Pat Forde - Virginia built to fail in March

[Madbiker]

Forde is just another miserable sports writer who trashes everything in sports. You wonder why guys like him cover sports if they seem to dislike everyone and everything. Change your career and go do something you feel positive about.

 

[Briancuse]

That could have easily been us against UNC-Asheville.

That being said, flaming out in the tourney isn't an outlier for that program. It happens way too regularly to not start questioning Bennett's coaching philosophy.

It could gave been we got hit in the mouth and won the game going away uva got hit and lost by 20.

 

[Cheriehoop]

Yeah,neither was Boeheim early in his career. How soon we forget about our teams that would never get out of the second round. Bennett will get them over...and soon. He is a Great coach.

JB became head coach at 31 and in his 11th season at 42, he was in the title game. SU fans from back even at his start at such a young age, never fully realized how amazing his accomplishments have been. He actually made the sweet 16 four times in his first 11 years through his 30's.
1976–77 Syracuse 26–4 NCAA Sweet 16
1977–78 Syracuse 22–6 NCAA Round of 64
1978–79 Syracuse 26–4 NCAA Sweet 16
1979–80 Syracuse 26–4 5–1 T–1st NCAA Sweet 16
1980–81 Syracuse 22–12 6–8 6th NIT Runner-up
1981–82 Syracuse 16–13 7–7 T–5th NIT Round of 32
1982–83 Syracuse 21–10 9–7 5th NCAA Round of 32
1983–84 Syracuse 23–9 12–4 T–2nd NCAA Sweet 16
1984–85 Syracuse 22–9 9–7 T–3rd NCAA Round of 32
1985–86 Syracuse 26–6 14–2 T–1st NCAA Round of 32
1986–87 Syracuse 31–7 12–4 T–1st NCAA Runner-up

Tony Bennett is a great coach but to compare their earliest years is a bit further apart than our own fans give JB credit for. Tony was 36 when he assumed the HC position from his father at Washington St (where he did a great job) and is currently 48 years old at Virginia and in his 12th year as a head coach. No doubt at all he's a great coach with a long, bright future. What will ultimately define him will be his ability to be flexible, change and adapt as the game and players morph. As JB has said, the tournament breaks hearts. Learning from it, being resilient, and motivating oneself and your players for future success despite previous pain, is key. The ultimate tournament success of being in the championship game has been elusive for the greater majority of coaches.
2006–07 Washington State 26–8 13–5 2nd NCAA Round of 32
2007–08 Washington State 26–9 11–7 3rd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2008–09 Washington State 17–16 8–10 7th NIT First Round
2009–10 Virginia 15–16 5–11 T–9th
2010–11 Virginia 16–15 7–9 T–7th
2011–12 Virginia 22–10 9–7 T–4th NCAA Round of 64
2012–13 Virginia 23–12 11–7 T–4th NIT Quarterfinals
2013–14 Virginia 30–7 16–2 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2014–15 Virginia 30–4 16–2 1st NCAA Round of 32
2015–16 Virginia 29–8 13–5 T–2nd NCAA Elite Eight
2016–17 Virginia 23–11 11–7 T–5th NCAA Round of 32
2017–18 Virginia 31–3 17–1 1st - NCAA Round of 64

 

[dollarbill44]

Bennett's challenge is going to be the sense of vulnerability. Regardless of seed going forward, teams won't fear him in the tournament.

Does anyone fear anyone in the tournament anymore?

 

[OrangeDW]

Does anyone fear anyone in the tournament anymore?

Nope. Because the exceptionally talented players are always in it for their first and only time. You’re not going to run into a senior Grant Hill trying for his 3rd championship or something.

 

[Ghost]

Nope. Because the exceptionally talented players are always in it for their first and only time. You’re not going to run into a senior Grant Hill trying for his 3rd championship or something.

If you lose to Albany by 44, you probably have a little fear going up against a #1 seed.

