LSU definitely had a disappointing season, but they were still a Top 5 ranked team beginning of the season and had just beaten A&M the game before. That was a HUGE win considering how early it was into the season and how inexperienced our ENITRE starting lineup was. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I wouldn't say things like "kept losing big games" when we've won just as many big games. You say that A&M killed us (true) and that we only squeaked by them (true) but that doesn't make us any less of a team. We're starting 4 freshman and beat a Top 6 team in a very close game, are we suppose to be disappointed w/ that?
I think you're taking this a little too personally - I've got absolutely zero against UT, I'm not an Aggie, I'm not trying to bash UT cause I think they stink or to go against the stream. I simply do not think they will do well in the tournament based on what I observed in the regular season. You said it yourself, you're starting 4 freshmen. When I look at Florida or Kansas, I see things there that I don't see with UT. That's what matters when it comes to the brackets. Evan
but UT doesn't have to beat either Fla or Kansas to get to the Elite 8. and THAT (the seedings) is what matters when it comes to the brackets. bottom line...i think UT is playing good ball..and i think UNC is ripe to be upset.
I have Thu and Fri off, so y'all let me know if there is going to be a midday March Madness gathering!
Looks like The Wetspot for the early games Thursday then over to BW3 Midtown. I have to be out west for the Friday games, so it looks like BW3 Royal Oaks for the first games, then Stars out in Katy for the UT game.
Max, I was probably a little too strong on Oregon but I feel that Winthrop is that good. If those 2 teams do match-up, I have no doubt that Winthrop will beat them (now watch me jinx Winthrop with that statement).
I don't think I'm taking this too personally nor do I think you have anything against UT. But I don't see how you can say we "kept losing big games" when you said yourself we're 4-4 against ranked teams. That's not bad considering half of those losses came on the road against A&M and OK-State.
Difference of opinion. I don't think UT has much to hang its hat on. Didn't play big boys outside of the Big 12 (Chicago St!), lost to Michigan St and Gonzaga. They were competitive and split most of their matchups at the top of the conference. They can't debate that they're the best team in their conference and have shown nothing outside of their conference. Splitting conference matchups and "almost" not losing to your conference champ twice doesn't seem like much to get excited about to me. Anyway, I'm not trying to change your mind on the subject. We disagree. The next few weeks will settle the matter. Evan
They played Gonzaga (when they had their best player), Michigan State, LSU (when they were top 10), Arkansas, Tennessee and Villanova. They were 2-5 in those games, but they are also a very young team (and all but one were on the road or neutral sites). They haven't lost a game by more than 5 points since early February. I'm not saying they're going to the Final Four, but I do believe you are being too dismissive of them.
I know I'm not going to change your opinion, but anyone who watched those early season games knows this Texas team now is completely different and significantly improved. The Texas team that lost to MSU and Gonzaga would've lost by 25+ to Kansas in Allen Fieldhouse.
Gonna go drop some cash on all four 11 seeds. 11-29 over the last 10 years. At least one of them should win, based on statistics. I've got to double-check the odds. woot 11 seeds!
Because there's a lot of partisans to Texas on here, I want to comment on them: they play a beautiful brand of basketball, but even when up by 20 on Kansas yesterday, I knew it would slip away from them. Despite their poor record in close games, they are a genuinely clutch offensive team in crunch time, but just have a cloud of sh*t-for-luck on the defensive end that's followed them throughout the season The endings to the Tennessee and Oklahoma State games were demoralizing to watch, even as a neutral. Rick Barnes' facial expressions epitomize "befuddlement," and it's not indicative of bad coaching. Sometimes a team experiences an abnormal amount of sh*t-for-luck, and Texas is one of those teams. I see it happening again in the Sweet 16 against UNC.
