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Post by Class of '83 on Feb 7, 2016 11:24:29 GMT -5
We have 6 games remaining in the HL before the HL tournament: @ UIC, @ Valparaiso, Oakland, Northern Kentucky, @ Youngstown State, and @ Cleveland State. We are currently tied for second with Oakland and a game and 1/2 behind Valpo. We potentially could still end up anywhere from first place to sixth place depending on how we finish out the season. We have had fans both criticize and defend Donlon's coaching this year. I think these last 6 games will determine what kind of coach he is and if he is someone we should want to remain as our coach going forward. He shouldn't have any problem motivating this team. They have a chance at first place. Even finishing in second place gives us a buy in the HL tournament. My biggest concern is that we play 4 of our last 6 on the road and Donlon has not done a good job at winning games away from the Nutter Center this year. We are 2-8 in away games and 1-1 on neutral court games.
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Post by Dr J on Feb 7, 2016 13:02:49 GMT -5
All of these games are important. If we can win 5 of the 6 we should be in 2nd place. But the focus must be on each game individually.
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Post by Retired Coach on Feb 7, 2016 13:15:40 GMT -5
All of these games are important. If we can win 5 of the 6 we should be in 2nd place. But the focus must be on each game individually. Winning 5 of 6 means we go at least 3-1 on the road. Highly doubtful considering we are 2-8 on the road on the year. |
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Post by Dr J on Feb 7, 2016 13:45:29 GMT -5
If you look at the teams that should be very possible if they are focused on each game individually. The past is the past. If you look at the beginning of the season, this team shouldn't be where they are either.
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Post by wsuraider09 on Feb 7, 2016 13:57:27 GMT -5
@uic - has to be a win, no excuses. They played us tough last time, and we got off to a slow start. Can't start slow.
@valpo - Likely a loss, just being realistic
Oakland - This is probably the most important game left on the schedule. Should be a really good game
NKU - Should be a win, last home game, lots of emotion. No reason to lose this game
@ysu - Slocum's team always plays us tough at home, don't expect us to have too much trouble after round one
@csu - This is a trap game, we're playing at the Q, where a decent crowd can be expected. It'd be great to have the #2 seed wrapped up at this point, but that remains to be seen.
The main thing is if we keep pace with everyone else in the league, and Valpo wins out, we're going to have the tiebreaker because, so far, we're the only team to beat Valpo.
The other good news is that OU has 5 games left they could legitimately lose. I think the schedule is in our favor, even though we have more road games. Aside from Oakland and Valpo, we're bottom-feeding the rest of the way. OU has:
vs. Milwaukee
vs. GB
@ Valpo
@ us
vs. Detroit
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Post by Raider3G on Feb 7, 2016 14:35:53 GMT -5
Since we have beaten all four teams we play on the road by double-digits, I think 3-1 is very achievable if the team stays healthy.
We don't have win five of six for the #2 seed, but at least 4-2.
UWM and UWGB---two games back in the loss column on us. UWM still has a tough road slate ahead, including games at Oakland, UGWB, and Detroit with a home game against Valpo. UWGB has a much friendlier schedule, with five of the last seven at home, but with road games consisting of Detroit and Oakland with a home game at the end against Valpo. In short, those two are dropping at least 1-2 more games.
Oakland has road games against Valpo, UIC and WSU still, along with home games against the Wisconsin schools and Detroit. I see them going 4-2. I see WSU beating them at home and also Valpo beating them. FInally, they have sruggled at home, losing three league games at home. I wouldn't put winning at Oakland past UWGB, UWM, or Detroit (especially the latter, who have won three in a row).
4-2 in the next six games should give WSU the #2 seed, so long as Valpo sweeps Oakland. But WSU is probably not finishing worse than 3 in league standings.
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Post by Fastbreak on Feb 7, 2016 14:38:02 GMT -5
I honestly don't have much faith in Donlon but I really like the way our seniors have played recently and hope they keep rising to the occasion. Getting at least the 2 seed gives us a legit shot at Dancing and Dancing gives us a chance to rebuild fan interest in this program and we really need to rebuild our fan base.
