[Oskee] Finally checking back in

[Todd Sweet]

Robert,

 

I think you're right about our postseason possibilities.  I hate to be so
gloomy in January, but at 9-5 it would take an amazing run through the
conference schedule for us to lock up a bid.  Heck, even if we went 12-6
(which I think would be great for this team) that would put us at 21-11
going into the big ten tourney.  The other thing to consider is how
backloaded our schedule is.  There's a good chance that most of conference
losses are likely to come toward the end of the year (lets hope we don't
blow this early easy half).  That will only hurt our chances more if we come
limping through the home stretch.  Even if we won 2 games in the conference
tourney that would put us at 23-12 and at best that's going to be squarely
on the bubble.

 

If this team doesn't stop spotting the opponent a 20 point lead before they
start playing, we won't even get to worry about being on the bubble.  So the
early bad losses have really put us in a tough spot already and left us with
very little margin for error.  We have to win all the games we're supposed
to, and sneak a few that we aren't supposed to win.  Otherwise, it'll be NIT
for us.  Given the talent on the team, that would be disappointing to say
the least.

 

I think I'm with you deciding to watch and enjoy and forget about
expectations of post season.  It'll make the bitter pill a little easier to
swallow.

 

Todd S.

 

 

 

  _____  

From: oskee-bounces at heins.net [mailto:oskee-bounces at heins.net] On Behalf Of
Robert Mingee
Sent: Monday, January 04, 2010 2:01 PM
To: oskee at heins.net
Subject: [Oskee] Finally checking back in

 

I was on a hiatus from the list with out holiday travel, and am just getting
caught back up on things.  Hopefully the relative silence here is an
indication that others are also busy with the holidays, and not an
indication that everyone has given up already :-).  At this point I have
definitely abandoned all expectations for the year, but plan to enjoy it for
whatever it brings.  When this team is hitting on all cylinders, they can be
very fun to watch.  They can also be incredibly frustrating to watch, but as
long as I maintain the assumption that any post-season play is gravy, it
helps me, at least.  At least here is hope for the future, something I still
cannot say about football.

Just a few quick thoughts on the back-to-back OT games.  I only saw the last
13 minutes of regulation and the OT for Gonzaga, but I have no idea how we
mounted such a comeback, especially without Tisdale.  Gonzaga looks like a
more balanced, complete team than we are, and we really had no business
winning that game.  But I didn't see the comeback, so take that with a grain
of salt -- maybe we were really balanced in that stretch as well.  The Zags
are VERY physical, so it was probably a good tune-up for Big Ten play.
Northwestern, not so much.  They are not a physical team, which I'm sure is
partly responsible for Tisdale's monster game.  He's been giving great
effort the last few games, but Northwestern's big men are a skinny as he is,
so he was able to make good on that effort (unlike Missouri, where he played
his heart out, but got thrown around like a rag doll).  I was really pretty
unimpressed with Northwestern -- standing around launching 3s is not an
offense, but it can win you games if you hit a hot streak.  They made a
ridiculous number against us and still lost, because we were much more
balanced.  I really think that strategy will backfire in the Big Ten,
especially against teams like Wisconsin who play stifling defense at all
positions (something I'd sure love to see from our guys on a consistent
basis...)

Anyway, we've clearly got an uphill battle to get into postseason
contention.  It could be our only shot will be finally gelling by the end of
the season and winning the B10 tourney.  I think there's still a chance for
an at-large, but it's going to mean progressing at a faster rate than we
have up to now.  Bruce has got his work cut out for him in the conference
season...

-- robert

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