UNI @ Wyoming

[TravelingPanther]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

All true, but very disappointing that its only December 14, and this is the sort of thing we are already relying on.

agreed

[TravelingPanther]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

Unfortunately I think Iowa is one the way up. I know we love to hate and discredit them, but they hired a good coach who is a good recruiter, and we've got to turn it around fast. I say Iowa makes the tourney.

[TH1974]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

Unfortunately I think Iowa is one the way up. I know we love to hate and discredit them, but they hired a good coach who is a good recruiter, and we've got to turn it around fast. I say Iowa makes the tourney.

I think making the NCAA is a very long shot. NIT, maybe. They've looked pretty good most of the non-conference schedule so far, but it's hard to say how that'll translate to the Big Ten season. I do think they're on the way up, though.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

I'm assuming you mean Auburn, and not Clemson.

If you are impressed with being competitive for 30 minutes against Iowa (debatable) and UIC, that illustrates how far we have fallen.

The 3 losses you mention are all from different seasons. This year, we have already lost 5 non-conference games. It is December 14th, and we have virtually eliminated ourselves from NCAA at large contention, and we have put ourselves behind the 8 ball in terms of any post-season play.

We have probably played 1 team that will make the NCAA tournament, and they beat us by 30.

We have played 2 others that are likely to make the postseason, (UIC and Iowa), and we lost by 7 and 19.

Along with that, a road loss to Wyoming, who is picked to finish 6th in the league, and a home loss to ISU.

I apoligize if I am not impressed with our 5 victories, when combined with our losses.

Never did I say that I was impressed with the losses to Iowa or UIC. I just pointed out that we lost to them after playing well for about 30 minutes (I was speaking to the inconsistency). Very rarely are there 'good losses'. I have said from the beginning of this season that this team is going to be inconsistent on the road. You stated that this team is showing consistency on the road. I was making my point to disagree.

Yes, I did mean to say Auburn (not Clemson). For some reason I get those two confused. Does anyone else have that same problem?

Also, we never lost to UMKC during the four years in a row that we lost to them. It was back in 2000 or 2001-2 I think? I was using those four series that we played (road games) to point out that the teams that UNI is playing on the road this year are more quality than previous years. UNI was getting W's on the road in the past few years, but now is playing much better competition.

[Panther789]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

1. Never did I say that I was impressed with the losses to Iowa or UIC. I just pointed out that we lost to them after playing well for about 30 minutes (I was speaking to the inconsistency).


2. UNI was getting W's on the road in the past few years, but now is playing much better competition.

1. I dont think we played well for 30 minutes in Iowa City at all. We played well the first 16 minutes and built a 7 point lead with 3:48 to go in the first.

Iowa went on to lead by 1 at half, 9 halfway through the 2nd, and 19 by the end of the game.


2. I am not disputing that we had some road losses to teams we felt we were better than over the last few years. My point is, in those years we could find something to hang our hat on. This year, we can't.

The bottom line is we are sitting at 5-5, and our best win is against an Auburn team that will be lucky to win 15 games. In addition to our road "inconsistency" we have a home loss to an ISU team that probably wont be in the postseason. We have an RPI of 185.

[Panther789]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

A look at how consistent we have been (both home and away). I have ranked our games in order from most difficult to easiest. Feel free to disagree if you want, but for the most part, I think most would agree with this order(especially most difficult). Look at how our results seem to fall almost right in line, especially 1-5. At some point, you are what you are.

1. Marquette - Loss by 30

2. @ Iowa - Loss by 19

3. @ UIC - Loss by 7 (not really this close)

4. @ Wyoming - Loss by 9 (closer than score indicates)

5. ISU - Loss by 5

6. Auburn - Win by 6

7. Chicago State - win by 11

8. Denver - win by 5

9. Texas Southern - win by 7

10. ND - win by 20

[jman2004]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

I noticed Johhny Moran only played 14 minutes. I wonder if he injured himself. Looks like O'Rear only got 9 minutes...he could use a week off to get rested and healthy.

