2016-2017 Season

[waterhead]

But to be 334 doesn't leave much room for deprovement...lol! What were we before the game?? Last?

If you follow the podcast 334 ranks below the available limit...

 

[#BearcatNation]

But to be 334 doesn't leave much room for deprovement...lol! What were we before the game?? Last?

You also want to take into consideration that KenPom isn't only this year's stats...it still factors in a little bit of last year. I don't think the previous year 100% goes away till the end of January. It kind of prevents bad schools that randomly play really well the first 6-8 games from climbing to the top.

 

[justinhub2003]

Add in that kenpom Tempo is not just on offense.

Our defense will keep the kenpom tempo slow because we force teams to use a lot of shot clock.

It's based on possessions and your defense has just as much influence as your offense

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Fun little stat: Jacob Evans started the season with uncharacteristically high TO's.

He had 11 in his first 5 games.

However in this last 6 games he has just 5.

Last year he was one of the best players, let alone freshman, at protecting the ball

Missed this yesterday bc I was too busy trashing Temple. But this is great to see, I was definitely on his case at the beginning of the year about this.

 

[waterhead]

Add in that kenpom Tempo is not just on offense.

Our defense will keep the kenpom tempo slow because we force teams to use a lot of shot clock.

It's based on possessions and your defense has just as much influence as your offense

I understand but it's hard to score 120 points in a low possession game. Shit...our average of like 60 some possessions last year we would need to make 100 percent of shots to score 120.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Game notes:

Jan 5th -UConn at Memphis will be on ESPN2 at 7 PM ET

Jan 12th - SMU at Cincinnati will be ESPN at 9 PM ET

 

[mdchick]

Not sure if you guys got instagram but Gary Clark is live right now. It's pretty cool

 

[justinhub2003]

I hate that we start conference play @Temple.

Its like they have our number and I'd really really like to beat those guys.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

I hate that we start conference play @Temple.

Its like they have our number and I'd really really like to beat those guys.

Can't get caught up in their ugly crap. If Cronin shortens the rotation and Caupain walks it up the floor every possession just bc it's AAC play, I'm going to be pissed. I trust our players to get the job done. Hopefully Coach pushes the right buttons.

 

[justinhub2003]

Can't get caught up in their ugly crap. If Cronin shortens the rotation and Caupain walks it up the floor every possession just bc it's AAC play, I'm going to be pissed. I trust our players to get the job done. Hopefully Coach pushes the right buttons.

Yea. I consider it a must win to start off conference play right. Also if we want to stay ranked we need to beat them.

Good thing is: they don't have deCosey anymordb

 

[spinal070508]

Temple is a strange team this year. They have some bad losses and some really good wins. I didn't think they would do much this year with all the young guys on the roster but they have surprised me. Hopefully the 3pt defense holds up and we limit their open 3s. Temple shoots the 3 ball at 39%.

 

[waterhead]

As it stands now our toughest games according to KenPom would be...

Xavier would be the only home game I would be really concerned about.

We play 2 top 50 teams on the road. SMU and Houston.

3 more against top 100 on the road. UConn, temple, UCF.

I am hoping to beat X. Maybe split the top 50 road games. Then give us one more road loss. I could see a 27-4 scenario but I'm hoping it doesn't get worse than 26-5. As of now we should be favored in all remaining games. At some point we may not be clicking or we could run into a hot shooting team.

 

[waterhead]

My over under would be 26-5 give or take one game.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

As it stands now our toughest games according to KenPom would be...

Xavier would be the only home game I would be really concerned about.

We play 2 top 50 teams on the road. SMU and Houston.

3 more against top 100 on the road. UConn, temple, UCF.

I am hoping to beat X. Maybe split the top 50 road games. Then give us one more road loss. I could see a 27-4 scenario but I'm hoping it doesn't get worse than 26-5. As of now we should be favored in all remaining games. At some point we may not be clicking or we could run into a hot shooting team.

I'd be shocked if we went 26-5. The Temple game will tell a lot though.

 

[WAITE HOYT 2]

As it stands now our toughest games according to KenPom would be...

Xavier would be the only home game I would be really concerned about.

We play 2 top 50 teams on the road. SMU and Houston.

3 more against top 100 on the road. UConn, temple, UCF.

