Looking Ahead to Houston

[Sherman20]

That’s fair. I would take a hard fought loss vs Houston , beating a limping Kansas and then finding one more win. I really think we need to come out of this 2-1 at worst to set the table for a turn around season.

Obviously 3-0 would be an amazing but 2-1 however we get it is what I think we need to jump start this year. Then find a way to beat Tenn at home , get fat on more cupcakes and then lock in to take advantage of a fairly friendly conference schedule.

I don’t see how there’s any way we go 3-1 over the next four games. 2-2 would be amazing. But honestly, 1-3 would be fine, as long as that third Vegas game is against a good team and we’re competitive in all four games.

 

[DomeHolmes]

A small part of me is holding out hope everything clicks and we run them off the court. I want so badly to be that program again.

Until Red proves otherwise, I’m not very hopeful we can beat a top team, however, I will raise these three small optimistic thoughts.

Bethune Cookman took Auburn to overtime, then Auburn lost by only one to Houston.

The Syracuse team who beat Drexel, could beat the Houston team that showed up against Lehigh.

Houston will likely lose at least one game this year to a team like or worse than Syracuse. (4-10 ranked Big 12 team). Which means we might not even have to play perfect if Houston has an off night. Let’s hope they have an off night.

 

[Sherman20]

Was just seeing who else saw this.

I’m telling you hooligans that we need to run 10 guys against Houston and Kansas. We may not win, we may not be close day 1 and it may suck to watch Suare or Fennell or Zephyr getting punked but it will pay off the next 2 days.

Our guys are just not good enough in the half court sets and in games that are slow paced slogs. They’re not polished and they’re not yet making the right decisions all the time. That means we need to press all 3 games and push the ball up the court every possession and go at a blistering pace all game. Thats for all 3 days in Vegas and then 5 days later against Tennessee.

To do that all our starters need to be fresh. Said in the other thread that Donnie, JJ and Kiyan were gassed playing more mins than usual against Monmouth. Houston will likely just grind us down late and that’s ok. What’s not ok is if that happens the next 3 games after.

Just a reminder for people We play the top team game 1 and Kansas plays the worst or almost worst team in the tourney their game 1. We’re going to pay a price for every basket and defensive stop against Houston and Kansas may very well win by 30 against ND. It may not matter much either but we’re also getting fleeced a few hours on the start time game 2. Kansas plays the 3:30 game twice. We play Houston late then Kansas earlier.

100 percent agree. We need to be pressuring them throughout the game and running 11 guys at them, running the full court press and getting out in transition. We have to try to make them uncomfortable. That’s why we played so well against our first three opponents.

 

[RedtheGOB]

Please, refrain from entering a battle of wits with an unarmed man.

 

[Orangezoo]

I don’t see how there’s any way we go 3-1 over the next four games. 2-2 would be amazing. But honestly, 1-3 would be fine, as long as that third Vegas game is against a good team and we’re competitive in all four games.

Given the schedule make up and no promises in the conference slate 1-3 to me would just position us in a similar if not worse spot than 23-24 and require 12/13 wins in conference.

2-2 is a must as I see it but I’m still more in the camp we need to prove some things in these 4 games both to help this year and beyond.

 

[Niastri]

A small part of me is holding out hope everything clicks and we run them off the court. I want so badly to be that program again.

Exactly. We play them even most of the game, our reserves keep the energy level up, and we hit a bunch of threes while they struggle to hit theirs. 18 point victory entirely on us hitting 12 three point shots to their 6, with all else being even.

A 7 for 10 night from Kingz would be amazing, or even a 3 for 4 night from Starling, to get the ball rolling.

 

[RedtheGOB]

Given the schedule make up and no promises in the conference slate 1-3 to me would just position us in a similar if not worse spot than 23-24 and require 12/13 wins in conference.

2-2 is a must as I see it but I’m still more in the camp we need to prove some things in these 4 games both to help this year and beyond.

I just don’t agree with this at all. If kenpom is any indication of strength of the ACC right now and the net there are a ton more Q2 and Q1 opportunities coming in ACC play than Autry's freshman year.

