Game 7: Richmond @ UNI

[PantherAlum09]

Let's start this thread and, hopefully, a winning streak. This team has the potential to go on a long one, but it's going to take getting their defense solidified and a ton more consistency on offense.

[Spathicle]

Are we at the point of calling this a must-win game? Or are at-large hopes already dashed?

[PantherAlum09]

At-large hopes have to be dashed at this point. You definitely can't depend on that as a possibility. Just have to go win the conference tourney.

[CyCarp]

At-large hopes have to be dashed at this point. You definitely can't depend on that as a possibility. Just have to go win the conference tourney.

Yea, if we roll off about 20 in a row maybe we can get in the conversation, but it's gonna take a lot at this point.

[sivert]

At this point, At-Large is off the table. This is the point where Coach Jake seems to shift priority from winning to learning defense and getting the depth he wants. I think that’s wise and I’ll tolerate a few losses along the way if the goal is to have the team ready in March.

[sivert]

Yea, if we roll off about 20 in a row maybe we can get in the conversation, but it's gonna take a lot at this point.

Mathematically, no. Now if we rolled off 20 in a row that were all dominant opponent-wonders-why-they-even-showed-up type wins, maybe we get interest. But really we should just pour that out of our minds.

[Wxcpanther]

Mathematically, no. Now if we rolled off 20 in a row that were all dominant opponent-wonders-why-they-even-showed-up type wins, maybe we get interest. But really we should just pour that out of our minds.

Relevant who those 20 are against. That would include a lot of quality wins over the remainder of the non conference season including Liberty and likely BYU. That scenario would creak the door open, but again is unlikely.

[BCPanther]

It's about getting better now. There's still an absolute ton that can be accomplished.

[A Fan In Lean Years]

It's about getting better now. There's still an absolute ton that can be accomplished.

And, a lot that can't.

[BrockLesnar]

The at-large is not off the table. However, as the losses pile up the subsequent games become must wins.

[not a drake fan]

Honestly folks it is a joke to be bringing up the at large at this point. Any non-UNI fans lurking around are laughing. If UNI wins 20 games in a row we can START having that conversation. The chance of that happening is somewhere really close to zero.

As BC said, it's about figuring out that 148th ranked defense, trying to improve the offense on the margins, and having fun along the way.

Sunday is a great opportunity to do that. Richmond is a solid Mid major opponent that has been in the kenpom top 100 eight of the last ten years. Really, there are a lot of similarities between UR and UNI historically imo, but they've had more success lately. Kenpom has UR favored by one, Torvik likes UNI by less than a point.

It's the #31 ranked offense in terms of efficiency, they shoot it at a high rate from inside and outside the arc. They get 39% of their points from deep which is high (47th), and UNI does not guard the arc well (#254).

As far as tempo goes, they're a little slower than average, whereas UNI is a little faster. Defensively, they're average and do a very poor job of guarding the arc, so in that sense it looks like a good matchup for UNIs offense.

They're much more experienced (#38) than UNI.

[CyCarp]

Literally nobody is optimistic about at large chances right now, so I don't know why anybody would be laughing at us for talking about it.

[BrockLesnar]

I think UNI fans are fair weather. Run at the first sign of trouble and hoot and Hollar when we defeat ranked teams. It's really simple, keep losses to 7 or 8 at the end. If not then be the last team standing at the Arch.

[PantherAlum09]

I think people are just trying to be realistic. We were 25-6 a couple years ago and definitely weren't getting an at large bid. That was with a good Colorado win on the road. We took care of non-conference for the most part that year. Lost to a West Virginia team that we should've beat but also had a win against South Carolina. The margin for error is extremely small.

[BrockLesnar]

At 25-6, two seasons ago we were going to be the NIT because we lost a quarter-final game to a terrible Drake squad. That was two seasons ago and doesn't matter, now.