Kind of sucks I didn't get to see much of the game - you flirt with danger when you play slow. We lost to VT because we allowed them to dictate tempo, UVA is a bit like that, if possessions get minimized, and you have no Plan B, things can go very wrong if a crap team hangs around. Things went very wrong last night. Who knows how much of a diff Hunter makes though - I can't fathom it wouldn't be a difference maker having him around. I mean they were so good with him, maybe the deflation, mixed with some overconfidence, and that was that.

I'm really awestruck because I watched UMBC in their conference tourney and just kept laughing at the announcers trying to compliment them - because I just kept thinking, man UMBC really sucks, and Vermont really, really sucks.

 

[moqui]

such an ugly, nasty, unnecessary piece. this is the kind of article that gives the entire field of journalism a bad name.

and, it's incoherent. he opens with a populist call, railing against virginia's "priveleged" position as one of the "leafy elite" of the acc and hailing the commuter school that took them down. then within a few short grafs, he's calling for one of those elites to pluck ryan odom from the lower class and elevate. so which is it, pat? are you with the hoi polloi or with the elite?

actually, i think i know the answer to that: it's neither. he is with whoever is up at the moment, and is especially eager to put the boots to anyone who is down.

 

[scottynguyen]

That is an insult!

To douchenozzles.

I’m guessing Forde considers himself college basketball’s truth-teller but all I see is a guy that enjoys dancing in other programs misery, whether it be sanctions or bad losses.

There are legitimate points to be made about Virginia’s style of play, but he ain’t the guy I’m looking to for a breakdown.

 

[albanycuse]

I don’t buy it. This stuff happens when you aren’t prepared to play. You can blame that on the coach. Plus they lost a good player to injury last week.

 

[djcon57]

such an ugly, nasty, unnecessary piece. this is the kind of article that gives the entire field of journalism a bad name.

and, it's incoherent. he opens with a populist call, railing against virginia's "priveleged" position as one of the "leafy elite" of the acc and hailing the commuter school that took them down. then within a few short grafs, he's calling for one of those elites to pluck ryan odom from the lower class and elevate. so which is it, pat? are you with the hoi polloi or with the elite?

actually, i think i know the answer to that: it's neither. he is with whoever is up at the moment, and is especially eager to put the boots to anyone who is down.

I thought you and others in the post were exaggerating before I read it. But...nope...pretty dead on

 

[BludOrange]

UMBC's hustle and playing as hard as they can, won them the game. They didn't jog around the court, they sprinted everywhere they went, with or without the ball. They did not take a play off and Virginia could not match their intensity.
Playing at full speed on offense against the pack line D is the best format for success. It's hard for them to switch and hand off their opponent to the next defender at the pace/speed UMBC was using to attack off the bounce. By the time the second defender in their pack line could try to shut down the penetration, a third defender was having to commit to stopping the drive, and then a fourth, leaving multiple people open, which UMBC capatilized on by kicking it out and around to the open man. At those points, Virginia didnt know who was guarding who and failed to scramble fast enough to recover and get a hand in the face of an open shooter. At a slower attacking, prodding pace like we attempt, it is much easier to shut down/cut off penetration and not be forced into having all defenders converge on one man as he gets deeper into the pack line style of defense. Playing faster/all out on offense and being able to turn corners with the ball and get around people puts a lot of stress on their team defense. Which if successfull, it puts even more stress on their offense to keep pace and as seen last night, it takes a toll on their minds and they start trying too hard and begin to force shots.

*It also helps when you have a kid like Lyles making some tough shots.

 

[djorange1989]

Forde is a nasty little punk. That is all

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Historic loss shows Virginia was built to fail in March

Cites Bennett's March failures and compares him unfavorably to JB and Izzo.

Where was this article before the game?
Forde the weather man: Looks out the window, sees it is raining, goes on TV to predict it will rain today.
Best part, he gets paid.

