The team we saw was well coached in every way. Took away how they killed us last time, executed offense, played hellacious d, got back on d, rebounded like mad, good substitions. Took our time and took it to the rim when we had some space. Beautiful! !!!!
Forget our recent history
- Thread starter Seton75
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For most of the game, the Pirates looked calm and in control. They reverted into some playground basketball once they went up by 23. (Gordon should not be shooting 3's!). But they hung in there for the win.
Gotta give it up to Willard. The defensive game plan was great after what Watson did to us last time. And with the benchings last time I really thought that was it. But I'm going to say this now knowing full well what has happened in the past . If we make the dance this year that's great, if we get a win or 2 that's gravy. But we are a 6'10 big man who can play defense and rebound away from being a legit national contender next season.
Been trying to say it for months. This team was being blamed for sins of the past that had nothing to do with them.
The anticipated January swoon by many didn't happen. And those anticipating one in February might be in for a long wait.
Team is now starting to play like a top 30-35 squad and as optimistic as I was entering the season I wasn't THAT optimistic.
Dan, we're validated last night. That's a big corner they have turned. It's been a long time since we've played consistently like this on the road. That ability will come in handy if they make the dance, which now looks like a much better chance!
Thinking back now about the prediction thread on this board re the Big East season posted at season's beginning and most of our readers predicting 3-4-5 conference victories.
Maybe Pat Lyons who got destroyed on this site wasn't so wrong after all.
Maybe Pat Lyons who got destroyed on this site wasn't so wrong after all.
Blaming Pat was nonsense. We both know that and Willard is making Pat's job a lot easier right now. Let's see if Willard can keep this going and keep his job. A lot has changed this year so far. Can't let up.
Did we make the tourny?!? Lot of basketball left to play. We are playing well but until we make the big dance stop with the "we turned the corner" talk. This has happened almost every year under Willard. His teams have never done well with success and once we start looking ahead and believing the hype we lose focus. Every year.
That's your opinion, the hype. Mind is reporting what I see with my eyes and what I have been saying since the beginning of the season.
It's so easy to sit back and wait for something to happen and then comment on it. That's the easy way out.
I predicted 10-8 in the Big East in November but then backed off in early January to 9-9 because the league was better than I expected.
9-9 now seems like the low water mark pending good health.
It's so easy to sit back and wait for something to happen and then comment on it. That's the easy way out.
I predicted 10-8 in the Big East in November but then backed off in early January to 9-9 because the league was better than I expected.
9-9 now seems like the low water mark pending good health.
Different team, but let's see how the season plays out before we confirm its a different coach. Great game last night, and very encouraging that the January swoon never materialized especially after the benching episode.
They are fun to watch and as IW goes, so will go the team.
They have put themselves in position to make the Dance; there is hope. The "turn the corner talk" IMO is still a bit premature.
There has been "hype" each year for Willard and his teams, so that's why there is still some pause. We are all hoping to get to that same place (NCAA). 5-4 the rest of the way is very, very doable but it's no lock.
They are fun to watch and as IW goes, so will go the team.
They have put themselves in position to make the Dance; there is hope. The "turn the corner talk" IMO is still a bit premature.
There has been "hype" each year for Willard and his teams, so that's why there is still some pause. We are all hoping to get to that same place (NCAA). 5-4 the rest of the way is very, very doable but it's no lock.
My turn the corner comment was about the road and how poorly we used to do. I agree there is still a lot of work to do like protecting the home a lot better. Still burning about some of those defeats and they may yet come back to haunt.
The way the kids are playing there are zero can't win games on the schedule. We will not go 4-5 (health disclaimer here) or worse for sure, 5-4 at worst. Creighton at best will go 5-4, tough games ahead. No one else behind us will take our current 5 spot. I want the 4 spot! Forget the past, watch what you're seeing on the court and start raising your hopes and have fun. You could be seeing the beginning of a run here.
Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein 10h10 hours agoSeton Hall goes on the road and convincingly beats Creighton. Pirates have the look of an NCAA Tournament team. Tough squad. #shbb
Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein 1h1 hour agoSeton Hall out rebounded Creighton 46-27 in Saturday's win in Omaha. Pirates are exceptionally physical. Play with an edge. #shbb
Don't forget our recent history. Use that to play with a chip. Granted basketball is a game of runs, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who had a couple of nerves strike when the lead was cut to 10 at around the 6 minute mark. Don't be content and use the past to learn. Right now this is a completely different group from the rest. Protect the home court and take the 2 road games at SJU and at DePaul. That's a recipe for a 12 BE win season. We need great student turnout the last 5 home games.
If we can get to 5 BE road wins. MU, CU, Prov, StJ, DePaul that'd be a big deal.
Our team would show we can win on neutral courts and in hostile environments.
That goes a long way with the committee.
Our team would show we can win on neutral courts and in hostile environments.
That goes a long way with the committee.
J.P. Pelzman @JPPelzman 10h10 hours agoThis is not a drill, folks. Seton Hall is making a serious case for the NCAA tournament. Huge nearly wire-to-wire win at Creighton.
Really good win tonight against a team that made us look bad at home and at a very hostile home court with a sold out crowd of 18,000. Everyone should enjoy the win but there's still half of our conference schedule left to play and let's not get ahead of ourselves and just take it one game at a time. When you're a team in the conversation for a tourney bid how you finish the season is the difference maker , so if we win 6 of our remaining 9 games I believe we're in ;if we win 5 of those 9 , we're on the bubble but in either case we need to beat the better ranked teams to boost our case.
From here on out we need to play consistently, maximize our strengths and not look ahead but just focus on your next opponent.
From here on out we need to play consistently, maximize our strengths and not look ahead but just focus on your next opponent.
Let's just sweep the next 3 games. Put our future in our hands.
Realistically idk if 3 for 3 is possible. But we can dream, right?!?
Every team has a bad loss or two..we have to keep winning...that's the bottom line.
Agree Pat. That is the fun part of being a fan after a win. Dreaming up scenarios. I have bigger dreams like a sweet sixteen run. Probably will not happen but what the heck. Realistically, would take just making tournament and gaining experience. At least they got a shot.
It's like everyone is afraid to believe in this team because of the recent past.
These kids are good and growing before our eyes. Nothing wrong in being optimistic moving forward. Especially if that optimism is based on realistic expectations.
9-9 at the very worst is realistic.
These kids are good and growing before our eyes. Nothing wrong in being optimistic moving forward. Especially if that optimism is based on realistic expectations.
9-9 at the very worst is realistic.
Well if you did and I don't doubt it if we get to 11-7 that's one hell of a feather in your cap.
I'm usually very optimistic here. But in no way did I dream of 11 wins.
I think I had us picking off Prov once if not twice and splitting with GTown, Butler.
Let's see if that happens! I hope so!
Fundamentally agree with this comment. A team cannot crack 500 in the BE without taking a serious chunk on the road. This is what made the game so important to win last night - but more than that, we saw 34-36 minutes of dominance - not perfect, not 100%, but commanding in a hostile atmosphere. Granted, Century Link is not Phog Allen or Rupp or Dean Dome, but, it's serious in terms of tough atmosphere.
Being sceptical is understandable. But we should at least acknowledge that this team Is well coached and well put together. IW has to play the game, but he had help in figuring it out. The kid played such good point last night. Kudos to him, Kevin and Sha who I assume helped him.
We had the right plan and we executed. We kept our composure. Great performance by all, staff included. (BTW, I was not kw apologist last year and entered this season from Missouri. And show me he has...)
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