People keep calling me a pessimist for all the bubble talk on the blog. I am not trying to damper hopes. I think we are a tournament team but that doesn't mean we've done enough yet. Florida State is not a must win, but it would certainly help our resume. Fortunately for us we play them at home. I think the carryover from Duke will help energize the crowd and the team.
As for this year's Florida State team, the key is Toney Douglas. He's a scorer who is generating ACC Player of the Year talk. FSU is also strong inside. They are pretty balanced and a very good defensive team. It seems like I am always focused on rebounds, in this case it's the offensive end where we can exploit things. If we create and convert second chances, I think we can win. On the defensive end, we cannot let them have easy shots. The plan should be to close down inside and force them to chuck it from outside.
I think BC recovers from the Miami game and gets this win.
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ATL - I think this is a must win, because a win in Raleigh is far from a guarantee with this young team. We need 2 of these last 3, and we know that we don't do well on the road after a long layoff.
I'm with BJK, you have not been pessimistic at all. BC is squarely on the bubble, and tonight's game looms large. A win here would go a long way to securing a bid -- and would also improve our all-important record over the last ten games stat.
One of the things that has been lost in the whole RPI/bubble talk is how much BC's scheduling hurts. The Harvard loss is one thing -- and it sure doesn't help. But it doesn't hurt anymore than our OOC games against SC Upstate and Bryant -- which were games that were played as favors. Both teams have RPIs in the 300s, and though we won both games they still KILL our RPI OOC schedule strength and thus our RPI overall. It's unfortunate, because the team played a semi-difficult slate of Purdue, UAB, Providence, etc., that our RPI does not reflect.
The game tonight is massive, if only because I think Ga Tech at home is probably a given (barring a preposterous Boston College-like collapse), and 9-7 with wins over UNC, Duke, and Fla State might even make the ACC tournament irrelevant from a NCAA tournament at-large-bid standpoint.
That said, with a loss, the team would have to come up huge in Raleigh after a long layoff and a good week of wrong-side-of-the-bubble talk. Then if THAT doesn't happen, it's all about the ACC Tourney.
Another reason this game is very important is the need for BC to improve its record in its last ten games, which is a factor in securing a bid and in determination of seed. If BC does not win the ACC tournament
(obviously, winning it would be a herculean task), they are going to have at least four losses in their last ten games. Therefore, winning tonight gives BC a great chance of closing out the year 6-4 in their last ten games with wins against one top-10 and one top-50 RPI team. That would be pretty excellent. As that sports mantra states, BC needs to take it one game at a time, just focus on the win tonight. BC only faces FSU tonight, not the rest of the ACC or anyone else on the bubble or the tournament committee. Take care of business Eagles.
This is as close to a must-win as a non-must win game goes.
I think everybody has pretty much hit all the important points. FSU has played a lot of close games this year and really only lost badly at Wake. They played Pittsburgh, UNC, and Duke tough--three of their six losses.
No reason to think this won't come down to the last couple of minutes. Here's hoping Sanders shows up and we rebound rebound rebound.
I also don't think we want to go into that last game against GT with our backs to the wall and desperately needing that game. That's (unfortunately) senior day for Rice, with no students, and a Noon start = no atmosphere and a potentail letdown game.
Your bubble talk is right on. BC is squarely on it until they win tonight and get off it temporarily.
Given the way the Eagles have been treated by the Selection committee in the past, (2003 for example) I wouldn't call it pessimism.
Wow... another donut in the first half for Rice. I know he role is different now, but even Paris is on the board. He seems to have lost the ability/desire to create his own shot, or he isn't patient enough to wait for his turn in the flex.
Either way, that is not good, especially when this game is there for the taking.
As soon as I start typing, he drills one... nice
PARIS!! Ron Jeremy huge!!!
That was a very nice victory as far as I'm concerned - See y'all in Raleigh.
Nice win.
Pretty much had to have it, considering our schizo personality.
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