Tournament
Bracket
Opponent: Game #1 vs VMI (9-23, 3-15)
Date: March 7th, 2020
Time: 12:00 PM
Place: Harrah's Cherokee Center Asheville
Television: Nexstar, ABC Tri-Cities (11.2)
Webcast: ESPN+
Radio online:
640WXSM.com
VMI 2019-2020
Schedule
VMI 2019-2020
Roster
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Opponent: Game #2 vs: Western Carolina (19-11, 10-8 SoCon)
Date: March 8th, 2020
Time: 4:00 PM
Television: Nexstar (ABC Tri-Cities 11.2)
Webcast: ESPN+
Radio online:
640WXSM.com
WCU 2019-2020
Schedule
WCU 2019-2020
Roster
WCU
Message Board
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Opponent: Game #3 vs Wofford (9-23, 3-15)
Date: February 26th, 2020
Time: 7:00 PM
Opponent: Wofford (19-15, 8-10 SoCon)
Place: Harrah's Cherokee Center
Television: ESPN
Webcast:
ESPN+ (Subscription)
Radio online:
640WXSM.com
Wofford 2019-2020
Schedule
Wofford 2019-2020
Roster
Wofford
Message Board
Coach Forbes was on the radio this morning :
-The Bucs had a walk through lasting about 30-45 minutes this morning at the Civic Center. They will have a walk through this evening at UNCA and then watch film.
-When asked if he had noticed any changes in the arena, Forbes said that he wasn't particularly looking around, but he didn't notice anything exceptional. He said that he had been told that they intend to add a "Ribbon Board" this summer. He said that he had already met some ETSU fans today and that the SOCON officials that he had talked to were expecting a large ETSU crowd.
-When asked if it mattered to the team who they played, he said that it didn't; they just needed to handle their own business. He said that the practice yesterday was good. He said that the Bucs didn't really play well against WCU and, obviously, they had been saved largely by Good's phenomenal play. He said that he believed that they had corrected the shortcomings in that game.
-When asked what being named SOCON Coach of the Year meant to him, Forbes said that it was more a reflection of what a great staff he had and how closely knit and determined the team was. He genuinely believes that this team had the goal from the beginning of the season to win the SOCON Tournament and make it outright to the bracket.
-When asked about the all conference player awards, he said that he was disappointed that N'Guessan and Tisdale had not received some recognition. He still feels that N'Guessan was the top post player in the league. Tisdale he thinks doesn't get as much credit as he should because of the number of things that he does on the court that don't end up as impressive stat figures and yet he was arguably the most valuable player on a championship team. He disliked the some (probably most) voters simply ran their fingers down a stat line to vote for post season honors instead of valuing players' contributions to a complete season. He said that he couldn't see how you could justify voting for a player with gaudy stats on a losing team as compared to the contributions of players such as N'Guessan and Tisdale who made a championship season possible. (Hear! Hear!) He also said that he thought that Williamson should have been given more consideration for post season awards, but he felt that he had time for that later.
-When asked how he compared the fact that the Bucs had followed up their preseason number 1 placement and their championship with the their number seeding in the tournament, Forbes said basically it was more of the same in regards to what needed to be done. They need to win the tournament to assure themselves a place in the NCAA and the team from the beginning has had that high expectation. He said that he mentioned to the team the 17-18 MTSU team which cruised through the regular season and was lauded by many in the national media and then stumbled in their conference tournament and didn't make it the bracket.
Good stuff, thanks BigIsland. Glad to hear they have "corrected the shortcomings" from the wcu game (and hopefully the previous 3 games for that matter). When teams deny post entry and we aren't hitting shots, it can get ugly
Thank you! Glad to hear the shortcomings have been worked on. We should be a lot better.