That year we played 5 Q3 ACC + Q4 Louisville (we won that by 2 at home ha) ACC games. The bottom of the ACC was just really bad.

This year the only 2 teams that fit that criteria are BC and GTech. We play them both on the road so even those are Q2 games.

So effectively our entire slate of ACC games is Q1 and Q2 chances. That's 18 ACC games + the 4 coming in the next 10 days. That year you mentioned it was 15 Q1-Q2 games. This year it should be 22 Q1-Q2 +ACCT. That's +7 more Q1-Q2 games, hopefully more Q1.

Starting 0-4 in Q1 games is a nitemare for our noncon and will crush any momentum and we should be critical but the ACC schedule this year plus the ACCT allows for some extra chances to recover. There's not really any margin of error though in ACC play.

 

[Orangezoo]

I just don’t agree with this at all. If kenpom is any indication of strength of the ACC right now and the net there are a ton more Q2 and Q1 opportunities coming in ACC play than Autry's freshman year.

That year we played 5 Q3 ACC + Q4 Louisville (we won that by 2 at home ha) ACC games. The bottom of the ACC was just really bad.

This year the only 2 teams that fit that criteria are BC and GTech. We play them both on the road so even those are Q2 games.

So effectively our entire slate of ACC games is Q1 and Q2 chances. That's 18 ACC games + the 4 coming in the next 10 days. That year you mentioned it was 15 Q1-Q2 games. This year it should be 22 Q1-Q2 +ACCT. That's +7 more Q1-Q2 games, hopefully more Q1.

Starting 0-4 in Q1 games is a nitemare for our noncon and will crush any momentum and we should be critical but the ACC schedule this year plus the ACCT allows for some extra chances to recover. There's not really any margin of error though in ACC play.

My hypothesis is that by going to 2 more non conference games that coming away with zero Q1 non conference wins or even just 1 that is borderline is going to weigh more than just picking up more naturally in conference. So if we fail to out pace fellow ACC teams in terms of non conference wins there may be a correction this year to the schedule manipulation.

I’m operating heavily on the assumption that the committee will be pretty clear on how teams have adjusted their approach and that may impact the selection process.

If we go 1-3 and that one win is either just a home win vs Tenn or the weakest NET team we play in Vegas that say is in the 40s or even falls just into being a Q2 win, we are going to have to put in at least a 11 win ACC slate maybe 10 if things fall our way to make the tourney and that includes beating Duke and Ville or some similar combo.

I get where you are coming from I’m just saying I fully doubt that they don’t take into consideration what other programs are doing. Our non conference season comes down to Vegas and Tennessee while avoiding a bad loss and keeping margins up on the rest.

 

[bballbeadle]

It is amazing how that one game against Monmouth has caused so many of us (including me) to come to a shrieking halt with our expectations and hopes.

 

[Orangezoo]

It is amazing how that one game against Monmouth has caused so many of us (including me) to come to a shrieking halt with our expectations and hopes.

A great showing in Vegas is desperately needed to flip the script. We just have no evidence that this program has what it needs right now to be what we want it to be.

 

[orangecuse]

I’ll know we’re back when we go into a matchup against Houston and we’re not praying for moral victories before the game has even started. This is tiresome. Reality, yes. But tiresome in year 3.

YoU mUsT bE aLoT of FuN aT pArTiEs.

 

[RedtheGOB]

My hypothesis is that by going to 2 more non conference games that coming away with zero Q1 non conference wins or even just 1 that is borderline is going to weigh more than just picking up more naturally in conference. So if we fail to out pace fellow ACC teams in terms of non conference wins there may be a correction this year to the schedule manipulation.

I’m operating heavily on the assumption that the committee will be pretty clear on how teams have adjusted their approach and that may impact the selection process.

If we go 1-3 and that one win is either just a home win vs Tenn or the weakest NET team we play in Vegas that say is in the 40s or even falls just into being a Q2 win, we are going to have to put in at least a 11 win ACC slate maybe 10 if things fall our way to make the tourney and that includes beating Duke and Ville or some similar combo.

