Our chances to play in post season

[Bootie]

The comments showing the usual bi-polarity. Too optimistic or too pessimistic. Except for apaladin, who is normally pessimistic.
The record has been quite a bit better than I expected before the season. During the pre-conference we somehow won every close game and came from behind repeatedly. That probably increased the emphasis the other SoCon teams placed on game planning us. What they realized was that after losing four key players, including our top three scorers, we were a better shooting, but less athletic team than last year. We had some potential weakness on defense and they have increased the physicality of play to exploit that. That often happens in conference play at all levels anyway. It coincided with injured shooting hands for our two best three point shooters. Not a good coincidence for us.

Last year Pegues and Whitt were very dangerous to pressure because they could blow by over committed defenders to the hoop. Smith and Anderson can drive but are not as great a threat. In a way Foster was a tougher low post threat than anyone this year. We need to continue to develop our post up threats the rest of the season.

We have four more home games - Mercer, UNCG,VMI, and the Citadel - and road games at Samford and Wofford. The Massey ratings predict us to go 4-2, and the Wofford game is basically 50/50. I think most people would have been very happy with a 22 or 23 win regular season before in started. I expect all of these remaining games will be a challenge and am looking forward to it.

tya’s posts are always so calm and sensible.

[Affirm]

The comments showing the usual bi-polarity. Too optimistic or too pessimistic. Except for apaladin, who is normally pessimistic.
The record has been quite a bit better than I expected before the season. During the pre-conference we somehow won every close game and came from behind repeatedly. That probably increased the emphasis the other SoCon teams placed on game planning us. What they realized was that after losing four key players, including our top three scorers, we were a better shooting, but less athletic team than last year. We had some potential weakness on defense and they have increased the physicality of play to exploit that. That often happens in conference play at all levels anyway. It coincided with injured shooting hands for our two best three point shooters. Not a good coincidence for us.

Last year Pegues and Whitt were very dangerous to pressure because they could blow by over committed defenders to the hoop. Smith and Anderson can drive but are not as great a threat. In a way Foster was a tougher low post threat than anyone this year. We need to continue to develop our post up threats the rest of the season.

We have four more home games - Mercer, UNCG,VMI, and the Citadel - and road games at Samford and Wofford. The Massey ratings predict us to go 4-2, and the Wofford game is basically 50/50. I think most people would have been very happy with a 22 or 23 win regular season before in started. I expect all of these remaining games will be a challenge and am looking forward to it.

Nevertheless:
Folks jump to conclusions.
After Lamont Paris’s 0-10 Gamecocks upset Ole Miss tonight, their fans will be preparing for the Final Four in San Antonio and also for the CBC in Las Vegas as a backup plan.
… But still, kudos to tya1 for a well-written analysis about where we are.
Not sure what he said, though, about our chance to play in post-season.

[apaladin]

Regardless of what Massey says we all know the WC game is not 50/50. 80/20 WC at best and that is being very optimistic.

[tya1]

Regardless of what Massey says we all know the WC game is not 50/50. 80/20 WC at best and that is being very optimistic.

And this why people might think you are too pessimistic.

Wofford is 13-12 on the season, 7-5 in SoCon games. They have been very 50/50 this season. Slightly better in conference than pre-conference. Three of their SoCon losses were at home. They lost at home to VMI. They played a closer game against Chattanooga on the road than at home. They lost at home to UNCG but beat them on the road. They are another up and down team. I expect three point shooting percentages to be a big factor in our next game with them. We only hit 23% in the first game while they hit over 40%. When they beat UNCG - at UNCG - they hit over 63% from three point range. When they lost to those guys at home they hit 39%.

[jesse174]

A week ago I was optimistic but now it’s more like 0.0% for me. Other teams focus on shutting down PJay and/or Anderson…and the next level guys don’t consistently step up as will be necessary to win in Asheville.
We don’t really have anything to lose by playing Humphries and Hughey some more and seeing what they can do.

We are in a position where we have to win to get in the top six...so it will be hard to play more guys to see who can help us down the stretch...but that is what we should do...whoever coach feels could help us, put them in..strong power forwards will help maybe Molnar VanderWal and Hughey..we need to get better inside to open up the 3..

