WVU @ UConn: Absolutely No Idea What To Expect
by Dr. Charley West on Feb 22, 2010 4:11 PM EST
in Mountaineer Basketball
10 comments
UConn is as schizophrenic a team as there might be in college basketball this year.
The team that lost to Cincinnati (twice), Michigan, and Providence is also the same team that has beaten Texas and Villanova. Sure, they suffered an extended down period when Calhoun was out, but they had lost three straight before he left. And now they're 16-11 overall and 6-8 in conference, on the fringe of the bracket, and fighting for their NCAA tournament lives. They're also 3 point favorites tonight.
So what UConn team will we see? Good question. I was hoping you might answer it for me, because I have no effing clue. They could beat us by 20 or just as easily mail it in and lose by 20. Unfortunately, with the line moving so heavily towards UConn (it started as a pick 'em), the heavy bettors are placing their money on the former. They're not usually wrong when moving a line that much. But, being a WVU homer, I am not about to give up all hope.
One thing I think I know about tonight is that we'll know very quickly how the game is going to go. If WVU looks inspired, I feel like we'll play exciting basketball throughout. If we look lethargic, I think it's highly unlikely we make a Louisville/Ohio State game comeback on the road in a hostile environment.
We're three hours from game-time: what are your thoughts? Are you confident? Pessimistic? Drunk?
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"No idea" is the only way to fly here.
Being only slight favorites here (-2.5) is heartening, given WVU’s status as historically bumbling front-runners.
by bicklefischerkane on Feb 22, 2010 4:13 PM EST reply actions
Underdogs!
Don’t we normally play better from that position? The real question is will the WVU team that shows up be able to take care of the UConn team that shows up? Both clubs have been so streaky this year.
"I like the taste of danger most of all." - Jonatha Brooke
Who Knows?
Trying to get a grasp on (not only UCONN) OUR team is like betting the NFL…….who knows what will happen. It’s certainly been a very disappointing season, from many aspects, yet one thing is for certain…..the team hasn’t peaked at any time this season. That offers a glimmer of hope.
One thing is ironic. Past teams couldn’t rebound and if we were having an off shooting night, then we were done (ala Texas game)….This team can rebound (Jones is leading offensive rebounder in the league) but finds itself deficient in the shooting department frequently. Hopefully, someone will step up w/ Butler and be a force from the perimeter come tourney time.
Before anyone goes off on me....
“disappointing season” and “glimmer of hope” is meant to be relative to the expectations of this year’s team….we’re still in a position to compete for the NCAA.
Personally, I won’t settle for less than a “re-peat” after we win the NCAA this season. (Overconfidence is “en vogue” after Sexy Rexy led his JETS to the tourney……reverse psychological approaches such as “we have no shot” even though a team certainly does have a shot at the title are now outdated)
Expectations or not
This season is not disappointing.
We’ve stayed in the top ten virtually all season. We’re still in position for a bye in the BET and a top 3 seed in the NCAAs.
What’s disappointing about that?
Sure, we’ve played some bad games and have the potential to play better than we have. Even so, the results are quite frankly stellar for WVU basketball.
This team can be better than it has, but that’s no reason to ignore what they have accomplished. They’re playing one of, if not the toughest schedule in the country.
We’re no longer at the point where we hope with the top teams in the conference and still end up losing to half of the middle of the pack BE teams. We don’t have a single bad loss this year.
I get sick of the rollercoaster this team plays on, but stop bitching for two seconds and enjoy what this team is accomplishing.
by Beamer'sGoiter on Feb 22, 2010 6:46 PM EST up reply actions
We Win....
Higher schedule strength, better shooting percentage, rebounding advantage on both sides, and they turn it over slightly more than we do. I think we win…as long as it doesn’t come down to clutch free throw shooting. Then, it’s andybody’s guess…
Now is the time boys to make a big noise.
No matter what the people say,
For there is naught to fear, the gang's all here,
So hail West Virginia, hail.
can we give the “we play better as an underdog” myth a rest. when you lose games as an underdog, know when cares cause you weren’t expected to win. when you lose a game you’re favored in, everyone remembers because you should have won.
take for instance the 2008 football season for example. we were favored in every game. we lost 4. that means we went 9-4 as the favorite. in 2009 – correct me if i’m wrong – we were favored in every game but cincinnati and pitt. so we went 8-2 as the favorite and 1-1 as the underdog.
if any coach or player wants to be the underdog, they should be fired or kicked off the team.
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