Worse Loss

[The Sultan]

There's a pretty wide gulf between a fair assessment of how the team has performed so far and "freaking out."
There may be some people doing the latter, but most people are just watching the games and seeing some concerning things. Lumping them all together is kind of dumb.

Joplin and Gold aren't a combined 10-for-47 on threes because TKO and Oso are in the NBA. They're just missing wide open shots. Lowery and Norman aren't struggling because they're being asked to play new roles - they're basically playing the same roles.
It's not unreasonable to suggest/believe that things will improve as the season goes on. But it's also not unreasonable - or mean you're freaking out - to point out and discuss this team's flaws so far.

Yes. I should have said "some" people are freaking out.

[tower912]

Meh. Same stuff, different season.  Go back and see who said what.  Few surprises.

[MUbiz]

Yes. I should have said "some" people are freaking out.

I am not freaking out, but I do have a very high level of concern at this point. The next 3 games will tell me is this team legit, or were my concerns well founded?

[tower912]

And that broaches another philosophical point.  Concerns?  About what?  Every season is a new adventure.  And all of the teams are going through it.   Do you believe Shaka when he says a player or team will look different in February than they do in November?  If there is a spate of injuries to the starters and MU performs poorly, does that require a coaching change?

Shoot 4-31 from 3, lose.  It isn't complicated.

[Newsdreams]

6 out of 10

That high???

[Uncle Rico]

That high???

I'm feeling generous grading the buffoon whose basketball takes revolve around, "you're right, goose" and "you're right, Doc"

[wadesworld]

Per Synergy, there are 37 players in D1 with 10+ unguarded spot up 3s this season.

Ben Gold ranks first in attempts: 16
Ben Gold ranks 35th in 3PT%: 18.8%

Will try to dig in a little deeper this week, but found that wild.

https://x.com/PaintTouches/status/1856417625678721123

So, confirms they're getting the same looks as last year, they're just missing them.

The person who is not getting the same looks is Kam, and, outside of foul trouble on Monday, he has been playing great.

[Newsdreams]

I'm feeling generous grading the buffoon whose basketball takes revolve around, "you're right, goose" and "you're right, Doc"

He just missing Dung

[Uncle Rico]

And that broaches another philosophical point.  Concerns?  About what?  Every season is a new adventure.  And all of the teams are going through it.  Do you believe Shaka when he says a player or team will look different in February than they do in November?  If there is a spate of injuries to the starters and MU performs poorly, does that require a coaching change?

Shoot 4-31 from 3, lose.  It isn't complicated.

That's the rub.  This team should be better in February than November.  If it isn't, then I'll buy the concerns over roster construction and basketball philosophy.

Through 3 games, this looks a lot like the last 3 years.  If that's a concern, well, be concerned this teams ceiling is a 2-seed and its floor is tournament team.  And given the consensus nationally entering the season, somewhere in the middle is likely.

[MUbiz]

And that broaches another philosophical point.  Concerns?  About what?  Every season is a new adventure.  And all of the teams are going through it.   Do you believe Shaka when he says a player or team will look different in February than they do in November?  If there is a spate of injuries to the starters and MU performs poorly, does that require a coaching change?

Shoot 4-31 from 3, lose.  It isn't complicated.

Concerns about our ability to put the ball in the basket from deep. I know 3% fluctuates throughout the year, but it isn't just BG that has had a tough start from 3.  Zaide, Tre, BG and Jop have all underperformed greatly to this point. Will it become a trend? Only time will tell. 

[tower912]

Yeah, I know.  It isn't you. Scoop had the exact conversation in January.   Nearly every season.  Less so in the Rowsey, Howard,  Hauser years.

[MUbiz]

Tower, I cannot remember seeing as many airballs in the first 3 games ever to start the season. Many of the three point shots are not even close to the rim. I am an optimistic person, but I would be lying if I said there is zero concern moving forward.

[Its DJOver]

82 posted an interesting stat in the NBA thread on the Superbar.

Today's fun state:

The Trail Blazers shot 4-of-42 (9.5%) from deep in Sunday's loss to Memphis, which was the worst 3-point percentage in any NBA game this season. In Tuesday's win over Minnesota, they shot 18-of-32 (56.3%), which was the best.

These are the professionals making millions of dollars, and they're still wildly inconsistent.  Now compare that to a three game sample size for collegiate athletes who are expected to be even less consistent. There will be games where we shoot bad from three, there will be games where we shoot good from three, such is the way of life for any basketball team.

[Uncle Rico]

82 posted an interesting stat in the NBA thread on the Superbar.

These are the professionals making millions of dollars, and they're still wildly inconsistent.  Now compare that to a three game sample size for collegiate athletes who are expected to be even less consistent. There will be games where we shoot bad from three, there will be games where we shoot good from three, such is the way of life for any basketball team.

Portland should shoot mid-range jumpers

[Pakuni]

That's the rub.  This team should be better in February than November.  If it isn't, then I'll buy the concerns over roster construction and basketball philosophy.