This team has played a challenging schedule (more than most of the MVC). They have played games on the road (5) with four of those being BCS schools. The team is youthful in the guard court, and will make strides as time goes on this year. I know I've said it before, but with young guards, this team is going to be inconsistent on the road. It was great to see the ball was going inside as much as it was. Jordan, Adam, Lucas, and Roddie need to get as many touches inside as possible. It seems as though this team is realizing that. We have the best bigs in the MVC...we need to exploit that.

UNI's five road/neutral games is tied for 2nd most in the MVC, behind Indiana State (6). By comparison Evansville has played only one road game, and Drake has played only two outside the state of Iowa (neutral court). When you can get at home for an extended period of time, teams can build rhythm. UNI is home until Dec. 31st (2+ weeks). That will be good to get on a roll.

4 BCS schools? Really? I'm seeing Auburn, Marquette, and Iowa. I wouldn't consider Wyoming and UIC "BCS" in the way that you were implying. Other teams in the Valley have played JUST as difficult of schedules. No need to sugar coat things and make excuses. And almost ALL Valley schools will have played the exact same amount of road games by the time conference play starts. Road/home games will even themselves out. That's a pretty weak excuse.

We just don't look good right now.

[in_the_stands]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

Anybody notice that the Salukis are 3-5 right now?

Also, their website got the CSTV makeover, and it's...pink.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

jman-

My bad on all the 'road' games being BCS schools. A misspeak on my part. Not meant to deceive anyone. Honest mistake.

I take issue with 'almost ALL Valley schools' playing the exact same amount of road/neutral games by the time conference play starts. Here will be the final non-conference schedules (prior to MVC play)

(not including BB games, which UNI has on the road)
Bradley: 4 road/2 neutral
Creighton: 3 road/2 neutral
Drake: 1 road/2 neutral
Evansville: 2 road/0 neutral
Illinois State: 3 road/2 neutral
Indiana State: 5 road/2 neutral
Missouri State: 3 road/0 neutral
Northern Iowa: 3 road/2 neutral
Southern Illinois: 3 road/3 neutral
Wichita State: 2 road/3 neutral

3 teams with 3 or less road/neutral
3 teams with 6 or more road/neutral
4 teams with 5 road/neutral

Of the teams with 5 road/neutral here are the teams they play against on the ROAD (combined record of schools played in parentheses):
Wichita State: Texas Tech/TCU (14-6)
Creighton: Arkansas Little Rock, Nebraska, St. Joeseph (16-9)
Illinois State: Wright State, SMU (5-10)
UNI: Illinois Chicago, Iowa, Wyoming (22-5)

So, my point is, there are some teams in this conference who decided not to challenge themselves OOC (out of conference), especially on the road. It's easier to sit at home and rack of W's. The teams who have gone out there to play teams have struggled, and the ones who have tons of home games are up in the 'overall' standings.

Here are the winning percentages of those teams with the three breakdowns:
3 teams with 3 or less road/neutral [B](80%)[/B---1 road game remaining
3 teams with 6 or more road/neutral (32%)---4 road/neutral games remaining
4 teams with 5 road/neutral (69%)---3 road/neutral games remaining

So, get this UNI team at home for the next 2 weeks, and I think you will see some rhythm start to get going. The teams who are challenging themselves will see those dividends come March. This team is young, but the lumps they are taking early, will pay off come Valley play.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

A look at how consistent we have been (both home and away). I have ranked our games in order from most difficult to easiest. Feel free to disagree if you want, but for the most part, I think most would agree with this order(especially most difficult). Look at how our results seem to fall almost right in line, especially 1-5. At some point, you are what you are.

1. Marquette - Loss by 30

2. @ Iowa - Loss by 19

3. @ UIC - Loss by 7 (not really this close)

4. @ Wyoming - Loss by 9 (closer than score indicates)

5. ISU - Loss by 5

6. Auburn - Win by 6

7. Chicago State - win by 11

8. Denver - win by 5

9. Texas Southern - win by 7

10. ND - win by 20

I can't disagree at all with the rankings as you have them. The question is:

Where does the MVC fall in those? I think in the range of Iowa State/Auburn and below. A few of the better teams (Creighton, Illinois State) might fall in line with UIC/Wyoming. We can finish high in the MVC, we MUST protect home court though.

