MBB vs. Sacred Heart - 12/28/15, 7 PM

[Jojogunne]

From the game preview: "Sacred Heart is 1-9 this season and has lost nine straight games."

Wonderful.

http://www.gohofstra.com/news/2015/12/2 ... 54702.aspx

[bobe13]

Jordan Allen is one of their top scorers -watch out

[HUSID80]

We need to bury these guys and get our bench some PT. Hope Bobby Valentine shows up.

[ProudofPride]

Sacred Heart embarrassed us on our home court 2 years ago, that can't happen again. The team's gotta play with a spark in them, and gain some momentum heading into conference play.

[bobe13]

They have played a tough schedule. This will not be a cake walk for us.

[Dooku25]

The one thing I remember from the game 2 years ago was how hot Sacred Heart was from 3 and we made absolutely no adjustments to guard the perimeter. They continually found open looks with little resistance the entire night. One of the worst HU efforts I can ever remember. I wish I could attribute that performance to it being year 1 of the JAM rebuild, but as we all know, none of his teams have played good defense during his tenure.

However, this game SHOULD BE a cake walk. They are 1-9 with a 270th ranked strength of schedule. Regardless of our team's deficiencies i.e. lack of depth and defense, I expect this to be a 20 point victory. Anything less should add to our growing concerns for this team.

[EvanJ]

However, this game SHOULD BE a cake walk. They are 1-9 with a 270th ranked strength of schedule. Regardless of our team's deficiencies i.e. lack of depth and defense, I expect this to be a 20 point victory. Anything less should add to our growing concerns for this team.

The Sagarin doesn't agree about a 20 point victory:

Overall: Hofstra by 19.11
Predictor: Hofstra by 18.29
Golden_Mean: Hofstra by 19.03
Recent: Hofstra by 19.27

[stuball888]

Close enough. Again SHU is 1-9 and this is a home game for us. With 8 minutes left we should have a 25 point lead and allow JWF Buie and Walker get some real playing time.

[Cards]

If SHU begins to make a game of it, we should simply keep fouling Allen. As I recall, he is about as good a free throw shooter as Rokus. Had to be the worst (non center) foul shooter I've seen.

[EvanJ]

If SHU begins to make a game of it, we should simply keep fouling Allen. As I recall, he is about as good a free throw shooter as Rokus. Had to be the worst (non center) foul shooter I've seen.

He's shooting free throws better this season at .611, which is near Sacred Heart's team rate of .618. That ranks Sacred Heart 334th out of 351 in free throw percentage. Out of the seven Sacred Heart players with the most free throw attempts, he ranks fourth in free throw percentage. In 2013-2014 he shot free throws .448 and had the second most attempts on Hofstra. He played 12.8 percent of Hofstra's minutes (where 20 percent is the maximum because there are five players at a time) and had 18.0 percent of Hofstra's free throw attempts. In 2012-2013 he shot free throws .475.

[Wags]

If SHU begins to make a game of it, we should simply keep fouling Allen. As I recall, he is about as good a free throw shooter as Rokus. Had to be the worst (non center) foul shooter I've seen.

He's shooting free throws better this season at .611, which is near Sacred Heart's team rate of .618. That ranks Sacred Heart 334th out of 351 in free throw percentage.

In that case, foul anyone on SHU if it's close. But it really shouldn't be. This should be as easy or easier than it was against FAU. Nothing more than a tune-up for when it starts to really count, against Delaware, on Thursday.

[Cards]

Agree Wags, although I still want ALL the games to REALLY COUNT. Remember, anything can happen in the CAA tourney (the 3 in 3 discussion we have all been having). A really good overall season could still get us into a good tournament. At large bid for NCAA (not likely, but not out of the realm of possibilities) or at least a good seed in the NIT. Of course we are all pulling for an NCAA auto bid, but that is not an easy road. A real solid season (OCC and conference) would lock up an NIT bid, hence all the games are important!!!!. If NCAA is not in the cards, then NIT, hopefully at home, would be great.

