Is this team's best basketball ahead of them?

I think this is a pretty timely question, because if we're going to beat Marquette and win 2 in the BE Tournament, we'll need to be at our best.    Everyone likes to say we are capable of beating any team on a given day, but the truth is we went 1-5 against the conference's top 3 teams.   So we'll need to be playing our best ball, or close to it, to pull this off.

The team definitely seemed to have been on a major upswing, but then seemingly hit some bumps in the road;  Obekpa got hurt, Sanchez had paternity leave, Rysheed had the issues at home, and people started to actually have expectations for this team, so pressure could've been a factor as well.   

Are we past that?   Will we get back to the level we were playing at against Marquette and Georgetown?   Does anybody think they've learned and are poised to play even better than they were a few weeks ago?     Or have they been exposed to some extent and are reversing back to the mean - a talented, but inconsistent team?

With all the disruptions recently, it seems getting back in rhythm has not occurred. Some things are unavoidable, like births & family loss, but it seems too often things come out of the blue to our detriment. Some folks may say that is the norm in college hoops, but my gut tells me we are on the negative end of the scale. Go Johnnies!

Time for Lavin to get the team focused.  Otherwise it's another season thrown away.   We need to win a few more games.  Not sure our fragile emotional infrastructure can handle a full roster of focused players and coaches. 

With all the disruptions recently, it seems getting back in rhythm has not occurred. Some things are unavoidable, like births & family loss, but it seems too often things come out of the blue to our detriment. Some folks may say that is the norm in college hoops, but my gut tells me we are on the negative end of the scale. Go Johnnies!

Hope you're wrong Paultz.   But there's a lot to support that.   

The alternative is that they figured out how to win (finally), then hit some adversity with injuries and distractions... but now they're back at full strength.   

I think the team figured out how to win and that, combined with a burst of confidence, carried them to the 9 out of 10 streak.  A few tough breaks has brought back a sense of reality.  I'm hoping they can get back to where they truly believe they can't lose.  Otherwise, it will be a fun(?) NIT ride.

This week off is huge. Hopefully coach can get these kids rested and focused for the task ahead. The mantra he's been preaching all year long is he builds his teams for a late season push. Let's see if the team bought in. Let's see if the kids are able to put their personal problems aside ( not an easy task ) and push through. Obviously a road win at Marquette will answer this question definitively.

Teams that think they can turn it on and off wherever they want invariably find out they can't.

Is Lavins best coaching ahead of him?

I personally anticipate more dissapointment and underperformance as long as he is here.
This was supposed to be the breakout year. These bubble conversations are NOT the sort of discussions we were supposed to be having in March 2014.

Now people are saying "next year" yet again. I have no confidence that next year will be any better than another bubble year. To hear Lavins paid fansite PR moles, being a NIT bound bubbble team this year and barely making it into the tourney as a bubble team next year is right where we ought to be. And to expect more is arrogance..." why, who do we think we are, Kentucky, UCLA?! We should class our program with the Seton Halls instead"

They played about 10 good games in a row. They played pretty well against Nova, played poorly against X, and then well (for about 30 minutes) against Depaul. The team knows what's on the line. Now that Marq lost to PC last night, they're playing for nothing. I expect SJU to come out and win on Saturday. I then expect them to win at least their first BET game. I can't say what will happen if they have to play Nova/Creighton the next game. They could play well and lose.

With all the disruptions recently, it seems getting back in rhythm has not occurred. Some things are unavoidable, like births & family loss, but it seems too often things come out of the blue to our detriment. Some folks may say that is the norm in college hoops, but my gut tells me we are on the negative end of the scale. Go Johnnies!

Hopeful but agree with this

As an accused PR Mole, I feel it is my obligation to point out the team was picked to come in fifth in the new Big East.  Coach said he hoped we'd gel in Feb.  and do something special (win nine out of ten.)  Any other expectations are in the mind of the holder!  Give Coach Lavin a contract extension.

NCAA's here we come!  I hope.

The problem is that we could be playing our best basketball and still lose at Marquette.  In the games I've been watching the past week,  seems as if the Senior day team wins every time.  Gonna be one tough environment and Eagles will be fired up avenge the double OT loss.

Oblockpa's ankle seemed right for the first time in weeks against DePaul.  That should help.

Is Lavins best coaching ahead of him?

I personally anticipate more dissapointment and underperformance as long as he is here.
This was supposed to be the breakout year. These bubble conversations are NOT the sort of discussions we were supposed to be having in March 2014.

