Same old board

[GIGAFAN99]

New coach, same firebreathing when we hit a rough patch.

I don't mean to alarm anyone, but we're still in fifth place in a six or seven bid conference. Have we played terribly lately? Of course we have. But this doesn't change the fact that we're still 4-2 versus the fourth through eighth teams in the Big East and have a win at a mid-major who's undefeated.

The team is slumping. They're not looking crisp and teams have been cutting off Jeff. They are getting outhustled. But we are not out of this by any stretch. Let's not give up on this team's chances for the tournament just yet. For as bad as the last three have been, this is the same team that had won 7 of 9 with (with an OT loss at 'Cuse) before the current streak.

Come on guys. Let's not go through this again. Stay positive with this team. They've won before and they can do it again. Let's go Hoyas!

[Joe Hoya]

Same old board?

Same old team.

There's no reason to bash the players and all, but come on - if they put out half the effort on the floor today that we did in the stands or here on the board, they could have won by 30.

Just a pathetic game today. I don't think anyone can disagree.

[jerseyhoya34]

There is a major difference between this team and last year's team. By this point in the season last year, that team had quit. They quit on their coach, and they quit on themselves. (The coach thing may have been mutual, as he dispensed with watching game films, per his own public statements). There is a reason why we're reading quotes about how trust is developing this year among the players. Why? It wasn't there last year.

Also, this team is starting three freshmen. That team had a wealth of experience, and look at what happened.

At this point in the season last year, a former member of the program was figuring out how many times he could visit Kansas in a month. This year, we're in every gym in the metro area and beyond.

This is a new program, and this is a new team. We've earned our spot in the NIT this year, and last year's team/program earned its spot in the darkest corners of GU history.

[NCHoya]

I didn't post last year so I cannot comment on same old board stuff, but I totally agree there is little to be negative about.

We are STARTING three freshman. That alone, indicates the talent level coming into this year. Besides, how many teams can make the NCAA with 3 starting freshman?? We still have chance, as slight as it may be, that is borderline amazing! Almost everything this team has done I have been excited about. Does the offense suck right now, yes. But when you are asking freshman to raise their level of play beyond the huge level they have already climbed, there is little to expect but inconsistency and against good teams, losses. A 17 or 18 win season would be absolutley great this year, I was one who expected the worst and I find it unfair to be overly critical of this year's young and inexperienced team.

[TBird41]

GIGAFAN99 said:

New coach, same firebreathing when we hit a rough patch.

I don't mean to alarm anyone, but we're still in fifth place in a six or seven bid conference. Have we played terribly lately? Of course we have. But this doesn't change the fact that we're still 4-2 versus the fourth through eighth teams in the Big East and have a win at a mid-major who's undefeated.

The team is slumping. They're not looking crisp and teams have been cutting off Jeff. They are getting outhustled. But we are not out of this by any stretch. Let's not give up on this team's chances for the tournament just yet. For as bad as the last three have been, this is the same team that had won 7 of 9 with (with an OT loss at 'Cuse) before the current streak.

Come on guys. Let's not go through this again. Stay positive with this team. They've won before and they can do it again. Let's go Hoyas!

Thank you.

This is the Big East. Anyone can win any game. Yes, UConn is playing well right now. So was Syracuse and we were 3 shoe sizes away from beating them. Is the team playing like crap? Yes, they are. Were they playing like crap when Norfolk St. took them to overtime? Yes, they were. And what happened two games later? They beat Pitt, at Pitt, in an arena Pitt had only lost at twice before. Our season is NOT over. Do adjustments have to be made? Yeah, obviously. But JT3 and the staff can figure it out. This team isn't going to quit and at some point it's all going to start to click.

So you can write off the Hoyas right now if you want, but personally, They're not done just yet (especially considering that they only need 2 wins to make the NCAAs and they still have 2 games left). Remember, it ain't over til it's over and it ain't over yet.

[HoyaNJ5]

Joe said:

Same old board?

Same old team.

There's no reason to bash the players and all, but come on - if they put out half the effort on the floor today that we did in the stands or here on the board, they could have won by 30.

Just a pathetic game today. I don't think anyone can disagree.

We played like crap today, but let's not exaggerate how good our team is. Nova has a better team than us. They are more talented. There guards are amongst the best in the nation. We'd win by 30? I take your point, but let's not make it seem like we are head and shoulders above Nova in talent, and that we simply lost because of effort.

