Take a deep breath - this is getting interesting

[otis]

@ Marquette scares me more than @ Villanova.

I believe we match up pretty well against Villanova if the refs let the game be played at an up tempo physical pace.

Marquette at home has traditionally been a very difficult place to win.

 

[TonyinFairfield]

I wouldn't consider any upcoming opponent an easy win. As has already been said by so many, each game is critical and we need to take one game at a time. We almost didn't do that last night. When we were in our 0-5 funk, we would have lost a game like last night. Shows how far this team has come since then and their level of maturity and poise. The guys didn't have that early in the season.

Dare I say it? I will. Lavin deserves a lot of credit for keeping our guys motivated. As Beast said in his original post, even pro teams can throw in the towel after a horrendous start like our guys had.

On to face Georgetown!

 

[thetux1]

we will be favored in 4 of the remaining 6 games. So if things go according to form we finish at 10-8 in conf 20-11 overall. In that scenario we would need at least 2 wins in the tourney to feel comfortable on selection Sunday. Problem is I think 10-8 gets you 4th place which means a bye on Tuesday, play the 5 seed on Wednesday and after hopefully winning you get the 1 seed on Thursday. Hopefully Creighton is the 1 seed I like that matchup for us much better then Nova

Just beat GTown

 

[paultzman]

Take a deep breath is right. This team has no margin for error. Seton Hall...with the help of the refs...wanted it more. We were a missed three point shot away from the NIT.

Actually, as we are all aware, we have room for just one more regular season loss. We know that to take it at home vs. Georgetown or Butler would be devastating.. We have 4 home, 2 away. Conventional wisdom says you'd like to have not lost a game going into the Villanova game. Even then, should we win two at home, then lose at Villanova, we'd in effect have to win our last road game at Marquette to secure 11 wins, assuming we win out at home. It is still a very tough road, but finally we can seriously look at the schedule and say we have a real chance to do this.

Once again, I agree with you. As Jimmy V once said "Survive and Advance". It is great to have something to root for.

 

[beast of the east]

Take a deep breath is right. This team has no margin for error. Seton Hall...with the help of the refs...wanted it more. We were a missed three point shot away from the NIT.

Actually, as we are all aware, we have room for just one more regular season loss. We know that to take it at home vs. Georgetown or Butler would be devastating.. We have 4 home, 2 away. Conventional wisdom says you'd like to have not lost a game going into the Villanova game. Even then, should we win two at home, then lose at Villanova, we'd in effect have to win our last road game at Marquette to secure 11 wins, assuming we win out at home. It is still a very tough road, but finally we can seriously look at the schedule and say we have a real chance to do this.

Once again, I agree with you. As Jimmy V once said "Survive and Advance". It is great to have something to root for.

If I wasn't taken I'd ask you to be my Valentine.

Seriously, when UCONN ripped it up at the end of the Big East season, I'd worried they peaked too early. They did prove that winning, after a sluggish start, is sustainable. I have a hard time remembering a season that included such a radical reversal of fortune, do you? Not that we are there yet, but event to be having this discussion.

 

[paultzman]

Take a deep breath is right. This team has no margin for error. Seton Hall...with the help of the refs...wanted it more. We were a missed three point shot away from the NIT.

Actually, as we are all aware, we have room for just one more regular season loss. We know that to take it at home vs. Georgetown or Butler would be devastating.. We have 4 home, 2 away. Conventional wisdom says you'd like to have not lost a game going into the Villanova game. Even then, should we win two at home, then lose at Villanova, we'd in effect have to win our last road game at Marquette to secure 11 wins, assuming we win out at home. It is still a very tough road, but finally we can seriously look at the schedule and say we have a real chance to do this.

Once again, I agree with you. As Jimmy V once said "Survive and Advance". It is great to have something to root for.

If I wasn't taken I'd ask you to be my Valentine.

Seriously, when UCONN ripped it up at the end of the Big East season, I'd worried they peaked too early. They did prove that winning, after a sluggish start, is sustainable. I have a hard time remembering a season that included such a radical reversal of fortune, do you? Not that we are there yet, but event to be having this discussion.

Never thought this team was capable of getting back in the hunt, particularly grabbing some road games. We're still in a hole with small margin of error, but I am happy to go to GT game with something on the line.

 

[weathermannyc]

edit** On further thought maybe I'll get her car service as a valentines gift to smooth that over **

Smart decision...but consider the car service to be the price of you going to the game instead of a Valentine's Day gift.