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Post by jumbojimbo on Feb 7, 2016 23:09:59 GMT -5
We're 2-3 on the road in hl games. We beat mil and should have beat gb. 1 game below 500 is not terrible. Not great but reasonable and it kept us in second. The pessimism in here is depressing.
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Post by Raider3G on Feb 8, 2016 18:52:20 GMT -5
We're 2-3 on the road in hl games. We beat mil and should have beat gb. 1 game below 500 is not terrible. Not great but reasonable and it kept us in second. The pessimism in here is depressing. Thank you. We could have had everybody at full strength, and we would not have beaten XU, and there is never shame losing competitively at UK. The first two losses to start the year and also the Miami game---I would love to see the current team at its current health play those again, especially now that they have jelled. At some point, people on this board need to just accept the fact that many of us predicting doom and gloom early on and during the 3-7 start were wrong to write this team off, and to know its OK to root for a Donlon coached WSU team to win regardless of whether you like Donlon or not. Finally, people for years have bashed the slow-down style of play in favor of a more tempo game, which this team is doing more of. In fact, all the incessant Donlon bashers should be rooting the hardest for him to win because it's more likely he'll jump ship after an NCAA bid (considering there are 17 conferences ranked higher than the HL right now) than it is Grant firing him this year. |
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Post by Dr J on Feb 8, 2016 21:03:10 GMT -5
Each, first I have not been a Donlon fan because we had athletic and short teams but played a prolonged half court game that could not beat the majority of our competition. He stated his philosophy was defense, defense, defense. He left offense and rebounding out of the equation. Now we have a much more balanced game. Still weak on the rebounding aspect but a big overall improvement. I have always wanted Donlon to be successful because that would mean the Raiders would be successful. If Stephen Davis doesn't come back we will have 5 scholies to give. Hopefully can get 2 bigs from JC ranks. If he changes to a complete game, I'm happy for him to stay. You see it is not about Donlon as much as how he coaches. I would like to see a former center or PF become an assistant. I will not back anyone who doesn't support the Raiders and Donlon with the turn around. I still wish he could realize that trying to protect a lead gives a negative attitude if done too early n the game. If the lead is at or above, 4 points per minute then slowing down some is ok. But never give up a fast break opportunity. We need that killer attitude while on the court. We don't have a fat lady to sing until the game is over officially.
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Post by BasketBallJones on Feb 10, 2016 8:26:55 GMT -5
FYI, the Oakland game on Monday, Feb 15th has been moved to 5pm so that it can be televised on ESPNU. I certainly hope that the Athletic Department gets emails out to all season ticket holders and also gets some radio announcements out to the general public making everyone aware of the change. I can foresee a lot of people arriving at the Nutter center around 6:30 and missing nearly the entire game.
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Post by raidergrad98 on Feb 10, 2016 9:40:24 GMT -5
If the game is at 5 I wont be able to go. I like a lot of people work until 5. This is going to hurt attendance for a very important game. Too bad TV rules all. Presidents Day will change that availability for a chunk of attendees. |
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Post by raidergrad98 on Feb 10, 2016 9:54:58 GMT -5
Presidents Day will change that availability for a chunk of attendees. That won't help me, and I was lioking forward to going Life happens. I'm fortunate to have the availability. |
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Post by hittmanraider on Feb 10, 2016 12:45:54 GMT -5
FYI, the Oakland game on Monday, Feb 15th has been moved to 5pm so that it can be televised on ESPNU. I certainly hope that the Athletic Department gets emails out to all season ticket holders and also gets some radio announcements out to the general public making everyone aware of the change. I can foresee a lot of people arriving at the Nutter center around 6:30 and missing nearly the entire game. I recieved my email a week ago, and on all of the schedules it says the game would be 5 or 7, so planned on this happening. |
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Post by paulkris on Feb 10, 2016 16:45:31 GMT -5
I could see if this was a Saturday or Sunday game but a Monday game at 5 is dumb. Attendance killer I boldly predict that the announced attendance will be just over 3600 since that's how many season tickets we sold. Being on ESPNU trumps local fan convenience every time. |
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