Start of the game...I'm begging

[TheRoyalIveyFund]

Just for my sanity, please get out about 20 feet on Kuric to start the game. Let Siva drive and don't play the kick outs. After teams hit that initial first three that always seems to happen against us, it's a bad feeling. Or, if they do launch a three, please hit the boards and prevent the other dreaded early killers - the good defense for 30 seconds, launch a tough three to only give up a weakside offensive board. I wonder if there are any stats on % of the first basket being a 3 to go down 3-o? We might be on top there.

Also, I wonder if Louisville presses us like they usually press teams? This is one year I look forward to a press from them as it give us some easy looks on the other end...

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I LOVE it when teams hit their first few threes against us. More often than not it suckers them in to taking ill advised threes.

 

[TheRoyalIveyFund]

I LOVE it when teams hit their first few threes against us. More often than not it suckers them in to taking ill advised threes.

I would agree with you that I don't mind when Prov, SHU, Depaul, all non-BE teams, etc, hit them. On the road, against Lou, no way. Crowd into and their team feeds off that stuff.

 

[mike32768]

I for one longed to see the Cuse's press (rather inspiring a few games ago) the past couple of games. Maybe those more knowledgeable about hoops have an opinion as to why it's been missing, but I sure would like to see it again. (I realize it's not without its risks... but we seemed somewhat successful)

 

[dollarbill44]

I LOVE it when teams hit their first few threes against us. More often than not it suckers them in to taking ill advised threes.

The flip side is that it could end up like the ND game and we get down really big early. As long as we can stay close for the first 10 minutes, I think we'll be ok because this team seems to get loosened up around the 10 minute mark and go on their first run.

 

[PauliePeppas]

Im hoping for their pa announcer to develop strep today...dreading the THreeeeeereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee forrrrrrrrrttt siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivaasaaaaaaaaaaaaa

 

[OttoinGrotto]

The flip side is that it could end up like the ND game and we get down really big early. As long as we can stay close for the first 10 minutes, I think we'll be ok because this team seems to get loosened up around the 10 minute mark and go on their first run.

ND was kind of a perfect storm. That could happen again, I guess.

 

[cpatrocks]

I for one longed to see the Cuse's press (rather inspiring a few games ago) the past couple of games. Maybe those more knowledgeable about hoops have an opinion as to why it's been missing, but I sure would like to see it again. (I realize it's not without its risks... but we seemed somewhat successful)

They pressed alot against G-Town two games ago. I'm not sure why we didn't press UConn - probably because we were leading the whole way...

 

[NailstheCusefan12]

They pressed alot against G-Town two games ago. I'm not sure why we didn't press UConn - probably because we were leading the whole way...

And they basically play with two PG's on the floor in terms of their handles. Tough to press guys that quick but it would've been interesting to see if we could have swarmed those two small guards with our size.

 

[SoBeCuse]

They pressed alot against G-Town two games ago. I'm not sure why we didn't press UConn - probably because we were leading the whole way...

I doubt we see MCW. That high dribble against those pesky guards could be a disaster.

 

[Jasoncuse]

I LOVE it when teams hit their first few threes against us. More often than not it suckers them in to taking ill advised threes.

Situationally, yes.

Tonight, if Louisville does that, in front of the hostile crowd and gets up 10-12 or so, we could be in major trouble. They feed off that crowd and we've seen firsthand how that can impact a game against us. They also have a number of solid shooters with Kuric, Chris Smith and now Wayne Blackshear. Blackshear missed the entire season before coming back Saturday and had a major impact in that WVU game. He's also a quality shooter. Our guys really have to rotate out on those three and force guys like Siva, Russ Smith and even Benahan to be the shooters. If Kuric and C. Smith get open looks, we're in trouble...

 

[Jasoncuse]

Im hoping for their pa announcer to develop strep today...dreading the THreeeeeereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee forrrrrrrrrttt siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivaasaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I'm guessing that won't be happening much. He's only hit 9 all year. Oh wait, that means he's a prime candidate tonight...

 

[PauliePeppas]

I'm guessing that won't be happening much. He's only hit 9 all year. Oh wait, that means he's a prime candidate tonight...

Exactly

 

[BlueCurtain]

I doubt we see MCW. That high dribble against those pesky guards could be a disaster.

Quite the contrary. His height allows him to throw over double-teams and makes him our best press-buster. Pitino's press isn't so much designed to force turnovers as it is to keep a team out of rythm. Trunk monkey on the other hand is an all-or-nothing kamikaze scheme that smart coaches and players know how to counteract.

 

[dasher]

welcome back blue curtain. Good move posting early today so you can come back later tonight if your favorite team wins.

 

[SoBeCuse]

Quite the contrary. His height allows him to throw over double-teams and makes him our best press-buster. Pitino's press isn't so much designed to force turnovers as it is to keep a team out of rythm. Trunk monkey on the other hand is an all-or-nothing kamikaze scheme that smart coaches and players know how to counteract.

We'll see about this.

 

[SourShoes]

I would agree with you that I don't mind when Prov, SHU, Depaul, all non-BE teams, etc, hit them. On the road, against Lou, no way. Crowd into and their team feeds off that stuff.

and that MOTHER ING announcer! THHHHHHRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEE !

I hate it!!!

 

[SourShoes]

Quite the contrary. His height allows him to throw over double-teams and makes him our best press-buster. Pitino's press isn't so much designed to force turnovers as it is to keep a team out of rythm. Trunk monkey on the other hand is an all-or-nothing kamikaze scheme that smart coaches and players know how to counteract.

I think I speak for all of us when I say that, you sir are a douche.

 

[moqui]

welcome back blue curtain. Good move posting early today so you can come back later tonight if your favorite team wins.

and doubly clever to lay the predicate for pinning the loss on the lack of PT for the team's 10th man

 

[Brian Orange]

This is 1000% true. And it's so frustrating.

 

[CorduroyG]

Id bet anyone 50 bucks straight up that lousiville will take, and make, a 3 on their 1st possession of the game. I guarandamntee it

 

[Cuseman78]

Im hoping for their pa announcer to develop strep today...dreading the THreeeeeereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee forrrrrrrrrttt siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiivaasaaaaaaaaaaaaa

I was just about to post this. Not looking forward to this DB announcer AT ALL.

 

[LennX6]

Also, I wonder if Louisville presses us like they usually press teams? This is one year I look forward to a press from them as it give us some easy looks on the other end...

One big caveat, you need honest , competent referees. Being a road game, and Higgins and Burr still on the loose, that's not a given.