I'm trying to remember...

[musiccityhoya]

a more painful regular season loss than last night. I'm having a hard time coming up with anything. This really stings.

[robbyt]

It's painful but I take a number of things away from it.


1. A level of intensity never before seen by Freeman and Monroe. Several notches above anything ever seen before. Hopefully they get that they need to play with that intensity and be proactive vs. just reactive from the tip to the final whistle.

2. Our "no bench" (never really true) is becoming a better bench. Bennimon and Sanford and Sims are getting minutes along with HT.

3. Syracuse was exposed in many weaknesses, predominantly their lack of a point guard and the fact that Rautins is the alpha and the omega of their team. Shut Rautins down and the game totally changes.

The key thing I don't get is why long stretches go by in which Freeman doesn't penetrate and Monroe doesn't get fed. These two things should be their bread and butter, but they seem to get away from it time and time again. You simply have to get the ball to your two scorers, otherwise they can't help you. It's that simple.

[MassHoya]

It always hurts to lose to SU, given our righteous disdain for all things Orange, but this was a loss to a legitimate #1 seed type team. Granted it was at home, but they are a potent team with a great defense. Let's get them in the BET. Meanwhile it's on to Louisville, the task at hand.

[strummer8526]

Feb 19, 2010 14:28:12 GMT -5 robbyt said:

The key thing I don't get is why long stretches go by in which Freeman doesn't penetrate and Monroe doesn't get fed. These two things should be their bread and butter, but they seem to get away from it time and time again. You simply have to get the ball to your two scorers, otherwise they can't help you. It's that simple.

Yes, yes, yes. For all the doubt about his athleticism, FREEMAN—not Wright or Clark—is the one I want driving to the basket. In the first half we should have been looking for him to penetrate the zone much more. And then kick it out, lay it up, and/or get fouled. But that has to start becoming a more go-to option. The Princeton style cutter through the lane won't be there every play. Freeman just bulldozing towards the basket at a surprisingly quick speed CAN be there every play, if we set it up for him to do that more often.

[harlemhoya]

I'm trying to remember if I ever saw a player as scared as Hollis Thompson.

[cnyhoya]

I agree 100%. What stings for me is that we got ourselves into such a hole that we still lost despite kicking there tail throughout the later part of the game.

[grokamok]

I want Free going to the rim (or towards it, in any case), when the opportunity to take his man is there. He's high-percentage to get the hoop or the foul (or both) in that situation. I don't think he would be as good as Chris when it comes to driving to draw the second defender, then dishing. Passing is not Austin's forte in the first place, and doing so in traffic presents a higher degree of difficulty. Though his handle is much improved over last year, I'm not sure I want Clark driving to draw a second man, either, especially against the zone, though I'd like to see him drive in certain one-on-one situations. Generally, I think Freeman and Clark should be opportunistic with their drives, taking them when there is a more certain path to a shot, while Chris, our surest hand, should drive whenever the outside/entry pass is being denied, with as much thought to the dish as to his own shot.

As to the OP, I'd say that there were plenty of games last year that match the disappointment. The fact that it was the 'Cuse is annoying, and laying an egg against them for a game and a half between January and yesterday is terribly disappointing, but there have been far worse performances. From an emotional perspective, if nothing else, the Orange have given better than they have gotten in recent years, winning most of the close matches -- besides our January 2008 overtime win, the close ones have all gone their way. Our wins have generally been by wider margins, meaning, to me, that they've been able to "steal" games from us without our returning the favor.

[RDF]

Agree with Harlem and I'd say the Rutgers and USF losses THIS season were far more painful and could/will eventually haunt this team. Losing to an excellent Syracuse team is no shame--but those losses to USF and Rutgers where players admit they "weren't as motivated" is disgusting and inexcusable.

As for Hollis--that wasn't a fear that I've never seen in a Hoya player. Just wish the guy would trust his ability--but can't do anything for him other then wish him well. What the hell is there to fear on a court? Just play hard and get after it!

[musiccityhoya]

Obviously the Rutgers and USF losses are way worse losses for the team (regarding seeding, tournament position, etc.) than the game last night.

From a pure emotional pain standpoint, however, this loss takes the cake. At halftime at the game, I had already justified the loss by telling myself that they're one of the best teams in the country and a horrible matchup for us with their zone and size. I wasn't happy about the loss, but I had accepted it. This thinking seemed justified for the first several minutes of the second half.

But then somehow we clawed our way back and dominated the end of the game. The atmosphere at Verizon was so electric and we had all the momentum and everyone knew we were going to pull it out. Clark's missed wide-open three and Rautins dagger free throws were like getting punched in the face.

Obviously there are a lot of positives to take away from this near miraculous comeback, and long term it is way better for the team than the blowout I had accepted would have been.

However, because of the nature of the loss and who it came aganist, this one will hurt for a long time.

Of course, a win at Louisville will go a long way towards making me feel better...

[PopeJohn2]

is it me or am i the only one that feels very optimistic as a result of yesterdays game?

consider, the 2 fouls on monroe (and i think vaughn) really put us on our backs. thats when cuse pushed ahead. once monroe got back in the 2nd half we dominated. i mean these guys are coming together as a team which is much more important in the long-run than the outcome of one game. the next game at louisville will be very telling.

