Hey ! Why 2 Out of 3 Ain't Bad...

by frankpos on Feb 14, 2012 6:09 PM EST

Seldom have I seen a game analyzed in such excruciating detail as this Syracuse game.

Mind you, as I left that game, I too had my mind swimming with a recriminating, long list of items that had caused our downfall.

And it has been most illuminating --and fairly entertaining-- to see the minutiae presented by Eric Crawford with his second-by-second breakdown of the final key play.

And yes, I know this game had potentially big implications as far as ultimate NCAA seedings go.

But... I say get off your red-and-black pogo stick and grab a handful of perspective: Just 10 days ago, we had our truly most important player--Gorgui-- go down with a severe ankle sprain. I have no doubt it still pains him and limits his hops.

At that moment--with Gorgui going to be at least severely hampered, and with the team still just gaining some much- needed momentum--three huge games loomed in front of this team: a talent-laden UConn team right away, then a trip to dreaded Morgantown and a solid and desparate WVU team, and then quickly a visit by the #2 team in the nation--who probably would be undefeated if it had had its star center in the one game it had lost.

I say to you now, Card and CC Nation: Who among you would have predicted that we would have annihilated UConn, beaten WVU, AND then barely lost to Syracuse? Who among you would not have been absolutely and drunkenly thrilled if a crystal ball had revealed that scenario to you at the moment Gorgui fell to the floor and then hobbled to the finished?

So...while I'm pissed as hell that we lost.... I'm also elated that this last week has turned out like it has.

We are again clearly demonstrating to me that we are a top 10-15 team...and that we can legitimately play with ANY team in the nation--right now! Fat Wayne is even in the house now, which just tells me that even more upside is possible.

So I say to you, take out your Woodford Reserve and pour a tall one! You, dedicated Card fan, deserve it, and so does the team, if they could drink it. Let us toast the week that was!

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You had me at meatloaf

by cards84 on Feb 14, 2012 6:28 PM EST reply actions

^ this

+1 to both of you

by JohnTongEchoesinmyhead on Feb 14, 2012 7:11 PM EST up reply actions

Really good points here.

I’m thrilled that we got 2 out of 3, but mourning what could have been last night. I doubt that 12-6 would be good enough for a top-4 finish this year, and now we’ll have to win out for 13-5. Would really like to have that double-bye in NY.

by cardsinindy2010 on Feb 14, 2012 6:31 PM EST reply actions

Exactly Right!

It always hurts to lose a close one, but I think we all would have been ecstatic 2-3 weeks ago as we looked ahead if you’d guaranteed us we’d win 2 out of these past 3 games. We looked like we would lose all 3 by double digits. The Cuse game proved we can play with anyone in the nation. I know people freak about the 5-12 NCAA “curse” and all that crap, but I’d take a 5-seed for sure. Especially when just 2 weeks ago we all worried it was gonna be an NIT year. Perspective!

by CardsRuleBE on Feb 14, 2012 7:41 PM EST reply actions

50% freaked out about being an NIT team

50% expected a February run like this

by UL is my hot hot sex on Feb 15, 2012 1:45 PM EST up reply actions

I don't get how anybody could have thought we would be an NIT team.

After that undefeated start, we were a lock to win at least 20 games and that should get you in the tournament.

by Carolina Cardinal on Feb 15, 2012 1:50 PM EST up reply actions

Lopsided Providence loss festered a growing "Pitino sucks!" bacterial infection

into a full-on virus that mutated from comment sections into FanPosts & Twitter.

by UL is my hot hot sex on Feb 15, 2012 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

Understood. I was pretty pissed after that game too, but it was just one loss.

And as bad a loss as it was, the won-loss record was still pretty good.

by Carolina Cardinal on Feb 15, 2012 3:37 PM EST up reply actions

After the losses and then the Providence disaster, I don't think 50% expected a run like this Hot Hot...

I think the pitchforks were being readied by most—and by most I’d say 70-80%, from the posts I remembered.

I didn’t expect NIT…but I’ll admit I’m now pleasantly surprised, from where I was after Providence….

by frankpos on Feb 15, 2012 5:13 PM EST up reply actions

You may be right, majority didn't expect to win 6 games in a row again after the PC loss

I expected the offense to not suck as much & to win more games. Several folks I talked/twieeted with right after the PC loss felt the same way, that this team would still win at minimum, 9 or 10 conference games.

It seemed to me that the 50% (or 30%, doesn’t really matter) expecting a run of good play were nuanced in their reasoning. i.e. accounting for injuries, upcoming easy stretch of games, Siva’s expected improvement, hopeful for Blackshear’s return, Pitino’s record in February the L5 years, etc…While the louder 50% happened to be the “OMG FIRE PITINO!! We’re an NIT team” variety, with exaggerated attacks of practice methods, injuries, and recruiting that weren’t very convincing or even-handed. Some people just have it out for RP, which is fine.

What really made me laugh after the PC loss was when some folks here let everyone know they were giving up as a basketball fan this year b/c they’re so frustrated. Oh, the irony. Makes it easy to understand why guys like Pat Forde call U of L fans high maintenance.

by UL is my hot hot sex on Feb 15, 2012 5:51 PM EST up reply actions