Quote from: Marquette Fan on January 31, 2025, 09:49:48 AM6-3 halfway through conference play (the women play only 18 conference games -Marquette only faced Creighton on the road and will only play St. John's at home this season) - much better than I expected them to be at this point.  Of their 9 remaining conference games, I consider 6 of them very winnable, 2 likely losses but ones they could possibly win in an upset if they play well - at Villanova and at Seton Hall and one sure blowout loss - at UCONN. 

Considering what the women's team went through and with a new coach and new players....pretty damn good!

Bad loss at Butler today.

In other news, Scott Merritt was fired recently by Gardner Webb - no details on why yet.

Quote from: Marquette Fan on February 09, 2025, 08:25:33 PMBad loss at Butler today.

In other news, Scott Merritt was fired recently by Gardner Webb - no details on why yet.

It was 8-0 Butler when I walked into Hinkle. Didn't get enough from Forbes, Butler got and made too many open looks from three. Really good play at the end but Forbes' shot rimmed out. Forbes got in foul trouble.

I posted about Merritt on the other board (I didn't realize this thread was here). He had G-W improving, 6-4 in conference play. Had to be something off the court.
https://www.thenexthoops.com/ncaaw/scott-merritt-fired-gardner-webb-womens-basketball/

Nice bounce back win at Seton Hall on Wednesday.  That could be a critical win in a possible tiebreaker with Villanova also. 

Need to get the win over DePaul tomorrow - they are close to MU in the standings and a season sweep over them would help a lot.

What has happened to DePaul women's basketball? Bruno kept that program relevant for decades, but lately ... ugh.

Quote from: MU82 on February 14, 2025, 10:55:11 AMWhat has happened to DePaul women's basketball? Bruno kept that program relevant for decades, but lately ... ugh.

Because Doug Bruno is long-time close friends wit Geno Auriemma, there was an article last week before DePaul & UConn played.  Doug Bruno has been sick and there's an interim coach.

Quote from: MU82 on February 14, 2025, 10:55:11 AMWhat has happened to DePaul women's basketball? Bruno kept that program relevant for decades, but lately ... ugh.

Are you blind the the spectacular results from moving the resources to the men's program? 

Quote from: MU Fan in Connecticut on February 14, 2025, 11:55:08 AMBecause Doug Bruno is long-time close friends wit Geno Auriemma, there was an article last week before DePaul & UConn played.  Doug Bruno has been sick and there's an interim coach.

Thanks for that info; I didn't know that. Bruno's a good guy, and I wish him the best.

But the program's fade started several years ago.

Thanks I was also wondering about the DePaul women's team as well
Glad we got the win!

As has been mentioned, DePaul has been on a steady decline the last few seasons.  The last time they made the NCAA Tournament was 2022.  And Bruno has been on medical leave this whole season.  They were picked to finish 9th in the preseason coaches poll just ahead of MU in 10th.

MU moved to 9-5 in BE play with their win over DePaul yesterday and are 4th in the conference for now with 4 conference games to go.  They will lose at UCONN for sure, can win at Georgetown but may slip up there as they did at Butler and should be able to beat Providence and Xavier at home.  Whatever they do they will end up much better than the 10th place they were picked as in the preseason coaches poll.

Providence is 4-11 and tied with Butler for 9th in the conference now and were picked to finish 3rd in the preseason coaches poll.  It sure would be nice for MU who was picked to finish 10th to get the season sweep over Providence tonight.  MU is tied with Villanova for 4th now at 9-5.

Quote from: Marquette Fan on February 16, 2025, 08:13:37 AMAs has been mentioned, DePaul has been on a steady decline the last few seasons.  The last time they made the NCAA Tournament was 2022.  And Bruno has been on medical leave this whole season.  They were picked to finish 9th in the preseason coaches poll just ahead of MU in 10th.

MU moved to 9-5 in BE play with their win over DePaul yesterday and are 4th in the conference for now with 4 conference games to go.  They will lose at UCONN for sure, can win at Georgetown but may slip up there as they did at Butler and should be able to beat Providence and Xavier at home.  Whatever they do they will end up much better than the 10th place they were picked as in the preseason coaches poll.

F@ck 'em

I'm assuming the answer is no, but does this team have any chance at an at large bid if they finish 20-9, 12-6 and knock of Creighton in the BE tournament?

Seems like this year has been a huge success after a coaching change and poor preseason projections.

Quote from: BM1090 on February 20, 2025, 01:29:36 PMI'm assuming the answer is no, but does this team have any chance at an at large bid if they finish 20-9, 12-6 and knock of Creighton in the BE tournament?

