Step 1 Uconn loses to Uconn
- Thread starter Gmoney4WW
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We very likely will end up in a 3 way tie for 5th with UConn and Memphis. However, we would lose the tiebreaker to both teams.
UConn is now 9-8 with a home game left against Cincy. Memphis and Tulsa are both 8-8 with games against SMU and Tulane.
All 3 teams could end with a 9-9 record Memphis splint with Houston and UConn swept UCF. For us to finish 5th we'd need to win out while the other 2 teams split their remaining 2 games.
It's very unlikely we win both games on the road. It's more likely we lose both.
UConn is now 9-8 with a home game left against Cincy. Memphis and Tulsa are both 8-8 with games against SMU and Tulane.
All 3 teams could end with a 9-9 record Memphis splint with Houston and UConn swept UCF. For us to finish 5th we'd need to win out while the other 2 teams split their remaining 2 games.
It's very unlikely we win both games on the road. It's more likely we lose both.
How can we lose a tiebreaker with Uconn? In head to head we are 1-0 against Uconn.
You're right. I was thinking starting with the top team and going down. But it's head to head 1st. So we have a real shot at 6th then.
I think in the event of a three way tie we would win the tie break. I believe the way they do it is the three teams become a mini-conference where we would be 2-1, Memphis would be 2-2, and UCONN would be 1-2. I won't get excited until we take down the ponies.
Uconn just screwed themselves hard with that loss. They just cost themselves a possible 5th seed to a probable 7th.
You seem to be correct Nevada. Here's what I found:
Teams are seeded by conference record, with a ties broken by record between the tied teams followed by record against the regular-season champion, if necessary.
Yeah and E Carolina tried to give it to them with a couple of front side misses on two late one and ones. And they still managed to lose.
It seems rather strange to say "we have a real shot at 6th" and actually mean it as a positive thing.
6 is a positive because it means a likely first round win over no 11 UConn and a second round game vs. Houston at 3.
5 would be surprising and that would mean a bye and second round game vs. UCF at 4.
My only goal at this point is for the team to have a winning season. I hope the SMU game is not demoralizing, since only the Sunday game at Tulane really matters.
5 would be surprising and that would mean a bye and second round game vs. UCF at 4.
My only goal at this point is for the team to have a winning season. I hope the SMU game is not demoralizing, since only the Sunday game at Tulane really matters.
UCONN's defense was downright atrocious most of that game and ECU hit a few more 3s than they did in the game with us.
UCONNs stats were downright dreadful. 15 TOs, the last being on that ridiculous pass Adams tried to make down 2. And they are woefully undermanned right now. Even playing at home next week I don't see them doing anything...they're gassed.
Something a lot of people forgot during our good start to the conference season was the coaches and media picked us 9th out of 11 teams, ahead of only Tulane and USF. Even though a couple of league teams are having poor seasons any of our possible finishes exceeds objective expectations. A fifth or sixth place finish would bode well for the future.
Meh. The media is piss poor at picking these things anyway. 5th is right about where I imagined this team to begin the season, but I was hoping they would surprise me and do a bit better,
IMO opinion we are actually a 7th place team. No matter how lucky we get on beating out Memphis and Uconn on tiebreakers, we are not better than Memphis or Uconn. They are not much better than us, but they are better. If we were a legit 5th place team then it would 'bode well for the future'. I believe the future bodes well for TU. But only because we have backcourt reinforcements in the wings, not anything related to a lucky 5th place finish.
LOL, what?
I'm not sure why any team in any league would be expected to finish 5th after losing as many players as Tulsa did.
But, .500 is .500 and .500 should never get you 5th in an 11 team league, IMO.
If it does, Sweet! If not, 7th is realistic for .500 and still 2 spots ahead of preseason rankings with.500 being the benchmark for most posters so I'm content.
And, FWIW, the coaches had us 9th too.
I still hate the "backing in" statement. It's typically reserved for people who don't like the referred to school, team, or coach.
Any standing or ranking is "backed into" unless you win out.
One you lose a game, it's up to other teams to lose to keep you on top or as highly positioned as possible thus, any achieved ranking after losing a game is backed into.
