Let's Be Realistic...

[mooka_3]

I've been an MU fan for as long as I can remember, but I now realize we are going nowhere this year. There are a number of reasons why.

#1 - Our fundamentals are awful. I can't remember an Eagles team that has had as many awful turnovers as we have had. Traveling calls. Passes at teammates' feet. Too many out of control jump-passes. It drives me insane.

#2 - We cannot play against the zone. After playing L'ville twice and being embarassed with our offense, I would have thought TC would have come up with SOMETHING besides DJ and JMc passing the ball 35 feet from the hoop. I do believe TC has failed the team in this aspect. Actually, we have no offense. In the tournament, we cannot rely on a fast-break offense. Also, we can't have a fast-break offense if we can't play defense.

#3 - We cannot shoot...period. This probably has something to do with #2. McNeal can't shoot. James can't shoot. Matthews can shoot, but not from three point range. The worst part is they know it. There is no confidence in their shots. You saw the frustration in Fitz on his "juditzu" play. Cubi, Fitz, Scotty C. It doesn't matter. None of them can shoot consistently. When we miss, we have no one to rebound.

#4 - We cannot cover ANYONE big. Onuake should not have been a factor in the game, but he was. That is a consequence from starting 2 PG's, a SG, and 2 SF's instead of a traditional starting lineup. However, we have no one who can honestly play the 4 and 5.

#5 - We cannot handle pressure. It showed in many games, most recently against Gtown. When tournament seeding was on the line against 'Cuse, we fell apart. In reality, the Big Three haven't done anything, and I'm not sure if they will. I truly hope they can figure it out, since I believe DJ will be back next year.

Consequently, realistically, I no longer expect much from this squad. I will, however, continue to root and cheer for them as I always have, because...who knows...We Are MARQUETTE!!!

[ChicosBailBonds]

I've been an MU fan for as long as I can remember, but I now realize we are going nowhere this year. There are a number of reasons why.

#1 - Our fundamentals are awful. I can't remember an Eagles team that has had as many awful turnovers as we have had. Traveling calls. Passes at teammates' feet. Too many out of control jump-passes. It drives me insane.

#2 - We cannot play against the zone. After playing L'ville twice and being embarassed with our offense, I would have thought TC would have come up with SOMETHING besides DJ and JMc passing the ball 35 feet from the hoop. I do believe TC has failed the team in this aspect. Actually, we have no offense. In the tournament, we cannot rely on a fast-break offense. Also, we can't have a fast-break offense if we can't play defense.

#3 - We cannot shoot...period. This probably has something to do with #2. McNeal can't shoot. James can't shoot. Matthews can shoot, but not from three point range. The worst part is they know it. There is no confidence in their shots. You saw the frustration in Fitz on his "juditzu" play. Cubi, Fitz, Scotty C. It doesn't matter. None of them can shoot consistently. When we miss, we have no one to rebound.

#4 - We cannot cover ANYONE big. Onuake should not have been a factor in the game, but he was. That is a consequence from starting 2 PG's, a SG, and 2 SF's instead of a traditional starting lineup. However, we have no one who can honestly play the 4 and 5.

#5 - We cannot handle pressure. It showed in many games, most recently against Gtown. When tournament seeding was on the line against 'Cuse, we fell apart. In reality, the Big Three haven't done anything, and I'm not sure if they will. I truly hope they can figure it out, since I believe DJ will be back next year.

Consequently, realistically, I no longer expect much from this squad. I will, however, continue to root and cheer for them as I always have, because...who knows...We Are MARQUETTE!!!

Yawn

My God, we lost on the road to Syracuse.....OH MY GOD.  OH MY GOD. 

[nyg]

And at UCONN, ND, WVA and UL. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

And at UCONN, ND, WVA and UL. 

UCONN = NCAA top 4 seed
ND = NCAA top 4 seed
WVU = NCAA team
UL = NCAA top 3 seed

What else you got?  Nice to see you back again....often after we lose I might add.

[only a warrior]

I don't know that its so much that we lost to a team playing for its tournament life, but that it really appeared to be an uninspired effort on MU's part.  Yes, we are in the Dance, but this close to the ballroom, it'd be nice to see better effort. 

Stepping back from the edge now 

[unionssuck]

So how exactly are we going to win against a quality team in the tourney?  Oh yeah, I forgot -- MU fans can't have any expectations for winning a tourney game every 5 years or so.

[ChicosBailBonds]

So how exactly are we going to win against a quality team in the tourney?  Oh yeah, I forgot -- MU fans can't have any expectations for winning a tourney game every 5 years or so.

MU fans can have all the expectations they want, but can you set some realistic ones.  Jesus, we haven't won a game all year long against a top team on the road other than Wisconsin (again, this is why I question if they are really that good) and today is a surprise for some of you?  Why?