I get where you are coming from I’m just saying I fully doubt that they don’t take into consideration what other programs are doing. Our non conference season comes down to Vegas and Tennessee while avoiding a bad loss and keeping margins up on the rest.

Fair. I’m not so sure the committee cares about what the conferences are doing when they’re all doing it. ACC overall needs to pick up wins in the NonCon but that’s not all on us.

We are playing some elite teams the next 4 games out and other teams just aren’t.

Virginia is wrapping up their preseason tourney and NonCon for example with Northwestern, Butler, Texas and Maryland. Not exactly a murderers row in comparison to us. SMU not even playing an early tourney or a ranked team until Jan in comference. A lot of teams aren’t stacking the NonCon the way you assume they are. Sure the top 15 or so are but most aren’t.

 

[sufan59]

It is amazing how that one game against Monmouth has caused so many of us (including me) to come to a shrieking halt with our expectations and hopes.

For me, I’m encouraged. I like the pieces and the identity they are going for. Just nerves until I see it against power conference competition that they physically are capable to play to what the identity is supposed to be.

 

[baggerbob]

A small part of me is holding out hope everything clicks and we run them off the court. I want so badly to be that program again.

I just don't want to be blown out in Vegas, really expect to lose the first two games. We will know after those games whether Red has a chance for next year.
Anyone who doesn't play well on defense in Vegas needs to be on the bench.
The defense against Monmouth can't be repeated again.
Everyone has to buy in or take a seat at the end of the bench. If Red doesn't enforce that he won't be back next year.

 

[ADKDave]

I just don't want to be blown out in Vegas, really expect to lose the first two games. We will know after those games whether Red has a chance for next year.
Anyone who doesn't play well on defense in Vegas needs to be on the bench.
The defense against Monmouth can't be repeated again.
Everyone has to buy in or take a seat at the end of the bench. If Red doesn't enforce that he won't be back next year.

Defense took a step back when JJ came back. Announcers were saying how well we stopped teams from hitting 3s. Then Monmouth hit 2 in short order. Guess who was involved in defending those.

 

[sufan59]

A small part of me is holding out hope everything clicks and we run them off the court. I want so badly to be that program again.

I can tell even national media wants our reemergence to happen as well. Business is so much easier when we’re good. No one has the ability to showcase 30k fans going crazy on a Saturday afternoon.

 

[NineOneSeven]

It is amazing how that one game against Monmouth has caused so many of us (including me) to come to a shrieking halt with our expectations and hopes.

Kinda makes sense though. Best opponent and while only one game it’s 25% of the games we’ve played so far

 

[Orangezoo]

Basketball needs to come up big this year. Vegas needs to be the anti - football collapse….

 

[CuseFan]

thank goodness it's basketball season and there is some hope there!

 

[Orangezoo]

thank goodness it's basketball season and there is some hope there!

Let’s sure hope we feel the same in 7 days

 

[MSOrange]

Basketball needs to come up big this year. Vegas needs to be the anti - football collapse….

That's what I've been thinking. Pressure is really on Red now.

 

[McCuse]

Defense took a step back when JJ came back. Announcers were saying how well we stopped teams from hitting 3s. Then Monmouth hit 2 in short order. Guess who was involved in defending those.

Curt Gowdy? Oh, JJ

 

[atlanticuse]

Maybe Syracuse fans should all wear boots to the game tomorrow.

 

[23Zone]

If the game is close, the big question is can Red make adjustments from the tactical perspective? Didn't really see it last year whatsoever but would love to see improvement on this front

 

[RedtheGOB]

If the game is close, the big question is can Red make adjustments from the tactical perspective? Didn't really see it last year whatsoever but would love to see improvement on this front

I don’t know. Part of me is just like throw our depth at them and let’s compete with our athleticism.

When this staff and team start overthinking the tactics and strategy it doesn’t seem to go as planned.

Houston we prob can’t beat them with athleticism but Kansas and game 3 maybe.