(NCAA-Game 1, Dayton) - Arizona St., Wed. Mar. 20, 9:10 pm, TruTV / 970 AM

[quote="SJU14" post=331809][quote="BrookJersey Redmen" post=331806]Nate Oats also honestly said, that he thinks they will have an advantage over the play-in winner because of playing the very next day, they might be tired out.[/quote]

There is a day in between games, Wednesday and Friday.[/quote]

Yes but the team would also be traveling to the Friday game
 
Close one & certainly have a good chance as line indicates. Obviously could go either way.
 
[quote="IDRAFT" post=331825][quote="Mike Zaun" post=331808][quote="BrookJersey Redmen" post=331806]Nate Oats also honestly said, that he thinks they will have an advantage over the play-in winner because of playing the very next day, they might be tired out.[/quote]

Yes, but Nova wasn't tired in the BET. Neither was PC or SHU. It only seems to pertain to us is my point. We can win both games...the question is how bad do they want it? Nate Oats routinely motivates Buffalo by telling them if they want to win games they have to take it from the other team. That needs to be our mindset as well.[/quote]

PC lost and in the last ten minutes the announcers were mentioning how they appeared worn out. Neither Nova or SHU played an extra game so I don't know what they have to do with it. The idea that having to play an extra game is a disadvantage isn't controversial. The key, whether it's the BE tourney or the NCAA tourney is not to put yourself in that position. But that ship has sailed, the team will need to overcome it as it is what it is. Not crying for them, there was plenty of chances during the end of the regular season to make sure this didn't occur - in BOTH tournaments. But it is a handicap.[/quote]. And , to think all of this would be a mute point if Mike Stephens and that incompetent crew had gotten the call right in SH game 1! We finish 9-9 and are 3 seed and would not have had to play Marquette in gams 2, 18 hours after DePaul.
 
It seems the only thing protecting us from possibly being the LIFO (last in, first out) is the fact that we are playing Wednesday instead of Tuesday. Go Redmen..
 
Beast brought up five points and the one that sticks most with me is ball movement. In the 12-0 start and the first four BE games I thought the ball moved so much better and that the more the season went on the more the offense devolved into one pass, or Shamorie dribbling for 20 seconds and shooting (no pass.) I didn't do the analysis myself, I wonder if the assist totals back up my eyes.

My second point of emphasis would simply be hitting open shots. In that Marquette game the final score was such that it's easy to be critical of the effort. And for the last half of the second half they surely decided it was over and mailed it in. But up until and including the 60 second "run" right before the roof fell in I saw a team that just couldn't hit a shot. And yes, Shamorie took some questionable shots but LCF and Heron missed wide open threes that I have come to expect them to make. That game is over and done with so I don't being it up for any reason but to express my belief that this team needs to shoot well from outside to win. When they do it sets up effective drives to the basket when teams have to go out and cover. And a lot of that will come back to point one, so the team gets good shots.
 
[quote="SLYFOXX1968" post=331849][quote="IDRAFT" post=331825][quote="Mike Zaun" post=331808][quote="BrookJersey Redmen" post=331806]Nate Oats also honestly said, that he thinks they will have an advantage over the play-in winner because of playing the very next day, they might be tired out.[/quote]

Yes, but Nova wasn't tired in the BET. Neither was PC or SHU. It only seems to pertain to us is my point. We can win both games...the question is how bad do they want it? Nate Oats routinely motivates Buffalo by telling them if they want to win games they have to take it from the other team. That needs to be our mindset as well.[/quote]

PC lost and in the last ten minutes the announcers were mentioning how they appeared worn out. Neither Nova or SHU played an extra game so I don't know what they have to do with it. The idea that having to play an extra game is a disadvantage isn't controversial. The key, whether it's the BE tourney or the NCAA tourney is not to put yourself in that position. But that ship has sailed, the team will need to overcome it as it is what it is. Not crying for them, there was plenty of chances during the end of the regular season to make sure this didn't occur - in BOTH tournaments. But it is a handicap.[/quote]. And , to think all of this would be a mute point if Mike Stephens and that incompetent crew had gotten the call right in SH game 1! We finish 9-9 and are 3 seed and would not have had to play Marquette in gams 2, 18 hours after DePaul.[/quote]
“moot”
 
