Taj79

Hmmm .... 22 and 5. Just win baby. The rest is just noise .......

MCC ---- Saint Louis, Dayton, Xavier, Butler, DePaul, Creighton, Bradley, Detroit Mercy, Evansville, Drake, Valpo, Oral Roberts, Murray State, Loyola of Chicago and wonders if you got Marquette and Notre Dame in. While Murray State is a state school, it's undergrad population of 10,600 would fit better than the directional/state schools now in the Valley IMHO -- Northern Iowa, Missouri State, Illinois State, Indiana State and so on. Given my sources again, we aren't ever playing Missouri State again let alone joining their conference. Which is funny when you consider Rick has called for the move to the Valley before and is now supposedly all against Mo State because of the scheduling back out. I think its make a new home or stay put. Butler would be a nice add on. Charlotte will eventually get to the big step if football proceeds as they want it to. Football is the big cash cow but to think Temple's program is back from the ashes is not true. They played in the MAC for crying out loud. Of course, with Pitt and Syracuse and West VA hitting the road, what kind of football is in the Big East now??? Giving them an otto-bid to the BCS seems foolhardy and puts a torpedo into the BCS' credibility ocean liner all the more. I'd support sticking with Dayton and Xavier but given what I said about Mo State and Xavier's well-known refusal to accept a "mid major" award, the Valley (totally mid-major) seems a little ludicrous.

@clock --- to me, a mid-range game involves a jumper of some sort. Off the blocks, let's say, staring at what, five or six feet from the basket? Going to about 15 or 16 feet. To me, it can't be everything but the three point shot because you'd have to take out the short-range game. My definition. Just outside charge arc to foul line extended. Second point --- agree. I'd rather layups over shots of distance anytime. That was not my point, what I meant was if a jump shot was to be taken, these were my descending preferences. I would take JJ on the drive, and I fell that he is at a good point confidence- and style-wise to break that drive off and stop and pop. He seems to be better at moving into a shot, as opposed to a CE or Loe who needs their feet set more than not. Although both KM and MM have shown a great ability to stop and drop a tear drop over a big man if needed. All I'm advocating is playing to individual strengths, not saying one is better than the other, just put that player in a position/situation that he can best succeed from. Third ---- agree. I have no argument with getting the best shot for the best available player. I am not advocating more ten footers for either BC or DE. I can just see adding that component to their game making their game and our overall team even better. Fourth --- I used to tell a guy on my team, "stay out of the trees." He was a six-foot, no-can-jump little guy who was a better sharpshooter then layup artist so I didn't want him down in the trees where he was guaranteed to get swatted, either turning the ball over or demoralizing his game. I understand you have to take the ball at the trees if you are BC and DE but we are all seeing how they know the territory and are rushing some. Bob Knight says you take the ball at a shot blocker and you pump fake. All I'm saying is if BC and DE took and made a few more mid-range jumpers, the avenue to the basket might open up even more. Maybe not. Fifth --- agee and what that demonstartes is how tough and how many options this team has. I said early on that with RL, CE, KM, MM, JB and KC, we should have at least two options per night clicking from the outside, making it harder to defend us and opening up other lanes for attack. You cover KM, you lose CE. You cover CE, you miss KM. MM pump fakes and drives to the hole. Same with JJ. Covered? Inside to BC or DE. I have never said we have a mediocre offense. I think we have a great offense with multiple options. With limitations. All cylinders firing are needed to make it all work. When it hums --- its Nova, Oklahoma, Washington and Duquesne. When it doesn't hum, its a first half against Umass. This whole thing is about my assessmenbt of JJ's mid-range game and shooting ability. It's getting better, but it ain't great and to say it is our "best" leaves a lot to be desired IMHO.

@bizz -- welcome back. Where are the pictures? You know the old saying ".... what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas only after being shared with the Billiken Board." I'm pretty sure that's on the BB official internet community seal and commemorative coin/medallion Sign Kid drew up. As for Rick as National Coach of the Year --- I don't see it. It is deserved certainly in our eyes, but like the polls again, the idiots that vote these things don't seem to do any research and go with what's sexy and cute in the current moment. In that regard, I can see Frank Haith, Leonard Hamilton, Tom Izzo, Tom Crean, Buzz Peterson and Tommy Amaker all being sexier picks than Majerus. Most Improved? I'll tell you, after watching Putney again last night .....

That's two up with three to play. Umass still goes to Temple and Dayton ==== doubt they win either. St. Joe's has Temple and goes to the Bonnies. Xavier has us on the road and home with Richmond and Charlotte. Looking good; top four a lock with win Saturday. Not a whole lot happening tomorrow except Temple at La Salle.

KState 78 Mizzou 68. Umass 80 Xavier 73. I would have projected this straight up had La Salle not entered doubt into my Umass head by winningon Saturday but oh well. Xavier is a team playing likeit wants the season over soon enough.

