What a close for us, got the shot we wanted from j will…. Just didn’t happen.
Frustrating missing fts and giving up essentially 15 layups to Kuhse.
Hopefully we get a fun NIT matchup.
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F*ckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.
We had it.
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Darn…shot 40% from the field and 65% from the line and almost were able to pull out the victory. Was a fun conference season and hopefully the team gets rewarded with an NIT berth.
Justice and Vrankic had great second half performances. And wow, Bediako was fantastic. I expect big things from him next year as a rebounder/shot blocker.
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Not to take anything away from the SMC defense, but a number of shots came up short tonight, and as you mentioned the FT shooting was certainly a factor. It was nice to see them claw back from that 15-point deficit, and the last two minutes reminded me of the BYU game, especially when JW had the ball in the lane. Another last-second victory would’ve been extra sweet. On to the NIT.
Pipes was a huge disappointment. Total of 4 pts 2 of 10 Played totally out of sync the entire game.
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The real back-breaker with scoring only six points in the first seven minutes of the second half.
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We don’t need to start the moral victories just yet, but man, that was probably not in SCU’s top 15 performances this season and yet they hung with a top 20 SMC squad. Pretty great, honestly.
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Why do you think we’ve played so flat???
Putting up over 70 against St.Mary’s again and keeping it close should help us in the various ratings. Also, WCC Comish is on the NIT Selection Committee so I feel pretty good about getting a bid. She can at least explain the Vrankic\Bediako absence and its impact.
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I hated all the easy layups . Still think we should try a zone but herb would do it . Missed a lot of loose ball chances. Hopefully we make the NiT
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Agree Hayward on the zone. Been harping on it forever, when you’re mediocre on D as we are, you need some Plan B and C options. The 1st half layup parade was painful to watch, switch to a zone for at least a bit, reducing driving opportunities and the value of their high screen and rolls and force them to beat us in some way other than getting easy layups in the key.
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Disappointing end for sure, but boy was this team special and fun to watch. Super super proud of what they were able to accomplish this season. Still lots to look forward to in the future. NIT hopes, a strong future with Holt and Stewart, and potentially another year of my favorite player Jalen Williams or he becomes a potential draft pick! If all these come true, we’ll have a lot more to look forward to.
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It would need to be a hybrid zone, because Kuhse and one other Gael were shooting well from the perimeter.
Virtually every team has a good 3pt shooter or two and yet some teams still play zone D successfully. We know SMC well, there are no mysteries, we can easily identify their better shooters and shade/cheat to those guys and close out stronger to contest 3’s.
Again, a zone would have negated the benefit of their high screens for Kuhse because there’d always be a back line waiting or a help defender in position on drives. Kuhse was rubbing Jalen off the high screen so Kuhse was able to get in the lane easily, keep Jalen on his hip and then pick and chose what he wanted to do…continue to the hoop, dump to a big or kick out to a 3. When the opposing team’s key playmaker is continuously getting in to the key you are screwed, said player is likely going to pick you apart as Kuhse did.
Alternatively, I would have trapped Kuhse whenever and wherever possible to force the ball out of his hands and make someone else create shots for them…ask yourself who else creates shots well for SMC???..no one. And once the ball was out of Kuhse’s hands, faceguard him so he never gets it back.
Yes, Tuesday morning quarterbacking…just wish we would have made an adjustment. The only adjustment was giving Jaden more PT over Braun, which was somewhat expected anyhow.
Now we wait 5 days for what is hopefully an NIT invite.
I wouldn’t consider this season much of a success without an NIT bid…without it, another missed opportunity, falling just short.
While I’m optimistic about guys like Stewart and Holt (Tongue as well) we could end up being really young next season, especially if Justice and Jalen leave. The time is now with plenty of seasoned/experienced players, super seniors and a special talent in Jalen.
Yup. Very worried about what we will look like this season. Really wanted to get to the championship to “take advantage” of having this great group.
NIT appearance would be a win.
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Tough loss but proud of our guys! Overall I think we are headed in the right direction. These kids are a special group of young men that are impressive both on and off the court…which is not the case for all teams. I hope all who can stay for next year do.
Vrankic is special player and has been a great ambassador for the team - hopefully he stays in basketball and finds his way back to the team after some pro ball somewhere.
These guys deserve to keep playing! (NIT).
Justice is a stud and really hope he comes back.
Lots of these guys on this team watched players leave and find success elsewhere (USC, SDSU, ND to some degree), and they could have done the same.
Finished top 3 of a league that has the #1 team in nation, with top 20 for the other. Maybe some losses that shouldn’t have been in league (USF 2x). Some guys fell off end of season due to playing way more than they are used to. That is okay, they will adjust. I still think we need to find a way to grind tough defenses into submission (read: Flex offense in which defenders get killed by picks chasing the ball…)
Would have been interesting if Caruso stuck around, and the guys that bolted over the summer. Definitely would have been more firepower and capability…would have been a really deep bench so player development would have been altered.
Williams is simply a different level player, so unselfish too. Imagine if he had to become like Jordan (Bulls) and literally take meaningful every shot?
Lastly, SCU student body needs to get behind the team more…student body athletic fan support needs to become a focal point of SCU culture.
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Tough one to take. First praise for the bigs, Vrankic, Bediako, Holt were instrumental in the comeback. They made tough shots, grabbed difficult boards, blocked/altered shots defensively, and rough physical play. Best combined post play I have seen from SCU in quite some time. Also, Justice knocking down shots when it mattered was huge in giving SUC a chance.
A rough night for Pipes and difficult shooting 2nd half for Williams made things hard to overcome.
Williams should test the NBA waters (without an agent). If he’s a 2nd rounder (which I think he is this year) best to return. If he can become a more physical player capable of creating space with his body (and not just his speed) he is a sure 1st rounder and potentially lottery pick… it is possible someone takes him late first round this year knowing they might not get another chance at him, and take a year to develop him into a more physical player on both ends of the floor. If he simply watches last nights game on loop he’ll see what he needs to work on to get to the top. Subtle things, but difference makers.
Now we hope for the NIT… which this team deserves, but I still think is 50/50 at this point.
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If I’m JW, I’d put HS to task, telling him to get some tall, large body commits via transfer portal or JC transfers before committing to return to SCU for his final year. There are a number of guard/wing players historically who have personally benefitted from having a “complete” team (meaning true 5-position players)…look at the effect Massalski has on Shabazz and Bouyea. I could also argue that a number of Gonzaga 1-3 guys benefitted from the talented bigs that have gone through that program. One could argue that Suggs benefitted from Timme’s presence last year.
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Liked swig’s last comment . I am on alumni board of directors and trying there and being a pest about it to Renee.
Here what we need:
Change dance team to cheerleaders
Band is very weak
Need Mae’s cheerleaders
Make games more fun - music , lights , theme nights like Grand Canyon does
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