What's happened?

[TSmith34, Inc.]

1. Jop has inexplicably lost his 3-point shot. Completely. Form looks the same to me, but results are abysmal.
2. Stevie is a shadow of himself. I presume he is beat up.
3. Kam is using the 4th different form on his jumper in 4 years. This one isn't working.
4. Ben is definitely gimpy

[Big Papi]

1. Jop has inexplicably lost his 3-point shot. Completely. Form looks the same to me, but results are abysmal.
2. Stevie is a shadow of himself. I presume he is beat up.
3. Kam is using the 4th different form on his jumper in 4 years. This one isn't working.
4. Ben is definitely gimpy

I'm going to guess this time of year everyone is beat up. It's an excuse.

Time to step up or this going to be an ugly last couple of weeks.

[Norm]

Need to back to "Where the Streets Have No Name" for the intro. Irish bands get it done.

Did they change the intro song??

[vogue65]

It's easier for a hurting 3 pt. shooter to shoot than a banged up driver to drive.
Nice guys, but they get intimidated.
Teams have our number.
Put three guys under the basket and let Marquette throw up bricks.
On offense shoot threes that go in.
Paint touches are highly overrated.
Interesting that we don't get fouls called against our competition.  They just let us shoot.

Oh, and they had a week off.  How will it go Tuesday after just a few days recovery?

[GoldenEagles03]

Did they change the intro song??

No

[Vander Blue Man Group]

It's easier for a hurting 3 pt. shooter to shoot than a banged up driver to drive.
Nice guys, but they get intimidated.
Teams have our number.
Put three guys under the basket and let Marquette throw up bricks.
On offense shoot threes that go in.
Paint touches are highly overrated.
Interesting that we don't get fouls called against our competition.  They just let us shoot.

Oh, and they had a week off.  How will it go Tuesday after just a few days recovery?

They didn't have a week off - they played Tuesday night.

[jesmu84]

It's easier for a hurting 3 pt. shooter to shoot than a banged up driver to drive.
Nice guys, but they get intimidated.
Teams have our number.
Put three guys under the basket and let Marquette throw up bricks.
On offense shoot threes that go in.
Paint touches are highly overrated.
Interesting that we don't get fouls called against our competition.  They just let us shoot.

Oh, and they had a week off.  How will it go Tuesday after just a few days recovery?

Welcome back?

2 posts today.
2 posts 1/3/25.
Before that? 3/31/24.

Where you been?

[Shaka Shart]

Welcome back?

2 posts today.
2 posts 1/3/25.
Before that? 3/31/24.

Where you been?

Recently pardoned?

[Elonsmusk]

The team is physically worn down.  Ben is nowhere near as mobile as he was earlier in the year, and its evident his shin/lower legs are bothering him. I suspect Stevie is also really limited by his achilles.  Kam also has a ton of wear and tear accumulated through his heavy load on both ends.

This team thrived on being able to create turnovers and convert for easy scores.  Their energy and activity level aren't at the same level as earlier in the season, and I don't think for one second its due to lack of heart. 

It sounded like things were dialed back last week during the off week, with guys getting individual work in, some practice limited, but Shaka mentioned more time together.  In my opinion, it seems like the squad probably needs a break from each other/practice/the grind.

Love our squad and Shaka - they work their ass off, but it might be time for the work to be dialed back, and try to find some fun in this last month of the season.

[brewcity77]

Honestly, this is what we've been for a long time, but the W/L results papered over the actual level of play reality. Since December 8, the day after the Wisconsin game, we rank #46 in T-Rank. So for 2-1/2 months, we've been playing like a bubble team.

Our 8-0 start was the best in over a decade, the 6-0 Big East start was the best since the Amigos, those things made it easy to ignore some of the deficiencies that have been there a long time.

The first month, we looked great because we were lethal at the rim and the turnover differential gave us a possession advantage. We weren't shooting well from three, but historically that has always positively regressed to the mean in January/February, so we looked like contenders.

Instead, teams were able to pack the paint as the shooting never came around. The turnover disparity isn't as stark; we had 22+% TO rate in 7 of our first 10 games, but just 5 of 17 since. And Kam has gone from NPOY contender good to First Team Big East good, which just isn't good enough to lift the offense to the top-15 level it was at.

I'm not one to give up on the season. Sometimes getting out of conference play is the best thing you can do, and 3/5 Big East losses came the second time a team played us. I still think we can be in that 5-7 seed range and depending on the draw get to the second weekend, maybe even Elite Eight. But I do have a hard time realistically seeing this team reach the heights that felt possible in early December.

[Jay Bee]

I blame the fans first and foremost.

Also, too much time in the boxing ring, not enough time boxing out.

