Hoyas 74 - Belmont 59, 2012 NCAA 2nd Round

[daytonahoya31]

I'm worried sick about the officials....If this is anywhere near a close game in the last 10 minutes, we're going to be playing 5 on 8....Shades of the Davidson officiating are popping into my head

[kchoya]

Mar 14, 2012 14:28:41 GMT -5 blueandgray said:

Seth Davis picks Belmont to go to the Sweet 16

I think he goes out of his way to be such a d-bag.

cnnsi.com/2012/writers/seth_davis/03/13/NCAA.regional.breakdown/1.html

Belmont was my big upset pick to reach the Sweet Sixteen. Some of you may recall that I picked the Bruins to beat Wisconsin in the second round last year. I wasn't the only one, and Bo Ryan used that to his advantage. Belmont's bandwagon isn't nearly as filled this time around, which is ironic considering it's basically the same team (nine of its top 11 players returned) and the Bruins won the Atlantic Sun by three games. I've also written before that if you look at Georgetown's schedule in the Big East, it's not easy to find real quality wins. The Hoyas were also especially vulnerable on the road. I have to say, the one thing that gives me pause is the fact that the Bruins like to run, and if the Hoyas make this a half-court game it will be hard for Belmont to adjust. I've always thought that in the NCAA tournament, it's easier to slow down a team that wants to run than speed up a team that wants to slow it down. On the other hand, Georgetown point guard Markel Starks has been very shaky the last two months, so Belmont's not a great matchup for them either. What the heck, take a chance!

1."Belmont's bandwagon isn't nearly as filled this time around." Really, seems like everyone and their brother is on the Bruins bandwagon.

2. "If you look at Georgetown's schedule in the Big East, it's not easy to find real quality wins." I guess he is ignoring the fact that we beat tourney teams Louisville, Marquette, UConn, USF, and Notre Dame (not to mention Memphis and Bama out of conference).

[daytonahoya31]

uhhhh....No quality wins? he really doesn't like us...

Guess he doesn't realize that Starks hasn't started in three weeks either...wow

[hoyaLS05]

Mar 14, 2012 16:48:39 GMT -5 daytonahoya31 said:

uhhhh....No quality wins? he really doesn't like us...

It's especially pertinent to point out Georgetown's lack of quality wins, considering Belmont has amassed a long list of them...

[daytonahoya31]

I mean, at this point if he wants to pick Belmont then pick them and be done with it.

But don't flat-out lie on us and our resume just to boost your point #shoddyjournalism

[HoyasAreHungry]

very weird....but i do have to say I like that they guys really have 0 excuse not to come fired up/overlooking the opponent.

[kettlehill]

I am no apologist for Seth Davis- I think he and Gottleib are self-important fools, but the fact is until we get this early exit monkey off our backs, the Hoyas are fair game. Simple solution is a serious thumping of Belmont

[hoyasaxa2003]

Mar 14, 2012 16:44:29 GMT -5 kchoya said:

2. "If you look at Georgetown's schedule in the Big East, it's not easy to find real quality wins." I guess he is ignoring the fact that we beat tourney teams Louisville, Marquette, UConn, USF, and Notre Dame (not to mention Memphis and Bama out of conference).

What super-high quality wins does Syracuse have, for that matter? Georgetown is probably the best team they played and their best win of the year.

[tjm62]

Mar 14, 2012 16:07:28 GMT -5 hoyasaxa2003 said:

I really would love to have a USF-style demolition of Belmont. I think for all us who have endured the ups and downs of the season, it would be a nice gift to fans to give us a blowout where we can be resting calm with 5 minutes remaining on the clock.

I would be terrified with a 15 point lead and 5 minutes left.

[williambraskyiii]

Mar 14, 2012 16:42:38 GMT -5 daytonahoya31 said:

I'm worried sick about the officials....If this is anywhere near a close game in the last 10 minutes, we're going to be playing 5 on 8....Shades of the Davidson officiating are popping into my head

This.

Also, please, please, please don't let Kerron Johnson beat us. He has the look of a quick penetrating guard similar to Cooper, Bassett (dry heaved just then) and Joey Rodriguez.

J Clark needs to shut this little fella down.

[daytonahoya31]

Saw Karron up close last year against Wisconsin...

Not as good as Cooper or Bassett....

But better than Rodriguez

Difference is the above three had athletes flanking them....he has shooters

[kchoya]

Mar 14, 2012 16:55:52 GMT -5 kettlehill said:

I am no apologist for Seth Davis- I think he and Gottleib are self-important fools, but the fact is until we get this early exit monkey off our backs, the Hoyas are fair game. Simple solution is a serious thumping of Belmont

Then why is Vandy getting so much love? They lose early every year (or in the Sweet Sixteen that one time ;D )

[rosslynhoya]

We were 8-7 against tourney teams this year, right? I guess that would explain why we're just a smidgen over a 50/50 proposition for this first round game against a tourney team. It's pure logic, right?

