Could only follow the game on play-by-play on my phone, and the Friars are hardly a powerhouse, but it looked like we made a decent comeback and kept fighting to the end. It's a 'low bar' to step over, but at least they didn't curl up in a corner and die.
Was that a "good loss"?
- Thread starter phatcat_rivals223240
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I was encouraged by how involved the bench was when the team was playing defense. They were standing and exhorting them enthusiastically. It didn’t translate into intense defense on the floor, unfortunately. This team is tightly knit and does not give up. That will be a big plus. We’ll see how they respond tonight.
FWIW, Providence beat the Badgers in Wisconsin about a week ago. I don’t think it will be a bad loss.
That’s the thing. It was not a bad loss, but it’s hard to call it a good loss.
Realistically what it was was a good game to be in. For our guys to grow and get better. IMO by far the best team we will face before conference play. Georgia/DePaul/Wake are no Eastern Illinois, but they’re not PC either.
I'm so beaten down that I'd be relieved/content with an overall .500 record and however many B1G wins that result (7-8?). Basically, we've had like 2/3 of one good football season/no good basketball, since 2018 football. Try not to suck.
I agree with your overall point of it not being a bad loss, but also not necessarily a "good loss". Your point above gives me hesitation a bit though. I want to believe that is true, but it's pretty much been the same story with these same players for the last 2-3 seasons- close losses that we can learn and grow from. I did like that we showed fight in coming back and giving ourselves a chance at the end, but this is the year these guys should be past games where they lose, but grow and get better. It's go time for this group of guys (Nance, Buie, Beran, Young, etc.). They either are winning games like this or they'll run out of time at NU and never get over that hump.
I still believe in this team and think we may have something good, but the time for growth in games we lose is pretty much over for this particular group. Either win or get off the pot.
I agree 100%. It can't be forever being happy because we put up a good effort. That's us trying to feel better about ourselves. It's (somewhat) fine in rebuilding years. It's not when we have more ambition than just rebuild.
Pragmatically, we put ourselves out of the game way too early last night. That's the blunt truth. And that's not good.
My comments about not being a bad loss are driven by:
1) Everyone loses games against good teams
2) It's a first loss and not one within our infamous losing streaks
3) Mostly because I felt that when the ship was going down we had several players out there who were hiding on offense. Intimidated, scared to make a move, take a shot. Which is not unexpected for some of our roster. It's common for most young players, or players who have not seen the floor much, to need these games to gain confidence, feel they belong, etc. We saw that after we had basically given away 90% of the chances of winning everyone was more lose and aggressive.
Interesting that Wisconsin, which also lost to Providence by five, leads #12 Houston by 20 at the half.
They would seem to close. Potentially a bubble team. We wills ee as the season goes along. Losses to the wrong teams and they are out. Win those games and...
We are starting 2 frosh at this point. But we have more talent and a lot more depth than we have had in a long time. We will likely be in some games that would would not have been over the last couple years. Still need to win some of them but at this point we are not out of them before the games are even played like has been true over the last couple years.
While because of the nonsense on having games on other channels, I have not been able to catch beginnings of games, I thought in game I went to I thought Simmons and Roper started because of Audige being out. In any event, they are each getting meaningful minutes
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Thanks for the correction. Was also not able to go to a couple of games because of what is going on here. Better half just went into hospice today. Been hard
For what it’s worth, Seth Greenberg, during NU-UGA highlights on ESPN, just declared that he likes what Chris Collins has going and thinks they might be a tourney team. So there’s someone off the board willing to say it.
Sorry to hear that, my message board friend. I hope the Cats can continue to give you a few moments of joy.
I’m really sorry to hear that message board buddy. Been reading your posts for years, hope you can find some peace
I remember the announcers talking about it, and the Friars fan that showed up afterwards said it too.
We'll see, but I'm cautiously optimistic. We are better than the team that started the B1G 3-0 last year. Maybe we can sustain it this time around.
Between Covid and what she has been going through for the last 2 years.... Thanks
This year's team appears to be a lot better than last year's team. We basically did not lose anyone and everyone has a year more developing and working together. Add that the 3/4 new guys look to be a big plus.