Anyway,
Let's beat Tulane and hope for UConn to lose to Cincy and Memphis to lose to SMU and secure the 5th place spot and bye.
Defense is that thing where you cover the paint but leave the best 3pt shooter in the corner, right?
Signed,
Franklin
How to beat Tulane: Run your a$$ back on defense after a miss, made bucket, or turnover. That team pushes the ball hard up the court. Memphis didn't play any transition defense in the 1st half and that's why Tulane had a lead. Memphis got back and played much better transition/break D in the 2nd half and forced Tulane into a 1/2 court offense. Tulane's half court offense is almost as bad as ours...and they don't have any presence down low. We should pound the ball into Etou and Igbanu as much as possible. If we are lazy in transition D, it could be a long day in NOLA
That's a big "if." Tulane has five wins. But they have a very good NBA coach who is doing things with role players who their previous coach couldn't get much out of.
I'm not going to complain about this year. It had ups and downs and some near misses that sting -- losing the guard from Texas, the OSU game, the Cinci game. But we beat UCONN, Memphis, and Temple. And ORU. That doesn't suck any year. We have some good young players. Not sure about the wings next year, but I'm encouraged by the guys coming in.
But to think we'd be in fifth this year in this league? That's cray cray. It ignores the historical trends of our program and assumes that we have an easier time recruiting and developing against the best league we've been in since the 1970's.
My only complaint about Haith is that we didn't develop an additional guard/ wing to step in this year during the first two years he was here. That's what's killing this current team. We need someone else who can shoot and play a little d on the perimeter. It could have been Curran Scott, but Pacino screwed that up. At least we get him next year.
The loss to Cincy after outplaying them for 38 minutes was simply the turning point this season. They hold on and win that game, I don't think you see the same tank job we've seen the last month. They simply last their mojo and confidence after that game. I don't think they are as bad as the results have shown, nor do I think we were quite as good as the AAC record indicated early on, but we were a lot better than I anticipated. This team has a confidence issue right now and it starts with Birt and its infecting the rest of the team.
Here is a clue to the season:
2106 Tulsa at SMU
Pat Birt 37 minutes, 6-9 from the field and 4-6 three pointers, 5 rebounds 2 steals, 17 points.
2017 Tulsa at SMU
Pat Birt 15 minutes, 1-6 from the field and 1-4 three pointers, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 points.
2106 Tulsa at SMU
Pat Birt 37 minutes, 6-9 from the field and 4-6 three pointers, 5 rebounds 2 steals, 17 points.
2017 Tulsa at SMU
Pat Birt 15 minutes, 1-6 from the field and 1-4 three pointers, 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 points.
Yep. When you base an offense and expectations around him doing pretty close to what he did last year and adding in some more pieces around him...which Haith did...and he doesn't do even 1/2 of that, you're going to struggle some.
Taplin, Edogi, Etou, and Igbanu have all improved this year. Taplin has been back and forth but is a very solid PG. All have room for improvement but honestly, I had written off Edogi coming into the season.
Henderson has come along pretty well. Wheeler has his great and terrible moments.
At the end of the day, if Birt was anywhere close to what he was last year, we're likely competing for 3-4th place. His misfortunes this year have dramatically affected the upside of this team and I feel worse for him than I do anything else that has happened this season.
Folks... Birt faded HARD last year down the stretch. I recall him playing really bad the final 1/2 of the Season. He's a great young man... just not a mid to high D1 player.
Birt had a ridiculously good second half of the season, just a poor last 2 games. Far right column is points
His conference stats, last 18 games, was pretty darn good. 15.3 pts, shooting 40.4% fgs,39.3% 3-pts and 75% fts. I have no idea why he's shot so bad this year. His mechanics seem to change so I'm imagine he's looking to find out what's wrong.
However, I believe it's all about confidence. Once you lose that, you're toast. As a shooter, you have to think every shot is going in. Hopefully he'll come alive in the next few games. Last year, there were games when he carried the team.
However, I believe it's all about confidence. Once you lose that, you're toast. As a shooter, you have to think every shot is going in. Hopefully he'll come alive in the next few games. Last year, there were games when he carried the team.
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