Villanova- Game 2
- Thread starter Knight
- Start date
Nova is a top 4 team with a couple of superb bigs, so the writing was on the wall when it was announced that Obekpa wasn't playing. The game was not a must-win and we were not favored even with Obekpa, so not a huge deal from that perspective IMO.
I was surprised, though, that Wright left his starters in so long and allowed the beatdown to become so severe. How that affects the team psychologically against Providence and in the Tourney will be key.
I was surprised, though, that Wright left his starters in so long and allowed the beatdown to become so severe. How that affects the team psychologically against Providence and in the Tourney will be key.
I truly don't understand the frustration over today's loss. We have 6 good players and two could not play today. We were a four man team with a terribly weak bench against an excellent deep team. Villanova has no weakness and the one player we could I'll afford to loose against them , CO , we did. It was impossible to contain their interior game without him. They have two very skilled senior bigs in Daniel and Jayvaughn and even with CO we would have had a very tough game. Just forget it and move on. Nothing more we could have done other than to try to slow the entire game down which no one would want to see. Anyone who truly thought we could win without Branch and Chris on the road against a number one seed was delusional.
We had a great regular season for which we should all be pleased and now on to the BE Tournament where hopefully these seniors can do some damage.
We had a great regular season for which we should all be pleased and now on to the BE Tournament where hopefully these seniors can do some damage.
Too many of their strengths exploit our weaknesses. They not only have height, they also have strength, they were pushing us around under the boards. They also were on fire from the outside in the 2nd half. It was like a confluence of events we could not stop. Even if we play them at full strength they are a tough match up for us. We played more than even with Duke until they put 2 bigs on the floor at the same time.
What "expectations" are you talking about? Oh you must mean the unrealistic expectations that are placed on every kid who lands here. The kid has a nice built and is a decent athlete, but as you say he lacks instincts and has little court awareness. He also has limited skill sets. He was unranked coming out of high school and was not at all highly recruited, and has nothing in his time here to indicate that he is capable of contributing much at this level. How anyone can call him a "disappointment" is beyond me. Even worse is how some are questioning the kid's heart. Totally unfair to the kid IMO.
Villanova thoughts:http://www.bigeastboards.com/
I didn't see this posted. If it was, I apologize for posting it again. But JaKaar was at the game today rooting his former team-mates on. Good for him! Although I wish he were still playing for us.
beast of the east
Active member
At halftime I thought you were complaining about bench players not playing. Now you know why
beast of the east
Active member
Just got home. The ride down there was murder. Last minute decision to go. Figured if this was a dogfight, having a few fans in the building might help a little and as a fan I should make the effort.. Turns out it was a dogfight. They had fight in them, and we were dogs. That's harsh, though.
Truth is we had only 2/3 of our playing rotation on the floor. When that happens against a good team, Harrison is easy to key on, bottle up, and force into bad decisions. Jordan had a nice game. Pointer was overwhelmed - without a supporting cast, he wasn't himself.
Most disappointing thing is how we rolled over on defense. We had no spirit, no energy. Amar on defense looked like a mannequin. Completely porous defense, and while I wouldn't have been surprised with a depleted squad if we couldn't hit shots consistently the lack of effort on defense was atrocious.
If this was our full squad, I'd say that as soon as w erun into a good squad in the NCAA, we're done. But with our 6 fairly healthy and playing well, we are a different team. Only problem is that when Branch was inserted late he looked very hobbled.just walking. Edit: boxscore says he wasn't in the game, maybe i saw him hobbling in the huddle.
Truth is we had only 2/3 of our playing rotation on the floor. When that happens against a good team, Harrison is easy to key on, bottle up, and force into bad decisions. Jordan had a nice game. Pointer was overwhelmed - without a supporting cast, he wasn't himself.
Most disappointing thing is how we rolled over on defense. We had no spirit, no energy. Amar on defense looked like a mannequin. Completely porous defense, and while I wouldn't have been surprised with a depleted squad if we couldn't hit shots consistently the lack of effort on defense was atrocious.
If this was our full squad, I'd say that as soon as w erun into a good squad in the NCAA, we're done. But with our 6 fairly healthy and playing well, we are a different team. Only problem is that when Branch was inserted late he looked very hobbled.just walking. Edit: boxscore says he wasn't in the game, maybe i saw him hobbling in the huddle.
I think you've lost the right to use the word "we" when referring to this program. This many never be an easy team to root for again, but I've never seen such an all or nothing fan. You predicted an undefeated January, then two weeks later went off that Lavin should be fired and the season is over. Then you came back on board like you never left, and here you are again ready to run at any sign of a problem. May I suggest cheering for Kentucky? It's easier, I promise.
This very likely will be our best team in FIFTEEN YEARS. If you can't enjoy that...if you can't get behind that than you won't be happy as a fan of this program. We are on Sports Center top ten after every game...they play hard, fast, and exciting. Get with it, man, or get lost.
redfan259999888
Active member
Yeah give me a few days, then I could look back, and say them winning 7 of the last 9 games, got them in. Good way for the seniors to go out.
redfan259999888
Active member
North, ok you want to use the excuse that oh Chris and Jamal didn't play? Fine. So, what happened the first time when they came to MSG? Up 2 with 10min to go, then lose by 18, 20pnt swing. Up 10 with 8min tgo go vs. Duke, but lose by 9, 19pnt swing.
It's a huge swing within just a 10minute period.
Aty anytime against a great team, we could collapse, it happened 3 time now.
beast of the east
Active member
Man, I'll say this. Nova's program and ours is still a tale of two cities, Students on break? Maybe - there didn't seem to be tons of them in building although there were a lot, BUT the place was jammed. Apparently a ton or alumni, lots of families, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 somethings - across the spectrum. Men and women - of all ages. Forget about them being a top 5 program right now just for a second. They have a following, a BIG following, a loyal following, and I'm jealous.
I know what we HAD - but had was a long time ago. I also know that a following is a function of winning. But I also know what IS, and what we have is a small, loyal, passionate following of mostly men in the 40-70 year range. We have a long way to go.
Good for Nova. They are what we can be if we stay the course and improve this program.
I know what we HAD - but had was a long time ago. I also know that a following is a function of winning. But I also know what IS, and what we have is a small, loyal, passionate following of mostly men in the 40-70 year range. We have a long way to go.
Good for Nova. They are what we can be if we stay the course and improve this program.
redfan259999888
Active member
Hey Beast, are these bench players not the ones that he recruited? wtf did he recruit them, to warm the bench? Oh nm, I guess Norm recruited them huh?
beast of the east
Active member
I really can't respond without getting angry, so , yea, you're right.
Wait, I'll give it a crack. We were playing the #4 team in the country in 3 separate rankings. They are talented, and they are deep. We are depleted, and everyone knows we aren't deep. Chances are Nova could play Kentucky, and get swamped the way we got swamped today. Everything is relative. When you build a roster, you aren't going to build a roster of 12 top 100 players overnight. Three years ago what Lavin was able to come up with on the back end was a C jones, a Balamou (who was a teammate of CO) The team that LAvin inherited required him to go out and fill an entire roster quickly, and not have the luxury of adding 3 players per year where you could focus on nailing just top shelf quality.
So you want top 100 talent throughout the roster, and right now we aren't there. It's no one's fault, but if you want to crap on Lavin for it after his injured quad got crushed, have a picnic.