If a team has a remarkable comeback in a televised game at the end of a season against a non-conference opponent, does it make a difference to the team’s season? No.
Well not when it comes before the team’s worst loss of the season, and that loss happens against a team actually in their conference.
Such was the week the men’s basketball team had, as after yet another comeback, this time from down 6 with 4 minutes left to play to win 61-56 against MAAC squad Fairfield University on BracketBuster Saturday, the team managed to squander the momentum garnered by that and the 4 previous consecutive victories (as well as 10 of the last 12 overall) after getting trounced on the road by (11-18)Georgia State, 76-55.
The bipolar nature of the Pride this season reared its ugly head in both games, as the Pride found itself struggling to put the ball in the hoop, and just as importantly – especially at the Georgia State game (as the Panthers shot over 65 in the half) keep the other team from being able to do so the same-as the beginning of both games proved disastrous for the boys.
Thankfully for the Pride, the usual suspects and techniques that have worked the entire season did so in spades against Fairfield as 3 players scored in double figures (with Captain Charles Jenkins and swingman Cornelius Vines leading the way with 13) and nearly every single player on the team contributed.
The Pride also managed to outrebound the Stags by 11 whilst shooting 40% for the game.
Things would not go as well this Wednesday, however, as, although Captain Jenkins was able to produce, scoring 19 points on 7-15 shooting, he was the only member of the Pride in double digits, and turned the ball an uncharacteristically high 4 times.
This, along with the superlative shooting of the Panthers, would prove to be too much for the men to handle.
Even worse, the Pride now find themselves out of contention for the possibility of a fourth seed and first round bye in the CAA tournament.
Of course, there is still (pardon the pun) pride to play for, and certainly momentum is important when entering the postseason tournaments, but one has to assume, especially have to miraculous wins, such a loss must hurt worse, even with a final game at the Mack on Saturday on 4pm.
But that leaves another question: if a team suffers a crushing defeat, then turns it around and wins their conference tournament, was the defeat really so crushing?
Chronicle Sports Desk