We still *COULD* get to my magical 25/25 Adj OE / Adj DE rankings by tourney time. Need to get healthier, and continue to see guys step up (e.g., Royce, Zaide, DO and his length pawz)... regardless of where the regular season ends up, this team will be a scary foe in the tourney for most opponents... Jolp has a night.. or Ben knocks down 3/5 from deep to help.. one or more of the frosh or sophs step up big time in a game.. Kam goes god mode, etc... lots of paths to pull off 'upsets'...

But the thought of us getting pummeled in a 6/11 game right from the tip isn't difficult to imagine either. #pray

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Hard to believe we're realistically at this point in terms of seeding discussion after where we stood in early January but I really don't want to fall to the 8/9 game. I imagine the chances of that are low but I don't dive into the bracketology to that level.

[rgoode57]

As we can all see, this team has regressed in the last six weeks. Physical injuries account for some of it - Ben and Stevie particularly. Can it be fixed at this point? Probably not. This is a team limping to the end of the season. What the team is sorely lacking is the physical toughness and mental determination that really good teams have. During the past two seasons. Oso and Tyler provided that kind of leadership, but there is no one to do it now. Stevie is that kind of player, but he is obviously not able to play at that level right now due to physical constraints.

But, having said that, I also have to admit to feeling somewhat hypocritical. I have said before that I do not expect MU to ever win another national championship, and I mean that. National championships are now won by teams with huge NIL programs that pay players very large amounts of money. MU cannot compete in that arena. And, I'm ok with that. I do not want MU to be a school that pays huge amounts to basketball players. I want the team to be competitive, able to win the BE every now and then, get to the tournament, and be comprised of good players who represent the university well.

So, even though I am complaining about the decline of this year's team, I guess the team is pretty much what I want them to be too.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

As we can all see, this team has regressed in the last six weeks. Physical injuries account for some of it - Ben and Stevie particularly. Can it be fixed at this point? Probably not. This is a team limping to the end of the season. What the team is sorely lacking is the physical toughness and mental determination that really good teams have. During the past two seasons. Oso and Tyler provided that kind of leadership, but there is no one to do it now. Stevie is that kind of player, but he is obviously not able to play at that level right now due to physical constraints.

But, having said that, I also have to admit to feeling somewhat hypocritical. I have said before that I do not expect MU to ever win another national championship, and I mean that. National championships are now won by teams with huge NIL programs that pay players very large amounts of money. MU cannot compete in that arena. And, I'm ok with that. I do not want MU to be a school that pays huge amounts to basketball players. I want the team to be competitive, able to win the BE every now and then, get to the tournament, and be comprised of good players who represent the university well.

So, even though I am complaining about the decline of this year's team, I guess the team is pretty much what I want them to be too.

I'm glad Shaka doesn't have your mindset about what this program can be in the coming years.

[GoldenEagles03]

Hard to believe we're realistically at this point in terms of seeding discussion after where we stood in early January but I really don't want to fall to the 8/9 game. I imagine the chances of that are low but I don't dive into the bracketology to that level.

Seems like we are probably a 6 at the moment with a good chance to make it to the 5 line if we start winning. Butler is on the verge of becoming a Q1 win for us. Our resume isn't the problem though it is the predictive metrics at this point.

Gotta start playing more efficient.

[bilsu]

I thought all along we were overrated. We beat Creighton, when they were struggling to replace Issacs, and we beat Xavier without Freemantle. I do not think we would have won either of those games if those players were not injured. We were also struggling to beat the lesser teams. The great start just gave us too much hope for this season.

[The Sultan]

I thought all along we were overrated.

<yawn>

You think that every year.

[MU82]

I thought all along we were overrated.

What else is new?

I do not think we would have won either of those games if those players were not injured.

Of course you didn't. You thought we'd be 9-23, no matter who was hurt or healthy.

The great start just gave us too much hope for this season.

Us? I had the requisite amount of hope, and so did most Scoopers. You, on the other hand, hope for MU to lose so Shaka leaves or gets fired.

[jesmu84]

Good post, brew

[willie warrior]

As we can all see, this team has regressed in the last six weeks. Physical injuries account for some of it - Ben and Stevie particularly. Can it be fixed at this point? Probably not. This is a team limping to the end of the season. What the team is sorely lacking is the physical toughness and mental determination that really good teams have. During the past two seasons. Oso and Tyler provided that kind of leadership, but there is no one to do it now. Stevie is that kind of player, but he is obviously not able to play at that level right now due to physical constraints.

But, having said that, I also have to admit to feeling somewhat hypocritical. I have said before that I do not expect MU to ever win another national championship, and I mean that. National championships are now won by teams with huge NIL programs that pay players very large amounts of money. MU cannot compete in that arena. And, I'm ok with that. I do not want MU to be a school that pays huge amounts to basketball players. I want the team to be competitive, able to win the BE every now and then, get to the tournament, and be comprised of good players who represent the university well.

So, even though I am complaining about the decline of this year's team, I guess the team is pretty much what I want them to be too.

Glad you have settled. Some of us want the team to compete for national Titles. And that is all right too. No reason why we can not.