(PRE-GAME) Albany, Wed. Dec. 18, 8:30p, FS-1 / 970 WNYM

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[quote="Paul Massell" post=368072][quote="Adam" post=368070]Win by a point and I'll be thrilled. Don't know why some (mostly on Twitter) are saying this is just another "cupcake" game. It isn't. ...[/quote]

While I agree with you mostly as well as the potential for a trap game, this is not one of the better Albany teams and I would be disappointed to not manhandle them in December. I think with or without Heron these guys need to show they are a team that takes care of business and executes. That is the identity of this team. They execute or they fail. No matter who the opponent is executing shows maturity and what type of character this team has. Good execution means there is identity and buy-in from the players and it will help momentum this close to conf. play and a big OOC travel game.[/quote]

It seems like we come out strong in most of these CA games but sometimes let up in the second half. Brown and New Hampshire particularly got a little too close for comfort. I agree this isn’t as strong an Albany team as they have had recently but they are still likely the third best AE team after Vermont and StonyBrook and I know some here don’t think much of the AE but they are usually competitive in the first round of the NCAA and we all know what UMBC did. I really want to win this game. Team needs continued confidence going into the Big East season.
 
[quote="QueensBall" post=368058]Agree that this sets up like a classic trap game (for multiple reasons) While I want that 10 point win for the NET, I'm with NCJohnnie that coming out of tonight with any win at all is the priority. Have to just trust that this Coach won't let guys take games off mentally.[/quote]

If I'm cma i tell the team that if we lose this game, that the Arizona game doesn't mean a damn thing.
You guys want to matter? Then you better come hard every game and not half ass it.
That's all a coach can do,
The rest is up to the players, do they really want it or not
 
[quote="Tom H O'Toole" post=368075][quote="QueensBall" post=368058]Agree that this sets up like a classic trap game (for multiple reasons) While I want that 10 point win for the NET, I'm with NCJohnnie that coming out of tonight with any win at all is the priority. Have to just trust that this Coach won't let guys take games off mentally.[/quote]

If I'm cma i tell the team that if we lose this game, that the Arizona game doesn't mean a damn thing.
You guys want to matter? Then you better come hard every game and not half ass it.
That's all a coach can do,
The rest is up to the players, do they really want it or not[/quote]

SJU players under CMA half-ass less games than under any sju coach I’ve seen. CMA is good at keeping the players heads in games or calling timely t/o to reel them in. Our biggest issue is that we are missing Heron and dont have Steere yet. That said, I’d say that this game is a “must-win” game for us because it’s the only game left that can really hurt our resume’ the rest of the season for the most part. Aside from this game, we have top 15 Zona and league play. We are ahead of the game if we can beat Albany with our only losses to a pretty decent ASU team and a last minute loss to Vermont. No terrible losses on the schedule and doing what we are “supposed to do”.
 
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[quote="James Ray Lamb" post=368056]Why such a late game time? 8:30? :dry:

That's the latest start so far this season?

A late start means even less time to recover and travel before Saturday's Arizona game. It's a late night game too.[/quote]

Believe that is to appease the west coast fans. PS it's one hour from what should be the earliest acceptable start time. Shouldn't amount to much when thinking about 3 days between games. But I am really concerned how they will fare tipping off at what will be 10pm EST on Saturday. Hope they can keep their eyes open. :woohoo:
 
[quote="Paul Massell" post=368072][quote="Adam" post=368070]Win by a point and I'll be thrilled. Don't know why some (mostly on Twitter) are saying this is just another "cupcake" game. It isn't. ...[/quote]

While I agree with you mostly as well as the potential for a trap game, this is not one of the better Albany teams and I would be disappointed to not manhandle them in December. I think with or without Heron these guys need to show they are a team that takes care of business and executes. That is the identity of this team. They execute or they fail. No matter who the opponent is executing shows maturity and what type of character this team has. Good execution means there is identity and buy-in from the players and it will help momentum this close to conf. play and a big OOC travel game.[/quote]

Albany's resume isn't impressive and I agree we should easily beat them- but a 9 point line is pretty small compared to some other opponents (in the 300+ range) where the lines were 20+. Vegas/KenPom know something which may not be obvious going by their resume, and that's why I don't care about the margin for this one. Just want to win. Maybe Albany had higher expectations pre-season and have underperformed thus far, but it's surprising to see a single digit line even without Heron. This may be the lowest line of the season outside of the WVU/ASU/Vermont/UMass group.
 
[quote="MCNPA" post=368077][quote="Tom H O'Toole" post=368075][quote="QueensBall" post=368058]Agree that this sets up like a classic trap game (for multiple reasons) While I want that 10 point win for the NET, I'm with NCJohnnie that coming out of tonight with any win at all is the priority. Have to just trust that this Coach won't let guys take games off mentally.[/quote]

If I'm cma i tell the team that if we lose this game, that the Arizona game doesn't mean a damn thing.
You guys want to matter? Then you better come hard every game and not half ass it.
That's all a coach can do,
The rest is up to the players, do they really want it or not[/quote]

SJU players under CMA half-ass less games than under any sju coach I’ve seen. CMA is good at keeping the players heads in games or calling timely t/o to reel them in. Our biggest issue is that we are missing Heron and dont have Steere yet. That said, I’d say that this game is a “must-win” game for us because it’s the only game left that can really hurt our resume’ the rest of the season for the most part. Aside from this game, we have top 15 Zona and league play. We are ahead of the game if we can beat Albany with our only losses to a pretty decent ASU team and a last minute loss to Vermont. No terrible losses on the schedule and doing what we are “supposed to do”.[/quote]

Gotta make sure that continues.

They won plenty of games without steere and heron mia, so that shouldn't matter. Next man up.
 
What i want to see is (not that it matters much what I want) to see us up by 12-13 at the half, then get stronger in the 2nd half and win by 25, instead of being unfocused in the 2nd half.
 
Starters
[attachment=1199]F9CF8812-446B-4B72-A699-177E64372BC4.jpeg[/attachment]
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=368102]Starters
[attachment=1199]F9CF8812-446B-4B72-A699-177E64372BC4.jpeg[/attachment][/quote]

CMA says doesn’t matter who starts, it’s who plays starter minutes. That said, I’m surprised Carraher gets the nod.
 
[quote="Tom H O'Toole" post=368083]What i want to see is (not that it matters much what I want) to see us up by 12-13 at the half, then get stronger in the 2nd half and win by 25, instead of being unfocused in the 2nd half.[/quote]

I just want a W. Suspect this one will be competitive.
 
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