WCC Game 6: @ USF

Bummer not to get that win, especially with 2-3 missed layups in the last 3-4 minutes. But what a great game overall. The computers seem to have that game as a “good loss” with the Broncos moving up slightly on both KenPom and Torvik even after the close defeat. A lot of stellar play all around. Plenty of stuff to work on, as always, but this is a team that should play in a legitimate post-season tournament.

Really fun game to watch with solid offensive flow, especially during that 15 bucket run. A few simple plays determined the outcome and could have swung it the other way. The flagrant on Justice seemed way off, but the sequence at the end of the half also resulted in at least a five point swing. Errant inbounds pass for a bucket. Then Justice shooting a three with 18 seconds on the clock instead of waiting until the clock winds down to then give up the USF three at the buzzer. Bit us in the end.

I think the rankings are moving up because the TCU and Stanford wins are looking better by the day. TCU knocked off a ranked LSU team yesterday and Stanford’s road win over USC on Thursday was big.

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Agree Patty…we should be in contention for an NIT bid but we still have work to do.
We made things more challenging with the 5 non-con losses, all winnable games…not saying we should have been undefeated in non-con but really needed at least 1 preferably 2 more wins in those games. Fresno St. game was more of a struggle but the other 4 (UC Irvine, LA Tech, Cal, Boise St.) were all very much in reach, generally got beat by being bullied in the paint, rebounding, etc. with limited adjustments made to counteract the obvious problems…frustrating.

So, based on where we stand now, we still need to take care of business against the lower half of the WCC plus at least 1 win against either SMC or USF (both will be at home) or a win+ in the WCC tourney. Either would get us to 21 wins with some quality wins on the resume and IMO at least a 50/50 chance of an NIT bid. I’d feel much more confident if we get to 22 wins.
If we suffer any losses to the bottom 5 WCC teams then we need to compensate with an additional win beyond the above scenarios vs. USF/SMC or in the WCC tourney (ie- sweep SMC and USF at home or log 2 wins in the tourney…a tall order).

And reminder and heads up that we have the Pacific makeup game @ home tomorrow (Monday) @ 6PM. Will try to get a game thread up by this evening.

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