Simon & Garfunkel said it best

[muwarrior69]

Talk about jumping to some negative conclusions after 1 game!  A game in which we set a program record for kills, held the opposition to .69 points per possession, and won by 27 on a night where we shoot 5-24 from three - I was very pleased.

Chase Ross was running A LOT of PG during the game - that's the answer to your question about after SJ/Nigel.

Lowery is going to be a stud.  Stevens looks like a great wing.  Nigel showed great promise.  Gold was okay. Owens started slow, but finished well. Tre Norman played a very nice game.  Josh Clark?  Talk about some serious upside potential.  The two guys who didn't play as well as we might expect - Royce and Caedin.

I'd be shocked if this isn't an NCAA team, even if it is a poor shooting 3 point team.

C'mon! Our defense really sucked. They allowed 53 points!

[WhiteTrash]

In Shaka year 2, there was significant in season growth. 8-3 non-conference to 17-3 BE proves that.

I agree with that. Shaka has done it before.
(I should have said the last 2 years, not few year)

[BallBoy]

I'm not sure how you can say the growth of Gold, Lowery, Owens, Parham, and Ross isn't where it needs to be based on one game with disjointed rotations against a bad team.  That's way too small of a sample size to come to that conclusion. 

My first statement was it is opening night which makes it hard to judge.  Also pointed out the amount of minutes each player got as impactful.  We need that to be an opening night thing but we can also mix the results from last year with the first game this year to see a trend.

That group of players, especially Gold and Ross, have been with the program for a several years.  Based on the one game (again we need to monitor), that group looked to be similar players as last year.  None of them looked like a break out player.  Again hopefully that is just a minutes/first night jitters thing but we need a break out player.  Based on the game last night, did you see who that was?  Ok, me neither, so if we don't see that emerge we are going to have a tough season. Especially against the top tier Big East. 

The Big East sent just three teams in 2024 and 5 teams in 2025.  In 2025, no team outside of the Big 4 made it to the Sweet Sixteen.  Going into this season, it is conceivable that only 3-5 teams make it in and based on the S16 results, it is not a stretch that fewer non-Big 4 teams are in the tournament.  If MU struggles offensively then it is highly possible that we aren't top 3 in the Big East putting us at risk.   

When you compare to last year, we saw an immediate set of breakout players stepping up but in that first game it also showed we had a bench problem.  That bench problem carried itself all the way through the season. 

If it is a one night thing then this is moot but if it isn't we could be on the outside looking in. 

[Its DJOver]

That's a whole lot of words for very little substance, even less of which made sense.

[BM1090]

I agree with that. Shaka has done it before.
(I should have said the last 2 years, not few year)

I disagree on 2023. Started 12-5. Then won 11 out of 12 including some massive routs before TK got hurt. Battled hard against a really tough Creighton team without Oso and TK and against UConn without TK. Then won three more without TK to get to the big east final. They were rolling.

[BrewCity83]

Nobody's mentioned this, but that Ramsey kid can play!

[brewcity77]

A few thoughts...

• Sean looked like he hasn't played in awhile. He had some moments where it felt like he was trying to do too much, some passes that could've been great (the bounce bullet to Ben) but missed and were turnovers. Forgettable night but there were some flashes if he gets it more under control.
• If he doesn't, Nigel looks ready to go. Man, he was so active on defense. Really promising start. Another small sample, but I can see him being remembered as one of the greats when his time here is done.
• Fetch did not happen. Though a 1-3-1 zone really takes away what he wants to do, so withholding judgment.
• But Josh looked ready. Rebounded well, legit lob threat, altered shots on defense, I'm really excited for what he can become. Thinking of him and Nigel together the next four years is tantalizing.
• Chase and Zaide were both very good. They looked every bit the part of dynamic wing duo on both ends.
• Gold was pretty good on the boards. If he's the fourth/fifth offensive option, can hit some shots, and be a presence on the glass, he'll be okay. Want to see more but not disappointed.
• That defense was insanely fun to watch. Shadows of the old Havoc system. Damarius Owens' length and athleticism at the top of the three-quarter court press was insanely effective.

[MuggsyB]

A few thoughts...

• Sean looked like he hasn't played in awhile. He had some moments where it felt like he was trying to do too much, some passes that could've been great (the bounce bullet to Ben) but missed and were turnovers. Forgettable night but there were some flashes if he gets it more under control.
• If he doesn't, Nigel looks ready to go. Man, he was so active on defense. Really promising start. Another small sample, but I can see him being remembered as one of the greats when his time here is done.
• Fetch did not happen. Though a 1-3-1 zone really takes away what he wants to do, so withholding judgment.
• But Josh looked ready. Rebounded well, legit lob threat, altered shots on defense, I'm really excited for what he can become. Thinking of him and Nigel together the next four years is tantalizing.
• Chase and Zaide were both very good. They looked every bit the part of dynamic wing duo on both ends.
• Gold was pretty good on the boards. If he's the fourth/fifth offensive option, can hit some shots, and be a presence on the glass, he'll be okay. Want to see more but not disappointed.
• That defense was insanely fun to watch. Shadows of the old Havoc system. Damarius Owens' length and athleticism at the top of the three-quarter court press was insanely effective.

