Las Vegas Expectations?

[FlipEmTheBird]

Assuming that you guys do get to play UofI, will that game be broadcast on either ESPN or the B10 network?

[Da Coach]

No- the promoters of the tournament wanted too high a price for the rights to televise the games, and none of the local stations in the cities of the participating teams could reach agreement on a deal.

The games were available for streaming (for a fee) here at one time-

http://www.hooptv.net/

but as of now there will be no TV.

[thefish7]

I'll be the first to go out on a limb and say we go 0-2 and lose by an average margin of 9 points. I saw nothing in the first 2 games to lead me to believe otherwise. Hard fought HOME wins against 2 lower level D1 teams... That is not a good sign.

A worse sign is our offense still jacks up 3's at will. We could have won last night by 10 or more if we would have fed the post more. When we shot inside 15 feet we scored and then we would go away from that for long stretches and the other team would catch up. Against bigger and more athletic teams, as I imagine OSU, UI and Utah are, we will have a harder time scoring around the basket and will have to rely on 3's. That's very scary.

Here's saying I hope I am wrong and will be happy to eat my words and have you guys pummel me if we go 2-0. 1-1 can happen as anyone can beat anyone a a given night, so I won't take _____ if we go 1-1. I will be happy if we go 1-1 as long as the loss is not to UIUC.

Did you even watch last night's game? We fed the post almost constantly for at least 2/3 of the game. Our guards started passing up big-time open looks at 3 in the first half. Gameplan was night and day versus our first two games. 16 out of 20 first half points came from our bigs. 28 out of 54 total points came from our bigs. 24 points in the paint. We took 16 3 pt shots as opposed to the 24 3 pointers we averaged in the first two games...

[Braves4Life]

Did you even watch last night's game? We fed the post almost constantly for at least 2/3 of the game. Our guards started passing up big-time open looks at 3 in the first half. Gameplan was night and day versus our first two games. 16 out of 20 first half points came from our bigs. 28 out of 54 total points came from our bigs. 24 points in the paint. We took 16 3 pt shots as opposed to the 24 3 pointers we averaged in the first two games...

Yep! Did you even watch the Wofford game george?

[romar]

BU also shot 50% from 3 against IdSU, which I think JL would take anytime.

[georgethedog]

Did you even watch last night's game? We fed the post almost constantly for at least 2/3 of the game. Our guards started passing up big-time open looks at 3 in the first half. Gameplan was night and day versus our first two games. 16 out of 20 first half points came from our bigs. 28 out of 54 total points came from our bigs. 24 points in the paint. We took 16 3 pt shots as opposed to the 24 3 pointers we averaged in the first two games...

Yes, I was there alone and studied it. My point was we did not feed the post enough. Keep shoving it down their throats until they can show they can stop it. Wofford didn't have to stop it because we stopped it ourselves many times by jacking up wild 3's and taking quick shots (Coach Les said it himself on the postgame). We took way to many 3's for as easy as it was to score under and around the basket. Our centers had a combined 12 points. WE should have had at least that by himself. His defender could not guard him, period. So, yes to your smarty comment, I watched. Apparently more closely than you because I saw exactly what the coach did. He had them pound it under during the first part of the second half (when we got a big lead) and then the players got away from that later in the half and almost lost (which was also mentioned by Coach Les). So, apparently he didn't watch either?

[AZ BU Fan]

If the question is what I think will most likely happen in Vegas, BU goes 1-1, beating either OSU or Utah; Happiness cause BU is moving in right direction, particularly if they can beat OSU. .

If they go 0-2, big disappointment.

If they go 2-0, incredible joy

[Bradleyguy10]

I think the most likely scenario is losing to OSU and beating Utah. Then the most likely after that is losing to both teams. Then obviously the two after that would be beating OSU & losing to UIUC, and finally beating both OSU & UIUC. That's my opinion on order of likelihood.

[BU RICK]

My expectation is we come home 5-1, and go on to extend the winning streak 10 more games to 15-1 and be ranked high in the top 25 and see what happens after that. JMHO.

For those going and gambling, try this: if you're willing to play $1,000, stay away from the tables, go to the sports book and put $50 down on 20 games or $100 down on 10 games - both days, you're all experts on basketball teams across the country so you will come home with some money rather than none, not to say you can't get lucky and win at the tables. Maybe you can win the cost of your trip, I hope so.

[thefish7]

Yes, I was there alone and studied it. My point was we did not feed the post enough. Keep shoving it down their throats until they can show they can stop it. Wofford didn't have to stop it because we stopped it ourselves many times by jacking up wild 3's and taking quick shots (Coach Les said it himself on the postgame). We took way to many 3's for as easy as it was to score under and around the basket. Our centers had a combined 12 points. WE should have had at least that by himself. His defender could not guard him, period. So, yes to your smarty comment, I watched. Apparently more closely than you because I saw exactly what the coach did. He had them pound it under during the first part of the second half (when we got a big lead) and then the players got away from that later in the half and almost lost (which was also mentioned by Coach Les). So, apparently he didn't watch either?

