Creighton - Georgetown 1/21/19 Discussion

[DanMcQ]

Another winnable game. Tighten things up on offense and continue improving on D and it ends up in the W column.

[ColumbiaHeightsHoya]

We are in must win territory having dropped 2 home games already. I think coach will have them ready.

[wponds]

The difference between 2-4 and 3-3 is big. Gotta get this one

[RockawayHoya]

6 days to prepare/rest for another home game with SJU and Nova up the week after, this is definitely a must win.

Very much on the staff to make sure this is a solid week of development and commitment to cleaning up certain mistakes that have become a pattern in the last few games.

[HometownHoya]

Jan 16, 2019 8:54:09 GMT -5 DanMcQ said:

Another winnable game. Tighten things up on offense and continue improving on D and it ends up in the W column.

Isn't the game 1/21?

[HoyaFanNY]

another league home loss would make it very difficult to get to a .500 conference record with nova and hall still twice on the schedule.

[mdtd]

Big win needed, 5 days to practice and need to execute. Need to bounce back. This is one which will be needed for tournament hopes (both NIT and NCAA). Hate saying games are must wins this early on, but this is as close as it will get. BOunce bac game before a trip to St. John's. James needs to make better decisions and in a game where that will matter, he needs to shine. If Creighton gets a stop on a forced shot, it's usually 3 points for them. James will need to make smart decisions a Ty-Shon Alexander is a solid defender and great offensive player. Will be a nail biter so be prepared for that. I want to see more Jahvon Blair this game, he deserves more PT. Whether we go small or not, Blair needs more PT to be that spot up shooter, especially when Greg is slumping. Blair deserves minutes at the 2 and 3 and needs to play to win us some games. When the offense is at a dry spell, if Blair hits just one shot which he is capable of doing from anywhere, the offense will come back. Need to win this to hit .500 in the conference. Need 2 of the next 3. Time to take this conference by storm.

[Ranch Dressing]

We are dangerously close to the point, and, admittedly, this is a personal defense mechanism to keep my in-game rage monster in check (stupid turnovers!!!!), where I'm more interested in seeing player/coach/offense/defense improvement rather than getting worked up over wins and losses.

If that makes Creighton a "must win," then I understand. But at KenPom #95 coupled with an underwhelming non-conference schedule strength/results, we are not a tournament team or anywhere close to it right now. We just lost at home to a team missing their best player. Tournament teams don't lose that game at home. Heady guard play in the last 5-6 minutes of that game should have sealed a 5-10 victory. We actually got enough stops on the defensive end, but our turnover differential and extremely poor 2PFG shot selection was our ultimate undoing.

I feel great about the in-coming recruiting class, but they need time. Too bad for Govan as he is very likely never going to dance.

[NCHoya]

I am interested in seeing positive development and improvement as well, but I cannot lie, I still care about improving the bottom line, wins and losses still mean the most to me. I do not want another 5 win BE season and an overall losing record. I still have modest goals for these guys like not playing the first night in the BET, reaching 20 wins, going 9-9 in the BE. None of that will make this close to a tournament team, but it remains achievable. Beating Creighton in DC is an opportunity to get there and start getting some results from what I see as clear improvements this season. It would be great if this was not decided on the last possession and the Hoyas could replicate the Butler game.

[Ranch Dressing]

Jan 16, 2019 17:13:17 GMT -5 NCHoya said:

I am interested in seeing positive development and improvement as well, but I cannot lie, I still care about improving the bottom line, wins and losses still mean the most to me. I do not want another 5 win BE season and an overall losing record. I still have modest goals for these guys like not playing the first night in the BET, reaching 20 wins, going 9-9 in the BE. None of that will make this close to a tournament team, but it remains achievable. Beating Creighton in DC is an opportunity to get there and start getting some results from what I see as clear improvements this season. It would be great if this was not decided on the last possession and the Hoyas could replicate the Butler game.