(03-06-2020 10:25 AM)BigIslandBuc Wrote: [ -> ]Coach Forbes was on the radio this morning :
- When asked about the all conference player awards, he said that he was disappointed that N'Guessan and Tisdale had not received some recognition. He still feels that N'Guessan was the top post player in the league. Tisdale he thinks doesn't get as much credit as he should because of the number of things that he does on the court that don't end up as impressive stat figures and yet he was arguably the most valuable player on a championship team. He disliked the some (probably most) voters simply ran their fingers down a stat line to vote for post season honors instead of valuing players' contributions to a complete season. He said that he couldn't see how you could justify voting for a player with gaudy stats on a losing team as compared to the contributions of players such as N'Guessan and Tisdale who made a championship season possible. (Hear! Hear!)
No way the Bucs would trade Tisdale for Dimitrejevic or Hoover, or even Josh Sharkey, each of whom made all-SoCon. Pun is a solid rock of steady leadership. He can get hot and score 26 points, but he is just as happy playing solid defense, controlling the ball, rebounding and making others look good. And whatever the Bucs have asked of him the last two years, he has stayed positive and focused and done the job. Minimum ego, maximum guts and leadership.
As for N'Guessan, it is only in the last third or so of the season that he has really found his groove, but he has been an incredibly steady 12 points or so and 7 rebounds through that period. That was a time when we were without Jeromy. No way the Bucs succeed if Lucas does not step up. That was also the time when the Bucs have faded in the last couple of years. Lucas was key in keeping us on track. Vila over Lucas? Not in your wildest dreams! Like I said in the spring, Lucas is an 'x-factor': "a strong year from Lucas could be the difference between a good Buc team and a memorable one".
When it comes time to vote for awards, the Bucs are hurt by having so much balanced scoring. But that's also what makes them a better team.
We’d all love to see the Bucs cut another net down and 1 special Buc take the MVP home! That’s what matters most now. Go Bucs!
Bucs continue dropping in some of the projected seedings. ESPN has them down to a 12. I think we have to win the whole thing to get in.
(03-06-2020 12:42 PM)ETSUfan1 Wrote: [ -> ]Bucs continue dropping in some of the projected seedings. ESPN has them down to a 12. I think we have to win the whole thing to get in.
slight chance if we were to win our first 2 games easily and then lose a close one to either greensboro or furman. that is the only way it is even possible to get in without a win. that would give us a similar resume to belmont from last year.
best thing is to just cut down the nets in asheville.
(03-06-2020 11:31 AM)bucfan81 Wrote: [ -> ]Thank you! Glad to hear the shortcomings have been worked on. We should be a lot better.
Don't really mean this to sound snarky...........but that's about 6-8 times we've heard that this season. But of course certain things are just prone to keep popping up. It's difficult to keep so many moving parts in proper alignment all the time. Just the nature of the beast.
And I don't at all mean that to imply I don't believe him. Just sayin'.
I just want to see us come out and get a convincing victory tomorrow. I won't feel good about a 6 point win vs VMI/Samford.
It makes no difference if the Bucs win by 1 or 20. Just win and move on. Margin of victory has no effect on next game. [/php]
(03-06-2020 02:23 PM)Buc76 Wrote: [ -> ]It makes no difference if the Bucs win by 1 or 20. Just win and move on. Margin of victory has no effect on next game.
It absolutely matters to things like the NET.
I’ll take 3 1 point wins in a row but our metrics have dropped because of some of the close wins lately.
(03-06-2020 02:49 PM)brock20 Wrote: [ -> ] (03-06-2020 02:23 PM)Buc76 Wrote: [ -> ]It makes no difference if the Bucs win by 1 or 20. Just win and move on. Margin of victory has no effect on next game.
It absolutely matters to things like the NET.
I’ll take 3 1 point wins in a row but our metrics have dropped because of some of the close wins lately.
Exactly what I was going to say. Two 30 point wins and loss in the championship will help our at-large chances much better than two 3 point wins and loss in the championship. But yes ultimately we just need to win the tournament and I'll take any margin of victory for 3 tournament wins.
BUCS metrics have dropped because LSU lost 6 of their last 9, making our win count less, plus they had a terrible lose to Vandy and UNCG lost their last two, which cost the Bucs a quadrant 1 win. Margin of victory is one if the least important metrics and is actually the only metric that is capped to give it less importance.
