Sun 3/2, Marquette (9-6) at #8 Villanova (13-2), 2pm CBS.

[marquette]

It's looking that way

I really can't see any way Marquette gets an at-large now. They are officially a spoiler now IMO.

It's looking that way. There's a chance if we can win our last 2 then take a couple in the BE tourney, but that's a stretch. Winning the tourney is probably our only shot at a bid now. I don't like our odds. Oh well, next year.

[ReynoldsWrap]

I was thrilled to see how much Nova's defense improved against Davante Gardner, who absolutely dominated the first game between these teams. Darrun Hilliard (26pts, 5-8 on 3's) was on fire, and his outside shooting really carried us offensively. Josh Hart (13pts, 4rbs) is playing much better since his mid-season slump, it's nice to have such a talented freshman coming off the bench. The only issue I really had with today's game was that we didn't even make an attempt to get the ball inside. Ochefu and Pinkston combined for just six field goal attempts. Pretty solid crowd at the Wells Fargo Center today.

[marquette]

I was thrilled to see how much Nova's defense improved against Davante Gardner, who absolutely dominated the first game between these teams. Darrun Hilliard (26pts, 5-8 on 3's) was on fire, and his outside shooting really carried us offensively. Josh Hart (13pts, 4rbs) is playing much better since his mid-season slump, it's nice to have such a talented freshman coming off the bench. The only issue I really had with today's game was that we didn't even make an attempt to get the ball inside. Ochefu and Pinkston combined for just six field goal attempts. Pretty solid crowd at the Wells Fargo Center today.

Congrats on another great game and a great season. So many outstanding young players have stepped up big time this year. You guys are going to be scary next year too.

[ReynoldsWrap]

I was thrilled to see how much Nova's defense improved against Davante Gardner, who absolutely dominated the first game between these teams. Darrun Hilliard (26pts, 5-8 on 3's) was on fire, and his outside shooting really carried us offensively. Josh Hart (13pts, 4rbs) is playing much better since his mid-season slump, it's nice to have such a talented freshman coming off the bench. The only issue I really had with today's game was that we didn't even make an attempt to get the ball inside. Ochefu and Pinkston combined for just six field goal attempts. Pretty solid crowd at the Wells Fargo Center today.

Congrats on another great game and a great season. So many outstanding young players have stepped up big time this year. You guys are going to be scary next year too.

Thanks marquette. It has been an unbelievable season, and to be honest, I never expected it. I think we'll miss James Bell quite a bit next year, but you're right, we should be a top 15 team for much of the year.

How about Marquette? Obviously a down year for you guys, but how are things looking for the future? I know you're losing Gardner and Wilson which is big of course. Buzz Williams is a great coach, and I'm sure he'll have you back in the tournament in no time. I'm a big fan of your program.

[marquette]

Thanks marquette. It has been an unbelievable season, and to be honest, I never expected it. I think we'll miss James Bell quite a bit next year, but you're right, we should be a top 15 team for much of the year.

How about Marquette? Obviously a down year for you guys, but how are things looking for the future? I know you're losing Gardner and Wilson which is big of course. Buzz Williams is a great coach, and I'm sure he'll have you back in the tournament in no time. I'm a big fan of your program.

Thank you! I'm a big fan of Nova as well.

Next year presents a lot of questions, but a lot of opportunities too. We lose our front line in Otule and Gardner and a very talented SF in Jamil Wilson. Jake Thomas is also graduating. That is a lot of production leaving, so we will certainly need some players to step up.

We have a talented group of freshman coming in including 3 top 100 recruits (2 SG, 1 SF), an underrated 3* SF, and a 3* C who will probably need some experience before he really comes into his own (but Gardner was a 2* so you never know). Ahmed Hill, in particular, is expected to be a great contributor next season.

We also have a former top 100 recruit transferring from Indiana in C Luke Fischer. He won't be able to play until after the fall semester due to the transfer rules, but he is already on campus. Our current group of freshman will be 1 year more experienced, and hopefully will be more consistent.

Before the season started our highly rated freshman PG went down with an injury, so he redshirted and will be playing next year. By all accounts he has been recovered for some time and practicing with the team, so it shouldn't take too much to get him up to speed. I expect him to be getting the bulk of the PG minutes by midway through the season.

