BU 2 Cornell 1, 11/28/25

[BearLover]

I am hoping that Casey's 5-2 model gives us more margin for error than Mike's 3-1 model.

IINM Cornell has the best statistical defense in the country (I saw a graphic that we allow the fewest goals and maybe fewest shots as well, adjusting for SOS). Meanwhile we have been offensively challenged this season except against very weak opposition (Brown, Yale, RPI). There's no 5-2 model here. This team just looks like an extension of the Schafer style. Which isn't a bad thing.

To the eye test, we seem to be doing more tic tac toe passing in the offensive zone and looking a little more open, for better or worse. Just haven't finished on our chances.

Yeah, I have noticed that too. I've honestly been impressed. I think we're creating better chances offensively. But I'm not seeing any change in our defense or our risk preference. We still play very passively on defense, don't pinch with our defensemen as much as other teams, are much more willing to get back on D than to jump into the offensive zone. It looks like Schafer defense with some better creativity on offense. The inability to finish our chances still remains.

[fastforward]

I am hoping that Casey's 5-2 model gives us more margin for error than Mike's 3-1 model.

IINM Cornell has the best statistical defense in the country (I saw a graphic that we allow the fewest goals and maybe fewest shots as well, adjusting for SOS). Meanwhile we have been offensively challenged this season except against very weak opposition (Brown, Yale, RPI). There's no 5-2 model here. This team just looks like an extension of the Schafer style. Which isn't a bad thing.

To the eye test, we seem to be doing more tic tac toe passing in the offensive zone and looking a little more open, for better or worse. Just haven't finished on our chances.

Agreed, however, I saw several times yesterday when the skater with possession had a seemingly clear opportunity to shoot, yet passed it and it was a failed attempt.

[abmarks]

I need to stick my head in a paper bag and scream, this game is going to KILL me.

plastic would be more effective then...

[Trotsky]

Somebody else please create the game thread for Clarkson.  I am on a one-game losing streak.

[Trotsky]

I need to stick my head in a paper bag and scream, this game is going to KILL me.

plastic would be more effective then...

If you take the gas pipe, untie the bag first.

-- W. Loman

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

I need to stick my head in a paper bag and scream, this game is going to KILL me.

plastic would be more effective then...

If you take the gas pipe, untie the bag first.

-- W. Loman

I just put that quote in Google to see if was actually from "Death of a Salesman"  .

Google's AI sent me to the suicide help line. 

[adamw]

Cornell totally outplayed BU. BU was a dumpster fire aside from its goalie. How much of that was due to Cornell I'm not sure. Anyway, obviously Cornell lost despite this and will be in (at best) perilous at-large shape for the rest of the season. I'm impressed with the players and Casey though. Better than I expected given the turnover and uncertainty.

I guess this is the closest we'll ever get to just saying "Hey, I was wrong" - after droning on and on last season about how Clarkson was better w/o Casey, and Cornell's special teams went down because Ben Syer left and Casey came in, and boy did Cornell screw that one up, and "just look at Princeton - I mean obviously I'm right"

[BearLover]

Cornell totally outplayed BU. BU was a dumpster fire aside from its goalie. How much of that was due to Cornell I'm not sure. Anyway, obviously Cornell lost despite this and will be in (at best) perilous at-large shape for the rest of the season. I'm impressed with the players and Casey though. Better than I expected given the turnover and uncertainty.

I guess this is the closest we'll ever get to just saying "Hey, I was wrong" - after droning on and on last season about how Clarkson was better w/o Casey, and Cornell's special teams went down because Ben Syer left and Casey came in, and boy did Cornell screw that one up, and "just look at Princeton - I mean obviously I'm right"

Not what I said. If you keep putting words in my mouth I'm going to give you the abmarks treatment and stop responding. The PK was terrible last year in the absence of Syer and Clarkson was succeeding without Casey. Those were, and still are, completely reasonable things to point out. It doesn't mean Cornell should have hired Syer or that Casey is a bad coach or that things couldn't get turned around. I said midway through last season that the main problem was the coaching and I still believe that. The team wasn't gelling at all. Guess what? The coaches figured it out before the end of the year. And I was the first person to say that. Now take a deep breath and repeat after me: "it's okay to criticize the coaching." Particularly if you also praise the coaching when they're doing a good job. The way you lose credibility is when you ONLY criticize, or ONLY praise. I call it as I see it. Sorry if that offends!

[Al DeFlorio]

Cornell totally outplayed BU. BU was a dumpster fire aside from its goalie. How much of that was due to Cornell I'm not sure. Anyway, obviously Cornell lost despite this and will be in (at best) perilous at-large shape for the rest of the season. I'm impressed with the players and Casey though. Better than I expected given the turnover and uncertainty.

I guess this is the closest we'll ever get to just saying "Hey, I was wrong" - after droning on and on last season about how Clarkson was better w/o Casey, and Cornell's special teams went down because Ben Syer left and Casey came in, and boy did Cornell screw that one up, and "just look at Princeton - I mean obviously I'm right"

Not what I said. If you keep putting words in my mouth I'm going to give you the abmarks treatment and stop responding. The PK was terrible last year in the absence of Syer and Clarkson was succeeding without Casey. Those were, and still are, completely reasonable things to point out. It doesn't mean Cornell should have hired Syer or that Casey is a bad coach or that things couldn't get turned around. I said midway through last season that the main problem was the coaching and I still believe that. The team wasn't gelling at all. Guess what? The coaches figured it out before the end of the year. And I was the first person to say that. Now take a deep breath and repeat after me: "it's okay to criticize the coaching." Particularly if you also praise the coaching when they're doing a good job. The way you lose credibility is when you ONLY criticize, or ONLY praise. I call it as I see it. Sorry if that offends!

