(PRE-GAME) Butler, Tues. Feb. 12, 8:30pm, CBS SN / 970AM

Status
Not open for further replies.
Andrew wrote how difficult it is to continue staying involved after certain games and he is absolutely right. How can you not be upset with the effort vs Prov? There is no explanation for it but a few days later you are back watching and rooting.
And this will happen again and again and still the overwhelming majority will return for more. I have been doing it for too long (class of 62)
 
The most maddening and frustrating aspect of this season has been the team’s inconsistency and, at times, lame ‘mailing-it-in’ efforts most visible in the ‘home’ Games against G*Town and Providence.
It’s difficult to accept that in a season that we were allegedly contenders for the BEC title.
Here’s to getting it going, 1 game at a time.
Fuhgeddaboud thinking more ambitiously than that.
 
[quote="Tommy O 54" post=321925]Another must win for us, its crazy every time you think were in good shape, something always happens ( heron injury) (Ponds injury), what next? If we don't make the NCAA this year, I believe we start a rebuild all over again, its definitely frustrating and tiring! Just me 2 cents for whatever its worth.[/quote]

The things that happen to us are not unique. Other teams lose players to injuries and academics and other things. Kansas lost Vick and a few others, and then beat Oklahoma State despite starting 4 freshman. We are not Kansas, and Ok. State isn't much, but how would the team respond without Ponds and Heron and starting our freshman against anyone? It seems every time we lose, we scratch our heads like we couldn't see it coming, despite the thin roster, the lack of size and the need for Ponds to be the man every time. Each Big East game is a war, and we go in with less ammo. Sometimes, our firepower is accurate and gets us through, and sometimes it doesn't.
 
It was fairly unanimous here before the season began that size was our biggest problem. Well, we were right. Congratulations to us? The shock when we get beat up down low in certain matchups doesn't correlate to our own analysis. It's one thing not to like it, and to express that we needed more size, opinions that we collectively beat to death BEFORE the season started. Not saying it wasn't a valid take. It's not easy to fix an issue that is more roster based than anything else during a season and looking at the remaining schedule I expect more losses due to this issue. Not rooting that way.

Twenty four games in SJU has lost seven times. In all but one of those losses they were outrebounded by over five boards. The exception - Butler. Butler is not a huge team and they do not play big either. This game is about as must a win as they come.
 
Zach B
St. John's opens as a four-point favorite over Butler tomorrow in Queens. Around what I expected. #sjubb
 
Maybe now we will focus on our biggest issue since the pre-season: rebounding. Hopefully sixth's time a charm, I guess...
 
One way to play this game......

1. Come out strong
2. Force foot on neck
3. Don't let up for 40 minutes

Anything less and we get what we deserve

[attachment=696]Foot on neck.jpg[/attachment]
 
IDRAFT wrote: Twenty four games in SJU has lost seven times. In all but one of those losses they were outrebounded by over five boards. The exception - Butler. Butler is not a huge team and they do not play big either. This game is about as must a win as they come.

Absolutely the case. This game is probably our biggest must win to date, even more so than last Creighton game. If we lose tomorrow (and I don't think we will), it will be very hard to recover. We do not match up well with any of Xavier, Providence or Depaul; not saying we can't win against all of them, but tomorrow is a better matchup for us, particularly at home. Need to jump on Butler and win this one going away.
 
May have a meeting cancelled tomorrow and therefore may be looking to buy 2 tickets to the game. If anyone has some available please let me know. Thanx.
 
Script is they recapture fan spirit & optimism by edging Butler, setting up sold out clash with Nova Sunday night resulting in elation or despair? :)

Well let’s show Tucker is not the player who destroyed us at Hinkle and also neutralize their guards.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
1 game at a time, but how often have we said ‘this game is a must win’.
The irony is, at this point in the season, with tomorrow versus Butler and before Nova, that cliche could not be truer.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=321965]Script is they recapture fan spirit & optimism by edging Butler, setting up sold out clash with Nova Sunday night resulting in elation or despair? :)

Alternative script - Butler, led by Tucker, beats an uninspired Redmen team. Same Redmen squad then, inexplicably, defeats overly confident Villanova.
 
