Disadvantage

[3rdFloorDyer]

I know these are elite athletes, but how much of a disadvantage is it to play two games in 24 hours against a rested team?

[GoheenFan88]

I’m not sure how much it is a disadvantage. A team can get on a roll and keep winning while a rested team can come out flat and rusty.

It all just depends who comes out firing and ready to play.

[buffy]

In reality, teams can punch through on energy for two games. That's why the double bye is so important. Wednesday teams tend to run out of juice on Friday. Thursday teams on Saturday. Double Bye teams only need grit against an equally tired team on Sunday.

[mathguy]

Honestly, playing game 2 in two days shouldn't matter much unless game 1 was unusually exhausting.

Game 3 in three days is when it seems like guys legs start to go, especially if you are a jump shot reliant team.

[katmai]

The real disadvantage to the schedule happens on Saturday, when you are playing your third game in three days, and the Friday game finishes at 10:30 PM and you are scheduled for 2:00 PM on Saturday.

The other thing I worry about is that we got banged around quite a bit last night. Wright took a big shot, Lawrence had a big band-aid on his head, Dort is very rusty. Those types of things have a cumulative effect.

[Obvious]

They had 4 days off before last nights game. LSU played consecutive nights and they didn’t look very tired to me.

[vandy05]

I would say if we get the win tonight, don't hold your breath too much for Saturday. We have to hope that a second win against Kentucky in as many weeks will be enough to get us in. Three wins in three days is a tall order.

[Obvious]

I agree. A feel like the third game in consecutive days is when you physically hit a wall.

[dore74]

Win tonight and Saturday doesn't matter (re getting into the NCAA)...lose tonight and Saturday doesn't matter...

Leave it all out there tonight it's as close to a make or break game we've had all season...since yesterday anyway.

Given our undeservedly low rankings and the fact that we'd get in more from our recent winning I wonder if a close loss would also help us here.

[mathguy]

I agree. A feel like the third game in consecutive days is when you physically hit a wall.

I do like the fact that we aren't as 3-pointer dependent as some of our past teams have been. I feel like its the 3-pointers that really fade on tired legs. So we might be OK for a Saturday game.

Maybe.

[zhanglini]

they are 20 year olds, not us