Official Final: #5 Florida-64 vs #8 Arizona-65., Saturday, 10:00 PM, ESPN

[diamondted13]

Originally Posted by NorthCaptivaGator

Lol Indiana hasn't been in two consecutive elite 8's to lose

Precisely. They don't have that in their heads. Those experiences can either harden a veteran team or give them the yips in big moments. I am convinced the last 70 seconds had more to do with what was going on between their ears than anything Zona did. 4 turnovers in the final 70 secs is an epic collapse for even the youngest of teams. Why did this happen to such a veteran bunch?

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by diamondted13

Precisely. They don't have that in their heads. Those experiences can either harden a veteran team or give them the yips in big moments. I am convinced the last 70 seconds had more to do with what was going on between their ears than anything Zona did. 4 turnovers in the final 70 secs is an epic collapse for even the youngest of teams. Why did this happen to such a veteran bunch?

We overachieved getting to both elite 8's. In both cases, we had very favorable brackets that we took advantage of. Neither team, despite what some say here, was a final four team. In both cases, we were beaten by the national runner up and a good case could be made that both teams (or at least one of them) was a better team.

This year's team is similar to the last two, albeit with a little more experience and a little less elite talent (no Beal). How far we go will once again depend on the region that we're placed in. I do not believe that we are better than any of the Top 3 teams, but can play with them.

This game means little to nothing in the end. So do both Elite 8 losses. Losing close games is much preferable to being blown out.

[tommyuf21]

I might add that having no experience in pressure games usually leads to early exits in the NCAA tourney.

I like our chances to play for an elite 8. Indiana, with all of the talent, could conceivable lose in the first or second round.

[g8rvet]

diamond, I don't want you in a foxhole with me.

You make it sound as if we SHOULD have been a Final Four team the last 2 years and that is just not factual. COULD have? yes. But it is not like we underachieved. Most experts say we overachieved. This team has heart and will learn from this tough loss. Billy will get plenty of film and work on these issues. All is not lost.

[diamondted13]

We did not overachieve two years ago as a 2 seed. Regardless of seeding, we had the game all but won last year and completely imploded on both ends. All of that is irrelevant to my point. I made no reference to our teams underachieving. None. I simply am expressing concerns about this teams ability to execute at the end of close games.

[lean_gator]

Where were you in the game threads that we won this year?

[diamondted13]

What in the world does that have to do with anything? Is this going to devolve into a message board pissing contest? I don't post that often. I lurk much more often than I post. I am not a troll or a chicken little poster, nor am I a sunshine pumper. But feel free to sweep last night under the rug. I found it very concerning.

[lean_gator]

The shitty fans, llike yourself, always make their presence known after a loss. They come out in herds to bitch and moan about the state of the program whenever we lose but are nowhere to be found when we have our boots up another team ass. If you gonna be passionate after the team has a collapse, you should also be as passionate when we blow out OOC opponents by 30. It doesn't add up, and your lurker excuse is a bunch of bullshit.

[g8rvet]

Originally Posted by diamondted13

We did not overachieve two years ago as a 2 seed. Regardless of seeding, we had the game all but won last year and completely imploded on both ends. All of that is irrelevant to my point. I made no reference to our teams underachieving. None. I simply am expressing concerns about this teams ability to execute at the end of close games.

In a one game sample size. relax it is a marathon, not a sprint

[diamondted13]

Originally Posted by lean_gator

The shitty fans, llike yourself, always make their presence known after a loss. They come out in herds to bitch and moan about the state of the program whenever we lose but are nowhere to be found when we have our boots up another team ass. If you gonna be passionate after the team has a collapse, you should also be as passionate when we blow out OOC opponents by 30. It doesn't add up, and your lurker excuse is a bunch of bullshit.

Wow! Awesome! A pissing contest. I love dudes on message boards that tell people they don't know how to be a fan. I have never told a family member or friend how they should root for their team, much less a perfect stranger. I will make sure the next Gator victory to take time from my job, wife, and three children to come on NBN and state the obvious ("nice game", "we played well" etc.) lest I be judged by strangers to be a "sh*tty fan."

In the meantime, while we're pissing I will put my knowledge of Gator basketball up against yours any day of the week. I have absolutely no idea who you are, but I will just assume (since that's what so many do around here) that you are one of those fans that views Gator basketball as a way to kill time between football season and spring practice.

[GatorLurker]

Thank you for reminding me why I don't like to visit NBN just after a loss.

[gatorbogey]

heck, the insider 'full court press' forum wasn't exactly pleasant after losses. rserina can testify

[TampaGatorFan]

The 2006-2007 Gators, one of the greatest college basketball teams ever assembled, lost 5 games during the regular season, and still got a #1 seed and won it all. I'm not worried in the least about this loss (even though we should've won). If we start dropping SEC games to weak teams, then I'll be concerned, but a one-point road loss to a Top 10 team in December will mean little or nothing come March, especially if we win the SEC Championship.

GO GATORS!!!!!

[HALLGATOR]

Winning will take care of our seeding. Unless we perform a lot worse than I'm expecting we are still well within reach of a #1 seed. However that is a ways down the road.