SaxaCD
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by SaxaCD on Mar 10, 2005 21:49:12 GMT -5
I just don't think UConn can go all the way with Anderson only at partial strength. We'll see!
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thebin
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by thebin on Mar 10, 2005 21:50:21 GMT -5
My point is only that you may as well blame green's horrible offensive performance in the first half as Cook's poor decision. It hurts me too, just don't want to see too much get dumped on cook. I am glad we put up a great fight- that team is WAY more talented than we are, or if you prefer, they are a much better team. Sometimes it felt like they were toying with us when we would get it close, only to push it back away in a heartbeat.
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Post by ][-][ 0 `/ /-\ 5 on Mar 10, 2005 21:54:13 GMT -5
I know its wrong but I can't stop thinking "what if?". I wonder if cook even knew he was there.
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FLHoya
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Proud Member of Generation Burton
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Post by FLHoya on Mar 10, 2005 21:57:53 GMT -5
Cook might have even had Wallace in the corner, given that the UConn defense was collapsing on all sides as he penetrated.
But in the end it came down to two options, and both should have been familiar ones to anyone who's seen a fair amount of our basketball team this year.
The top of the key three pointer is one of Jeff Green's "spots". I've seen him make that shot a number of times this year--there's just some places on the court where a player can go that are comfortable. Jeff was standing in his--a little deeper than he'd like, I bet, but the option was there.
But I'm not going to be upset with the look we did get. Because I've written recaps of 11 games this year, and I'd bet that in over half of them, I've written about Ashanti Cook's fall-away jumper. Just like the top of the key three is Jeff Green's "shot", the fall-away is a shot that Ashanti Cook has in his repertoire on good nights. It's a maddening thing to watch--almost like a barometer of how the team is playing on a given night. If that shot is falling, good things are happening. If it isn't, I'm probably munching on the promotional towels they give us in the student section.
I've run my mind in circles this year pleading for our guards to be more assertive in creating good shots for themselves. Ashanti Cook's the one guy that can do it--and that's his "shot" to do it on. Tonight was a good night. What I'll take going forward from this game, rather than Ashanti passing up an open teammate or dribbling off his foot, is the number of times he made high degree-of-difficulty shots that he created for himself. Tell me you didn't look at some of the jump shooting Marcus Williams and Rudy Gay displayed tonight and think--"Wouldn't it be nice to have someone on our team who could make the tough jumper on a consistent basis?"
I don't think he wanted to atone for the previous turnover. I think Ashanti Cook knew he could get his "shot"--the one that had served him so well throughout the game--and make it with overtime on the line. In the situation we were in, unable to take a timeout and set up a play, we just have to put our trust in the hands of the players. And one momentary lapse of judgement aside, I trusted Ashanti Cook could get a good look at it tonight. Wish it had fallen.
EDIT: Two additional footnotes here:
1. ``We knew the play we wanted to run and it was wide open,'' Thompson said. ``A guy who played well just didn't hit it.''
Interesting. That quote's from the AP article.
2. I hit the rewind button and watched the tape of the play a few minutes ago. Green's got his hands out begging and he wants the ball, but Cook never saw him, didn't even look over. I guess they really did know the play they wanted. The shot looked better on the second go round--not nearly as contested as I thought, but still high degree of difficulty.)
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TC
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
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Post by TC on Mar 10, 2005 22:02:20 GMT -5
If Green had hit it, would it have been payback for '96, when Ray Allen had 38 minutes of crappy play and managed to barely rattle one in on the last shot?
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Post by Frank Black on Mar 10, 2005 22:13:54 GMT -5
Yeah, it would have. It would have been beautiful.
And Calhoun was slagging off his team after the game while all I could think was, "Did you SEE the clinic your guys put on shooting the basketball?" They couldn't miss the first 17 minutes of the second half.
Look out for Villanova by the way. Final four possibility. But this loss, as much as it hurts, definitely dulls the pain from the five game losing streak. We played so damn hard this game and generally so well. Onward. I can hardly imagine playing in the NIT now. But what can you do?
