Game Thread: UMASS @ St. Louis (Thursday 1/10/13)

[LastMinuteman]

I thought we played one of our better games of the season, and under duress. Just too many mistakes in the 2nd half to keep us in a position where we could win. Credit to SLU for forcing the issue on most of the turnovers, and playing well in transition.

[AlumniFan]

Originally Posted by UMass87

Sad how empty Chaifetz is. Saint Louis is a good size city.

The arena was about 80% full based on the announced crowd so I am not sure how you come up with "empty".

[ktabz16]

sorry 87 thought the chairs dressed up like people tonight

[El Shaqtus]

Originally Posted by ktabz16

both umass beat writers tweeting that morgan just sprained his knee and is day to day. that pretty much makes my night.

That looked a hell of a lot worse. Good news that it isn't major.

[AlumniFan]

Originally Posted by DistrictBaller

The injury looked pretty bad when I saw it. His knee buckled pretty badly. Here's hoping he's okay and will be back soon.

Also, I hope Z8 is okay wherever he is, Remekun and Loe didn't look anything close to MEAC quality at all. They were both good A-10 big men tonight.

Funny thing is that Evans, even with 3 blocks, had a really weak game tonight. He's the best of the three of them.

[slufan13]

I didn't think the refs were the best tonight but I'll admit they probably favored SLU, BUT that's life on the road in the A10 and that's just simply basketball. I felt like tonight was one of those nights where the refs called a foul when there wasn't one and didn't call a foul when there was one.

Chaz is a very very good player. He got bailed out on a couple of bad calls tonight but he took a beating late in the game and the refs didn't blow the whistle. Either way, Jett had a phenomenal defensive game and he turned the game around himself late in the 2nd half.

[AlumniFan]

Originally Posted by TUOwl06

Congrats SLU. Temple is going to have their work cut out for themselves this weekend.

I REALLY wish we weren't playing Temple this weekend. It was going to be one of our toughest, if not our toughest game of the season and now the Owls will be pissed and out for blood due to the X loss. We can almost never beat Temple and this weekend is going to be brutal. If the Bills somehow win on Saturday, that will put them very close to being ranked and will confirm that they are a top 3 A10 team, but I just hope we can keep it under control to give us a chance.

[buckswope]

Originally Posted by SpiderDave19

Sure. Thats how he shoots it. Jumping sideways. Go Bills Go!

actually, Ellis did hit a ridiculous jumping sideways 3-pointer in SLU's previous game...
jump to 1:22

The game went pretty much as I expected.

Good all around team effort from SLU. Rob Loe stepped up and had his best game of the season, while Jordair Jett was the difference maker down the stretch.

[Knobby]

Originally Posted by ktabz16

impossible to win when calls are called one way and not the other. ellis' ridiculous flop is called and williams gets hammered two plays later on a jumper and not a thing.

Stop bitchin' about the refs. Umass could not score if their life depended on it in the last 4 minutes. That is on them. Too many quick looks and Chaz trying to be the hero driving inside when he should have been dishing.

Umass lost not the refs...

[Knobby]

Jett played a great game, but Loe was the difference. Nice job SLU!

[buckswope]

Originally Posted by Knobby

Jett played a great game, but Loe was the difference. Nice job SLU!

Loe's superb play was so unexpected. Realize all season he's been poor shooting 3s, his low post game non-existent, and his defense on par with the French circa 1939.

Last night he excelled in all 3 areas. My wife commented "Who is this guy and what has he done with Rob Loe?"

[UMass87]

Sure UMass may have won if Loe didn't go off but UMass was actually ahead AFTER Loe scored all of his points. In my book this game was won by Jordair Jett's defense. He just wore UMass down.

[Knobby]

Originally Posted by buckswope

Loe's superb play was so unexpected. Realize all season he's been poor shooting 3s, his low post game non-existent, and his defense on par with the French circa 1939.

Last night he excelled in all 3 areas. My wife commented "Who is this guy and what has he done with Rob Loe?"

Is it me or has Loe been there for like 8 years?

I remember back in the 90's Temple had that fat load Cunningham who gave us fits - I swear he was on the "Blutarski" 7 year college plan...

[moss2k]

I watched the last 2 minutes, UMass took some very questionable shots late IMO.

[uz2b-len]

Absolutely. Poor shot selection starting at the 9 minute mark was a big piece of our demise. However, I don't think it was just stupid. I think the players were running out of gas wearing out and losing their mental focus. Courtesy of Jordair Jett.