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Post by a10champion15 on Jan 5, 2014 16:53:41 GMT -5
Yesterday was the first game I missed all season. Had a lot going on and had to watch the Eagles. I also saw the A10 finished as the 7th best conference only a hair behind the SEC. UMass, VCU, SLU, GW and Dayton look like very capable teams to make the tournament.
The stat sheet from yesterdays game doesn't make much sense but it looks like our shooting is getting better and Duren looks like he played like his typical self at the palestra.I watched the Miami Cuse game a little bit when I heard about how close it was. Miami almost closed it out before losing in the final minutes. I also saw Penn State manhandle Michigan State before falling apart in the second half. Both of these teams were suppose to struggle but I am not so sure. All the loses we have were against some really quality teams and programs. I think in terms of difficulty and our schedule we are really prepared for A10 play.
Here a little story to lift your spirits....
In 2003, Xavier surprised many of how good they were ending there season at 26-6. They were a very good team and somewhat young. Unfortunately, they were one of the first teams out in the NCAA tournament. Expectations were even higher the following year with many players returning. However, Xavier found itself at 10-9 and things looked bleak, they were 2-5 in the A10. Then they won nearly the rest of their schedule and went on to the regional final before losing to Duke. I know a few other teams have pulled off some great turn arounds. I felt the old A10 juggernaut was the perfect example to use.
GW is going to be the biggest test if are difficult non conference schedule has prepared us for the A10. If we can beat GW, the game is reset.
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Post by durenduren on Jan 5, 2014 17:15:22 GMT -5
If we can beat GW, the game is reset. Couldn't disagree more. Takes more than one game to turn this ship around. |
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Post by vasalos on Jan 5, 2014 17:20:43 GMT -5
First, A10 is a very resilient conference. I don't think anyone expected 5 teams to be legitimate NCAA tournament contenders. Many knew 3 would qualify, maybe 4 at most. But right now, 5 A10 teams are prepared to be in the tourney discussion all year. So I would break up the A10 into three categories. They are:
NCAA contenders:
UMASS
VCU
St. Louis
GW
Dayton
All of these teams have at least one marquee win to showcase. UMASS has the most impressive resume, followed by VCU. St. Louis has more work to do and Dayton's resume ain't bad. I think in the end A10 gets 4 teams in with Dayton or GW getting a #1 seed in the NIT.
Ready to go on a run:
St. Bonaventure (nice wins over good mid major teams)
URI (very big road win against LSU)
St. Joe's
Richmond (both teams have win total #s but no real big wins)
These teams will be in the NIT race.
Everyone else:
Duquesne
Fordam
La Salle
George Mason (out of the bunch this team has the most potential. Very big win over Saint Mary's but they need to go on a deep run in the A10)
As you can see, by this point many A10 teams have already one big win they can hang their hat on. La Salle has none. With that La Salle has a very big uphill battle to climb. If La Salle does anything, the team needs to go on a very deep run.
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Post by explorerman on Jan 6, 2014 11:07:14 GMT -5
First, A10 is a very resilient conference. I don't think anyone expected 5 teams to be legitimate NCAA tournament contenders. Many knew 3 would qualify, maybe 4 at most. But right now, 5 A10 teams are prepared to be in the tourney discussion all year. So I would break up the A10 into three categories. They are: NCAA contenders: UMASS VCU St. Louis GW Dayton All of these teams have at least one marquee win to showcase. UMASS has the most impressive resume, followed by VCU. St. Louis has more work to do and Dayton's resume ain't bad. I think in the end A10 gets 4 teams in with Dayton or GW getting a #1 seed in the NIT. Ready to go on a run: St. Bonaventure (nice wins over good mid major teams) URI (very big road win against LSU) St. Joe's Richmond (both teams have win total #s but no real big wins) These teams will be in the NIT race. Everyone else: Duquesne Fordam La Salle George Mason (out of the bunch this team has the most potential. Very big win over Saint Mary's but they need to go on a deep run in the A10) As you can see, by this point many A10 teams have already one big win they can hang their hat on. La Salle has none. With that La Salle has a very big uphill battle to climb. If La Salle does anything, the team needs to go on a very deep run. Saint Mary's isn't that good.. and a one-sided loss to Old Dominion isn't good either.. I would say even with our bad performance, I would still like our odds against them… The GW game will say a lot about this team because GW looks absolutely legit |
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Post by Shout out to my Cousin Bern on Jan 6, 2014 15:16:54 GMT -5
If we can beat GW, the game is reset. Couldn't disagree more. Takes more than one game to turn this ship around. It would be a good proverbial step in the right direction. GW has been a much better team than we have been this year. Would help our RPI. |
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Post by coachd on Jan 6, 2014 15:31:56 GMT -5
There are a few ways for us to punch a NCAA ticket.