[Boz]

Feb 19, 2010 16:47:08 GMT -5 PopeJohn2 said:

is it me or am i the only one that feels very optimistic as a result of yesterdays game?

consider, the 2 fouls on monroe (and i think vaughn) really put us on our backs. thats when cuse pushed ahead. once monroe got back in the 2nd half we dominated. i mean these guys are coming together as a team which is much more important in the long-run than the outcome of one game. the next game at louisville will be very telling.

I am optimistic as well.

Let's make something clear, though. I rarely call out other posters (well, except hifi, and sometimes when things get heated on the B&G board), but have found myself doing so after this game because of what I think were some ridiculously hyperbolic whining, negative and - in many cases - illogical rants.

There are those who would accuse anyone who is confident of being a Pollyanna, or that we are OK with a "moral victory."

Nothing could be further from the truth. I felt sick to my stomach last night. I feel sick to my stomach after any time Georgetown loses, but obviously Syracuse takes it to a "whole 'nother level," as they say. This is not exaggeration. I wanted to vomit. Physically, not just emotionally. I have been told more than once that I have a problem in this regard. I don't care.

Moreover, I was just as frustrated as anyone that we took so long to get going last night and that we let Syracuse fluster us for so long, the entire first half and part of the second. ESPECIALLY since this was the second time we saw them this year. We knew what to expect and we STILL let them take us completely out of our game.

This is infuriating, to say the least. Believe me, I was shouting "Attack! Attack! Attack!" so often last night, my throat is sore today.

And yes, Rutgers Editeded me off. And USF Editeded me off. And every single other loss Editeded me off.

So why am I optimistic? Because this team IS talented. Those who say we don't have Big East quality talent outside of two players are crazy. They may not be consistent yet, but they have proven they are capable of playing at a high level. I don't know why you can be anything but optimistic when they have done that, not just once on a fluke game, but repeatedly throughout the year.

I am also optimistic because I remember last year. This is NOT last year's team. We may not have the leadership we need on the floor yet, I'll concede that, but there is simply no give up at all in these Hoyas. They have heart, they have guts and I don't care what anyone says on their Twitter account, you can't tell me that every single player on the floor was not giving it everything they had to try to pull off the miracle comeback. (OK, granted, it sure would be nice if they didn't put themselves in that kind of position anymore this year).

There is not a single game where I can give up on this team because they have shown us -- us whining, fickle, obsessively demanding fans -- that THEY never give up!

If I see a game like last year's WVU game, maybe that would change my mind. But I haven't. And none of us have.

So yes, I am optimistic. I believe in these Hoyas because they have shown me that they are worth believing in.

Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe they'll go out in the first or second games of the BET and the NCAA. I don't think they will and I think this team still has something special left in them to show everyone this year. But even if I am wrong, I will continue to be optimistic because this is a team that fights. Yes, maybe they need to "hate to lose" a little more. But I after watching last night, no matter how nauseous the outcome made me, I have no doubt that they want to win, they are talented enough to win, and that they are our Hoyas.

Speech over. Have a good weekend all.

[lichoya68]

lets beat the villle at their house and then WE WILL JUST REMEMBER THAT GAME and need to win alot not one by one by at leas one yup need to score one more point than them to win JUST ONE AND ITS A W GO HOYAS

[OldHoyafan]

Feb 19, 2010 16:47:08 GMT -5 PopeJohn2 said:

is it me or am i the only one that feels very optimistic as a result of yesterdays game?

consider, the 2 fouls on monroe (and i think vaughn) really put us on our backs. thats when cuse pushed ahead. once monroe got back in the 2nd half we dominated. i mean these guys are coming together as a team which is much more important in the long-run than the outcome of one game. the next game at louisville will be very telling.

No you are not alone in feeling a lot better about the Hoyas chances in the NCAA. They have now proven that they can play with any team and any offense or defense that may be thrown their way in the NCAA tournament. And if not for missed freethrows and a missed 3pt shot they would have shown that they could beat those teams as well. Not too many teams will have faced the Princeton Offense so the Hoyas should have the advantage like Big Joghn's Hoyas of the 80's when teams had not seen the blanket pressing defense and gang rebounding of the Hoyas. Now the team just needs to play a full 40 minutes against Mr. (white suit) Pitino and gang. A win here will give the Hoyas 2 shots at home for that magical 10th win in conference.

[JohnnyJones]

Feb 22, 2010 0:09:29 GMT -5 OldHoyafan said:

Feb 19, 2010 16:47:08 GMT -5 PopeJohn2 said:

is it me or am i the only one that feels very optimistic as a result of yesterdays game?

consider, the 2 fouls on monroe (and i think vaughn) really put us on our backs. thats when cuse pushed ahead. once monroe got back in the 2nd half we dominated. i mean these guys are coming together as a team which is much more important in the long-run than the outcome of one game. the next game at louisville will be very telling.

No you are not alone in feeling a lot better about the Hoyas chances in the NCAA. They have now proven that they can play with any team and any offense or defense that may be thrown their way in the NCAA tournament. And if not for missed freethrows and a missed 3pt shot they would have shown that they could beat those teams as well. Not too many teams will have faced the Princeton Offense so the Hoyas should have the advantage like Big Joghn's Hoyas of the 80's when teams had not seen the blanket pressing defense and gang rebounding of the Hoyas. Now the team just needs to play a full 40 minutes against Mr. (white suit) Pitino and gang. A win here will give the Hoyas 2 shots at home for that magical 10th win in conference.

What is "magical" about win #10? That seems a bit strong to me. Win #13 would have been magical. #12 tremendous. #11 satisfactory, etc.