Seton Hall

[Thegreatone]

What do you guys think of this game? With Hazell out the Cats chances only increase.

I would like to see this game be a closer win. I love winning big but we need to learn how to win a close game. We haven't had one yet. I don't want us looking ahead to Xavier and Nova but I think we will.

I will say...

72-66 UC.

 

[Not Guilty]

I think Seton Hall is better than their record. This is definitely not a game we can take lightly. I still think UC is quite a bit better. Hopefully we come to play.

 

[bearcat jeff]

I don't think this team will look ahead but I do expect Seton Hall to play them tough. Even without Hazell they have some good players. Jeff Robinson at forward averages 12.6 ppg and 6.2 rebounds and he shoots 80% from the charity stripe. Jordan Theodore at guard averages 12.4 ppg and 5 assists while shooting 37% from the three point line and 83% from the foul line. Herb Pope averages 8.5 ppg and 8.8 rebounds. Fuquan Edwin is at 9.2 ppg and 4 boards and shoots 35% from the three. The Bearcats will need to board and play strong in this game.

 

[psax889906]

I like Pope as a player.

Ultimately the 'Cats should win this game by 10-15 if they come out focused. Home court advantage. If it were at Seton Hall, I'd be worried.

 

[ralph1950]

On a sad note, Nick Van Exel's son has been charged with murder in Dallas, TX per Enquirer.

 

[psax889906]

Tickets can be bought on sale for tonight's game online using the promo code "2011". Lower level tickets for the Seton Hall and USF games for $20.11 everyone jump on it, it only lasts through New Years day (for the USF game).

 

[JasonS]

Great game tonight. It was sloppy at times and there were some awful calls to put Gates and Thomas in foul trouble but a 17 point win in conference is very nice. I really like this team and think they will beat XU by double digits.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Great game tonight. It was sloppy at times and there were some awful calls to put Gates and Thomas in foul trouble but a 17 point win in conference is very nice. I really like this team and think they will beat XU by double digits.

I will never understand Big East officials. They'll let you manhandle a player at times, even on the ball, yet other times they call hand checks when the player isn't even moving to the basket. Those calls down the stretch on Gates and Thomas guarding Pope were laughable. Meanwhile Pope swings wildly at Gates and somehow gets a jump ball called. Officials (on every level) get it in their head that they are going to call a foul in certain situations and it's impossible for there not to be contact so there's always a call. Calls are geared way too much for the offensive player. All you have to do is have the ball in your hands and lean in or dribble into your opponent. Its impossible to defend and not have contact of some sort.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

What was up with Cash last night? I noticed he was absent for a good portion of the second half. I assume its because he has been struggling. Does anyone know if his shoulder is still bothering him? Hopefully he has his game right for X on Thursday. We need him in there.

 

[nparker1]

Did somebody put some aggression in Thomas' stocking for Xmas? It looks like the light has turned on for him. Whether is going up strong for rebounds or actually finishing strong; he is playing like a big man...finally. I am not sure about Cash, but it is obvious when he is not running the point. I am very impressed with this team in comparison of last year. The team's maturity is light years ahead of last year. Gates had a few opportunities at the top of the key in 3pt range, wide open, and he exhibited patience. In previous years, Gates would be frustrated and just take the shot. Gates, not by himself, really shut down Pope for Seton Hall, which is no small task. These guys are really playing a team game, and their defense sets the tempo. Even tonight, when the press wasn't creating the TO's like it did against weaker teams, the Cats dominated them with their half-court defense. Great win to go into 2011. Two BEast games, two wins, both by double digits. Lets hope that the winning continues against X.
Go Bearcats!

 

[swg]

Didn't look like UC was mentally prepared for the game. Least until the second half.

 

[bearcat jeff]

Thought it was just what they needed. Good challenge from a team that hadn't lost by more then 9 this season. Their starting 5 aren't bad. See them very similiar to Xavier.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Didn't look like UC was mentally prepared for the game. Least until the second half.

