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Post by getnastyhoyas on Mar 14, 2010 0:59:36 GMT -5
Back from game - sitting a couple of rows up from court...These guys played a great tournament - everything we should ask of them. They looked tired and very frustrated halfway through the first half and they dug in and played tough D in the second half. Clark did not appear to have his legs under him the entire game, along with Vaughn.
Chris Wright kept us in this game. No question without his energy and focus, we would have been down big at the end of the first half. His drive at the close was fine - we had 4 seconds and he is only one on that team that could get to the basket in 4 seconds. If he had a half of a second more, he probably makes that shot. Chris played a great tournament and will show again in the Tourney what kind of player he is.
The loss hurts because Butler tossed up junk and it fell. Nothing more you can say...good timeout by Huggins before the shot. Our guys did not have their best night, but they stayed with it and fought. Coach was constantly reminding them to relax throughout the game b/c they were getting frustrated.
The loss will make these guys even more focused at the tourney that matters. We will be facing Kentucky in the elite 8. No one will be able to match up with us until that point. Let the guys get some rest and get ready. Great run and we did indeed prove that we are one of the top teams in the country.
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superan
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by superan on Mar 14, 2010 1:04:55 GMT -5
Honestly, our offense was working well tonight despite WVU's swarming defense (gotta give them credit for that). We had 5 or 6 OPEN 3's and just plain missed 'em. Any other night we nail those and this game is over.
People keep mentioning rebounding as an issue. The thing is that rebounding is WVU's game. They are a terrible shooting team that just crashes the boards on every play. Their season average was 45% of misses are rebounded back to themselves. We often had Monroe and Vaughn boxing out but there were 4 WVU players around the rim. We just played a team whose season-long game plan is rebounding and they do it better than almost anyone in the country.
Even with all of that, it was a hard fought game that came down to the last shot.
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KHoyaNYC
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by KHoyaNYC on Mar 14, 2010 1:08:58 GMT -5
I agree - why do you constantly have so much sour grapes towards the team? My post did not say one thing about the team or the game--for all you know I was stuck at the train station tonight. So if you have a problem, e-mail me; otherwise, leave the conspiracy talk for someone else. Conspiracy? What conspiracy? What are you talking about? If your post had nothing to do with team or game my mistake
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Post by hoyafrigginsaxa on Mar 14, 2010 1:27:25 GMT -5
Tough loss. But I've gotta say I'm damn proud to be a Hoya. One hell of a run
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jacko
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GET SOME
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Post by jacko on Mar 14, 2010 2:13:24 GMT -5
Chris's foul was dumb and didn't help the team, but that 2-for-2 trade was legendary...
With a guy like Butler on their team, I kind of felt relieved, because it meant we would have the ball closer to the end of the game. Just like Notre Dame, you can't hope for anything more than a chance to win at the end in a game like this.
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Madgesdiq
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by Madgesdiq on Mar 14, 2010 2:34:03 GMT -5
The simple fact is we have never advanced to the Final Four in years we don't win the BET. stupid, inane post.
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Madgesdiq
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by Madgesdiq on Mar 14, 2010 2:37:23 GMT -5
Tough loss makes people act strangely Pales in comparison in weirdness and bitterness to the "laying a rotten egg" Easter article regarding Davidson loss.
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Post by rockyhoyashow on Mar 14, 2010 3:53:23 GMT -5
Oh well, the ending is a bummer but the team gave it all they had. Considering the three consecutive teams the hoyas had played going into the final, i thought they might be less crisp in the final, but our team showed a lot of determination and heart hanging in there until the last second against a well coached and deeper opponent.
WVA might also have had a tad of extra motivation for never having won a BET title before.
I'm sure Georgetown will go deep in the NCAA tournament because they're playing with a lot of confidence now.
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hoyarooter
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by hoyarooter on Mar 14, 2010 5:10:21 GMT -5
Someone may have already mentioned this in the 15 pages of this thread, but I want to throw in a shout out to the unbelievable play Chris made diving out of bounds on the long pass by Greg that Chris shoveled to Austin for a layup. That might have been the best hustle play I saw by anyone all season.
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Post by upstatehoya on Mar 14, 2010 5:23:07 GMT -5
Had a great view from right next to the band, and I think I would have lost my mind had we pulled this one out. Tough loss, good effort trying to overcome a horror-story outside shooting night, tales of which would scare little children. Until Austin those last couple, we couldn't throw it in the damned ocean from 3. Not sure that will repeat all that often. A few more thoughts:
1. Pretty good job by Chris going coast-to-coast with 4 seconds left and everyone knowing what he was going to do. Chris has historically had some issues with finishing layups, but I thought he made a good move to get open, he was right there...just didn't fall. I said to the friends I sat with that Austin probably makes that layup, but I'm not sure he gets to the rim before the buzzer goes off. One more year of practice for Chris on finishing layups, and he'll be unstoppable. Guy can get to the rim whenever he wants.
