DanMcQ
Moderator
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Post by DanMcQ on Jan 17, 2010 14:39:08 GMT -5
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Dhall
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,679
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Post by Dhall on Jan 17, 2010 15:31:15 GMT -5
No moral victories. Leaving 5-2 would set us up nicely for a run at the regular season championship. Leaving 4-3 having lost to Nova and Pitt would make anything higher than a 4th place finish in the Big East very tough.
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
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Post by Boz on Jan 17, 2010 15:42:38 GMT -5
No moral victories. Leaving 5-2 would set us up nicely for a run at the regular season championship. Leaving 4-3 having lost to Nova and Pitt would make anything higher than a 4th place finish in the Big East very tough. While I do not agree that our finish can or will be determined after the seventh game of an 18-game conference season, I would also very much like to leave the Zoo at 5-2 Wednesday night as opposed to 4-3, pretty please.
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MassHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,786
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Post by MassHoya on Jan 17, 2010 15:50:51 GMT -5
Despite the outcome, I do not think the team looked whipped, only disappointed. The bench played well. Those minutes will pay off later. They can beat and will beat Pitt. Pitt got very lucky yesterday. Dixon is a great coach but I still like the Hoyas, particularly hungry. Does anyone know if the team will stay in PA or go back to DC?
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DanMcQ
Moderator
Posts: 30,561
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Post by DanMcQ on Jan 17, 2010 15:53:40 GMT -5
I think Pitt is a better matchup for the Hoyas than Villanova (although I like the Hoyas' chances on 2/6).
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GUJook97
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 5,445
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Post by GUJook97 on Jan 17, 2010 15:55:42 GMT -5
My advice is to not spot the other team a 15 point lead Sigh. I think we are just as good as Nova and better than Pitt, but we need to be ready to play in the first 10-15 minutes. Cant wait a half to get into our offense.
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geedell
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 837
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Post by geedell on Jan 17, 2010 16:30:47 GMT -5
I believe we're a better team, but I'm pretty sure SU*cks fans thought the same thing before they lost to Pitt at home so we'll see.
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SirSaxa
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 747
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Post by SirSaxa on Jan 17, 2010 17:03:01 GMT -5
My bet is GU comes out on fire at PITT and pulls out a very tough, BE road win.
Tough loss today, but I agree with Dan and like our chances for the rematch on 2/6 in DC!
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damnhoya
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 650
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Post by damnhoya on Jan 17, 2010 18:21:02 GMT -5
Pitt's homecourt winning streak has to end eventually. Just sayin'.
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kghoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,994
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Post by kghoya on Jan 17, 2010 22:34:28 GMT -5
Pitt's homecourt winning streak has to end eventually. Just sayin'. It would be nice to be the ones that bring it to an end. Much like they did at Verizon last January.
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GIGAFAN99
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,487
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Post by GIGAFAN99 on Jan 17, 2010 23:54:36 GMT -5
This is the one I think we can get. It's so weird to say because we've been brutalized by Pitt in the past. But this is a good matchup for us and I think if we get through the week at 6-2, we're in great shape.
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KHoyaNYC
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,900
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Post by KHoyaNYC on Jan 18, 2010 10:17:43 GMT -5
This will be a tough one for us as well but we can win it. Pitt doesn't force as many turnovers as Nova or UCONN. We need big games from Vaughn, Monroe and Bennimon to prevent second chance points, where Pitt excels. I expect very close game.
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Post by Coast2CoastHoya on Jan 18, 2010 13:05:45 GMT -5
Go Hoyas. Win this one.
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Filo
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,910
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Post by Filo on Jan 18, 2010 14:38:25 GMT -5
Just need to keep Sam Young and Levance Fields in check. They're still there, right? Going on something like 10 years?
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kchoya
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by kchoya on Jan 18, 2010 15:08:18 GMT -5
Just need to keep Sam Young and Levance Fields in check. They're still there, right? Going on something like 10 years? No, Fields moved on to the Retirement Home for Premature Celebrations.
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hoyainspirit
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
When life puts that voodoo on me, music is my gris-gris.
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Post by hoyainspirit on Jan 18, 2010 18:06:21 GMT -5
I've enjoyed watching Pitt the few times I've seen them. Wanamaker is a big, strong guard who rebounds well and plays that tough, Big East basketball.
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CTHoya08
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Bring back Izzo!
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Post by CTHoya08 on Jan 18, 2010 18:59:28 GMT -5
Just need to keep Sam Young and Levance Fields in check. They're still there, right? Going on something like 10 years? Who's checking Krauser?
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Big Dog
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,912
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Post by Big Dog on Jan 18, 2010 19:22:45 GMT -5
I'm primarily concerned about Donatas Zavackas.
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Post by happyhoya1979 on Jan 18, 2010 20:05:05 GMT -5
This is one we have to have. Pitt has been our nemesis the last couple of years and we have the talent and guts to beat them at their place. Just please, bench, shoot a little better than 10%. If our bench gets to the point of giving us 10 to 12 consistent points we are unstoppable.
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canissaxa
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
Posts: 524
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Post by canissaxa on Jan 18, 2010 22:29:47 GMT -5
Can someone explain to me why Pitt is a better matchup than Nova? The only explanation I've seen above is that Pitt doesn't force turnovers. My impression is that our turnover problems are going to be there regardless of who we play (as evidence, we're averaging 20.3% turnovers with a 4.4% standard deviation + 48% of our turnovers aren't steals).
I've only seen about 2 halves of Pitt this year but they're toughnosed and hit clutch shots. They bump cutters (and they're not going to get called too much for it at home). They're a good offensive rebounding team (even post-Blair). If you think that Greg's problems getting pushed around on rebounds (with no calls) by smaller defenders at Nova and Marquette are going to be any different at Pittsburgh, could someone explain what the difference is? Throw in another problematic stat: Pitt has the 8th best 3pt defense in the nation.
I hate to base my entire argument on stats, so just from an eyeball analysis level during the JTIII era, I'd say that Pitt and SU are the 2 teams that stylistically, we match up the poorest with. Pitt because of their physicality and SU because of their zone (and how lost we've looked at times against any zone during the best JTIII years). Neither team is particularly dependent on fast break points, so we don't throw them off their offensive game by controlling the pace. Also, JTIII's teams often seem very good at shutting down teams with only 1 or 2 scoring threats--these two teams usually have some offensive balance.
All this is to say that I think Pitt is a tough matchup. I'd love to get the win, and I would expect us to split a home-and-home (and win on a neutral court), but if we lose this one I won't be worried that the sky is falling.
I really hope I'm wrong, so if someone can explain why Pitt is a good matchup for us, I'd love to hear some reasons for optimism.
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