Around the Big East 19/20

PC really annoys me this year. They crap the bed in OOC and now dragging other teams down with them. Now they're 3-0. Why can't we ever start well? It's such an odd thing that we start exactly the same way every year. I think I've asked this before but didn't notice any response...does any other Big East team start off conference play with like 80% of their games on the road? Why can't we start some years with 3 straight at home or something? I feel like it kills us.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=371106]PC really annoys me this year. They crap the bed in OOC and now dragging other teams down with them. Now they're 3-0. Why can't we ever start well? It's such an odd thing that we start exactly the same way every year. I think I've asked this before but didn't notice any response...does any other Big East team start off conference play with like 80% of their games on the road? Why can't we start some years with 3 straight at home or something? I feel like it kills us.[/quote]

This year we just aren’t a very talented team overall. We have been playing above our talent level this season in my opinion. We gotta learn to make shots somewhere along the way but I still think that this season thus far is about as good as we can expect for the talent we do have. We are in every game and it’s been coming down to making shots. Nobody is out coaching us etc.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=371106]PC really annoys me this year. They crap the bed in OOC and now dragging other teams down with them. Now they're 3-0. Why can't we ever start well? It's such an odd thing that we start exactly the same way every year. I think I've asked this before but didn't notice any response...does any other Big East team start off conference play with like 80% of their games on the road? Why can't we start some years with 3 straight at home or something? I feel like it kills us.[/quote]

PC had 2 of 3 on road & won. If we held on v Butler we would be 1-1 and feeling good about playing GT on road. & then get DP at home. The Butler comeback was great, but not closing out a five point lead was the killer knowing next two were on the road. The schedule evens out and is not the issue.To me, you need to hold serve at home as much as possible & grab a few road wins. Tonight is good chance to do that v thin GT at a venue that is not exactly Cameron Indoor. Make shots, beat DP at MSG & you are back on serve.

There are always scheduling oddities with arena availability, etc. Instead of grousing about schedules, just suck it up, play better and grab some tough wins. Poor shooting now is the issue & maybe law of averages kicks in. If we lose to GT we only have ourselves to blame. They certainly have their challenges with short bench and loss of some key guys.
 
I have to say I am not surprised by Providence beating Marquette. Early on some here were counting out Providence. The fact is like him or not Cooley is a good coach. He finds what works for his team and motivates them. They are not the most talented team but he will get the most from his guys. They will be tough to play. Don’t sleep on them.
 
It just gets old pretty fast when it seems like the last 5 years we've started out 0-3, 0-5, 0-10 or whatever. Someone should do the research and see how we've fared through our first 5 games every season in conference play. Probably something like 5-20.
 
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[quote="Mike Zaun" post=371118]It just gets old pretty fast when it seems like the last 5 years we've started out 0-3, 0-5, 0-10 or whatever. Someone should do the research and see how we've fared through our first 5 games every season in conference play. Probably something like 5-20.[/quote]

We are getting one tonight and getting one on Sat against Depaul. Have a little faith brother.
 
“Now that Georgetown has more scholarships to work with following the transfers of Myron Gardner, Josh Leblanc, James Akinjo and Galen Alexander, expect for the Hoyas to be one of the more active programs along the recruiting trail in the months ahead.

On the high school side, Patrick Ewing was in to see Kobe Clark over the weekend; the Hoyas just offered a few weeks ago. Clark is one of the more discussed names this winter thanks to his versatility. Also, the Hoyas have remained a threat for four-star Canadian Matthew Alexander-Moncrieffe and could push for enrollment of Lynn Greer.

The Roman Catholic standout is planning on taking a prep year in the fall but the Hoyas could bring him in for an official visit this spring and entice Greer enough with a wide-open backcourt for him remain in the 2020 class and enroll in the fall.

Georgetown should also be a viable threat for a number of transfers this spring. Furthermore, they have been one of the more talked about landing spots for Makhi and Makhel Mitchell, one-time Rivals150 prospects that have decided to transfer from Maryland.“

https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/wednesday-s-leftovers-karim-mane-jon-kuminga-b-j-boston
 
Maybe keeping it within single digits at Xavier over the weekend, wasn't that much of an accomplishment, after all. Seton Hall up 13 at Xavier, but it's early.

As an aside, former Nebraska coach Tim Miles is doing color for this game. Is it me, or does he sound like a woman? Nothing wrong with that, just a random observation.
 
[quote="SJU61982" post=371407]Maybe keeping it within single digits at Xavier over the weekend, wasn't that much of an accomplishment, after all. Seton Hall up 13 at Xavier, but it's early.

As an aside, former Nebraska coach Tim Miles is doing color for this game. Is it me, or does he sound like a woman? Nothing wrong with that, just a random observation.[/quote]

I just tuned into the game and immediately thought it was a woman.
 
Seton Hall hitting the stride many thought they would.

Their one “bad” loss Rutgers is on a 6 game winning streak and has their first chance to dance in a long long time.