Through 3 games, this looks a lot like the last 3 years.  If that's a concern, well, be concerned this teams ceiling is a 2-seed and its floor is tournament team.  And given the consensus nationally entering the season, somewhere in the middle is likely.

It doesn't look a lot like the last three years, though.
Last year, MU beat Rider by 30 in its second game and then went on the road and beat a really good Illinois team (which finished ahead of MU in the final KenPom, fwiw).

Two years ago, they beat Central Michigan by 24 (and it wasn't that close) in game two, and then went on the road and battled future #1 seed Purdue in a game they arguably should have won.

I don't see how back-to-back shaky performances against teams projected 13th in the A-10 and 8th in the MAC compare.
That said, I don't see many expressing complete shock at the early struggles or predicting doom. Just discussing it.

[MUbiz]

That said, I don't see many expressing complete shock at the early struggles or predicting doom. Just discussing it.

This is the correct take.

[Uncle Rico]

It doesn't look a lot like the last three years, though.
Last year, MU beat Rider by 30 in its second game and then went on the road and beat a really good Illinois team (which finished ahead of MU in the final KenPom, fwiw).

Two years ago, they beat Central Michigan by 24 (and it wasn't that close) in game two, and then went on the road and battled future #1 seed Purdue in a game they arguably should have won.

I don't see how back-to-back shaky performances against team projected 13th in the A-10 and 8th in the MAC compare.
That said, I don't see many expressing complete shock at the early struggles or predicting doom. Just discussing it.

I'm looking at whole season, big picture stuff.  After the St. Thomas loss, many people wrote the exact same things as are being said now 

[wadesworld]

It doesn't look a lot like the last three years, though.
Last year, MU beat Rider by 30 in its second game and then went on the road and beat a really good Illinois team (which finished ahead of MU in the final KenPom, fwiw).

Two years ago, they beat Central Michigan by 24 (and it wasn't that close) in game two, and then went on the road and battled future #1 seed Purdue in a game they arguably should have won.

I don't see how back-to-back shaky performances against teams projected 13th in the A-10 and 8th in the MAC compare.
That said, I don't see many expressing complete shock at the early struggles or predicting doom. Just discussing it.

You are confusing George Mason and George Washington.  GM is projected to finish 6th in the A10.

[Pakuni]

I'm looking at whole season, big picture stuff.  After the St. Thomas loss, many people wrote the exact same things as are being said now 

Not going to bother looking up old posts, but I imagine we all can understand the difference between making those posts about a team that had already beaten Texas, Kansas and Illinois - plus a close loss to Purdue - versus one that has posted two subpar performances in three cupcake contests.

[Pakuni]

You are confusing George Mason and George Washington.  GM is projected to finish 6th in the A10.

Ah, my mistake.
Either way, not a team that should cause MU fits.

[GoldenEagles03]

Rico, I'm going to state my piece, and expect that you'll ignore it or give some snarky response. So it goes.

I have you on my Ignore list due to your incessant trolling and pot-stirring. You and the three other people I ignore filled my feed with s**t and I'm glad to not have to wade through your banter.

For better or (mostly) worse, some folks still quote you and others, meaning I must or can read what I'm try to ignore. Very infrequently, I see that you have posted something of value, providing insight rather than inanity. Such as the above post. Thank you for that contribution.

Oh well, I'll not hope for greater discretion on your part with most of your future posts.

Added him to the IL this week too. Might be the injured list in baseball, but it is the Ignore List on Scoop 😂

Had the thought that it must be exhausting making your schtick being constantly annoying on purpose, but hey...spend your time how you wish!

[Galway Eagle]

Ah, my mistake.
Either way, not a team that should cause MU fits.

I mean we lost to the preseason 3rd place A10 team with one of our best teams in non Al history (and more returning experience). There is talent in that conference.

[Uncle Rico]

Added him to the IL this week too. Might be the injured list in baseball, but it is the Ignore List on Scoop 😂

Had the thought that it must be exhausting making your schtick being constantly annoying on purpose, but hey...spend your time how you wish!

I could probably crap my pants about Radford, too 

[Uncle Rico]

Not going to bother looking up old posts, but I imagine we all can understand the difference between making those posts about a team that had already beaten Texas, Kansas and Illinois - plus a close loss to Purdue - versus one that has posted two subpar performances in three cupcake contests.

The last Elite 8 team scored 47 points in a loss to UWGB.  That same year, they beat SE Louisiana 63-54 in the 2nd game of the year at home.  SE Louisiana finished 285th in KenPom.  There was another 9-point home win against NC Central. 

Shaka's first year here, probably what this team is closer to at the beginning of the season, had 11 and 5 point wins against SIUE and New Hampshire to open the season.  They began the Big East losing 3 straight as part of a 4 game losing streak.

Those teams all got better as the season went along.  One of them was supposed to be pretty good, the other we didn't know.  People should relax and have a cream soda.

[Hards Alumni]

Putting people on ignore is Joey Hauser levels of soft.

Toughen up, snowflakes.