Huge 4 Game Stretch

[Censored by Laurie]

We'd better. 3 of the next 4 games are at home, all against teams with losing conference and overall records. We're currently 5th in the West, 2+ games back of UALR. Heres how the schedules of the teams in front of us in the West set up through January:

UALR (4-1) - 1/15 @ULL; 1/17 vs. MTSU; 1/22 @ USA; 1/24 vs. Troy; 1/29 @ FAU; 1/31 @ FIU

ULL (3-2) - 1/15 vs. UALR; 1/19 @ UAB (OOC); 1/22 @ WKU; 1/24 vs. USA; 1/29 @ MTSU; 1/31 @ FAU

ASU (3-2) - 1/15 vs. ULM; 1/17 vs. USA; 1/22 @ MTSU; 1/24 vs. FAU; 1/29 vs. WKU

UNO (3-3) - 1/12 vs. Loyola (OOC); 1/17 @ WKU; 1/22 @ Troy; 1/24 vs. MTSU; 1/29 vs. FIU; 1/31 @ USA

UNT (2-3) - 1/15 vs. Denver; 1/17 vs. FAU; 1/22 @ FIU; 1/29 vs. Troy; 1/31 @ WKU

This is our one and only opportunity to make a move in conference play...starting with the 1/31 game at WKU our schedule is easilly the most difficult in conference the rest of the way. Denver has yet to get over their fear of winning on the road, but they play a controlled game that commits on the defensive end...and as a team that struggles in the halfcourt set, UNT could have trouble.

A ULL win on thursday would be huge. It would move both them and UALR to 4-2 as both head into difficult games against the best in the East...all four teams ahead of us play at least 2 of the USA, WKU, MTSU troika during this stretch.

Clearly, if we're having to look at how other teams schedules and hope for some breaks the season hasn't gone as many expected...and from what I've seen, heard and read there are numerous reasons for the shortcoming of this squad (point guard, post, coaching, player rotation, defense, rebounding, free throw shooting, 3pt shooting)...and its tough to argue with any of these.

The truth is that overall the pieces are not in place yet for this team to have turned the corner, but we're close...and even without all of the right parts we are still very much in contention in conference if we can take advantage of this lull in our schedule...and with the overall talent and capability of individual players to get hot, no team, not WKU, not MTSU, not USA wants to play us, especially in an elimination game for fear that 2,3 or 4 of those guys get hot on the same night. We're definently the most feared team in conference with a losing record. If we can build off this emotional win, come out of this next 4 game stretch at 6-3 and its a whole new season.

And just a few numbers to help out fan morale:

- Our 3PT shooting has struggled, yet we're third in the conference in 3PT shooting percentage at 36.4, trailing only USA (39. 8) and WKU (39.5)

- We're still the top scoring team in conferece at 77.7ppg

- Despite our lack of a true post presence, we also still lead the conference in rebounding, thats per game (43.8ppg), offensive rebounds (222) and total (701)

[Quoner]

Because someone has to say in each thread:

Can we? Yes.

Will we? No.

And yes, this is posted to just quote an earlier post and give a reverse cowgirl, er, jinx.

[KRAM1]

3 of 4 is not out of reason...IF...the team can start playing together and take the game a bit more seriously...too much "street ball" stuff the last few games. Pay attention to the fundamentals...passing, free throws, in-bounds play, etc. and 3 of 4 and even 4 of 4 is a real possibility. Talent is there...I just wonder if the "thought process" and "thinking" is there?

[Green Lantern]

Because someone has to say in each thread:

Can we? Yes.

Will we? No.

And yes, this is posted to just quote an earlier post and give a reverse cowgirl, er, jinx.

This post is so hot.

[Green P1]

I'd take a bullet if it meant this team would go 4-0 over this stretch.

[Censored by Laurie]

I'd take a bullet if it meant this team would go 4-0 over this stretch.

Do it.

[CMJ]

Now even chatroom references are making it in.

[Green P1]

Now even chatroom references are making it in.

*whip*

[jimmyjames_99]

Unless they start getting the ball to Eric and Tristan more, I see us spliting the next 4 games.

