Week #3 - Games of Interest

[Obadiah]

In late Friday action in A-10:

La Salle put up a good second half effort, but lost to #8 Virginia, 64-56.

Mississippi State trounced Saint Louis, 75-50, giving another sign that the Billikens will struggle this year.

[Obadiah]

Lots of Saturday action in the A-10:

#14 VCU visits in-state rival Old Dominion in a game of teams with matching 4-1 records. 2 PM.

UMass at Harvard. 2 PM. On ESPN3.

Niagara at St. Bonaventure in Big Four Classic at Buffalo, NY. 2PM.

UIC at Dayton. 2 PM.

NJIT at Duquesne. 2 PM. No question, the Dukes play the worst OOC schedule in the conference.

George Washington vs. Seton Hall at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. 4 PM.

UNC-Wilmington at Davidson. 4 PM.

Manhattan at George Mason. 4 PM.

Maryland-Eastern Shore at Fordham. 4 PM.

Saint Louis vs. Bradley in the Corpus Christi Coastal Classic. 4:30 PM.

La Salle vs. Vanderbilt in consolation game of Barclay’s Center Classic. 7 PM.


No games involving URI OOC opponents.

Other games:

Buffalo vs. Canisius in Big Four Classic. 4:15 PM.

[rjsuperfly66]

No question that BE is ahead of the A-10 with some notable wins over top ranked teams, but also remember that any overall record reflects the level of competition and the BE overall SOS in OOC play is much weaker than the A-10 SOS. In looking at the SOS, you also have to consider where the game is played. PC is a good example here because in 13 OOC contests they play 9 at the home court, two at neutral site which is a short drive away and a quasi home court, one away game at BC's Conte Forum where PC fans brag that they take over. In the final analysis, PC plays one true OOC away game in a hostile environment - Kentucky. Smart scheduling, in my opinion.

PC has tried to schedule tougher games away from home but PC has an issue much like URI. Tough to get a series against a top team. When Cooley was in Texas for the NIT a few years ago, he asked Scott Drew/Baylor if they'd like to work out a series. The response was thanks but no thanks. He worked extremely hard on a home and home with Michigan to get Henton a home game. That fell apart. The only "deal" he has been able to work so far is a whoring out to Kentucky that was a neutral game where KY got home treatment and a return game to Rupp. That's the best they are going to get. Great teams don't want to provide favors to PC/URI until the level of talent is at a consistent level to warrant guaranteed games 2 and 3 years out. It poses a unique problem for these programs and requires too much luck at times to create a stronger OOC schedule that PC fortunately possesses this year (RPI Forecast places their expected OOC SOS projection at 32).

[ace]

In some of the least surprising news ever...




The current plan is that he stays at Fordham as a student but is not practicing. No need to demonize the young man; I do hope he gets it all figured out. He had tweeted out a couple days ago that he was quitting basketball but then deleted it. You have to think a mid-season transfer is likely.

[ace]

VCU trails ODU 32-18 at the half.

[rodfromcranston]

Nobody is "demonizing" anyone.
It's his game I mentioned. Period.

[ace]

Nobody is "demonizing" anyone.
It's his game I mentioned. Period.

That comment had literally nothing to do with you, or anyone else for that matter.

I posted that earlier before the other thread was even created.

[Obadiah]

Harvard edges UMass, 75-73, in a game whose second half saw 11 lead changes. UMass had two chances to grab the win. They had the ball with ten seconds left and a one point deficit but unable to convert a lay-up. Then after Wesley Saunders got one free throw, UMass had another chance to win down two with two seconds left, Trey Davis got an open look for a three, but rimmed it. Wesley Saunders had 27 points for the Crimson.

[Obadiah]

Not a good day so far for the A-10 with the league 3-3 and all three wins coming against inferior competition and leaders, VCU and UMass, both losing

Old Dominion beats #14 VCU, 73-67. VCU was behind big time most of the game and managed to cut into lead late in game, but too little, too late.

St. Bonaventure easily beats Niagara, 74-59, in the Big Four Classic at Buffalo, NY. Ex-Ram, Rayvon Harris, had 10 points and 6 rebounds for Niagara.

Dayton routs UIC, 75-41.

Duquesne in a bad home loss to NJIT, 84-81.

Davidson in an easy win over UNC-Wilmington, 72-49.

[bressler3south]

Old Dominion 73, VCU 67….


What people are really saying about VCU…..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkadtxl ... freload=10

A BRESSLER PRODUCTION

IN ASSOCIATION WITH EMOTICON ENTERPRISES

[Obadiah]

Late game heroics for George Mason as they beat Manhattan by putting in three 3 pointers in the last 19 seconds to overcome a 55-61 deficit to win 64-63!

[PeterRamTime]

Way to go George Mason!
Not liking George Washigton losing to Seton Hall. 54-58

[Obadiah]

Saint Louis came from behind to beat Bradley, 60-57.

Fordham in a bad home loss to Maryland - Eastern shore, 72-66.

[RoadyJay]

Late game heroics for George Mason as they beat Manhattan by putting in three 3 pointers in the last 19 seconds to overcome a 55-61 deficit to win 64-63!

