6-12 in games decided by 5 points or less since the start of last season

[Cusefan0307]

So my counting was incorrect and we actually are 7-12 over the past 2 years in games less than 5 points.

Blew a 16 point 2nd half lead to Indiana and won by 2 in 2 overtimes.
Fell behind by double digits at FSU and won by 3.
Won in OT against Georgia Tech in a close game throughout.
Beat Richmond in OT in a close game throughout.
Beat Louisville by one in a close game where Mintz almost choked it away at the end.
2 Notre Dame games that were close games throughout.

So 2 of the 7 games we won by 5 points or less we tried to choke away. Louisville this season and Indiana last year.

 

[SU94]

The slide rule turns some very likely ten point wins into certain five point wins. I agree with you. We know he's brilliant. But there are always wrinkles.

It goes both ways, right?

There have been many 1-2 point "losses" that he has had a heavy hand in maneuvering into 1-2 point wins (Gonzaga win in 2016 NCAAs is one of the finest examples).

Hey, it admittedly takes players. They have to execute.

I just bristle at the "he cannot coach, we are 6-12 the last year+" or "he gave it to Judah again, he sucks, game has passed him by" crowd.

His sample size if biblically large, therefore it is tough conclude anything other than he one of the best ever in close games.

 

[Cusefan0307]

It goes both ways, right?

There have been many 1-2 point "losses" that he has had a heavy hand in maneuvering into 1-2 point wins (Gonzaga win in 2016 NCAAs is one of the finest examples).

Hey, it admittedly takes players. They have to execute.

I just bristle at the "he cannot coach, we are 6-12 the last year+" or "he gave it to Judah again, he sucks, game has passed him by" crowd.

His sample size if biblically large, therefore it is tough conclude anything other than he one of the best ever in close games.

Do you think our end of half and end of game execution has been good in recent seasons? I'm not discounting JB historically, but we are awful at end of clock situations the past few seasons. He still seems to be pretty good for minutes 5-18 in the first half and the first 18 minutes of the second half. The problem is we suck at the beginning of games because of starting the wrong guys and are terrible at end of game and end of half situations.

 

[721Comstock]

It goes both ways, right?

There have been many 1-2 point "losses" that he has had a heavy hand in maneuvering into 1-2 point wins (Gonzaga win in 2016 NCAAs is one of the finest examples).

Hey, it admittedly takes players. They have to execute.

I just bristle at the "he cannot coach, we are 6-12 the last year+" or "he gave it to Judah again, he sucks, game has passed him by" crowd.

His sample size if biblically large, therefore it is tough conclude anything other than he WAS one of the best ever in close games.

FIFY.

First off - JAB's 'slide rule' often causes his teams to end up in close games, that otherwise coulda/shoulda/woulda been a blowout, had he not taken the air outta the ball, like he do.

Secondly - while this indeed has led to him winning more of those 'close games' than losing them for the majority of his lengthy career -
that has NOT been the case these past 2 seasons.

Recruiting isn't the only part of JAB's game that he's lost significant speed offa his fastball these past 8+ years.

 

[grepal]

I always felt the harder I worked the luckier I got. I still feel that way. Not everything went my way no matter how hard I worked. Sometimes I just was not good enough, sometimes I did not figure out the answer on time. Sometimes I won when I should not have but I was the superior talent and beat a harder working team. That is sports and life my friends.

 

[Millhouse]

It goes both ways, right?

There have been many 1-2 point "losses" that he has had a heavy hand in maneuvering into 1-2 point wins (Gonzaga win in 2016 NCAAs is one of the finest examples).

Hey, it admittedly takes players. They have to execute.

I just bristle at the "he cannot coach, we are 6-12 the last year+" or "he gave it to Judah again, he sucks, game has passed him by" crowd.

His sample size if biblically large, therefore it is tough conclude anything other than he one of the best ever in close games.