Credit Willard and those guys
 
[quote="MJDinkins" post=371417][quote="SJU61982" post=371407]Maybe keeping it within single digits at Xavier over the weekend, wasn't that much of an accomplishment, after all. Seton Hall up 13 at Xavier, but it's early.

As an aside, former Nebraska coach Tim Miles is doing color for this game. Is it me, or does he sound like a woman? Nothing wrong with that, just a random observation.[/quote]

I just tuned into the game and immediately thought it was a woman.[/quote]

I actually first noticed it last night, when he was doing the Providence-Marquette game. There was a lady doing play-by-play (I don't remember who it was), and it sounded like an all-female broadcast, but I knew it couldn't be, because that would have gotten some ink.
 
Mike Zaun Wrote: It just gets old pretty fast when it seems like the last 5 years we've started out 0-3, 0-5, 0-10 or whatever. Someone should do the research and see how we've fared through our first 5 games every season in conference play. Probably something like 5-20.

I was not aware how badly we start every year in conference play but it turns out that you are correct Mike, we really start out terribly. After researching it, we almost always start off badly in conference play. In fact we have averaged about a 1-4 record over the first five games of conference play during the last nine seasons. The last time we had a winning record (3-2) over the first five conference games was ten seasons ago in 2011.

I think this is something that needs to be looked at going forward because at least in some years we have been decent yet still have started slowly in conference play. This season the Butler loss really hurt us because we were in a position to win that one but have looked increasingly bad in our last two games.

I believe we are not as bad as we looked in our last two games and will still pick up some wins along the way. However going forward it should be a goal to get out of the gate quickly in conference play. Providence looked like a bottom tier team after non-conference play yet have compiled more wins (3) after three conference games than we have won over our first five conference games in any of our last nine seasons.(see records below).

2020 0-3
2019 2-3
2018 0-5
2017 2-3
2016 0-5
2015 1-4
2014 0-5
2013 2-3
2012 2-3
2011 3-2
 
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[quote="SJU61982" post=371407]Maybe keeping it within single digits at Xavier over the weekend, wasn't that much of an accomplishment, after all. Seton Hall up 13 at Xavier, but it's early.

As an aside, former Nebraska coach Tim Miles is doing color for this game. Is it me, or does he sound like a woman? Nothing wrong with that, just a random observation.[/quote]
And if he does?
 
[quote="ghostzapper" post=371461]Mike Zaun Wrote: It just gets old pretty fast when it seems like the last 5 years we've started out 0-3, 0-5, 0-10 or whatever. Someone should do the research and see how we've fared through our first 5 games every season in conference play. Probably something like 5-20.

I was not aware how badly we start every year in conference play but it turns out that you are correct Mike, we really start out terribly. After researching it, we almost always start off badly in conference play. In fact we have averaged about a 1-4 record over the first five games of conference play during the last nine seasons. The last time we had a winning record (3-2) over the first five conference games was ten seasons ago in 2011.

I think this is something that needs to be looked at going forward because at least in some years we have been decent yet still have started slowly in conference play. This season the Butler loss really hurt us because we were in a position to win that one but have looked increasingly bad in our last two games.

I believe we are not as bad as we looked in our last two games and will still pick up some wins along the way. However going forward it should be a goal to get out of the gate quickly in conference play. Providence looked like a bottom tier team after non-conference play yet have compiled more wins (3) after three conference games than we have won in any of our last nine seasons over our first five conference games (see records below).

2020 0-3
2019 2-3
2018 0-5
2017 2-3
2016 0-5
2015 1-4
2014 0-5
2013 2-3
2012 2-3
2011 3-2[/quote]

This is why we cannot get over the hump and even a "good" season means sweating on selection Sunday. That's our peak because of our starts. We dig ourselves in big holes early and are playing catch up for most of the season and it goes right down to the wire. Someone else said it best...after a good OOC I will never be fooled again. Just when you think we finally got some positive surprises and Bill Rafferty mentions us as his biggest surprise team a few weeks ago when times were good, and the typical other shoe drops quickly. I also have concerns about not getting good enough recruits vs. everyone else. JUCO's are great to patch holes, but should not be the foundation for your team. Same with transfers. It seems like forever ago we got several 4 star HS kids in one recruiting class. If we don't get several more shooters quickly for next year, Cole will be the only able shooter on the entire team and that's assuming he can shoot at this level. That's very scary.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=371469][quote="ghostzapper" post=371461]Mike Zaun Wrote: It just gets old pretty fast when it seems like the last 5 years we've started out 0-3, 0-5, 0-10 or whatever. Someone should do the research and see how we've fared through our first 5 games every season in conference play. Probably something like 5-20.

I was not aware how badly we start every year in conference play but it turns out that you are correct Mike, we really start out terribly. After researching it, we almost always start off badly in conference play. In fact we have averaged about a 1-4 record over the first five games of conference play during the last nine seasons. The last time we had a winning record (3-2) over the first five conference games was ten seasons ago in 2011.