[Deleted]

I don't think anyone is writing them off. I get the impression people are just upset we are losing the way we're losing, especially considering the stakes. Yes, its been an AMAZING turnaround this season and I will be the first person to give the entire program a standing ovation at the end of the season. But was is upsetting myself and other people is that we were WELL on our way to an NCAA bid and now it is slipping away not because of a lack of talent, or starting three freshmen, or coaching, or anything of that matter. Games like today and St. Johns were lost on pure effort, heart, desire, whatever you want to call it. Who said something like "rebounding is 90% desire?" They were right. Better effort on the boards, after loose balls, etc. these past two games, and who knows? Maybe we're in the "lock" position for the tourney, rather than needing some big wins down the stretch to squeeze in. THAT'S what disappoints me, at least (that and guys who have seemingly earned some run aren't getting it).

It comes down to this: while no matter how this season ends I'll be immensely pleased with the program and where its heading, if we're in the NIT there will always be a slight sting of disappointment when I look back at missed opportunities, poor showings, etc.

[Coast2CoastHoya]

Not the Same Board, Not the Same Team.

We're all bummed out about the game, with good reason, but this is not the same as the last couple years on this board. Back in those days, 4/5 posters would be calling the team quitters and the coach a hack, and 1/5 would be either positive for the sake of being positive, or would be of the "esh apologist" variety. These days, the 1/5 posts that are negative (after a REALLY tough loss, too) are almost instantly rebutted by positive posts that elucidate their propositions instead of just saying "we're gonna make the tourney!!!!" like last year.

Same with the team. Sure they look tired, nervous, and somewhat overmatched the last couple games. I won't repeat everything that's been written, but we're finally playing with our heads and our hearts instead of playing with neither like before. We're starting 3 frosh. We all see how many of our guys have had such great development throughout this year (bad shots and bonehead passes notwithstanding), unlike previous years when we'd actually see the opposite (don't wanna name names tho' . . .). We're all bummed, I think, because we actually LOVE and BELIEVE in this team, unlike other teams we really WANTED to love and believe in.

Enough of that . . .

I think the worst thing I saw today was how the student section was treating each other (and the seats at MCI) at the end of the game. Bush league at best. Stuff like that will get beer sales cut off, guys. Use your heads.

I'm looking ahead to UConn, and then to Provvy, and then I'll be at the BET with some good friends to scream my head off for Hoyas, just like I have been every game for the last seven years. This is a slump, and we'll snap out of it. KEEP THE FAITH.

GO HOYAS

[hoyatables]

Yeah Coast2Coast--Big East is gonna rock!!!!!!!!!

[ColumbiaHeightsHoya]

I agree with Giga. No one is looking at the big picture here. We have had a hell of a season and while I want to see us make the tournament, I don't even think we could have been in half the games we played this year if changes weren't made during the offseason. People need to chill.

[1803]

It all comes down to making shots. The Hoyas missed a bunch of good open looks in the first half, but managed to stay close enought to make it a game in the second. It was nice to see Wallace knock down a bunch of threes after halftime because he has certainly been struggling.

I am not one to make excuses for the Hoyas, but the fact of the matter is that Villanova is a better team than we are. They hit some great shots yesterday, and did a fine job on the boards. It was great to see the building sold out, and I hope people show up for Providence. Even if we lose at U Conn, a win against the Friars would give us a winning record in the best conference in America. That is nothing to sniff at.

[SFHoya99]

GIGAFAN99 said:

New coach, same firebreathing when we hit a rough patch.

I don't mean to alarm anyone, but we're still in fifth place in a six or seven bid conference. Have we played terribly lately? Of course we have. But this doesn't change the fact that we're still 4-2 versus the fourth through eighth teams in the Big East and have a win at a mid-major who's undefeated.

The team is slumping. They're not looking crisp and teams have been cutting off Jeff. They are getting outhustled. But we are not out of this by any stretch. Let's not give up on this team's chances for the tournament just yet. For as bad as the last three have been, this is the same team that had won 7 of 9 with (with an OT loss at 'Cuse) before the current streak.

Come on guys. Let's not go through this again. Stay positive with this team. They've won before and they can do it again. Let's go Hoyas!

I agree 100%.

[Fan Of The Game]

We've lost three conference games in a row and gone from "in" if the season had ended two weeks ago, to "out" if it ended today.

In light of that I think a little negativity is warranted. If every post here was about the positives of our team then I would accuse our fans of not paying attention to reality.

Overall we've had a better than expected season. Hopefully III will right the ship and get us two more wins and a tournament berth. But in the middle of a three game losing streak, I don't mind people analyzing where things have gone wrong for the Hoyas recently. Things have definitely gone wrong.