 

[pfister1]

JB became head coach at 31 and in his 11th season at 42, he was in the title game. SU fans from back even at his start at such a young age, never fully realized how amazing his accomplishments have been. He actually made the sweet 16 four times in his first 11 years through his 30's.
1976–77 Syracuse 26–4 NCAA Sweet 16
1977–78 Syracuse 22–6 NCAA Round of 64
1978–79 Syracuse 26–4 NCAA Sweet 16
1979–80 Syracuse 26–4 5–1 T–1st NCAA Sweet 16
1980–81 Syracuse 22–12 6–8 6th NIT Runner-up
1981–82 Syracuse 16–13 7–7 T–5th NIT Round of 32
1982–83 Syracuse 21–10 9–7 5th NCAA Round of 32
1983–84 Syracuse 23–9 12–4 T–2nd NCAA Sweet 16
1984–85 Syracuse 22–9 9–7 T–3rd NCAA Round of 32
1985–86 Syracuse 26–6 14–2 T–1st NCAA Round of 32
1986–87 Syracuse 31–7 12–4 T–1st NCAA Runner-up

Tony Bennett is a great coach but to compare their earliest years is a bit further apart than our own fans give JB credit for. Tony was 36 when he assumed the HC position from his father at Washington St (where he did a great job) and is currently 48 years old at Virginia and in his 12th year as a head coach. No doubt at all he's a great coach with a long, bright future. What will ultimately define him will be his ability to be flexible, change and adapt as the game and players morph. As JB has said, the tournament breaks hearts. Learning from it, being resilient, and motivating oneself and your players for future success despite previous pain, is key. The ultimate tournament success of being in the championship game has been elusive for the greater majority of coaches.
2006–07 Washington State 26–8 13–5 2nd NCAA Round of 32
2007–08 Washington State 26–9 11–7 3rd NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2008–09 Washington State 17–16 8–10 7th NIT First Round
2009–10 Virginia 15–16 5–11 T–9th
2010–11 Virginia 16–15 7–9 T–7th
2011–12 Virginia 22–10 9–7 T–4th NCAA Round of 64
2012–13 Virginia 23–12 11–7 T–4th NIT Quarterfinals
2013–14 Virginia 30–7 16–2 1st NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2014–15 Virginia 30–4 16–2 1st NCAA Round of 32
2015–16 Virginia 29–8 13–5 T–2nd NCAA Elite Eight
2016–17 Virginia 23–11 11–7 T–5th NCAA Round of 32
2017–18 Virginia 31–3 17–1 1st - NCAA Round of 64

JB made the Sweet 16 four times during the early years, but keep in mind the tournament was a different format until 1985 when it expanded to 64 teams. Each of those Sweet 16 appearances only required 1 win to get there.

In '77 it was a 32 team format, teams weren't seeded. It only took us one win to get to the Sweet 16.
In '79 it was a 40 team format, we had a bye and only had to win 1 game to get to the Sweet 16.
In '80 it was a 48 team format, we had a bye and only had to win 1 game to get to the Sweet 16.
In '84 it was a 48 team bracket, we had a bye, so again just 1 win to get to the Sweet 16.

My original point wasn't to diminish anything JB did, just to say that it took JB time to grow into a point where he seemed to live up to expectations more often than falling short and that there were a number of seasons where expectations for us were high and we didn't meet them.

 

[nzm136]

It’s hard to come up with a Plan B when they shoot 54% for the game and you shoot 41%. It was a total meltdown at both ends of the court. Increased possessions would not have made a difference in the outcome last night.

I think plan B is generally start making more of your shots and/or (preferably "and") get them to make fewer of their shots.

The trick is coming up w/ a way to implement plan B, but my thoughts on that cost money

 

[Scooch]

To be fair, Pat Forde is built to fail 12 months a year.

 

[tbonezone]

this guy has all the prescience of a palm reader at a funeral parlor. " i predict a dark turn of events..."

 

[IthacaMatt]

JB made the Sweet 16 four times during the early years, but keep in mind the tournament was a different format until 1985 when it expanded to 64 teams. Each of those Sweet 16 appearances only required 1 win to get there.

Maybe so, but there weren't so many tomato cans in the field back then, either.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Pat Forde's writing is built to fail to garner my respect.

 

[690West]

To be fair, Pat Forde is built to fail 12 months a year.

Gottlieb throwing some shade at the hack...