[hoyasaxa2003]

Most of you who already subscribe to cable should be able to see the Georgetown game for free by going to ncaa.trutv.com/ and then clicking the appropriate link. It will bring you to your cable company's website, you log in, and then you get the video. Pretty high quality. You can test it during tonight's games:

ncaa.trutv.com/

I don't think this will allow you to watch from an iPhone or iPad, but it's still nice for online viewing.

[EasyEd]

Michael Wilbon picked Hoyas as one of his Final Four teams.

[hoyarooter]

Mar 14, 2012 14:53:10 GMT -5 daytonahoya31 said:

the lack of respect we've received this week has been disgusting

Yes, this is infuriating me. I guarantee that Belmont hasn't seen a defense as good as ours this season. We need to just bring it and get the damn monkey off our backs. Then maybe these bozos will stop treating us as the flop flavor of the month.

Even Luke Winn is picking Belmont. SMH.

[HoyaChris]

Enough.

This board is exhibiting all the symptoms of battered wife syndrome (note: first Syracuse reference) in the way that it is assessing our prospects against Belmont. I am aware – and if by some miracle of denial I had managed to forget, pretty much every poster on this board would remind me – that our recent tournament performances have been less than stellar. I am further aware that Belmont is a crafty mid-major (since when is the Atlantic Sun Conference a mid-major?), possessed of indomitable will, senior leadership, the offensive firepower of the 1993 Bulls (Chicago not South Florida), and the cuddliness that will grab at America’s heartstrings. And I am also aware that Pomeroy calculates us to be only a two point favorite over Belmont, which I would guess is the lowest 3-14 spread ever recorded.

What I am mostly aware of, however, is how EVERYBODY is picking us as the chic upset choice of the first, oops second, round. And by everybody I mean more than just Seth “Georgetown has no quality Big East wins” Davis and Dougie “Visa” Gottlieb. I mean more than the legion of pundits that CasualHoya cited in a list of quotes that was way too long. I mean more than my staff in the United Kingdom whose instinct for self preservation (I have known to be cranky after Hoya losses) caused them to ask me if I thought the Hoyas had any chance to beat Belmont. I mean the posters on this board whose angst is palpable and whose judgment has been clouded by a combination of traumatic post season fiascoes and over-reliance on computer stats.

Take for example SFHoya99, each of whose 15,000 or so posts I have appreciatively perused in my time on this board. He gives the Hoyas a 70% chance of victory over Belmont which is actually better than the Pomeroy calculation. I am guessing that he wants to say 90% but that he is transfixed by Belmont’s 23 Pomeroy ranking. And, normally, that would be a source for concern. But in this case, that ranking is a statistical anomaly, overwhelmingly composed of blowouts against Pomeroy 150-250 teams, teams whose defenses are not in the same area code as that of the Hoyas. Belmont’s best win during the regular season was against Pomeroy #61 Middle Tennessee State (they actually split their two games). Their second best win was by 5 at home against #74 Marshall (against whom they also split). And their best win after that was against #110 Mercer.

But wait you say, what about that 1 point loss to Duke at Cameron in their opening game of the season, a game in which Duke showed less commitment to defense than Fab Melo has to classes (note: Syracuse reference 2).

I mean, Belmont lost to Lipscomb at Belmont (Pomeroy #210). Can you imagine the meltdown on this board if we lost to Lipscomb?

Which is really the point. Belmont, despite its gaudy offensive statistics, has put up its numbers against bad defensive teams. The Hoyas are a far better defensive team than anything that Belmont will have seen. And we are superior in a way that low majors never see because of our length and athleticism. Belmont shoots a lot of threes and makes a high percentage of those they take. Their leading 3 point shooter – the leading three point shooter in the nation – is five foot eleven, extremely unathletic and shoots a push shot from his chest. We lead the nation in defending the three. After each of our last three NCAA losses this board has bemoaned our lack of perimeter defense. Now that we have a great perimeter defense and too many among us assume it is irrelevant. Belmont does not have Yancy Gates or Kevin Jones or Jae Crowder. Belmont does not have Andre Drummond or Fab Melo (Note 3: Syracuse no longer has Fab Melo). The type of physical player that has beaten us this year does not exist on Belmont’s roster.

On Friday, we will beat Belmont because Belmont will not be able to score – enough. We will beat Belmont because they will not be able to rebound. We will beat Belmont because we are simply a far better team than they are.

