Northwestern

[system]

[QUOTE=HappyCamper49;139295]To me, this game is a test of whether Lutz is the coach that can take us to a national championship.[/QUOTE]

Second game of the season? I know the allure of playing judge and jury is strong, but this is a lot unrealistic. He has a bunch of new guys to work in and a much different team makeup than last year.

I’m curious how this team will look and operate, but good or bad, the BCA tournament has to be an Incomplete for Lutz’s job grade, and that’s just for this season.

Look, I piss and moan as much as the next guy when we play badly, including railing at Lutz for decisions he makes. But it’s all armchair quarterbacking. It’s very safe and convenient for me to do. Kinda cowardly too, truth be told.

From a practical standpoint, it’s all about a body of work. I’m not going to post a bunch of meaningless statistics good or bad re: Bobby, because anything I post ignores the context of the situation here. Lutz has been trying to do what every coach has tried to do since Mullins started as coach: build the program into a national name and achieve conference and postseason success, in the damned shadow of four well loved ACC schols. Without a doubt, we’ve hit a first weekend wall on the postseason goal. And while I’m not at all satisfied with that, I’m realistic about it. The very fact that we’re able to ##### about not making the sweet 16 and beyond is a statement to what we HAVE achieved under Mullins, Watkins and Lutz. Recruiting has gone through the roof, and now, it is becoming a fairly regular occurrence to not ony land multiple top 100 kids in a class, but it isnt unheard of us to get interest and even commitments from blue chip prospects too. That is huge.

What it really comes down to is frustration of fans impatient for the next step. But that next step is pretty big. We’ve faltered a coupla times, but look big picture - with the improvements to recruiting, getting affiliated with a conference that actually wants us (and which puts us on TV!), and building a still young tradition, it is only a matter of time before we break through. It is all about the bottom line - which for us is March, but don’t completely overlook the underlying trends and indicators.

And for common sense’s sake, let’s give Lutz at least half a season to see what he can do with an athletic team that doesn’t depend on the 3 ball, instead of grading his entire career on one freaking early season game that even he admits, he doesn’t want to be hitting on all cylinders for. Gheez. He’s got some experimenting to do with lineups and styles. Trial and error in real game situations. That’s what this part of the year is for.

That said, let’s go kick Northwestern’s ass. Go Niners!!

[cakewalk5]

We are now only a 5.5 point favorite. I think name recognition is driving the bets

[dejavu]

im showing 4.5 now, and their star player had 40 minutes last night. He is going to get tired.

[ninermike]

[QUOTE=49er1;139297]Hear, hear! I remember what Princeton did to us a few years back in a tourney like this. WE LOST! Even though we clearly had the “better talent”.[/QUOTE]

a source of wisdom you are 49er1 as I listen to the Niners down by 9 with 10:43 to go.

[cakewalk5]

Could I actually say, Wiffel Ball would be more effective than this undisciplined team against a control style team. just too many mental mistakes and no patience.

I know its just one game, but our team has had this problem every game. This loss is especially bad b/c our RPI will TANK (Northwestern will look bad on paper when they get beat up in the Big Ten).

[switchfoot]

[QUOTE=HappyCamper49;139295]To me, this game is a test of whether Lutz is the coach that can take us to a national championship.

In the past Saint Louis and most memorably NC State has eaten us up using the style of play that Northwestern uses.

If we can come into this game and control the tempo, we could easily win by 20+ points. But its all about forcing our tempo as opposed to Northwestern forcing their style of play.

If we dominate Northwestern, clearly Lutz can coach at a level condusive to championship caliber, if we lose, then Lutz may keep us in the Top 40 every year, but we will probably never win the big one while he coaches.[/QUOTE]

I said this last year at the end. Lutz is a coach that has taken us as far as he can. Tonight shows that once again.

[system]

[QUOTE=switchfoot;139349]I said this last year at the end. Lutz is a coach that has taken us as far as he can. Tonight shows that once again.[/QUOTE]

That’s too personal. I’d say it’s more accurate that this style has taken us as far as it can. Happycamper wins the point. I stand corrected. My apologies.

[ninerID]

Has lutz spoken yet?

[NinerOne]

so which A10 teams play a Princeton Offense? need to make sure there are no cameras at those games.

[NinerGreene]

61 - 47 NW. Niners need a lot of work FG 31.4% 3pt 26.7% shooting like that the Niners aren’t going to win many games. This is going to be a tough season for the Niner because A10 teams are going to play much slower than teams in CUSA. The Niners could see a lot of Saint Louis like teams this year.

[cakewalk5]

Richmond, always.

But I could see Xavier and a few other teams implementing this style (not princeton, but slow and controlled) just for us.

I have NEVER heard of a team on offense get frustrated after 5 seconds into the shot clock and throw up a wild shot. No wonder there were no rebounds, nobody was set to know there was even a shot.