1. "we are built to crush Lavin's St John's" In response to Reply # 0
aggressive man-to-man defense and a penchant for long 2s? a dream combo for the hoyas.
now that i've said that, we'll get blown out. still, trending up. right now, hoyas look like they could be the 12 seed a 5 doesn't want. or we'd flame out again. i have no idea with this year's team. they confound me.
----------- Y'all stupid...should've tanked for Lebron/Wiggins in 2014 -Rex LongFellow
It's only funny till someone gets mad. Then it's hilarious.
DeepAztheRoot Member since Dec 19th 2003 13992 posts
Sun Feb-16-14 05:40 PM
6. "NIT was the big goal at the beginning of the year" In response to Reply # 5
everything else above that was gravy
still, at a school with zero basketball tradition....if you have the best facilities in the country, you need some hope so that you have a a chance to recruit talent to those said facilities
8. "what do you feel like the general vibe of the program is?" In response to Reply # 6
living in Omaha, the conversation's still entirely focused on the Bluejays. I feel like I've been noticing Nebraska's basketball team coming up a lot since league play started but I didn't realize until earlier last week just how interesting their season's been.
but it's like Indiana or Duke football up until this past year.....fans have had the rug pulled out from under them many times before it's hard to have expectations over a mini-run
THey turn around and dump a game to Northwestern or Penn State again and that game doesn't matter
still much in wait-and-see-mode
ticket prices on Stub Hub probably went up quite a bit though
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86677 posts
Mon Feb-17-14 12:05 PM
15. "They're vulnerable from the perimeter, no question." In response to Reply # 13
Creighton and Cuse abused them from 3. That's how Butler stayed in that OT game too. They also just don't really have the offensive firepower to stay in a game when a team gets hot on them. And Creighton is the second best offense in the country in terms of efficiency.
I think it has more to do with Creighton being better than people think. Unless you have a guy that can slow McDermott 1-on-1 (which very few exist), you'll have to outscore them, or at worst play stellar perimeter D and force them to drive and create. I actually thought Nova did a decent job of the latter yesterday (I doubt Creighton even took 20 3 attempts, they were forced into looking back door or dribble-drive much of the game)... but they got demoralized by McDermott early and never really tried to get back into it. McDermott has been on a Durant-esque roll lately. There were a number of plays in which he was defended very very well... but the shots still went in. He also doesn't demand the ball like most stars, which really hurts how you defend them; he has no problem simply being the distraction and making defenders cheat toward him (I'd kill to play with a guy like that-- you get open jumpers all game).
The big question I have re: Villanova is their toughness, which is odd considering how strong they've been in the Big East and their resume, which includes neutral court wins against Kansas and Iowa. I have no idea why you don't simply Gilooly McDermott and company, show them the penalty for trying to take it to the rack. Nova simply gave up defending the drive. They knew they were going to lose and quit. Really odd.
DeepAztheRoot Member since Dec 19th 2003 13992 posts
Tue Feb-18-14 07:45 PM
18. "Isn't #1 Duke?" In response to Reply # 15 Tue Feb-18-14 07:45 PM by DeepAztheRoot
Anyway, if McDermott is that hot in first half though don't you switch up your strategy?
I'd still make Wragge, Dingman or someone else beat you if he is abusing you 1 on 1
I hope they meet again in the Big East tourney, 'Nova's defensive efficiency numbers look good enough to make at least one of them a game for at least a half, I'm not asking for much
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86677 posts
Wed Feb-19-14 12:10 PM
19. "Easier said than done." In response to Reply # 18
As I said on this week's 2.1 Seconds to Madness podcast (plug!), I thought Nova actually WAS good about defending McDermott this go around. Thing is he's in such a zone right now that all he needs is the smallest fraction of separation for it to go in. They run him around so many screens that he's bound to get the ball in his hands, and when he wants it, he gets it. He got one or two off with some space early, but those second half baskets he made had hands all in his face.
He's just in a Durant-like zone right now. When he wants it, he gets it.
And yes, the most efficient offense is Duke's, lol.
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