Just win, only guarantee of NCAA tournament bid.
[/php]GO BUCS.
(03-06-2020 04:28 PM)Buc76 Wrote: [ -> ]BUCS metrics have dropped because LSU lost 6 of their last 9, making our win count less, plus they had a terrible lose to Vandy and UNCG lost their last two, which cost the Bucs a quadrant 1 win. Margin of victory is one if the least important metrics and is actually the only metric that is capped to give it less importance.
Just win, only guarantee of NCAA tournament bid.
[/php]GO BUCS.
Yes those things you mentioned have contributed but in the NET and KenPom, margin of victory matters a lot more than it did in the RPI days. If you don’t perform up to expectations your metrics will fall. All the ranking experts have pointed to this as why our metrics have went down.
https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Basketb...ament.html
I’m a little worried. Hey, our last five games were won by an average of 5.4 points. I know the story line — comeback Bucs find a way to win. But, these folks, starting with VMI tomorrow, are motivated and out to get us. Look at that last game — Western was there to kick our butt and the Bucs found a (Good) way to get a wild comeback win. Like someone else said — it sure would be nice to see the Bucs come out, starting tomorrow, and destroy some people. Of course Forbes is on top of this — but, does he have this team’s undivided attention?
(03-06-2020 08:58 PM)Buc66 Wrote: [ -> ]https://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Basketb...ament.html
I’m a little worried. Hey, our last five games were won by an average of 5.4 points. I know the story line — comeback Bucs find a way to win. But, these folks, starting with VMI tomorrow, are motivated and out to get us. Look at that last game — Western was there to kick our butt and the Bucs found a (Good) way to get a wild comeback win. Like someone else said — it sure would be nice to see the Bucs come out, starting tomorrow, and destroy some people. Of course Forbes is on top of this — but, does he have this team’s undivided attention?
I am now at the point of believing that we are back to having to win the tournament to get into the big dance. The way you win does matter to the committee and our last three wins were wins but were not impressive. I hope we now play lights out for the next three days!
(03-06-2020 04:28 PM)Buc76 Wrote: [ -> ]BUCS metrics have dropped because LSU lost 6 of their last 9, making our win count less, plus they had a terrible lose to Vandy and UNCG lost their last two, which cost the Bucs a quadrant 1 win. Margin of victory is one if the least important metrics and is actually the only metric that is capped to give it less importance.
Just win, only guarantee of NCAA tournament bid.
[/php]GO BUCS.
Couldn't disagree more. Lackluster performances against less than average teams is why our Kenpom, NET, Sagarin, ESPN BPI, etc. have been tanking. Do you want to dance as a 9/10 seed or a 12/13?
Fear not tho two impressive performances in the quarters and semis and we're going into the championship game as an AP top 25 team.
Last four out in two different predictions....UCLA, PURDUE, N.C. STATE, WHICHTA ST, MEMPHIS, RICHMOND, etc
ETSU is a 10 seed in one and a 12 seed in another. They are listed as AQ ( automatic qualifier ).
If the Bucs don't win the tournament and any of the group of last 4 out makes a big run in tournament play, look out, especially if it's a team from the ACC or SEC who only have 4 teams projected. The committee is weighted to the P6 teams and they have consistently left out mid majors, ( who lost in their conference tournament ), with much better won/loss records than last 4 in P6 teams. The committee will say the P6 team won over much higher ranked teams which increased their ranking and they played a tougher schedule while ETSU lost to a lower ranked team and lost ranking and didn't have but one quadrant 1 win Such is life for a mid major.
Bucs can't afford to let the committee decide their fate. Just win and go dancing.
Expect a tough game. The margin has been 5 and 6 points in our regular season meetings. They out rebounded us despite a conference rebound margin of -2.3. We held their 3's down and won the turnover battle. They will be loose and sky high after a conference record 18 threes last night. Be ready for a close one.