With two games left against lesser teams in the Patriot League, it would be easy for the Eagles (19-8, 9-3) to pack it in and take the next few games off. They've clinched second place in the tournament - their best finish since 2008-09, when they finished first - and can't move up or down.
The Eagles have senior night against Navy (10-18, 5-7) on Wednesday and a road game at Lafayette (10-17, 5-7) on Saturday.
"I wouldn't call either of those games tune-up games," senior guard Nick Hendra said. "Earlier in the season we got our butts kicked up at Navy. So we're looking to come out for senior night at home ready to play."
"I'd be shocked and disappointed if these guys needed me to say much of anything to get them ready against [Navy] on Wednesday night," Head Coach Jeff Jones said.
The game doesn't technically matter to AU, but it means a lot to Navy. In such a bottom-heavy conference, with Holy Cross (6-20, 5-7), Lafayette, and Navy guaranteed no better than a .500 conference record, plus Colgate (7-20, 4-8) and Army (11-16, 3-9) guaranteed losing conference records, only Lehigh (15-12, 6-6) has any shot at a winning conference record outside AU and Bucknell (20-8, 11-1). And the bottom six seeds - likely made up of teams with .500 conference records or worse when all is said and done - have yet to be decided.
Parity, or stinkery?
"I didn't have second [place] in mind, to be honest with you," senior forward Vlad Moldoveanu said. "But that's all we could do with the losses that we had, and we made the most of it."
Yes, the Eagles have had a few bad losses. Their 75-60 loss to Bucknell at Bender saw the Eagles at their disinterested worst, and the aforementioned blowout in Annapolis was a wakeup call, but the team has responded by winning five of their last six since.
After Sunday's 64-60 win against Holy Cross, Jones reflected on his team's growth since the Patriot League schedule started.
"You think back to that Lehigh game, the first game, Vlad had [39], but not a whole lot of other guys did a whole lot statistically. We've had [Stephen] Lumpkins have big games, we've had Troy brewer have big games. We've had different guys contributing in different ways. And so, hopefully (I don't know that we ever were) but hopefully at this point we're not just a one-trick pony."
When Moldoveanu scores less than 19 points - his season average - in conference play, AU is 5-3. But when he scores more than 19, AU is 4-0 in the conference. So they still need Moldoveanu to be productive, but that's hardly news to anyone.
"Vlad is our go-to guy, but if he's having an off night, or if the opponent tries to take him away, hopefully we've got some other answers to at least give ourselves a chance," Jones said.
The Eagles have two games to polish their product in time for the tournament's opening round on March 2nd. Jones is encouraged by their progress, but there's still room to improve.
"We've gotten better defensively," Jones said. "Whether we can, in whatever time is left, take another step to become a really good defensive team or not, remains to be seen."
If the tournament started today, AU would face Colgate in the first round. Despite beating Colgate by nine each time they played, the Eagles will have to keep themselves focused on the next game and forbid themselves from looking ahead.
"[Clinching second place] does count for a lot in a lot of ways," Jones said. "But the only one that counts right now is that we have a home game in the first round."
great article. Question though-do you think the main guys will play less now that the team has clinched? I don't see Vlad going for much more than 30ish minutes right now but I could be wrong
ReplyDeleteNo matter how we slice it, Vlad will be key to PL Tournament success. First, I definitely want to remind myself that we need to focus on the next two games at hand before we even consider the tournament. However, chances are good we will advance to the final round in Lewisburg, unless luck turns on us and we end up hosting. I knock on wood as I type this. Anyway, Vlad has always struggled versus the Bison as they're deep enough at all spots to keep him in check, which Holy Cross clearly wasn't. If we can figure out a way to make Vlad go big, or at least make Muscala work double time to open up Lump a bit, we could be taking home a championship. If not, it will be a moot point in a few weeks as Vlad dons his cap and gown and then goes on to play in bigger arenas. To more directly answer the question, I actually hope we find some other ways to win over the next two games. It will build confidence and hopefully throw our tournament opponents off their guard a bit. I still firmly believe we have a few tricks up our sleeve that we will break out when we need them, and by golly we will need them.
ReplyDeleteI know we've pined for a blow-out win and it's hard on us the fans having to sweat out each game, but I think there's something to be said that we win almost every close game. I think we're something like 10-2 in games decided by less than 10 points. On the other hand, Holy Cross is pretty much the complete opposite. I like my chances going into the PL Tournament with a battle-hardened team
ReplyDeleteSteve here .....
ReplyDeleteChances are our first round game will be close with AU seriously challenged. Our season probably won't end early, but it could.
Holy Cross didn't try to shut down Vlad, and that was key to winning. Whoever we play in the first round will throw everything they have at stopping him.
The first half of the game was unrecognizable - a far cry from any Holy Cross/AU game I've seen. The level of execution was very low for both teams. Thank goodness it picked up at the beginning of the second half.
Shout out to Nick Hendra for 9 assists and only one turnover. He burned them a few times.
I'm really impressed with, and proud of, Nick Hendra's growth this year. He flipped a switch in the offseason and has become a responsible player. Outside of a few lapses in judgment (I.E. the touchdown he tried to throw to Brewer against Holy Cross), he is fifth in the patriot league in assist/turnover ratio thanks to 16 assists and 1 turnover in his last two games. The team trots him out at the end of games for press conferences, almost like a hockey team would its captain. He'll be crucial to any run AU makes this postseason.
ReplyDeleteSteve- i was watching the HC game and i saw Vlad doubled everytime with a type of matchup zone on him alone. He got aggressive crunch time and forced his way to the basket and got the resultant fouls that he converted for the win. HC was a playoff type game because HC needed it badly to get a home PT game. The next two may be the same.
ReplyDeleteFew turnovers, the strong defense we have been showing, and some offensive contribution from the backcourt (including Nick) will determine how far we go. Get guys off Vlad's back so they have to guard someone besides him, and Vlad and AU will be just fine come crunch time.