I think this is something that needs to be looked at going forward because at least in some years we have been decent yet still have started slowly in conference play. This season the Butler loss really hurt us because we were in a position to win that one but have looked increasingly bad in our last two games.

I believe we are not as bad as we looked in our last two games and will still pick up some wins along the way. However going forward it should be a goal to get out of the gate quickly in conference play. Providence looked like a bottom tier team after non-conference play yet have compiled more wins (3) after three conference games than we have won in any of our last nine seasons over our first five conference games (see records below).

2020 0-3
2019 2-3
2018 0-5
2017 2-3
2016 0-5
2015 1-4
2014 0-5
2013 2-3
2012 2-3
2011 3-2[/quote]

This is why we cannot get over the hump and even a "good" season means sweating on selection Sunday. That's our peak because of our starts. We dig ourselves in big holes early and are playing catch up for most of the season and it goes right down to the wire. Someone else said it best...after a good OOC I will never be fooled again. Just when you think we finally got some positive surprises and Bill Rafferty mentions us as his biggest surprise team a few weeks ago when times were good, and the typical other shoe drops quickly. I also have concerns about not getting good enough recruits vs. everyone else. JUCO's are great to patch holes, but should not be the foundation for your team. Same with transfers. It seems like forever ago we got several 4 star HS kids in one recruiting class. If we don't get several more shooters quickly for next year, Cole will be the only able shooter on the entire team and that's assuming he can shoot at this level. That's very scary.[/quote]


2012 2-3
2011 3-2[/quote]

Re: next season, it very well may be a another transitional year. I agree on your shooting comment. To me the one difference next season is hopefully our PG tandem of McGriff & Alexander is a positive foundational piece going forward & upgrade from Rutherford.

Player development and obviously solid recruiting are also key elements of turning things around. I have faith CMA will get the program on track, but time will tell.
 
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[quote="Paultzman" post=371465][quote="SJU61982" post=371407]Maybe keeping it within single digits at Xavier over the weekend, wasn't that much of an accomplishment, after all. Seton Hall up 13 at Xavier, but it's early.

As an aside, former Nebraska coach Tim Miles is doing color for this game. Is it me, or does he sound like a woman? Nothing wrong with that, just a random observation.[/quote]
And if he does?[/quote] Then he just does. Means nothing. Just a random observation, that's all.
 
I thought Seton Hall and Providence were done for during the non conference? Both are now 3-0 and tied for first in the Big East.
 
[quote="AlexSTJ" post=371477]I thought Seton Hall and Providence were done for during the non conference? Both are now 3-0 and tied for first in the Big East.[/quote]

With Powell back, Seton Hall is at close to full strength, really for the first time all year.

Providence got a gift from the schedule makers, and to their credit, they've run with it. Remember, McClung didn't play for Georgetown, against Providence. That made a huge difference, IMO.
 
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[quote="SJU61982" post=371481][quote="AlexSTJ" post=371477]I thought Seton Hall and Providence were done for during the non conference? Both are now 3-0 and tied for first in the Big East.[/quote]

With Powell back, Seton Hall is at close to full strength, really for the first time all year.

Providence got a gift from the schedule makers, and to their credit, they've run with it. Remember, McClung didn't play for Georgetown, against Providence. That made a huge difference, IMO.[/quote]

When have we ever gotten a gift from schedule makers? Have we ever? Next year watch us play on the road 5/6 of the first games.
 
[quote="Mike Zaun" post=371497][quote="SJU61982" post=371481][quote="AlexSTJ" post=371477]I thought Seton Hall and Providence were done for during the non conference? Both are now 3-0 and tied for first in the Big East.[/quote]

With Powell back, Seton Hall is at close to full strength, really for the first time all year.

Providence got a gift from the schedule makers, and to their credit, they've run with it. Remember, McClung didn't play for Georgetown, against Providence. That made a huge difference, IMO.[/quote]

When have we ever gotten a gift from schedule makers? Have we ever? Next year watch us play on the road 5/6 of the first games.[/quote]

Well, no, because we can't play ourselves. But remember, the intent was that Butler was not going to be a very good team this year, we all thought that was going to be a favorable first game. Can't put that on the schedule makers.

Plus, we're very beholden to MSG WRT when we can play there. I was watching a soccer game on ESPN3 this fall, and they had Cragg on at halftime. He said that The Garden provides the Big East with the dates we can play there, and the Big East schedules accordingly. We play 6 Big East games there this year, so they give the league about 9 or 10 possible dates. It's hard to get what you want, when doing that.

I'm almost at the point where I'm ready to dump both CA and MSG in a few years, and play all of our games at the new facility at Belmont (which would stink for me - much harder for me to get to then either of our homes now - but it might be best for all involved). At least there, we would only have the Islanders to deal with. At MSG, we're #4 at best, behind the Knicks, Rangers, and Billy Joel. Then you have to factor things in like the Rodeo, the Dog Show, and Big 10 Super Saturday, all of which take place during our season.
 
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