Opening Night

[CharlieFU]

Massey had a nice projection of 101-52. Not sure that you can take much away from a game like that, though it did showcase the general plan of avoiding turnovers and shooting a ton of threes.

The game served as a "showcase" for both Bothwell and Pugh, along with redshirts Gurley and Clark. I am sure there are a number of things the coaches will find on film to imrove upon.

[Fessor]

Quite an accomplishment and great national exposure that the Tarheels would come to Timmons last night. Well done FU athletics.

[Affirm]

Quite an accomplishment and great national exposure that the Tarheels would come to Timmons last night. Well done FU athletics.

I have become aware that, in actuality, the Tarheels went to Spartanburg and played Wofford last night. Wofford made the score respectable. I would like to know when we are going to do something smart similar to that.
I would also like to know when we are going to start beating Wofford as well as Samford and Mercer more frequently.

[Paul C]

You’re kidding, right?

In the last 2 years we are 10-3 vs Wofford, Samford and Mercer.

Wofford 2-2 (including an tremendous 76-52 beat down of the Terriers in Timmons last year)
Samford 4-1
Mercer 4-0

[youwouldno]

The idea that Furman is currently looking up at Wofford, Mercer, or Samford is mathematically false:

Pomeroy Rankings by Year

2018
Furman - 95
Mercer - 154
Wofford - 163
Samford - 298

2017
Furman - 106
Wofford - 142
Mercer - 145
Samford - 166

2016
Furman - 175
Mercer - 182
Wofford - 187
Samford - 221

Sure, Wofford's home game against UNC was a great, one-time thing for them . . . the new arena is undoubtedly a major asset. Ultimately the goal is to have the best team.

[Affirm]

Glad to have that info, from Paul C and from youwouldknow.
I still would like to know when we are going to start beating Wofford more than 50% of the time and Samford more than 75% of the time.
Glad to see our record vs Mercer - I would like to know if we will be able to keep that "streak" going.
Regarding Wofford's "one-time great thing for them", I seem to recall that they hosted Georgia Tech and Harvard last year, and I think Wofford did well against both. Meanwhile, we keep scheduling teams like BJU, NGU, and SWU. Couldn't we at least bring in one additional team to Timmons such as (if not UNC-CH) Georgia, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, or lesser names (in place of BJU, NGU, SWU) like VCU, George Mason, Richmond, W&M, James Madison, Elon, Coastal, Winthrop, George Washington, Appalachian State, CofC?
I realize we have UNC-W coming - that's great. Need 1 or 2 more of that sort
Also, I realize that this topic has been rehashed over and over, ad nauseum. I regret having to bring it back up, but it remains an issue, in my opinion.
And I realize we are trying to schedule reasonably affordable, available opponents, and get wins. I want us to win. I want us to be "the best team that we can reasonably be."

[youwouldno]

The primary "issue" for any SoCon team is winning the conference tournament.

The best team has the best chance of winning the tournament.

Hence, the goal of any SoCon program is to field the best team in the conference. The secondary goal would be to at least be competitive with the best team so that a tournament win is bound to happen sooner or later.

Furman's exact record against any random SoCon program is irrelevant. Having more interesting out of conference home games would be nice, but the actual impact on the program is basically irrelevant compared to the impact of winning the SoCon tournament.

Last year's team had a 27.8% chance to win the tournament, which was quite high by historical standards. Wofford had a 4.6% chance and Mercer a 0.1% chance. Obviously, mediocre teams could go many, many years without winning, which is exactly what has happened at Furman. Medved brought the program out of mediocrity into serious contention. If Richey keeps the program there, or even elevates it slightly higher (this becomes increasingly difficult due to the natural constraints of the conference), Furman will return to the NCAA tournament.

[Jasper]

The primary "issue" for any SoCon team is winning the conference tournament.

The best team has the best chance of winning the tournament.

Hence, the goal of any SoCon program is to field the best team in the conference. The secondary goal would be to at least be competitive with the best team so that a tournament win is bound to happen sooner or later.

Furman's exact record against any random SoCon program is irrelevant. Having more interesting out of conference home games would be nice, but the actual impact on the program is basically irrelevant compared to the impact of winning the SoCon tournament.

Last year's team had a 27.8% chance to win the tournament, which was quite high by historical standards. Wofford had a 4.6% chance and Mercer a 0.1% chance. Obviously, mediocre teams could go many, many years without winning, which is exactly what has happened at Furman. Medved brought the program out of mediocrity into serious contention. If Richey keeps the program there, or even elevates it slightly higher (this becomes increasingly difficult due to the natural constraints of the conference), Furman will return to the NCAA tournament.

I agree with you. Winning the SoCon tournament puts FU in the NCAA tourney and a lot more recognition. My only caution is that the IF in your last sentence is big. No matter what anyone thinks of Medved now, he was a very good BB coach. Not only was he a good recruiter and a good x and o guy but he got the most out of his players as well. IMO, his primary loyalty was to his career and family and that is only right. Whether Richey can hold the place to which Medved brought Furman and add to it is still to be determined.

[youwouldno]

n/t

[youwouldno]

I agree with you. Winning the SoCon tournament puts FU in the NCAA tourney and a lot more recognition. My only caution is that the IF in your last sentence is big. No matter what anyone thinks of Medved now, he was a very good BB coach. Not only was he a good recruiter and a good x and o guy but he got the most out of his players as well. IMO, his primary loyalty was to his career and family and that is only right. Whether Richey can hold the place to which Medved brought Furman and add to it is still to be determined.

Yeah, it's a big 'if.' I'm encouraged by the fact that Richey seems to have both strong interpersonal skills as well as an analytical approach to performance evaluation and game strategy.

I think we will start to get a bit of an idea this year but a more complete picture won't emerge until after year 3 or 4.

[Paul C]

I’m not worried about Bob, I’m worried about “the next guy”.....

[Fessor]

Undoubtedly, he's on staff now.

[youwouldno]

Undoubtedly, he's on staff now.

Very possible, but if Richey wins enough to get a bigger job (harder than for Medved since Richey inherited a winner and lacks big-school assistance experience), the Furman job will be very attractive. An up-and-coming big school assistant could get into the picture.

[tya1]

Does anyone remember when 100 points was the standard and not the exception?

Yes, the better part of the 70's.

During the 70s we scored over 100 about 12% of our games. In the 71-72 season we reached the magic number in 8 games of 28 played. That was less than 30% of the games but it was the high water mark season of 100 point outings.

I don't think that qualifies as standard.

[apaladin]

Does anyone remember when 100 points was the standard and not the exception?

Yes, the better part of the 70's.

During the 70s we scored over 100 about 12% of our games. In the 71-72 season we reached the magic number in 8 games of 28 played. That was less than 30% of the games but it was the high water mark season of 100 point outings.

I don't think that qualifies as standard.

No definitely not standard but we didn't go years without scoring 100 as we have recently. Of course all of that has changed when we started down scheduling with teams like BJU, and some of the others that I don't even remember their names.