when we play teams with an rpi over 200 we shouldn't be struggling, if we should why are we also talking about possible tourney matchups, the two don't go together
Kentucky has struggled in league play, including at home. Thinking we're going to blow everyone out is crazy talk.
I thought gutting out the Canisius game was a pleasant surprise.
I think his point was that unless we breeze past every team in this terrible MAAC conference, we have no business thinking about seeding and a possible upset in the NCAA tourney. Unfortunately that doesn't take into factors relating to NCAA tourney success, i.e. which team is playing well at the time, which match ups are favorable, etc. I think Harvard might be a good example to look at. I think last year they were ranked at one point and won a NCAA tourney game. I don't know what their league schedule results were. Did they beat every team in the IVY, either at home or on the road by 20? I'm gonna say without looking, I doubt it.
My point was about OT saying easing up, we have struggled in conference, lost to 191 Monmouth, won Canisius 199 by 3, Quinny won by 8 234, we have no right to ease up against anybody, I don't care if Monmouth is the second best team, they are 191, we are more talented and should show it, yes an occasional tight game will happen, but people said we have 3 of the best 5 guys in the conference so we should walk through the league, most of the committee will not have watched Iona play and will look at the scores and it will hurt us when comparing us to other teams for seeding, how many will even know that we were tight with Arkansas with 10 minutes left I still don't understand why people post we should struggle against teams around 200 because they know us but in the next post people are looking for good match ups with teams in the top 20
League games are another story, especially road league games, they are rarely blow outs. Take a look at how the 80 team did in the ECAC metro, they won most if not all their league games but the scores of many were close. Same story in 85 and 98 and Iona lost more than 1 or two league games those years. No matter how good a team Iona has it won't run through this league with blowout after blowout. Teams know each other too well. I expect 10-15 point wins at home and 3-8 point wins on the road. Right now this team has not shown they are a dominating team but with the stars they have there is definitely the potential to knock off a top 15-20 top team with a good game. I think all of our hope is we can get there, earn a decent seed to limit the toughness of the opponent as much as possible, and then play a very good game and get our long awaited NCAA win (or two!).
Just win baby. Conference games are about outcomes, not about style points.
Btw, what games have we struggled in against sub 200 RPI teams? Delaware State, No Texas, ISU, Rider, Quinny, Drexel were all wins that we didn't have to sweat out.
Want to say Monmouth and GMU were bad losses? Fine. It happens.
Monmouth will likely finish second in the MAAC. Losing on the road to the second place team isn't bad. I still think we're going 17-3.
Could be right. Still think they'll hit a wall at some point and will be passed by Manhattan and SPU, but the way they're playing lately it's hard to argue against your point.
I think what Oldtimer is asking is right before each game would you bet against Iona without a spread? Yes sure they will lose a game or 3, but each night we will expect them to win.
when we play teams with an rpi over 200 we shouldn't be struggling, if we should why are we also talking about possible tourney matchups, the two don't go together
Kentucky has struggled in league play, including at home. Thinking we're going to blow everyone out is crazy talk.
I thought gutting out the Canisius game was a pleasant surprise.
I agree Guy. That's why I cringe when I here posters say "Iona should plow through the MAAC". We all know that this conference is extremely unpredictable.
I like what the Folsom High School football (undefeated Cal state champ) coach said: "We prepare the same for each opponent, whether it's a strong or weak team".
]We open as a surprising 16 point favorite...With our tendency to ease up when issue is no longer in doubt would be a 'Stay away game' for me...For some reason we seem to be getting a little more respect as far as lines, RPI and polls go...[/quote]ease up? we haven't blown anyone out in a while. games in conference have been harder than they should have been so far [/quote]1970
My should have been obvious point being......Never bet on a team which has to give up many betting points, especially one that has a sympathetic coach, so-so bench along with the natural tendency to relax once the game is won. I have seen to many games which have easily beat the spread then have it destroyed by one or more of the afore mentioned factors in the last few minutes.....
2011-12. 15-3 in the league that was better, 3 30pt wins, 4 20 pt wins, 5 10 pt wins and a 9pt win, haven't seen that this year
70, you're comparing this to an at-large team. Not a fair comparison. Also, relative to the talent and expectations for each team (11-12 vs 14-15) I would argue that we are performing better this year than that year.
[ would bet that Iona loses at least one remaining game...absolutely [/quote]tiger
But you would lose the other 14 games...Each game in itself is the subject...My message clearly implied that Iona might be the favorite in every remaining game, not that they would win them all.....
I make it a point to read each of my post at least twice before hitting the send button in a effort to insure its understanding and intent...There seems much of reading what one wants it to read...
As much a Iona fan as I am I would not be so foolish as to wager they would win all 15...But individual game bets without use of the spread would bring me quite a return...
My point was about OT saying easing up, we have struggled in conference, lost to 191 Monmouth, won Canisius 199 by 3, Quinny won by 8 234, we have no right to ease up against anybody, I don't care if Monmouth is the second best team, they are 191, we are more talented and should show it, yes an occasional tight game will happen, but people said we have 3 of the best 5 guys in the conference so we should walk through the league, most of the committee will not have watched Iona play and will look at the scores and it will hurt us when comparing us to other teams for seeding, how many will even know that we were tight with Arkansas with 10 minutes left I still don't understand why people post we should struggle against teams around 200 because they know us but in the next post people are looking for good match ups with teams in the top 20
I think a lot of that is unrelated. We could win a dozen MAAC squeakers and that has no bearing on how we play against Big State U.
Also, I would define 17-3, and 20-3 including the MAAC Tourney, as walking through the league.
If Iona is 27-7 with an RPI of 50, we'll get a 12 seed and likely would be a 4-point dog vs any 5.
The greatest poster in the history of the MAAC as determined by THREE separate polls.