 

[Ray Morgan]

Unless I missed one, every conference game has been up for grabs in the last 2 minutes except for Marquette and Gtown. That's 12 games, and 10 nail biters. After a slew of close losses, we have had a bunch of close wins. What that means is when you start 0 and 5, you a need a minor miracle to make the tournament. No letdowns, no nights off. Very tough to sustain that through the 8 or 9 games, including the conference tourney, that remain. So I stay hopeful but realistic.

 

[beast of the east]

Unless I missed one, every conference game has been up for grabs in the last 2 minutes except for Marquette and Gtown. That's 12 games, and 10 nail biters. After a slew of close losses, we have had a bunch of close wins. What that means is when you start 0 and 5, you a need a minor miracle to make the tournament. No letdowns, no nights off. Very tough to sustain that through the 8 or 9 games, including the conference tourney, that remain. So I stay hopeful but realistic.

We kicked butt on Buttler.

 

[Ray Morgan]

We need another game where we can coast a little. Takes a lot of energy to go down to the wire every game. Would like to save a little karma for March Madness.

 

[Jack Williams]

We need another game where we can coast a little. Takes a lot of energy to go down to the wire every game. Would like to save a little karma for March Madness.

I was hoping that was last night. Maybe DePaul at the garden?

 

[Section9]

@ Marquette scares me more than @ Villanova.

I believe we match up pretty well against Villanova if the refs let the game be played at an up tempo physical pace.

Marquette at home has traditionally been a very difficult place to win.

Marquette has a weak backcourt and we can match their physicality up front, they're not the same team that's been a force in the BE the past few years. It'll be a tough road game but if we're reasonably on and play good D we should take it.

'Nova has a very well balanced team with multiple scoring options, particularly from the outside and wings, this is going to be the harder road W.

 

[newsman13]

Take a deep breath is right. This team has no margin for error. Seton Hall...with the help of the refs...wanted it more. We were a missed three point shot away from the NIT.

Why are you so negative?
This team is on an unbelievable run after a really bad start. Besides me and a few other delusional homers who would have thought 6-6 possible after starting 0-5 with two games against Creighton and 4/6 on the road? No win in this Big East is easy...sweeps are even more difficult...doing both on the road? That's nothing to sneeze at. SH just beat Xavier by double-digits in Cincy, and, at the very least, has size, a very solid player in Gibbs, a rangy shooter in Mobley, and an all-conference player in Edwin. This was a trap game sandwiched between two big-time teams, in front of a handful of fans, and against a team that purposely tried to make it ugly.

We are 16-9 with four remaining home games left! We can hit 20 wins by just taking care of business at home, and that leaves two road games (one against a team we dismantled) and the BET to pad that total. We were also aided tonight by BYU losing its tenth game. They have 2/4 on the road to end the season and Gonzaga at home. An 11th loss will all but end their chances out of the WCC.

I watch the games because we have a puncher's chance to win out...or at least win the BET. When I see us doing the things that got us to 0-5, it puts me in negative mode. It seemed SH got all the 50-50 balls...were dominant on the boards in the first half...and had so much energy that it chilled our guys into making one turnover after another. It was the first half of Georgetown all over again, except against a lesser team. The refs blowing three blocked shots, calling them goaltends made it look worse.

I'm back to saying what I said in December and January. If these guys play 40 minutes, they can beat anyone in the country. They rarely play 40 minutes. They didn't against Seton Hall. A loss last night would have meant a one way ticket to the NIT, barring a BET Championship. That's a pretty negative situation.

 

[redstorm80]

@ Marquette scares me more than @ Villanova.

I believe we match up pretty well against Villanova if the refs let the game be played at an up tempo physical pace.

Marquette at home has traditionally been a very difficult place to win.

We get to play Nova at the Wells Fargo Center. Feel better about our chances there then if it were at the Pavilion

 

[MBoutchatski]

haven't read through the thread yet, but 21 wins has to get us in, no matter how we get it...right? Even 20 would still put us in decent shape.

 

[dee]

Take a deep breath is right. This team has no margin for error. Seton Hall...with the help of the refs...wanted it more. We were a missed three point shot away from the NIT.

