IvyBballFan
Masters Student
Posts: 479
Age: 77
Loc: Central Florida
Reg: 11-19-09
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12-21-09 10:38 PM - Post#71210
Hey LionKing, CULion, skiba34, Internetter, and the rest of you CU fans! The remainder of the Lions’ games are against Quinnipiac(@), Maine, American, Lafayette(@), and St. Francis-NY. All rank in the lowest one-third of D-1, no matter how one slices it. Over on the Princeton board, they’re thinking the Tigers might well take a big winning streak into their league opener. What are the chances that the Lions run the table and become yet a fourth Ivy team with a very pretty non-league record, that contributes to getting the league above .500 in the non-con schedule?
Other than catching more of the mysterious malaise that seems to grip the team from time to time (e.g., StonyBrook, Sacred Heart) I don’t see a reason why it can’t happen. With newcomers Ampim, Cisco, Daniels, and Grimes on the job upfront, the Lions are doing pretty well on the offensive boards and it seems as if a couple guys are always there to have a good night. With (deadeye) Agho, Bulger, Egee, Foley, and Scott in the backcourt, there are enough guns that the same seems true.
I have always thought the 2009-10 version of the Lions had the potential to make some noise in the league. Now that we’re two-thirds of the way there, what are your thoughts? Could the Lions make the post-season? Are they in a position to benefit again this year in league play from having Cornell as a traveling partner? I haven't even mentioned Max Craig yet; is he still due back for the league opener?
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skiba34
Masters Student
Posts: 952
Reg: 03-11-06
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Rest of PreSeason
12-22-09 01:04 AM - Post#71218
In response to IvyBballFan
You are right in that that Columbia can and should beat everyone leading to the Ivies.
BUT my problem is why is Columbia playing so many cupcakes? How is that going to help leading in to the Ivies. Harvard and Cornell continue to play a much tougher overall schedule. Cornell in case anyone didn't catch it, just beat St Johns after beating Davidson a day earlier.
In the meantime Columbia finds ways to squeak by the "botom third" or dead last teams in D1.
Even American at 3 and 9 beat DePaul at DePaul. Making Syracuse the only "shouldn't beat" on the entire schedule for Columbia.
Not good at all.
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CU.LIONS
Senior
Posts: 398
Reg: 03-03-07
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Rest of PreSeason
12-22-09 01:25 AM - Post#71220
In response to skiba34
I'm not sure about Craig, not even sure if the Lions know for sure, but I hear he may play this Wednesday and definitely by the start of the League.
Based on the shedules of other Ivy teams, Cornell and Harvard do play a much tougher pre-conference schedule. The rest are not that much different. But I do have to agree with Skiba. Playing a much tougher schedule can only help prepare teams coming in to league time.
Not really sure why Columbia plays such a soft schedule. Would like to know iof it's their choice, or if it's out of their control.
But regardless, I just hope the Lions can make the most of however they play, help themselves as well as the League overall. Which up untill tonight is playing far better this year than last year.
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internetter
Postdoc
Posts: 3400
Loc: Los Angeles
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-22-09 02:00 AM - Post#71221
In response to CU.LIONS
Quinnipiac, as I've written, is not a pushover, especially having to be played after the exam break and in their gym.
The BR win vs. St. John's was very impressive, as Wittman and Dale were relatively quiet, but Jaques and Foote were 15 for 18 between them, with Jaques hitting vital threes.
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skiba34
Masters Student
Posts: 952
Reg: 03-11-06
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12-22-09 02:54 AM - Post#71223
In response to internetter
The BR win vs. St. John's was very impressive, as Wittman and Dale were relatively quiet, but Jaques and Foote were 15 for 18 between them, with Jaques hitting vital threes.
Just finished watching the game, impressive may be an understatement. Where did Jaques come from? 7 for eight including 5 of 6 from 3! this is the starting big forward. That gives Cornell 4 very capable shooters in the lineup around the top center. The entire team moves the ball so beautifully to the open player. That is a well coached team. Offensively shooting at 57% against a BigEast school with 2 of their best players "being relatively quiet" is really an accomplishment that can not be overstated.
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Columbia 37P6
Postdoc
Posts: 2180
Reg: 02-14-06
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12-22-09 09:52 AM - Post#71232
In response to skiba34
Yes, I thought Cornell was very impressive and deserved to win, but St. John's looked absolutely lost on offense and allowed Foote to go one-on one the entire game. The Johnies had no inside game whatsover, failed to apply full court pressure on defense, and did not know how to penetrate the zone. Still, Foote and Jacques were both amazing. To beat Cornell, you need to either get Foote in foul trouble,use a transition game,or apply full court pressure. What gives with Dale. He played poorly. The announcers thought that he had a problem with his stamina, but maybe he was just having an off night. Is he ok?
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IvyBballFan
Masters Student
Posts: 479
Age: 77
Loc: Central Florida
Reg: 11-19-09
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Re: st of PreSeason
12-23-09 12:19 AM - Post#71300
In response to skiba34
My problem is why is Columbia playing so many cupcakes? How is that going to help leading in to the Ivies? Harvard and Cornell continue to play a much tougher overall schedule...
In the meantime Columbia finds ways to squeak by the "botom third" or dead last teams in D1.
Yes, the game @Quinnipiac appears to be the toughest to me, too. “Toughest†for Columbia this year means “most likely to catch that late game malaise that turns a W into another d*&n, silly loss!â€
Skiba34, I share your concern about this year’s “cupcake†schedule. IMO, for the moment, Lion fans just have to look past that and realize that, in some sense over a period of time, teams appear to “earn†the right to play a better non-con schedule by going 10-4 or 11-3 against slates like this. “Better†teams want their fans to see them playing “better†teams. It's a bit of a vicious circle. The Lions must show they are one of those “better teams†by posting a 10-4 non-con record and coming home above .500 in the league.
OK, Blue! Let’s get out on the court and run the non-con table! Some “better teams†will then come calling. Columbia may even be able to use their location to schedule home-and-home with teams already in town for a date with another area team. There may also be some one-and-done AWAY “series.â€
I predict that a better Lions’ team will embrace the opportunity to upgrade the pre-season schedule.
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LionFan
Senior
Posts: 398
Reg: 11-07-06
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Re: st of PreSeason
12-23-09 11:55 AM - Post#71330
In response to IvyBballFan
I guess we've all wondered about the schedule. I suspect part of the issue may be financial -- playing locals to keep travel costs and time down; part may be scheduling -- the difficulty getting better teams to agree to home and home contracts; and part may be perceived balance -- some big games so the players can test themselves, but not risking a string of big losses that becomes demoralizing. Finally, there's the problem of not knowing who will be up or down when the game agreements are made, often several years in advance. For example, both Wagner and American have had some very good teams recently. This year they're both down -- very down. That's not really predictable.
Given CU's recent records, the non-con schedule appears to be at an appropriate level for the team. The first step is beating the guys you're supposed to beat. Then you can move up and try competing with the next level. For the last several years, CU has seemed to be on the cusp of that transition, unable to make the move. The next few games are another opportunity for Columbia to do it -- if they are capable. Then again, maybe the AD just decided to keep the team relatively small and local, competitive at its level but not aspiring to more?
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