(PRE-GAME) @Villanova, Sat., Jan. 29, 4:30p, FOX

[lawmanfan]

The key to our chances against Nova is to force Gillespie to give up the ball
He is their glue guy 
When Gillespie is not in control of the offense, their well oiled machine is not so well oiled

Agree & to me a key is how much the refs allow physical play v CG, as well as his ability to draw fouls through headiness and of course his flopping “A Game”.

Nova putting us in foul trouble and controlling boards have often been to our detriment. Must say, they always defend well. Can we rattle them w pressure? Always a tough ask at their place especially, but let’s get it on!
 

Nova has no second ball-handler, Dixon is an effective post player but does not present an Obiagu-Sanogo-Watson sort of problem, and our collection of wings matches up well with the rest of their roster.  This Nova team likes to pound it down low on an iso and then kick it out if they can't score or get fouled in the post.  So LMF keys to the game:

1.  Make life miserable for Gillespie and force the ball out of his hands if possible.
2.  Get back on defense if the press isn't there because if Nova consistently beats the press it could be an ugly game for us.
3.  Defend the post without the perimeter D collapsing and giving up open looks from 3.

Likely to come down to our pressure defense versus Nova's execution. 

To me the X-factor for Nova is Jermaine Samuels.  We have a bunch of potential X-factors, the question is who steps up.

 

[Mug Costanza]

Potential for a Nor-Easter to hit Friday night and Saturday. Could limit attendance for this one. Something to keep an eye on.

 

[paultzman]

Potential for a Nor-Easter to hit Friday night and Saturday. Could limit attendance for this one. Something to keep an eye on.

Go “storm”!

 

[room112]

I'm assuming we will be pretty sizeable underdogs in this one, 10 points at least. So I'm going to take my usual approach and assume the worst but hope for the best!

 

[Knight]

If we can correct our biggest weakness, 3-point defense, we should have a great chance of winning.

 

[Mean Gene]

I think we need to win 4 out of the next 5 to really put us in position to reach our preseason goals. Split with Villanova, beat PC at home and beat Butler and Georgetown on the road. That’s not an impossible task. This is not a vintage Nova team, we don’t play well at Butler but Butler is normally better than they are this season , Georgetown is not good and we owe PC. 

The overnight transformation of Mean Gene into an optimist or you were hacked?

If we defend the three better and play like we played last night winning 4 of the next 5 is certainly doable. It’s up to these kids and how bad they want it because they proved last night that the ability is there.

 

[mm52]

If we can correct our biggest weakness, 3-point defense, we should have a great chance of winning.
 

which requires Soriano/any big staying down low and not defending out at the top of the key and getting called for ticky-tack fouls

 

[Andrew]

I'm assuming we will be pretty sizeable underdogs in this one, 10 points at least. So I'm going to take my usual approach and assume the worst but hope for the best!

Interesting to see what the spread will be. Think it will be well north of 10.
 

 

[Knight]

One disturbing thing about Champy’s game this season is the drop off in his FT shooting. Last season he hit 88.7% vs. 73.3% this year.

 

[beast of the east]

I think we need to win 4 out of the next 5 to really put us in position to reach our preseason goals. Split with Villanova, beat PC at home and beat Butler and Georgetown on the road. That’s not an impossible task. This is not a vintage Nova team, we don’t play well at Butler but Butler is normally better than they are this season , Georgetown is not good and we owe PC. 

The overnight transformation of Mean Gene into an optimist or you were hacked?

If we defend the three better and play like we played last night winning 4 of the next 5 is certainly doable. It’s up to these kids and how bad they want it because they proved last night that the ability is there.

Basically, if we play our best game of the season the rest of the way, and champ scores like champ the rest of the way, we go to the final four.

 

[Mullins Revenge]

I'm assuming we will be pretty sizeable underdogs in this one, 10 points at least. So I'm going to take my usual approach and assume the worst but hope for the best!

One good performance does not erase a half season of ineptitude.  People are going a little overboard after last nights performance.  Villanova is one of the few teams that can really burn you when you are playing a gimmick defense.  Im not at the point where Im considering we have a chance to beat a team like Villanova.  

We caught SH by surprise,  We will not catch Nova by surprise,  Im going to wait for one more big time win before I believe in this team again.

 

[Delaware]

The key to our chances against Nova is to force Gillespie to give up the ball
He is their glue guy 
When Gillespie is not in control of the offense, their well oiled machine is not so well oiled

Agree & to me a key is how much the refs allow physical play v CG, as well as his ability to draw fouls through headiness and of course his flopping “A Game”.

Nova putting us in foul trouble and controlling boards have often been to our detriment. Must say, they always defend well. Can we rattle them w pressure? Always a tough ask at their place especially, but let’s get it on!