Mangrum added a spark to our team's hustle. He may have got beaten a few times, but when he was on the court it didn't seem like we were playing as flat footed.

Also, does anyone think we are a team that can run the shot clock to 10 before starting our offense? Seemed like we were constantly up against the shot clock Saturday. We do this more often than not.

[Censored by Laurie]

Unless they start getting the ball to Eric and Tristan more, I see us spliting the next 4 games.

Mangrum added a spark to our team's hustle. He may have got beaten a few times, but when he was on the court it didn't seem like we were playing as flat footed.

Also, does anyone think we are a team that can run the shot clock to 10 before starting our offense? Seemed like we were constantly up against the shot clock Saturday. We do this more often than not.

1. Agreed TT and Eric need to be the focal point of the offense, but if we just split these next 4 games we're F'd.

2. Same can be said for Adam McCoy...I'd love to see them on the floor together whenever you need to give TT a break.

3. That's more an indication of not having a point guard...it's not the intention, certainly not in a JJ system, to work 25 seconds off the clock each trip. We just don't have a point guard who can effectivly and consistantly initiate the offense...thus there is 25 seconds of dribbling and perimeter passing.

[CMJ]

I'm gonna go start quoting myself as well.

I only care if we win the next one. The others can wait. Beat the living crap out of Denver.

[GrandGreen]

I think what the conference season has demonstrated thus far, is just about any team can beat any other team. NT has gone to overtime with three of the better programs and obviously these games could have gone either way. I am concerned that NT has not been consistent and seems to have lost their shooting touch in the last three and a half games. However, I am encouraged that the front court is obviously improving and despite poor outside shooting and at times poor ball handling, NT has been in every game beginning with the Arkansas game.

I don't think there is a team in the conference unlike last year that NT cannot beat. If last years two best players, White and Dennis, can get near their play levels of the past; NT should be hard to beat.

[Buford_Julep]

I am encouraged that the front court is obviously improving

Tramiel is showing why he was a JUCO All-American.

George had 13 rebounds against A-State. Several of the rebounds were taken right out of the hands of the A-State players. He made a great effort to get a high loose ball while surrounded by A-Staters. What he got was an unjust foul that lit up coach Jones. The rust from setting out a year is almost off, and some day soon he is going to start hitting that jump hook and take his place as one of the best big men in the conference.

Stewart fouled just twice in 26 minutes without giving up any intensity.

Hogans gets an A+ for effort for chasing an A-State breakaway down the court and getting there in time to block the follow up after the lay-up was missed. As Charlie Leonard says, "Good things happen when big men run the court."

[Censored by Laurie]

Tramiel is showing why he was a JUCO All-American.

George had 13 rebounds against A-State. Several of the rebounds were taken right out of the hands of the A-State players. He made a great effort to get a high loose ball while surrounded by A-Staters. What he got was an unjust foul that lit up coach Jones. The rust from setting out a year is almost off, and some day soon he is going to start hitting that jump hook and take his place as one of the best big men in the conference.

Stewart fouled just twice in 26 minutes without giving up any intensity.

Hogans gets an A+ for effort for chasing an A-State breakaway down the court and getting there in time to block the follow up after the lay-up was missed. As Charlie Leonard says, "Good things happen when big men run the court."

Agreed 100%...we're undersized, but the fact we're leading the conference in rebounding proves these guys bust their asses every play...and that the frontcourt is not the issue here, dude.

[untgeorge]

We have to play these games with the intensity we brought to the MTSU and ArkSt games (not the lack of it, as seen in the UTA game).

Denver is pesky and has been close on the road. Last year we had trouble with their style, and we always have trouble with teams that try to control the pace. As to FAU, it depends on Carlos. He missed the 1st ten games of the season but when in shape is probably the best player in the conference. We don't have anyone who matches up with him that well. If Carlos is on his game, we will have our hands full.

But if we bring that intensity, we come out this week ok.

I will wait until next week to worry about FIU and Asprilla.

[Censored by Laurie]

I will wait until next week to worry about FIU and Asprilla.

Hicks may also be back by then.

[untgeorge]

Hicks may also be back by then.

Thanks for making my day.

Another case in which an opponent's record on the surface might lead to not taking them too seriously.