[Panther789]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

Let this spinning continue.


We have an RPI of 182 (7th best in the conference)

We have an SOS of 110 (5th in the conference).

Our inconsistency (or poor play) on the road doesn't explain the loss to ISU at home.

Even PTTB said a reasonable goal for this team was 18+ wins heading into St Louis. I can't imagine he was counting on a 12-6 (maybe 11-7 with a bracket buseter win) or better conference record when he set that goal, but maybe he was.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

Let this spinning continue.


We have an RPI of 182 (7th best in the conference)

We have an SOS of 110 (5th in the conference).

Our inconsistency (or poor play) on the road doesn't explain the loss to ISU at home.

Even PTTB said a reasonable goal for this team was 18+ wins heading into St Louis. I can't imagine he was counting on a 12-6 or better conference record when he set that goal, but maybe he was.

I guess if you want to call it spinning, go ahead.

I won't disagree that Iowa State was a game we SHOULD have won, that hurts.

The Wyoming game was a game we could have won as well, not sure what went on as we didn't have coverage here with football (rightly so). I'm wondering, though, with a lead with 3 minutes to play on the road and the home team makes 12 free throws in the last 3 minutes if there wasn't some hometown officiating taking place? Don't know.

Inconsistency has been a problem and is a direct result of the inexperience we have in the guard court.

18 wins wasn't a huge stretch (if you were looking at wins vs ISU and Wyo). I still think we should have a shot at 11-12 conference wins, maybe more (there is a lot of parity in the conference), but we must protect home court.

As for RPI, we are at 162 on the site I look at (FullySports.com) 1 spot ahead of Drake, and well ahead of Wichita, SIU and Indiana State. Evansville is tops at 17, but then it drops to MSU at 60.

[Panther789]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

I guess if you want to call it spinning, go ahead.

I won't disagree that Iowa State was a game we SHOULD have won, that hurts.

The Wyoming game was a game we could have won as well, not sure what went on as we didn't have coverage here with football (rightly so). I'm wondering, though, with a lead with 3 minutes to play on the road and the home team makes 12 free throws in the last 3 minutes if there wasn't some hometown officiating taking place? Don't know.

Inconsistency has been a problem and is a direct result of the inexperience we have in the guard court.

18 wins wasn't a huge stretch (if you were looking at wins vs ISU and Wyo). I still think we should have a shot at 11-12 conference wins, maybe more (there is a lot of parity in the conference), but we must protect home court.

As for RPI, we are at 162 on the site I look at (FullySports.com) 1 spot ahead of Drake, and well ahead of Wichita, SIU and Indiana State. Evansville is tops at 17, but then it drops to MSU at 60.

As far as spinning is concerned, I wasn't referring to you. When I was typing, your post wasnt ahead of mine. I am sorry for the confusion.

As far as the RPI is concerned, here is the link I used.

http://www.realtimerpi.com/rpi_Men.html

I'm not sure why there is a difference. Either way, my point stands. I'm not impressed with the number.

As far as 18 wins not being a huge stretch going into St. Louis, I hope you are right. It's going to take us at least that many to even be in the postseason conversation.

[fur ball]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

I'm wondering, though, with a lead with 3 minutes to play on the road and the home team makes 12 free throws in the last 3 minutes if there wasn't some hometown officiating taking place? Don't know.

Inconsistency has been a problem and is a direct result of the inexperience we have in the guard court.

Please don't make excuses for the team and coaches by blaming the ref's. But I do agree with you -- the players on our team can only get better with time.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: UNI @ Wyoming

Please don't make excuses for the team and coaches by blaming the ref's. But I do agree with you -- the players on our team can only get better with time.

Since I doubt there were many UNI fans following the game outside of family members with the football game going on, it was just one theory. And if you've followed MVC games long enough, you know that there are DEFINITELY times when the refs make a difference in the game.