 

Nova has no second ball-handler, Dixon is an effective post player but does not present an Obiagu-Sanogo-Watson sort of problem, and our collection of wings matches up well with the rest of their roster.  This Nova team likes to pound it down low on an iso and then kick it out if they can't score or get fouled in the post.  So LMF keys to the game:

1.  Make life miserable for Gillespie and force the ball out of his hands if possible.
2.  Get back on defense if the press isn't there because if Nova consistently beats the press it could be an ugly game for us.
3.  Defend the post without the perimeter D collapsing and giving up open looks from 3.

Likely to come down to our pressure defense versus Nova's execution. 

To me the X-factor for Nova is Jermaine Samuels.  We have a bunch of potential X-factors, the question is who steps up.

Very well stated!

 

[Delaware]

I'm not ready to jump on the bandwagon after one great performance last night.  And that it was.  However, we've been fooled too many times by this staff and these kids.  We're always hoping for the best, but.....  I'll become a believer if and when we can string together a number of these performances, and even if losses are included.  I want to see us looking like a TEAM, not an accumulation of parts.   Still many things not functioning properly.  Need to get Champ back to where he was somebody we could depend on for 20+ points per game.  Need to consistently get contributions from Smith and Coburn.  Need to consistently get our Bigs to contribute defense at the rim and to box out and rebound.  And don't stray too far from the basket reaching on defense and getting dumb fouls.  Need to reign in Wusu.  Not sure why he gets the minutes he is getting playing the way he has played recently.  Hopefully continue to see Wheeler perform at the same, recent levels, or even better.  Again , tooo many things to need, so I'll wait a few more games.
 

 

[usguard]

I hope they put together another very good game and win
Problem is you can ‘t have a very good game once in ten games and think you have made progress .Now , if they could win their next two it will be making a statement. But if they lose the next 2, it will only say  told you they were not that good




 

 

[montyaloofah]

Note to defense, don't bite on the pump fakes. Nova gets so many foul calls on this. Gillespie will have trouble muscling posh in the post like he does other guards. Agree Samuels will be huge for them, esp on offensive boards. Dixon is serviceable. If we dictate the pace, he won't keep up. I can very well see Caleb Daniels torch us from the corner for 3 if we cheat too much. 

 

[Section3]

I'm assuming we will be pretty sizeable underdogs in this one, 10 points at least. So I'm going to take my usual approach and assume the worst but hope for the best!

One good performance does not erase a half season of ineptitude.  People are going a little overboard after last nights performance.  Villanova is one of the few teams that can really burn you when you are playing a gimmick defense.  Im not at the point where Im considering we have a chance to beat a team like Villanova.  

We caught SH by surprise,  We will not catch Nova by surprise,  Im going to wait for one more big time win before I believe in this team again.

Ok Mike2

 

[beast of the east]

I'm assuming we will be pretty sizeable underdogs in this one, 10 points at least. So I'm going to take my usual approach and assume the worst but hope for the best!

One good performance does not erase a half season of ineptitude.  People are going a little overboard after last nights performance.  Villanova is one of the few teams that can really burn you when you are playing a gimmick defense.  Im not at the point where Im considering we have a chance to beat a team like Villanova.  

We caught SH by surprise,  We will not catch Nova by surprise,  Im going to wait for one more big time win before I believe in this team again.

Look this game at Nova would be the first game any of us would mark as the most probable loss. Our guys can go in, much like the week we beat both Nova and Duke, and play with no pressure on them at all. I have faith that they will be ready and they will play hard. A win like at Seton Hall gives a team confidence. Excited to see this play out.

 

[Mean Gene]

I'm assuming we will be pretty sizeable underdogs in this one, 10 points at least. So I'm going to take my usual approach and assume the worst but hope for the best!

One good performance does not erase a half season of ineptitude.  People are going a little overboard after last nights performance.  Villanova is one of the few teams that can really burn you when you are playing a gimmick defense.  Im not at the point where Im considering we have a chance to beat a team like Villanova.  

We caught SH by surprise,  We will not catch Nova by surprise,  Im going to wait for one more big time win before I believe in this team again.

You are correct Duke, it doesn’t erase half a season of poor basketball. Let’s play the way we played last night , get Champ going and win four of the next five and that will give us a chance to achieve the goals this team had when the season began. Based on the performance last night it’s achievable if these kids really want it. Going 2-3 won’t get us there.

 

[mm52]

I'm assuming we will be pretty sizeable underdogs in this one, 10 points at least. So I'm going to take my usual approach and assume the worst but hope for the best!

One good performance does not erase a half season of ineptitude.  People are going a little overboard after last nights performance.  Villanova is one of the few teams that can really burn you when you are playing a gimmick defense.  Im not at the point where Im considering we have a chance to beat a team like Villanova.  

We caught SH by surprise,  We will not catch Nova by surprise,  Im going to wait for one more big time win before I believe in this team again.

The main positive I take away is that we won handily with virtually no scoring from Wusu and Champ combined; it was a total team effort with contributions from everyone.  That bodes well for development and being competitive in any game.  

 

[stjohnnie75]

If we press, Nova will probably have a bunch of open 3s. If we get lucky and they are off it will be a close game. Otherwise it could get ugly. Definitely need the old Champ to make an appearance offensively.