2. I don't mind the overall rebound victory going to WV, I was concerned about the ease with which they got O-rebounds. True, more than a few of those were just heinously missed 3-point shots that bounced long (including off the side of the backboard) and into the hands of Mountaineers. It happens. There were several other plays, however, when we should have had our big bodies boxing out to prevent them from getting rebounds and putbacks.
3. I actually thought it was a decent play by Chris to foul at the end. They had just gotten an o-board and the shotclock had reset, so why not foul Mazzula with enough time left that we can run an offensive set after his shots? Giving WV 27.6 seconds to set up a play for Butler wasn't a better option than putting a lousy FT shooter on the line. Worst-case scenario, you're down 2 with enough time to run plays -- not down 3, not down 2 with 2 seconds left, either. Don't really understand all the ragging on Chris for that decision.
4. I think there's a difference between and up-and-down traveling violation and a foul in late-game situations, at least from an officiating stance. There's always contact in a basketball play, especially at the end of the game when a guy's driving -- so blowing the whistle for too much contact is a judgement call, and while I disagree with the thought that you don't let ref judgment calls decide the game, I can see the point. Jumping into the air and coming down with the ball still in your hand isn't a judgment call. It's not open to interpretation whether that's "too much" of a travel: it's a travel. It should be called. Nobody calls the 2-step travel tight anymore, that's a judgment call like whether to call a foul. But leaving the floor and returning to it while still in possession of the ball is a travel, and there's no judgment: if you're holding the ball, it's a violation. I expect a whistle there, because the ref's judgment isn't deciding the play -- it's the player who didn't get his shot off in time. Arguing otherwise is to say that things like stepping out of bounds and violating the game clock on an end of the game drive shouldn't be called. That's garbage, end-of-game drives aren't free for alls, and we know this because the players aren't in the gym playing Rochester during lunch hour.
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DFW HOYA
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Post by DFW HOYA on Mar 14, 2010 8:34:18 GMT -5
All in all a tremendous team effort and one which we can look back upon with great admiration. Just over this week the team went from an 8th seed and a game with USF that was by no means a gimme to seconds short of a title.
But this team has a way of raising spirits as well as expectations and such will be the case when next they take the floor.
Time heals all wounds, that is, of course, unless it involves CMU in '75, Iowa in '80 and the 1996 B.E. final.
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SirSaxa
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
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Post by SirSaxa on Mar 14, 2010 8:45:22 GMT -5
Time heals all wounds, that is, of course, unless it involves CMU in '75, Iowa in '80 and the 1996 B.E. final. Thanks... just what I needed this AM... reminders of.... games past! At least you left out the worst one of all! Hey, I do agree with you about the team and its great run! And there's more to come. JT3 and team deserve a TON of credit and all our appreciation! I am going to start my day remembering UK in '84, UNC in '07 and 'Cuse on 3/11/10!!!
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sleepy
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Post by sleepy on Mar 14, 2010 8:50:41 GMT -5
Last night in the aftermath of defeat i was in agreement with the prevailing thoughts on the board in regards to a very tough loss with great effort etc. This morning i awake to Butler's shot and find the anger building. Its unacceptable to get outrebounded by 16 and to have the supposed star get ) offensive rebounds let alone fumble away or have taken away rebounds on the defensive end.
How is it that your most productive offensive player gets only one shot in the first 14 minutes of the second half?
On the positive side I think we proved that we are capable of playing some decent zone D it put us in a position to win this game.Now if we can simply develop the desire to go get a rebound we might be able to do something in the next few weeks.
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mapei
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Post by mapei on Mar 14, 2010 8:55:54 GMT -5
In theory, we had no business being that close at the end. WVU has been a top-10 team all season with an outstanding, can't-be-denied player, terrific rebounding and defense. We have some of that, too, but over the season not as consistently as they do. I despise their fan base but I was expecting a 5-10-point loss and we fought back to make it a tie with 9 seconds to go.
Oh, and after an incredible 3 days when we beat a decent team and two very good teams. Compare this week's BET with last year's, folks. We are playing our best ball of the season right now. I'm bummed because we came so close, but we outplayed expectations and I am much more proud and satisfied than devastated.
Chris's foul at the end could have hurt us, but didn't. We simply were beaten because we couldn't hit outside shots and let too many potential rebounds slip through our hands, while they played incredible D on Greg, getting in his head as well as his game. I thought his immaturity showed at times last night, but he was so outstanding this week that we have to appreciate whatever time he ends up giving us as a Hoya.
Chris played the tournament of his life. I think you can make a strong case for him as tournament MOP despite the loss in the final.
We're match-tough and *ready* for the dance.
