SHU at G. Wash predictions

[Halldan1]

Too tough a match up. The Hall under Willard has not performed well on the road in these type games. Can't see it changing tonight.

The Colonials are big, efficient, well coached and play in a very loud bandbox. It will take a herculean effort to come out with a W.

G Wash 75
Hall 66

 

[Seton75]

Too tough a match up. The Hall under Willard has not performed well on the road in these type games. Can't see it changing tonight.

The Colonials are big, efficient, well coached and play in a very loud bandbox. It will take a herculean effort to come out with a W.

G Wash 75
Hall 66

We win by 6.

 

[Halldan1]

We win by 6.

Always said you know more about the game than I do.

Rooting strongly for you on this one.

 

[GSD118]

What about TV for tonight? The schedule says it is televised on ASN. Never heard of it.

 

[pmulcahy96]

SHU clearly has the better talent, GWU has the better coach, SHU wins 74-68.

 

[Bud Boomer]

I think Dan is on the money, and we lose by around 10. My one hesitation is that GW does not cause many turnovers (our biggest weak point). If GW doesn't press the issue, we could hang close. On the other hand, GW doesn't foul much, and that is really the only thing we've done well on offense (get to the free throw line).

 

[Shuathelete]

Were going to need the same things out of our guys as we did last years game. We need IW to have that all around game like last time, need Delgado to clean the boards like last time, need desi to deliver when called upon like last year, need carrington to make his FTs (like Gibbs did last year).

 

[Piratz]

i think we're going to have trouble. GW, 70-63

 

[SOBO1]

74-61 GW

 

[Section112]

SHU by 1 68 - 67.

 

[Pirate64]

Their bigs are big and will defend against our slashing offensive style.
Unless we start hitting from the outside, we lose by 10.
If our outside shots are falling we can take these guys.

 

[SHUSource]

This is a game that Seton Hall, if it harbors any aspirations to make the NCAA tournament, simply has to win. The schedule doesn't feature too many opportunities for a true road win against a decent team, and while GWU is good, they are not Duke. it won't be easy, but they're not supposed to be, either. That's why road wins are so highly valued.

GWU 74
SHU 66

Turn that score around, and it'll show me something.

 

[Rimas]

Our forwards are the X-Factor. This is big for ISH, NZEI, and especially AD. AD has to show us a consistent effort for a full game and snap out of his funk. ISH seemed to have a bit of trouble against Georgia's bigs, but still had 8 rebounds. If he can show he can defend skilled bigs like he can guards...I think we can pull this one out.

68-62 SHU

 

[Halldan1]

This is a game that Seton Hall, if it harbors any aspirations to make the NCAA tournament, simply has to win. The schedule doesn't feature too many opportunities for a true road win against a decent team,

I'm sure you mean in the OOC schedule. There will be many opportunities come Jan-Mar for the Hall to earn quality wins on the road.

 

[SHUSource]

I'm sure you mean in the OOC schedule. There will be many opportunities come Jan-Mar for the Hall to earn quality wins on the road.

Correct, but I do mean that is part of the equation.

 

[Halldan1]

Correct, but I do mean that is part of the equation.

Important? IMO yes. But a loss, as long as we play well will in no way hurt our season. In fact it just might be an important step in the maturation of this team.

Need a quality effort and in a best case scenario a win.

 

[halltheway]

Playing away and a 7 point under dog..not easily to over come...I think we will play up to the competition and win by hitting a final second shot...possibly a foul shot....okay..okay, I know but hoping for a early Christmas present.

 

[68Pirate]

We win in a nail biter...68 to 66

 

[cernjSHU]

This is a game that Seton Hall, if it harbors any aspirations to make the NCAA tournament, simply has to win. The schedule doesn't feature too many opportunities for a true road win against a decent team, and while GWU is good, they are not Duke. it won't be easy, but they're not supposed to be, either. That's why road wins are so highly valued.

GWU 74
SHU 66

Turn that score around, and it'll show me something.

If Seton Hall is a decent team, this is a game they have to win. If they lose this game, what an awful year it will be. I have Seton Hall winning this game SHU 70- GW 64

 

[Merge]

If Seton Hall is a decent team, this is a game they have to win. If they lose this game, what an awful year it will be. I have Seton Hall winning this game SHU 70- GW 64

I don't expect a good year but a loss tonight will not be indicative of us being awful.
Not sure if you have seen them this year but George Washington is a solid team, and we are playing away.

 

[Save Continental]

If Seton Hall is a decent team, this is a game they have to win. If they lose this game, what an awful year it will be. I have Seton Hall winning this game SHU 70- GW 64

Don't you think GW is saying the same thing? Somebody has to lose. All is not lost with a hard fought road loss. I don't want to see another repeat of last year's Georgia game though.