Other coaches don't seem to use the slide rule. I think they should. But his strategy is more likely to reduce margin and increase likelihood of winning. He is brilliant and it works but it muddles trying to figure out how his other strategies help or hurt

 

[UpstateSM]

Luck isn't real

 

[Millhouse]

Luck isn't real

It's real but not predictive

 

[Consigliere]

Late game situations. Usually where coaching is most important to draw or set something up. Pretty telling stat regarding the coach. The players have changed between the two years but the coaching has not. It is what it is at this point.

And the previous year we were 5-2 in those games. Let’s get that coach back!

 

[Consigliere]

Other coaches don't seem to use the slide rule. I think they should. But his strategy is more likely to reduce margin and increase likelihood of winning. He is brilliant and it works but it muddles trying to figure out how his other strategies help or hurt

If Jeff Capel borrowed the slide rule he wouldn’t have been sweating out the last possession in the Dome last month.

Honestly not rocket science. Divide the number of seconds left by the number of possessions in your lead (points ahead /3.) if the result is less than 30 the clock is your friend and you start to milk it.

 

[Millhouse]

If Jeff Capel borrowed the slide rule he wouldn’t have been sweating out the last possession in the Dome last month.

Honestly not rocket science. Divide the number of seconds left by the number of possessions in your lead (points ahead /3.) if the result is less than 30 the clock is your friend and you start to milk it.

It takes the rest of us a while to get comfortable with the math that JB just knows intuitively.

I think he knows the math has changed with the zone but at this point, what can he do. I don't blame him for anything

 

[MSOrange]

 

[Cusefan0307]

ohhhh we have pissed coach off.

 

[Fly Rodder]

Do you think our end of half and end of game execution has been good in recent seasons? I'm not discounting JB historically, but we are awful at end of clock situations the past few seasons. He still seems to be pretty good for minutes 5-18 in the first half and the first 18 minutes of the second half. The problem is we suck at the beginning of games because of starting the wrong guys and are terrible at end of game and end of half situations.

Not to mention the plays coming out of a time out are nearly ineffective.

 

[Millhouse]

Strawman

 

[domestu]

Syracuse is 4-4 in games decided by five points or less this season. Our actual record in close contests this year should be relevant in discussing this topic.

 

[Sherman20]

Lol. We just suck.

Winning close games was always one of JB’s strengths.

 

[tptcuse]

Syracuse is 4-4 in games decided by five points or less this season. Our actual record in close contests this year should be relevant in discussing this topic.

So should the opponents. Two of the close losses were Bryant and Pitt at home. Two of the close wins were Richmond and Louisville. It can't be quantified, but the way we have lost some of the close games the last two years is also driving much of the conversation. And JB is definitely correct that the start of the games are a huge factor in everything.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Syracuse is 4-4 in games decided by five points or less this season. Our actual record in close contests this year should be relevant in discussing this topic.

You have to count the overtime loss to St. John’s.

 

[CuseCPT]

Strawman

JB seems to love taking down a good strawman. Which makes sense when you have strong disdain for your critics.

 

[domestu]

I've been going to college basketball games since the 1950s and have never seen a team lose such a high percentage of close games as last season's team. They seemed destined to find new ways to lose games at the end. SU is 4-4 in games decided by five points or less this season and I expect they will have a similar record in close games at the end of the year. The Minnesota Vikings couldn't do anything wrong in close games during the regular season this year but I would bet they have a much worse record in one-score games in 2023. The Cuse has a lot different team this season and I hate to see all of the emphasis of this discussion weighted down by last year's atrocious record in close contests. Go Cuse!

 

[djcon57]

He’s not wrong about not starting well.

”we just need to play better” is, well, laughable and I hope he doesn’t believe it

 

[Oakland]

Hmmmmm, I wonder what our record would be if we didn't start so many games down 8 pts at the first TV break?

Edit: Ah, I see JB is on to this already.

 

[Cuse'91]

Coaching matters a helleva lot more in close games. Our head coach is basically an octogenarian. I don't think we need to call in Sherlock Holmes for this one. Hercule Poirot either.