disclaimer: this is painful to read, may cause hot flashes, fits of anger, unexpected yelling, crying or furrowing of brow

took a few minutes to look at the 15 losses. interesting stat is rockets led well into the 2nd half in 9 of the 15 games and were in position to win in the final minute in 8 of the losses. shows how a so-so year could have been really good with just a few clutch plays here and couple calls and bounces there. in addition, a bunch of close wins we're big leads evaporating into tight late games.

1) @ st joes (wire to wire close game, led with 2 min to go, lost by 1
2) @ midd tenn st (never close lost by 10)
3) midd tenn st in Nashville (led most of game, Mid Tenn tied it w 5 seconds to go, lost by 3 in OT)
4) UNC Wilmington in nashville (close 1st half, UNCW pulled away gradually and we lost big)
5) Green bay (led whole game, GB tied it w 5 sec to go, lost by 1 in OT)
6) @ Marshall (led by 4 w a minute to go, marshall tied it w 25 sec and we miss last shot and lose by 6 in OT)
7) @ WMU (trailed by single digits whole game faded late and lost by 16)
8) @ CMU (fell behind 11-0 and then stayed with a couple buckets or so until final seconds, lost by 8)
9) @ Kent (blowout loss)
10) @ NIU (stayed on Huskies heels by a bucket or 2 most of game, Sanford had 2 ft to tie w 5 sec to go and missed both, lose by 2)
11) @ Ball St ( led most of game without jonjon , BSU made a late run took lead and we lose by 1)
12) @ BG (led big at times and entire game until late bg rally sends it to OT, led by 7 in OT but BG rallied to send it to double OT, led by 5 in 2nd OT but BG took a 1 pt lead on a three w 28 sec to go and we lose)
13) @ akron (led by 11 w ten min to go, led by 2 w five min to go, lose by 6)
14) WMU (led by double digits most of game, WMU ties it w 49 sec and it goes OT when we miss last shot, WMU hits a go ahead 3 w 30 sec to go and we lose by 5)
15) BSU (bad game, Ball state keeps a single digit lead most of the way after a hot start, rockets rally within 4 or 5 several times down stretch but never get the lead and lose by 8)

rpi 154 out of 361, strength of sched 123 of 361
3 losses rpi top 50 (1 "good" loss in OT to #35 MTSU)
2 losses rpi sub 200 ("bad losses to BG and CMU both around 220)
rockets played a schedule heavy w decent teams, few games against bad teams and few games against great teams) MAC was middle heavy this year. non conf sched was mostly pretty good to really good mid majors

who knows maybe this list won't have a 16

(03-04-2017 10:48 PM)pono Wrote:  disclaimer: this is painful to read, may cause hot flashes, fits of anger, unexpected yelling, crying or furrowing of brow

took a few minutes to look at the 15 losses. interesting stat is rockets led well into the 2nd half in 9 of the 15 games and were in position to win in the final minute in 8 of the losses. shows how a so-so year could have been really good with just a few clutch plays here and couple calls and bounces there. in addition, a bunch of close wins we're big leads evaporating into tight late games.

1) @ st joes (wire to wire close game, led with 2 min to go, lost by 1
2) @ midd tenn st (never close lost by 10)
3) midd tenn st in Nashville (led most of game, Mid Tenn tied it w 5 seconds to go, lost by 3 in OT)
4) UNC Wilmington in nashville (close 1st half, UNCW pulled away gradually and we lost big)
5) Green bay (led whole game, GB tied it w 5 sec to go, lost by 1 in OT)
6) @ Marshall (led by 4 w a minute to go, marshall tied it w 25 sec and we miss last shot and lose by 6 in OT)
7) @ WMU (trailed by single digits whole game faded late and lost by 16)
8) @ CMU (fell behind 11-0 and then stayed with a couple buckets or so until final seconds, lost by 8)
9) @ Kent (blowout loss)
10) @ NIU (stayed on Huskies heels by a bucket or 2 most of game, Sanford had 2 ft to tie w 5 sec to go and missed both, lose by 2)
11) @ Ball St ( led most of game without jonjon , BSU made a late run took lead and we lose by 1)
12) @ BG (led big at times and entire game until late bg rally sends it to OT, led by 7 in OT but BG rallied to send it to double OT, led by 5 in 2nd OT but BG took a 1 pt lead on a three w 28 sec to go and we lose)
13) @ akron (led by 11 w ten min to go, led by 2 w five min to go, lose by 6)
14) WMU (led by double digits most of game, WMU ties it w 49 sec and it goes OT when we miss last shot, WMU hits a go ahead 3 w 30 sec to go and we lose by 5)
15) BSU (bad game, Ball state keeps a single digit lead most of the way after a hot start, rockets rally within 4 or 5 several times down stretch but never get the lead and lose by 8)