Seems like this year has been a huge success after a coaching change and poor preseason projections.

Yeah I don't see any way they make the NCAA Tournament.  They have some not so great losses and no real great wins.  Their NET is 59 now.  They could have won at Creighton this season and could see them beating them in the BET but I don't think that would be enough to get them into the NCAA Tourney.  They only played Creighton once this season as part of the unbalanced schedule.  Interestingly Seton Hall and Villanova also only played once and there's a decent chance there will be a tie between Seton Hall and Villanova and possibly Marquette also.  And I don't see more than 2 BE teams going to the NCAA Tourney.  UCONN and Creighton will be those two teams.

But even without an NCAA Tournament appearance yes I would say that this season has been much better than expected. 

Charlie Creme has Villanova as one of next 4 teams out in his latest bracketology  from 2/18 - Marquette had been listed there at one point.  I'm really not sure why Villanova is listed there instead of Marquette for a BE team there but it doesn't really matter.  https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/30423107/ncaa-women-bracketology-2025-women-college-basketball-projections

Great to see former players come back and really great to see Liza Karlen back at MU when they honored Oso - https://x.com/marquettewbb/status/1892953936320987395?s=46&t=qmHojXzONY0z7kSh4Cq1Rg

All Marquette has to do to make the NCAAT is win the Big East Tournament.

Easy peasy!

Quote from: MU82 on February 21, 2025, 01:31:35 PMAll Marquette has to do to make the NCAAT is win the Big East Tournament.

Easy peasy!

As long as UCONN is somehow disqualified from the BET that is possible 😂

Interestingly, ESPN does now have Mu as next 4 out.

Quote from: BM1090 on February 21, 2025, 05:11:23 PMInterestingly, ESPN does now have Mu as next 4 out.

Yeah I'm still not sure why Crème had Villanova in that next four out recently instead of MU.  But I still don't think that MU can get an at large bid so I suppose it doesn't matter.

Close one tonight but MU pulls out a 55-50 win at Georgetown.  They move to 11-5 in the Big East and are third in the BE for now 1/2 game ahead of Villanova and Seton Hall.  But both those teams have winnable games tomorrow. 

Marquette can now finish no lower than 5th in the BE and has clinched a first round bye in the BET.

Seton Hall won today to tie MU for 3rd in the BE at 11-5.  But in a surprising result to me Villanova lost at Providence today and moves a game behind MU and Seton Hall at 10-6.

I'm predicting MU will finish 12-6 in the BE - winning at home against Xavier and losing at UCONN.

Seton Hall hosts DePaul on Thursday and finishes their season at Xavier on Sunday.  I'd say both those games are very likely wins for them.

Villanova hosts Butler Wednesday - a game they likely will win but then finishes at Creighton which will be a tough game.

UCONN hasn't technically clinched the conference yet as Creighton only has one loss so far but they play each other at UCONN Thursday.  I expect UCONN to win that game and win the BE title again.

Some things about the standings:
-Xavier will finish last once again but at least they won one conference game this season - they hadn't done that in a few years.
-DePaul looks to be locked into the 6 seed.
-MU, Seton Hall and Villanova can all finish anywhere from 3rd-5th I believe but not totally sure about all tiebreakers especially if it's a 3 way tie as Seton Hall and Villanova only played each other once this season.
-I don't really feel like trying to figure out tiebreakers now for teams in 7-10 now - will just see how that plays out.

Marquette is now the first team listed in next four out in espn bracketology.  I know they aren't dancing this year but still interesting to see the predictions.

Tracking the last two MU Coaches:

Viginia Tech is listed as the last team in now in bracketology - so still in danger of not making it.  Let's see if Duffy can finally win an NCAA tournament game if they do make it.

And Penn State is 1-15 in conference and likely won't even make the Big 10 Tournament.  I'd think Kieger won't be back after this season.

Easy win on senior night as it should have been against Xavier.  Xavier has been in the basement of the BE for a few years now and only has one conference win - they actually hadn't won a conference game in almost 3 years before beating Butler this season.

MU and Seton Hall are now tied for third in the BE at 12-5.  It looks likely to me that Seton Hall will finish 3rd and MU 4th as I don't see Seton Hall losing at Xavier and Marquette is not going to win at UCONN on Sunday.  Villanova is just behind both these teams at 11-6 but they have a tough game left at Creighton. 

Good for the women, great after where they were predicted to finish.

They moved into the first 4 teams out in the espn bracketology and former MU coach Duffy's VT team moved from one of the last teams in to the first team out - https://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/30423107/ncaa-women-bracketology-2025-women-college-basketball-projections

Still no chance at an at large bid I think but much better than expected overall this season.