Looking Ahead... too early?

S

ShaqEatsThat

New member
taking a look at our schedule, is it fair to say well be 8-3 when the BE season starts?

2-0 now
3-0 UMBC
3-2 zona/whoever else
4-2 St Franics
5-2 NorthEastern
5-3 Kentucky
6-3 Detroit (im iffy on this one)
7-3 Fordham
8-3 Texas Pan-AM
 
taking a look at our schedule, is it fair to say well be 8-3 when the BE season starts?

2-0 now
3-0 UMBC
3-2 zona/whoever else
4-2 St Franics
5-2 NorthEastern
5-3 Kentucky
6-3 Detroit (im iffy on this one)
7-3 Fordham
8-3 Texas Pan-AM
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Just for clarification, it's not "whoever else" in that game, it's either Texas A&M or Miss. State. Neither a slouch. Certainly too early to say 8-3. Would love that to be the case, but we were down big against W&M and Lehigh. If we figure the defenses out and improve our half court offense, I think it's possible but it will be very difficult.
 
 "whoever else" = a&m miss st winner, shoulda clarified that. but yes i dont see us winning either of those games though. worst case scenario you could see us at under 500 for the BE season or that would be impossible to tell at this point?

i am aware we have a 7-man rotation with 1 returning player right now, predictions are nothing more than just that
 
 Watching zona the other night, i wouldn't be so quick to chalk it up as a loss. They didnt look terrific so they could easily be upset if we play well. plus i think the men will be pumped for their first game on the garden floor.
 
 Watching zona the other night, i wouldn't be so quick to chalk it up as a loss. They didnt look terrific so they could easily be upset if we play well. plus i think the men will be pumped for their first game on the garden floor.
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I too think we can beat Zona, but only if we improve our defense from the outset. They are also young and missing a few guys. We have many of the same strengths, but the game is at home for us. We can beat them, but must tighten things up before the game. Sunday against UMBC is a good chance to do so and get valuable work in.
 
I think we have a good chance to get a split next Thursday/Friday. I agree with both of the above sentiments that 1. this is not last year's Arizona and 2. our kids are going to get a boost, it being their first games in the Garden. I think that's true of the Garden opener in any given year, but here we are talking about 6 kids that haven't played a collegiate game on that floor yet, so it's even more amplified. While that could be countered with the notion that the chances of them being overwhelmed by their first time on that stage are higher, these do not strike me as those kind of personalities. Too much confidence, they seem to welcome the stage.

I think to get to 8-3 we probably need to get a split, because asking a team this young to play with the consistency to win every game they should win without upset, and win a tricky game in Detroit, is a tall order. As we saw in Games 1 and 2. Not that I don't think this team can do it as they should get better each time out, but I wouldn't be surprised if we dropped one of those games either.
 
Yes, they also didn't look skilled from the perimeter which is our weakness on D. Interior size will be an issue though for that game if it is played in the half-court.  
 
Think we can play Arizona fairly even butthey are deeper inside and I think they'll win. Tex A&M is good but if we lose to Zona Mst seems to be the weakest of the lot and I think we can beat them. I'd say 8-3 cause I expect Detroit to be very tough...experienced team, better than the teams we've played so far and on their home court. 
 
Yes, they also didn't look skilled from the perimeter which is our weakness on D. Interior size will be an issue though for that game if it is played in the half-court.  
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From what I've intially witnessed.... Arizona also has some trouble with their interior defense.
 
 Zona might be deeper inside, but I don't think they have anybody as good as Achiuwa at this point. Chol has a ways to go and Parrom is still out. They will be a tough team, but I think we can stand with them. It would be great to get an early season win against them because at the end of the season, they will be a high RPI team. Now's the time to catch them.
 
This bring up a question: wonder if our coaches are (or have already) taking our young guys to MSG for a couple of quick practices....just to get a feel of the place before next week. I believe this had been done in past years.

 Watching zona the other night, i wouldn't be so quick to chalk it up as a loss. They didnt look terrific so they could easily be upset if we play well. plus i think the men will be pumped for their first game on the garden floor.
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This bring up a question: wonder if our coaches are (or have already) taking our young guys to MSG for a couple of quick practices....just to get a feel of the place before next week. I believe this had been done in past years.

 Watching zona the other night, i wouldn't be so quick to chalk it up as a loss. They didnt look terrific so they could easily be upset if we play well. plus i think the men will be pumped for their first game on the garden floor.
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I'd be very surprised if they haven't, especially considering how available the place is. In addition to getting them used to floor/baskets/general environment, having a practice or two there is a good way to mix up the monotony of early season practices with no games. Helps keeps the kids energized. The first three weeks of practice every day (which also happen to typically be the toughest practices of the year, by a mile) and no games is probably the worst part of the season for players.
 
 Watching zona the other night, i wouldn't be so quick to chalk it up as a loss. They didnt look terrific so they could easily be upset if we play well. plus i think the men will be pumped for their first game on the garden floor.
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Agree. Against Duquesne they had 20 turnovers. I like our chances.
 
I think 7-4 is probably more realistic because watching these firs two games, I think they will have a game where they won't be able to pull off these type of comebacks against somebody the masses think they should beat.
 
 Before Arizona they gotta be focused on UMBC, young teams can`t look ahead or bad things happen.

I think we`ll get a split next week at MSG and improve to 4-1.
 
 Before Arizona they gotta be focused on UMBC, young teams can`t look ahead or bad things happen.

I think we`ll get a split next week at MSG and improve to 4-1.
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lol.. well thats why "we" are looking ahead.. not the players
 
 Before Arizona they gotta be focused on UMBC, young teams can`t look ahead or bad things happen.

I think we`ll get a split next week at MSG and improve to 4-1.
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lol.. well thats why "we" are looking ahead.. not the players
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lol You know they gotta be thinking ahead to Arizona, first ever game at MSG, how could they not?
Did Harkless ever play a HS game at MSG?

Just hope they`re up for UMBC. Are they a 3-point shooting team? I hate those types of teams. lol
 
 Before Arizona they gotta be focused on UMBC, young teams can`t look ahead or bad things happen.

I think we`ll get a split next week at MSG and improve to 4-1.
Click to expand...
 

lol.. well thats why "we" are looking ahead.. not the players
Click to expand...
 

lol You know they gotta be thinking ahead to Arizona, first ever game at MSG, how could they not?
Did Harkless ever play a HS game at MSG?

Just hope they`re up for UMBC. Are they a 3-point shooting team? I hate those types of teams. lol
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True but when those teams are off the door opens
 
 Before Arizona they gotta be focused on UMBC, young teams can`t look ahead or bad things happen.

I think we`ll get a split next week at MSG and improve to 4-1.
Click to expand...
 

lol.. well thats why "we" are looking ahead.. not the players
Click to expand...
 

lol You know they gotta be thinking ahead to Arizona, first ever game at MSG, how could they not?
Did Harkless ever play a HS game at MSG?

Just hope they`re up for UMBC. Are they a 3-point shooting team? I hate those types of teams. lol
Click to expand...
 

From their record last year UMBC seems to be the weakest team we've played to date. And they are small.
 
I've watched two games in person now, and I honestly don't think we've seen enough to say they will beat any halfway decent big conference D1 team. They have little fluidity on offense, and it's hard to figure out who their money guys will be at this point. God's gift was physically stronger than anyone Lehigh or William and Mary had, so I'd reserve judgment until he goes up against some 69 or taller talented big men. They are very athletic, and may put it together and start functioning as a capable Big East team. All in all while it's too early to tell, I'd say we are in for a rough ride.
 
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