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hoyarooter
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
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Post by hoyarooter on Mar 10, 2005 22:24:31 GMT -5
I think more emphasis needs to be given to how the team came back from double digit deficits with less than 10 minutes to play on consecutive nights. I know the losing streak was the pits, but anyone who says this team has no heart is totally full of it. I'm looking forward to watching the game tonight when I go home. I never, never, ever would have thought we could play UConn this tough. Yes, I wish Ashanti had passed to Jeff to go for the win, but my hat is off tonight to everyone associated with the team.
Let's kick some butt in the NIT. Yes, I know it's the NIT, but I'm honestly looking forward to it.
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NCHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
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Post by NCHoya on Mar 10, 2005 22:35:47 GMT -5
What I especially liked about this effort was that we did not almost beat a struggling UConn team. They played really well shooting 54% and outrebounding us big, and yet we were still in this game and never gave up with a chance to win it in the final seconds.
I hope we take full advantage of the extra practice and game experience we will get with the NIT by making a deep run. I am thoroughly excited we bring this entire team back next season, we will be good. Not many teams can claim our composure and clutch play at the end of games. JTIII is still my hero.
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the_way
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
The Illest
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Post by the_way on Mar 10, 2005 22:40:34 GMT -5
Please. If Ashanti makes the shot and we proceed to win the ballgame, then all is forgotten. It wasn't a bad shot. In the heat of battle at the end of the game and you have an open look you take it. Ashanti made quite a few shots in this game that were much more difficult. Hindsight is 20-20. A valliant effort by a team that was overmatched talent-wise and almost pulled off the offset. Props to JTIII and the guys.
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Post by hoyatown5168 on Mar 11, 2005 0:33:24 GMT -5
Please. If Ashanti makes the shot and we proceed to win the ballgame, then all is forgotten. It wasn't a bad shot. In the heat of battle at the end of the game and you have an open look you take it. Ashanti made quite a few shots in this game that were much more difficult. Hindsight is 20-20. A valliant effort by a team that was overmatched talent-wise and almost pulled off the offset. Props to JTIII and the guys. Yea, if he makes it, and if we win in overtime no one talks about that, but that didn't happen so it will be talked about. He was hardly open, as he was being double teamed, and it was a bad shot because there was a man WIDE open for the winner. Still a great effort, but that play will haunt me for sometime......
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Post by Fan Of The Game on Mar 11, 2005 1:56:31 GMT -5
I'm still just stunned. I can't believe we got to within one shot of victory.
Once the shock wears off, I'll be much more appreciative. But right now, four hours later, I'm still awaiting closure.
Well done Hoyas. Let's beat the Terps in the NIT.
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Post by SpanishHoya on Mar 11, 2005 2:53:05 GMT -5
I don't know about you guys... but I am totally PSYCHED for the NIT this year... there will be a lot of talent playing in the lesser tourney this year... a team that beat Duke twice will be there... a BE team that we beat at home on a last second Hibbert dunk will be there, a team that beat a jetlagged Hoya squad in Hawaii will be there...
Everyone listen up!!! Let's rally behind a team that exceeded all expectations all year long.... Let's rally behind our beloved Hoyas and give them the support they need and deserve.... Let's bring home a post season championship!!! LETS GO HOYAS!!!!!
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Post by FreeNachos on Mar 11, 2005 3:00:04 GMT -5
When we play in the NIT, let's hope we see less fade aways.
Team played great tonight. So close...Ray Reed was great off the bench...
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Post by JohnJacquesLayup on Mar 11, 2005 8:18:14 GMT -5
Just a couple thoughts: Had we had a timeout remaining JTIII would have set us up for a three pointer for the win. Who knows if we would have made it but at least we would have had a chance to run a play the team is more comfortable with. Perhaps brandon for the 3 and if nothing was there, attempt to drive to the rim for the tie.
Roy needs to REALLY step it up so we can have a body in there to prevent opponents from offensive rebounds. I don't care if he doesn't score, if he falls over when making a pass out of the post (like he did last night), but just use your size to box out a little. If he could do that consistently he would have gotten more run last night.