rpi 154 out of 361, strength of sched 123 of 361
3 losses rpi top 50 (1 "good" loss in OT to #35 MTSU)
2 losses rpi sub 200 ("bad losses to BG and CMU both around 220)
rockets played a schedule heavy w decent teams, few games against bad teams and few games against great teams) MAC was middle heavy this year. non conf sched was mostly pretty good to really good mid majors

who knows maybe this list won't have a 16

16) Toledo leads North Carolina by 9 with seven minutes to go, NC gets a half court three to go in regulation and wins in 3OTs in the most exciting NCAA championship ever.

(03-05-2017 04:08 AM)H2Oville Rocket Wrote:  

(03-04-2017 10:48 PM)pono Wrote:  disclaimer: this is painful to read, may cause hot flashes, fits of anger, unexpected yelling, crying or furrowing of brow

took a few minutes to look at the 15 losses. interesting stat is rockets led well into the 2nd half in 9 of the 15 games and were in position to win in the final minute in 8 of the losses. shows how a so-so year could have been really good with just a few clutch plays here and couple calls and bounces there. in addition, a bunch of close wins we're big leads evaporating into tight late games.

1) @ st joes (wire to wire close game, led with 2 min to go, lost by 1
2) @ midd tenn st (never close lost by 10)
3) midd tenn st in Nashville (led most of game, Mid Tenn tied it w 5 seconds to go, lost by 3 in OT)
4) UNC Wilmington in nashville (close 1st half, UNCW pulled away gradually and we lost big)
5) Green bay (led whole game, GB tied it w 5 sec to go, lost by 1 in OT)
6) @ Marshall (led by 4 w a minute to go, marshall tied it w 25 sec and we miss last shot and lose by 6 in OT)
7) @ WMU (trailed by single digits whole game faded late and lost by 16)
8) @ CMU (fell behind 11-0 and then stayed with a couple buckets or so until final seconds, lost by 8)
9) @ Kent (blowout loss)
10) @ NIU (stayed on Huskies heels by a bucket or 2 most of game, Sanford had 2 ft to tie w 5 sec to go and missed both, lose by 2)
11) @ Ball St ( led most of game without jonjon , BSU made a late run took lead and we lose by 1)
12) @ BG (led big at times and entire game until late bg rally sends it to OT, led by 7 in OT but BG rallied to send it to double OT, led by 5 in 2nd OT but BG took a 1 pt lead on a three w 28 sec to go and we lose)
13) @ akron (led by 11 w ten min to go, led by 2 w five min to go, lose by 6)
14) WMU (led by double digits most of game, WMU ties it w 49 sec and it goes OT when we miss last shot, WMU hits a go ahead 3 w 30 sec to go and we lose by 5)
15) BSU (bad game, Ball state keeps a single digit lead most of the way after a hot start, rockets rally within 4 or 5 several times down stretch but never get the lead and lose by 8)

rpi 154 out of 361, strength of sched 123 of 361
3 losses rpi top 50 (1 "good" loss in OT to #35 MTSU)
2 losses rpi sub 200 ("bad losses to BG and CMU both around 220)
rockets played a schedule heavy w decent teams, few games against bad teams and few games against great teams) MAC was middle heavy this year. non conf sched was mostly pretty good to really good mid majors

who knows maybe this list won't have a 16

16) Toledo leads North Carolina by 9 with seven minutes to go, NC gets a half court three to go in regulation and wins in 3OTs in the most exciting NCAA championship ever.

