If we beat Missouri by 20 points, we may be more likely to be a #1 seed, but we may be less likely to grow. The loss may make us more likely to be a #2 seed or a #3 seed, but we have room for growth. That is why I say the close loss is better than a blowout win. Ultimately, though, it will be up to the team to prove this correct or not. I think losses like this are helpful to remind a team that dominates so much that they are truly vulnerable. It's not just about seeding, but about how you get to the level you need to be at come tournament time.
That is like saying why recruit 5 star players when a few 3 stars pan out. A 1 or 2 seed has far and away more likelihood of making the Final Four. Yes it is all about matchups but a 1/2 seed leads to favorable match ups.
Last year was a 1, 2, 2, 4; year before was 8, 11, 3, 4; year before 1, 2, 5, 5; year before 1, 1, 2, 3.
So in the last 4 years 50% of the Final Four teams were a 1 or 2 seed.
I am just saying, because we don't end up with a 1 or 2 seed doesn't mean it is the end of the world. lol. We have a lot of chicken littles running around. Folks are acting like they didn't predict us losing this game earlier in the season.
This just means that the team needs to just blow out all of the teams they face in the tournament. lol
Not necessarily, but I get what you are saying. This team has the talent to blow anyone out, but in order to win the NCAA tournament, you are going to have to be able to get a 10 points lead and hold it. It's almost like our team is confused when the other team doesn't throw in the towel after we get a nice lead.
This team can win in the clutch (we've only had two close games, so statistics would say that just by pure chance you're 25% likely to have that happen to you), it just needs to learn that it can do so.
I also put a little bit of the blame on Billy (who I almost never criticize), because I feel like it's his job to say "You know what Kenny? I have a lot of confidence in you, but tonight just hasn't been your night. Let's get the ball in the hands of someone who has been playing well instead." The fact of the matter is, we have one of the hottest shooters in the country on our team right now (two of them, if you count Frazier) and he didn't even get a touch! That's on Billy.
its not a melt down ... everyone was stroking this team and my opinion is that this team is soft and will not go past the elite 8 , we are a good team but not close to a championship team
Don't agree the team is soft. Have you seen the D? But do agree they have no quality post offensive players and desipite a great deal of success driving to basket to initiate offense, they tend to fall in love with throwing it around outside and settling for 3s. When they are cold like tonight, and as they will be at least one game in tourney, vs top competition they'll lose. Just like the last two years, when they had more inside offense (see macklin) and still failed to use it.
We had some fortunate either brackets or teams losing the last couple of years. It's entirely possible that our bracket will not be as favorable this year. We will have to learn how to win a close game or our season could be ending earlier than we should.
it's not meltdown but disappointment. we are clearly a front running team that seems to choke in a close game. that is not speculation but fact. the question is when is it going to change?
I am just saying, because we don't end up with a 1 or 2 seed doesn't mean it is the end of the world. lol. We have a lot of chicken littles running around. Folks are acting like they didn't predict us losing this game earlier in the season.
And sure, a terrible recruiting class isn't technically the end of the world either. I'm not sure of your point honestly. If its that the season isn't over until we lose in the tournament then yeah, obviously we all agree. Yet I'm not sure why folks wouldn't care about maximizing our odds at winning a championship.
Not a meltdown for me, but Billy has been trying to get the pieces back together to make another serious run at the NC. Now I won't say that that option is gone, but our past two year record says that we are not finishers - due to a lack of options. We just don't have that player. Scottie was the x factor last year, IMO, and he didn't progress. This year he started out slow then kicked into a different gear but now is back to average. Is he hitting a wall expending too much energy on D to do an effective job on O? Probably this.
Casey is Casey and you want him to just let his freakish athleticism take over. Not ready yet. Patric seems to be resigned to get up for the big name players in front of him but not to humiliate a lesser one.
We will see how the final games play out and if these players get ticked about their funk - seniors need to lead now - and wait for WY to get back and help down the stretch.
Half these idiots picked Mizzou to win and still come on here roasting players and bitching and moaning about how we're not gonna win any games in March.
Half these idiots picked Mizzou to win and still come on here roasting players and bitching and moaning about how we're not gonna win any games in March.
Truly pathetic.
So the fact that we lose every close game, many after losing huge leads, is not a concern of yours?
Nope. A couple years ago we made a pile of buzzer beaters just to get in the tournament. Big deal. Some times they fall, sometimes they don't. Still the same coach. I like our chances in March. But I'm not a panic guy.
Nope. A couple years ago we made a pile of buzzer beaters just to get in the tournament. Big deal. Some times they fall, sometimes they don't. Still the same coach. I like our chances in March. But I'm not a panic guy.
Enlighten me then. I don't recall us winning any game at the buzzer in quite a long time. If anything, I recall more than a bunch of games where we lost a game on a flailing Walker shot. It's going to take a decade to get those games out of my head and last night didn't help:P
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Enlighten me then. I don't recall us winning any game at the buzzer in quite a long time. If anything, I recall more than a bunch of games where we lost a game on a flailing Walker shot. It's going to take a decade to get those games out of my head and last night didn't help:P
You ever hear of this guy named chandler parsons?
