SLU v. Dayton GDT

[Bizziken]

While I am disappointed in the loss, HIGHLY disappointed, I think people need to get off of the ledge a little. Seriously, I can't believe some of the posts tonight. While it was a road loss, it was an OT loss against a top 50 RPI team. We are currently 12-3 and tomorrow our RPI will be roughly the same it was going into today. We lost another tough road game in a hostile environment due to poor 3-pt shooting. Anything else you want to point to is pretty much moot. We shoot like we had during the earlier games, this game is another easy win.

Until Cody banked in his 3 ball to send it into OT, we were 2-15 from the arc. If we are shooting where we normally are, or even slightly less, then we don't even need to worry about getting into OT. We win the game. We caused more TOs that we created (20-15; 18-12 prior to OT), had more FG attempts and generally had a lot of open looks. We played the type of game we normally do, except, once again, the treys weren't falling at the normal clip.

This is the way this team is built. Create more TOs than you cause, find open shooters and knock down uncontested shots. When those shots don't go down, we will find ourselves in close ballgames and possibly lose. On occassion, that will happen. This team is far from perfect. However, in most cases, the shots will fall down and we will win far more than we lose. All I know is that I do not agree with the following statements:

1. KM needs to be replaced in the lineup by MM.

Really? Is this a serious statement? Is it because KM missed 2 FTs near the end of regulation and then had 2 total TOs in the game. Because, here is the line I saw from him tonite:

5-11 FG, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 TOs, 11 pts, 27 minutes

And here is the line I saw from MM:

4-11 FG, 2 assists, 0 rebounds, 0 steals, 2 TOs, 10 pts, 31 minutes

Also, we saw the team completely fall apart once KM fouled out in OT. I think it is an entirely silly notion to think that we will be a better team with MM getting more minutes than KM and than KM needs to be a bench player. Maybe he isn't the all-world player we were hoping for at this point, but he is still a PG who is averaging more than 11 PPG, 4 APG and has an A/TO ratio of about 2.5:1, including tonight's game. Let's get realistic, people!

2. We are done in terms of getting an at-large bid.

RealTime RPI had us losing this game in a close contest, yet still going 13-3 in conference play. We are standing at a record of 12-3, with all 3 losses being road losses. UNM and UD are both top 50 teams. As someone said, it isn't as if we lost to Fordham at home. These last 2 losses were both highly probable losses. Considering how close the outcome was in both games, we can come away just as encouraged as discouraged. We are probably off of the national poll radar for a while, but the RPI hasn't suffered with either loss (will stay around 60...it was 57 today), and we still control our destiny. Go 12-4 in conference, maybe even 11-5, and we most likely get an at-large bid. Especially since our conference just pulled in 2 nice non-conference wins the last couple of days (Harvard and Duke.)

3. We will be fortunate to even get an NIT bid.

Ugghhhhh. First off, if we go 8-8 in conference, we will almost certianly get an NIT bid, and it is HIGHLY doubtful that this team will go .500 in conference play. Can we wait until we at least lose a home game before we get all apocolyptic and claim that this team just isn't that good. Heck, Duke just lost a road game to Temple, a team that they should have easily beat. However, they will continue to keep on winning games and go on to the tournament. There are 15 regular season games left. Can we go through a few more before we start accepting the inevitable disappointing season?

Dumb post...too level-headed and rational...we frown on that around here...

On a more positive note, how ###### hilarious was it when Cody hit that three and UD fans once again looked like their puppies just got ran over by a semi...those momentary looks of disbelief and utter confusion almost made the outcome worth it...but not quite...

[bgtholt88]

KM is not the player he was in 09-10. Not even close IMO. MM is the best scoring guard on this team and shows his talent when he is not deferring to KM. MM has no reason to take a back seat to KM but for some reason has. KM did kill us tonight with his decision making at very key points in the game.

Did you watch MM in the second half? I'm not trying to say MM is not a good player or disrespect your opinion, but if you don't think KM is a better leader I'm not sure if you're watching the same games. I'll agree KM isn't playing at the caliber we want him to, but he is a must for our team..

[TheA_Bomb]

If your girlfriend is supplying you with illegal drugs she is a bad influence.

This is the type of game that really pisses me off.

Here is the conversation I had with the GF after the loss.

Her: "When they get beat it sure puts you in a pissy mood"

Me: "I know, sorry, hopefully they dont have many more losses like this. I wish they made something that would help me forget games like this for the rest of the night."

Her: "Hmm? maybe I can help you with that."

At this point she leaves the room and comes back about 10 minutes later with a 1/5 of Captain, a 2 liter of coke, and a big fat joint.

Unlike the Bills she came through in the clutch.

[slufan13]

KM > MM. No argument.

[bgtholt88]

Also, we saw the team completely fall apart once KM fouled out in OT. I think it is an entirely silly notion to think that we will be a better team with MM getting more minutes than KM and than KM needs to be a bench player. Maybe he isn't the all-world player we were hoping for at this point, but he is still a PG who is averaging more than 11 PPG, 4 APG and has an A/TO ratio of about 2.5:1, including tonight's game. Let's get realistic, people!

Well put.. Thank you. I was wondering if I was losing it when I found myself reading multiple posts from different users about having MM start over KM..

[BBall Fan]

Did you watch MM in the second half? I'm not trying to say MM is not a good player or disrespect your opinion, but if you don't think KM is a better leader I'm not sure if you're watching the same games. I'll agree KM isn't playing at the caliber we want him to, but he is a must for our team..

Not what I said or was saying at all. MM is much more timid and willing to take a back seat this year with KM back. MM lead us in scoring last year and has the talent to be a big part of this team. IMO he is yielding to KM in situations where he took charge last year. This team needs KM to play well and make better decisions. He took poor shots many times last night with big opportunities to put the game away. He drove into 4 dayton players twicwe in the last 5 minutes with the Bills up 3 with little chance of success or getting fouled. Basically a turnover. He needs to shake the rust off pretty quick or we will see more of these situations go badly. He made freshman mistakes last night and he can't do that if we are going to be successful against good teams on the road.

I did watch MM in the second half and I believe KM was on the floor for a good portion of the time and I think that he is deferring to KM to be the leader and get it done. MM gets away from looking for his game and waits for KM to make something happen. The stretch in the first half is the MM that looks for his space and takes the lead. We are watching the same games, we are just viewing it differently.

[Billiken Rich]

You're an idiot.

`

Nope just a dissappointed fan after a bad loss where a senior guard had a stat line that looked like a walk on. How many games has Grant Galen had a similar line minus the minutes?

I apologize for calling Kyle a puss but he did play like one.