(PRE-GAME) @Providence, Sat., Feb. 6, 2p, FS-1 / 570 AM WMCA

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I will be surprised if we find a way to win this game.  Providence has exactly what Nova doesn't - a legitimate big man, which is our kryptonite.  Considering what journeyman bigs like Wahab, Theo John, and Pauly Paulicap have done to us, it's hard to imagine a good one like Watson going for less than 25 and 18 and fouling out at least one our bigs.

You can expect Duke to get his points, and if you focus too much on him then Reeves is perfectly capable of burning you. 

Cooley is absolutely not going to let us run up and down.  Frankly I was shocked that Wright was unable to get his team to force their tempo - it's possible that Nova was in part undone by hubris, but Cooley is not going to make that mistake.

Plus the game is at Providence, where I don't think we've won since the Ice Age. 

I don't think we get blown out and we could pull out a win, but I think it's an uphill battle.  Probably lose something like 65-61. 
 
I think the beauty of the defense right now is that we are doing better not trapping everything, and keeping people in front of us. They simply give us the ball sooner or later. Providence will fall into the same trap. I don't think we shot the ball the best against nova. We're due for a hot game from the field. Don't think Providence score more than 60. Good guys win.
 
I vaguely recall us winning @ Providence with Marcus LoVett leading the charge so it couldn't have been too long ago 
 
In this game and Seton Hall I think our strongest five are Posh,  Wusu,  Duke,  Champs and Moore.  Duke is strong enough to Push Watson off the block.  He gets five fouls,  use them.  This five is in my view the strongest off the boards,  plus the scoring is still there.

I noticed coach has shortened the rotation which many have clamored for.  He will still rotate the other guys in but to compete against tall teams this would be a good start.
 
lawmanfan" post=417056 said:
I will be surprised if we find a way to win this game.  Providence has exactly what Nova doesn't - a legitimate big man, which is our kryptonite.  Considering what journeyman bigs like Wahab, Theo John, and Pauly Paulicap have done to us, it's hard to imagine a good one like Watson going for less than 25 and 18 and fouling out at least one our bigs.

You can expect Duke to get his points, and if you focus too much on him then Reeves is perfectly capable of burning you. 

Cooley is absolutely not going to let us run up and down.  Frankly I was shocked that Wright was unable to get his team to force their tempo - it's possible that Nova was in part undone by hubris, but Cooley is not going to make that mistake.

Plus the game is at Providence, where I don't think we've won since the Ice Age. 

I don't think we get blown out and we could pull out a win, but I think it's an uphill battle.  Probably lose something like 65-61. 
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I'll go opposite 
 
Paultzman" post=417075 said:
lawmanfan" post=417056 said:
I don't think we get blown out and we could pull out a win, but I think it's an uphill battle.  Probably lose something like 65-61. 
 
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I'll go opposite 
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Winner buys the beer when the pandemic is over
 
lawmanfan" post=417080 said:
Paultzman" post=417075 said:
lawmanfan" post=417056 said:
I don't think we get blown out and we could pull out a win, but I think it's an uphill battle.  Probably lose something like 65-61. 

 
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I'll go opposite 
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Winner buys the beer when the pandemic is over
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Perfect
 
Watson is a significant problem for us but I have a feeling our goal will be to cause trouble before they have the opportunity to get the ball to him. Pressure them and keep them off the offensive glass. I would tell Toro to stay loose for this one. May have to call his number.

Duke worries me a little bit because of his combination of size and athleticism. Kind of feels like a healthy WIlliams would be the best guy to put on him in the halfcourt but the way Posh and Dunn have been harrassing guys I'm curious how Anderson will matchup with the Friars beyond the pressure.
 
lawmanfan" post=417056 said:
I will be surprised if we find a way to win this game.  Providence has exactly what Nova doesn't - a legitimate big man, which is our kryptonite.  Considering what journeyman bigs like Wahab, Theo John, and Pauly Paulicap have done to us, it's hard to imagine a good one like Watson going for less than 25 and 18 and fouling out at least one our bigs. ...