Why are you so negative?
This team is on an unbelievable run after a really bad start. Besides me and a few other delusional homers who would have thought 6-6 possible after starting 0-5 with two games against Creighton and 4/6 on the road? No win in this Big East is easy...sweeps are even more difficult...doing both on the road? That's nothing to sneeze at. SH just beat Xavier by double-digits in Cincy, and, at the very least, has size, a very solid player in Gibbs, a rangy shooter in Mobley, and an all-conference player in Edwin. This was a trap game sandwiched between two big-time teams, in front of a handful of fans, and against a team that purposely tried to make it ugly.

We are 16-9 with four remaining home games left! We can hit 20 wins by just taking care of business at home, and that leaves two road games (one against a team we dismantled) and the BET to pad that total. We were also aided tonight by BYU losing its tenth game. They have 2/4 on the road to end the season and Gonzaga at home. An 11th loss will all but end their chances out of the WCC.

I watch the games because we have a puncher's chance to win out...or at least win the BET. When I see us doing the things that got us to 0-5, it puts me in negative mode. It seemed SH got all the 50-50 balls...were dominant on the boards in the first half...and had so much energy that it chilled our guys into making one turnover after another. It was the first half of Georgetown all over again, except against a lesser team. The refs blowing three blocked shots, calling them goaltends made it look worse.

I'm back to saying what I said in December and January. If these guys play 40 minutes, they can beat anyone in the country. They rarely play 40 minutes. They didn't against Seton Hall. A loss last night would have meant a one way ticket to the NIT, barring a BET Championship. That's a pretty negative situation.

Some of the players, in particular Sanchez, have a tendency to take steps and walk. I have watched many of the games and there have been a number of times that they travelled and got away with it. They were lucky then and the luck wont continue into any tournaments the team plays in. They have to straighten that out

 

[Marillac]

We need another game where we can coast a little. Takes a lot of energy to go down to the wire every game. Would like to save a little karma for March Madness.

I was hoping that was last night. Maybe DePaul at the garden?

We are going to take Depaul to the woodshed at the Garden.

 

[Marillac]

Take a deep breath is right. This team has no margin for error. Seton Hall...with the help of the refs...wanted it more. We were a missed three point shot away from the NIT.

Why are you so negative?
This team is on an unbelievable run after a really bad start. Besides me and a few other delusional homers who would have thought 6-6 possible after starting 0-5 with two games against Creighton and 4/6 on the road? No win in this Big East is easy...sweeps are even more difficult...doing both on the road? That's nothing to sneeze at. SH just beat Xavier by double-digits in Cincy, and, at the very least, has size, a very solid player in Gibbs, a rangy shooter in Mobley, and an all-conference player in Edwin. This was a trap game sandwiched between two big-time teams, in front of a handful of fans, and against a team that purposely tried to make it ugly.

We are 16-9 with four remaining home games left! We can hit 20 wins by just taking care of business at home, and that leaves two road games (one against a team we dismantled) and the BET to pad that total. We were also aided tonight by BYU losing its tenth game. They have 2/4 on the road to end the season and Gonzaga at home. An 11th loss will all but end their chances out of the WCC.

I watch the games because we have a puncher's chance to win out...or at least win the BET. When I see us doing the things that got us to 0-5, it puts me in negative mode. It seemed SH got all the 50-50 balls...were dominant on the boards in the first half...and had so much energy that it chilled our guys into making one turnover after another. It was the first half of Georgetown all over again, except against a lesser team. The refs blowing three blocked shots, calling them goaltends made it look worse.

I'm back to saying what I said in December and January. If these guys play 40 minutes, they can beat anyone in the country. They rarely play 40 minutes. They didn't against Seton Hall. A loss last night would have meant a one way ticket to the NIT, barring a BET Championship. That's a pretty negative situation.

But they didn't lose last night. They won a Big East road game to complete a SWEEP. I think you are underestimating how tough that is. SH intentionally makes games ugly and they succeeded last night. The fact that they have Edwin, Gibbs, and Mobley means they have enough talent to get by any team in the conference when they are on. They beat a very good Xavier team by double digits in Cincy.

We were without Branch and that hurts, especially when they go to the zone. Branch has to be respected and defended while Dom doesn't. Honestly, the zone scares me going forward. If we get zoned again, Hooper will have to play 10-15 minutes without a doubt.

 

[tom in salem]

Take a deep breath is right. This team has no margin for error. Seton Hall...with the help of the refs...wanted it more. We were a missed three point shot away from the NIT.

