MU/UNM thoughts

[1SE]

If you are closer to the camera and the photo is shot from the floor you will appear taller than those further

If you are closer to the camera and the photo is shot from the floor you will appear taller than those further away.

[MUEng92]

That's an interesting way to look at it.  Good perspective.

I feel like you have to be over 50 and have offspring to appreciate this comment.  I smashed the like!

[Shooter McGavin]

I would agree with that.   I think Rico is stealthily a genius.  You can't make that many people that mad  by adopting their posting style and using it against them without having some serious gray cells.

I do t know about all that but the stamina is impressive.

[The Sultan]

I would agree with that.   I think Rico is stealthily a genius.  You can't make that many people that mad  by adopting their posting style and using it against them without having some serious gray cells.

As for me, I'm just really smart.

[tower912]

As for me, I'm just really smart.

Yes, you are. 

[TucsonLobo]

Great. Also ...

Against the no. 61 defensive team, Boise State, on Feb. 19,  Dent had 17 on 4-for-13 shooting, with 4 TOs as his team lost.

Ipso fatso, he's doomed against the #26 defensive team.

BTW, I actually don't believe that. Just showing that maybe it's kinda silly to make the kind of projection you did.

I don't disagree with this. I was just responding to the argument that NM isn't good because we've been playing against "mid majors." I think a lot of the results yesterday once again showed that mid majors have athletes that can go toe to toe with majors (Drake, McNeese, UC San Diego, UNCW).

Thinking that Marquette is head and shoulders better than UNM, and that Dent isn't an All American caliber player (he was an honorable mention) who doesn't compare to Kam is just silly.

I guarantee you Shaka doesn't hold that view. I really expect it to be a close game, with Dent and Kam going back on forth putting on displays that will make great TV if nothing else.

[Galway Eagle]

My hope is Dent gets shut down like Tu Holloway. I'm not overly confident because of the other size matchups but I do think we have the defensive bodies to shut down Dent. Something we didn't have for Ja (was sacar his matchup? I can't recall).

If we lose, a very real possibility, it won't be Dent that beats us it'll be because a bunch of lanky guys turned Jop over a million times, blocked Stevie & Kam's layups, and we aren't hot from outside.

[TucsonLobo]

I don't think adjD is where you should be looking.  Check out offensive TO%. Dent murders teams in transition and is average in the halfcourt. MU is elite at protecting the ball, 8th in the country.  Yall havent played a team even close to that.  Your best is your season opener against Nicholls state (48th). Next two are against Nevada (63rd). In 85 minutes against Nevada yall only forced 21 turnovers and barely won both games. 16 of your opponets rank in the bottom third of offensive TO%.
 

St. John's, at #35, was the highest offensive TO% team they played. St. John's had 16 turnovers against NM.

St. John's, at #8 is also the highest ranked defensive TO% both teams have played. NM had 11 against them. Marquette had 14, 17, and 14. New Mexico is #11 in defensive TO%

My point is they're closely matched and it will be an entertaining game.

[Hards Alumni]

St. John's, at #35, was the highest offensive TO% team they played. St. John's had 16 turnovers against NM.

St. John's, at #8 is also the highest ranked defensive TO% both teams have played. NM had 11 against them. Marquette had 14, 17, and 14. New Mexico is #11 in defensive TO%

My point is they're closely matched and it will be an entertaining game.

I agree, anyone who is overconfident about this game should not be.

[Scoop Snoop]

My hope is Dent gets shut down like Tu Holloway. I'm not overly confident because of the other size matchups but I do think we have the defensive bodies to shut down Dent. Something we didn't have for Ja (was sacar his matchup? I can't recall).

If we lose, a very real possibility, it won't be Dent that beats us it'll be because a bunch of lanky guys turned Jop over a million times, blocked Stevie & Kam's layups, and we aren't hot from outside.

While it is a bit of an exaggeration, an announcer in Murray State's next game obviously was referring to Marquette when she came up with a zinger. "Notice how (the opponent) is guarding Murray State? They're NOT just collapsing 5 players on Morant." Ouch!

Wojo called a T.O. early in the 2nd half and obviously told the team something like "damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead." 

[GoldenEagles03]

This one is setting up to be the game of the weekend.

A lot of people picked UNM to win, now they've seen how the Mountain West has performed and are changing tune a bit.

None of it matters. It's gonna be a battle. Gotta show up, or go home!

[MU82]

I don't disagree with this. I was just responding to the argument that NM isn't good because we've been playing against "mid majors." I think a lot of the results yesterday once again showed that mid majors have athletes that can go toe to toe with majors (Drake, McNeese, UC San Diego, UNCW).

