Realistic Expectation for First Four Games

[quote="Marillac" post=314266]A few more painful lessons left to be learned IMO. I'm hoping 5-6 losses could provide all the learning we need to make it through the first weekend of the tournament.[/quote]

I haven't wavered from 10-8 or 11-7 in conference. Anything less would be a disappointing, anything more a nice surprise. 22-8, or 23-7 overall would get us in pretty easily, and that was the season's goal, and should still be.
 
[quote="Class of 72" post=314068]We lost to Seton Hall because of a bad call.
We lost to Villanova because they have a real coaching staff.
Our second half substitutions consisted of one player, Trimble. Only coach responsible for subs is Greg St. Jean from appearances so credit him with a brain fart but it also reinforces the skepticism of fans who question Mullin's in-game coaching abilities. Not having a real college coach next to him is retarding Mullin's growth as a coach and it showed against Wright.[/quote]

With any coach in any sport you can find fault game to game. Joe Maddon is supposedly a genius but against the Indians the year Cubs finally won he did all sorts of crazy stuff. I disagreed with Louie all the time back in the day. Pat Riley stubbornly let John Starks shoot him out of a championship.
I think it was a mistake to basically only play 6 guys. HOWEVER the reason we lost is their two best players outplayed our two best players. And in the case of our 2nd best player, if he plays like that we won't win too many games.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=314267][quote="Marillac" post=314266]A few more painful lessons left to be learned IMO. I'm hoping 5-6 losses could provide all the learning we need to make it through the first weekend of the tournament.[/quote]

I haven't wavered from 10-8 or 11-7 in conference. Anything less would be a disappointing, anything more a nice surprise. 22-8, or 23-7 overall would get us in pretty easily, and that was the season's goal, and should still be.[/quote]

To be safe 11-7 in conference and a win or two in big east is a must.

10-8 in conference we will be squarely on bubble selection Sunday. If you do not believe me look at some Big Ten teams who were left out last year. Nebraska and Penn State had similar records and a week non conference schedule.

I am hoping for 11-7 and 2 wins in Big east tourney and we will be fine.
 
Like the NBA playoffs, the series doesn't start until you lose at home. Two and 2 was about right, all things considered. The Seton Hall debacle gave us little margin for error. Whatever one thinks, the start has us in position to make the dance. If we don't make it, it's not because of what happened so far.
 
[quote="Paultzman" post=314105]Am a “one game at a time” guy, but Johnnies have great opportunity over next four games to position themselves well in this bear of a conference. Holding serve st home v DePaul, Creighton & GT while besting Butler on road to me is quite attainable and prepares us for tough consecutive road games with Duke, Marquette & Creighton. Let’s seize that opportunity by approaching DePaul game with same vigor as the great Marquette performance.

This is a NCAA Tourney caliber team, but that’s not a given. Let’s earn it with solid, heady play, especially down the stretch in close games.[/quote]

Agree and as you note this stretch is critical to positioning ourselves well for March. Would be great to close the rest of February 4-1 and go into Duke 18-3 / 6-3. At a minimum, 17-4 / 5-4. 2-3 obviously not an option as math could get challenging quickly to reach desired conference win total.
 
[quote="Manhattan1" post=314270][quote="Beast of the East" post=314267][quote="Marillac" post=314266]A few more painful lessons left to be learned IMO. I'm hoping 5-6 losses could provide all the learning we need to make it through the first weekend of the tournament.[/quote]

I haven't wavered from 10-8 or 11-7 in conference. Anything less would be a disappointing, anything more a nice surprise. 22-8, or 23-7 overall would get us in pretty easily, and that was the season's goal, and should still be.[/quote]

To be safe 11-7 in conference and a win or two in big east is a must.

10-8 in conference we will be squarely on bubble selection Sunday. If you do not believe me look at some Big Ten teams who were left out last year. Nebraska and Penn State had similar records and a week non conference schedule.

I am hoping for 11-7 and 2 wins in Big east tourney and we will be fine.[/quote]

If this were true why are we in the top 30 of the NET at the conclusion of our weak OOC schedule and 2-2 in league play?
 
That;s a good question.

Most brackets have us as a 9 seed as well right now. That is not typical of a 14-2 team.

I think a lot of people including experts have no idea how this NET thing is going to work out at end of year. Jay Bilas was on and he isn't sure either.
 
I don’t think fans can judge the strength of an OCC schedule till the season ends. I know I can’t.
 
Enjoyed reading posts above - so
Many are “fair & balanced” - wait that sounds like Fox News lol -
Anyway in re Chris not using more of his bench, I used to be annoyed that Louie C would not use many substitutes ( from what I recall)
Go Storm
We have an enjoyable season at hand
AND
ahead
Blessings
 
[quote="Manhattan1" post=314289]That;s a good question.

Most brackets have us as a 9 seed as well right now. That is not typical of a 14-2 team.

I think a lot of people including experts have no idea how this NET thing is going to work out at end of year. Jay Bilas was on and he isn't sure either.[/quote]

Those projections have us losing a lot of conference games and @ Duke. That is why we are 9 seed. If we swept the rest of the season and won the Big East tournament, we'd be a 1 seed.
 
Unlike many of our fans, I think the season so far has been a blast! 12-0 OOC, 3 nail biters in conference, plus we crushed a ranked team at home vs Marquette.

So far, this season has been lots of fun, and I expect some fantastic competitive ball the rest of the way. First time in a long time I can't wait for each game.
 
[quote="Beast of the East" post=314305]Unlike many of our fans, I think the season so far has been a blast! 12-0 OOC, 3 nail biters in conference, plus we crushed a ranked team at home vs Marquette.

So far, this season has been lots of fun, and I expect some fantastic competitive ball the rest of the way. First time in a long time I can't wait for each game.[/quote]. 100 percent agree... But, still I think many of us Cringe when we watch a team repeatedly lose when having a lead late in the game .3 of our Games have been that way and easily could have lost the GTown game the same way . We lost several of our games last season the same way , even during the 0-11 streak . When losing leads become chronic late in the game , as they have , its natural to kind of look around and say , Why ? I also think many fans have experienced such disappointment in our Program for so long , that 2-2 is looked upon as major progress . Maybe it is , or is it ? Arguably , we could , maybe should be 4-0 and the talk of the College BB World . Instead , we look more like a mid Tier BE team . I have no idea what the answer is and since it’s continued , I don’t think the Coaches or players know what the problem is and that is a concern .. When players are hoisting up long 3’s in close games, that often come close to the shot clock expiration , to me that looks like a team that lost its focus . The other thing is , are we satisfied with merely finishing mid pack , hope for NCAA bid or , actually trying to win the regular season Crown ? And , the BE Tournament ? Right now , I don’t think we know ..
 
I'm with @Beast on this - This season has been a blast so far. I'm excited for every game. Of course I'm disappointed when we lose, but thrilled to see the growth on every level. We are clearly more athletic, generally play much smarter, generally play better defense, and generally pass, catch passes and definitely shoot better than any Johnnies team in recent and perhaps long term memory. We have a legit shot at the tourney and it's not even unreasonable to think that with a couple of good bounces, a couple of calls going our way (c'mon - we're overdue!!) and continued growth in all aspects, that this team may even get a pretty decent seed and will be one that we talk about on here for a loooong time.

These next 4 will tell us a lot - and I'm optimistic that the story will be a good one! See y'all at CA tonight!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top