#11 Marquette (MSG), Tue., Feb. 4, 6:30p, FS-1

lawmanfan said:
We really are starting to look like Houston of the past few years. A next-level defense that teams have difficulty preparing for because you can't understand it until you see it.
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I agree. This team will be a tough out in a tournament setting because they are hard so difficult to prepare for with such a quick turnaround.

And of course what makes it even harder is the relentless attitude of every player on defense is rare.
 
In first half M’Q was shooting 55% & 50% from three.

By end of game they shot 41% and 32% in total.

It shows a few things perhaps; SJ amped up effort in second half or our physical conditioning prevailed and tired a much deeper team. I find that incredible.
 
paultzman said:
In first half M’Q was shooting 55% & 50% from three.

By end of game they shot 41% and 32% in total.

It shows a few things perhaps; SJ amped up effort in second half or our physical conditioning prevailed and tired a much deeper team. I find that incredible.
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If Kadary was not in great shape early in the season, he sure made a remarkable turnaround. He is an iron man out there. And his block late was testament to conditioning and determination.
 
This was easily the best atmosphere of a St. John's game I've ever gone to since this game in 2003. I was 11 years old. It cemented me as a fan of the team for life.

Walking into the Garden, it was funny to overhear some of the people around me. One was, I think, a student who was saying how they went to the Xavier game and they won in overtime & it was a lot of fun. Another was some doofus saying "Where is St. John's? Forest Hills? Astoria? They play here?!" His buddy was saying how its going to be packed and they're legit this year. The people in front of me was a dad with two young kids, but were very clearly into the game the entire time. They're going to be fans for life after watching that game.

I'm really happy we won from the standpoint of, these types of live experiences build on each other and make people want to keep going for more. At the New Mexico game earlier this year, someone yelled at a guy in my section for standing. Tonight's game, that would've been impossible to imagine. Crowd was into it from the tip. Similar to the Xavier game also, in that, as a 33 year old, I was also very likely close to the average age -- which is essential to see.

I watched some highlights and the crowd noise was for real. You have to believe this will also reverberate to players interest in HS and the portal. It's no longer a hypothetical that MSG will be rocking, or that it's actually your home court. It will be and it is. You really think Trenton NJ native Jamir Watkins is happy to be in Tallahassee right now? Or the Bronx's Boogie in Little Rock? No effing way.

They play this video during the last TV timeout at every home game. For the first time, I think we can finally say: the new reign is here.
 
The free throw shooting woes are easy to dismiss when we are able to gut it out and win despite that. BUT, it is a concern as we move forward and play tougher games / opponents. It is the kind of thing that can and will eventually bite in the arse.
 
kranmars said:
If Kadary was not in great shape early in the season, he sure made a remarkable turnaround. He is an iron man out there. And his block late was testament to conditioning and determination.
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Absolutely and it is not easy to catch up endurance wise. Pitino said he took his message to heart and worked his tail off and now is best shape of his career.
 
paultzman said:
In first half M’Q was shooting 55% & 50% from three.

By end of game they shot 41% and 32% in total.

It shows a few things perhaps; SJ amped up effort in second half or our physical conditioning prevailed and tired a much deeper team. I find that incredible.
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Agree and what is incredible is we wear other teams down playing only 6 guys significant minutes. Really hope we can get Prey up to 10-12 mpg by the end of the regular season.
 
While it’s premature to speculate or , tamper , just a thought or 2.


Woodson at IU might be in serious jeopardy at season end . Mgbako was one of RP’s first recruits and also Wilcher teammate at Roselle Catholic .
Just saying .

Of course , Boogie is coming off a broken leg at Arkansas but, our resurgence might be a catalyst to him coming back ?

It’s never too early to think about next season
 
redmanwest said:
The free throw shooting woes are easy to dismiss when we are able to gut it out and win despite that. BUT, it is a concern as we move forward and play tougher games / opponents. It is the kind of thing that can and will eventually bite in the arse.
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Especially because we are so physical inside, driving, generating put backs. Strong guys like Kadary and Zuby will draw fouls. Add RJ to that group and you really have scoring opportunities to help negate absence of good shooting. Additionally you obviously put the opponent in foul trouble, so yes it is critical to be a consistently good foul shooting group.
 
mattc said:
We out-rebounded them 50-28. That’s just insane.
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From Coach Smart, who clearly understands the game:

“There’s so many different factors that go into winning, and there’s so many different factors that go into losing,” the Marquette coach said. “Shooting is one that people pay a lot of attention to, because it’s so obvious. But if there’s 50 of those factors and shooting is one of them, they’re really good at the other 49."
 
redmanwest said:
The free throw shooting woes are easy to dismiss when we are able to gut it out and win despite that. BUT, it is a concern as we move forward and play tougher games / opponents. It is the kind of thing that can and will eventually bite in the arse.
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100%. It should be correctable but we don't seem to be in correction mode.
 
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