that MU was not a championship caliber team because it didn't have the individual talent. A steep drop in consistency from TK. Something to work towards but the MU trajectory is good. Nothing to be ashamed of here.

[Afroman]

Exactly. I think you made my point. They had all of these things going in their favor, yet season ended in the Sweet 16.
Will I take the Sweet 16 year in and year out? You bet, but I think with the state of college basketball these days, I wouldn't expect much more.

I think overall Shaka got the best from every player. I knew that MU was not a championship caliber team because it didn't have the individual talent. A steep drop in consistency from TK. Something to work towards but the MU trajectory is good. Nothing to be ashamed of here.

[JakeBarnes]

If sweet 16 is the new normal, sign me up.

Same. Let's have a Mark few strings of s16. You keep getting there, you seem to put yourself in good position to do more.

[Pakuni]

If sweet 16 is the new normal, sign me up.

Having a team good enough to be a 2 seed in back-to-back seasons and being happy with a single Sweet 16 seems pretty COLE.

[tower912]

And a Big East regular season championship.   And a BET championship.

[Pakuni]

Disagree completely.  Elite 8 was there for the taking and possibly a final four with a match up with Duke.  Bad time for an F game when a D game would have done it.  We had the team this year.  They just melted for some reason last night.

Yep, this.
Shaka has been terrific and this team has been a ton of fun the last two years.
But it's OK to also acknowledge that they underachieved on the biggest stage.

[Pakuni]

And a Big East regular season championship.   And a BET championship.

Great accomplishments.
Doesn't change a thing I wrote.

[JakeBarnes]

Having a team good enough to be a 2 seed in back-to-back seasons and being happy with a single Sweet 16 seems pretty COLE.

See my above comment as a bit of a reply to you before you posted.

Unrelated to your post, Scoop logic is as follows:

1. Tourney is a crapshoot
2. but wanting consistency is also bad
3. Therefore if we keep making second weekend, we have imposed a ceiling
4. Arbys

[HutchwasClutch]

Yep, this.
Shaka has been terrific and this team has been a ton of fun the last two years.
But it's OK to also acknowledge that they underachieved on the biggest stage.

Yes.  It's been a very mixed bag so far under Shaka.  And fair or not, everything is ultimately judged on this tournament.  And so far, the early returns are not impressive on that.  Two wins over 15 seeds and two upset losses, one against an 11 seed.  Colorado win is the lone tournament bright spot in three appearances under Shaka, unless you're impressed with beating 15 seeds.  And this after no wins in the tournament at Texas. 

There's a disturbing pattern in this tournament going on since his Final Four 13 years ago.   

[Hamburgler]

Aw shoot, another season underperforming in the tournament........I guess MU fans are starting to get used to this

Too many of them have low expectations and accept it

[Uncle Rico]

Too many of them have low expectations and accept it

You tell them, Hamburgler.  What is your plan to your expectations?

[wisblue]

Too many of them have low expectations and accept it

Actually, I think I have realistic expectations.

What are my choices if the team doesn't meet my expectations and I don't want to accept it?

[Dish]

Part of the dollars/sense problem for MU is they are a top seven spend on Men's Basketball. I'll admit this is cherry picking to a small extent, but I don't think Elite 8 appearances should be unrealistic when you're spending what MU does.

Since MU's last Elite Eight appearance in 2013, the other 6 programs that spend at/more than MU and their tournament success:

Texas 1 Elite 8
Kentucky 4 Elite 8's, 2 Final Fours
Mich St 3 Elite 8's, 2 Final Fours
Kansas 4 Elite 8's, 2 Final Fours, Title
UConn 3 Elite 8's, 2 Final Fours, 2 Titles
Duke 6 Elite 8's, 2 Final Fours

[Newsdreams]

You tell them, Hamburgler.  What is your plan to your expectations?

I wonder if this is a new dung dr. account?

[Newsdreams]

1.  Shoot poorly, lose.   Don't over think it. 
2.  Stevie has not hit a 3 since the Oduro pick.  But he still played with heart.
3.  MU actually played decent defense. 
4.  No quit.  The true hallmark of this team.
5.  In the words of Pat Benatar, It's a little too little, it's a little too late. 


Thanks for a great season.

Tower, first I will reiterate again what a pleasure it was to meet you & Lurch at Indi, you're always spot on. Not even the lucky jersey could will the 3 pts in. It will go to washer when I get home tomorrow, hopefully for a new streak. I'm beat for all the traveling this two weekends and the swing in weather, but proud of MU basketball, even if last night's defeat was hard, those who say this guys gave up didn't see the same game I saw. I was at the lobby welcoming back our Warriors in defeat, they were hurt more than the fans. For those that are writing between the lines that Gold might not be happy, his mother, probably 6-2 or 6-3, gave Shaka the biggest bearhug I've seen a mother give a coach, Gold is not going anywhere. Hope to see you next year at NCAAT again Tower, checking out 'till next season...

[willie warrior]

I think overall Shaka got the best from every player. I knew that MU was not a championship caliber team because it didn't have the individual talent. A steep drop in consistency from TK. Something to work towards but the MU trajectory is good. Nothing to be ashamed of here.

Oh God. Here we go with trajectory again. Heard that plenty here when people were offering up their lame defense of Wojo. Please, dont start with that.