Brew,

NJ has tremendous, tremendous, hand quicks.  I understand you can't count on consistent ball thefts, but dude was  wreaking tier 1 havoc in his first collegiate game. 

[MU82]

My first statement was it is opening night which makes it hard to judge.  Also pointed out the amount of minutes each player got as impactful.  We need that to be an opening night thing but we can also mix the results from last year with the first game this year to see a trend.

That group of players, especially Gold and Ross, have been with the program for a several years.  Based on the one game (again we need to monitor), that group looked to be similar players as last year.  None of them looked like a break out player.  Again hopefully that is just a minutes/first night jitters thing but we need a break out player.  Based on the game last night, did you see who that was?  Ok, me neither, so if we don't see that emerge we are going to have a tough season. Especially against the top tier Big East. 

The Big East sent just three teams in 2024 and 5 teams in 2025.  In 2025, no team outside of the Big 4 made it to the Sweet Sixteen.  Going into this season, it is conceivable that only 3-5 teams make it in and based on the S16 results, it is not a stretch that fewer non-Big 4 teams are in the tournament.  If MU struggles offensively then it is highly possible that we aren't top 3 in the Big East putting us at risk.   

When you compare to last year, we saw an immediate set of breakout players stepping up but in that first game it also showed we had a bench problem.  That bench problem carried itself all the way through the season. 

If it is a one night thing then this is moot but if it isn't we could be on the outside looking in. 

Thanks, Eeyore.

[PointWarrior]

It's not Scoop with absolute bold declarations about a player after a single game.

I'm not sure how you can say the growth of Gold, Lowery, Owens, Parham, and Ross isn't where it needs to be based on one game with disjointed rotations against a bad team.  That's way too small of a sample size to come to that conclusion. 

[Big Papi]

My quick, off the cuff, jumping to conclusions after 1 game.

1. NJ impressed me. He is ready to play lots of minutes. Great pest defensively, a better offensive threat than Sean.

2. Need more out of Gold.  Better on the boards but need more offensively from him and consistency.

3. Hamilton's body transformation has him looking like Oso.  Hopefully his game reaches those heights.

4. Most disappointed in Owens.  I don't like his shot.  Its like a shotput in the air.  I don't see him reaching his potential until he gets that figured out. Maybe my expectations were too high.

5. Parham looked way too slow defensively.  Off game offensively but I worry our pace is going to cause him problems.

6. Love Zaides progress. He is our number 2.

7. Stevens is going to be a good one.

8. Team overall is bubble team.  We are going to struggle.in the half court offense.

[Big Papi]

C'mon! Our defense really sucked. They allowed 53 points!

Our defensive pressure caused them issues but Albany had a lot of unforced turnovers.

[We R Final Four]

What bothered me. 
Damarius at the 4.  There were at least 3 sequences where Ben helped and contested the shot.  Damarius was the 4, along with Chase, and both found themselves under the basket when the ball came off the rim.  Not in position for the rebound.  All resulted in baskets, two in fouls on Ben contesting the shot after the offensive board.

Sean trying so hard to be a facilitator that he passed on a lay up to throw a wraparound d bounce pass at Clark's shins.  Clark ain't catching that pass.

Settling 4 3s early.  They got out of it.

Sean and Nigel are still short and both had get in the paint with nowhere to go moments.  To be expected.

Rebounding. 

The rotations and substitutions were a Jackson Pollock painting.   Which is OK for opening night.

By the way, the answer to the high pick and roll appears to be double and recover, at least on opening night.

DO got caught looking several times on the weak side rebound.

[BM1090]

Owens has been a 34.4% three point shooter so far in his career. His shot looks a little funky but it's gone in. I'll wait until he starts missing for it to be a concern for me.

He does need to improve defensively in the half court. Looks great in the press.

[Shaka Shart]

This team has no Kenpom top 25 wins. Time to panic

[MUbiz]

I am very intrigued on how we do against Indiana. That has been my standard answer since after the win vs Albany - "talk to me after Indiana".

Questions I have are:

1. How will our defense look against a high major?
2. Will we be able to shoot the 3 ball consistently?
3. Will we make foul shots consistently?
4. How does our front court look against a legit front court?

I think I will have some answers to questions 1-3 after Indiana, but IU is not a big team and they do not have a Zuby type center, so I will have to wait for my answer to #4.

[Jay Bee]

Questions I have are:

1. How will our defense look against a high major?
2. Will we be able to shoot the 3 ball consistently?
3. Will we make foul shots consistently?
4. How does our front court look against a legit front court?

1- our defense is good. Offense is the concern
2-no. We will be volatile all year
3- This doesn't matter
4- will be interesting to watch

[MuMark]

Billy Joel
" Slow down you crazy child.....you're so ambitious for a juvenile "