Fired up for Villanova

What will be equally interesting will be the reaction if we lose but play them tight (I'm getting vibes of last year's OT loss to Marquette at the Garden, ugh). Lets face it, we will not be favored in this game but eventually we need to win some games that we are not expected to. This would be a perfect one to start with.
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If we win this game, we have a little streak of "easier" games. Then, we go to butler, which we found out last night is a very winnable game after Depaul took them down at the Hinkle. Plenty of opportunities await, we just need to show consistency and we will be fine.
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I agree but to an extent. If we struggled to beat teams like Longwood, Monmouth & Wagner at home, I fully expect to have an even more difficult time winning on the road in conference play. While I admit the games may be "easier", we all know that anything can happen in league play, just ask G'Town who got whipped by PC & Butler, who I am sure thought DePaul at home was going to be an easy win.
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Good point about away games. Over this year and last, we have been a miserable road team. Anyone assuming any road game for this team will be a walk over is setting themselves up for failure. I expect us to battle Nova tomorrow, win or lose. If we do get blown out, it certainly will not be a team with any sense of momentum heading to Chicago.
 
What will be equally interesting will be the reaction if we lose but play them tight (I'm getting vibes of last year's OT loss to Marquette at the Garden, ugh). Lets face it, we will not be favored in this game but eventually we need to win some games that we are not expected to. This would be a perfect one to start with.
Click to expand...

If we win this game, we have a little streak of "easier" games. Then, we go to butler, which we found out last night is a very winnable game after Depaul took them down at the Hinkle. Plenty of opportunities await, we just need to show consistency and we will be fine.
Click to expand...

I agree but to an extent. If we struggled to beat teams like Longwood, Monmouth & Wagner at home, I fully expect to have an even more difficult time winning on the road in conference play. While I admit the games may be "easier", we all know that anything can happen in league play, just ask G'Town who got whipped by PC & Butler, who I am sure thought DePaul at home was going to be an easy win.
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Good point about away games. Over this year and last, we have been a miserable road team. Anyone assuming any road game for this team will be a walk over is setting themselves up for failure. I expect us to battle Nova tomorrow, win or lose. If we do get blown out, it certainly will not be a team with any sense of momentum heading to Chicago.
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Excellent point. If there is anything I feel good about right now it's the fact that despite the losses we've cleared 2 of the toughest road games on the schedule, which has value in and of itself. The other side of that coin, however, is that every home loss (no matter how good the opponent) leaves less margin for error the rest of the way. We're going to have to be really good at home this year, no way around that, because as you mention road wins will likely be tough to come by.

Big swing game tomorrow.
 
We go to Depaul next , then home for Prov
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After watching both DePaul and providence I no longer think those are easy games
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LOL! I guess you missed the Longwood game or the SF State game or the last second win over a D2 team, all at home!
I don't care what our SOS is, we don't shoot, rebound or defend well and that is why we are starting the Big East schedule at the bottom of the conference.
 
We go to Depaul next , then home for Prov
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After watching both DePaul and providence I no longer think those are easy games
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If both Providence and DePaul can approach 7 wins in conference it is going to be exceedingly tough for more than 3 teams to win 11 games. If the bottom of the league proves there is more parity, this is a very bad sign for us going forward. I don't think the NCAA will look favorably at a fourth place Big East team with 10 wins, and given these teams recent successes even ten wins will not come easy for us.
 
We go to Depaul next , then home for Prov
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After watching both DePaul and providence I no longer think those are easy games
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If both Providence and DePaul can approach 7 wins in conference it is going to be exceedingly tough for more than 3 teams to win 11 games. If the bottom of the league proves there is more parity, this is a very bad sign for us going forward. I don't think the NCAA will look favorably at a fourth place Big East team with 10 wins, and given these teams recent successes even ten wins will not come easy for us.
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I think it depends on who that fourth place team is. If it's G'Town (followed by Villanova, Xavier & Creighton) I think they are in good shape. As I posted on another thread, their SOS is solid, they have wins over VCU & K-State and still have Michigan St & Nova twice. I believe right now Lunardi has them in as the 4th team, but it's way too early and a lot can happen (as they learned against Providence the other night).
 
Is the game on TV?
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Is the Pope Catholic?
Does a bear sh*t in the woods?
Is SJU currently last in the Big East?
Is PJ Hairston having lunch with Tony Chiles on Sunday?
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@JeffZillgitt: P.J. Hairston said in a statement he submitted paperwork today to play in D-League this season. Also enrolled in online class at UNC.
 
I like hearing Harrison describe Sampson as a "monster" this week in practice. He is unstoppable on the offensive glass when he really wants it, and he has the ability to get Pinkston into serious foul trouble if he faces him up mid to high post. This would be a different team with a nasty Sampson at PF instead of as crappy extra wing.

I hope the game plan is to take it at Pinkston early and often. Jordan, Branch, and Harrison should be able to draw contact off the bounce and Sampson and Sanchez should face him up all night. I have a feeling Sanchez fouls out... Hopefully I am wrong.

Pinkston and Bell scare me more than the guards. Hopefully this is the game we see Jordan drive and kick to Greene and Harrison. Hopefully this is the game Greene becomes a full-fledged SG. Hopefully this is the game Branch remembers he was a top 60 recruit.
 
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