The Worst Thing

[wisblue]

No more games to look forward to.

[rocky_warrior]

Agreed

[Johnny B]

What do you mean? Looking forward to November 9th

[PointWarrior]

We got this to look forward to - scoring in the 50's a game may be wishful thinking next year

                            PTS
David Joplin F            11
Stevie Mitchell G    8.8
Chase Ross G            6.3
Sean Jones G            5.8
Ben Gold F            5.1
Tre Norman G            2
Zaide Lowery G            1.6
Al Amadou F            1.2
   
                            41.8

[We R Final Four]

No more games to look forward to.

What do you mean?

[rocky_warrior]

We got this to look forward to - scoring in the 50's a game may be wishful thinking next year

                            PTS
David Joplin F            11
Stevie Mitchell G    8.8
Chase Ross G            6.3
Sean Jones G            5.8
Ben Gold F            5.1
Tre Norman G            2
Zaide Lowery G            1.6
Al Amadou F            1.2
   
                            41.8

You are the KING of hyperbole.  Both ways.  Maybe Tower should say he doesn't know how we'll score 50 ppg again!

[PointWarrior]

You are the KING of hyperbole.  Both ways.  Maybe Tower should say he doesn't know how we'll score 50 ppg again!

Cool, can I change my screen name to PointWarrior, KING of hyperbole ?

[rocky_warrior]

Cool, can I change my screen name to PointWarrior, KING of hyperbole ?

You can.

[WhiteTrash]

I have faith in Shaka and fully expect us to stay in the top half of the BE.

[MUfan12]

The worst thing is these guys who give everything for Marquette are hurting more than any of us can fathom. They know what was in front of them and slipped away.

It's different from a team of mercenaries brought in with huge NIL promises. The guys care.

This just sucks.

[MuggsyB]

The worst thing is these guys who give everything for Marquette are hurting more than any of us can fathom. They know what was in front of them and slipped away.

It's different from a team of mercenaries brought in with huge NIL promises. The guys care.

This just sucks.

That's correct.  And what really sucks is that I don't think we were sharp at all mentally during this game.  For a team with a ton of experience this is really difficult for me to wrap my mind around.  We played tight and panicked and I have no earthly idea why or where this came from.

[Miss Katie’s]

The worst thing is these guys who give everything for Marquette are hurting more than any of us can fathom. They know what was in front of them and slipped away.

It's different from a team of mercenaries brought in with huge NIL promises. The guys care.

This just sucks.

Yes.  Stevie hardly looked up in the post game press conference and Tyler was near tears.  Absolutely sucks. 

[Johnny B]

That's correct.  And what really sucks is that I don't think we were sharp at all mentally during this game.  For a team with a ton of experience this is really difficult for me to wrap my mind around.  We played tight and panicked and I have no earthly idea why or where this came from.

This is dystopian apocalyptic bad

[MuggsyB]

This is dystopian apocalyptic bad

I never said that.  It's just perplexing. 

[Johnny B]

I said it. Half joking but I am also bemused by this performance

[StillWarriors]

That's correct.  And what really sucks is that I don't think we were sharp at all mentally during this game.  For a team with a ton of experience this is really difficult for me to wrap my mind around.  We played tight and panicked and I have no earthly idea why or where this came from.

This is what I am struggling to grasp, as well. Feel really bad for the players, coaches and fans for this special team to go out that way. That sting will last a long time.

[DoctorV]

That's correct.  And what really sucks is that I don't think we were sharp at all mentally during this game.  For a team with a ton of experience this is really difficult for me to wrap my mind around.  We played tight and panicked and I have no earthly idea why or where this came from.

Coach.

Always the coach in this instance.

You should always honor the good, and it’s ok to acknowledge the bad.

This isn’t the first year either, not for Marquette or for coach Smart.
Lack of mental acuity can be attributed to playing too tight.