Of course, it would also help if we made a few free throws.

The Hoyas have been a pleasant surprise this year, but this board keeps expecting the team to revert to the board’s lower pre-season expectations. We need to embrace the reality that we are a very good basketball team who will club Belmont like baby seals on Friday. I strongly believe a 20 point win is far more likely than a loss. If we cannot enjoy the leadup to this game then why are we fans of the Hoyas?

Friday will be fun.

Who’s with me?

[Just Cos]

+1. I'm with you Chris.

[CTHoya08]

Mar 14, 2012 19:52:48 GMT -5 HoyaChris said:

Enough.

This board is exhibiting all the symptoms of battered wife syndrome (note: first Syracuse reference) in the way that it is assessing our prospects against Belmont. I am aware – and if by some miracle of denial I had managed to forget, pretty much every poster on this board would remind me – that our recent tournament performances have been less than stellar. I am further aware that Belmont is a crafty mid-major (since when is the Atlantic Sun Conference a mid-major?), possessed of indomitable will, senior leadership, the offensive firepower of the 1993 Bulls (Chicago not South Florida), and the cuddliness that will grab at America’s heartstrings. And I am also aware that Pomeroy calculates us to be only a two point favorite over Belmont, which I would guess is the lowest 3-14 spread ever recorded.

What I am mostly aware of, however, is how EVERYBODY is picking us as the chic upset choice of the first, oops second, round. And by everybody I mean more than just Seth “Georgetown has no quality Big East wins” Davis and Dougie “Visa” Gottlieb. I mean more than the legion of pundits that CasualHoya cited in a list of quotes that was way too long. I mean more than my staff in the United Kingdom whose instinct for self preservation (I have known to be cranky after Hoya losses) caused them to ask me if I thought the Hoyas had any chance to beat Belmont. I mean the posters on this board whose angst is palpable and whose judgment has been clouded by a combination of traumatic post season fiascoes and over-reliance on computer stats.

Take for example SFHoya99, each of whose 15,000 or so posts I have appreciatively perused in my time on this board. He gives the Hoyas a 70% chance of victory over Belmont which is actually better than the Pomeroy calculation. I am guessing that he wants to say 90% but that he is transfixed by Belmont’s 23 Pomeroy ranking. And, normally, that would be a source for concern. But in this case, that ranking is a statistical anomaly, overwhelmingly composed of blowouts against Pomeroy 150-250 teams, teams whose defenses are not in the same area code as that of the Hoyas. Belmont’s best win during the regular season was against Pomeroy #61 Middle Tennessee State (they actually split their two games). Their second best win was by 5 at home against #74 Marshall (against whom they also split). And their best win after that was against #110 Mercer.

But wait you say, what about that 1 point loss to Duke at Cameron in their opening game of the season, a game in which Duke showed less commitment to defense than Fab Melo has to classes (note: Syracuse reference 2).

I mean, Belmont lost to Lipscomb at Belmont (Pomeroy #210). Can you imagine the meltdown on this board if we lost to Lipscomb?

Which is really the point. Belmont, despite its gaudy offensive statistics, has put up its numbers against bad defensive teams. The Hoyas are a far better defensive team than anything that Belmont will have seen. And we are superior in a way that low majors never see because of our length and athleticism. Belmont shoots a lot of threes and makes a high percentage of those they take. Their leading 3 point shooter – the leading three point shooter in the nation – is five foot eleven, extremely unathletic and shoots a push shot from his chest. We lead the nation in defending the three. After each of our last three NCAA losses this board has bemoaned our lack of perimeter defense. Now that we have a great perimeter defense and too many among us assume it is irrelevant. Belmont does not have Yancy Gates or Kevin Jones or Jae Crowder. Belmont does not have Andre Drummond or Fab Melo (Note 3: Syracuse no longer has Fab Melo). The type of physical players that has beaten us this year does not exist on Belmont’s roster.

On Friday, we will beat Belmont because Belmont will not be able to score – enough. We will beat Belmont because they will not be able to rebound. We will beat Belmont because we are simply a far better team than they are.

Of course, it would also help if we made a few free throws.

The Hoyas have been a pleasant surprise this year, but this board keeps expecting the team to revert to the board’s lower pre-season expectations. We need to embrace the reality that we are a very good basketball team who will club Belmont like baby seals on Friday. I strongly believe a 20 point win is far more likely than a loss. If we cannot enjoy the leadup to this game then why are we fans of the Hoyas?

Friday will be fun.

Who’s with me?

Hear, hear!

[dense]

Totally agree with HoyaChris post. I've seen this team now thru tape in 7 games. I'm completely not worried at all. I don't know how much we will win by, but we would have to play really bad to lose.