Fork U. ----- both Xavier and Mizzou look done.

Mizzou down 6 at home to Kstate umder two left.

Umass up 11 at the under 4 TO.

Umass' basketball IQ is extremely bad. Now they are trying not to lose and Redford hits some threes. Umass 61 to 53 at the under 8 TO.

59 to 41 Unmass at the under 12. Lucky they have Dez Wells.

@Pistol ---- have you ever seen Xavier look this bad? I rexpect5 a run but they are never this bad.

I have them inb Baltimore on The Comcast Network.

I've seen Putney four times this year ==== us, La Salle, Richmond and now X ==== based on that,this kid is freaking all world!

....down 41to 29 at half. had ten turnovers before the first TO but led 3 to 2. Putney started raining threes with five minutes to go and Williams is out of sight. W/o Williams, Umass is bad. Umass has shut down Tutu with larger defenders like Morgan and Riley and their bigs are ignoring the X bigs. Wells has 12 but Frease, Walker, Robinson are nothing. Not looking good kshoe.

@moy --- I think I said JJ had no mid-range game. Okay, it's getting better but it might be the only one on the team in terms of frequency. You quoted FG% as a key determination if I recall. I'll agree to that providing we back out all the layups and tip-ins JJ gets. And the 2-for-7 from triple land. Let me ask you this -------- rank who you want taking the last second shot to tie or win? My vote would be Mitchell, Ellis, McCall, Conklin, Evans, and Loe. Right now, JJ is not a consideration UNLESS he is driving to the bucket. Then, I'd settle for a 10-foot pull-up. But if I'm the defense and he's driving, I'm putting him on the line for two before I give him anything else. In defense of the article, TT quoted or paraphrased RM as saying JJ has the best mid-range game, I think. TT is a sports writier and I am in a very good position to say sportswriters are no experts. I worked with bonowich; he with me. It was noted in another thread by someone that RM is a key motivator, that he might be using the press to pump up certain players like JM. He might be doing the same here, hoping the TT statements instill more confidence in the kid and cause him to use it more. I like JJ off the dribble; all he and Cassity have to do is hit the occassional jumper to keep defenses honest. Best mid-rnage game between CE, KC, MM, KM and RL? Sure ---- but they don't play the mid-range game, they bomb away (although not so much KC and CE did go on the blocks but the blocks are not a mid-range game either). If JJ is the best we got, then we don't have one. Now,I would prefer he be in competition for best mid-range game with BC and DE. They obviously need one because they are blowing bunnies and a 12 to 14-foot jump shot would open them up with a better array of weapons.

@jimbo --- no argument here. Just can't see it happening. I can see votes going to Giannini, Kellogg, and Martelli over Rick based on the twisted "east coast bias" reference you hear in other places. I hav eno argument with RM as the choice as I'd have no argument with JJj for all-defensive team, BC and KM and DE for some all-conference ocnsiderations across the three teams, certainly a lot of honorable mentions, CE could be sixth man potential ... there is a lot there, just don't think the love will be shared our way as always shown via the polls.

Big Dance = Only Measure of Success.

Umass and Xavier on the tube here tonight. Tip at seven. Watching as an interested bystander.

The A10 usually, if memory serves, takes five players per team, regardless of position. The A10 did a first,second, and third all conference team last year along with Honorable Mention, All Defense, All Rookie, and All Academic Teams along with POY, Rookie of the Year, Defensive POY, Most Improved, Sixth Man, Student-Athlete of the Year, and Coach. Returnees include: First Team --- Holloway and Nicholson. Second Team -- Ramone Moore and Tony Taylor. Third Team -- Fernandez and Lyons. Out of those six, I can see the five man first team this year, likely leaving Taylor out of the list. Honorable Mention returnees include Frease and Gaston; can't see Frease moving up any. Gaston, maybe. Others warranting consideration this year include Carl Jones, Langston Galloway, CJ Aiken, Chaz Williams, Raphiael Putney, Earl Pettis, Ramon Galloway, Tyreek Duren, Demetrius Conger, and Kevin Dillard. I stop short of throwing anyone from the lesser teams on there and would have left Dillard out maybe on the same reasoning but he is Dayton this year. Defensive team returnees include only Holloway and four rookies return with only Juwan Staten missing. POY was Holloway; I'd vote Moore. Rookie of the Year was TJ McConnell and if that is limited to freshmen and not transfers, I think you go with Dez Wells. Defensive POY should be our entire team but I suspect they will go with the shot blocker, either Aiken or Garrett at Richmond. Most Improved? Too biased to make a call. Sixth Man? No clue but biased again. Coach of the Year? Doubt they give it to a HOFer. Given this is an East Coast League and we are the western bastion of the Atlantic on the Mississippi, expecting us to get pretty well shut out despite our stellar record. http://www.atlantic10.com/auto_pdf/p_hotos/s_chools/atl10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2010-11all-conferencehonors

