As you all know, there are many, MANY reasons why those of us with high expectations for our basketball program are stupid idiots. If you find yourself wondering why we have lost a game we should have won, please refer to this handy post I have compiled.
We cannot be expected to win:
• road games, because it’s really hard to beat anyone on the road.
• home games, because no one ever goes undefeated at home and other teams tend to be more focused on the road.
• neutral games, because there’s not much crowd energy and we have no inherent advantage.
• games against teams that are better than us, because they are better than us.
• games against teams that are worse than us, because no one goes undefeated and those teams are trying to win too!
• games against OOC opponents, because it’s early in the season and we’re still trying to figure out our identity and playing time schemes.
• with a team full of young players, because it’s a long and complicated process to learn how to play our offense and defense.
• with a team full of veterans, because other teams are younger and hungrier.
• games in which we are trailing most of the way, because it’s very hard to come back and win any game.
• games in which we are leading most of the way, because the other team is going to be super motivated and scrappy down the stretch.
• games against teams with veteran lineups, because they’ve been playing together a long time.
• games against teams with a bunch of newcomers, because we don’t know their tendencies.
• games in which we are outrebounded, because the other team has more chances to score.
• games in which we outbound the other team, because these games do not exist.
• games in which we shoot a high percentage from the free throw line, because it’s hard to also shoot a high percentage from the field.
• games in which we shoot a high percentage from the field, because it’s hard to also shoot a high percentage from the free throw line.
• games against VCU, because they are a much bigger school with a much better history and can admit anyone they want.
• games against George Mason, because they always rebound really well, and what’s rebounding?
• games against St. Bonaventure, because they have many, many recruiting advantages over us, such as their bucolic location, large endowment and student body and long, storied history of high-level success.
• games against Davidson, because they shoot a lot of three-pointers and recruit good players from other countries.
• games against LaSalle, because that’s like French or something.
• games against UMass, because they were ranked No. 1 in the country once.
• games against Dayton, because they are a high-level program with a large fanbase and many recruiting advantages over us.
• games against St. Louis, because they are located in a major market and can get much better players than we can.
• games against Duquesne, because they bring in entirely new rosters every year, making them extremely difficult to scout.
• games against St. Joe’s, because the Hawk never dies.
• games against Fordham, because there must be an excuse for everything.
• games against GW, because it’s a very hard place to play. Even when we play them at home.
• games against Rhode Island, because Miller is a very high-level coach.
• games against Loyola Chicago, because they went to the Final Four fairly recently.
• games in the A10 tournament in which we are worse than a 4-seed, because other teams are fighting for their survival, and it’s very hard to win in March.
• games in the A10 tournament in which we are a top-4 seed, because whoever we play has already played a game and will be hungry to knock us off.
• games in which Mooney is our coach, because the other team always has a decided advantage.
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