Dont expect a long run in the dance, we may even lose our first one. However, after wandering 40 years in the dessert, it is still nice to be on the basketball map again. Losing teaspoon hurt us, it showed in these last two games. We could find magic in a bottle, but I wouldnt count on it. It sure beats checking out in mid January tho.
We are who we are
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My exact thoughts last night. It is what it is. UT plays great at home. Undefeated. They may not do well elsewhere. They have looked very unimpressive. Most recently at UK.
It happens. That's why the tourney is on nuetral floor.
It happens. That's why the tourney is on nuetral floor.
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I don't know that we can beat a 3 seed. We don't have a win like that on the season.
If we could earn a 5 seed a s16 is possible, but we'd probably have to beat LSU, UK or UT in Nashville to do that and I don't know that we're capable.
If we could earn a 5 seed a s16 is possible, but we'd probably have to beat LSU, UK or UT in Nashville to do that and I don't know that we're capable.
Yep, the biggest disappointment that I have at the moment is that while I still feel like we have the ability to get hot and beat a really good team, it’s March and we’ve still yet to prove it.
If you were to break teams up into Bad, Average, Good, and Elite categories, it’s starting to feel like our ceiling is beating a Good team when they have an average outing. We simply cannot best an Elite team, and we will likely lose to an Average to Good team if we get their best effort.
As you said, this year is a hell of a lot better than the last 8, so there’s that... but it’s time to face facts. This isn’t a team that going to make a deep run. We can’t depend on Ado/Holman pretty much ever, Peters has disappeared in the last 3 wks like nothing I’ve ever seen, and Perry/Woodard just aren’t there yet. Throw the loss of Nick on top of that, and things just aren’t coming together like they need to be this time of year
The scariest thing to me is that we saw how look last night when Q has an off game, and not having him next year does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling
If you were to break teams up into Bad, Average, Good, and Elite categories, it’s starting to feel like our ceiling is beating a Good team when they have an average outing. We simply cannot best an Elite team, and we will likely lose to an Average to Good team if we get their best effort.
As you said, this year is a hell of a lot better than the last 8, so there’s that... but it’s time to face facts. This isn’t a team that going to make a deep run. We can’t depend on Ado/Holman pretty much ever, Peters has disappeared in the last 3 wks like nothing I’ve ever seen, and Perry/Woodard just aren’t there yet. Throw the loss of Nick on top of that, and things just aren’t coming together like they need to be this time of year
The scariest thing to me is that we saw how look last night when Q has an off game, and not having him next year does not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling
We beat Wofford who is currently looking like a high 4 seed, went to OT with LSU who is currently right on the 3/4 cut line, and we should have beaten UK at home with decent officiating and FT shooting. We can certainly beat a 3 seed if the chips fall right and we get a good matchup. Just gotta see how it plays out.
We have a talented roster but a very unbalanced one. Of our 13 scholarship guys, one is a transfer sitting out, one is suspended, four (Jethro, Datcher, Stewart, Feazell) are contributing nothing to this season, and then you’ve got 2-3 of the guys actually playing that have been nonfactors lately.
We basically have 4 guys we can rely on to consistently be average or above average. That gives you very little chance to beat good teams.
We basically have 4 guys we can rely on to consistently be average or above average. That gives you very little chance to beat good teams.
Yeah, and I guess I’d feel a little better if it felt like we were grooming some of those guys for the future, but I really question whether Datcher or Feazell will ever play a meaningful minute for MSU. I can’t remember the last time either one came in, and it took more than 2 minutes for Howland to remember why they don’t play
I don’t know... playing UT in Knoxville on senior night is a bad game to make any kind of judgment, but where this should be the time of year when everything starts to come together, it seems like we’re losing bolts off of our wheels every week
I don’t know... playing UT in Knoxville on senior night is a bad game to make any kind of judgment, but where this should be the time of year when everything starts to come together, it seems like we’re losing bolts off of our wheels every week
Did people really expect a “run” in the ncaa tournament?
We haven’t been to the thing in a generation. We need to make the tournament before we start taking about making a run. Preseason and even now, I said I’d be thrilled if we make the second round.
Sweet 16? We’ve only been twice ever. It’s not where we want to be, but we’re moving in the right direction.
We haven’t been to the thing in a generation. We need to make the tournament before we start taking about making a run. Preseason and even now, I said I’d be thrilled if we make the second round.