For me, that would be an acceptable -though heartbreaking loss.

The 2 losses that I just didn't understand at all were the games at BG and at home against WMU. Those should never have happened. Win those, and we finish 11-7 in the MAC and are guaranteed a winning record overall for the season.

Imagine if Steve Taylor could have made 1 more free throw per game. Turns all the overtimes into wins

If that, if this, if what, tired about the if's

(03-04-2017 10:48 PM)pono Wrote:  disclaimer: this is painful to read, may cause hot flashes, fits of anger, unexpected yelling, crying or furrowing of brow

took a few minutes to look at the 15 losses. interesting stat is rockets led well into the 2nd half in 9 of the 15 games and were in position to win in the final minute in 8 of the losses. shows how a so-so year could have been really good with just a few clutch plays here and couple calls and bounces there. in addition, a bunch of close wins we're big leads evaporating into tight late games.

1) @ st joes (wire to wire close game, led with 2 min to go, lost by 1
2) @ midd tenn st (never close lost by 10)
3) midd tenn st in Nashville (led most of game, Mid Tenn tied it w 5 seconds to go, lost by 3 in OT)
4) UNC Wilmington in nashville (close 1st half, UNCW pulled away gradually and we lost big)
5) Green bay (led whole game, GB tied it w 5 sec to go, lost by 1 in OT)
6) @ Marshall (led by 4 w a minute to go, marshall tied it w 25 sec and we miss last shot and lose by 6 in OT)
7) @ WMU (trailed by single digits whole game faded late and lost by 16)
8) @ CMU (fell behind 11-0 and then stayed with a couple buckets or so until final seconds, lost by 8)
9) @ Kent (blowout loss)
10) @ NIU (stayed on Huskies heels by a bucket or 2 most of game, Sanford had 2 ft to tie w 5 sec to go and missed both, lose by 2)
11) @ Ball St ( led most of game without jonjon , BSU made a late run took lead and we lose by 1)
12) @ BG (led big at times and entire game until late bg rally sends it to OT, led by 7 in OT but BG rallied to send it to double OT, led by 5 in 2nd OT but BG took a 1 pt lead on a three w 28 sec to go and we lose)
13) @ akron (led by 11 w ten min to go, led by 2 w five min to go, lose by 6)
14) WMU (led by double digits most of game, WMU ties it w 49 sec and it goes OT when we miss last shot, WMU hits a go ahead 3 w 30 sec to go and we lose by 5)
15) BSU (bad game, Ball state keeps a single digit lead most of the way after a hot start, rockets rally within 4 or 5 several times down stretch but never get the lead and lose by 8)

rpi 154 out of 361, strength of sched 123 of 361
3 losses rpi top 50 (1 "good" loss in OT to #35 MTSU)
2 losses rpi sub 200 ("bad losses to BG and CMU both around 220)
rockets played a schedule heavy w decent teams, few games against bad teams and few games against great teams) MAC was middle heavy this year. non conf sched was mostly pretty good to really good mid majors

who knows maybe this list won't have a 16

Well done, thank you.

I'm only guessing, but I think Coach K thought going into this year they could compete in the MAC - but given DD was tossed just before the MAC started, and then Zach goes down for the year - not in the play book as it turned out. Bummer.

I go back to the Nichols years, but the game has changed - the 3 pointer in and of itself has changed the game. It has become all about scoring (imagine that; what sport isn't trying to do that). That said, Coach K has a system he wants to play.

Unselfish basketball, always looking for the better shot, assists vs turnover ratio; which maximized their number of possessions, and take good shots when you have them. In a league like the MAC, the 3 can just wipe you out (a Person comes to mind (and a laundry list of others)), so some games you are just at the mercy of the 3.

But they play a fun, and enjoyable style of basketball, which is fun to watch. I wish they would jam a few more.

And I still don't get the Adway deal - he should see more time on the floor. Pretty much nothing last game after what he did against BS. Dumbfounded.

Its working though, yes would like to see Adway play more. NO CONFIDENCE COMING OFF THE BENCH WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NAVIGOTTO (SP)