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Week of Opportunity

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catholicman

Junior
Nov 19, 2007
208
307
63
From this Saturday until the following Friday in 3 games we have an incredible opportunity.

If we win all 3, we are back in serious contention for an NCAA berth. Steep hill to climb!

One game at a time. But what a great opportunity the schedule has given us after a greatly-needed bye week.
 
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H

Hall-O-Daze

Sophomore
Jan 8, 2020
88
134
33
Not gonna lie, there's still a part of me holding on to faint hope that our team somehow plays its best game of the season on Saturday. Unfortunately, as a team, we just don't seem to be trending in the right direction at this point in the season.

Even if the team plays one of its best games of the season, a lot of things have to land our way for us to beat UConn at home - even with UConn looking less than stellar a number of times during conference play.

The sad truth is, despite a lot of early promise and defiance of expectations, we haven't left ourselves a lot of options or opportunities to make a good impression before Selection Sunday.
 
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hallwins

Senior
Sep 7, 2001
536
752
93
Just as Sha has been critical of the schedule makers this year a few times, UConn will have played at Nova last weekend and St John's on Wednesday before our game. We will have 1 week with no games.

It really is the best scenario to set up a chance for a win. Plus, this team simply plays better and tougher on the road in my opinion.

A key to me aside from the need to defend the 3 and hit a few 3s at a decent, not horrific percentage, we need to have all our 5s available and able to contribute. 7 - 10 minutes from Godswill and 5 more fouls is very important to keep Payne and Hines fresh as possible.
 
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P

Piratz

All-Conference
Mar 24, 2004
1,563
3,129
113
We’ve had other teams that flipped the switch and rose to the occasion. We’ll see.

Despite now winning 5/8, this team has been playing so poorly with the ball it’ll take a major turnaround. A lot’s been made of having the week off now given the bruising style we play, so here’s hoping. UConn has a HUGE game Wednesday night with St. John’s before The Hall arrives Saturday at Noon. Maybe that helps. Unlikely. But hey, we played them both well.

That place is another House of Horrors of this program.

Also root for Providence and Butler. They’re inching very close to NET 75.
 
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HALL85

Heisman
Jul 5, 2001
30,074
11,405
113
Piratz said:
We’ve had other teams that flipped the switch and rose to the occasion. We’ll see.

Despite now winning 5/8, this team has been playing so poorly with the ball it’ll take a major turnaround. A lot’s been made of having the week off now given the bruising style we play, so here’s hoping. UConn has a HUGE game Wednesday night with St. John’s before The Hall arrives Saturday at Noon. Maybe that helps. Unlikely. But hey, we played them both well.

That place is another House of Horrors of this program.

Also root for Providence and Butler. They’re inching very close to NET 75.
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They have to do what they do well. Play relentless defense. Hopefully they generate some offense off the defense and push the ball as much as possible. Drive and hope to draw fouls. There is no 3PT game.
 
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HALL85

Heisman
Jul 5, 2001
30,074
11,405
113
Halldan said:
There is only one way as I see it to beat UConn and it's very unlikely. We have to hit a high percentage of our threes and be near flawless at the line.

Recent games makes that hard to fathom.
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I actually think on offense, they need to limit 3-pt attempts (12 max) as the law of averages will catch up even if they have a mini-hot stretch.

What's the definition of insanity???
 
N

NCAAsorBust

Senior
Jan 14, 2026
574
468
63
The opportunity is there for the taking. We need to reverse course with a full 180 the way we've been playing lately. With USA hockey winning gold, a 1980 quote, "You're playing worse and worse every day and right now you're playing like the middle of next month." That sums up our team right now. Win or lose the level of play has been bad. You don't beat a team like UConn playing bad.

In general I agree with Hall85 that we need to shoot less 3's but I think to beat UConn if we're not turning them over frequently and often we're going to need a lot of luck from the 3, and many of them, in this one game. Despite the loss in January, we showed we can out tough them earlier in the year, but the legs aren't what they were back in mid January. These guys look gassed and other teams are more prepared for our press. Hopefully this week off rejuvenates them and for one afternoon we go back to that early January form.
 
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Piratz

All-Conference
Mar 24, 2004
1,563
3,129
113
We know what this team is, and we played both Connecticut and St. John’s tough the first time around but, in both games, this abysmal offense doomed us. We had EPIC stretches in both games one which led us to go down by 18 and the other blow a 15-point lead. So, we’ll see.

Can we get some improvement to just even be average? Can we shoot like 6/15 from 3 in a game? It would be a HUGE difference. Possibly there is some logic to this notion of “tired” based on the style we play and is affecting shooting legs, idk, that’s the only reason for hope I see. This team should be shooting better than the .274 from 3 and the .684 from the FT line that they are in BE play, IMO. They’re not great but better than that. Can we see a correction?
 
T

The Crows Nest

Senior
Jun 3, 2001
303
432
63
Piratz said:
We’ve had other teams that flipped the switch and rose to the occasion. We’ll see.

Despite now winning 5/8, this team has been playing so poorly with the ball it’ll take a major turnaround. A lot’s been made of having the week off now given the bruising style we play, so here’s hoping. UConn has a HUGE game Wednesday night with St. John’s before The Hall arrives Saturday at Noon. Maybe that helps. Unlikely. But hey, we played them both well.

That place is another House of Horrors of this program.

