Net update - #33

We need to win @Mizzou @LSU and need to win two of the three home games against Alabama, Auburn and Kentucky. If we do that and don’t drop any other home games we will be 10-8 and will make the tournament. They aren’t going to leave out a team in the SEC with a winning conference record that also has 11 non conference wins

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Originally Posted by PGHBulldogBG

We need to win @Mizzou @LSU and need to win two of the three home games against Alabama, Auburn and Kentucky. If we do that and don’t drop any other home games we will be 10-8 and will make the tournament. They aren’t going to leave out a team in the SEC with a winning conference record that also has 11 non conference wins

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easily in at 10-8. Probably in at 8-10

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Originally Posted by msstate7

We need it too bc I can't squint enough to see us beating Tennessee

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squint more

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Originally Posted by 99jc

squint more

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Or get glasses. I'm still shocked. This is a very good Tenn team.

We have not beat an AP top 10 team since 2002. This just shows that for all those years we did not have proper coaching. Jans may not be perfect, but he is the best coach we have had in hoops in a long time. He gives me hope he can put together quality teams most years, make the tournament and possibly advance and give us a special March while he is here

Washington st just beat Arizona. Very nice win for us

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Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve

For the time being, our problem is going to be road games. We’re 0-2 in true road games, 1-2 if you want to throw in Rutgers, this year. Add that to last year when we were 4-6 on the road and it tells me we will struggle with road games and lose to inferior teams this year on the road.

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Everyone struggles on the road in conference. Check out the top 10 this week.

Down 5 spots to #33

Defense not doing so hot so far.

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Originally Posted by Leeshouldveflanked

Defense not doing so hot so far.

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I agree, but to be fair...
Kenpom off rankings:
Bama - 1st
Tenn - 20th

This was a really tough week, and as frustrating as last night was, we did what we had to

On the bright spot, Washington state is now 51st; this has a very good chance of becoming a Q1 win. Also, north Texas now 60th; this is now a solid Q2 win instead of a borderline one

#33 currently, and Washington state is now a q1 win. Hopefully they keep winning.

Tonight's games besides ours...
Nebraska at Rutgers (-2.5)
Maryland at NW (-4.5)
North Texas (-2.5) at ECU
Tulane at UAB (-2.5)
UCLA at asu (-3.5)

We're getting 6.5 at Kentucky

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Originally Posted by msstate7

#33 currently, and Washington state is now a q1 win. Hopefully they keep winning.

Tonight's games besides ours...
Nebraska at Rutgers (-2.5)
Maryland at NW (-4.5)
North Texas (-2.5) at ECU
Tulane at UAB (-2.5)
UCLA at asu (-3.5)

We're getting 6.5 at Kentucky

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Rutgers won
Northwestern up 9
North Texas won
Tulane lost
ASU up 8

Down 1 spot to #34.

Washington st at Stanford tonight. Need WSU to keep winning

Truth is, winning 1 out of Tennessee, Bama, and Kentucky is what we needed to do. We did that. Now, we could've really solidified ourselves with another win, but we're still in a decent spot.

This Saturday is a must win. Vandy's net is 244. A loss to them at home would sink us.

Then next week we have Florida on the road and Auburn at home. Gotta find a way to split that. Lose both and things start to get dicey

Our defense has to get better for us to win against the upper half of the league. I'm not asking our team to hold these really good teams in the 50s but we aren't going to win any games allowing 82 and 90 points like we have the last 2. We just aren't good enough offensively to keep up with that kind of scoring pace. We held TN to 72 which is more what we need but even in that game we were fortunate that TN came out very cold from 3 range missing a LOT of open shots. Of course they heated up in the 2nd half and scored 50. Right now our defense is just not playing at the level we did last year. Not sure why either since we have a ton of returning players. A big part of it is rebounding which appears to be a huge issue for us at the moment and plays into why we are giving up more points this year.

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Originally Posted by maroonmania

Our defense has to get better for us to win against the upper half of the league. I'm not asking our team to hold these really good teams in the 50s but we aren't going to win any games allowing 82 and 90 points like we have the last 2. We just aren't good enough offensively to keep up with that kind of scoring pace. We held TN to 72 which is more what we need but even in that game we were fortunate that TN came out very cold from 3 range missing a LOT of open shots. Of course they heated up in the 2nd half and scored 50. Right now our defense is just not playing at the level we did last year. Not sure why either since we have a ton of returning players. A big part of it is rebounding which appears to be a huge issue for us at the moment and plays into why we are giving up more points this year.

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I think the league knows how to attack out defense (traps on the baseline, etc.) - and with no real offensive threat to counter that (as a team I mean) it's going to be hard to go 8-8 I'm afraid. It might also explain why Jans did well in the NCAA tournament (playing teams that have not played his defense multiple times before). Just a theory.

Our problem is we struggle against teams that can score. Bama and Kentucky average 90 PPG to lead the conference. Tenn is 5th at 79 PPG. That 11 point difference is huge

We defend well but our guards are short and top notch guys shoot better over them.

Beat Vandy and Auburn at home to get things back on track. Fla gonna be tough to beat on the road.

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Originally Posted by KOdawg1

Truth is, winning 1 out of Tennessee, Bama, and Kentucky is what we needed to do. We did that. Now, we could've really solidified ourselves with another win, but we're still in a decent spot.

This Saturday is a must win. Vandy's net is 244. A loss to them at home would sink us.

Then next week we have Florida on the road and Auburn at home. Gotta find a way to split that. Lose both and things start to get dicey

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I think we really have to win both FL and Auburn to get back on track.

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Originally Posted by PMDawg

I think we really have to win both FL and Auburn to get back on track.

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Nah I do not think both are must win at all. Just going 2-2 against Florida, Auburn, Ole Miss, Bama coming up would be huge for us. After that we have five games in a row where we will likely be favored.

Not at all in crisis mode yet, though we do have to beat a terrible Vandy team on Saturday, no doubt about it.