Still really like this team. The A10 doesn’t scare me this year. Nelson and co will figure out the close games and we’ll start winning them. Healthy Grace really would have helped us tonight. Beat Temple* tomorrow
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Spiders will finish top 4 in A-10
- Thread starter SpiderDogg
- Start date
We are talented enough to finish in the top 3 of this league, which is why giving away three games in a row is very difficult to stomach. To make up for these, we need to run off 7 or 8 games in a row, which historically we basically never do under Mooney.
Annoying game between Burton misses and our general inability to make plays and still had opportunities to win. Saw some glimpses from Quinn. Good game from Dji. I thought Nelson looked really good at times. Everyone needs to play with Bigelow and Roches positivity.
Probably can only afford one more loss to have legit at large chance (maybe none) but I do think this team has the makeup to get hot in a tournament. Time will tell. Hate losing these close ones down the stretch
The main issue at this point is we are running out of games against quality teams. Short of going like 16-2 in the league or something, we're leaving ourselves almost no margin for error. And we always seem to err.
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It puts you in better position to win the tournament. That counts for something.
This team is showing glimpses of solid defense and better rebounding which is keeping us in games. They will continue to improve offensively and I still feel we will finish in top 4 of A10. Bigelow is a player and Roche will continue to improve as he gets more comfortable. Nelson is a winner who is tough as nails. We need more from Goose or someone should get his minutes moving forward. I still think Bailey has more to offer than we have seen to this point. I like his overall game but he needs to assert himself more on offense when in game.
The best five are Nelson, Roche, Bigelow, Burton and Grace, and they should each play 30 minutes unless they are in foul trouble or terribly ineffective for some reason. I was glad to see Roche get 30 minutes tonight and take the eight threes I want him taking every single game. He made half of them. Pretty damn good. If we rebound the way we did tonight, we can even turn some of those misses into points.
Right there with you EL, I’m still high on this team and what they can do. It’s one thing to be a missed shot or two away from 5-0 but if we hadn’t made so many unforced turnovers and mistakes we’d be there right now. It seems like it’s only uphill from here but if we’re going to be a serious contender in the A10 we need to figure out how to close a game
This would have been the perfect year to get that overseas trip in, and accelerate the learning curve.
We are 6 points away from being undefeated despite the fact one of our starters is hurt, we have a freshman point guard and a lot of new players are learning the system. I am very excited about this team and will focus on the many positives.
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We are actually 11 points away from being undefeated, but we agree that these games were all right there for the taking, and we gave them all back.
8legs1dream
Graduate Assistant
Spiders will finish top 4 in Empire Classic
Coaching matters. Tight games we could have won but didn't has been a consistent theme for 18 years now. Yes, lots of positives with our players, but our coaching staff is not putting all of the positives in a position to win games.
a10 teams can say the same thing about us. Just like Richmond in the past, they have the talent but lack a good coach. This is the 3rd loss by 1 possession, Mooney can't close out games like other coaches in the a10 can.
Especially in the A-10 tourney last year, right? And, in the Iowa game, when most of these other A-10 coaches were home watching.
8legs1dream
Graduate Assistant
you act like that 10 day span was the norm rather than the exception.
That win streak came from a super experienced (unlikely to be ever duplicated) group of players that collectively decided it wanted a winning legacy in its final tournament. That determination wasn’t exhibited during the regular season. If the tournament success was due to coaching then so was the lack of regular season success.
Okay. Fine. So, what would you rather do? Go 13-5 IC, lose in the A-10 tourney and go to the NIT, or go 10-8 IC, win the A-10 tourney, and go to the dance?
The odd thing is we may finish in the top 4 and still have a bad season. I'll still take it, though. Better chance to win the A10 tourny.
Bottom line is the goal is to make NCAA appearances. If Mooney can get these guys to win the A10 tournament - I’m all for it. He hasn’t shown a great propensity for it over the years but if he can do it back to back maybe he’s figure something out.
Of course in retrospect we would always pick the latter, but I think you would agree that it does not routinely give us the best possible chance to make the NCAAs. It was the exception, not the rule.
Of course, EightLegger! The goal is to win the regular season, put yourself in position to get an at-large, and then play to win the tourny just in case.
I thought our team played great in the A10 tourny and NCAA over Iowa. Even the 2nd game blowout would have been an even game had we shot our average at 3 pointers. We did that by energy and excitement, something I desperately wish Mooney would embrace. The one game at a time, long season mentality is not really a recipe for success. We need to have a sense of urgency from day one. The team should be talking about their chances for at-large each game. It's called motivation. It creates energy. The talent is there most years, we just need fire!
I thought our team played great in the A10 tourny and NCAA over Iowa. Even the 2nd game blowout would have been an even game had we shot our average at 3 pointers. We did that by energy and excitement, something I desperately wish Mooney would embrace. The one game at a time, long season mentality is not really a recipe for success. We need to have a sense of urgency from day one. The team should be talking about their chances for at-large each game. It's called motivation. It creates energy. The talent is there most years, we just need fire!
Looking at this thread now makes me laugh. All you hopeful fans forgot who we have as a coach. The dude doesn't perform for every 10 years come on now we know better than this!
And we're more or less 50/50 for playing in the Tuesday Pillow Fights.
