UAZipster0305

Yeah, we may have won at home. However, we have to win a big game that is not at home before any of these injustices regarding RPI are valid.

It has nothing to do with a cavernous arena either. It is not having composure because we have not played any big games all year until the end of the season. Build a real OOC schedule.

No more bitching about deserving to be a bubble team ever again. Either win the MACC or win some other post-season games first. I am tired of all the MAC Conference success followed by not much. It is emotionally exhausting. Big players make big plays in big games. Big teams find a way to win when not playing their best in big games.

No composure.

Pissing down our leg. Here is exactly where playing a tougher OOC schedule would help us. We can't expect to out shoot every opponent we play.

If we had only hit one of the front-ends of those one-and-ones.

We need a good final push. We are looking a little lost on the last few offensive possessions.

Splash!!! Reggie for 3 plus 1 coming!

At least the commentators said that was terrible. I'd expect nothing less from OSU officiating. At least they threw the ball back to us.

This is gonna be tight to the wire. I hope we have some magic left. Would be a great time for McAdams to get hot.

Cheatum is playing great. Tough rebounding, good defense, and wise choices not to shoot on offense.

Not a great way to close it out, but I will take another half like that! Solid defense.

Here we go!

Agreed regarding the other games, especially the high mid-majors. I'll add to that list: LSU, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Clemson, and South Carolina. Mid-major-wise, I'd like to see Dayton or Xavier too.

There has been a lot of discussion about playing higher profile OOC opponents on the road early in the season. I thought I'd start a new thread to address this. Who do you want to see us play? Why? My considerations: name brand of program, appeal to recruits, possibility of a big win, payday, national exposure, post-season resume building, and interesting travel weekend for Zips fans in the fall if the game is on a weekend. I'll start: Pitt, Cincy, Indiana, Maryland, Georgetown, WVU, OSU, Duke, UNC, Kentucky, and Louisville. We should be playing 2-3 of these teams EVERY year!

As someone else mentioned, the NIT is a private, for-profit event. We either accept what we are given or don't participate. Simple as that. Yes, match-ups and interest ($) were used to justify the seeds...it wasn't done based on resume strength. Who cares?...We have a terrific opportunity anyhow. Beat OSWho and Florida this year and maybe we have a chance to host a mid-tier B1G team in future years. As a fan, contribute by listening to the radio, watching on TV, reading associated articles, and creating a social media buzz...attention is what the NIT cares about. I have to say, meager crowds at the JAR for games other than OU and Kent really hurt our prospects for getting a home game like this. It may have been awarded to us if we had a loyal and rapid fan base large enough to fill the JAR and make a great atmosphere for TV. As it is, it will be given to the larger (though underwhelmed with opportunity) school.

...and most importantly, the opportunity for a marquee win. And it builds composure such that we won't pee down our leg in the NCAAT. We will come prepared knowing what to expect and what we need to do to win.

I hope so, but personal history is not in our favor. Give me UF. When else would we get UF on our own floor?! We already play enough directional schools that Joe Akron has no interest in even if North Florida is having an especially good season and may be the better team. Sign me up for wins over OSWho and UF any day of the week.

If we play enough of them, eventually we win one or two. They become routine and then our guys don't have nerves. The team is on or we get a few guys who are hot in a particular game or the other team is way down, and there it is. Then it builds momentum for the program...post-season prospects resume, recruiting, exposure, etc. The first step is scheduling though, and that's all on KD. Given the economics of the Athletic Department and UA as a whole, the administration should be forcing KD to take a small handful of big pay day games just like football has to do at least once every season.

I intentionally left out the NIU game. On the road in the MAC, the refs will cost us a game or two every year. That's what happened at NIU. All the more reason to assert ourselves in games that are there for the taking like Miami and UW-GB. KD needs to play a couple games on the road against some of the best teams in the country every year. That's the only way our players will see what the ceiling is like for speed, size, and skill. It prepares us better for the conference and there is no risk to playing them. If we win, it is marquee; otherwise, it boosts our SOS and displaces a more moderate opponent that would trash our NCAAT resume. And what recruit wouldn't want the opportunity to go up against the best-of-the-best every year?...especially a highly talented recruit who is shunned by the major programs because of something uncontrollable like a couple inches of height? Give me that kid with heart and a chip on his shoulder any day of the week. That's the guy who gets us through games in Sweater Town unscathed.

Or a terrible Miami team on the road in a game we needed at the end of the season. To me, the losses to Miami and UW-Green Bay justify our being left out. We have to come ready to play and win regardless of when, where, and who. KD doesn't get this because he constantly emphasizes that the only thing that matters is the MACC. If that's the case and it doesn't mean anything, why take any pride in our 21 win season streak? What is shocking to me is that we weren't even in the bubble discussion given the other 20+ teams that were. We were a long-shot bubble team, but definitely deserving of the associated notoriety and national exposure. There is no way Syracuse, Michigan, or Vanderbilt should be in though. 7 Pac-12 teams is ridiculous too. Those slots were clearly pried from the fingers of deserving mid-majors.

See Rule #76: No excuses, play like a champion!

I wouldn't be surprised if this game gets moved to Northwestern...or the moon...but I don't expect it to be at the JAR. First things first, we have to beat OSWho. This is the opportunity we've been wanting. We need to play aggressive, but smart basketball and with the hustle and determination of having a big chip on our shoulder. If we go in feeling sorry for ourselves, the game is over before it starts. I love KD. I think he is the best coach for our program and future. However, he seriously lacks in motivating the players and fans for a game like this. Yes, it's not the ultimate goal of the NCAA's, but there are a ton of good teams available here for the taking that would not otherwise be on our OOC schedule. Take advantage of it! Prove that we are the better/best program left out of the NCAA and tell them after the fact that they made a mistake. There is no excuse for this pre-emptive woe-is-me stuff.

Terrible call against us on one end of the court and a terrible no call at the other. The winning free throws given on a sequence where the player was totally out of control and on the way to the ground without contact!...unreal. Those missed bunnies loom large.

The new screen names have also replaced the old ones upon signing in. This is a very welcome change, and the new mobile format is wonderful. Thanks to the mods for investing in the Nation.