Would be nice for SBU to get games like this, but I'd say that's about the best you can expect from the team right now. They have a habit of being pretty good and poised for 30 mins against more talented teams, and they just don't seem to have the leadership from anyone at the moment to handle things when the noose tightens (especially on the road).
One of those games where if beforehand someone said to an SBU fan, You take this game coming down to the final possession? And most of us would reply, Heck yes. Then you see the game and think, Ugh, they should have won that one...
Thing is, Providence down a few players is still more athletic/talented than SBU. End of the day, those teams usually win.
PS, nice win by Rutgers yesterday. Maybe they're still feeling good going into the sure win and SBU catches them napping. Probably not, but on to the next one.
I'd agree with this completely had this been Providence's first team. If they have all of those guys, they're quite likely undefeated and/or ranked coming into today. A performance like that against a healthy team I'd be fine with. What gets me though is that we had this colossal meltdown against what was effectively their 2nd string. That's why I'm upset beyond the usual "we blew it in the 4th quarter again" type of game.
I think we'll do just fine come AE play though and in a year or two if we keep scheduling like this, I'd expect we'll start winning these kinds of games. I'll still take a loss in a game like today's though over beating up on SWAC and D2 teams in the non-conference.
Yeah, I get it. I'd still argue that Providence down a few players is still better than SBU in terms of talent and athleticism. I think back, too, to what was undoubtedly the best team in SBU history. How many times did we see that team have trouble under pressure with the clock ticking down. Errant passes, just in general the wheels coming off. I can think of at least a couple of big games.
I think so much of all the complaints this year circle back to this: Who can you realistically get to come play at SBU in the AE? Bottom line, the "better" players simply go elsewhere...to Providence and all the "better" basketball programs. You can recruit your legs and brain off (and I think Boals and Pikiell both do/did good jobs) and once in a lifetime you might get lucky, but usually you just get those players left after the big boys take the most talented.
After that, you do what you can, but there is only so much magic left in the box to make things better with practice and experience. Again, game like that maybe you get lucky (Sekunda hits a couple more threes, a couple of guys don't throw the ball into the front row in the last few minutes), but usually not.
That said, you're right. AE levels the playing field when the time comes. Those final 3 playoff games are all that really matter. This SBU group still has a lot of weapons within the context of AE play. So do a lot of AE teams. Obvious, I know, but the AE always seems to come down to whoever is hot in March, which could be any team.
You are correct, Movietfred. The only way to garnish higher caliber players is to move into a stronger conference. Mac or American for all sports would be a logical fit for SB.. But, we would have to be invited in. Maybe A10 for BB like Rhode Island is in....
In order to be invited in SB would have to meet some big criteria . Attendance and seating capacity for starters. I
I think we talked about this topic in the past, and COB would probably do a better job with conference requirements then I could..
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