Yes, I believe your reasonable/modest/achievable goals are excellent and a real reason to root hard for as many wins as possible. I guess I’m reacting to the feeling that the Creighton game is becoming/feels like a “must win.” A must win why? To what end?

Improving to 9-9 in conference would be a +4 improvement over last year and a great step forward. Whether Creighton is included in the win column is sort of irrelevant (although obviously it helps advance the goal).

I’m feeling sad today. Forgive me, my brothers and sisters in arms. I’ll be better by tomorrow. And fully crazed again by the next game. I need to work out some stuff.

[GUJook97]

Remember, it was about this time last year that Creighton murdered us at home. It was pretty much never a game. It would be nice to win this one. Baby steps, like you guys are saying, are winning against the middle of the pack teams at home. IF we can't win games like this, it's going to be a 5-13 season.

[tribeninerhoya]

I gotta say that I think there's been some gross overreaction to the Marquette game. The team played hard, but we're still starting 3 freshmen and a sophomore. This team is getting a lot of experience, is getting better (despite some assertions), has been fun to watch, and is really setting themselves up to be really good both by the end of the year and in the coming couple of years. Our coach has had one real recruiting cycle and delivered. Let's see how things progress, but I think we're looking very good for the next few years. Of course we want to win more, but I don't think there's much question that this team (with all of its underclassmen carrying it) is better than last year's team, despite unexpected departures, etc.

Play hard, continue to improve, and keep being fun to watch. Those are the things I want to see.

[Nevada Hoya]

No more close, but no cigar games. We have to tighten up our D, cut down on TOs, and stop making stupid plays, especially at the end.

[tashoya]

Jan 16, 2019 10:44:21 GMT -5 wponds said:

The difference between 2-4 and 3-3 is big. Gotta get this one

It gets late early. Must win.

[tashoya]

Jan 16, 2019 16:37:37 GMT -5 Ranch Dressing said:

We are dangerously close to the point, and, admittedly, this is a personal defense mechanism to keep my in-game rage monster in check (stupid turnovers!!!!), where I'm more interested in seeing player/coach/offense/defense improvement rather than getting worked up over wins and losses.

If that makes Creighton a "must win," then I understand. But at KenPom #95 coupled with an underwhelming non-conference schedule strength/results, we are not a tournament team or anywhere close to it right now. We just lost at home to a team missing their best player. Tournament teams don't lose that game at home. Heady guard play in the last 5-6 minutes of that game should have sealed a 5-10 victory. We actually got enough stops on the defensive end, but our turnover differential and extremely poor 2PFG shot selection was our ultimate undoing.

I feel great about the in-coming recruiting class, but they need time. Too bad for Govan as he is very likely never going to dance.

I don't want to agree with this but I also can't argue with it.

[SFHoya99]

Jan 17, 2019 13:08:48 GMT -5 tribeninerhoya said:

I gotta say that I think there's been some gross overreaction to the Marquette game. The team played hard, but we're still starting 3 freshmen and a sophomore. This team is getting a lot of experience, is getting better (despite some assertions), has been fun to watch, and is really setting themselves up to be really good both by the end of the year and in the coming couple of years. Our coach has had one real recruiting cycle and delivered. Let's see how things progress, but I think we're looking very good for the next few years. Of course we want to win more, but I don't think there's much question that this team (with all of its underclassmen carrying it) is better than last year's team, despite unexpected departures, etc.

Play hard, continue to improve, and keep being fun to watch. Those are the things I want to see.

I think people are just coming to acceptance of the team's general level at different times.


I got a lot of flak for being critical of Akinjo after game one. The reason why I was so critical was that I was hoping he'd be at the level of freshman that could immediately make us an NCAA tourney contender. Watching him, he was impressive, but it was clear he wasn't the player I was **hoping** for.

