5 of last 7 at home

[NoVaJack]

This is one of the most important stretches in the men's D-1 era for at least five reasons:
1. With five of seven at home, it is imperative to really play well and finish strong for a plus-.500 record, the first in the D-1 era. Very important psychologically.
2. Jacks are still fighting for a good tournament seed that could be coupled with the Sioux Falls advantage to make a serious run for the tournament. It is doable.
3. It is imperative to start firming up Frost as a near-lock home-court advantage. Jacks have not done that, even this year. Winning the last five conference home games will be a darned good start on that.
4. Momentum into next year is more important for a struggling program on the rise than almost any other scenario, especially for a school with a long basketball tradition.
5. Winning games that matter in the conference stretch run will help rebuild student interest.

Go Jacks.

[sfjacksfan99]

Re: 5 of last 7 at home

Positioning themselves seed-wise for the Summit tournament is the most important thing about the 5 home games left, IMO.

If the Jacks want to avoid Oakland in the 2nd round of the tournament, and that is assuming they can beat either IPFW or NDSU in the first round, they are going to have to win at least 4 of 5 at home. And if they lose one at home, they are going to have to beat either IPFW or Oakland on the road.

Even with that they are going to need some help. IPFW gave them some yesterday beating IUPUI, but they are going to have to beat IUPUI at Frost to get the tie-breaker. And they may not even get that with IUPUI's win over Oakland.

Oral Roberts still has to go to Oakland, but they are going to have to get beat more times than that to gain a game back on them. Then the Jacks are going to need a tie-breaker win (IUPUI at Frost) to get the 3 seed over ORU.

[NoVaJack]

Re: 5 of last 7 at home

Positioning themselves seed-wise for the Summit tournament is the most important thing about the 5 home games left, IMO.

If the Jacks want to avoid Oakland in the 2nd round of the tournament, and that is assuming they can beat either IPFW or NDSU in the first round, they are going to have to win at least 4 of 5 at home. And if they lose one at home, they are going to have to beat either IPFW or Oakland on the road.

Even with that they are going to need some help. IPFW gave them some yesterday beating IUPUI, but they are going to have to beat IUPUI at Frost to get the tie-breaker. And they may not even get that with IUPUI's win over Oakland.

Oral Roberts still has to go to Oakland, but they are going to have to get beat more times than that to gain a game back on them. Then the Jacks are going to need a tie-breaker win (IUPUI at Frost) to get the 3 seed over ORU.

Jacks still control their own destiny. Win five of the last seven and they'll be in pretty good shape.

[zooropa]

Re: 5 of last 7 at home

The Jacks have, IMO, a decent shot to exceed last year's home record. Having played Oakland tough, I think IUPUI can be tentatively checked off as a home win, and the Jacks should finish the season 8-1 at home.

Honestly, you can't get much better than that.