 

[SHUSource]

Important? IMO yes. But a loss, as long as we play well will in no way hurt our season. In fact it just might be an important step in the maturation of this team.

Need a quality effort and in a best case scenario a win.

I think we're looking at this differently, Dan. I typically take the long view of things, but this season is all about one thing - whether or not the head coach remains. And to me, a failure to make the NCAAs is more than enough to help the school decide. So it really is all about this season - the coach's sixth - and the long-term maturation of the team is secondary. This long into a coach's tenure, playing in a league that is not as deep as the one he entered in year one, will not be defined by encouraging efforts on the road in a small A-10 gym. If the NCAA is a goal - and from everything I understand, it is a vital goal - then this is very simply a must-win game, because the chances to impress the committee only lessen with each game. or else, they have to go 11-7 in the league, and nothing in recent history suggests that's realistic.

I hear what you're saying, but I'm looking at this season like I've never done before. We've always rid ourselves of coaches when (in my estimation) the time had come, but did not last year. He was given a reprieve, and an imperative, and tonight's game is one of the key mileposts in getting there.

 

[cernjSHU]

If the Hall loses tonight, tell me exactly what teams can they beat on the schedule? It would be indicative of close to an overall .500 record with about 3-5 wins in conference. That's pretty awful to me.

 

[Bud Boomer]

If Seton Hall is a decent team, this is a game they have to win. If they lose this game, what an awful year it will be. I have Seton Hall winning this game SHU 70- GW 64

Come on. Making broad generalizations about a team based on one game is Mike the Mad Dog worthy. GW is a good team. They're 6-1 and beat Virginia. If we lose today (which we probably will), it does not end the season, nor does it doom whatever NCAA tourney hopes you think we might have. After GW, Seton Hall has 15 games scheduled against top 100 teams. Plenty of time to make up ground.

 

[TheBluePirate]

My prediction: we lose.

My hope: we make it a tough, hard-fought game, with lots of continued improvement.

 

[SHUSource]

After GW, Seton Hall has 15 games scheduled against top 100 teams. Plenty of time to make up ground.

But you need to show something out of conference. Ole Miss and Georgia don't look like much so far, and neither one was a true road game anyway (one was at home).

This game should be a good experience for our players in the long run, but if we lose, it's a dagger for the NCAA hopes of a team that is projects as, at best, a fringe prospect.

 

[TheBluePirate]

But you need to show something out of conference. Ole Miss and Georgia don't look like much so far, and neither one was a true road game anyway (one was at home).

This game should be a good experience for our players in the long run, but if we lose, it's a dagger for the NCAA hopes of a team that is projects as, at best, a fringe prospect.

I don't know about you, but I'm not even remotely holding my fan experience hostage with post-season expectations. There are no daggers other than failing to show up and play hard to the best of their abilities. The daggers can come out much later, I think.

 

[SHUSource]

That's a perfectly noble approach to this season, BP. I'm simply taking another path to March.

 

[TheBluePirate]

That's a perfectly noble approach to this season, BP. I'm simply taking another path to March.

Source, I don't disagree with your rational thinking about what will or will not be a viable path to an actual bid - no doubt the win tonight would make a very strong case on many fronts.

It might be good to be noble, but I'm actually just trying to avoid abusing my healthcare plan, LOL.

 

[hallgrad80]

Important? IMO yes. But a loss, as long as we play well will in no way hurt our season. In fact it just might be an important step in the maturation of this team.

Need a quality effort and in a best case scenario a win.

If I understand you correctly a loss where we play poorly and are not competitive will hurt us badly and be a setback in the maturation of this team or am I reading more into your statement then I should . My take is if we lose more then two games in our remaining OOC schedule we're not in a good position to make the tourney.

 

[HALL85]

I think the big match-up is coaching. We have NYC kids that aren't intimidated by a small, loud gym. What's the game-plan and how does the coach respond to the mayhem? Last year, the team would fold when the home team got on a run. The panic was a function of the coaches inability to adjust and react. Kevin is the one that needs to learn to win in an environment like this.

 

[TheBluePirate]

I think the big match-up is coaching. We have NYC kids that aren't intimidated by a small, loud gym. What's the game-plan and how does the coach respond to the mayhem? Last year, the team would fold when the home team got on a run. The panic was a function of the coaches inability to adjust and react. Kevin is the one that needs to learn to win in an environment like this.

I gotta say - if he could learn how to win in an environment like tonight's, I'll stand him multiple brews of choice at the bar.

Honestly - I am no longer convinced he has the tools for HC, but man, if he proved me wrong, I'd put the plate of crow on the sidewalk in front of his home in Maplewood and eat it all day long. Because what we all want is (a) success but (b) not yet another catastrophic "let's start all over" cost if we can avoid it.

