Re: UP @ San Diego - Thursday at 6:00 pm (ROOT)

by **PilotNut** Fri Feb 21, 2014 11:35 am

DeanMurdoch wrote:I don't know, I was thinking how nice it would be to have Bailey in there at a couple points during that game. Specifically, during USD's big run in the first half after the Pilots were up 10 when UP went turnover, air ball, turnover, then had three shots in a row blocked. He's got the ability to create chances by himself and at times I think that was a key part of what was missing last night.

I agree here; I think we really missed KB during USD's run and in the closing minutes when we needed baskets and not much was falling.

That being said, had either Nicholas' shot (that stayed on the rim for a while and eventually rolled off) or Sharp's (or was it Pressley's?) 3 that was half way down before popping out in the last minutes gone in, I have to think we win the game...

by Guest Fri Feb 21, 2014 1:41 pm

PilotNut wrote:That being said, had either Nicholas' shot (that stayed on the rim for a while and eventually rolled off) or Sharp's (or was it Pressley's?) 3 that was half way down before popping out in the last minutes gone in, I have to think we win the game...

I think it was Pressley and Sharp. And those were both great looks too, just didn't fall.

by NoPoNeighbor Sat Feb 22, 2014 5:51 pm

DeanMurdoch wrote:
NoPoNeighbor wrote:Interesting that we don't seem significantly worse with Bailey out of the lineup.

I don't know, I was thinking how nice it would be to have Bailey in there at a couple points during that game. Specifically, during USD's big run in the first half after the Pilots were up 10 when UP went turnover, air ball, turnover, then had three shots in a row blocked. He's got the ability to create chances by himself and at times I think that was a key part of what was missing last night.

USD now with the tiebreaker over the Pilots and just one win back. Toreros with two games left, both at home - fortunately for the Pilots those games are against Gonzaga and BYU. Pacific two wins back and needs to win out to pass the Pilots (they play at USF and at home against GU and UP). SCU also two wins back and will need to win out (at home vs. SMC, away at LMU and Pepperdine).

So the way I see it, Pilots are looking good for that 6 seed regardless of the outcome of the final three games...but it sure would be nice to put some pressure on Pepperdine for 5th and go into the WCC tourney with a bit of momentum.

We are 2-1 without Bailey. We lost by 2 to USD at home with him. We lost by 2 to USD on the road without him. We have given up plenty of leads over the course of the season with him in the lineup, and we made our most impressive comeback of the season (in Spokane) with him on the bench due to foul trouble. Obviously he can "create chances by himself," but I'm not convinced that that makes us a better team. As I've pointed out before, we have a losing record when he is the team's leading scorer. I haven't seen anything to demonstrate that we are worse as a team without him than we were with him. Surprising, but so far true.

And yet, when I ask myself for my gut reaction, I sure hope that he can get back on the floor ASAP!

by Geezaldinho Sat Feb 22, 2014 7:38 pm

NoPoNeighbor wrote:
As I've pointed out before, we have a losing record when he is the team's leading scorer.

Possibly the most meaningless stat in history