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GUJook97
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Post by GUJook97 on Mar 14, 2010 9:08:04 GMT -5
That was definitely the best defensive performance against us all season. Combine a good defensive team with a good coach and a lot of familiarity, and they played the perfect d against us. They wouldnt even allow us high picks to pass around the perimeter and pop up open for a jump shot. It was a smart strategy because it made us work for the first 20 seconds of the possession. Clark standing 30 feet from the basket without a place to pass for 4.5 seconds was the epitome of it. You know a team is playing tough defense when we cant even get a pass there. The good news is that there arent more the 3-4 teams in the country with enough talent and energy to play that defense against us.
Seriously, I know it sounds like an excuse but we played 5 games against the worst possible matchups and possibly best teams in the country (WVU and Syracuse). I just dont think there are that many teams that can beat us if we are playing at the level we have in the past week. I hope the boys believe that.
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sleepy
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Post by sleepy on Mar 14, 2010 9:25:31 GMT -5
no this was a game where you need to adapt to what is being taken away. The middle was wide open for drives but the only one looking to push that was wright. We spent to much damn time looking for Monroe or something off of him. This was a game the should of been a win. I don't for one second buy that WV is a better team. I do think that they have more intensity than us and that was the difference.
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superan
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Post by superan on Mar 14, 2010 9:34:04 GMT -5
no this was a game where you need to adapt to what is being taken away. The middle was wide open for drives but the only one looking to push that was wright. We spent to much damn time looking for Monroe or something off of him. This was a game the should of been a win. I don't for one second buy that WV is a better team. I do think that they have more intensity than us and that was the difference. We were looking for Monroe the whole game but wisely never fed the ball into him as he was never in a position (credit wvu for that). Wright managed the offense very well and had many kick-outs for open 3's. 5-6 wide open threes by freeman, clark, and wright just did not fall. But honestly.... it's always fun to say if this and if that but we gave our best shot and lost to a #1 seed (IMO) on a last second circus shot even with so many things going against us. Despite all the things that went wrong, we were in a position to win. That is all you can ask for from any team. I really like our chances in the NCAA's
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hoyaalf
Silver Hoya (over 500 posts)
I like what your doing very much. Why squirrel hate me?
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Post by hoyaalf on Mar 14, 2010 10:05:43 GMT -5
Several thoughts: while losing is not a good thing, they will be humble and hungry next week.
That was an awfully good tournement.
It might be fun if The B'East should do again in the Eight round.
We are STILL improving game by game. If the team can all do at one time what they are capable of at the dance, we will be playing another two weeks at least.
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chep3
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Post by chep3 on Mar 14, 2010 10:09:24 GMT -5
Overall, this loss does not change the way I think about our guys. We can contend with anyone. WVU is a very strong team, playing with a big advantage (the double bye). They are long, athletic, and deep, and very few teams can defend us as well as they did. They forced our swing passes and handoffs 30 feet from the basket, which really hurt our ability to run our offense.
But you have to think a lot of the bad parts of the game was due to the 4 games in 4 days. We were a step slow to every loose ball and every defensive rebound. Now, even if we were fresh, it's not like we'd beat them on the boards, but I'd think we'd show a little bit better than we did. Plus, we were short on our outside shots (except for Hollis), and had we shot the way we normally do, the game plays out much differently.
Chris was great. He really kept us in the game during bad stretches and made a ton of plays. His play to track down Greg's overthrown outlet pass was all heart, and his dunk at the end of the first half was ridiculous. I don't get why people are killing him for that foul. Normally, that was one of the worst plays ever. But, because he came back and tied it right back up, it was meaningless, and probably helped us because they had 17 seconds to run their offense instead of 26. And, as for the last shot, I don't think you call a timeout with 4 seconds left. It's easier to get the defense out of position if you just get one guy racing to the basket. If this was the NBA, where you could advance the ball to halfcourt, then yes, call a timeout every time. If there were 7 or 8 seconds left, then yes, call a timeout every time. But with 4 seconds left, those broken plays often work better. And it worked fine this time. Chris got all the way to the basket, just couldn't make the shot. Maybe he could have pulled up for a jumper, I don't know. But that possession had to be Chris and without a timeout.
We played a tough, gritty game. I hope the guys get a rest and come ready to play. They need to use this loss as motivation. Maybe it will work better that way. We've tended to lay eggs when we think we're better than the other team and we come out complacent. Hopefully, they use this loss to see that there's still work to do, and take every game and every possession seriously.
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chep3
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Post by chep3 on Mar 14, 2010 10:18:48 GMT -5
We need to keep defending like we did down the stretch. The defensive performances we've put into this game, MU (especially 2nd half), Cincy, and USF just look so different from what we did in February. Keep playing like this, we could beat anyone. The only teams that scare me right now are Kansas and Kentucky. I feel almost as confident about this team as I did in 2007. Way more than I did in 2008.
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