Next 5 games...

[DuddingtonHoya]

I say we go 4-1, taking the home games agasinst Rutgers, ND and St Johns, and splitting the aways at Nova and Cuse. We will then have opened Big East play at 5-2 en route to an 10-6 conference season, BET first-round bye, and sure NCAA tourny bid.

simple wishful thinking?

[ceshoya]

I'm not sure if I agree, but I'll tell you this. Playing these games against the top Big East teams is fun, especially when we win (Pitt). The true measure of where we ar will be beating the teams we think we should beat. We're not going to go from where we were to Top 10 in one year, but beating the Rutgers, Novas, and ND's of the league would be a big step in the right direction. Those are the teams we need to worry about first, once we are on a higher level than them, we can go after the so calles 'powerhouses'. I'm definitely encouraged by what I've seen in our games against the top 25 this year (Illinois, Pitt, UConn). GO HOYAS!!

[OldHoyafan]

The key to winning the next 5 games and beyond will be the shooting % of Bowman and Cook in those games. I think Green and Wallace will remain relatively steady(for freshmen). The problem this year is JT does not have but one pure shooter (Wallace) and he unfortunately has to be the point most of the game. Bowman and Cook are good scorers but there shooting % varies greatly from game to game. One game one or both will shoot the lights out by going 5-8, then the next game go 4-14. The offense JT# runs will produce open shots for the guards and wingmen. To be successful every game a good % of these shots must fall because with our center stationed at the top of the key and our wingmen spread there will not be a lot of offensive rebounds. JT3 has recruited Thornton and Sapp who are pure shooters for next year so help is indeed on the way.

[EasyEd]

Let's beat Rutgers before talking about the next five. Patience!

[FOTP]

I'm excited. 3-2 is fine with me over the next 5. Let's take care of business at home vs. Rutgers. That's a must win if we want to get moving forward in the BE.

We just need more depth and players. i don't care what position and we need to "recruit over" some existing players.

This is a guard/swing player dominated offense. Can't have enough talent at the 1-3 spots.

[SirSaxa]

easyed said:

Let's beat Rutgers before talking about the next five. Patience!

My thoughts exactly.

This season the team really shouldn't have any pressure and everything positive that happens will be a plus. THis is still the same team that was expected to finish next to last in conference, and that needed OT against Norfolk State.

One step at a time.

On the plus side, we know we have a legitimate shot at a W every time out.

[GIGAFAN99]

Sort of SirSaxa. Let's not kid ourselves into thinking this is the same team that was expected to finish next to last. The team the coaches picked to finish next to last had lost its leading scorer to graduation. If you poll the coaches now and ask about Georgetown, I'm guessing the "How are they going to replace Riley?" has been replaced with "Have you seen that Green kid play?"

We defininitely can compete this year. For all of Hibbert's growing pains, he gives us a presence Courtland couldn't and I loved Gerald but Green right now is a better rebounder, passer, defensive player...pretty much everything but shooter.

We have to beat Rutgers at home. 2-22 under Waters on the Road in the Big East. Let's keep that going.

[jerseyhoya34]

GIGAFAN99 said:

Sort of SirSaxa. Let's not kid ourselves into thinking this is the same team that was expected to finish next to last. The team the coaches picked to finish next to last had lost its leading scorer to graduation. If you poll the coaches now and ask about Georgetown, I'm guessing the "How are they going to replace Riley?" has been replaced with "Have you seen that Green kid play?"

We defininitely can compete this year. For all of Hibbert's growing pains, he gives us a presence Courtland couldn't and I loved Gerald but Green right now is a better rebounder, passer, defensive player...pretty much everything but shooter.

We have to beat Rutgers at home. 2-22 under Waters on the Road in the Big East. Let's keep that going.

Good point and perspective there, Giga. For all of Roy's limitations at this time, he is still helpful to some extent because of the points that he gives us defensively. From the games I saw, he gives us between 6 and 10 points just based on how he alters layups and gimmes, discounting for the occasional rebound that he loses because he is stripped or whatever.

[Frank Black]

I think we are due for a letdown against Rutgers. Its a nerve-wracking game for me, especially considering my wife (a Rutgers alum) is coming with me. Is Geoff Billet still on the team?

[Grandpa]

Frank said:

I think we are due for a letdown against Rutgers.

I tend to agree.

I'm also concerned that the Rutgers team will be pretty focused on this game as a big one for them to avoid an 0-3 start given that it precedes a road game at UConn. Not that I need to caution any Hoya fans, but Rutgers is no team to look past (even when not in the RAC), particularly given the way that they gave Pitt all they could handle yesterday in a 3 point loss.

[idhoya]

Sapp is scorer, not a shooter. That said, he can get to the rack and has a nice mid-range game. He is streaky from outside, but when hot he's almost unstoppable. He will bring an element, as will Edgerson, that we don't have this year. A physical guard that is fearless. Sapp is running the point @ NCA this season and shoulders a large load. From all I hear, it's his toughness and dribble-drive that impresses the staff the most. It's obvious that 3 is trying to aleviate dead weight and i know for a fact there are guys that won't be on the team next year. The signing of Sapp and Thorton and Edgerson has to mean Crawford is done. Sead and Cornelio could be expendable. I wonder why Cornelio hasn't played much since he provides more size underneath.

[lichoya68]

one at a time gentlemen beat rutgers one at a time go hoyas

[ahoya3]

If you would have seen Cornelio in the couple minutes of garbage time you would understand why he doesn't play despite our lack of depth at the 1 and 2. Thin, weak, over his head; but he is very young. Maybe some maturity and time in the weight room will enable him to contribute in the years ahead

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

I don't want to jump on Cornelio, but as anyone who saw the San Jose State game can attest - he has extremely raw post moves and little post presence. He needs time in the weight room and in practice now - not in the game.