Tuesday's Big East Games 1/19/16

[ecasadoSBU]

When Dunn hits that Big Three:

"Confidence... Leader... Lottery Pick!" That was great. Exciting games last night. Packed houses.

[Xavier4036]

https://twitter.com/MuskieMusings/status/689653247678742528

Man, how do you miss this one? Somehow this was called a defensive foul and put Georgetown at the line in the double bonus with 3 1/2 mins left.

Those refs weren't in control for the entire game. How do we have games called like they were for the first 2.5 months of the year, and then the rugby game last night? Even Raftery couldn't get over how rough and physical the game was.

[stever20]

yeah Xavier/Georgetown is probably the best new rivalry that the Big East has added. Kind of got a bit of a nasty streak to it.

[sciencejay]

I think all this projected "in with 18-13, out with 17-14" stuff is BS. The Hoyas definitely have the potential to do much better than 6-6 or 7-5 the rest of the way. Projections are based on what a team has done (not trying to argue that's irrelevant, please stay with me). But G'Town is interesting/unique in that they have the talent to be a dominant team in our conference. They haven't played consistently well and have some head-scratching losses to date (thus the low projections from the computers). Certainly all the coaches, sports writers and talking heads thought they might be a challenger at the beginning of the season. But those projections were made on potential, and for a good part of the season they have not played up to that potential.

Last night they did. If they can come together (we all know chemistry and defined player roles are key for teams to play at their best) and build off last night's win, they could easily go 10-2 the rest of the way. I'm not predicting that, but I doubt anyone on this board will argue that the Hoyas have enough talent to compete favorably with every team in the league. It's just whether they play up to that level consistently or not.

THAT, my friends, is why this conference is terrific. And, to quote the inimitable GTMO, that's why they play the games. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds!

[stever20]

I think all this projected "in with 18-13, out with 17-14" stuff is BS. The Hoyas definitely have the potential to do much better than 6-6 or 7-5 the rest of the way. Projections are based on what a team has done (not trying to argue that's irrelevant, please stay with me). But G'Town is interesting/unique in that they have the talent to be a dominant team in our conference. They haven't played consistently well and have some head-scratching losses to date (thus the low projections from the computers). Certainly all the coaches, sports writers and talking heads thought they might be a challenger at the beginning of the season. But those projections were made on potential, and for a good part of the season they have not played up to that potential.

Last night they did. If they can come together (we all know chemistry and defined player roles are key for teams to play at their best) and build off last night's win, they could easily go 10-2 the rest of the way. I'm not predicting that, but I doubt anyone on this board will argue that the Hoyas have enough talent to compete favorably with every team in the league. It's just whether they play up to that level consistently or not.

THAT, my friends, is why this conference is terrific. And, to quote the inimitable GTMO, that's why they play the games. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds!

I don't think it is. If Georgetown can get up to 18 regular season wins, they are lock city. Only 17 wins means 15 losses to include the BET. No team has ever made the tourney at large with 15 losses. While it's possible we could make it at 18-15, sure wouldn't want to take that chance at all.... You don't want to be on the wrong side of a historical trend like that at all.

[Bill Marsh]

I think all this projected "in with 18-13, out with 17-14" stuff is BS. The Hoyas definitely have the potential to do much better than 6-6 or 7-5 the rest of the way. Projections are based on what a team has done (not trying to argue that's irrelevant, please stay with me). But G'Town is interesting/unique in that they have the talent to be a dominant team in our conference. They haven't played consistently well and have some head-scratching losses to date (thus the low projections from the computers). Certainly all the coaches, sports writers and talking heads thought they might be a challenger at the beginning of the season. But those projections were made on potential, and for a good part of the season they have not played up to that potential.

Last night they did. If they can come together (we all know chemistry and defined player roles are key for teams to play at their best) and build off last night's win, they could easily go 10-2 the rest of the way. I'm not predicting that, but I doubt anyone on this board will argue that the Hoyas have enough talent to compete favorably with every team in the league. It's just whether they play up to that level consistently or not.

THAT, my friends, is why this conference is terrific. And, to quote the inimitable GTMO, that's why they play the games. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds!

Of course it's B/S. You hit the nil on the head.

[sciencejay]

Stever,

My point wasn't that 18-13 puts them on the favorable side for a bid or not (it likely does as you've stated in several threads). It was about the team having the capability of running off a string of significant victories. You wouldn't necessarily predict that based upon their season-long performance to date, but who wouldn't believe that the Hoyas have the potential to go on a big run and make the issue of "getting a bid" irrelevant? If they beat up on UConn, Nova, X again, P, B, (my Jays), etc, over the next several weeks, the issue will be seeding, not getting a bid.

Then we can discuss how those early season losses may/may not affect seeding. 13-2 or 12-3 over their last 15 games (including BET) coupled with the pre-season expectations (that would be fulfilled if they go on a run like I've mentioned) would have to make the committee stand up and take notice. In that case maybe they get a 2 or a 3 seed?

Again, all hypothetical, but that team, with that talent, is capable of doing much more than the minimum to get into the tourney. Now will they, or will they continue the jekyll and hyde? That's why they play the games!

[stever20]

Stever,

My point wasn't that 18-13 puts them on the favorable side for a bid or not (it likely does as you've stated in several threads). It was about the team having the capability of running off a string of significant victories. You wouldn't necessarily predict that based upon their season-long performance to date, but who wouldn't believe that the Hoyas have the potential to go on a big run and make the issue of "getting a bid" irrelevant? If they beat up on UConn, Nova, X again, P, B, (my Jays), etc, over the next several weeks, the issue will be seeding, not getting a bid.

Then we can discuss how those early season losses may/may not affect seeding. 13-2 or 12-3 over their last 15 games (including BET) coupled with the pre-season expectations (that would be fulfilled if they go on a run like I've mentioned) would have to make the committee stand up and take notice. In that case maybe they get a 2 or a 3 seed?

Again, all hypothetical, but that team, with that talent, is capable of doing much more than the minimum to get into the tourney. Now will they, or will they continue the jekyll and hyde? That's why they play the games!

The thing with the Hoyas is the schedule is so tough that 6-6 is no lock at all... Of the 12 games left, only 2 are outside the KP top 50. They could figure stuff out and still only go 4-8.

About your 2nd point. if we go 13-2 last 15 games we would be 25-9. I'd kind of guess like a 4 or 5. 23-8 which covers the regular season would put them in at a RPI of 17.6. RPI would improve some in the BET but not that much. I'd kind of guess a 4 seed for the tourney- outside shot of a 3 I suppose. Trust me, I would LOVE to find out which one of us is right