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Post by Fanforever on Mar 28, 2014 11:54:33 GMT -6
I am not sure how the rest of you feel but I have not watched as much of the tourney this year due to the feeling i have about GB being left out. It is ever more apparent to me that the NCAA is about the money and not the student athlete. All you have to do is look at what teams got let in and left out. Also, look at the seeding process as further proof. They give good seeds to mediocre high major teams as they have the potential to bring the NCAA more revenue.
The Phoenix controlled their own destiny and due to circumstances were not able to fullfil all of their goals. So with that I hope it strengthens their resolve and work even harder than last off season.
Back to the tourney rant. How does the ACC get so many teams in the tourney when it was clear the league was down this year and further proved by only one team making the sweet 16. The reason is the name of the conference will bring more fans out and sponsorship opportunities.
I have kept this bottled up for a ahwile and finally am able to vent about it as the sting of GB not making it has left a bad taste in my mouth.
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Post by FunDmentals on Mar 28, 2014 12:07:04 GMT -6
I was pretty down on the tournament this year after GB's collapse too. However, Wisconsin's run and the upsets of some of college basketball's traditional powers got me reinvigorated pretty early.
GB would have gotten destroyed in the tourney without Sykes. In a way, that makes me okay with the way the season ended. There are clearly a lot of things players need to improve on for this team to make it back to where they were. We will see if the team can make it back, but my expectations for next year are very low because I can't take another letdown like this year.
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Post by thetulsawarrior on Mar 28, 2014 15:02:56 GMT -6
You're right GB controlled its own destiny and lost as so clearly and compassionately the sports editor of the Press Gazette pointed out.
What he didn't bother to mention is the NCAA selection community looks at a number of factors in picking schools. Yes it is tough for a mid-major to get in without that automatic bid. Strength of schedule is also important and GB had that. What they didn't have was a healthy squad and the selection committee knew that. Injures killed the Nix chances in more ways than one. (in the Horizon League Tournament and with the selection committe)
While coaches, players and fans hoped for the NCAA bid the key reason was Sykes and Brown could not play at 100%. Sykes wouldn't have been able to play at all and Brown was clearly well below 100%.
Case closed. Injuries happen. Nix fans call it the "Martinez Syndrome."
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Post by stillaphoenixphan on Mar 30, 2014 9:26:14 GMT -6
You're right GB controlled its own destiny and lost as so clearly and compassionately the sports editor of the Press Gazette pointed out. What he didn't bother to mention is the NCAA selection community looks at a number of factors in picking schools. Yes it is tough for a mid-major to get in without that automatic bid. Strength of schedule is also important and GB had that. What they didn't have was a healthy squad and the selection committee knew that. Injures killed the Nix chances in more ways than one. (in the Horizon League Tournament and with the selection committe) While coaches, players and fans hoped for the NCAA bid the key reason was Sykes and Brown could not play at 100%. Sykes wouldn't have been able to play at all and Brown was clearly well below 100%. Case closed. Injuries happen. Nix fans call it the "Martinez Syndrome." I think you hit it right on the head. If Sykes and Brown had been healthy at the end of the season we go dancing. We also win the playoffs with both of them healthy. We need more depth which is hard at the Mid-Major level. My questions about Fulton still remain and Finley could be great if he develops an outside shot with his quickness. The other injury was McKinnie who if we get a healthy year out of him would be what we need next year to remain on top. With a healthy McKinnie, Mays and Lowe we'll be very good in the paint next year. The NCAA looked at the injuries and said they wanted a healthy contender and GB wasn't healthy. We didn't have anyone to fill the rolls with out a big drop off.
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Post by gbbrl97 on Mar 31, 2014 7:48:05 GMT -6
Health of key players for next season aside, GB needs to find an outside scoring threat.
I remember the 'Martinez Syndrome' of 1992.....John (who was a Tony Bennett clone IMO) tore his ACL in a late season game (I can't rmember if it was Eastern Ill or Valpo), then we lose to Eastern Ill in the conference tourney semi-finals in GB. We have wins against Purde and Colorado and a close loss against Nebraska, but get snubbed from the NCAA's.....Our reward, an NIT bid in Manhattan; I remember Tony rolling his ankle that game and wasn't at full speed. GB loses that game close.
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