Luck Has Turned

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

No, not talking about the curse of the baby blues being broken tonight.

After the DePaul game, we were lamenting ourselves as just a flat unlucky team, especially as we had started the season 1-6 in games decided by 4 points or less (and 1-4 in games decided in the final possession-Florida State in Orlando, @ West Virginia, @ DePaul, Villanova, and the win over Georgetown). 

Since then, in games decided by 4 points or less, we're 4-0 (@UConn, @Providence, @Cincy, @St. John's).  While some of these have certainly been ugly (or should have never been down to the final possession), we've figured out how to win one way or another. The guys who have had notable mistakes in late game situations (Jimmy-FSU, West Virginia, DJO-West Virginia, Villanova, Cooby-DePaul, Lazar-DePaul, Acker-West Virginia) have all come up with critical plays on both offensively and defensively in late game situations. 

OK, maybe I overstated the luck factor.  These guys have figured out how to win close games, period.  And that may just get our name called in 2 and a half weeks.

[PGsHeroes32]

I agree completely. Right now we would love to have just won of the many heatbreakers we lost, no need to be choosy just one of them. But you never know maybe in the long run it will help greatly. Its helped us improve and learn what needs to be done to win games at the end. And thinking really deep about it if we close out here and end up getting into the tourney we may actually be HAPPY that we didnt win an extra game because it could push us up to that vaunted 8/9 game.

[21Jumpstreet]

Luck is a great thing, the harder you work the more it happens.  These guys have done an amazing job keeping the intensity and positivity at a very high level.

[AlumKCof93]

I thought the DePaul loss would demoralize this team.  It's a credit to the character of the team and to the coaching staff that they turned things around.