[EvanJ]

Gustys is averaging 9.1 rebounds per game which puts him 49th in Division I according to ESPN. Out of the 30 complete seasons from 1985-1986 to 2014-2015, Kenny Adeleke is the only Hofstra player to average at least 9 rebounds per game, which he did in 2002-2003 and 2003-2004. Stephen Nwaukoni's 8.8 in 2013-2014 is the closest to 9 a Hofstra player other than Adeleke has come since then. Myles McPartland averaged 9.3 in 1984-1985.

[Wags]

Agree Wags, although I still want ALL the games to REALLY COUNT. Remember, anything can happen in the CAA tourney (the 3 in 3 discussion we have all been having). A really good overall season could still get us into a good tournament.

After the recent 7-win and 10-win seasons, I'd normally agree.

But not this year. Not off of last year's 20-win season, coming within one shot of the CAA title game, and not with CAA title expectations for this year. This year, it's NCAA tourney or bust. Anything else (short of getting to MSG in the NIT, and even then...) will feel like a letdown.

At large bid for NCAA (not likely, but not out of the realm of possibilities).

The trio of losses to to Indiana State, Siena and Stony Brook sealed that fate. There will be no at-large bid this year unless HU goes 16-0 or 15-1 in the CAA regular season (which isn't happening either; and even then, that might not secure an NCAA at-large bid). This year it's all about sending a message to the rest of the CAA over the next two months that HU is the team to beat, and then backing that up in Baltimore.

[EvanJ]

The trio of losses to to Indiana State, Siena and Stony Brook sealed that fate. There will be no at-large bid this year unless HU goes 16-0 or 15-1 in the CAA regular season (which isn't happening either; and even then, that might not secure an NCAA at-large bid). This year it's all about sending a message to the rest of the CAA over the next two months that HU is the team to beat, and then backing that up in Baltimore.

I agree that Hofstra won't get an at-large bid, but I want to point out that the CAA regular season is 18 games, not 16.

Edit: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=105884&a=1 will have statistics. Hofstra is starting Green, Tanksley, Gustys, Koon, and Bernardi.

[Wags]

The trio of losses to to Indiana State, Siena and Stony Brook sealed that fate. There will be no at-large bid this year unless HU goes 16-0 or 15-1 in the CAA regular season (which isn't happening either; and even then, that might not secure an NCAA at-large bid). This year it's all about sending a message to the rest of the CAA over the next two months that HU is the team to beat, and then backing that up in Baltimore.

I agree that Hofstra won't get an at-large bid, but I want to point out that the CAA regular season is 18 games, not 16.

Edit: http://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=105884&a=1 will have statistics. Hofstra is starting Green, Tanksley, Gustys, Koon, and Bernardi.

Oh boy, that's what I get for posting on little sleep. But even at 18-0 or 17-1 (which same thing, won't happen), no at-large.

Gustys, easily the strongest guy on the floor tonight, has 9 of HU's first 21 pts. Cane Broome looks impressive for SHU thus far. Had SHU's first 7 pts and has 10 of the Pioneers' 17.

[ProudofPride]

We look awful so far. Yet another game where we're playing down to our opponent. We're down 23-24, and Rokas Gustys looks like the only HU player who hasn't even the slightest clue of what to do on the court. SHU is outrebounding us 12-14. Gustys wants a win in front of his uncle who's here visiting from Lithuania.

[Wags]

We look awful so far. Yet another game where we're playing down to our opponent. We're down 23-24, and Rokas Gustys looks like the only HU player who hasn't even the slightest clue of what to do on the court. SHU is outrebounding us 12-14. Gustys wants a win in front of his uncle who's here visiting from Lithuania.

Back to bad, old habits of lacking defensive intensity and settling for the 3-ball way too much (half of HU's 24 shots, only made 4 from behind the arc), especially with far too much time left on the shot clock.

And I think I have seen more than enough of Green's awkward, off-balance 3-point tries that miss off of one foot. If he doesn't learn FAST (should know it by now) that he has to be a facilitator for others and should be driving in the paint and getting to the line 10 times per game, it's going to be a very long season the rest of the way.

[bobe13]

Hate to say I told you so-hopefully they will brake away in second half

[ProudofPride]

Does anyone on this team, player or coach ever look and see who the opposing team's leading scorer is? We're now down 36-29. SHU is shooting 58% compared to our 33%. SHU's leading scorer has 16 so far. This is embarrassing.