tOfficial Shootin the Breeze OT thread

[Xx srs bsns xX]

Just to deviate from the pessimism and to add a chuckle - worked on the banner a bit (I have it finished.. I think) but you dont know how tempted I am to add this little guy to it.

Dont worry, its currently not in there... well it is...but its turned off.

 

[WilltheThrill]

SMU is certainly proving that the selection committee made a big mistake in leaving them out of the NCAA Tournament. For those who haven't been watching the NIT games on ESPN, SMU has reached the Final Four, to be played next week at Madison Square Garden. It will be a homecoming for Larry Brown. Still, with garbage teams like Colorado and BYU getting into the NCAA's and then getting just clobbered in round 1, it's pretty obvious SMU should have gotten in. A team they swept in the regular season, UConn, is now in the Sweet 16.

 

[Bmurph]

SMU is certainly proving that the selection committee made a big mistake in leaving them out of the NCAA Tournament. For those who haven't been watching the NIT games on ESPN, SMU has reached the Final Four, to be played next week at Madison Square Garden. It will be a homecoming for Larry Brown. Still, with garbage teams like Colorado and BYU getting into the NCAA's and then getting just clobbered in round 1, it's pretty obvious SMU should have gotten in. A team they swept in the regular season, UConn, is now in the Sweet 16.

It was an absolute disgrace by the selection committee to leave SMU out of the tournament period. They were a ranked team and proved all season the were deserving of a bid.

 

[RevSader]

It was an absolute disgrace by the selection committee to leave SMU out of the tournament period. They were a ranked team and proved all season the were deserving of a bid.

I don't like the 64 team tournament. Actually I really don't even like college basketball period. It's only entertaining for me to root against the big powers and hope they all lose badly. That being said SMU really didn't help their cause by losing 3 games to end their season. The worst of which was losing to UH in their conference tourney. Winning the NIT means nothing though.

 

[Bmurph]

I don't like the 64 team tournament. Actually I really don't even like college basketball period. It's only entertaining for me to root against the big powers and hope they all lose badly. That being said SMU really didn't help their cause by losing 3 games to end their season. The worst of which was losing to UH in their conference tourney. Winning the NIT means nothing though.

I am not really a basketball fan either NCAA or NBA, and however you are likely right on their losing 3 games down the stretch there were certainly less deserving teams that made the tournament. The NIT is just a bunch of teams that were on the lower echelon and playing for a trophy that matters little

 

[PDay8810]

I don't like the 64 team tournament. Actually I really don't even like college basketball period. It's only entertaining for me to root against the big powers and hope they all lose badly. That being said SMU really didn't help their cause by losing 3 games to end their season. The worst of which was losing to UH in their conference tourney. Winning the NIT means nothing though.

well...you're right about losing to Houston costs them a visit to the big dance, but you couldn't be more wrong about the NIT meaning nothing to this program. The extra couple of weeks to practice and the experience of win or go home games is everything for this young team and the direction of the program.




1986 was a long time ago.

 

[WilltheThrill]

I don't like the 64 team tournament. Actually I really don't even like college basketball period. It's only entertaining for me to root against the big powers and hope they all lose badly. That being said SMU really didn't help their cause by losing 3 games to end their season. The worst of which was losing to UH in their conference tourney. Winning the NIT means nothing though.

It was really the loss to Houston in the conference tourney which cost them. It's a shame too, because SMU had a comfortable lead for most of that game. Then down the stretch Houston had this one dude just get insanely hot. He was hitting 3 after 3 from the parking lot. The losses to Memphis on the road and to Louisville were acceptable, even though SMU had double digit leads in both. I also think it is ridiculous to punish SMU for one bad loss while teams like Tennessee, Iowa, Colorado, and BYU all lost to some really horrible teams too. Also, NC State got in with a worse record and RPI than SMU. It's all politics. I think SMU was just a young team who tired a bit down the stretch, but getting put in the NIT has rejuvenated them and put a chip on their shoulders.

Speaking of the NIT... Rev, you are right in that it doesn't mean much as far as titles go. However, it means a heck of a lot for the future of a program. The last 4 NIT winners are in this year's NCAA Tournament. Advancing to play at Madison Square Garden in the Final Four of the NIT on ESPN can do big things for a young program. Not only will it give SMU's mostly underclassmen team good "big game" experience, but it also helps with recruiting on a national level. So to an established program like Duke or Kansas, yeah, the NIT would literally mean nothing. But to an upstart program like SMU, it's a stepping stone to bigger things.

 

[DT LUNA]

Baylor is one of two teams to have both teams in the sweet sixteen and BCS bowl. The other is Stanford. Go bears.