Sweet 16? We’ve only been twice ever. It’s not where we want to be, but we’re moving in the right direction.
I'm hoping the incoming kids will help along with the development of Perry and Woodard... but I think next year is going to be tough particularly with the rest of the league looking so good.
Earlier this year I said there was no way in hell we were making the NCAA tournament because we were playing nonexistent defense. I am happy to be wrong and have come to terms with what we have which is a decent team with some gaping holes. The effort especially on defense has picked up alot as the season has progressed but the erratic play of Holman and Peters has been a killer. We badly need those two to play to even half their potential.
we have the talent to make the S16, but me must play well. if we play like we have the last two games, we get bounced rather convincingly in the first round.
either way, this season was a massive success. a zebra doesnt change its stripes. we arent going to start playing fundamental basketball, which makes how far we go 100% about effort the full 40 min.
either way, this season was a massive success. a zebra doesnt change its stripes. we arent going to start playing fundamental basketball, which makes how far we go 100% about effort the full 40 min.
In my opinion, our problem the last 2 games, other than playing talented teams on the road, has been our satisfaction with knowing we are already in the tournament. Howland and several players were commenting and tweeting about being in the tournament last week, and our effort the last 2 games has looked exactly like we aren’t going to try for **** until it counts again. At least we are getting a chance to dance, which is apparently the teams’s attitude. Seeding be damned.
“Expect” probably isn’t the right word for me, but I did feel like the pieces were there in order for it to be a legit possibility by end of season. Q was poised for a strong senior season, we had a solid core of upperclassmen returning, and there were plenty of signs pointing towards Holman and Peters having NBA draft worthy years too. All we needed were a couple other things to come together between the freshmen stepping up and/or Ado developing, and it was easy to see why even the experts thought this might be a special year
Looking back on things now, however, pretty much none of the above happened with the exception of Q’s great year and Perry making strides. I never would have predicted that Peters and Holman would disappear or that Ado would be as physically ineffective as he has been. Not to mention the loss of Nick
Anyway, I guess all I was expecting was a team that really had a chance at something fun by year end, but I’m not seeing that chance at all. Simply making it to the dance is progress, though
Looking back on things now, however, pretty much none of the above happened with the exception of Q’s great year and Perry making strides. I never would have predicted that Peters and Holman would disappear or that Ado would be as physically ineffective as he has been. Not to mention the loss of Nick
Anyway, I guess all I was expecting was a team that really had a chance at something fun by year end, but I’m not seeing that chance at all. Simply making it to the dance is progress, though
Unless you have the overall talent of LSU, Tenn or KY, you are at the mercy of the team mentality. We have the talent level to get to the 2nd weekend IF they come out playing their roles that were established during our late season run. We had it for about 15 minutes against Auburn but it was nowhere in sight last night, which I expected. Tenn has a tough team, had senior night and a loud, loud crowd.
Howland just needs to convince them they are playing with house money from here on out and maybe they will loosen up and play as well as they can. They were really forcing things last night.
it should also help considerably that it will be a neutral court during the NCAAT. anything can happen at that point. im not predicting it, but at the same time, dont be surprised if we go on a run. this team can do it, but consistency has been a problem throughout.
You nailed it all with one word. I watched the 96 team all throughout the season and they just hit a stride from the SEC tourney till the Final Four. NO ONE thought we would survive the opening weekend, much less take it to the F4. The starters just became very consistent in their roles. I stood on the end of the court at the Hump and watched us get drummed by Kentucky, then turn around and smash them on a neutral court. I wonder how we will handle a neutral court.
I know we say it all the time at MSU but I think we have the opportunity to do better next season.
Just look at last year - lose by 20+ to Tenn and LSU to end the season, then turn around and go 1-1 with close games against those same two teams in the SEC tournament. Follow it up with a nice run in the NIT.
Make the NCAAT and you never know what will happen.
Make the NCAAT and you never know what will happen.
Agreed on all. Also, if I’m going to wander 40 years in dessert I want it to be Browine Bottom Pie from the North End in Memphis.
I think Howland made a mistake saying he thought we were in the tournament....he should have said “we are doing all of the things to be in the tournament, but we have to keep doing those things better”.
MSU has looked unimpressive for the most part since January. Because they are what they are.
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