Welp!

[GoldenEagles03]

Not only are they sometimes like that, they are often like that.

First Road Game:
2025 at Wisconsin: L 76-96 missed the tournament
2021 at Wisconsin: L 76-89 1st round exit
2020 at UCLA: L 60-69 missed the tournament
2019 at Wisconsin: L 61-77 COVID cancel
2018 at Indiana: L 73-96 1st round exit
2014 at Ohio State: L 63-74 missed the tournament
2012 at Florida: L 49-82 Elite 8
2009 at Wisconsin: L 63-72 1st round exit
2005 at Nebraska: L 74-84 1st round exit

I hope this team is more like the Elite 8 team than the rest of those awful data points. Frankly, I see no reason to believe that they can't be. They are probably more talented offensively than that Elite 8 team but they just haven't showed it yet. I totally agree with a few other posters that Adrien is our guy. Nigel just needs to control the game as a PG and give us 14 points a night. He can do that. I think this team has a nice roster for tournament play and they have a lot of time to figure out how to reach their peak. I just hope they win some of these important games to give themselves a favorable chance to advance in March. Need one on Sunday.

[WhiteTrash]

Not only are they sometimes like that, they are often like that.

First Road Game:
2025 at Wisconsin: L 76-96
2021 at Wisconsin: L 76-89
2020 at UCLA: L 60-69
2019 at Wisconsin: L 61-77
2018 at Indiana: L 73-96
2014 at Ohio State: L 63-74
2012 at Florida: L 49-82
2009 at Wisconsin: L 63-72
2005 at Nebraska: L 74-84

I guess that proves it is often, but proves not the majority of the time.

[GoldenEagles03]

The elephant in the room is Fru's play.  He was dreadful, and didn't seem to really care either.

I actually don't agree with this. There was a point where we were starting to get blown out and they went into the huddle with Shaka, and Fru looked to be the only one looking Shaka in the eye and nodding in agreement when Shaka said "we have a chance to plant a flag and show what we are about" (or something along those lines). I think Fru cares.

[willie warrior]

Have to put the ball in Stevens hands more going forward.  He's the best all around guard on the roster.

Nigel needs to just manage the game.  Be the leader.  We dont need him to score 30 for us to win.

No, but he does need to score and stop the stupid TOs. He has to be a leader, or sit him and let Porter take over. And No, we cannot play long periods with both on the floor.

[TallTitan34]

I guess that proves it is often, but proves not the majority of the time.

For what it is worth there were a couple other losses in first road games I didn't include as the score was more competitive.  There were also several big losses in second road games.

2024 second road game at Iowa State: L 70-81
2023 second road game at Wisconsin: L 64-75
2022 first road game at Purdue: L 70-75
2013 first road game at Wisconsin: L 64-70
2011 second road game at LSU: L 59-67
2008 second road game at West Virginia: L 64-79
2007 second road game at Providence: L 59-74

[wisblue]

And yet, he played for 18 more minutes after that (3rd most on the team) and managed three points (garbage time 3) and two rebounds to go along with two turn overs.

No way to excuse that.

Early foul trouble, and then soft the rest of the way. He did that in the MSU exhibition too.

[panda]

I actually don't agree with this. There was a point where we were starting to get blown out and they went into the huddle with Shaka, and Fru looked to be the only one looking Shaka in the eye and nodding in agreement when Shaka said "we have a chance to plant a flag and show what we are about" (or something along those lines). I think Fru cares.

Some may say he even had the look in his eye

[The Sultan]

I hope this team is more like the Elite 8 team than the rest of those awful data points. Frankly, I see no reason to believe that they can't be.

You see no reason to believe they can't be an Elite 8 team??? Are you kidding???

The '08 team was full of experienced juniors and seniors who played in the S16 just the year prior. This team has shown NO evidence that they can play at that level. Getting to the tournament and winning A GAME would vastly exceed my expectations at this point in time.

[Scoop Snoop]

You see no reason to believe they can't be an Elite 8 team??? Are you kidding???

The '08 team was full of experienced juniors and seniors who played in the S16 just the year prior. This team has shown NO evidence that they can play at that level. Getting to the tournament and winning A GAME would vastly exceed my expectations at this point in time.