[apaladin]

Regardless of what Massey says we all know the WC game is not 50/50. 80/20 WC at best and that is being very optimistic.

And this why people might think you are too pessimistic.

You are confusing pessimism with realism. Doesn’t matter what they have done against other teams. This is FU and they get up and play better than they are. The beat down at the Well was ugly. On top of that I think we have won only once at the RIS. Hope I am wrong!

[FU Hoopla]

Regardless of what Massey says we all know the WC game is not 50/50. 80/20 WC at best and that is being very optimistic.

And this why people might think you are too pessimistic.

You are confusing pessimism with realism. Doesn’t matter what they have done against other teams. This is FU and they get up and play better than they are. The beat down at the Well was ugly. On top of that I think we have won only once at the RIS. Hope I am wrong!

Twice since it opened............

[Affirm]

The comments showing the usual bi-polarity. Too optimistic or too pessimistic. Except for apaladin, who is normally pessimistic.
The record has been quite a bit better than I expected before the season. During the pre-conference we somehow won every close game and came from behind repeatedly. That probably increased the emphasis the other SoCon teams placed on game planning us. What they realized was that after losing four key players, including our top three scorers, we were a better shooting, but less athletic team than last year. We had some potential weakness on defense and they have increased the physicality of play to exploit that. That often happens in conference play at all levels anyway. It coincided with injured shooting hands for our two best three point shooters. Not a good coincidence for us.

Last year Pegues and Whitt were very dangerous to pressure because they could blow by over committed defenders to the hoop. Smith and Anderson can drive but are not as great a threat. In a way Foster was a tougher low post threat than anyone this year. We need to continue to develop our post up threats the rest of the season.

We have four more home games - Mercer, UNCG,VMI, and the Citadel - and road games at Samford and Wofford. The Massey ratings predict us to go 4-2, and the Wofford game is basically 50/50. I think most people would have been very happy with a 22 or 23 win regular season before in started. I expect all of these remaining games will be a challenge and am looking forward to it.

Nevertheless:
Folks jump to conclusions.
After Lamont Paris’s 0-10 Gamecocks upset Ole Miss tonight, their fans will be preparing for the Final Four in San Antonio and also for the CBC in Las Vegas as a backup plan.
… But still, kudos to tya1 for a well-written analysis about where we are.
Not sure what he said, though, about our chance to play in post-season.

CORRECTION: USC-UM game is not until tonight (not last night as I previously said), so the Gamecocks fans are waiting to make their plans.

[Choir Boy]

Slim to None

[Sad Din]

Per team rankings, Dins chances to make Tourney is 11%

Gamecocks are now 0-11 10-14 overall. NET rank 90
OKLA is 3-8. NET rank 49

Dins are 19-7 7-6 NET rank 144

It would be better for Dins to schedule all non-conf vs big schools, go 0-12 and probably get a higher NET. along the way they would probably knock out 1-2 wins

[FU Hoopla]

Per team rankings, Dins chances to make Tourney is 11%

Gamecocks are now 0-11 10-14 overall. NET rank 90
OKLA is 3-8. NET rank 49

Dins are 19-7 7-6 NET rank 144

It would be better for Dins to schedule all non-conf vs big schools, go 0-12 and probably get a higher NET. along the way they would probably knock out 1-2 wins

We called around the entire country this year, the only one that would play us was Kansas, everybody else in the Power leagues was afraid to schedule us.....................

[furpop16]

We called around the entire country this year, the only one that would play us was Kansas, everybody else in the Power leagues was afraid to schedule us.....................

Completely understandable, as at the time of scheduling FU would've represented a possible Quad-3 loss. Who'd want to take a chance on that?

[Sad Din]

Duke sched 13 Q3 and Q4 games

Quadrant Records - RPI

Quadrant 1
6-3

Quadrant 2
2-0

Quadrant 3
3-0

Quadrant 4
10-0

[FU Hoopla]

Furman is a giant killer in hoops, and even if we don't win we usually give you a really good scare

[Affirm]

Furman is a giant killer in hoops, and even if we don't win we usually give you a really good scare

So what did you say that our “giant-killer” chances are to play in post season this year and scare a giant, maybe beat a giant?
That was the question.