I have never understood comments like this on a message board. Why shouldn’t fans speculate about how far we could possibly go or be completely irrationally optimistic on a message board?
Kermit and the players need to stay focused on Marshall and the CUSA tournament.
Fans should be completely irrationally optimistic and feel free to completely overlook Marshall and CUSA after smoking WKU tonight. Bring on Virginia!!!!
The joint was just about full! Cry babies just have to complain about something. Scoreboard speaks for itself.
this breakdown of the game last night on the wku 24/7 board:
PACE 66. Right where MTSU wants it.
EFFICIENCY
WKU 97.5
MTSU 125
Congrats to MTSU. They have been the best team in CUSA all year and stuck a bold period at the end of that statement that last night. They have multiple titles over the last few years, they have a system that works, and they set their attendance record last night. Much respect, even if I hate losing to them...especially when I make the drive down to the Boro. When we got settled into the arena, I told my family sitting with me, "I'm not sure ANYONE not named MTSU can win in here tonight." It would have taken a near-perfect game and we were far from perfect.
So, you don't need too much deep analysis to know what happened if you were there. Johnson/Coleby combined for zero free throws. So...yeah, it was physical. That won't happen in Frisco, I can guarantee that. Beyond that, only one stat pops: MTSU shot 60% on 2s and 45% on 3s for 62.5% eFG%. It was their best shooting night and best O-EFF night all season. It was our worst D-EFF night all season. This is one of those where I simply cannot hear you if you try to talk about our offensive struggles. This wasn't even close to MTSU's best defensive game. They have TEN other games that rate out higher. We beat them at the line, like we always do. We lost the glass, but it was not a crushing defeat. Turnovers were even. If you gave me those stats going into last night, I would have taken it with a lot of hope to win. The game came down to who could make more shots. Man, I'll take the Tops in a shooting match every time. But, MTSU was on fire from everywhere. Our zone was pilloried all night as MTSU got loads of layups against it. And, they were hot from 3 to boot. Add that to the environment and we had no chance.
To relieve you of stress, don't sweat our struggles offensive struggles against their zone. The Radiers were focused. We put up a better efficiency number against them last night than Auburn (who beat MTSU) or Murray and nearly equaled Marshall's number that beat MTSU. The Raiders lost at home to Belmont on Nov 16 at home, and since then are 10-0 at home. I don't know the list of teams that could honestly expect to win in there last night, but it's incredibly short.
All that said, our defense was not nearly ready and that is the last turn of the screw for this team. JJ/Coleby are not going to shoot ZERO free throws if we face MTSU on a neutral court in Frisco. Simply won't happen. MTSU is unlikely to shoot THAT well in Frisco. What's left for this fine Topper team is to find the "championship defense" gear for a very long stretch against MTSU. It's the only way. We aren't going to magically solve their 1-3-1. No one does! The Raiders are #26 NATIONALLY in D-EFF and #1 in CUSA by a country mile. Not only is their zone amongst the best in the country, they give up NOTHING in transition. We will have to manufacture points and pile up FT advantage. And, we can do that. What will give us a chance to beat MTSU is 40 minutes of defense like we've never played it before. I'm not sure the answer is our version of the 1-3-1 defense. I don't know the answer...and that's what I mean. We have ONE MORE turn of the dial to unlock this thing.
Stanz was VERY confident in his team going into last night. We got smashed. Let's see what he can teach this team about bounce-back at UAB and then find ONE MORE level before Frisco.
IDENTITY STATS
1. SHOOTING. 50% on 2s, 20% from 3 (2-10). Not great, but against an elite defense in that environment? It should have given us a chance.
2. FREE THROWS. We doubled up MTSU at the line on takes and makes. +10 takes, +7 makes. Death, taxes, Tops getting to the line.
3. TURNOVERS. Even. Both took good care of the ball (10 TOs each, 15% TOrate).
Again, nothing stands out other than this: we were not dominated in every phase, we simply got shot into oblivion.
UAB now is a big task. They rocked Marshall last night, we got squashed in a huge game, and UAB is at home on senior night. I don't like the way that shapes up. But, for tourney purposes, we will be the 2 or the 3 seed. Either way, we get a bye and it's likely we have to go through both ODU and MTSU if the chalk holds.
Dust yourselves off Tops. Game tomorrow, and we have to find one more gear. We're still the most dangerous offense in the league and there are no home games in Frisco, Texas.
Love Rexrode’s work. He does a good job capturing MT moments- he gets it. Always thought it was cool timing with him coming to the Tennessean from the Michigan State beat after that game. It’s no coincidence he’s complimentary in his coverage.
It’s felt like we’ve had some “we’ve arrived” moments over the last few years, but tonight sure feels like one.
What was up with the two wky douchebags sitting in courtside seats? Sorry if already posted.
wku missed their shot then Johnson banks the three at the buzzer - it was a total kick in the nuts! LOVED IT.
In the 30 years I've been attending MT games I can't remember a student section as packed as it was Thursday.
I wish I had recorded the students when they were all dancing to music in the second half - it was rocking
I was wondering the same thing. Those seats have names on the back of them and they belonged to TDK Construction. I appreciate their financial donation, but no way I show up in red, or give those seats to someone who is wearing red.What was up with the two wky douchebags sitting in courtside seats? Sorry if already posted.
A lot of teams can hang with us for the first 15 minutes, but then fatigue sets in. Our depth has been the key to our success. We can go 8, 9, 10 deep with not much of a dropoff. We are fresh at the end of the game and other teams are sucking wind because they could only play their best 7.