Not quite what he said, but he really could have worded it better. I read it that he hoped we would be somewhere in between E8 and "those awful data points". .

[Johnny B]

You see no reason to believe they can't be an Elite 8 team??? Are you kidding???

The '08 team was full of experienced juniors and seniors who played in the S16 just the year prior. This team has shown NO evidence that they can play at that level. Getting to the tournament and winning A GAME would vastly exceed my expectations at this point in time.

Im bias but the eye test to me says this team has no business missing the NCAAs this year. we have seen them have great individual performances. They are more than capable. Good size and athleticism out there. Even barely making it in would be this team underperforming significantly. I get they haven't proved anything but this should be a top 35 team at worst imo. You could tell after indiana last year how limited that team was. Im not seeing that ultra limited team this year.

[BM1090]

Not only are they sometimes like that, they are often like that.

First Road Game:
2025 at Wisconsin: L 76-96
2021 at Wisconsin: L 76-89
2020 at UCLA: L 60-69
2019 at Wisconsin: L 61-77
2018 at Indiana: L 73-96
2014 at Ohio State: L 63-74
2012 at Florida: L 49-82
2009 at Wisconsin: L 63-72
2005 at Nebraska: L 74-84

Not first road game, but I'd add Dayton 2025, Wisconsin 2024 and maybe Mississippi State 2023 to the list.

There's always road clunkers. The bounce back is what matters. Sunday should tell us a lot. Can they can compete, and if they compete can they close? If we do both of those Sunday this will be forgotten quickly.

[brewcity77]

After last night, Marquette is 2-8 in their last 10 November road games against high-major opponents. The 2023-24 (Illinois) and 2024-25 (Maryland) wins were the first such wins in November since a non-con win over St. John's to open the 2003-04 season when we were still in Conference USA.

[willie warrior]

After last night, Marquette is 2-8 in their last 10 November road games against high-major opponents. The 2023-24 (Illinois) and 2024-25 (Maryland) wins were the first such wins in November since a non-con win over St. John's to open the 2003-04 season when we were still in Conference USA.

That 2-8 record is about what you would expect from a low to mid major team

[GoldenEagles03]

You see no reason to believe they can't be an Elite 8 team??? Are you kidding???

The '08 team was full of experienced juniors and seniors who played in the S16 just the year prior. This team has shown NO evidence that they can play at that level. Getting to the tournament and winning A GAME would vastly exceed my expectations at this point in time.

I'm not saying it's a guarantee, I'm saying I see no reason to write them off in being able to do that. Look at the last time we played in a game to get to an Elite 8. We lost to an 11 seed that wouldn't even have made the tournament had they not won their own league tournament to get an auto-bid.

This team has the talent.

[The Sultan]

I'm not saying it's a guarantee, I'm saying I see no reason to write them off in being able to do that. Look at the last time we played in a game to get to an Elite 8. We lost to an 11 seed that wouldn't even have made the tournament had they not won their own league tournament to get an auto-bid.

This team has the talent.

You don't? I see plenty of reasons to write them off as an Elite 8 team. This group of players has not won anything. (As opposed to the 2023-24 team, which won a Big East title and tournament the year prior.) And I'm sorry to say, this teams also does not have the talent. 2023-24 had three players currently playing in the NBA. This team? Eh... I'm not sure they have any right now.

Maybe I am just down on them right now, but last night looked way too much like last year to me. Maybe it will gel and get them to the second weekend, but I find that to be EXTREMELY optimistic.

[GoldenEagles03]

You don't? I see plenty of reasons to write them off as an Elite 8 team. This group of players has not won anything. (As opposed to the 2023-24 team, which won a Big East title and tournament the year prior.) And I'm sorry to say, this teams also does not have the talent. 2023-24 had three players currently playing in the NBA. This team? Eh... I'm not sure they have any right now.

Maybe I am just down on them right now, but last night looked way too much like last year to me. Maybe it will gel and get them to the second weekend, but I find that to be EXTREMELY optimistic.

What did the NC State team that we lost to in 2024 have?

[NCMUFan]

No mayday flares going up yet.
Hopefully Shaka will tune the team to be a high performing machine.
But the woeful misses brought back bad memories of last season.