 

[hallgrad80]

There are two phases to coaching with the first being devising your plan on how to attack your opponent both offensively and defensively. The second, and probably the more important, is a coach's ability to make the in - game adjustments and how well KW does it tonight could be the difference between a win and a loss. If he does do it well it's also a step in his maturation as a coach.

 

[sami]

I'm taking a different approach to this year, one that is probably far less acceptable on this board but I have a few points...

• I've see repeatedly we dwell on the fact that this is Willard's 6th season.
• Many people say that he needed the IW class in year 2, not year 5.
• We have imploded far too many times.

I don't disagree with any of those statements, but it is what it is. Should we have gotten rid of Willard last year? Probably, and I would not have disagreed. But now we're showing some signs of life that I can pretend that this is year 3 (so in this fantasy world, IW class is in their 2nd year and was gotten in year 2 as many have said should have happened).

What does this mean I expect this year?

• Signs of recruiting life - Powell is a good start, need more momentum into future years.
• Steady improvement - I can deal with a loss tonight and ups and downs, if we pull off some nice wins, including on the road, are competitive and showing growth instead of another epic collapse.
• Mid pack finish - yes I want better, but don't want worse.

If this was year 3, people would be raving about the improvements of Ish and Desi. But it's not, it's year 6, and we're dwelling on the last 5 years of ineptitude. I find myself far happier watching for improvement than anticipating and speed-posting on "inevitable failure" which hasn't yet happened this year. And if we can really be a strong, junior-laden team next year that has a chance to make a mark, then year 7 is worth it. There is no guarantee anyone stays if he's canned (though, no guarantees if he stays either), but I don't want another rebuild. For just one last time, if these criteria are met, I'm willing to wait til next year, year 4 in fantasy land.

We will probably lose tonight, stretch comment based on the odds...

 

[TheBluePirate]

Sami, I find myself not at odds with the position you have elucidated, especially insofar as it's just much more enjoyable during the season to take one game at a time and see what unfolds. Good stuff.

 

[hbkmyr]

If we could avoid any sort of big GW run, we will keep it close. Problem is our offense goes stagnant at times so we probable wont. GW 73 SHU 61.

 

[Bud Boomer]

But you need to show something out of conference. Ole Miss and Georgia don't look like much so far, and neither one was a true road game anyway (one was at home).

This game should be a good experience for our players in the long run, but if we lose, it's a dagger for the NCAA hopes of a team that is projects as, at best, a fringe prospect.

It's probably sad, but you really don't need to show much in the out of conference these days. Look at the 4 teams in the play in game last year - Dayton, Boise, Ole Miss, and BYU. None had more than two top 100 RPI wins out of conference. Boise's only top 100 non-con win was against a team (St. Mary's) that wasn't anywhere close to the bubble.

 

[HallBall10]

Big opportunity tonight.

Ish, Delgado, Nzei, and Anderson need to play tough inside d on larsen and cavanaugh.
I would like our offense to get the ball in the paint both by dumping it down to Delgado and by driving. This was the game plan used by Cronin and Cincy and it seemed to work. Cincy got both Larsen and Cavanaugh in foul trouble and they don't have much depth.
GW wants KC and DG shooting jumpers over Garino and Watanbee and use their good defensive rebounding to finish the possession.

Big Game. Go Pirates!

 

[Fzacsattac]

I hope we win but I have a feeling GW is going to beat us by double digits a la Wichita State last year or we win on a last second shot/free throw......one or the other!

 

[Halldan1]

If I understand you correctly a loss where we play poorly and are not competitive will hurt us badly and be a setback in the maturation of this team or am I reading more into your statement then I should . My take is if we lose more then two games in our remaining OOC schedule we're not in a good position to make the tourney.

Every young team if it wants to reach the next level must conquer a daunting obstacle first. This roster is no different. Our recent past history suggests we have been nothing but a lower/middle of the road Power DI team. We strive to be more.

For that to happen we must show a comfort level in winning or at least playing well in a situation where the odds are strongly in the favor of our opponent, especially on a foreign court.

Doing that is IMO an important part of the maturation process of becoming a good team and more.

This group of players is young and unfairly being burdened with the past sins of a staff that has been here far longer than they have. Meaning patience is at a minimum from the fan base through no fault of their own.

I know what the response is going to be to the above. Clearly most here can't separate their feelings toward Willard from their patience with this group. I understand that but think it's the wrong way to view what this team is capable of doing as they gain experience.

I believe we need to play well tonight win or lose in a very hostile and small environment. Until we take that first step the players will continue to need an infusion of confidence. But once that happens I believe they will be ready to reach the next level and more.

Hopefully it starts this evening. Play well and you show more than just the fans you are ready to move up the Big East ladder, you show yourself. Play poorly and the doubt remains.