I am hoping to beat X. Maybe split the top 50 road games. Then give us one more road loss. I could see a 27-4 scenario but I'm hoping it doesn't get worse than 26-5. As of now we should be favored in all remaining games. At some point we may not be clicking or we could run into a hot shooting team.

I think our best basketball is still ahead of us. if we stay healthy 26-5 is certainly doable.

 

[waterhead]

I'd be shocked if we went 26-5. The Temple game will tell a lot though.

Yup...we need to man up from here on out. Starts with Marshall but Temple should give us a good indicator on how focused we are as a team. Hopefully we are learning how to score as a team. Our quality depth is better than I thought it might be. If we continue to move on offense, set picks, and make the extra pass we can be very good.

At some point we need a Cronin coached team to step up and play like champs. He has the tools he needs...it's time to get it done.

 

[waterhead]

I think our best basketball is still ahead of us. if we stay healthy 26-5 is certainly doable.

Yes... health is a big factor. However, I do like the depth we have right now. I think we can still play with most teams even if we get someone in foul trouble or a twisted ankle. Fingers crossed for health.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Yup...we need to man up from here on out. Starts with Marshall but Temple should give us a good indicator on how focused we are as a team. Hopefully we are learning how to score as a team. Our quality depth is better than I thought it might be. If we continue to move on offense, set picks, and make the extra pass we can be very good.

At some point we need a Cronin coached team to step up and play like champs. He has the tools he needs...it's time to get it done.

Do we do the same old slow game in the 50s, where we don't use the bench, and we let a competent 3 pt team bury us with a barrage of good looks anytime we perceive that a team might be good? Or do we take it to them and play our game no matter what? We're 9-9 in AAC road games the past 2 years. Add that with our struggles against Xavier and we could be looking at 23-8 type stuff. That shouldn't happen with this group. Time will tell if this team is different. They know how they need to play to win. Actually doing it is the question.,

 

[spinal070508]

My over under would be 26-5 give or take one game.

So you are only seeing 3, maybe 4 more losses the rest of the season? I think they will have at least 1 or 2 "WTF" losses away from home and I could see them splitting the games with UConn, Houston and SMU. Since joining the AAC our best season is 27-7 with 11 losses the past 2 seasons. I think this team will drop a few close games they should win but it will hopefully be a learning experience and toughen them up for March Madness.

here are MY predictions for the rest of the season. you can say they are bogus and I am not a real fan but the only game I've picked wrong so far was the Iowa St game.

vs Marshall Win
at Temple Loss
vs Tulane Win
at Houston Loss
vs SMU Win
at ECU Win
vs Temple Win
at Tulane Win
vs Xavier Loss
vs USF Win
at Tulsa Win
vs Uconn Loss
vs UCF Win
at SMU Loss
at USF Win
vs Tulsa Win
vs Memphis Loss
at UCF Win
vs Houston Win
at Uconn Loss

13-7 the rest of the way.

I know I have them losing to UConn both games but for some reason I feel UConn is eventually going to gel and run through the conference schedule.

 

[waterhead]

So you are only seeing 3, maybe 4 more losses the rest of the season? I think they will have at least 1 or 2 "WTF" losses away from home and I could see them splitting the games with UConn, Houston and SMU. Since joining the AAC our best season is 27-7 with 11 losses the past 2 seasons. I think this team will drop a few close games they should win but it will hopefully be a learning experience and toughen them up for March Madness.

here are MY predictions for the rest of the season. you can say they are bogus and I am not a real fan but the only game I've picked wrong so far was the Iowa St game.

vs Marshall Win
at Temple Loss
vs Tulane Win
at Houston Loss
vs SMU Win
at ECU Win
vs Temple Win
at Tulane Win
vs Xavier Loss
vs USF Win
at Tulsa Win
vs Uconn Loss
vs UCF Win
at SMU Loss
at USF Win
vs Tulsa Win
vs Memphis Loss
at UCF Win
vs Houston Win
at Uconn Loss

13-7 the rest of the way.

I know I have them losing to UConn both games but for some reason I feel UConn is eventually going to gel and run through the conference schedule.

The conference is fairly weak and we are better this year. We will probably favored in every game. If we lose 7 more... it's going to be a huge problem for me with our coach. Even if we lose 5 more it will be under achieving imo.