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M&W 2018-19 Season

SDHornet

SDHornet

Moderator
Staff member
Well I guess it’s time to stop ignoring Hornet basketball. I’ve seen a good amount of the men’s games and the team looks decent so far. Non-conference play just wrapped up tonight with a 57-41 loss at 11th ranked Washington for a 6-3 record heading into BSC play later this month.

Three of the Hornet wins are over non-D1 teams (a 3rd game was scheduled when Cal Poly wouldn’t reschedule the game that was cancelled due to the fires). Graves earned the first triple double in program history in the 76-52 win over Simpson.

The Hornets have feasted off the Big West this year finishing 3-1 against that awful conference (CP would have been another Hornet win). Hornets beat the dungpilers 58-55 in the Golden1 Center with a 9-0 run to close the game.

Then had an impressive 87-82 win in the Nest against a very athletic Fullerton team in OT. Hornets let a big lead slip away but pulled through in OT.

Hornets got rolled 75-58 at Santa Barbara and then spanked Northridge 88-68 at their place.

The Hornets also dropped a tough game at Portland 76-67.

The team has shown promise on both sides of the court. With Graves back this season the offense has life. Patton has looked unstoppable inside at times and Esposito has probably been the biggest surprise so far and probably will be in the running for BSC Newcomer of the Year if things hold up. Izayah has provided good balance to Graves on the outside. However the same issues plague this team: poor perimeter shooting and below average free throw shooting. If those 2 things can improve the Hornets might finish in the top half of the conference.

The other concern is a few guys are out with injuries. Martin has been out with a leg injury (hamstring I think) and FR McCullough was in a boot a week ago.
 
I watched the game on the PAC 12 network. I agree that the perimeter shooting was spotty. However, they played hard and kept coming at UW. Mistakes and a very good Washington team were the difference. I could see this team having a good year in conference.
 
Super Hornet said:
So, was this a case of being overwhelmed by superior talent, but persevering through that and not quitting?
Click to expand...

They were bigger, much bigger inside. We’re leading at the half. However we never quit. One of the announcers said at the 5 minute left mark that W cannot seem to put these guys away and if they hit a few 3’s they are back in it. Patton looked absolutely gassed with about 2 min. Left. I think we surprise some in the Sky this year.
 
Hornets squander a late lead and fail to seal the deal against a struggling UNC at home, 70-65. It was only the first BSC game but I thought this team would be better than this in conference play, I guess I was wrong.
 
MBB rolls Idalol 69-48 in a dominating performance. Idalol is terrible this year, but solid all around game nonetheless.

Good atmosphere and a decent attendance. Pep band (at least the drumline) finally made it to a game.
 
Hornets take a bad loss at home to a bad EWU team, 94-92 in OT. Hornets didn't bother showing up until midway through the 1st half.

Another winnable game that ends up a loss. More of the same from Katz.
 
Hornets finish 14-15 (8-12) in the regular season and go into the BSC Tournament as the 8th seed and will play NAU in the first round in Boise. I view the first round game as a toss up, but don't expect the Hornets to get past the 2nd round.

The program was able to turn it around from a horrid season a year ago but I expected more with a baller like Graves (16.3 ppg, 5.6 apg, 4.8 rpg) running the point. Graves had the supporting cast (Patton, Esposito & Le'afa) around him that should have resulted in more wins.

A solid non-conference showing was followed up with disappointing conference play in must win games. Bad home losses to ISU and NAU, an embarrassing road loss to Idaho topped off with what at worst should have been a series split with UNC kept this from being a 18-11 (12-8) season. In other words, same lack of preparedness and in-game adjustments from Katz and this coaching staff resulted in head scratching losses which we have all become accustomed to over the years.
 
SDHornet said:
Hornets finish 14-15 (8-12) in the regular season and go into the BSC Tournament as the 8th seed and will play NAU in the first round in Boise. I view the first round game as a toss up, but don't expect the Hornets to get past the 2nd round.

The program was able to turn it around from a horrid season a year ago but I expected more with a baller like Graves (16.3 ppg, 5.6 apg, 4.8 rpg) running the point. Graves had the supporting cast (Patton, Esposito & Le'afa) around him that should have resulted in more wins.

A solid non-conference showing was followed up with disappointing conference play in must win games. Bad home losses to ISU and NAU, an embarrassing road loss to Idaho topped off with what at worst should have been a series split with UNC kept this from being a 18-11 (12-8) season. In other words, same lack of preparedness and in-game adjustments from Katz and this coaching staff resulted in head scratching losses which we have all become accustomed to over the years.
Click to expand...

The team this year and last year were not that different don't pay attention to the records, the strength of schedule was completely different. The non conference schedule was way more difficult and the Big Sky was very strong last year.

If you're going to be fair you have to give credit for "making adjustments" in the games where there were big comebacks you have to be fair both ways.
 
mattman_121 said:
The team this year and last year were not that different don't pay attention to the records, the strength of schedule was completely different. The non conference schedule was way more difficult and the Big Sky was very strong last year.

If you're going to be fair you have to give credit for "making adjustments" in the games where there were big comebacks you have to be fair both ways.
Click to expand...

Last years team and this years team were completely different given that Graves missed last season, and yes he was the major difference and reason for this season's turnaround. We wouldn't have been nearly as bad last season if Graves played, of course that means he wouldn't have been around for this season so maybe in the long run it will be a push.

As far as your 2nd point, what excuses are you going with for the losses at home to NAU and ISU, the big lead blown and eventual loss to UNC in the Nest and the embarrassing road loss to a horrid Idaho team?
 
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