Thinking that Marquette is head and shoulders better than UNM, and that Dent isn't an All American caliber player (he was an honorable mention) who doesn't compare to Kam is just silly.

I guarantee you Shaka doesn't hold that view. I really expect it to be a close game, with Dent and Kam going back on forth putting on displays that will make great TV if nothing else.

That's all fair.

I expect a close game, and I'm not sure who here has said "Marquette is head and shoulders better than UNM," but maybe someone has.

[Jay Bee]

If Josh has really grown to 10'4" as it appears, let's play him tonight. It'll be worth a full year of eligibility

[barfolomew]

MU wins, covers, bangs, shoots, carries aircraft, and is unstoppable from midrange.

Also, Donovan Dent sounds like some DC villain's alter ego.

[forgetful]

Seriously, NM is not a good match-up for us. Their front court is 6'9", 6'9" and 6'10". Their center Nelly Joseph is ranked #9 in the NCAA for defensive rebounding comparable to Tarris Reed at #13.

Donovan Dent at 6'2" is #23 in the nation in assists and shoots 40% from 3.

Tru Washingtion is ranked #35 in stl % and shoots 35% from 3.

Mustapha Amzil at 6'9" is another decent rebounder who shoots too many 3's given his 29% shooting percent.

Filip Borovicanin is their power forward/backup center at 6'9" who is ranked 431 nationally in Defensive Rebounding.

Bench also has size and some shooting skills.

We should win by 3 according to KenPom

Who would you rather have, Kam or Dent. Experts would say Kam.

Who would you rather have, Stevie or Tru. Experts would say Stevie. Stevie is the better defender, and on paper the better 3 pt shooter 36.3% to 35.3% (Tru shoots ~ 1 more 3 per game).

On paper we should win. Game is decided on the floor.

But the claiming this is a bad/good draw doesn't matter. You will have to beat good teams in March, period.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

St. John's, at #35, was the highest offensive TO% team they played. St. John's had 16 turnovers against NM.

St. John's, at #8 is also the highest ranked defensive TO% both teams have played. NM had 11 against them. Marquette had 14, 17, and 14. New Mexico is #11 in defensive TO%

My point is they're closely matched and it will be an entertaining game.

I'm not sure where youre getting your numbers.SJU is currently 61st in offensive TO%, they were 65th when I originally posted.

But I agree with your last sentence

[AnotherLobo]

This one is setting up to be the game of the weekend.

A lot of people picked UNM to win, now they've seen how the Mountain West has performed and are changing tune a bit.

None of it matters. It's gonna be a battle. Gotta show up, or go home!

I'm not sure who's picking UNM but I'm getting the same feeling as last year where a lot of people picked us to beat a struggling Clemson.  They beat us by 21 on their way to the f^&*ing elite 8. I Wouldn't be surprised at all the see you guys take a similar trajectory. 

[MUEng92]

I'm not sure who's picking UNM but I'm getting the same feeling as last year where a lot of people picked us to beat a struggling Clemson.  They beat us by 21 on their way to the f^&*ing elite 8. I Wouldn't be surprised at all the see you guys take a similar trajectory. 

Oh no you don't, low expectations is our shtick.  We even have an acronym for it...COLE

[AnotherLobo]

Oh no you don't, low expectations is our shtick.  We even have an acronym for it...COLE

I'm expecting to lose by double digits.  You guys probably make the championship game.

[MUEng92]

I don't know how you lose by double digits when your point guard is obviously going to outscore our whole team.

[Newsdreams]

I'm not sure who's picking UNM but I'm getting the same feeling as last year where a lot of people picked us to beat a struggling Clemson.  They beat us by 21 on their way to the f^&*ing elite 8. I Wouldn't be surprised at all the see you guys take a similar trajectory. 

I was told angrycowboy is the Willie over there. Guess there could be 2?

[NickelDimer]

Oh no you don't, low expectations is our shtick.  We even have an acronym for it...COLE

😆😆😆

[AnotherLobo]

I don't know how you lose by double digits when your point guard is obviously going to outscore our whole team.

Well sure, he's very good.  For a mid-major pg.  He's never seen a defense like Marquettes. He probably won't score.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I'm expecting to lose by double digits.  You guys probably make the championship game.

This dude's trying to jinx us. 

[tower912]

I'm not sure who's picking UNM but I'm getting the same feeling as last year where a lot of people picked us to beat a struggling Clemson.  They beat us by 21 on their way to the f^&*ing elite 8. I Wouldn't be surprised at all the see you guys take a similar trajectory. 

Using scoop energy against us.  Well played, sir.