Why are you so negative?
This team is on an unbelievable run after a really bad start. Besides me and a few other delusional homers who would have thought 6-6 possible after starting 0-5 with two games against Creighton and 4/6 on the road? No win in this Big East is easy...sweeps are even more difficult...doing both on the road? That's nothing to sneeze at. SH just beat Xavier by double-digits in Cincy, and, at the very least, has size, a very solid player in Gibbs, a rangy shooter in Mobley, and an all-conference player in Edwin. This was a trap game sandwiched between two big-time teams, in front of a handful of fans, and against a team that purposely tried to make it ugly.

We are 16-9 with four remaining home games left! We can hit 20 wins by just taking care of business at home, and that leaves two road games (one against a team we dismantled) and the BET to pad that total. We were also aided tonight by BYU losing its tenth game. They have 2/4 on the road to end the season and Gonzaga at home. An 11th loss will all but end their chances out of the WCC.

I watch the games because we have a puncher's chance to win out...or at least win the BET. When I see us doing the things that got us to 0-5, it puts me in negative mode. It seemed SH got all the 50-50 balls...were dominant on the boards in the first half...and had so much energy that it chilled our guys into making one turnover after another. It was the first half of Georgetown all over again, except against a lesser team. The refs blowing three blocked shots, calling them goaltends made it look worse.

I'm back to saying what I said in December and January. If these guys play 40 minutes, they can beat anyone in the country. They rarely play 40 minutes. They didn't against Seton Hall. A loss last night would have meant a one way ticket to the NIT, barring a BET Championship. That's a pretty negative situation.

But they didn't lose last night. They won a Big East road game to complete a SWEEP. I think you are underestimating how tough that is. SH intentionally makes games ugly and they succeeded last night. The fact that they have Edwin, Gibbs, and Mobley means they have enough talent to get by any team in the conference when they are on. They beat a very good Xavier team by double digits in Cincy.

We were without Branch and that hurts, especially when they go to the zone. Branch has to be respected and defended while Dom doesn't. Honestly, the zone scares me going forward. If we get zoned again, Hooper will have to play 10-15 minutes without a doubt.

ugh.

 

[Marillac]

Take a deep breath is right. This team has no margin for error. Seton Hall...with the help of the refs...wanted it more. We were a missed three point shot away from the NIT.

Why are you so negative?
This team is on an unbelievable run after a really bad start. Besides me and a few other delusional homers who would have thought 6-6 possible after starting 0-5 with two games against Creighton and 4/6 on the road? No win in this Big East is easy...sweeps are even more difficult...doing both on the road? That's nothing to sneeze at. SH just beat Xavier by double-digits in Cincy, and, at the very least, has size, a very solid player in Gibbs, a rangy shooter in Mobley, and an all-conference player in Edwin. This was a trap game sandwiched between two big-time teams, in front of a handful of fans, and against a team that purposely tried to make it ugly.

We are 16-9 with four remaining home games left! We can hit 20 wins by just taking care of business at home, and that leaves two road games (one against a team we dismantled) and the BET to pad that total. We were also aided tonight by BYU losing its tenth game. They have 2/4 on the road to end the season and Gonzaga at home. An 11th loss will all but end their chances out of the WCC.

I watch the games because we have a puncher's chance to win out...or at least win the BET. When I see us doing the things that got us to 0-5, it puts me in negative mode. It seemed SH got all the 50-50 balls...were dominant on the boards in the first half...and had so much energy that it chilled our guys into making one turnover after another. It was the first half of Georgetown all over again, except against a lesser team. The refs blowing three blocked shots, calling them goaltends made it look worse.

I'm back to saying what I said in December and January. If these guys play 40 minutes, they can beat anyone in the country. They rarely play 40 minutes. They didn't against Seton Hall. A loss last night would have meant a one way ticket to the NIT, barring a BET Championship. That's a pretty negative situation.

But they didn't lose last night. They won a Big East road game to complete a SWEEP. I think you are underestimating how tough that is. SH intentionally makes games ugly and they succeeded last night. The fact that they have Edwin, Gibbs, and Mobley means they have enough talent to get by any team in the conference when they are on. They beat a very good Xavier team by double digits in Cincy.

We were without Branch and that hurts, especially when they go to the zone. Branch has to be respected and defended while Dom doesn't. Honestly, the zone scares me going forward. If we get zoned again, Hooper will have to play 10-15 minutes without a doubt.

ugh.

I know.