MBB Game 20 @NC A&T, Jan 22 (Thu) 7 PM

[Wags]

perhaps another lost season.

Only 7 of 18, so way too soo for this. Things can change so fast and so much in the CAA every year. They could have been in much better shape but they are not in bad shape (yet) at 4-3, a game out of second, two games out of first. There is a lot left to sort out and we'll see where they end up. They are still very capable of getting a top-four seed and even winning the CAA tournament.

BUT they will obviously have to get back to playing much better at both ends of the floor, especially defensively, if that's going to happen. We'll know a lot more at the midpoint, after these next two very tough tests, at W&M and at home against Charleston. The current feeling can change a lot if they can somehow get it together and win those even though it will take their 'A' game to do so.

[HUSID74]

This loss is the most disheartening loss that i can remember. I am frankly livid about it. This team went from beating the likes of
Pitt, Syracuse, Penn, Towson all on the road, to perhaps another lost season. This really cannot be explained and this coaching staff has a lot to answer for in my view.

OK so after beating the likes of Sracuse and Pitt the coaching staff suddenly forgot how to coach? EVERYONE is to blame for this swoon and the injuries haven't helped...we are not deep, especially among guys who can score, so the injuries have taken a huge toll on the quality of our play lately

[dutchPride86]

BUT they will obviously have to get back to playing much better at both ends of the floor, especially defensively, if that's going to happen.

This right here is the whole ball game. Sure Biggie shot 1-10 and they were essentially a 3 man team on offense, but they lost that game yesterday because they couldnt defend, rebound, and were constantly fouling.

The line in the sand continues to get more stark by the game:

-1-6 when allowing 75+ points (including all 3 losses in a row here)
-12-1 when allowing less than 75

When Biggie or DeCady are bricking a million shots it stands out, but whether or not the team can regain its focus and toughness on defense and on the boards will determine if this season continues to spiral or can be saved.

W&M on the road of course probably THE WORST possible matchup in the league for us while we're struggling on that end

[dutchPride86]

This loss is the most disheartening loss that i can remember. I am frankly livid about it. This team went from beating the likes of
Pitt, Syracuse, Penn, Towson all on the road, to perhaps another lost season. This really cannot be explained and this coaching staff has a lot to answer for in my view.

OK so after beating the likes of Sracuse and Pitt the coaching staff suddenly forgot how to coach? EVERYONE is to blame for this swoon and the injuries haven't helped...we are not deep, especially among guys who can score, so the injuries have taken a huge toll on the quality of our play lately

Every coach in the CAA seems to have our system figured out. We can coach up and catch high majors unprepared when all the pressure is off. But this team has played tight and felt like always out-schemed in CAA play

[Wags]

BUT they will obviously have to get back to playing much better at both ends of the floor, especially defensively, if that's going to happen.

The line in the sand continues to get more stark by the game:

-1-6 when allowing 75+ points (including all 3 losses in a row here)
-12-1 when allowing less than 75

There you go. Makes sense since you should be able to usually win when you score 75+. And the 12-1 might be a perfect 13-0 if not for the loss by two at Columbia (72-70) with the help of a lucky, banked Columbia 3 just before halftime.

W&M on the road of course probably THE WORST possible matchup in the league for us while we're struggling on that end

Not only that because of how W&M can score, but as mentioned in that game thread, also because W&M plays at a tiring pace for the opposition and because of the storm, that game has been moved up to noon. W&M has been resting comfortably at home and feeling confident after handing UNCW its first CAA loss of the season while Hofstra, stumbles in with a three-game losing streak, off of a bad loss, after traveling down to NC and busing another few hours to Williamsburg. An early tip doesn't help physically nor with prep time against a slightly more rested and seemingly more confident W&M team.

[triplec2195]

Not to pile on too much but I rewatched the second half of this game that I had missed and found the broadcasting comments to be very fair and positive. One of the broadcasters said that Biggie was playing so bad and putting up so many bricks that Speedy should get him off the court immediately. This was eye opening and of course he might have been spelled but he came back in the game and we all know he missed that last shot which was a rushed shot.

[EvanJ]

Jerry Beach wrote that Edmead and Roberts became our first teammates to score at least 20 points in his records that go back to 1988-1989. It was the first time in ten years that we had three players score at least 20 points.

[Jojogunne]

The Aggies are on a roll. They beat Towson today, 80-73.