Zeise on Pitt-Duke and more . . .
- Thread starter Franb
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He's always a pleasure to read. He could even hang with the best here on this board.
Couple things I would challenge are that regardless of how we fare in March, going one and done in MM is bigger than the going one and done in the NIT. Just like in FB going to a better bowl and losing is better than going to the worst bowl and losing. A little surprising a sports writer doesn't see that.He's always a pleasure to read. He could even hang with the best here on this board.
Second, it isn't sexy, it may be very subtle, but I think it bodes well that this team is not folding like last year. Some wags have suggested Jamie had lost the team and they don't listen to him. I think this is being proven untrue. We have guys who are really leaving it all out there, and have some younger guys that are really playing hard. We can't get that "continuation" or whatever the term is back, unless we have it back. It has to start somewhere. If we folded like a cheap suit again this year, I think we would be ready to stick a fork in this program. Making the tourney means everything. It builds confidence in the players, and the recruits. The more negative posters on here will always be unhappy, no matter what. But looking at the big picture, finishing as strong as we can is big.
Like what he wrote about JR and Luther. Hopefully Young gets the message and steps up. When was the last time we had 3 one and done players in one season???!!!! HTP!
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The histrionics of posters either way, the sober observation of this team based on its play this year following last year's crash and burn was that it was a lot closer to crashing and burning than not 48 hours ago.
You could see that black hole increasing in size without being some "hater."
To me, what the Duke game emphasized is that this team's problem is not "talent."
Yes, it is not a final four talented team. But, it absolutely is a top half in the ACC, solid NCAA talented team.
The problem has been focus, desire, passion, toughness. The commitment to playing team ball, to playing defense, selling out and giving it their all.
They certainly were not more "talented" the last 15 minutes with Mike Young on the bench.
I do agree with Chris that it will be hard for them to repeat the level of of these things that they had on Sunday, for a full 40 minutes.
But we have not seen ANYWHERE near that level of of these things for even isolated moments most of this season.
if this team played even with a fraction of that sense of urgency and passion they win the Miami game easily, for example.
Now, better late than never.
They have a chance to get on a roll when it really counts. It isn't asking too much for these guys to go carpi diem, to seize the moment over the course of the next three, four or more games.
They play at even 80% of what they played at Sunday, the win the next two games, do some damage in DC and get a win or two in the NCAAs.
You could see that black hole increasing in size without being some "hater."
To me, what the Duke game emphasized is that this team's problem is not "talent."
Yes, it is not a final four talented team. But, it absolutely is a top half in the ACC, solid NCAA talented team.
The problem has been focus, desire, passion, toughness. The commitment to playing team ball, to playing defense, selling out and giving it their all.
They certainly were not more "talented" the last 15 minutes with Mike Young on the bench.
I do agree with Chris that it will be hard for them to repeat the level of of these things that they had on Sunday, for a full 40 minutes.
But we have not seen ANYWHERE near that level of of these things for even isolated moments most of this season.
if this team played even with a fraction of that sense of urgency and passion they win the Miami game easily, for example.
Now, better late than never.
They have a chance to get on a roll when it really counts. It isn't asking too much for these guys to go carpi diem, to seize the moment over the course of the next three, four or more games.
They play at even 80% of what they played at Sunday, the win the next two games, do some damage in DC and get a win or two in the NCAAs.
Although Zeiss equivocates some--I think he is wrong that the Duke win puts us in the NCAAs for certain. I feel confidant we need one more win in the next 3 games to be in. I just can't see a 9-10 ACC record (0-1 ACC tourney) getting a bid. I think it takes a 10-9 ACC record (post ACC tourney) as the minimum to be in the NCAAs.
Yeah, I don't want to see what it looks like on Selection Sunday if this team loses the next three games.
I agree with you. And I respect Zeise a ton, but disagree with him here. No way we are a lock with a 0-3 finish. Our RPI would be in the low 50's. I believe one more win gets us in, but I feel that two wins is what makes things a moot point. I prefer going into selection Sunday off of the bubble.
You make good points. But, Kiwi made some points too.
There is SOME talent here. Much of the problem we've had in losing to most ranked teams on our schedule has not been talent level. It has been heart. Or maybe brains. Overall, this roster probably has about the sane level of talent as most of our teams in this era. We just haven't consistently played near the level we could have. We don't have a strong 2G, but we rarely have. We don't have a big strong center, but we have some bodies who can be effective there.
Despite the doubters, we have an extremely effecient PG and we have FOUR forwards who can hurt the opponent in many ways.
I was among those who thought this bunch had quit on Jamie and our only path forward was turnng over the roster. Much to my surprise, and delight, that turns out to have been wrong. Rebounding is about 80% effort and will. It is also about 80% of the key to our success over the years. Offensive Rebounding is the driver behind our Offensive efficiency rankings. Likewise defensive rebounding REALLY improves our defensive rating.
The turnaround began when we started dominating the boards in a losing effort against UNC. It demonstrates the team is still listening to Jamie. And, still improving.
I don't know how much we will get from this team. We are still very dependent upon Artis and Young hitting jumpshots. But, if we continue to put the effort into rebounding and defense, and moving the ball, we should be in every game.
The program isn't where it was. It may NEVER get back to where it was consistently. Very few programs outside the bluebloods are there. But, it's not dead either. We don't have to tear to down and start over. Given how HARD it us to do that successfully while following the rules, that's great news.
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I did see that the team had started to get back to the all hands on deck rebounding mentality several weeks ago, which I agree was an indicator that the team was trying to do some of what JD wanted.
There just was not enough else around that until the last few games.
We will see.
Again, IF they play with a good measure of the focus, toughness and determination they displayed on Sunday, they have a chance to do some good things the next few weeks.
I agree, I still hold we are are two wins, two wins we nearly got, away from having had a very good season. Being that close, it would be foolish to tear it all down and start over. We are likely to finish in the top half of the ACC. We are a few players and maybe a new assistant away. We don't need to totally burn it to the ground and rebuild.