I don't get it.  This team has been this way all year long.  Good enough to beat anyone but a poor enough shooting team to lose to anyone that is long.  Nothing new.

Our tournament hopes will depend largely on who we play, simple as that.  Welcome to the board...I'm sure we'll see you around after a win too.   

[nyg]

Was actually in the chatroom for the game.  Back?, I've been around for good and bad. Actually agree with the majority of thoughts MOOKA just brought up in one of his first posts, make him feel wanted.    

[scooter]

So how exactly are we going to win against a quality team in the tourney?  Oh yeah, I forgot -- MU fans can't have any expectations for winning a tourney game every 5 years or so.

Our tournament hopes will depend largely on who we play, simple as that.  Welcome to the board...I'm sure we'll see you around after a win too.   

Agreed Chicos - so how can someone (in another thread) say we're going to the Sweet 16?  Let's see the brackets before we make that prediction.  There are certain types of teams that we have almost no chance to beat.

[ChicosBailBonds]

So how exactly are we going to win against a quality team in the tourney?  Oh yeah, I forgot -- MU fans can't have any expectations for winning a tourney game every 5 years or so.

Our tournament hopes will depend largely on who we play, simple as that.  Welcome to the board...I'm sure we'll see you around after a win too.   

Agreed Chicos - so how can someone (in another thread) say we're going to the Sweet 16?  Let's see the brackets before we make that prediction.  There are certain types of teams that we have almost no chance to beat.

Simple...because they're also good enough to get to the Sweet 16.  Now, whether we are definitely going there...no one knows.  Let's see the matchups

[ATWizJr]

Matchups, shmatchups.  How about putting a team on the floor that:

-wins 75% of it's games
-is a top 20 team
-finishes in the top 25% ot it's league
-is a national contender
-beats teams ranked lower on any floor
-can hold a team with a 7 man rotation like Syracuse to under 70 points

we do all these, then let other teams worry about us as a matchup.

[NateDoggMarq]

And at UCONN, ND, WVA and UL. 

UCONN = NCAA top 4 seed
ND = NCAA top 4 seed
WVU = NCAA team
UL = NCAA top 3 seed

What else you got?  Nice to see you back again....often after we lose I might add.

Chico its not that we lost its how we lost!!!

Uconn we were down by 20 very late
WVU: We lost by 13
UL: Lost by 18 and at our place we lost to UL

Chicos Unless we get a bracket that has no centers in it we are rat bait!!!!

[mcnealfan1]

lol the big three havent done anything, what games have you been watching, mcneal almost always plays well, just like he did today, everyone else worries me

[mooka_3]

lol the big three havent done anything, what games have you been watching, mcneal almost always plays well, just like he did today, everyone else worries me

lol the big three havent done anything, what games have you been watching, mcneal almost always plays well, just like he did today, everyone else worries me

I should have clarified. The Big Three have several INDIVIDUAL accomlishments (i.e. "Defensive Player of the Year", Freshman of the Year, etc.). However, as a team, we have not accomplished anything. Zero NCAA tournament victories. Zero Big East championships. Poor showings in the conference tournaments.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

A. There is no "big three."
B. To the original poster...did you see Burke cover Hibbert vs. Georgetown? If you did, you couldn't possibly say we can't cover bigs. We can, but when the rest of the opponent's starting lineup has us by 3 inches apiece, it goes beyond "guarding bigs." It's not the big guys, it's our lack of size at every position.

We're outmanned against talented teams.

[mooka_3]

A. There is no "big three."
B. To the original poster...did you see Burke cover Hibbert vs. Georgetown? If you did, you couldn't possibly say we can't cover bigs. We can, but when the rest of the opponent's starting lineup has us by 3 inches apiece, it goes beyond "guarding bigs." It's not the big guys, it's our lack of size at every position.

We're outmanned against talented teams.

I agree. Burke's performance against Hibbert was inspiring. And we were outsized today. I believe that goes along with my other point that we would be best suited playing with a regular lineup, if we had the players to do so.

[soccer10]

I would have to agree with jamie, who we play in the tourney will determine how far this team can go.  Overall the season has been full of ups and downs but we still finished 22-8.  If we win a couple next week in nyc the still will go away, if we pull our usual lose in round 1 of BE tourney and ncaa then the heat will shift diurectly to crean.  He is being paid a ton to deliver, while the wins and pub is back for marquette, we all know how you do in march is what the booster and fans judge you on.  Right or wrong it is now the fact of life, just look at LSU.. that final four banner gave him 2 years

[21Jumpstreet]

The Idiot's Guide To Winning An NCAA Tournament Game

1.  Hustle
2.  Take Smart Shots
3.  Block Out
4.  Make Free Throws

[4everwarriors]

The Idiot's Guide To Winning An NCAA Tournament Game

1.  Hustle
2.  Take Smart Shots
3.  Block Out
4.  Make Free Throws

Also, having a coach worth the money he's paid would be beneficial.