First, congratulations to the school, team, and staff. Was critical of and frustrated by quite a bit during conference play, but all of that should go in the rearview now. A Tournament bid is an incredible achievement, particularly for a program like ours where they have been few and far between for a few decades. Every bid should be enjoyed no matter the path to get there.

Moreover it's an incredible opportunity for most everyone involved - the school, the program, the students, the fans - one we haven't capitalized on since 99-00. Even just getting to Friday will generate a real buzz, and getting to Sunday with a chance to win one game to get to the 16 would be borderline fever pitch for a weekend news cycle in New York. Again for a program that has been largely as down as this one this can pay bigtime dividends beyond just putting a positive spin on the end of this season.

Hopefully the players recognize this opportunity and how big team success can be for them individually right now. Extreme example, but look no further than Donte DiVincenzo last year. A guy like Ponds is legitimately playing for money at this point; a few wins with big performances from him and you'll probably see him move up draft boards. And it's circular, because we get the Ponds from Duke last year, @Marq this year, etc. where it seems like he just won't let us lose and there's a decent chance we won't for the first 1-2 games.

I would describe the last 7 games as disjointed, with players sometimes looking like their minds are somewhere besides getting a W in that game. There needs to be a full re-commitment to this season with singularly focused energy on not squandering this opportunity for the program and for the players individually. Both could see fairly immediate rewards (i.e. next year) with a few Ws.
 
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If SJU did not receive the bid this season would have ended on a real downer whatever happened in the NIT. It would have reminded me of Lavins team ending the season playing Robert Morris in the NIT years ago which still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
Win or lose Wed. I just hope this team leaves the game on the floor. No quitting, taking it easy, not getting up for the game or whatever you want to call it, Play like you lose or go home which is what the game is.
 
I always say, just get in the tourney. Once you get your ticket, anything can happen. George Mason made the Final Four. FGCU made the Elite 8. Virginia got upset by 16 UMBC. You just never know. The important part is getting there first. Lots of pressure on SHU to beat Wofford IMO. 4 straight tourney appearances with some real good teams and haven't done anything. PC has the same issue...lots of appearances but empty ones where they bow out instantly. Would think the Big East is due for a non-Nova to make the Sweet 16 when no one expected it.
 
I can't remember being in such a good situation in the tournament in a while . We shouldn't be in tntimidated by Az St or Buffao .
 
[quote="matt105" post=331900]I can't remember being in such a good situation in the tournament in a while . We shouldn't be in tntimidated by Az St or Buffao .[/quote]

Nor should they :)
 
Where to find TruTV
Provider Channel (SD/HD)
AT&T U-Verse 164/1164
DISH Network 242/9430
DirecTV 246
Verizon Fios 183/683
Optimum 58 (HD)


Announcers- Spero Dedes, Jim Jackson, Steve Smith and Ros Gold-Onwud
 
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[quote="matt105" post=331900]I can't remember being in such a good situation in the tournament in a while . We shouldn't be in tntimidated by Az St or Buffao .[/quote]

Well I will say our last two appearances felt like losses before the game even began. Heading out west to face Gonzaga without DJ Kennedy in Lavin's first year. Going to Charlotte to play San Diego State without Obekpa for an already thin team in Lavin's final year.
 
[quote="Knight" post=331908]Where to find TruTV
Provider Channel (SD/HD)
AT&T U-Verse 164/1164
DISH Network 242/9430
DirecTV 246
Verizon Fios 183/683
Optimum 58 (HD)[/quote]

Spectrum has it too but channel numbers are usually different by region.
 
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