The Season So Far

[redmannorth]

Think that without healthy maturing Pinzon we will have real trouble against any team that, unlike Georgetown, actually has guards.

One thing about CMA's teams here - they have depth.  I can't off hand think of a single scholarship player that hasn't had a chance to prove he is capable of playing or hasn't seen playing time in real situations.

Depth, let’s be real for a moment. 
Nyiewe is no where near ready for this level at present. 
Coburn has barely played this season. 
Smith, see Coburn above. 
Pinzon unfortunately has been injured and sick. 
Wheeler like Coburn and Smith has been in the dog house and has not seen the floor at times. 
Stanley, while we all love his hustle and desire and look forward to watching him improve over the next 3.5 seasons, is getting pt out of necessity, not because of his ability at the BE level. 
That is 6 members of our team, we have no idea what our bench will give us from game to game if anything. Last years strength is clearly this seasons weakness and there is no way to sugar coat same. 

 

[usguard]

I will take anything other than 0-5  But let’s  face it ,in the BE  anything can happen . Hey maybe 4-1


 

 

[dee]

Seems to me that the team has done about what you would reasonably expect thus far in league play:  Win two home games against teams it should beat, and lose two road games against very good teams, almost winning one of them.  I couldn't take too much away from the Georgetown game other than it does seem as though Wheeler will be a solid contributor and that Georgetown is dreadful, at least at the moment.  So it was just a game we should win and we did.

In every season there is always a loss or two that you don't expect and a win or two that you also don't expect, and I'm sure that will happen.  But the team faces a real test now with the upcoming slate of:

at Creighton
Hall
at Hall
at Nova
Providence

To get to the top third of the conference you would think they have to win at least the home games against Hall and Providence.  Winning at Creighton and at Nova is a tall task for anyone, and I doubt we sweep the Hall.  So I think if they go 2-3 in the next 5 that is about the best you could expect.  If they somehow go 3-2 then we may really have something here, but IMHO that would be a moonshot.

On the back end of that we are at Georgetown - I expect Georgetown to be more competitive by then, but it will once again be a must-win game.

As always the wild card is COVID sit-outs and injuries which could upend everything in either direction.

Unfortunately, we can’t segregate the conference season from the pre-conference season.  Given our weak schedule, lack of quality wins, and bad loss to Pitt, we started Big East play significantly beyond the eight ball.

For me and for most fans, I think the goal is making the tournament.  And we are well out of contention for that at the moment.  I think we need at least 11 big East wins to have a chance, and even with 11 wins, it’s  no certainty.

I would have hoped we’d be 3-1 in conference at this point.  But regardless, this season to date  has to be characterized as a disappointment.  

We played UConn tough and I’m glad we beat GTown, but I continue to see many of the glaring weaknesses that have plagued us all year.  2-3 over the next five games leaves us very far out of contention for a bid.  I wouldn’t be happy with that although I’m not expecting much more.  We can get a bid to the NIT

 

[beast of the east]

Think that without healthy maturing Pinzon we will have real trouble against any team that, unlike Georgetown, actually has guards.

One thing about CMA's teams here - they have depth.  I can't off hand think of a single scholarship player that hasn't had a chance to prove he is capable of playing or hasn't seen playing time in real situations.

Depth, let’s be real for a moment. 
Nyiewe is no where near ready for this level at present. 
Coburn has barely played this season. 
Smith, see Coburn above. 
Pinzon unfortunately has been injured and sick. 
Wheeler like Coburn and Smith has been in the dog house and has not seen the floor at times. 
Stanley, while we all love his hustle and desire and look forward to watching him improve over the next 3.5 seasons, is getting pt out of necessity, not because of his ability at the BE level. 
That is 6 members of our team, we have no idea what our bench will give us from game to game if anything. Last years strength is clearly this seasons weakness and there is no way to sugar coat same. 

Respectfully disagree. For years as soon as we got past 7 guys, it was clear that the guys beyond that could not contribute at this level and we were in trouble if we had to use the bench in cases of fouls or injury

Our bench may not be Big East starters, but except for Coburn, who gets an incomplete, each has shown something that makes them useful as contributors.

Maybe it's a glass half full half empty scenario. Yes we need better talent but I think our bench can contribute at this kevel.

 

[redmanwest]

Agree with Beast.  I think most of the guys we have could play a defined role, and it is up to the staff to create, develop and utilize these roles.  This team has more size than any we have had in many many years, a very key improvement over many of our most recent teams.   And, we have more guys who can put the ball in the basket, albeit with some game to game inconsistency.  Past teams had real trouble scoring, this team typically does not. 

The main issue has been the integration of all the new guys and the establishment of clearly defined roles and utilization of each guy the right way (even Posh/Wusu for several games).

Overall, the team is playing better of late and I am hopeful that we will be competitive most games and win our share going forward. If Soriano stays out of foul trouble, Wheeler continues to play well and if we can get Pinzon back healthy, we could go on a roll. Finding the right niche for Smith (consistent 10-15 minutes or so w/ 5 or 6 open looks) would be a very good thing for the coaching staff to accomplish as well.

Coburn will not see significant minutes, nor should Nyiewe.  
     

 

[Ray Morgan]

The 5 transfers in this season are giving us 33 points, 7 assists and 16 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game.
The top 5 transfers out (minutes per game)  44 ppg, 9 assists, 16 rebounds and 4.4 steals. Roberts not included.
The team is scoring 5 more points per game than last season, but Champ, Posh and Dylan have upped their scoring by 10 points per game total. No question that production is less than hoped for. Of the 5, only Mathis is seeing more minutes per game than last his previous seasons. I would like to see production by the transfers increase, but the most likely scenario is that wins will be scarce unless Champ, Posh and Dylan all have big games together.

 

[Mullins Revenge]

Beat a good team!!!  That is what we have not been able to do this year and why we will miss the tourney again this year.

If they want to turn that around, win tomorrow night in Omaha.  If not, we are just not a good basketball team.

Beat Creighton snd at minimum split w/ Seton Hall.  Then we can start talking some real basketball.

 

[beast of the east]

The 5 transfers in this season are giving us 33 points, 7 assists and 16 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game.
The top 5 transfers out (minutes per game)  44 ppg, 9 assists, 16 rebounds and 4.4 steals. Roberts not included.
The team is scoring 5 more points per game than last season, but Champ, Posh and Dylan have upped their scoring by 10 points per game total. No question that production is less than hoped for. Of the 5, only Mathis is seeing more minutes per game than last his previous seasons. I would like to see production by the transfers increase, but the most likely scenario is that wins will be scarce unless Champ, Posh and Dylan all have big games together.

Good analysis,, but to me OOC games are just about meaningless and 4 BE games are too small a sampling.    Kansas and Indiana count for something, but a transfer in is still getting acclimated.   Let's see how this plays out.

 

[lawmanfan]

Beat a good team!!!  That is what we have not been able to do this year and why we will miss the tourney again this year.

If they want to turn that around, win tomorrow night in Omaha.  If not, we are just not a good basketball team.

Beat Creighton snd at minimum split w/ Seton Hall.  Then we can start talking some real basketball.
 

You're directionally correct, if too specific.  The season is not over if they don't win at Creighton, hardly anybody wins at Creighton. 

They need to win 2 of the next 5 to avoid falling into a hole.  Which 2 is not that important.  I agree that winning at Creighton would lower the degree of difficulty of getting to 2 and increase the possibility of getting to 3, which would be awesome.  But again, winning at Creighton is a tall order - they have a shot, though.