@kshoe --- can't see any holes in any of your three points of logic. 1) I too believe we are a better team than Xavier but stranger things have happen across the wide universe of sports. It will be a battle. 2) I said a while ago I thought winning out would make us a four seed in the Dance. You desire Xavier be top 50 for seeding purposes; I desire not to see them for a third time this year. So not to worry about who we are playing in AC but worrying about seeding purposes seems the same to me. And 3) agree. @larry72 --- I also agree there. I too can see Xavier making a run still as we move to AC. That, plus if/when we beat then a second time, I am not keen on that third encounter. Just me. Prior to the Chili Brawl, they were #8 in the country. Now, I don't think they are that good as I see them as a 2.5 man team (Lyons, Holloway and Wells, if he shows up). Xavier should have destroyed Dayton on Saturday in my book. They did not and I was surprised. I am looking forward to seeing what they produce tonight in Amherst.

Someone school me on the Top 50 wins criteria.

You guys seem to be way down in the weeds for me, and all that demonstrates is my lack of depth and understanding. Just win baby still takes care of all things. I expect that when the polls come out today, we will be garnering some more top 25 votes. If we hit 30 or so in the rankings, divided by 4 regions, we are a seven or eight seed. I'd prefer a six/seven to stay away from the gun barrels of a number 1 seed. Watching the X/Dayton game, Steve Wolff (Xavier grad doing color fro CBSCS) was given a no name list of teams and was asked "in or out?" He said Saint Louis and Temple were in; Xavier and St. Joe's were out. Dickie V is giving love. Tweets are popping galore. I feel pretty good. Winning these last six is possible.

@cowboy: it is a tough call. Kind of like the dilemma faced by yours truly in watching Xavier and Dayton Saturday night. Can't stand either program but had to root for someone. I guess I'm rooting for Umass because I want to sew up the two, which means really nothing in the grand scheme of things, but if X finishes Top Four, I want them at the four where I believe they will eventually face Temple in AC. @kshoe: not really looking at who we beat or how we did against Top 50 schools. I see that as a criteria for selection, but find myself not worried about at-large bid right now. I believe we are in which, in all likelihood, is not a good thing to do on my part given this is Billiken Basketball. And yet with that belief,I also find myself cognizant of the fact that next Tuesday's Xavier game will be a bloodletting, with the impetus allcoming from X. We already beat them, they do not want to lose what they believe is theirs (A10 supremacy), they know they have to win out to make the Big Dance, and those factors will play into the punk/gansta mentality that seems to motivate Markie-Mark and Tutu. Especially Markie-Mark. If there is a person to firmly dislike in the A10 this year,he seems to be public enemy #1. Glad to see someone like you predicted the win. That ups my comfort factor. So I'm not looking for you in AC, right? Right now, I have to admit I'm focused on the A10 tournament. I'd like to win the A10 outright. I'd like to share a title (41 freaking years!?!? That predates even me!). But as I become more comfortable in knowing we have a top four finish and a bye, I am projecting the rest of the field. I'dlike Xavier to be the four or five, meaning we don't have to see them a third time this year, and they might have to take a shot at Temple before we do ---- shooting either their wad or Temple's in the process. And allthat could be wrong but you asked.

In projection mode, Tuesday, Xavier is at Umass. I'm going to guess you will have Umass favored slightly at home. Xavier had a tough time with Dayton at home and I'm sure Umass will be gunning more for Xavier then X wil lbe gunning for Umass. I would have projected Umass the winner had they held on at home against La Salle but that loss has allowed doubt to creep in. Xavier seems to know it can't lose anymore this season but are still short of firepower outside of their guards. If Williams gets in foul trouble and has to sit out some, Umass is dead. I'mguessing X will putWalkeron Putney which is advantage Umass. I'm gonna say Xavier while rooting for Umass. Wednesday, Duquesne should handle Dayton at home. But Dayton's weffort at X was spartan. Doubt they have the same fire in Pittsburgh against the Dukes. The Bonnies should down Fordham in the Bronx. St.Joe's should handle Richmond on Hawk Hill. And Charlotte wins the "who cares" game of the night in Carolina against GeeDub. Which leaves Temple at La Salle. Just can't see it. Wright and Hollis-Jefferson look like a wash. Wright against Eric is advantage Eric. Duren is too small to handle Fernandez, advantage Fernandez. Moore is much better than Galloway. Wyatt is better than Mills. Which leaves Pettis likely against Hollis-Jefferson. I see no advantages other than home court and emotion going La Salle's way. Can't see it. Temple.