BOSTON – Time is running out for Quinnipiac in non-conference play. After Sunday’s 69-62 overtime loss at Boston University, the Bobcats are now 3-6 and have struggled offensively to the point where the confidence seems shaken. The Bobcats have a simple mission for their final two games before Northeast Conference play starts.
“We’ve got to win,” said head coach Tom Moore. “The biggest thing that helps confidence is winning games.”
But getting there is the hard part, from the looks of things.
There’s not a bad loss on Quinnipiac’s resume thus far, in the sense that their losses have come to teams that should contend in their conference plus Connecticut. But if this is to be a team that contends in the NEC, they need to win more games like the ones they have had. They could easily be 5-4 if a couple of shots turn out differently, but that isn’t the case. The Bobcats are also 1-3 on their home floor.
There’s no shame in losing to Patriot League contender American, although that game was in Hamden. There’s no shame in losing to Connecticut or George Mason in the Paradise Jam. There’s no shame in losing to Lehigh, who should be right there with Bucknell atop the Patriot League. There’s no shame in losing to Vermont, who should contend in America East, but again, that game was in Hamden. And losing at Boston University is not a bad loss, although the Terriers are as vulnerable as they’ve been in some time with their youth and lack of size.
Defense hasn’t been a concern for this team, and wasn’t on Sunday. The Terriers are the sixth opponent the Bobcats have held below 40 percent shooting, and they out-rebound opponents by nearly six per game. They out-rebounded the Terriers by seven and had at least that much of an edge for a lot of the game. It’s at the offensive end where this team is having its struggles.
Quinnipiac came into the season without a clear sniper from long range, and with their inside game and penetrating guards that was sure to be a concern. But turnovers may be emerging as more of a concern, as the Bobcats give the ball away more than 17 times a game this season. That helps negate their rebounding advantage, especially since they only force just over 12 turnovers per game at the defensive end. On Sunday, they had 22 costly turnovers in the loss at BU.
“With 22 turnovers, you’re not beating anyone,” said Moore. “We’re tough, we defend but we have to handle the ball better individually, execute better as a team. Guard play has to get a lot better.”
Offensive rebounding can cure a lot of ills, but turnovers can kill a lot of rallies and entire games, even when a team is shooting well. They shot nearly 57 percent from the field against Iona, a season high, but needed overtime to win that game. The Bobcats are shooting 41 percent from the field on the season, however, so the turnovers are that much more costly.
Turnovers hurt by limiting possessions, but also with what the opponents do with them. Quinnipiac’s opponents came into Sunday’s game having a nearly five-point edge in points off turnovers, and on Sunday BU outdid that as they had a 26-8 edge in that category in regulation (30-8 for the game).
“All the turnovers we have, we pay for them in big ways, just like tonight,” said guard Zaid Hearst, who scored 18 points on Sunday.
Moore said this stretch has been tough on the team from a confidence standpoint. He’s seen players and the team as a whole go through it and have some difficulty, and it’s added up at the offensive end. While he doesn’t think losing has settled in with his team, they need to break through on the bottom line soon before the confidence becomes tougher to manage.
Quinnipiac has a trip to Albany and a home date with Maine for the final two non-conference games. Those will be their opportunities to get the offense on a better path, and if they do that, they have a chance to start NEC play on a good note with three of their first four games coming at home. But given their inability to win at home thus far, they might be better in the next stretch, which is three straight on the road. Regardless, the goal is to win games, and right now the offense makes getting there seem easier said than done.
