For the third time in seven years, our Wrens stand one step away from W&M's first-ever NCAA Tourney bid. And once again, the step is a big one.
The Tribe takes on CAA regular season champion Delaware in tonight's conference final. The Hens are explosive, athletic, and very talented. Tony Shaver called them the best offensive team he's seen in his tenure at William and Mary. They've got a pair of first-team All-CAA guards in Devon Saddler and Davon Usher, and three other players who average more than 10 points per game. Delaware beat the Tribe in both of the teams' meetings this season, including an emphatic 89-72 decision in Williamsburg at the end of January.
To paraphrase Shaver's comments regarding Towson, Delaware is a very good team. But so are we. I look forward to the opportunity.
Today, the Tribe did what we said they needed to do. They made shots. W&M connected on 55.1% of its shots, 50% from the three-point line. After allowing Towson to creep out to a 6-point lead towards the end of the first half, first Julian Boatner and then Marcus Thornton hit three-pointers. W&M was on the precipice, and those two jumpers were a big part of the reason the Tribe went into the break dead even with the Tigers. And they never trailed in a seriously entertaining second half. Thornton was superb, as was Brandon Britt, but Kyle Gaillard and Terry Tarpey were terrific in defending two-time CAA Player of the Year Jerelle Benimon, and after getting smoked on the boards in the first half, the Tribe held their own in the second.
We've said the same thing all tournament about the most important factor for W&M, and no less of an expert than Shaver agrees. In the postgame presser (video above), he offered his take on the key to tonight's matchup. "We have to make shots", said the Tribe head man. Delaware is so good offensively, that Shaver doesn't expect his team to slow the Hens down. Instead, they'll have to outscore the top seed.
But Shaver likes his team. After the win, he was visibly moved by the Tribe's performance, and spoke about their toughness and effort. He also said this, in response to a question about W&M's NCAA Tournament drought, "(Never going to the tournament) isn't this team's burden. They haven't been playing for 200 years". We're going to be nervous as all hell tonight, but something tells me that the kids in green and gold won't be.
It's a simple game. God willing and the shots are falling, we'll be movin' right along tomorrow night to a destination we've never visited.
#1bid4wmtribe
Monday, March 10, 2014
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43 comments:
Congrats on the victory...caught bits of the 1st half. I shall root for the Wrens tonight.
And speaking of winners, I can assume that you've all seen pics of Blake Bortles' girlfriend, right?
tj is excite
-ment
TJ is a Pontiac?
Who from the G:TB family is making the run to baltimore tonight?
DLC will be up there I'm sure...I think the Bone Smuggler as well...
Plus Kermit and Fozzy, right?
it ain't easy being green. and gold.
more miracles over at sentence of dave today.
still waiting for that parallel muppet video.
Quiet day here at G:TB.
for realz
did ya see man crush brady quinn got hitched? true story.
While waiting to use the coffee maker, a British co-worker declared that he doesn't find Benny Hill's work funny. Taking great umbrage, I said "Ooohh!" Tony Soprano/Jersey style. This scared the shit out of the Japanese guy using the coffee maker, causing him to scald his hand. And thus began a great international conflict, much like how Titus Pullo brought down the Republic with a bar fight over a dice game.
Baby seals getting clubbed is funny when "Yakety Sax" is the background music. Posh boy is wrong.
I'm so nervous--I can't stop pacing in front of the TV
the scary thing is that you replied to a slight against benny hill in the style of tony soprano. have you been listening to girl talk?
my cable package sucks. is there any way to stream the game?
Shlara, why aren't you here?
Typical tribe.
Marls--I don't have the best in-person record this season and I didn't want to jinx the team. So I'm watching on TV
I should have checked in yesterday. I'm sitting in a hotel in Reston and probably could have made a late dash to B'more for the game. L-A-Z-Y. ESPN Gamecast is delayed verses the audio feed. Not an enjoyable experience.
Fuck
My anxiety about this game is OFF THE CHARTS
ohmygodohmygod
Questionable foul call there? Seemed touchy for this point in this game
Gonna die
Tribe ball.
Omar comin.
O
M
G
How will they blow this?
Everyone else jump off the audio feed. I'm trying to listen.
Like that.
F@CK!
Not a lot of urgency on that last play.
heart-breaking
Well, that sucks.
Not fun
I really thought this was our year...
Sorry everybody. I was keeping track of the game on gamecast in between games of my Monday night pickup run. Thought y'all had it.
We did. We blew it.
3-11 from the line. That stat will stick with our guys for a long time.
Had a little league coaching seminar and just caught up on DVR. I thought Shaver did an awful job containing Baptiste in the first half. Too many wide open lay-ups. Not sure why they were allergic to fouling in the paint. They didn't start doubling until the second half. They should'e at least gone box and one to keep somebody on him. Big mistake.
Brandon Britt disappeared as well.
We were up six with about 69 seconds left and didn't close. Disappointing. But I love the Thornton-Prewitt tandem next year.
had to pick your poison against that team. all three guards average 18+ ppg. we did a great job on them for the most part. baptiste and free throws killed us. but i'd take one shot with the ball in marcus' hands every time. just missed it. he makes that shot all the time. just not our night.
still sucks this morning
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