No doubt that containing big men in the paint is our Achilles heel (or as Frank Gifford would say, our Achilles tendon).  
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This is a potential Q1 game that'd (for now) put us on the right side of the bubble. They're also a team that has handled us for far too long. This isn't an ECU with no upside (and only downside if we lose). This is a BIG game on the road. The team I'm sure will be in that mindset because that's the reality of the situation. This isn't a trap game when we still have so much to prove. We're not even going to be favored. I think the team steps up like they have these past couple weeks, but this game in no way should be taken lightly by anyone. 
 
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lawmanfan" post=417056 said:
I will be surprised if we find a way to win this game.  Providence has exactly what Nova doesn't - a legitimate big man, which is our kryptonite.  Considering what journeyman bigs like Wahab, Theo John, and Pauly Paulicap have done to us, it's hard to imagine a good one like Watson going for less than 25 and 18 and fouling out at least one our bigs.

You can expect Duke to get his points, and if you focus too much on him then Reeves is perfectly capable of burning you. 

Cooley is absolutely not going to let us run up and down.  Frankly I was shocked that Wright was unable to get his team to force their tempo - it's possible that Nova was in part undone by hubris, but Cooley is not going to make that mistake.

Plus the game is at Providence, where I don't think we've won since the Ice Age. 

I don't think we get blown out and we could pull out a win, but I think it's an uphill battle.  Probably lose something like 65-61. 
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Exactly. A few in this thread have stated this is a potential let down game. First of all we literally never win at Providence, and they have a good team. If we lost on the road to Providence that's not a let down at all. 

I know we are all flying high based on this winning streak, but just have to keep things in perspective. 
 
QueensBall" post=417087 said:
Watson is a significant problem for us but I have a feeling our goal will be to cause trouble before they have the opportunity to get the ball to him. Pressure them and keep them off the offensive glass. I would tell Toro to stay loose for this one. May have to call his number.

Duke worries me a little bit because of his combination of size and athleticism. Kind of feels like a healthy WIlliams would be the best guy to put on him in the halfcourt but the way Posh and Dunn have been harrassing guys I'm curious how Anderson will matchup with the Friars beyond the pressure.



Duke has been bringing up the ball so I would have Posh harrass him full court.  Watson has really improved, not only around the basket but can also hit a jumper. Have to front him , once he gets the ball down low  we are in deep sh... trouble. 
 
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Jack Williams" post=417066 said:
I vaguely recall us winning @ Providence with Marcus LoVett leading the charge so it couldn't have been too long ago 
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Good memory. January 2017 we won there. But overall they've beat us 10 out of the last 12 times. Seems like they're always able to dictate the tempo in those games and turn it into a slog. 
 
Rehobie" post=417070 said:
In this game and Seton Hall I think our strongest five are Posh,  Wusu,  Duke,  Champs and Moore.  Duke is strong enough to Push Watson off the block.  He gets five fouls,  use them.  This five is in my view the strongest off the boards,  plus the scoring is still there.

I noticed coach has shortened the rotation which many have clamored for.  He will still rotate the other guys in but to compete against tall teams this would be a good start.
 
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I think you have to play Cole.  Going back to the Butler game he is shooting over 45% from 3 and since GWill went down and he moved back into the starting 5 he is over 50% from 3.  Pretty good numbers during our hot stretch.
 
For the historians on the board, this will be our first appearance @ PC's Alumni Hall in 49 years.
 
espken" post=417103 said:
For the historians on the board, this will be our first appearance @ PC's Alumni Hall in 49 years.
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Ball had laces then :)
 
I'm trying hard to keep my expectations realistic. The Johnnie's are capable of beating Providence. That's assuming they continue playing like they did against Villanova.

The team has to approach this season one game at a time. Hopefully they'll beat Providence in their own house. A loss isn't the end of the season. There's still a lot of basketball to play.
 
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We are playing well.  Let's just keep up this type of effort at both ends and good things will happen.  We aren't going undefeated through the end of the season.  That said, games we win right now against our middle of the pack competitors take a lot of stress off as the season wears on, if you win the games.  Cooley is going to have them prepared for what's coming.  Let's just get after it. 
 
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