I do not disagree with your contentions re: scheduling, an area of conversation that has grown increasingly insular over the past two decades. Some of that is the result of few really consistent programs over that stretch who are out of conference, and some are very real philosophical differences regarding scheduling which work both ways.
I noticed you mentioned Arizona in a previous suggestion, and while others can retell the story better than I can, I think it is safe to say that during the K-Olsen eras the likelihood of rekindling that matchup are nonexistent.
Goduke.com lists the Thursday game against VCU to be telecast by CBS at 7:00pm
on cbssportsline but maybe i read it wrong
There's no way it's 6.10pm Eastern if the game is also in the Eastern time zone (Buffalo). The afternoon sessions in the Eastern time zones start at noonish, then you need the break between sessions. Gotta be 7-oh-something at the earliest.
The podcast of the Duke Basketball Report w/Coach K states the Duke/VCU game is 710PM in Buffalo.
Md vs. Davidson is at 1220PM Thursday in Buffalo
Cheers,
Lavabe
that's not correct. There is always a swing game. One game that bridges the gap between the 3 and 4 game late-afternoon sessions and similar evening sessions.
But in any case, it looks like this game is at 7:10 p.m., ncaa.com has it at that time. What's odd is it changed. It used to have us playing at 6:10.
How would we average 1 foul every two minutes if he were on the backline of a 2-3 or 3-2 zone? That's a nice trick. It's not like he'd actually have to step out and guard somebody.
I'm just trying to figure out how we might maximize our height advantage. That's all. It's just an idea and not presented as gospel.
Yeah, apparently that's the case at this point. That's most unfortunate. I know jim calhoun won't be coming to CIS any time soon either. There are always possibilities, though. I wonder if Oregon is willing? Probably not, they've lost two big in-state recruits to us recently. Still, there has to be somebody. I mean, honestly, if the program has managed to alienate every other upper-tier program in the country then we've got bigger problems than scheduling.
Sure, but it's never in the Eastern time zone. The swing game exists because it's the second game of the day session somewhere like Boise or Salt Lake or (this year) Spokane.
In order for a game played in the Eastern time zone to begin at 6pm, the first game of the day would have to begin at 11am local (Eastern) time, and in all the years I have followed NCAA Tournaments that has never happened.
Not talking about his post offense, just his rebounding and some size in the lane on d, for after they break down our guards with dribble penetration.
It may not be something we need to worry about mcclure and nelson are pretty good on the boards going up against guys larger than them. They should be just fine against vcu's front line. It seems to me, however, that if these guys are quick and love to press and play up-tempo, it would be a good idea to grind it out, play half-court, crash the boards, cut down our turnovers and pack the lane against their dribble drives on defense. My thinking was that Z could help just a bit in that regard. Not with his low-post offense.
I think we should try the option offense. What's to lose? Greg Paulus used to be a QB.Hear, hear. Why on earth would we abandon our man defense, which a few weeks ago was one of the best in the country, for a defense the team hasn't played, probably hasn't practiced and that K hates?
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---Roger Ebert
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Who’s gonna bury who
We need a love like Johnny, Johnny and June
---Over the Rhine
First, the ACC/Big Ten challenge does not guarantee us a true road game. We have played some of our road games in that series on the other team's home floors. We have also played many of those games on neutral floors. I attened our 2001 game against Iowa, which was played at the United Center in Chicago. We also played Illinois in Chicago one year. The other two road games we have played were, in fact, in the opponent's gym.
Second, even if they all were in the opponent's gym, that's just one game. And one that we were forced to play. That game by itself isn't enough. I do agree that you must take it into account when scheduling and when evaluating the schedule.
Now about being shell-shocked. Last year's team was loaded with seniors, including its two best players. Of course they knew what the road was like in the ACC. This year's team in extremely young, and that's when you really need to get them some experience. When JJ and Shelden were freshmen in 2002-03, they played a preseason schedule with no true road games on it. They ventured into an opponent's gym for the first time against Clemson on January 5 and won easily. On January 18 -- Just six weeks before the end of the season, mind you, they visited Maryland for their first real road test of the season -- with predictable results. Maryland won 87-72 and the team dropped its next 3 road games as well, by an average of more than 10 points in game. Meanwhile, that same team won every single home game it played that season.
Home and the real road can be night and day for teams but I think the likelihood of that happening drops considerably if you get out there and let the kids see what it's like early on.
I'm sorry, I know I can go on about this. It's just something I feel passionately about. I'm extremely concerned about how our current scheduling philosophy is affecting the teams and the program.
Except there was no discernable difference between Duke at home and on the road this year. Duke lost its first ACC home game to VT. Duke then went to GT and lost there too. They were hardly shell-shocked -- wasn't the game tied with a few minutes left? Duke then went on the road and kicked the crap out of Miami. Duke destroyed NCSU in Raleigh. Duke played much better at Clemson than at home vs. Clemson. Did with the two B.C. games. Again, this team was 4-4 in conference both home and away. The evidence doesn't support the argment that the team was any less prepared to play on the road than it was to play at home.
I don't know about you Jumbo, but I see a big difference between crumbling down the stretch against a somewhat young Ga Tech team that barely qualified for the NCAAs and losing in overtime to an extremely seasoned Va. Tech team.
I do agree, however, that this team adjusted to life on the road very quickly. This has not always been the case, especially when we have been very young (see my earlier post with info about the 2002-03 team).
Now, imagine they got that first real roady out of the way a bit sooner. Like, say, the week before that first conference game. We might actually have one more conference victory. And what might that have done for our ACC seeding? And, ultimately, our NCAA seeding? The point is that even in a situation like this, where the guys seemed to adjust remarkably quickly to the road, they did, imo, have that initial stumble. I say, get it out of the way against a good non-conference opponent. And get your team's development started early.