 

[The Commish]

 

[RevSader]

It was really the loss to Houston in the conference tourney which cost them. It's a shame too, because SMU had a comfortable lead for most of that game. Then down the stretch Houston had this one dude just get insanely hot. He was hitting 3 after 3 from the parking lot. The losses to Memphis on the road and to Louisville were acceptable, even though SMU had double digit leads in both. I also think it is ridiculous to punish SMU for one bad loss while teams like Tennessee, Iowa, Colorado, and BYU all lost to some really horrible teams too. Also, NC State got in with a worse record and RPI than SMU. It's all politics. I think SMU was just a young team who tired a bit down the stretch, but getting put in the NIT has rejuvenated them and put a chip on their shoulders.

Speaking of the NIT... Rev, you are right in that it doesn't mean much as far as titles go. However, it means a heck of a lot for the future of a program. The last 4 NIT winners are in this year's NCAA Tournament. Advancing to play at Madison Square Garden in the Final Four of the NIT on ESPN can do big things for a young program. Not only will it give SMU's mostly underclassmen team good "big game" experience, but it also helps with recruiting on a national level. So to an established program like Duke or Kansas, yeah, the NIT would literally mean nothing. But to an upstart program like SMU, it's a stepping stone to bigger things.

If they build confidence then good for them. That is more a grand scheme of things. The nation doesn't look at the NIT as it used to. It's really been neglected. It's like going to the Holiday Bowl instead of the Rose Bowl.

 

[lainey12]

Just to deviate from the pessimism and to add a chuckle - worked on the banner a bit (I have it finished.. I think) but you dont know how tempted I am to add this little guy to it.

Dont worry, its currently not in there... well it is...but its turned off.

 

[lainey12]

Ugh, even reading through the ST thread is killing me, I haven't been able to follow at all really. So I'll I have is questions, nothing to contribute.
Unfortunately, I will be off the grid (so to speak) for awhile
I will try and catch some games of course, but more important things are temporarily taking most of my energy.
Soooooo, I will ideally 'see' you all at the end of April, and be able to get back into full Ranger mode.
I'm fine...things will just take some time.

GO RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[WilltheThrill]

If they build confidence then good for them. That is more a grand scheme of things. The nation doesn't look at the NIT as it used to. It's really been neglected. It's like going to the Holiday Bowl instead of the Rose Bowl.

Very true. The Holiday Bowl to Rose Bowl is an apt comparison. It would be a slap in the face for a juggernaut like Duke to have to settle for playing for a relatively meaningless title. Funny how such an insignificant tournament can be so valuable to an up-and-coming program like SMU and at the same time be so detrimental to others.

I think the players were probably incredibly heartbroken at first for having to settle for the NIT. But it might actually work out more in their favor. They get to play more games this way and get featured on ESPN at Madison Square Garden in the Final Four for a trophy that no one really cares about. But that might end up being more fun and meaningful than appearing in one NCAA game and getting bounced quickly. I think I would rather win the craptastic NIT than get beaten by 15 points in Round 1 of the NCAA dance. If SMU wins the NIT, at least they'll be remembered in the history books as a team who was the best among the second tier teams.

In short, I would rather be looked upon as the team who didn't make it to the dance but clearly should have instead of the team who did make it but clearly shouldn't have.

 

[DT LUNA]

Ugh, even reading through the ST thread is killing me, I haven't been able to follow at all really. So I'll I have is questions, nothing to contribute.
Unfortunately, I will be off the grid (so to speak) for awhile
I will try and catch some games of course, but more important things are temporarily taking most of my energy.
Soooooo, I will ideally 'see' you all at the end of April, and be able to get back into full Ranger mode.
I'm fine...things will just take some time.

GO RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do hope you are ok as well as all.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

SMU's NIT success will be gargantuan for next season. The tournament is still very very popular and respectable and if SMU say wins the NIT they will get a lot more pull and clout for next season. While I thought it was odd a top 25 team wasn't in the big dance, the NIT is not a bad consolation prize especially going into next season and the years after that.

 

[Al Falfa]

Read yesterday that Myrtle Beach has offered Russell Wilson $20,000, up from $10,000, to play in one game with the 20 grand being donated to charity. Pretty cool marketing idea by MB.

 

[The Commish]

Scumbag...

 

[RevSader]

Kinsler needs to take lessons on how to slide.

 

[RevSader]

[MEDIA=twitter]451757243092856835[/MEDIA]

Scumbag...

I really dislike he said she said cases. He might very well be guilty (and probably is), but it's still a guessing game with the facts presented in that case.

 

[The Commish]

I really dislike he said she said cases. He might very well be guilty (and probably is), but it's still a guessing game with the facts presented in that case.

I hear what you're saying, but when there's multiple "she saids", along with his apparent kooky personality, there's not much doubt in my mind that he's a complete scumbag.