So my disappointment came through, but by the next game, my expectations had been adjusted. We're a young team, with limited talent. As the season went on and it as apparent that Mac and Akinjo would have ups and down, and that Pickett had not made a giant leap ... the chances of an NCAA bid has gotten lower and lower.

There's still a chance that things come together. Certainly, players like Akinjo and Mac are right on the cusp of clicking with the team. I know it doesn't seem it for James, but since the talent is there ... we just need the team to come together mentally. It's possible.

But it's upside now and not likely. So I'm not going to be as mad as someone who views the team differently. After the Providence win, people were way too high on a team that can't be expected to play 10 minutes consistently, much less 40.

I'll be watching and hoping it clicks for James, or Pickett starts hitting 3s, or whatever. And maybe we make a run starting now or even in the BE tourney.

But I still think James and Mac have a good chance to end up a historic Hoya backcourt; think the Pickett/LeBlanc frontcourt will be a nightmare for opponents next year, and think the recruits we have coming in will fix many of our defensive issues while getting tutored by a HOF big man.

[capcenterhoya]

Agree that it is more than just wins and losses, but I would like to see meaningful improvement from players. We have seen this from Mac. LeBlanc also looks to be developing his offensive game. It's time for Akinjo and especially Pickett to step up. Akinjo has to be better at distributing the basketball and controlling his shot selection. With Pickett, his ball handling is atrocious. I know people want to be optimistic about the team's youth, but there needs to be corresponding development.

[prhoya]

Jan 18, 2019 9:39:10 GMT -5 capcenterhoya said:

Agree that it is more than just wins and losses, but I would like to see meaningful improvement from players. We have seen this from Mac. LeBlanc also looks to be developing his offensive game. It's time for Akinjo and especially Pickett to step up. Akinjo has to be better at distributing the basketball and controlling his shot selection. With Pickett, his ball handling is atrocious. I know people want to be optimistic about the team's youth, but there needs to be corresponding development.

According to the tv announcers/commentators of the last two games, Akinjo is the best freshman of BE and leading in the race to the BE ROY. It's a talking point. Although I agree and it's obvious that he has areas to improve in his game, he's impressive enough already as a freshman. If he listens to his coaches, the team will go far (or farther than it has gone recently) this season.

[hoyasaxa2003]

Jan 17, 2019 23:29:45 GMT -5 SFHoya99 said:

But I still think James and Mac have a good chance to end up a historic Hoya backcourt; think the Pickett/LeBlanc frontcourt will be a nightmare for opponents next year, and think the recruits we have coming in will fix many of our defensive issues while getting tutored by a HOF big man.

I agree with much of what you said. My one big hang up is Pickett. There's really no basis to believe he will be a nightmare for opponents. He's definitely shown some better defense this year, so that has been helpful at times, but his offense has truly been a nightmare (to use the same word).

Except for Carter, who has seen limited time, Pickett is - by far - our least efficient player (82 versus..Akinjo with 98.2 is next). It's even worse in Big East play, where Pickett's efficiency is 74.1, he's shooting 18.8% from three, and his turnover rate is 27.3.

In the last 7 games, his O ratings have been terrible, with only one game above 100: 27, 89, 114, 91, 28, 76, 28. I realize his defense might have some benefits for our team, and that cannot be ignored, but his offense must get better. If he doesn't get better, next year's team will struggle - or Pickett will have to sit if someone else steps up.

If Yurtseven can step into Govan's shoes, there's a good chance next year's team can improve a good bit. If not, then it's unlikely barring unexpected jumps from other guys (or late recruit signings).

[NCHoya]

Pickett has the potential to become a not a good, but a great defender. His offense has been an issue all season, but if we can use him more like last season, and he can accept that role, it would be very helpful. Offense is not going to be an issue with Yurt7, Mac, Akinkjo and perhaps Carter (if that 3 point shot is for real) with LeBlanc being a clean-up man. I would trade some of our offense today for better defense and I think we will have it next season.