Agree but the most important thing was the team absolutely needed a win. Build some confidence and belief for what is going to be a rough remainder of the conference schedule.
We Won A Game!
- Thread starter Piratz
- Start date
I also think psychologically a win changes team confidence and (I hope) result in trust in each other, more sharing of the ball and maybe listening to Sha’s play calls.
I know it’s only DePaul and I don’t think weve ever celebrated a DePaul win.
But with this group, the mental side is just so huge. Especially pulling out a late win.
I know it’s only DePaul and I don’t think weve ever celebrated a DePaul win.
But with this group, the mental side is just so huge. Especially pulling out a late win.
Losing is contagious. But so too is winning.
Sometimes a shooter playing poorly just needs to see that one shot go in to change his confidence level.
Your point is valid so let's see.
Sometimes a shooter playing poorly just needs to see that one shot go in to change his confidence level.
Your point is valid so let's see.
Last edited:
I’ll have some fun with this one for argument sake.
In the 2015-16 season. It felt like we had locked up a bid by beating #5 Xavier at the Rock to get to 21-7 overall. Blitzed them from the start, crowd was electric coming through the TV, one of the best wins of the Kevin Willard era.
But then a loss at Butler followed up by the road finale at lowly DePaul. Felt like we needed to take care of business to not put ourselves in jeopardy of losing 3 in a row (potential loss 1st round BET) heading into selection Sunday.
So after winning 80-66, I had a big sigh of relief and celebrated knowing we would be dancing for the first time since the 2005-06 season.
Let’s get a couple road wins. Enthuse some energy again leading up to next Saturday with the Vitamin Water guys.
Providence and Butler aren’t world beaters.
Providence and Butler aren’t world beaters.
But I think the difference is that Willard had a penchant for getting comfortable after big wins. I don’t have the numbers—I know you’re a numbers guy—but I’d love to know what SHU’s record was in games following top 25 wins during KW’s tenure.
I also think after the 2015-16 season, SHU started off with a bang each year but wilted down the stretch (and NCAA’s)**
Sha gets mauled in the OOC and wins after Christmas so far.
I’m not saying SHU will win 10 BE games this year, but things get more interesting. There’s belief.
And the Big East is down this year.
** see the January Swoon
I’ll have to do some homework on the top 25 results but ironically that season was the opposite of what you describe. In the out of conference, they lost to Long Beach State and George Washington and to end the Big East regular season they finished winning nine out of their last 11.
To answer the original question.
Willard’s record after beating a top 25 team and then playing a P6 school the following game was 14-11.
Not sure what to make of that number. Sometimes the loss was to another top 25 team or sometimes it was on the road. Nothing to be ashamed of there.
I think what most people remember is Willard teams liked to be the Hunter not the Hunted
While ranked in the top 25, Willard’s teams were 37-25. 13 of those wins came against none P6 schools. Predominantly from the 2017-18 and 2019-20 seasons when they were ranked in the preseason.
So against major conference opponents while ranked they were 24-25. Below .500.
I remember that DePaul game vividly as Whitehead was on another level. May have been the best game of his career as he was driving through and around DePaul's entire team with his signature spin moves, hitting high difficulty shots, deep 3's, doing it all. Jaw-dropping performance.
And here I am hoping we can just get back to that level. A luxury of riches being able to complain about our performance while ranked or NCAA Tournament losses annually! 🤣🤣