Also root for Providence and Butler. They’re inching very close to NET 75.
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Yes, it is Hurley's chance to complain about the schedule.

But they took care of business against Nova...I actually think depending on what they do tomorrow, may impact them against us Saturday.

If they beat the Johnnies, no way Hurley lets them have a let down with a chance to win the Conference Title; if they lose, I could see a "hangover" effect of nothing left to play for before the BE Tourney, with the Conf out of reach.

Guess we will see
 
P

Piratz

All-Conference
Mar 24, 2004
1,563
3,129
113
SHUSource said:
It's still a tall order, but you couldn't ask for this to line up much better for us. No matter what happens Wednesday, it could be a big hangover game for the Huskies. If so, we have to capitalize.
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💯

We’re out now but not dead. Those home games to Butler and DePaul and not holding onto St. John’s is the season. It always comes down to a couple games with the Bubble.

Anyway, a NET of #53 and 1-4 Q1, 5-3 Q2 is wobbly alone. Our WAB is only 55th (-.01) and seems the consensus is we must leapfrog 5-8 teams + avoid bid stealers. Those are LONG odds.

But we have a chance to do it with two legit Q1 win opportunities left on our schedule ahead of the BET. Connecticut is #10, St. John’s #23.

Providence is up to #78, Butler #80. Root for them.
 
C

catholicman

Junior
Nov 19, 2007
208
307
63
Halldan said:
There is only one way as I see it to beat UConn and it's very unlikely. We have to hit a high percentage of our threes and be near flawless at the line.

Recent games makes that hard to fathom.
Click to expand...
What if things get heated between the Johnnie's and Huskies and four starters from each team gets a flagrant 2 with its attendant 1 game suspension? I doubt it! But ya never know what good or bad circumstances might arrive by Saturday.

Maybe a 7 overtime game between the johnnies and huskies? Lol
 
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SPK145

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2001
1,350
3,142
113
catholicman said:
What if things get heated between the Johnnie's and Huskies and four starters from each team gets a flagrant 2 with its attendant 1 game suspension? I doubt it! But ya never know what good or bad circumstances might arrive by Saturday.

Maybe a 7 overtime game between the johnnies and huskies? Lol
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Flagrant 2 fouls don't result in a suspension but fighting does! C'mon Karaban, punch Ejiofor!
 
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Hall84

Senior
May 23, 2023
375
530
93
We don't want him punching Hopkins, he already got taken down against Providence!
 
D

dehere23

All-Conference
Feb 28, 2015
1,480
1,713
113
Reed cheap shots Zuby. Both teams starting 3-5s rumble; Demary/Ball and Darling/Sellers get into a sideshow scrum, and Jackson reinjures his ankel when the 4 topple into him. Hurley suplexes Pitino over the scorers table. Everyone suspended multiple games, having to play us not only short-handed but with the "bag men" Kimani and Masiello on the sidelines as the head coaches.
 
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halltheway

Senior
Jan 17, 2003
366
546
93
Piratz said:
We’ve had other teams that flipped the switch and rose to the occasion. We’ll see.

Despite now winning 5/8, this team has been playing so poorly with the ball it’ll take a major turnaround. A lot’s been made of having the week off now given the bruising style we play, so here’s hoping. UConn has a HUGE game Wednesday night with St. John’s before The Hall arrives Saturday at Noon. Maybe that helps. Unlikely. But hey, we played them both well.

That place is another House of Horrors of this program.

Also root for Providence and Butler. They’re inching very close to NET 75.
Click to expand...
Hope the UConn-St. John's goes into triple overtime....can only help...and we sure will need any help on Saturday
 
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Hall Berry

Freshman
Apr 12, 2024
60
81
18
Piratz said:
💯

We’re out now but not dead. Those home games to Butler and DePaul and not holding onto St. John’s is the season. It always comes down to a couple games with the Bubble.

Anyway, a NET of #53 and 1-4 Q1, 5-3 Q2 is wobbly alone. Our WAB is only 55th (-.01) and seems the consensus is we must leapfrog 5-8 teams + avoid bid stealers. Those are LONG odds.

But we have a chance to do it with two legit Q1 win opportunities left on our schedule ahead of the BET. Connecticut is #10, St. John’s #23.

Providence is up to #78, Butler #80. Root for them.
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Agreed. Providence and Butler moving up 3 and 5 spots respectively is the easiest way to get two Quad 1 wins). And while we are at it, let's root against these bubble teams (in bold) that are in action tonight. (Yes, this does assume we are going to win on Saturday).

Tennessee at Missouri (+3.5) (9pm SECN)
Arizona St at TCU (-6.5) (9pm CBSSN)
USC (+7.5) at UCLA (11pm FS1)
New Mexico (+1.5) at Nevada (11pm CBSSN)

NC State can also move into Quad 1A territory with a win at #11 Virginia. (7pm ACCN)
 
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SPK145

All-Conference
Jun 3, 2001
1,350
3,142
113
dehere23 said:
Reed cheap shots Zuby. Both teams starting 3-5s rumble; Demary/Ball and Darling/Sellers get into a sideshow scrum, and Jackson reinjures his ankel when the 4 topple into him. Hurley suplexes Pitino over the scorers table. Everyone suspended multiple games, having to play us not only short-handed but with the "bag men" Kimani and Masiello on the sidelines as the head coaches.
Click to expand...
Why does everything Pitino have to do with a table?
 
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