looking over my stuff, and have come to the realization that ive been making way too many plays in hoops right now. im not being nearly as selective as i should be and im playing too many games rinky-dink fu.ck-around plays that have cut into profits from my bigger plays and mac plays. gonna try and be more discriminating for a little while.
notre dame irish (pk)
two things stand out to me on this game.
one: this is syracuse's first game outside the state of new york all season. they've played two true road games and they've both been against grossly inferior foes (st.johns and siena). obviously theyre experienced and well-coached, but theyve really benefitted from staying within the empire state from november until what will be monday january 10th, a span of sixteen games.
two: free throw shooting. syracuse frequently overcomes their free throw deficiencies by simply throwing more athletes at you and suffocating you with their zone on the defensive end. well, notre dame can shoot the ball (thomas, quinn, and falls all shoot 39%+ from 3pt range) and they also knock down their free throws (almost 74% as a team). syracuse is 66% as a team and wouldnt be even remotely close to that if it wasnt for mcnamara. i think the oklahoma state game was the perfect example of how free throw shooting really hurts this team in close games. warrick looked almost scared to shoot because he didnt want to get fouled and go to the line (where, incidentally, he was 5-13 against osu).
to me, notre dame is almost an obligatory play given those two variables mentioned above. syracuse is certainly the better team overall, but i think they will struggle in this first 'legitimate' road game of the season. notre dame is the tennessee of the big east: a talented squad capable of beating anyone in the conference on any given night, but theyre also capable of laying an egg. im aware of that. but theyre playing good basketball since getting worked by depaul a month ago.
notre dame irish (pk)
two things stand out to me on this game.
one: this is syracuse's first game outside the state of new york all season. they've played two true road games and they've both been against grossly inferior foes (st.johns and siena). obviously theyre experienced and well-coached, but theyve really benefitted from staying within the empire state from november until what will be monday january 10th, a span of sixteen games.
two: free throw shooting. syracuse frequently overcomes their free throw deficiencies by simply throwing more athletes at you and suffocating you with their zone on the defensive end. well, notre dame can shoot the ball (thomas, quinn, and falls all shoot 39%+ from 3pt range) and they also knock down their free throws (almost 74% as a team). syracuse is 66% as a team and wouldnt be even remotely close to that if it wasnt for mcnamara. i think the oklahoma state game was the perfect example of how free throw shooting really hurts this team in close games. warrick looked almost scared to shoot because he didnt want to get fouled and go to the line (where, incidentally, he was 5-13 against osu).
to me, notre dame is almost an obligatory play given those two variables mentioned above. syracuse is certainly the better team overall, but i think they will struggle in this first 'legitimate' road game of the season. notre dame is the tennessee of the big east: a talented squad capable of beating anyone in the conference on any given night, but theyre also capable of laying an egg. im aware of that. but theyre playing good basketball since getting worked by depaul a month ago.