Hopefully Buzz takes advantage of the international trip rule to get some experience for the new players. He hasn't ever done it before, but this would probably be the ideal time. Regardless, we should do a better job of scheduling cupcakes next year. Ideally we would have a couple of 150+ type teams to start the season and get the new-look squad some low pressure experience. After that hopefully a couple of 75-150 type cupcakes to help with the RPI game. Our cupcakes this season really killed our RPI (in addition to not winning games against good teams). We are going to have some difficult games as we have a return game @Ohio State, and a home game against Wisconsin. There are opportunities, but we will need to gel early to take advantages of them.

Probably a lot more information than you wanted. Sorry, I tend to ramble. Long story short, there's a lot of potential and a lot of questions. I am cautiously optimistic.

Congrats again on a great win. You guys are making the BE proud.

[ReynoldsWrap]

Thank you! I'm a big fan of Nova as well.

Next year presents a lot of questions, but a lot of opportunities too. We lose our front line in Otule and Gardner and a very talented SF in Jamil Wilson. Jake Thomas is also graduating. That is a lot of production leaving, so we will certainly need some players to step up.

We have a talented group of freshman coming in including 3 top 100 recruits (2 SG, 1 SF), an underrated 3* SF, and a 3* C who will probably need some experience before he really comes into his own (but Gardner was a 2* so you never know). Ahmed Hill, in particular, is expected to be a great contributor next season.

We also have a former top 100 recruit transferring from Indiana in C Luke Fischer. He won't be able to play until after the fall semester due to the transfer rules, but he is already on campus. Our current group of freshman will be 1 year more experienced, and hopefully will be more consistent.

Before the season started our highly rated freshman PG went down with an injury, so he redshirted and will be playing next year. By all accounts he has been recovered for some time and practicing with the team, so it shouldn't take too much to get him up to speed. I expect him to be getting the bulk of the PG minutes by midway through the season.

Hopefully Buzz takes advantage of the international trip rule to get some experience for the new players. He hasn't ever done it before, but this would probably be the ideal time. Regardless, we should do a better job of scheduling cupcakes next year. Ideally we would have a couple of 150+ type teams to start the season and get the new-look squad some low pressure experience. After that hopefully a couple of 75-150 type cupcakes to help with the RPI game. Our cupcakes this season really killed our RPI (in addition to not winning games against good teams). We are going to have some difficult games as we have a return game @Ohio State, and a home game against Wisconsin. There are opportunities, but we will need to gel early to take advantages of them.

Probably a lot more information than you wanted. Sorry, I tend to ramble. Long story short, there's a lot of potential and a lot of questions. I am cautiously optimistic.

Congrats again on a great win. You guys are making the BE proud.

Thanks for the info. It sounds like a pretty significant changing of the guard will be taking place out in Milwaukee. You've got to feel pretty confident that Buzz will fit all those new pieces together smoothly. And yes, I agree that the scheduling needs to be worked out a little better. It was clearly the non-conference part of the season that put you guys into an RPI hole. Marquette's definitely a team that I'll be keeping a close eye on in 2014-15. It seems like it's been a while since you've missed the tournament. But who knows, maybe you string together a run in the BE Tourney. It's been over a month since you've lost to a team outside of Nova and Creighton. Good luck.

[SJHooper]

I hope SJ gets Nova in the BET…I would love to play spoiler there.

[GumbyDamnit!]

I hope SJ gets Nova in the BET…I would love to play spoiler there.

Lavinwood, I mean Hooper, be careful what you wish for. Would love to play SJU again. Nova seems to give low IQ teams fits. (Exhibit A of a highly athletic but low IQ team: SJU). Bring it on.

[SJHooper]

I hope SJ gets Nova in the BET…I would love to play spoiler there.

Lavinwood, I mean Hooper, be careful what you wish for. Would love to play SJU again. Nova seems to give low IQ teams fits. (Exhibit A of a highly athletic but low IQ team: SJU). Bring it on.

Oh, trust me I would hope Nova walks in looking past us…2 games easily could have gone either way. Last year another close one. Nova won't win em all…only a matter of time

You can only play with a black mamba so many times before you get bit. There is one thing we do that Nova can't. Beat Creighton.

[GumbyDamnit!]

I hope SJ gets Nova in the BET…I would love to play spoiler there.

Lavinwood, I mean Hooper, be careful what you wish for. Would love to play SJU again. Nova seems to give low IQ teams fits. (Exhibit A of a highly athletic but low IQ team: SJU). Bring it on.

Oh, trust me I would hope Nova walks in looking past us…2 games easily could have gone either way. Last year another close one. Nova won't win em all…only a matter of time

You can only play with a black mamba so many times before you get bit. There is one thing we do that Nova can't. Beat Creighton.

It's great that you can beat Creighton. Now try to do something that you haven't been very successful doing: actually beating Nova.