Last edited:
[quote="Las Vegan" post=321968][quote="Paultzman" post=321965]Script is they recapture fan spirit & optimism by edging Butler, setting up sold out clash with Nova Sunday night resulting in elation or despair? :)

Alternative script - Butler, led by Tucker, beats an uninspired Redmen team. Same Redmen squad then, inexplicitly, defeats overly confident Villanova.[/quote]

I can see that scenario playing out. It would typify this season.
 
You're all just entitled! Jeez, it's just a game where you try to put a ball in a hoop for crying out loud! ;)

Anyway, even after that awful outing vs. PC, I'll be there in a Hulk Hogan outfit with my friend and we will have a big poster of Johnny Thunderbird leg dropping the Butler mascot. If you thought you couldn't miss us in our wigs, just wait. I couldn't find any other red sunglasses except kids sunglasses, so they are a bit small but just makes it all the more ridiculous and fun. If we distract Tucker even for 1 shot we have done our job.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=321965]Script is they recapture fan spirit & optimism by edging Butler, setting up sold out clash with Nova Sunday night resulting in elation or despair? :)

Well let’s show Tucker is not the player who destroyed us at Hinkle and also neutralize their guards.[/quote]

Well Paultz, you nailed the emotional swings of this Board 'north and south': elation to despair, but let's not forget the 'east and west' swings: anger to outrage.
Lol.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=321954]Zach B
St. John's opens as a four-point favorite over Butler tomorrow in Queens. Around what I expected. #sjubb[/quote]

Less than a month ago. SJU was between 8.5 and 10.5 over Depaul before the Ponds injury. Depaul and Butler are both 5 and 6. The line-makers are losing faith.
 
[quote="Las Vegan" post=321968][quote="Paultzman" post=321965]Script is they recapture fan spirit & optimism by edging Butler, setting up sold out clash with Nova Sunday night resulting in elation or despair? :)

Alternative script - Butler, led by Tucker, beats an uninspired Redmen team. Same Redmen squad then, inexplicably, defeats overly confident Villanova.[/quote]

Gawd, ‘that’ fits the season so far! Lol.
 
[quote="Ray Morgan" post=321984][quote="Paultzman" post=321954]Zach B
St. John's opens as a four-point favorite over Butler tomorrow in Queens. Around what I expected. #sjubb[/quote]

Less than a month ago. SJU was between 8.5 and 10.5 over Depaul before the Ponds injury. Depaul and Butler are both 5 and 6. The line-makers are losing faith.[/quote]

Well Ray, judging by the rise in ‘angst’ on this Board, I’d say the ‘odds-makers’ have nailed it once again.
1 game at a time.
Let’s beat Butler—I don’t care by 2 at the buzzer—let’s beat Butler tomorrow.
 
[quote="Chicago Days" post=321990][quote="Ray Morgan" post=321984][quote="Paultzman" post=321954]Zach B
St. John's opens as a four-point favorite over Butler tomorrow in Queens. Around what I expected. #sjubb[/quote]

Less than a month ago. SJU was between 8.5 and 10.5 over Depaul before the Ponds injury. Depaul and Butler are both 5 and 6. The line-makers are losing faith.[/quote]

Well Ray, judging by the rise in ‘angst’ on this Board, I’d say the ‘odds-makers’ have nailed it once again.
1 game at a time.
Let’s beat Butler—I don’t care by 2 at the buzzer—let’s beat Butler tomorrow.[/quote]

You may not care if it's by 2 at the buzzer, but my senior citizen heart cares. I'm the kind of guy that likes blowout wins. Then again, after growing up watching too much pro wrestling, I like squash matches too where the bad guy pummels the jobber for 5 minutes before leaving him on a stretcher, and then knocks the stretcher over for good measure.
 
https://nypost.com/2019/02/12/st-johns-wont-make-it-to-march-madness-on-talent-alone/


Very interesting quote from Marvin in this article:
We have more talent, but talent doesn’t go out and win you games,” Clark said. “The mindset that [Butler] takes and the approach they take to every game is what wins you games. Butler is a well-coached team. They’re gonna play hard and do whatever they have to do to win. That’s what has been instilled into them.”

Seems like he feels those last 3 sentences are what allowed Butler to beat a more talented St. John's team.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top