[Cracked Sidewalks] MU Ends Season with Thumping at Syracuse

[CrackedSidewalksSays]

MU Ends Season with Thumping at Syracuse

Written by: mu_hilltopper

Marquette, a pre-season Top 10 team, was picked to compete for the Big East Title, instead ended the season with a whimper, losing at Syracuse by fifteen, 87-72.

Marquette could not stop Syracuse's starters, two of whom hit 20+ points, and 4 hit double digits.  Syracuse shot a blistering 58%.  On the other side of the court, Syracuse served up a 2-3 zone that, for the 800th time, has proven to be Marquette's kryptonite.

Jerel McNeal had 22 points and 6 rebounds, the only bright spot for Marquette.

While my prediction to finish the BE season 11-7 was derided as pessimistic the time, it turned out to be spot on.   Marquette returned their entire 10-6 team from last year, but the team I observed in practices and pre-season scrimmages this year appeared to have the exact same strengths and weaknesses as last year's squad.    Same team = same results.

However .. while the team met my "expectations" I am disappointed, as they were low expectations.  5 of our 7 BE losses were blowout-double-digit thumpings.  9 of our 11 wins came against the lower half of the Big East.     While we had no "bad" losses, we had few wins versus quality teams, winning 3 of 11 games versus Top 50, a stat that does not bode well for the NCAA Tournament.

Many thought we'd compete for the Big East Title.  Instead, we ended firmly in the middle of the pack.  Three years of the "Big 3" have gained us a 4th place finish, 5th place, and now 6th place.  Time is slipping away.

Marquette has locked up the #6 seed in the BET, and should play 8pm CST on Wednesday, most likely versus Seton Hall, who MU beat twice this year.  A second round matchup versus Notre Dame is predicted, which is much better than if we were a #5 seed, playing UConn in the 2nd round

AP Wrap / Official Box / Play by Play

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2008/03/mu-ends-season-with-thumping-at.html

[spiral97]

Many thought we'd compete for the Big East Title.  Instead, we ended firmly in the middle of the pack.  Three years of the "Big 3" have gained us a 4th place finish, 5th place, and now 6th place.  Time is slipping away.

There's a difference between seed and finishing place.. we finished tied for 5th in the Big East.

I don't call this firmly in the middle of the pack.. perhaps "2nd tier" is a better term.. I look at the standings and see a few tiers:

• Tier 1: GT, ND, Lou
• Tier 2: UConn, MU, WVU
• Tier 3: Pitt, Vill, Syr (this is what I would call firmly in the middle of the pack)
• Tier 4: Cin, SetonH, DePaul, Prov
• Tier 5: StJn, SoFla, Rut

While I agree that the team underperformed my expectations (I fully expected them to be competing within the first tier) I still believe they are above average in the conference.

Top 3 things I was happy to see:
1.) Lazar's offensive improvements (the last two games not withstanding)
2.) the team's defense as a whole
3.) our offense show more variety than a 3 man weave

Top 3 things I expected more of this season:
1.) more consistent post production (on offense AND defense)
2.) more consistent shooting in general
3.) figure out how to penetrate a zone and score

I think we need to figure out at least two of these last three things to get into that top tier.

[mu_hilltopper]

Yeah, I figured I might take some guff for saying we were in the middle of the pack.  Glass half empty view.

I'll restate.  Of all the teams that are not competing for the Title, we're probably the best.  Hooray for us.

Isn't that from the book of Seinfeld .. The Silver Medal is like .. of all the people who didn't win, you're #1.  Of all the losers, you're best.