The main problem through midway last season was injuries.  Guess what?  When the team healed, it gave us all a great run well into March.

[VIEWfromK]

Hiscock has been the best of the freshman forwards the past three games.  He's starting to round into a pretty good power forward.  Last Friday against Union he stripped a D man of the puck at the blue line and carried that guy in his pocket all the way down into the offensive zone.  The next night he ran over an RPI player behind the net in the offensive zone to get possession of a puck.  Of course the pretty finish last night.

It's been a bit of a revolving door so far after DiGiulian was the best freshman forward to start the season before Ryan took over for a few games.  Those two have struggled some to find consistency so it's nice that others have stepped up.  Who's turn is next?

[adamw]

Cornell totally outplayed BU. BU was a dumpster fire aside from its goalie. How much of that was due to Cornell I'm not sure. Anyway, obviously Cornell lost despite this and will be in (at best) perilous at-large shape for the rest of the season. I'm impressed with the players and Casey though. Better than I expected given the turnover and uncertainty.

I guess this is the closest we'll ever get to just saying "Hey, I was wrong" - after droning on and on last season about how Clarkson was better w/o Casey, and Cornell's special teams went down because Ben Syer left and Casey came in, and boy did Cornell screw that one up, and "just look at Princeton - I mean obviously I'm right"

Not what I said. If you keep putting words in my mouth I'm going to give you the abmarks treatment and stop responding. The PK was terrible last year in the absence of Syer and Clarkson was succeeding without Casey. Those were, and still are, completely reasonable things to point out. It doesn't mean Cornell should have hired Syer or that Casey is a bad coach or that things couldn't get turned around. I said midway through last season that the main problem was the coaching and I still believe that. The team wasn't gelling at all. Guess what? The coaches figured it out before the end of the year. And I was the first person to say that. Now take a deep breath and repeat after me: "it's okay to criticize the coaching." Particularly if you also praise the coaching when they're doing a good job. The way you lose credibility is when you ONLY criticize, or ONLY praise. I call it as I see it. Sorry if that offends!

LOL - OK Beavis

[Snowball]

Hiscock has been the best of the freshman forwards the past three games.  He's starting to round into a pretty good power forward.  Last Friday against Union he stripped a D man of the puck at the blue line and carried that guy in his pocket all the way down into the offensive zone.  The next night he ran over an RPI player behind the net in the offensive zone to get possession of a puck.  Of course the pretty finish last night.

It's been a bit of a revolving door so far after DiGiulian was the best freshman forward to start the season before Ryan took over for a few games.  Those two have struggled some to find consistency so it's nice that others have stepped up.  Who's turn is next?

Congratulations to Hiscock on burying that puck! He's been terrific.

The whole play was built on outstanding work by Major and a spectacular effort from Walsh. At the beginning of the 2nd period, Angello was asked what he thought Cornell had to do and he had this to say:

...they started to string together what they needed to do to be successful in the offensive zone towards the end of that first period there. Obviously they outshot BU almost 2-1, and they started to get some sustained offense in zone. So, you know, trying to beat a big goaltender is tough. You got to try to get him out of position. You know, like, Yegorov, standing at 6'5", you know, he covers post-to-post pretty well. So we got to find, Cornell needs to find a way as a collective unit to get him out of position and find a way to break his confidence and, you know, maybe open up floodgates to more than one goal.

Which is exactly what Walsh did, got Yegorov far out of position creating a giant opening for Hiscock to shoot into.

I love watching these new freshmen. At MSG Veilleux seemed to be everywhere, and Ryan and DiGuilian already have some really nice chemistry. Looking forward to more.

 

[BearLover]

Cornell totally outplayed BU. BU was a dumpster fire aside from its goalie. How much of that was due to Cornell I'm not sure. Anyway, obviously Cornell lost despite this and will be in (at best) perilous at-large shape for the rest of the season. I'm impressed with the players and Casey though. Better than I expected given the turnover and uncertainty.

I guess this is the closest we'll ever get to just saying "Hey, I was wrong" - after droning on and on last season about how Clarkson was better w/o Casey, and Cornell's special teams went down because Ben Syer left and Casey came in, and boy did Cornell screw that one up, and "just look at Princeton - I mean obviously I'm right"

Not what I said. If you keep putting words in my mouth I'm going to give you the abmarks treatment and stop responding. The PK was terrible last year in the absence of Syer and Clarkson was succeeding without Casey. Those were, and still are, completely reasonable things to point out. It doesn't mean Cornell should have hired Syer or that Casey is a bad coach or that things couldn't get turned around. I said midway through last season that the main problem was the coaching and I still believe that. The team wasn't gelling at all. Guess what? The coaches figured it out before the end of the year. And I was the first person to say that. Now take a deep breath and repeat after me: "it's okay to criticize the coaching." Particularly if you also praise the coaching when they're doing a good job. The way you lose credibility is when you ONLY criticize, or ONLY praise. I call it as I see it. Sorry if that offends!

LOL - OK Beavis

Your third grade-quality insults are unbecoming of an editor of one of the five largest websites for a niche college sport

[stereax]

Who's turn is next?

My money's on Long. With the opportunities he's being given, and his play, it's only a matter of time.

[stereax]

The main problem through midway last season was injuries.  Guess what?  When the team healed, it gave us all a great run well into March.

I was musing about this on Saturday - it felt like each week last year, I was giving injury reports of 3-4 guys who'd get shaken up, some of whom would return to play and others who wouldn't. "Floating around the tunnel" has basically exited my vernacular this year. The team hasn't had a major injury yet. Well. They did have a Major injury. But. You know what I mean.

...I'm off to knock on all the wood in the house.