Post by ghostofwillard on Nov 30, 2014 8:57:14 GMT -5
It's days like today I realize why I put up with losing tv reception every time it's cloudy out (ok that's an exaggeration) but Direct tv has every obscure channel imaginable.
My thoughts on today's game: 1. Rebounding-We just don't match up, as they are too big and athletic. I'm sure we'll pack it in and hope they miss from outside, and that DL doesn't get into foul trouble. We must run down long rebounds, and win the hustle game. But I won't be surprised if we're minus 15 in rebounding. 2. The Press-Last year against Manhattan and others, we had a lot of trouble handling the press, which mostly consisted of DL and AJ making cross court passes, with some/many picked off and turned into easy baskets. Based on the couple of Arkansas games that I've seen, this will be the toughest pressing team that we'll face this season. 3. Free Throws-Must be 75% or better. 4. This game takes me back to a talk that Brother Driscoll gave at a Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner. "Some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue." Against Delaware State we were the pigeon. 5. And I'll close with a question. We lose by twenty. Do we take away anything from the game, like knowing we won't face a team this good in the rest of our season? Or is that just a way of rationalizing a blowout loss?
P.S. Did Arkansas defeat Kentucky twice last year?
I look at these OOC games against ranked teams like Arkansas similar to NCAA tourney games against higher seeded teams, it all comes down to the matchups. In my opinion Arkansas is not a good matchup because of their length, athleticism and depth. Tough to play 40 minutes with a rotation which I think TC will limit to 6, with possibly Hines getting a few minutes as the 7th player to get PT. As my point to matchups, Villanova which is ranked around #11, despite being higher ranked than Arkansas would be a much better matchup just simply because they play a similar style as Iona and don't have great length.
Really looking forward to see how this game plays out. Arkansas is a top 3 SEC team, so the team has an opportunity to make a huge statement today.
Post by hawaii bill on Nov 30, 2014 9:55:01 GMT -5
All I want to see from this game is the guys play loose and attack. We could win. Might be a 25 pt loss. Who knows. Great early season game for the new guys to get some experience in a tough environment. No lose situation IMO. Typically we handle pressure pretty well. Last year for the first time in years we struggled a bit. Good opportunity to face some tough pressure. They're going to have some steals and highlight reel dunks. Just stay with it and attack.
I would be disappointed if we get slaughtered. Yes, this is the toughest game left, but that doesn't make it OK.
Oh it would be disappointing, especially for the guys. Winning would be awesome. I just want to see some of the new guys being assertive and getting after it. I know what we have in AJ, IW, and Dave.
Post by ghostofwillard on Nov 30, 2014 10:38:25 GMT -5
I'm watching my new favorite station ( the SEC network) which is airing a sportscenter type show, up comes a promo for today's game, the host says after promo, you got to watch this game Iona is high octane, this should be one of the more entertaining OOC games they air this year. Iona isn't sneaking up on anyone.
ghost, while I'm hoping for an upset, I just don't think that we match up very well with Arkansas. TC is such a very good offensive minded coach, I'm looking forward to seeing his game plan. Also, looking to see how we handle their press. And how hard we play. But if the spread is Iona +12, I'd probably bet the Hogs. If we cover, I'll be almost happy if it's less than double digits. Hope I'm wrong.
ghost, while I'm hoping for an upset, I just don't think that we match up very well with Arkansas. TC is such a very good offensive minded coach, I'm looking forward to seeing his game plan. Also, looking to see how we handle their press. And how hard we play. But if the spread is Iona +12, I'd probably bet the Hogs. If we cover, I'll be almost happy if it's less than double digits. Hope I'm wrong.
Fair assessment. In all honesty I really don't care much about the outcome. Maybe I'm growing up. I want to see the guys have fun and get after it.
I look at these OOC games against ranked teams like Arkansas similar to NCAA tourney games against higher seeded teams, it all comes down to the matchups. In my opinion Arkansas is not a good matchup because of their length, athleticism and depth. Tough to play 40 minutes with a rotation which I think TC will limit to 6, with possibly Hines getting a few minutes as the 7th player to get PT. As my point to matchups, Villanova which is ranked around #11, despite being higher ranked than Arkansas would be a much better matchup just simply because they play a similar style as Iona and don't have great length.
Really looking forward to see how this game plays out. Arkansas is a top 3 SEC team, so the team has an opportunity to make a huge statement today.
Bingo!
Arkansas will remind many of the typical Big 10 team or ACC team (like Ohio State or Maryland a few years back) that we usually get locked up against in March Madness. I was pissed a few years back (and you can re-locate my posts) when Harvard drew New Mexico and we were matched against OSU. Granted, most #3 and #4 seeds that we would face are mismatches, however there are probably 2 of those 8 teams that we would match up against favorably (as Sharkey said like a Villanova for example). Sometimes you need a little selection committee pairing luck.
As far as today, the 3 big front line players for Ark concern me. All very long, strong and skilled. Best situation for Iona is a crazy helter/skelter style open court game. Hopefully, our conditioning will prove to be a deciding factor if the game is close with 5 mins to go and perhaps Ark will have some mental errors.
Should be a fun game as I'll be switching back from the game to the red zone. I'm also planning on visiting the chat room.
As ctbill said, today's game is house money and a measuring stick for our team and program. You can be sure that if we are able to pull off the W, I and many others will start to compare this group to the very special 1998 team.
i would be disappointed if we lose by a lot today, they are ranked 25, that would be a 7 seed in the tournament. we are going to play someone better than that if we go dancing!!! you guys always say its not a good matchup, no kidding thats why they are a top 25 team, look at the top 25 today who do we match up good against? to win you have to be on but they have to be off as well also you can watch this game on watch espn, sec network is owned by espn
i would be disappointed if we lose by a lot today, they are ranked 25, that would be a 7 seed in the tournament. we are going to play someone better than that if we go dancing!!! you guys always say its not a good matchup, no kidding thats why they are a top 25 team, look at the top 25 today who do we match up good against? to win you have to be on but they have to be off as well also you can watch this game on watch espn, sec network is owned by espn
You can't watch the sec network on watch ESPN if you log in via optimum. Optimum sucks!
Last Edit: Nov 30, 2014 12:02:29 GMT -5 by Joebird
i would be disappointed if we lose by a lot today, they are ranked 25, that would be a 7 seed in the tournament. we are going to play someone better than that if we go dancing!!! you guys always say its not a good matchup, no kidding thats why they are a top 25 team, look at the top 25 today who do we match up good against? to win you have to be on but they have to be off as well also you can watch this game on watch espn, sec network is owned by espn
Good post. Dead on.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.
i would be disappointed if we lose by a lot today, they are ranked 25, that would be a 7 seed in the tournament. we are going to play someone better than that if we go dancing!!! you guys always say its not a good matchup, no kidding thats why they are a top 25 team, look at the top 25 today who do we match up good against? to win you have to be on but they have to be off as well also you can watch this game on watch espn, sec network is owned by espn
You can't watch the sec network on watch ESPN if you log in via optimum. Optimum sucks!
Is that right? I'm new to Optimum. Looks like First Row time then.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.