(NCAA-WEST/Providence) #10 Arkansas, Sat., Mar. 22, 2:40p, CBS

Was today’s Ricks best game no. However I don’t want hear from folks who never post on here shit on him today GTFOH. It was the teams worst game all year. Rick’s the reason we are here. RJ was John Starks today a lot of it I saw was mental and times he tried playing hero ball.
Once the ball crossed the “event horizon” into the black hole that was RJ, it simply was not going to come out. It was painful to watch all game.
 
Was really disappointed with our defense today. We couldn’t keep Wagner in front of us. They got dribble penetration all game.
Funny but the one weakness of our D all year was stoping dribble penetration of guards. Fortunately there were not many of the talent level of Fland and Wagner and the one that was, Jones, killed us. Interestingly that Jones did little against Rick’s son the other night.
 
RJ tried to do way too much and isolated his teammates in the process. There was one moment when Zuby pulled him aside and tried to right him mentally but nothing changed. He just took on too much and tried to win the game all by himself. He was in his own head.

Not sure was to make about sju79's comments. If this isn't a teaching moment then what is it? Sounds ominous in some way.

I really want to see RJ back next year. He is one of the most talented players we've had in a long time and can be an even more special player with some more maturity. Today was a tough one but I hope it doesn't end his tenure at SJU. He will cost a lot of NIL to be back but he is a good young man with a good family. The way he talks about his faith, family and teammates speaks volumes to the person he is. I'd love to see one more year of his talents at SJU along side zuby.
 
1000%, he didn't adjust the entire game, hope he finally figures it out, it is his biggest flaw as a player. And totally fixable.
But that time in the game was not time to make a point or teach a lesson. The game was still there for the taking. It was a two possession game and RJ was at least going to the basket.
 
Truth is Arkansas isn’t your typical 10 seed. They are loaded but slipped due to injuries and just adjusting to Cal probably took a while. But that team is good and unfortunately are playing their best basketball right now. That’s the tricky part of the Tournament.
Exactly, if Joe Blow was the head coach, Arkansas would have been a 9 seed and Oklahoma the 10 seed. Pitino vs Cal was too good for the committee to pass up.
 
The three players Pitino mentioned are all seniors but he stressed many times he was disappointed in the ball movement and you only had to watch the game to see who he was disappointed in.
If you think Pitino saying those players were the reason for our success was not a shot at Luis, the big east player of the year, I’ve got a bridge to sell you
 
But that time in the game was not time to make a point or teach a lesson. The game was still there for the taking. It was a two possession game and RJ was at least going to the basket.
That's part of the problem, he kept driving into multiple coverages and didn't look to pass, just forced up wild shots or turned it over.

Against Omaha RJ looked like he played himself into a first round pick. Today not so much.
 
As many have said, we need to clean up the defensive rebounding or it could be a long night. Arkansas bigs are quick and athletic so inside baskets could be at a premium. We will need to hit our outside shots.

My take on why Coach had them shooting so many threes against Omaha was that he figured we can always come back and win so let’s work in our shooting early on, and that seemed to work. 😎👍

Glad Wilcher picked up the scoring slack and finally hit some threes as Smith is not playing up to his usual dynamic self which we will need to advance in the tourney.

I’m confident our D will overwhelm them as the game goes on.
If you think Pitino saying those players were the reason for our success was not a shot at Luis, the big east player of the year, I’ve got a bridge to sell you
 
If nothing is falling, I don't mind our best player taking to the hole trying to draw contact.

He did that on his last play, hit two FTs and was yanked.... never to be seen again.

Very perplexing. Hope it doesn't have ramifications for his future here.
Do agree it was a weird time to pull him and not bring him back when he had just made a play
 
Was today’s Ricks best game no. However I don’t want hear from folks who never post on here shit on him today GTFOH. It was the teams worst game all year. Rick’s the reason we are here. RJ was John Starks today a lot of it I saw was mental and times he tried playing hero ball.
Obviously, I hope Rick sticks around a few more years.

However, I have never liked his first half 2 foul rule, and probably never will. Ivisic had 3 fouls in the first half, and still hit the shot in the last minute that put them up for good.
 
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