We will know a lot about our team soon...

[49ers10]

Upcoming tough stretch of games; the results will obviously tell us a lot about this team:

at Villanova (#17)- Jan.6th
Creighton - Jan.9th
at Providence (#10) - Jan. 16th
Villanova (#17) - Jan. 20th
at Xavier (#8) - Jan.23rd

____________________________________________________________________________

Could we go 4-1? I think we can.

Most likely 3-2? Looking at the teams this scenario has good chance.

Worst? 1-4 I certainly hope not.
_______________________________________________________________________

I see room for optimization because of improvements (some subtle) that I notice with this team, including:

• designed play from out-of-bounds resulting in a (sometimes) easy baskets;
  
  
• improved team defense, especially pressuring the ball
  
  
• improved passing from all players (sometimes, one too many and player should have shot the ball);
  
  
• Delgado showing his last season’s ROY form with multiple double-doubles in recent games;
  
  
• emergence of Desi (my MVP so far) as a force at the 3;
  
  
• increased assists leading to better results; in fact, at times too much passing when an open shot should have been taken instead of that extra pass;
  
  
• improved shot selection from most players;
  
  
• better rebounding both ends resulting in more put-backs and fast-break points;
  
  
• Willard more authoritative with players; improved “in-game” strategies; change game plan as on-court type of play dictates; he’s simply projects a better coaching presence on the court, etc.
  
  Thoughts or comments?

 

[mjs428]

Villanova twice
@ Xavier
@ Providence

You're expecting 2-2 out of that? I'd take that in a heartbeat but I'd say 1-3

 

[SPK145]

Maybe 2-3 out of that, 1-4 is also possible.

 

[hallgrad80]

Other then Creighton , I don't see us as a favorite in the other games. I'll be happy with 2-3 but probably 1-4 with how we play against PC being our best chance to get to 2-3.

 

[Seton75]

I hope we play well. It will be interesting to see how good our best is. Right now our predictions are more about our personal prejudices than anything else. I have no clue but am hopeful, which indicative of my personal prejudice.

 

[hall58]

Upcoming tough stretch of games; the results will obviously tell us a lot about this team:

at Villanova (#17)- Jan.6th
Creighton - Jan.9th
at Providence (#10) - Jan. 16th
Villanova (#17) - Jan. 20th
at Xavier (#8) - Jan.23rd

____________________________________________________________________________

Could we go 4-1? I think we can.

Most likely 3-2? Looking at the teams this scenario has good chance.

Worst? 1-4 I certainly hope not.
_______________________________________________________________________

I see room for optimization because of improvements (some subtle) that I notice with this team, including:

• designed play from out-of-bounds resulting in a (sometimes) easy baskets;
  
  
• improved team defense, especially pressuring the ball
  
  
• improved passing from all players (sometimes, one too many and player should have shot the ball);
  
  
• Delgado showing his last season’s ROY form with multiple double-doubles in recent games;
  
  
• emergence of Desi (my MVP so far) as a force at the 3;
  
  
• increased assists leading to better results; in fact, at times too much passing when an open shot should have been taken instead of that extra pass;
  
  
• improved shot selection from most players;
  
  
• better rebounding both ends resulting in more put-backs and fast-break points;
  
  
• Willard more authoritative with players; improved “in-game” strategies; change game plan as on-court type of play dictates; he’s simply projects a better coaching presence on the court, etc.
  
  Thoughts or comments?

Let's defeat Marquette & DePaul first!

 

[Piratz]

This week looms large with that juggernaut schedule upcoming in January.

Can we pull off a solid road win at Marquette? They may be ripe now versus later. Then have to take care of business in the home opener against DePaul on Saturday.

If the team is 4-3 do some backflips.

 

[mjs428]

This is a HUGE game for Marquette. There following 4 games are @Gtown, @Prov, home for StJ, & @ Nova

 

[Fzacsattac]

2-3 would be good.....any additional wins would be great.

 

[sportsfantatic44]

We owe payback to Marquette after they absolutely embarrassed us at MSG to end our season.

 

[HALL85]

We owe payback to Marquette after they absolutely embarrassed us at MSG to end our season.

You don't want to put too much on one game, but there is definite "payback" motivation against Marquette. This is their BE home opener and we will get punched in the mouth. This has been the Achilles heel of Willard's teams...responding to that punch. Wednesday and January will tell us all we need to see.

 

[Halldan1]

In talking to the players in the OOC season to a man they all said they badly wanted revenge on the two teams that beat them last year, Georgia and Wichita State.

Got to think you can add Marquette to that list.

Problem is unlike the other two games this one is on the road.

 

[halltheway]

Maybe we will not start off so good, and just maybe as the season progresses, we can win the games we are suppose to and pull some upsets and impress the NCAA committee...unlike previous years falling off a cliff in February.

 

[anon_ezos2e9wn1ob0]

This Marquette game is HUGE on Wednesday. Win on the road, and then come home and get to 2-0 at home against DePaul. We absolutely need these first two because of those grueling next 5 games.

 

[Piratz]

I think we're beating Marquette.

 

[garyshu71]

Can we, will we, ever win on the road? Not going anywhere until we do.

 

[hallgrad80]

It seems unusual that our first conference game has so much riding on it as a key factor in our hopes for a tourney bid and the same applies to Marquette as well . With this game so important for both teams it should be a good one and a real battle and I've got my fingers crossed .

 

[Piratz]

Can we, will we, ever win on the road? Not going anywhere until we do.

It's just been torturous, even more so of late:

2014-15 = 2-7
2013-14 = 3-6
2012-13 = 1-8