Also, that guy walker who sucks so bad at the end of games was on the floor for both and had a beautiful assist in the second one.
These are plays I remember. You remember gut wrentching losses. Glad I'm me and not you.
Don't agree the team is soft. Have you seen the D? But do agree they have no quality post offensive players and desipite a great deal of success driving to basket to initiate offense, they tend to fall in love with throwing it around outside and settling for 3s. When they are cold like tonight, and as they will be at least one game in tourney, vs top competition they'll lose. Just like the last two years, when they had more inside offense (see macklin) and still failed to use it.
Mentally, this team is soft. Not able to get one tough road win worries me. What Indiana did on the road at Mich State is pretty impressive. Wish our boys could do something like that. We also missed the front end of three 1&1 free throws, probably the difference in the game in my opinion.
We could of locked up a one seed last night, but I'm afraid we end up with 2 or 3 seed.
There was a Hall of Famer quarterback that played not that long ago in the NFL. During his career, he led his team to some big wins including a SuperBowl. The characteristic that made him great was the same characteristic that was his achilles heel: He thought that he was so good that he could "make" things happen. He could. Sometimes it was touchdowns and sometimes it was interceptions. He thought anything was possible. It was. Sometimes he was successful and sometimes he failed. The fans of the Green Bay Packers loved Brett Farve. Yet no doubt there were plenty that were frustrated at times by his propensity to "take the game into his own hands" at key times. They loved the championship that he helped bring them. But no question that they wished that perhaps he would have at times not tried to do it all himself and maybe they would have won another title or two. Cant the same be said for K. Boyton? He has been a great Gator. His name is in the record book. He has had some great moments. But will he not be remembered just as much for helping throw away multiple games in the big dance "trying to make something happen", when ball control and pushing the rock inside for an inside foul inducing, basket producing play would have been better? If what we have seen from him to this point is what the future holds, then we can expect his instinctive belief that he can "make it happen" kick in and we will watch yet another season that could have ended hoisting a championship trophy drop into the trash can of shattered dreams. Time will tell.
Also, that guy walker who sucks so bad at the end of games was on the floor for both and had a beautiful assist in the second one.
These are plays I remember. You remember gut wrentching losses. Glad I'm me and not you.
You do realize we've choked in pretty much every close game (especially the big ones) since the last ones you can remember, which is in 2010. That includes 2011, 2012, and now 2013.
The question isn't whether or not we've ever won a close game in our history, we have. The question is whether or not our recent run of choking in close games will be our demise, as it has been the last two years.
The problem with focusing only on "close games" is that it discounts the good being done in playing to not have as many close games. Obviously that, to some extent, can be attributed to lack of talent from the opposition, but not all of it. Is it better to be 7-3 in close games or to be 0-2 in close games where the other 8 games were won by double-digits? At the end of the day you are still looking at a 7-3 record vs. an 8-2 record.
We have not faced a team all year that was going into the game clearly better than we were and where we lost the lead down the stretch. That is a lot easier to digest. When you lose to teams that have 5'9" guards outrebounding your center and getting more offensive rebounds than your center and your power forward, as a fan, I think we have a right to be upset.
This was like a 3 seed losing to a 14 seed. Missouri hasn't had a McDonalds All American on their roster in over a decade. We have three on ours and three starting seniors, and we collapsed again in the final minutes.
As everyone is saying, if we are in a close game with 2-3 minutes left we lose. Until we can shake that stigma it is what it is.
You do realize we've choked in pretty much every close game (especially the big ones) since the last ones you can remember, which is in 2010. That includes 2011, 2012, and now 2013.
The question isn't whether or not we've ever won a close game in our history, we have. The question is whether or not our recent run of choking in close games will be our demise, as it has been the last two years.
You do remember that we won a lot of close games in the regular season that year and barely made the NCAA tourney. Then lost in a 7-10 game against BYU in the first round.
Close wins in the regluar season do not equal close wins in the tourney.
A lot of people are trying to make something out of nothing. Try looking objectively at this team's strengths and weakneses position by position and quit obssessing over each and every game and the margin.
We will go far in the NCAA tourney if we don't get matched up against teams that have an edge against us in the low post. We will not be playing against any team in their home gym, so that is not an issue at all.
The problem here is that too many people have built this team up to an other worldy stature. They are very good, but lack certain characteristics that most championship teams have. In a weak year, they can still do it, but Missouri is not some "14 seed" team. They are much better than that and on their home floor are pretty close to even with us.
And to get back to this choking thing. Have you or others here come to the conclusion that over the last three years Billy has gotten everything he could out of teams that are not even close to some of the talented teams we've had here in the past?
Do you really think we were of Elite 8 quality last year? I don't think so.
Next season is the year that the pieces will be in place for a deep run that will happen because of talent and athleticism and not a lucky draw in the tourney and good coaching.
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