[Deleted]

Things have gone wrong, but I waver on how upset I'm going to get about it. Yeah, I'm disappointed in the last three games, but if you had told me at the beginning of the year that we'd have 8 conference wins, I would have told you you were nuts. So, while recent developments are frustrating, it's not enough to put a damper on the entire season.

[the_way]

It didn't matter what we did yesterday. Unless Villanova gave us the game, we were not going to win the ballgame. After the first 5 minutes, I knew we were going to lose unless Villanova had a meltdown. Villanova is playing some its best basketball right now. They are a group that have been together for 2-3 years along with a good freshman, and it showed yesterday. We couldn't do anything on offense because of Villanova's defense. They were just better. Sure we made are mistakes, but they were the better team.

[SFHoya99]

Fan said:

We've lost three conference games in a row and gone from "in" if the season had ended two weeks ago, to "out" if it ended today.

In light of that I think a little negativity is warranted. If every post here was about the positives of our team then I would accuse our fans of not paying attention to reality.

Overall we've had a better than expected season. Hopefully III will right the ship and get us two more wins and a tournament berth. But in the middle of a three game losing streak, I don't mind people analyzing where things have gone wrong for the Hoyas recently. Things have definitely gone wrong.

The St. John's game warranted some criticism, certainly. And aspects of our performance versus ND and nova do warrant some criticism.

However, we should not have been favored at Notre Dame or at home versus Nova. They were winnable games, but not should win games. According to Pomeroy, Nova is a Top 10 team, and they are hot right now.

I'm not saying there is nothing wrong. But we've got to consider that we should've gone 1-2, and instead went 0-3. Somehow, the reactions seem as it we were expecting 3-0.

Furthermore, the criticisms being thrown out are ridiculous. Brandon soft? You don't watch the games much if you think that. And the idea that we are not winning is solely on the offense is a joke, too. People here don't seem to understand pace -- or maybe its jsut that they don't understand defense. Now defense wasn't the issue versus Nova, but it was the issue versus St. John's. But all I read here is how bad the offense is.

Are we playing all that well? No. But we still have a shot at the tournament. Win 2 of our next 3 and I think we'll make it.

[KHoyaNYC]

SFHoya99 said:

The St. John's game warranted some criticism, certainly. And aspects of our performance versus ND and nova do warrant some criticism.

However, we should not have been favored at Notre Dame or at home versus Nova. They were winnable games, but not should win games. According to Pomeroy, Nova is a Top 10 team, and they are hot right now.

I'm not saying there is nothing wrong. But we've got to consider that we should've gone 1-2, and instead went 0-3. Somehow, the reactions seem as it we were expecting 3-0.

Furthermore, the criticisms being thrown out are ridiculous. Brandon soft? You don't watch the games much if you think that. And the idea that we are not winning is solely on the offense is a joke, too. People here don't seem to understand pace -- or maybe its jsut that they don't understand defense. Now defense wasn't the issue versus Nova, but it was the issue versus St. John's. But all I read here is how bad the offense is.

Are we playing all that well? No. But we still have a shot at the tournament. Win 2 of our next 3 and I think we'll make it.

I don't know about expecting 3-0, but I do think the fans expected a little more enthusiasm and energy from the Hoyas, especially in late February. I was at the SJU game and we looked like we didn't even really care. Also, these slow starts should have been corrected by now and fact that they haven't been warrants some criticism.

[SFHoya99]

Like I said, some things -- namely, getting outrebounded and the slow starts, warrant some criticism.

But the bashing on here, the hopeless gnashing of teeth, is too much. The idea that Brandon gets criticized for the Nova game is a joke, fo example. Or that people really think their cheering effort (except maybe 007) is somehow analogous to the effort these players put in for the team. Somehow I missed the grueling fan practices while at GU.

[KHoyaNYC]

SFHoya99 said:

Like I said, some things -- namely, getting outrebounded and the slow starts, warrant some criticism.

But the bashing on here, the hopeless gnashing of teeth, is too much. The idea that Brandon gets criticized for the Nova game is a joke, fo example. Or that people really think their cheering effort (except maybe 007) is somehow analogous to the effort these players put in for the team. Somehow I missed the grueling fan practices while at GU.

I agree - the Brandon stuff is silly. Same for the fans issue.

[YB]

SF and Khoya- I'd just like to point out that everyone, including me, praised our fans who were in MSG last week for that brutal loss- we were loud, "obnoxious", boisterous, and pretty down afterwards.

Yesterday was the first time I criticized our fans this year. That's because they seemed afraid to cheer yesterday. We should put in a bit more effort to cheering when things aren't going so well, infuse some energy into it. That's all.

BB is not the issue- I think tired legs and inexperience are starting to show though.