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Post by sweetney50 on Mar 11, 2005 8:21:34 GMT -5
I haven't read any quotes from Cook but I really liked that he took the last shot. I know Green was wide open and he took a fade-away but it wasn't a horrible double pump crazy shot. If that was the case, then you can criticize Cook. I could be wrong but it was like Cook was so upset about dribbling the ball off his foot that he took upon himself to make up for it. Like, "I need to make up for this and if someone's the goat, it's going to be me." That's why I like to see his quotes after the game. To me, that's a leader with character which is something this team needs.
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Post by FromTheBeginning on Mar 11, 2005 8:35:06 GMT -5
It was fun to watch big mean intimidating JTII looking like any other fan (and father) rooting for their team and thier kid.
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FOTP
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by FOTP on Mar 11, 2005 8:41:34 GMT -5
The Wise artical was really good today. Gave me goosebumps.
Guys - We are NOT out of this. The entire committee watched that game last night. They know at the end of the day that we won at Nova (hottest team around right now) and at Pitt. We took UCONN down to teh last shot on a neutral court. We freaking took Cuse to OT and missed winning for a few inches.
If the committees goal is to put the best 65 teams in who HAVE A CHANCE to win a game or two I'd put us in there. Look at us vs. ND for example. How would they put ND in over us? Impossible. Look at some of the other teams. No one has had the success we've had against Top 25 programs on the road or on a neutral court scneario.
This plays well in the committees eyes...
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the_way
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The Illest
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Post by the_way on Mar 11, 2005 9:19:02 GMT -5
The Wise artical was really good today. Gave me goosebumps. Guys - We are NOT out of this. The entire committee watched that game last night. They know at the end of the day that we won at Nova (hottest team around right now) and at Pitt. We took UCONN down to teh last shot on a neutral court. We freaking took Cuse to OT and missed winning for a few inches. If the committees goal is to put the best 65 teams in who HAVE A CHANCE to win a game or two I'd put us in there. Look at us vs. ND for example. How would they put ND in over us? Impossible. Look at some of the other teams. No one has had the success we've had against Top 25 programs on the road or on a neutral court scneario. This plays well in the committees eyes... FOTP, you are so right. Everybody is talking NIT, but I wouldn't bank on that just yet. There is a dimmer of light. I wouldn't be suprised if we sneak in the tournament. Lets keep the faith.
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FOTP
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
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Post by FOTP on Mar 11, 2005 9:25:58 GMT -5
Thanks the_way. The truth is I'm usually the most skeptical of my friends when it comes to these things (just ask Fan of the Game, FreeNachos, Doublehoya, Cam etc from the board).
Plus, I spend WAY TOO MUCH TIME analyzing this stuff. I have an unhealthy passion for college basketball and all things RPI related.
I heard a great quote from the guy who is not on the committee, but is from teh NCAA and is in the room: "I love watching Digger and Dick Vitale saying who is definitely in the tournament and we had just whacked them".
I've been looking at the other teams on the bubble and I can't find a single team with a clearly better profile than us. It all comes down to the road/neutral court factor. The committee wants teams that can win away from home. They like wins, but they give a lot more credit to good road wins. Hence, the very specific desire to change the RPI this year to borderline disasterous consequences.
Let's just say I'm going to watch the selection show as I always do, but I will not be shocked when I hear G-Town as the 12 seed in _____ and then listen to teh mock horor from Vitale. Then they interview the committee members and here them say: No other team won at Nova (a 3 seed), at Pitt, took a Cuse team to OT and played great against UCONN in the tournament.
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Post by Fan Of The Game on Mar 11, 2005 9:39:06 GMT -5
The only thing I'll say is you can't bring up the "took a Cuse team to OT" without bringing up "took a Norfolk State team to OT...at home".
I'll still be watching games this weekend with a tiny bit of hope in the back of my head, but with every win by at team like Buffalo and every loss by a team like Nevada there are fewer and fewer spots up for grabs.
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