Coach Les also praised several shooters (AW by name) for keeping their shots going in the first and second halves even though they weren't going down. Talking about a shot early in the possession being a negative does not equal the team didn't get the ball inside often enough. There was a stretch about halfway through the second half where the players started to get away from it, I agree, but your post compared this last game two the previous two and I believe there's no comparison.

One side comment relates to WE-- he seemed fairly well guarded to me as his points came off of turn-around jumpers (that were nice,) but he was not able to drive on the basket against his man, nor did he try to back him down. The negative to this is I thought they were all tough shots and that you won't draw a lot of fouls taking that shot... The positive is that he made a ton of them and if he keeps doing it players scouting him will have to respect the shotfake and that will allow him a better chance to put the ball on the floor. WE did have a great game defensively, and I hope that jumper keeps working for him, but I would like to see some post moves out of him.

[amckillip]

One side comment relates to WE-- he seemed fairly well guarded to me as his points came off of turn-around jumpers (that were nice,) but he was not able to drive on the basket against his man, nor did he try to back him down. The negative to this is I thought they were all tough shots and that you won't draw a lot of fouls taking that shot... The positive is that he made a ton of them and if he keeps doing it players scouting him will have to respect the shotfake and that will allow him a better chance to put the ball on the floor. WE did have a great game defensively, and I hope that jumper keeps working for him, but I would like to see some post moves out of him.

This is a great point, so far AT had been a better '5' in my eyes. I feel like this season AT and WE have been comparable in ability, WE probably still has the edge, but Egolf isn't as good as some people were predicting, and AT is much better than I was expecting. Which, given the opposite, I'm ok with.

I feel like AT and WE are very reminiscent of Tisdale and Davis a couple years ago. None are big presences, but could be very good by relying on positioning and footwork. We're not ready for it this year, but next year and the year after, I could see starting SM, AW, TB, WE, AT. With DD, DSE, JE coming off the bench for guards and MK, JP coming in for the bigs. Like I said, I DO NOT feel a 3 big man lineup gives us the best opportunity to win this year, but soon it very well may be what we play.

[AZ BU Fan]

I feel like AT and WE are very reminiscent of Tisdale and Davis a couple years ago. None are big presences, but could be very good by relying on positioning and footwork. We're not ready for it this year, but next year and the year after, I could see starting SM, AW, TB, WE, AT. With DD, DSE, JE coming off the bench for guards and MK, JP coming in for the bigs. Like I said, I DO NOT feel a 3 big man lineup gives us the best opportunity to win this year, but soon it very well may be what we play.

Why not mix it up and play a big line up at times THIS year? Doesn't have to be a lot of minutes, but gives opposition more to prepare for, and without trying it, who knows? Illinois or Utah would be an interesting game to try it in

BU players are playing for 30+ minutes per game, and think the CU approach -more players playing 23-28 minutes per game will keep BU fresher and able to aggressively guard/rebound during the entire game.

[amckillip]

Why not mix it up and play a big line up at times THIS year? Doesn't have to be a lot of minutes, but gives opposition more to prepare for, and without trying it, who knows? Illinois or Utah would be an interesting game to try it in

BU players are playing for 30+ minutes per game, and think the CU approach -more players playing 23-28 minutes per game will keep BU fresher and able to aggressively guard/rebound during the entire game.

I worry about the experience on the floor, if TB, WE, and AT are all on the floor at the same time, there is about 1 year experience of a regular contributor among them. I know it's easy to look past experience for potential, but I just don't think you can ignore experience. The ONLY way I would be ok with that lineup is if they were on the court with SM and AW. Anyone else and you'll see me screaming at Les and probably nearly getting in trouble with the refs - I bet JL has never gotten yelled at for going too big...

Really though, I think we're headed in the right direction to play bigger. But testing things out in our chance for a marquee win is not a wise decision IMO. Lets try those things against WCU, Loyola, or whoever the bottom dweller MVC teams turn out to be (Drake?).

[romar]

Why not mix it up and play a big line up at times THIS year? Doesn't have to be a lot of minutes, but gives opposition more to prepare for, and without trying it, who knows? Illinois or Utah would be an interesting game to try it in

BU players are playing for 30+ minutes per game, and think the CU approach -more players playing 23-28 minutes per game will keep BU fresher and able to aggressively guard/rebound during the entire game.

Great in theory but a classic trap for JL - the minute he starts subbing like you are proposing everyone on the board will be screaming that he is killing the team continuity.

[amckillip]

Great in theory but a classic trap for JL - the minute he starts subbing like you are proposing everyone on the board will be screaming that he is killing the team continuity.

Haha, agreed completely. Funny how JL can not sub enough, and sub so much he hurts continuity, all at the same time isn't it?