I mentioned it last year- the season is 39 games long. If you act different in games 26+ than in 1-26 it’ll carry over to your team.
This year coach was calm, cool and collected, different from last year. I applaud the change in approach.

However, he took role players that helped guide him here and completely zeroed them out by not letting them play. Instead, his tight upper class men that couldn’t make a shot kept on trying.

As the misses mount, the legs and arms get tighter. In that moment you hope for someone or something to save you.
Enter coach.
If he doesn’t save you, enter exit.

He will hopefully get there, but not until he openly acknowledges the struggle, which he hasn’t yet.

[MuggsyB]

This is what I am struggling to grasp, as well. Feel really bad for the players, coaches and fans for this special team to go out that way. That sting will last a long time.

And let me tell you something else:  This idea that we're going to just win through culture, and only selectively use the portal, isn't realistic.  I truly believe in Shaka and that the resurgence is coming but you have to find and get guys that can ball.  At least a couple every year. 

Again, we lost our mental acuity/poise.  Yes, we doubled way too early and to a fault with Mr. Burns.  Yes, we shot an unconscionable 4-31 from distance and NC State did a good job of eliminating the paint.  But I saw a team that was rattled mentally, seemingly out of the clear blue sky, and let their emotions snowball to a hideous and disgusting death.  This will take some time but we do need to be honest in our analysis. 

[MuggsyB]

Coach.

Always the coach in this instance.

You should always honor the good, and it’s ok to acknowledge the bad.

This isn’t the first year either, not for Marquette or for coach Smart.
Lack of mental acuity can be attributed to playing too tight.

I mentioned it last year- the season is 39 games long. If you act different in games 26+ than in 1-26 it’ll carry over to your team.
This year coach was calm, cool and collected, different from last year. I applaud the change in approach.

However, he took role players that helped guide him here and completely zeroed them out by not letting them play. Instead, his tight upper class men that couldn’t make a shot kept on trying.

As the misses mount, the legs and arms get tighter. In that moment you hope for someone or something to save you.
Enter coach.
If he doesn’t save you, enter exit.

He will hopefully get there, but not until he openly acknowledges the struggle, which he hasn’t yet.

I have to further study the tape Dr.V but I appreciate your insights.  I don't know if going to the bench would have been the answer but I did not see the  usual connectivity on the floor from our guys, once we went brick city early.  In fact I saw slumped shoulders and hesitation.  It was more of the.....why is this happening vibe in lieu of forgetting about it and just balling. 

[Norm]

DoctorV,

I tend to agree. Unfortunately, Shaka doesn't have a great NCAA record since his 2011 VCU run, and he seems to press in the post season. His deer in the headlights look tonight was similar to some of the NCAA games he coached at Texas. He didn't seem comfortable and his team came out tight tonight. And shortening his bench from the regular season rotation does not show confidence to your players.

[rocky_warrior]

I really like listening to Jay Wright in game analysis.

He's told everyone that coaching in the NCAA tourney is different than almost every other circumstance.

Shaka has figured out the "other".

[tower912]

You are the KING of hyperbole.  Both ways.  Maybe Tower should say he doesn't know how we'll score 50 ppg again!

The first season, I predicted MU would score in the 50s multiple times.    They did.

[rocky_warrior]

The first season, I predicted MU would score in the 50s multiple times.    They did.

Indeed.  Sorry to drag you into this.  Hah.

[MuggsyB]

I really like listening to Jay Wright in game analysis.

He's told everyone that coaching in the NCAA tourney is different than almost every other circumstance.

Shaka has figured out the "other".

There is a crapshoot element Rocky and collective responsibility. I don't disagree that the tournament is different but the players are the ones on the floor.  We probably missed 20 wide open threes. 

[rocky_warrior]

There is a crapshoot element Rocky and collective responsibility. I don't disagree that the tournament is different but the players are the ones on the floor.  We probably missed 20 wide open threes.

Disagree.  The tourney brings out different levels of emotions and how the body physically reacts to to those emotions.  MUs poor shooting was a result of this.