if we end up having to play uconn again in NYC

[pearl31]

which is looking most likely according to Marsh's updated BET projections...
I say JB ought to rest the big-minutes guys as much as possible and give MCW, Rak, South, BMK the big minutes instead. basically treat it like a exhibition game.

(of course I'm only about 1/2 serious here, and don't want to concede any game to any team, but it's just really stupid if we have to play them a 3rd time)

 

[jdubs30]

It's hard as hell to beat the same team 3 times in 1 season, and I think we've beaten UConn 5 of our last 6 meetings, they owe us one.

 

[pearl31]

and another thing to add to this... Look what happened in '10 when we played g'town the third time in the BET when we had the double bye...

 

[orangenauburn]

I expect a lot of bench against Ville

 

[jdubs30]

I expect a lot of bench against Ville

I could see that. Problem is, we played yesterday and don't play again till next Saturday. After that, we won't play again until Thursday. You want to get the starters solid minutes because 2 games in a 12 day span isn't a lot. Hate to kill the rhythm.

 

[HoustonCuse]

It's hard as hell to beat the same team 3 times in 1 season, and I think we've beaten UConn 5 of our last 6 meetings, they owe us one.

That's why it would be perfect to roll out the second team against them. It would be like facing a whole new squad to them. With the exception of Baye - I see no reason why our second unit wouldn't beat them. They dominated them on their own court last night.

 

[HoustonCuse]

I could see that. Problem is, we played yesterday and don't play again till next Saturday. After that, we won't play again until Thursday. You want to get the starters solid minutes because 2 games in a 12 day span isn't a lot. Hate to kill the rhythm.

Good thing we have no rhythm right now!

Seriously though - SU hit exactly two jump shots in the entire second half. Granted, that is one more than they hit in the entire game vs Looevil, but still. I think the week off will be good for them. Kris and Dion are both hurting and need a break also.

 

[Jazz P]

Starters will play alot against ville. Jb already complaining about how much time we have off with double bye. And senior day for scoop and kris

 

[omniorange]

Disagree. We have to go ALL out to win that Thursday noon game. No team has lost the first game in their conference tourney and gone on to win it all.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[pearl31]

Disagree. We have to go ALL out to win that Thursday noon game. No team has lost the first game in their conference tourney and gone on to win it all.

Cheers,
Neil

yeah, I hear ya, just think it would be absurd to play uconn for the 3rd time in a month. this weekI'll be rooting hard for wvu and for one more uconn loss.

 

[orangedave]

It's hard as hell to beat the same team 3 times in 1 season, and I think we've beaten UConn 5 of our last 6 meetings, they owe us one.

I do agree that it's hard to beat the same team 3 times in 1 season but I have pleasant memories of doing it against Providence in 1986-87 - once in Providence, once at the Dome and once in New Orleans. The third win was in the Final Four and got us into the championship game against Indiana.
Maybe 3 wins over UConn would be a good omen and start us on another journey to New Orleans. I'd love to make another trip down there. Worked out pretty well the last time we were there.
For what it's worth, that Providence team was coached by Rick Pitino and starred current Florida coach Billy Donovan.

 

[Marsh01]

Disagree. We have to go ALL out to win that Thursday noon game. No team has lost the first game in their conference tourney and gone on to win it all.

Cheers,
Neil

Meh means nothing. No one had ever won 5 in 5 days...no NFL team had ever won the super bowl with a rushing offense worse than 28th...I could go on and on.

 

[rrlbees]

JB ALWAYS plays to win. Whether that will be with 10 guys or 7.5, be assured he will play to win. There will be no resting for the sake of resting.

 

[NRF527]

It's hard as hell to beat the same team 3 times in 1 season, and I think we've beaten UConn 5 of our last 6 meetings, they owe us one.

We're better than them. No reason why we can't beat them 3 times.
LGO!

 

[joct]

JB ALWAYS plays to win. Whether that will be with 10 guys or 7.5, be assured he will play to win. There will be no resting for the sake of resting.

I agree completely. On top of the obvious reasons to play to win, he has always said playing in a win-or-go-home setting, with little rest and prep/scout time adds another element that the team hasn't faced during the year. This helps them learn to play with that pressure once to help the mindset going into the NCAAs...especially considering very few players were around or played a major role the last time they won a few games in the NCAAs.

I think that a lot of these points are for people like us...ar at least me...to spin if there is a bad loss when there are high expectations. We can see the bad (double-bye hurt, tough to win 3 times, etc) or good (more rest for the tourney, already have the #1 seed, the regular season title is the once that counts), etc.

 

[arrow2arinzesknee]

Disagree. We have to go ALL out to win that Thursday noon game. No team has lost the first game in their conference tourney and gone on to win it all.

Cheers,
Neil

Funny thing is that second unit can beat that UCONN team, UCONN has lost to worse teams this year for sure!

 

[texascpa]

Disagree. We have to go ALL out to win that Thursday noon game. No team has lost the first game in their conference tourney and gone on to win it all.

Cheers,
Neil

so? they has no bearing on this year. And interesting stat, yes, but ultimately irrelevant.

 

[Garbs]

I expect a lot of bench against Ville

expect to be wrong

I expect a heavy dose of Scoop and Kris Joseph with a side of Fab and Dion, and a dash of Reese to end it.

 

[jdubs30]

Funny thing is that second unit can beat that UCONN team, UCONN has lost to worse teams this year for sure!

I don't think that's true.

 

[arrow2arinzesknee]

I don't think that's true.

which part, UCONN has most certainly lost to teams that aren't as good as our bench.

Not Saying I would bet or think we would win but its sure as hell possible

 

[Knicks411]

which part, UCONN has most certainly lost to teams that aren't as good as our bench.

If you consider the bench to be MCW, Dion, James, Rak, and BMK, is this true?

That's a team with probably a very strong backcourt, and a pretty bad frontcourt. (Though I suppose it is possible is JS and Rak had been getting run this year they would be improving. But as far as where they are right now?) I dunno, Uconn lost to UCF and Rutgers; neither team is all that good.

 

[orangetom]

It's hard as hell to beat the same team 3 times in 1 season, and I think we've beaten UConn 5 of our last 6 meetings, they owe us one.

I've never understood the statement that it's difficult to beat a team three times. Are there any stats that support that statement? I would guess that a team beats a team for the third time more often than not. We are superior to UCONN and I would expect that we would beat them again on a neutral court.

 

[caw]

I don't think that's true.

It all depends on what you mean by, "Funny thing is that second unit can beat that UCONN team". Does the poster mean only play the Cuse second unit? Cuse would be killed if they even thought about doing this.

Do you mean give the second unit significant minutes (each 30-35)? I guess it's possible, but don't kid yourself, it's not likely.

 

[Tony DeFranco]

I dont know - we r the #1 seed in the BE tourney - I know we can beat UCONN again but I'd like to face a lil more benign opponent in game 1 considering we r the top seed - despite UCONN's record they are littered with NBA players

 

[Eric15]

I've never understood the statement that it's difficult to beat a team three times. Are there any stats that support that statement? I would guess that a team beats a team for the third time more often than not. We are superior to UCONN and I would expect that we would beat them again on a neutral court.

100% agree. I'm convinced that some talking head said it once, and it just snowballed into being accepted as a fact.

Let's say Team A had the following results against other conference teams in the regular season...
vs. Team B: 2-0
vs. Team C: 1-1
vs. Team D: 0-2

Now, if you had to bet your life savings on which team you'd feel most confident having Team A beat in a third game, why would anyone in their right mind NOT pick Team B?