Gator Country

**ovillegator** · 03-21-2013, 11:06 AM

We seem to have gotten far away from the 'love of the game'... now it's just about winning the big game, going to the big dance, the big paycheck to come.

True players play the game because they love the game. Put them on a court, and they should be 100% into winning that game, no matter the opponent, court, or tourney title.

A lot of that is coaching -- I am sure any BD team would be trying hard in the NIT if that were our fate.

tommyuf21 · 03-21-2013, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ovillegator

We seem to have gotten far away from the 'love of the game'... now it's just about winning the big game, going to the big dance, the big paycheck to come.

True players play the game because they love the game. Put them on a court, and they should be 100% into winning that game, no matter the opponent, court, or tourney title.

A lot of that is coaching -- I am sure any BD team would be trying hard in the NIT if that were our fate.

In three trips to the NIT, Billy has made it to the semifinals in two of those years. Second season was a one point loss to Georgetown with a team that lost JWill to pot.

**regurgigator** · 03-21-2013, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mac4lyfe

Huh? You don't think winning the NIT and playing 6 (I think it's 6) additional games/practices is worth the experience? You don't think going to NY to cut the NIT nets down is a big deal?

Wow, the generation Xers are horrible. My stomach turns every time I hear people say things like "why get up for the Sugar Bowl". This young generation really doesn't care much about winning or losing. Unreal.

I agree that we (as Gator fans) and the team should embrace every opportunity to compete, but I don't think this is any kind of "new generation" phenomenon. You could go back in a time machine to the 70's and overhear a conversation between my dad and me along the lines of bemoaning a poor bowl match-up for the Gators and then watching the team sleep-walk to an uninspired loss.

Unfortunately, it's human nature we're dealing with. Yes, if the players had any sense of history, they'd understand what a big deal it is to play in a Sugar Bowl and even understand what an opportunity it is to play in the NIT (compared to most people's array of life experiences). But, they're young men and they don't have any sense of history.

And, if you had a team full of Jon Havliceks or Larry Birds (actually I'm not sure about Bird - I could see him shutting down the competitive juices if placed in the "B" Tourney) or Michael Jordans or Joakim Noahs, you could rest easy that the team would compete like maniacs no matter what the stage (big or small or back yard). But, you don't always have a full roster of competitors like those guys.

themistocles · 03-21-2013, 06:13 PM

Good points regurg

themistocles · 03-21-2013, 06:17 PM

Sheesh, so, right now, going into round 2, the SEC has exactly one team remaining in the NIT tournament.

As I noted with my average non-conference number of losses per team by conference, there is a fair amount of evidence that the SEC is the weakest of the major conferences this year.

Does anyone think that any SEC team other than the Gators make it to week two of the NCAA tournament?

tommyuf21 · 03-21-2013, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regurgigator

And, if you had a team full of Jon Havliceks or Larry Birds (actually I'm not sure about Bird - I could see him shutting down the competitive juices if placed in the "B" Tourney) or Michael Jordans or Joakim Noahs, you could rest easy that the team would compete like maniacs no matter what the stage (big or small or back yard). But, you don't always have a full roster of competitors like those guys.

Not sure I agree with you about Bird. I've heard that he was one of the most competitive people that lived. He didn't even like losing at the bar in beer drinking competitions.

**regurgigator** · 03-21-2013, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommyuf21

Not sure I agree with you about Bird. I've heard that he was one of the most competitive people that lived. He didn't even like losing at the bar in beer drinking competitions.

Yeah, I didn't really know about Bird. I know he was uber-competitive on the big stage, but something about his personality made me start to think that if his team wasn't competing for all the marbles, that he might lose interest.

tommyuf21 · 03-21-2013, 10:16 PM

Bird was a pretty mellow coach, when you consider the fire he had as a player. I think most remember him more during his days of coaching the Pacers, since its been so long since he played (over 20 years now, god I'm old).