1. Go 13-3 in A10 play and get to 20 wins (top 2 finish in A10).
2. Go 11-5 in A10 play and win 3 games in A10 Tourney (21 wins).
3. Go whatever in A10 play and just win the A10 Tourney (Extremely difficult).
The #2 option is the most likely scenario IF we are going to get to the NCAA tourney. Teams rise and fall in conference play. If we rise then GW, UMass or Dayton will likely fall. VCU and Saint Louis seem least likely to fall based on the last couple of years.
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Post by fvp47 on Jan 6, 2014 16:38:54 GMT -5
If you look at RealTimeRPI and KenPom we are a 1-3 point favorite on Thursday. I think it is an important game as it is a fresh start, more or less, and if they can win on Thursday and then at Duquesne they can get a little momentum going and some faith in themselves.
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Post by a10champion15 on Jan 6, 2014 19:20:28 GMT -5
If we can beat GW, the game is reset. Couldn't disagree more. Takes more than one game to turn this ship around. Maybe I didn't use the right terminology. I just think a win against GW will begin to put them in a good position going forward. |
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Post by durenduren on Jan 6, 2014 22:19:58 GMT -5
Couldn't disagree more. Takes more than one game to turn this ship around. Maybe I didn't use the right terminology. I just think a win against GW will begin to put them in a good position going forward. I'm on board with that. Even if they beat GW though, I could see them laying a dud in the next game. Just the way it's going. |
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Post by victoriouslasalle on Jan 6, 2014 23:45:34 GMT -5
Maybe I didn't use the right terminology. I just think a win against GW will begin to put them in a good position going forward. I'm on board with that. Even if they beat GW though, I could see them laying a dud in the next game. Just the way it's going. A win against GW would be a major step forward, and give us something we have yet to see this year, a quality win. GW is 12 and 2 with several quality victories under their belt. I am not optimistic. I do not think the "A game" we have shown so far this year even if we bring it gets us a W. We are going to have to raise our level of play considerably. I would love to be surprised and proven wrong but the way this year's team has performed, I am expecting to lose by about 10. |
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Post by lasalle89 on Jan 7, 2014 12:08:29 GMT -5
We can hit the RESET button with a win and start the second half of the season off right.
We have senior leadership in the backcourt and a veteran team. It's now or never. I am an optimist and feel our shots are going to fall for this game and we win a back and forth nail biter. It's Now or Never time for the Explorers.
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Post by coachd on Jan 7, 2014 12:10:18 GMT -5
Probably for the first time in the history of the A10 there are no really bad teams heading into conference play which means there should be a ton of close games decided by 1 or 2 baskets. We need to beat GW to set the tone for the rest of the season.
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Post by durenduren on Jan 7, 2014 13:50:37 GMT -5
Probably for the first time in the history of the A10 there are no really bad teams heading into conference play. We talking about the same conference? Fool's gold built upon embarrassingly easy schedules: Duquesne - 7-5, 296 RPI, 350 SOS. Rhode Island - 8-6, 168 RPI, 229 SOS. Bonnies - 10-4, 140 RPI, 310 SOS. |
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Post by victoriouslasalle on Jan 7, 2014 19:43:59 GMT -5
We can hit the RESET button with a win and start the second half of the season off right. We have senior leadership in the backcourt and a veteran team. It's now or never. I am an optimist and feel our shots are going to fall for this game and we win a back and forth nail biter. It's Now or Never time for the Explorers. Hope you have the outcome right. I salute your optimism. Let's do it! |
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Post by coachd on Jan 8, 2014 14:23:17 GMT -5
Probably for the first time in the history of the A10 there are no really bad teams heading into conference play. We talking about the same conference? Fool's gold built upon embarrassingly easy schedules: Duquesne - 7-5, 296 RPI, 350 SOS. Rhode Island - 8-6, 168 RPI, 229 SOS. Bonnies - 10-4, 140 RPI, 310 SOS. By really bad I mean no 2 or 3 win teams regardless of RPI, BPI or SOS. |
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Post by goexplorers on Jan 8, 2014 14:29:48 GMT -5
It turns out that after GW, those 3 teams are our next 3 opponents. We have a really good opportunity to get off to a hot start in A-10 play and get some MOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-mentum.
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