Thought it was just what they needed. Good challenge from a team that hadn't lost by more then 9 this season. Their starting 5 aren't bad. See them very similiar to Xavier.

I don't know if it wasn't being mentally ready as it was they just weren't executing. Some would argue one leads to the other I guess. Cash definately seemed like he wasn't in the game. The team as a whole seemed focused, I think that Seton Hall just came out with a lot of energy and they ran out about midway through the first half.

I agree this was a good challenge. They met a talented team that came out with energy and had to make adjustments to find what would work to get the job done. Their defense figured it out and held Seton Hall to 53 and got the lopsided win in the end. Looked like Seton Hall was going to put up 80 on us for a while there. Reminded me of the Oklahoma game a little. Tough game, we struggled some, but in the end the better team prevailed.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

What was up with Cash last night? I noticed he was absent for a good portion of the second half. I assume its because he has been struggling. Does anyone know if his shoulder is still bothering him? Hopefully he has his game right for X on Thursday. We need him in there.

Cash was getting exposed on defense all night. Don't expect him to see much time against X either, the thought of him guarding Holloway makes me cringe. Probably will see a lot of Dixon at the point which also scares me. I am extremely surprised Parker fell out of the rotation, I thought he would play a lot this year.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Cash was getting exposed on defense all night. Don't expect him to see much time against X either, the thought of him guarding Holloway makes me cringe. Probably will see a lot of Dixon at the point which also scares me. I am extremely surprised Parker fell out of the rotation, I thought he would play a lot this year.

Cash is our only option to match Holloway's speed. He will see plenty of time, we just have to hope he keeps his hands to himself and doesn't get into foul trouble. I haven't watched X play this year, but it seems everything runs through him. So they need to try to not overthink defending him and just try to get the ball out of his hands. Then shadow him and keep him from getting the ball back. If he's able to beat our press (and something tells me he is) then he will find the open man and they will score quickly on us. This might be a game to rely on the half-court defense. Don't let the pg beat you, make someone else.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Cash is our only option to match Holloway's speed. He will see plenty of time, we just have to hope he keeps his hands to himself and doesn't get into foul trouble. I haven't watched X play this year, but it seems everything runs through him. So they need to try to not overthink defending him and just try to get the ball out of his hands. Then shadow him and keep him from getting the ball back. If he's able to beat our press (and something tells me he is) then he will find the open man and they will score quickly on us. This might be a game to rely on the half-court defense. Don't let the pg beat you, make someone else.

Mick said last night that Seton Hall was isolating both Cash and SK because they were playing very poor defense. Cash has been exposed against the legit players he guarded. Never thought I'd say this, but I'd be more comfortable with Larry Davis in the game because he plays pretty good defense.

 

[david aka the TYZ]

Mick said last night that Seton Hall was isolating both Cash and SK because they were playing very poor defense. Cash has been exposed against the legit players he guarded. Never thought I'd say this, but I'd be more comfortable with Larry Davis in the game because he plays pretty good defense.

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. I won't argue that Cash hasn't looked good the last few games, but I still think he's easily our best on the ball defender. I forget which game it was, but he recently got into early foul trouble in a game after a couple early touch fouls. That is a problem he needs to control. He picked up an early foul last night and maybe that led him to play intentionally to not foul and thus he wasn't playing the solid defense he is capable of.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. I won't argue that Cash hasn't looked good the last few games, but I still think he's easily our best on the ball defender. I forget which game it was, but he recently got into early foul trouble in a game after a couple early touch fouls. That is a problem he needs to control. He picked up an early foul last night and maybe that led him to play intentionally to not foul and thus he wasn't playing the solid defense he is capable of.

He has the tools but he plays flat footed and trys to rely on his speed. However at this level the speed difference isn't very much. Theodore was blowing by him with ease.

 

[ralph1950]

Another good game by the Bearcats. Beating a Big East team by 17 points is huge.