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Post by bigdobber on Jan 26, 2009 8:01:59 GMT -5
I am seeing definite signs of progress in the second year with Coach Schmidt at the helm. A game like yesterday would have turned into a 30 point rout with Sol at the wheel and instead we lose by 12. The squad was limited because of injuries and early foul trouble but hung tough to keep the score respectable. I was most frustrated with the series of breakaway scores by UD and our continued lousy foulshooting. I was listening to the UD announcers and they notice a big change in the team from years past. The next 3 years will be interesting as more and more of Schmidt's recruits start to make their way onto the court. I see programs like Rhode Island, Charlotte, GW and Fordham off to a weak start and feel like our nucleus is better. Hopefully we can get back on track against Fordham. In comparing us with Duquesne, Richmond, St. Louis, Temple and UMASS which also went through recent coaching changes I feel like we are looking comparable, in some cases a little behind and in other cases a little ahead. A trip to AC should be clinched with 3 more wins. I see progress.
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Post by triple302 on Jan 26, 2009 8:42:09 GMT -5
I agree that we are making a great amount of progress. The team fought and if it weren't fro a 5 minute stretch in the beginning of the 2nd half(which always seems to be where we fall apart) we would ahve been in this game. I think this is the hardest thing about this team right now. It seems like if they could ever not give up that huge run either at the end of the first half or at the beginning of the second, we would be in every game. We have shown an ability to win close games and when we can't keep them close because of one stretch of absolutely terrible basketball, it is very frustrating. All in all, things are looking up. The Dayton game is one that nobody circled as a win when we looked through the schedule at the beginning of the year. It is just frustrating watching us play very capable ball for 35 minutes, and getting killed by 5 minutes of brain dead play. We will get there. There are some very winnable games left and I see an AC trip in our future.
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Post by West End Stench on Jan 26, 2009 8:45:52 GMT -5
I would argue that we clinch with just two more wins: vs Fordham and @gw. Let's hope Schmidt and the guys don't make it too difficult for themselves down the stretch, and get a nice win on Wednesday.
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Post by OceanStateBonnie on Jan 26, 2009 8:50:44 GMT -5
If we get healthy, I could see as many as five more conference wins. Three is more likely and you could rationalize as many as six.
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Post by tomangelone on Jan 26, 2009 8:59:47 GMT -5
If we get healthy, I could see as many as five more conference wins. Three is more likely and you could rationalize as many as six. I agree. Very winnable games include Fordham, LaSalle, UMass, @gwu, St. Louis, and Charlotte.
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Post by portpasses on Jan 26, 2009 9:19:55 GMT -5
The team fought and if it weren't fro a 5 minute stretch in the beginning.... I really thought the site sensors were set up to block that word....
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Post by jmp on Jan 26, 2009 19:09:26 GMT -5
With the team at 2-4 in the league we have the strongest hopes in years for that A10 tourney bid on the horizon. I believe we win Wednesday to give us #3 , I think we must win the last 2 games St.Louis and Charlotte. At G.W. scares me fellas....they have lost by 5 in 2xot at RI, by only 2 to Dayton, by 4 at St. Louis, by 5 at Duquesne. I know they are 6-11 but long, athletic teams give us fits. I like our chances at home the rest of the way. Go Bonas!!
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Post by mcspin on Jan 27, 2009 8:08:20 GMT -5
Very winnable games include Fordham, LaSalle, UMass, @gwu, St. Louis, and Charlotte. Anybody watching this team has to realize they're not going to win every game they have a shot at. When their shooting is off, they don't seem capable of beating too many A-10 teams, and it's off quite a bit. It they win 3 of those, I'll be very happy.
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Post by OceanStateBonnie on Jan 27, 2009 14:43:09 GMT -5
The GW-URI game was in DC.
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Post by hamrucker on Jan 27, 2009 19:36:13 GMT -5
Very winnable games include Fordham, LaSalle, UMass, @gwu, St. Louis, and Charlotte. Anybody watching this team has to realize they're not going to win every game they have a shot at. When their shooting is off, they don't seem capable of beating too many A-10 teams, and it's off quite a bit. It they win 3 of those, I'll be very happy. I couldn't disagree more. Our strengths have been down low and we have had our success this season when our front court has big nights. If I remember right, we only shot 2-7 from three at Fordham. Against Richmond, Matthews got off to a hot start, but it was Thomas and the interior game that got us the W. Once we realize that this team runs through our bigs, we'll be a lot better off.
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Post by thesocalkid on Jan 27, 2009 20:06:37 GMT -5
Making the A-10 playoffs gives this young team a third season. If by then, this team is all healed up and is playing like a team ( they've only been together for one season ) with everybody playing at the top of their game, then this team will surprise us all.
NEVER EVER GIVE UP !
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Post by magnusbu on Jan 28, 2009 9:16:18 GMT -5
I think the team realizes their strength is with our bigs. However, so do the teams we play. Watch as teams pack in the defense to slow our bigs and give us open outside shots. If we could just have a couple guys get hot from the outside for a few games then we would see an even better inside game as our opponents defense if forced to spread out.
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Post by LumsdnA10Academc98 on Jan 28, 2009 12:50:28 GMT -5
I think the team realizes their strength is with our bigs. However, so do the teams we play. Watch as teams pack in the defense to slow our bigs and give us open outside shots. If we could just have a couple guys get hot from the outside for a few games then we would see an even better inside game as our opponents defense if forced to spread out. Easier said than done. Blackburn's absence leaves us with one regular who can shoot the rock, and we can't even get him acceptable looks. In this sense, our big men go as our perimeter players go. Other than Matthews, there's really no one else to "get hot." I see no reason, as bad as our offense is, why we can't give Nicholson the ball in the high post for 14-16 foot jumpers. If we can't get the ball to a guy with a 7-4 wing span 15 feet away, we're in more trouble than we think. If we can, he can hit open jumpers at will and hit guys like Hall and Thomas cutting in the paint. If our offense isn't going through Andrew Nicholson today, what makes us think it will anytime next year?
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Post by magnusbu on Jan 28, 2009 13:04:44 GMT -5
Yeah I know that it doesn't look good to see a couple players get hot from the outside, thats my point as to why its easier for teams to defend us inside. All five defenders can drop at least 2 steps inside the 3 pt. line making any moves or passes inside much harder. How are Hall and Thomas going to cut through the paint with 5-7 guys already in there. Nicholson gets the ball inside and he is doubled immediately. Normally this results in the ball getting kicked back out for a wide open 3 but what good does that do us. So, until we get some production from the outside its going to be harder to get production from the inside.
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Post by sneakers on Jan 28, 2009 13:33:46 GMT -5
If our offense isn't going through Andrew Nicholson today, what makes us think it will anytime next year? Two words: Leonard and Simmons Both are supposed to have be good outside shooters which should help spread the opposition's defense away from our big men. I'm not sure how Conger's shot is, but if we add a point guard that has court vision and can also shoot, it will really enable us to get the ball inside more often.
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