Now people are saying "next year" yet again. I have no confidence that next year will be any better than another bubble year. To hear Lavins paid fansite PR moles, being a NIT bound bubbble team this year and barely making it into the tourney as a bubble team next year is right where we ought to be. And to expect more is arrogance..." why, who do we think we are, Kentucky, UCLA?! We should class our program with the Seton Halls instead"

If CR were here I'm sure he'd recite chapter and verse about the year one of Lavin's UCLA teams came into the tourny with double digit losses and wound up in the sweet sixteen. Or when Tyus Edney pulled a game out of his ass with a last second coast to coast layup. Now is not the time for negative thoughts. Let's see what happens.

Is Lavins best coaching ahead of him?

I personally anticipate more dissapointment and underperformance as long as he is here.
This was supposed to be the breakout year. These bubble conversations are NOT the sort of discussions we were supposed to be having in March 2014.

Now people are saying "next year" yet again. I have no confidence that next year will be any better than another bubble year. To hear Lavins paid fansite PR moles, being a NIT bound bubbble team this year and barely making it into the tourney as a bubble team next year is right where we ought to be. And to expect more is arrogance..." why, who do we think we are, Kentucky, UCLA?! We should class our program with the Seton Halls instead"

Coaching? Players gatta play. Harrison, Sampson, Opekpa, and Jordan are the guys that must show up if we getting on a run. Four for 16, or playing half a game ain't gonna beat anybody good. Now is not the time for players to stink it up. Players gatta play. X-men came into MSG and showed our guys what it takes if you wanna dance.

Gonna be a snake pit in there.   

Quote from: uwsfan on March 05, 2014, 12:03:15 PM

Is Lavins best coaching ahead of him?

I personally anticipate more dissapointment and underperformance as long as he is here.
This was supposed to be the breakout year. These bubble conversations are NOT the sort of discussions we were supposed to be having in March 2014.

Now people are saying "next year" yet again. I have no confidence that next year will be any better than another bubble year. To hear Lavins paid fansite PR moles, being a NIT bound bubbble team this year and barely making it into the tourney as a bubble team next year is right where we ought to be. And to expect more is arrogance..." why, who do we think we are, Kentucky, UCLA?! We should class our program with the Seton Halls instead"

Coaching? Players gatta play. Harrison, Sampson, Opekpa, and Jordan are the guys that must show up if we getting on a run. Four for 16, or playing half a game ain't gonna beat anybody good. Now is not the time for players to stink it up. Players gatta play. X-men came into MSG and showed our guys what it takes if you wanna dance.

Actually, Chris Mack came into MSG & showed our guys what you need to have on the sidelines in you wanna dance.

This team has shown the ability to play with anyone if on their game.  So I read all the posts saying no chance this, and not gonna happen that.  I think we can still go on a run and win a couple games in BET.   Lavin at this point needs to motivate and substitute appropriately, but it's the players who are going to determine the fate.  The main players (D-lo, Obekpa, Jordan, Sampson) are going to get the majority of minutes with a short rotation of 7-8 guys.  Time for them to step up!

Quote from: uwsfan on March 05, 2014, 12:03:15 PM

Is Lavins best coaching ahead of him?

I personally anticipate more dissapointment and underperformance as long as he is here.
This was supposed to be the breakout year. These bubble conversations are NOT the sort of discussions we were supposed to be having in March 2014.

Now people are saying "next year" yet again. I have no confidence that next year will be any better than another bubble year. To hear Lavins paid fansite PR moles, being a NIT bound bubbble team this year and barely making it into the tourney as a bubble team next year is right where we ought to be. And to expect more is arrogance..." why, who do we think we are, Kentucky, UCLA?! We should class our program with the Seton Halls instead"

Coaching? Players gatta play. Harrison, Sampson, Opekpa, and Jordan are the guys that must show up if we getting on a run. Four for 16, or playing half a game ain't gonna beat anybody good. Now is not the time for players to stink it up. Players gatta play. X-men came into MSG and showed our guys what it takes if you wanna dance.

Yea, coaching.   I'm with you - players gotta play at this point on the calendar.
But if we don't lose to Depaul and Providence in January then we're not on the bubble right now ... and we lost those games because coach didn't know PC wasn't in a must-foul situation, and didnt use timeouts properly in the Depaul game.   

 If we lose, it's the coaching

If we win it's the despite the coaching...

Please, save us the time, we all know the drill around here.

I still love our chances at the Garden next week. With the exception of Xavier no one has blown us out at MSG and I think that was an indication of everything going on around the program at the time of that game. We can definitely beat any team in this conference,  especially at MSG.