The last 3 was a 75-footer

[rodfromcranston]

Hooray for Bobby!
Buffalo beat Canisius 72-57!
YES!

[rambone 78]

Fordham is an absolute dumpster fire.

Looks like they will never get that program turned around.

We had better take care of business when we play them in NY......

[Obadiah]

The day's A-10 competition concludes as La Salle loses to Vanderbilt, 68-55 at Barclay's Center. A-10 ends a bad day at 5-6 and only a miracle shot prevented it from being 4-7.

In Sunday action, besides URI vs. Georgia Tech at 6:30 PM in the game for fifth place in the Orlando Classic (on ESPNU), Richmond plays at unbeaten Northern Iowa at 3 PM.

[Ramulous]

As good as the new big east is starting the season....the A-10 is faring poorly......it will be a stretch to get more than two teams into the NCAA tournament if form keeps holding....

[Seawrightspostgame]

Yeah I'm sort of stressed that we are carrying the flag right now.

Trauma from 2006-10.

Tmrw is huge. Every game really. To be good, it's a high wire act of winning the ones you should and beating teams that are similar or better when given the opportunity.

[ATPTourFan]

A10 Suck Factor is back in full effect after a two year hiatus.

[PeterRamTime]

We just aren't pulling out any of those games we used to pull out against the power conference schools.
If we gotta carry the flag then I'm fine with that. Perhaps by next year we will be the best team in the league...I could bet on it.

[rambone 78]

People who said the A10 would be down this year due to all the team leading seniors graduating look to be right.

Most teams should get better as the season goes along.

This sets up well for us, for sure.

[RF1]

Late game heroics for George Mason as they beat Manhattan by putting in three 3 pointers in the last 19 seconds to overcome a 55-61 deficit to win 64-63!

Watch the attached link for the last 3/4 length court shot as time expired.

http://deadspin.com/george-mason-wins-o ... 1664689159

[Seawrightspostgame]

Thats incredible, GM has to be reeling about their start with the front court they have, dont they have a big transfer on the wing? AND the fact they have Paul Hewitt.

A10 supporters should be too.

Could that shot and comeback ignite them?

[bressler3south]

Thats incredible, GM has to be reeling about their start with the front court they have, dont they have a big transfer on the wing? AND the fact they have Paul Hewitt.

A10 supporters should be too.

Could that shot and comeback ignite them?

No. You already answered it: Paul Hewitt………..

[rodfromcranston]

Really ugly game Kentucky-PC.
PC scores only 38 points, loses by 20.
PC played them very well in the first half.
Henton held to 3 points, Dunn with 10 turn-overs working
on a bum ankle.
Kentucky wasn't that impressive on offense. Not good shooting from the field
unless it's a lob-dunk, and not good at free throws.
Of course, Bobby's Buffalo had Kentucky by 6 at the half.
Hard to believe they beat Kansas by 40.
Maybe they play to the level of their opponents?
Playing ten people, in five man shifts and mixing and matching
in the last part of the game, means little offensive continuity.
I wish we had just one of those bigs.
Chukwu looked like he belonged. Had to be a bright spot for PC.

[bigappleram]

Kentucky's D had a lot to do with why that game was so ugly. They are swarming and extremely long near the rim. Dunn was blanketed, the smaller kid Ulis gave Dunn fits by getting right under him. May be something to think about as Garrett can be a pest defensively in a similar manner. Of course having 3 trees waiting in that paint makes it easy to play high pressure D on the perimeter.

Lots of low scoring games in college hoops in the early season. Rutgers scored 26 against UVa yest including just 8 in the second half.

[rodfromcranston]

All true.
Calipari has Kentucky buying into a lot of things,
and defense is the biggest of those.
I don't know how he manages those giant egos year after year, but he does.

[seanmc94]

WCS on henton was a good bit of coaching by Cal
UKs defensive intensity is relentless

[Obadiah]

Drexel trounced Southern Miss today, 59-36, a game played in Philly where USM couldn't buy a bucket - 31.9% FG's, 44.4% FT's, 15.4% three pointers.

[rambone 78]

Obie, then maybe we can beat them...here.

I'll bet they will be a different animal on their court.

Anyway, if we play like we did tonight, chalk up another L for us.

What pisses me off the most about tonight, is they [GT] suck. This was a neutral court game, one we should have won by at least 10 points.

If it was at GT, then I could see it [losing]. But it wasn't, so color me disgusted.

[TruePoint]

Obie, then maybe we can beat them...here.

I'll bet they will be a different animal on their court.

Anyway, if we play like we did tonight, chalk up another L for us.

What pisses me off the most about tonight, is they [GT] suck. This was a neutral court game, one we should have won by at least 10 points.

If it was at GT, then I could see it [losing]. But it wasn't, so color me disgusted.

Southern Miss lost a TON from a very good squad last year. That is a game that is worrisome as our first true road test but it is a team we should be able to handle.

[rambone 78]

Road=trouble for us.

How many road games did we win last year? OOC and league?

IF we get better, we should at least beat teams that are close to us in ability. On the road that is.

Repeat this performance, and we lose to Fordham in NY again.