Do you believe in the "backs against the wall" mentality in sports?

[michigancat]

A lot of people are saying it will be tough to win tonight because "their backs are against the wall" and it's a "must win" for them. 

Was the Texas Tech loss the straw that broke the camel's back and transformed OSU into a good team?  I doubt it.  OSU is just not very good...if we lose, it will because we play like crap, not because of some magical change in OSU's psyche.

2/03   at Colorado   L 89-77
02/07   at Oklahoma   L 67-60
02/10   Texas Tech   W 93-91
02/12   at Texas   L 83-54
02/17   Missouri   L 75-64
02/21   #9 Texas A&M   L 66-46
02/24   at Texas Tech   L 59-57

[kougar24]

"Do you believe in the 'backs against the wall' mentality in sports?"

- Yes.

[Meatbag]

We need this one.  BAD!

This is will be the biggest game in recent KSU Men's Basketball history. 

[michigancat]

"Do you believe in the 'backs against the wall' mentality in sports?"

- Yes.

Does it just not apply for KSU?  I can't remember a time, in any sport, when a KSU team was struggling and needed a win to get things going again and responded by using extra emotion to will themselves to a win.

[kougar24]

"Do you believe in the 'backs against the wall' mentality in sports?"

- Yes.

Does it just not apply for KSU?  I can't remember a time, in any sport, when a KSU team was struggling and needed a win to get things going again and responded by using extra emotion to will themselves to a win.

I wasn't at the game, but OSU in football this year comes to mind.

[ksu_FAN]

I think there is some merit to it, but it can only carry you so far.  And IMO this match-up should be fairly neutral, you could argue our backs are just as against the wall as theirs, and we are likley playing for "more" at this point than they are.

This game will come down to how we shoot the ball.  When you look at our Big 12 losses, that's really what its been about for the most part.  Against aTm we played well and lost to a good team on the road, against ku in Lawrence we were just outmanned on that night.  However, against Tech we shot 30% to their 42%, against NU we shot 41% to their 58%, and against ku the 2nd time we shot 32% to their 51%.  And against NU and ku we shot 16 and 13 more shots respectively!  If OSU hits 5% greater than we do, this will be a loss.  This will come down to how well we can hit shots, especially the open shots from the perimeter b/c I think Harris, Martin, and Stew will have plenty of opportunities as OSU guns to take away Hoskins in the paint.

[michigancat]

"Do you believe in the 'backs against the wall' mentality in sports?"

- Yes.

Does it just not apply for KSU?  I can't remember a time, in any sport, when a KSU team was struggling and needed a win to get things going again and responded by using extra emotion to will themselves to a win.

I wasn't at the game, but OSU in football this year comes to mind.

I think that had more to do with a change at QB than "emotion".  I guarantee Dylan Meier doesn't will us to victory that day.

[michigancat]

This game will come down to how we shoot the ball.  When you look at our Big 12 losses, that's really what its been about for the most part.  Against aTm we played well and lost to a good team on the road, against ku in Lawrence we were just outmanned on that night.  However, against Tech we shot 30% to their 42%, against NU we shot 41% to their 58%, and against ku the 2nd time we shot 32% to their 51%.  And against NU and ku we shot 16 and 13 more shots respectively!  If OSU hits 5% greater than we do, this will be a loss.  This will come down to how well we can hit shots, especially the open shots from the perimeter b/c I think Harris, Martin, and Stew will have plenty of opportunities as OSU guns to take away Hoskins in the paint.

Looking at that, I almost think we could shoot 5% worse and win.


Wins that we shot worse than our opponent:

MU:  48%, KSU: 44%
NU:  37%, KSU: 33%
MU:  50%, KSU: 49%
UT:  45%, KSU:  40%

[WILDCAT NATION]

As for the actual game...NO, I don't.

However, usually when a team knows how important a game is, etc...they will focus better in the practices leading up to said game...and therefore will play better.

The "emotional" stuff only takes you so far...for the rest, you better be more prepared, more talented, etc...

I agree with FAN's take...KSU has shot miserably in most losses.

[michigancat]

As for the actual game...NO, I don't.

However, usually when a team knows how important a game is, etc...they will focus better in the practices leading up to said game...and therefore will play better.

The "emotional" stuff only takes you so far...for the rest, you better be more prepared, more talented, etc...

That reminds me of the Moneyball theory on "clutch" players...if a batter doesn't treat every at bat like it's the most important of his career, he probably won't be in the big leagues anyway.

I realize that the mentality of an MLB veteran is different from a college freshman, but the point still remains.  These guys have no reason to look at any game as anything but a must win.

[catzacker]

Do you believe in the "backs against the wall" mentality in sports?

Yes, but that's not why a those types of games are won.  It usually is a case where the other team doesn't handle the emotional "bump" that occurs from the desparate team for the first 5-8 minutes and last 5 minutes of a ball game.  

[Fausto]

"I guarantee Dylan Meier doesn't will us to victory that day."

Any guarantee on an A.J. Suggs 40+ point victory over OSU that day?

[WILDCAT NATION]

Any of you listen to the Mizzou game vs. OSU?  OSU came out clicking...Misery weathered the storm and just OWNED them from that point forward....after getting down 10.

KSU just needs to weather the storm of emotion...then methodically impose their will on this team.


Mizzou also hit 50% of their shots, and went 10-18 from 3...so that would be nice too...

[michigancat]

"I guarantee Dylan Meier doesn't will us to victory that day."

Any guarantee on an A.J. Suggs 40+ point victory over OSU that day?

You won that battle....I won the war.

[cireksu]

"Does it just not apply for KSU?  I can't remember a time, in any sport, when a KSU team was struggling and needed a win to get things going again and responded by using extra emotion to will themselves to a win."

the 01 football team.

[ksu_FAN]

Any of you listen to the Mizzou game vs. OSU?  OSU came out clicking...Misery weathered the storm and just OWNED them from that point forward....after getting down 10.

KSU just needs to weather the storm of emotion...then methodically impose their will on this team.


Mizzou also hit 50% of their shots, and went 10-18 from 3...so that would be nice too...

Missouri was keyed by shooting well and playing good defense.  OSU scored 13 more points from the FT line and MU had 22 TOs, but holding OSU to 41% was key.  Boggan still shot over 50%, but everyone else struggled.  

Another thing to keep in mind on OSU is that they don't shoot a ton of 3s and they don't shoot well from 3.  I think that bodes well for us b/c it should allow us to help more in the paint on Boggan.  

Another factor for OSU lately has been Eaton.  I read somewhere he is showing a lot of fatigue and is really out of shape, and his minutes have really been reduced that last few games.  For a team that already has a shot bench, that can't be good.  

Plus OSU still has this guy:

[michigancat]

"Does it just not apply for KSU?  I can't remember a time, in any sport, when a KSU team was struggling and needed a win to get things going again and responded by using extra emotion to will themselves to a win."

the 01 football team.

Dude, we beat Iowa State, ku, Missouri, and LaTech.  Those were colossal mismatches back then.

[cireksu]

yeah, but we shredded all of them to pieces after the crap start.

[mjrod]

This mentality does apply more to OSU than KSU.   But I don't buy it simply because results are mixed on it's ability to factor into a game.

[Kat Kid]

excellent point rusty.

the rest of you are tools.

[AzCat]

A lot of people are saying it will be tough to win tonight because "their backs are against the wall" and it's a "must win" for them. 

Sutton made a huge mistake in telling his team prior to the game @Tech that they had no shot at the NCAA tourney if they didn't win that one.  He's now telling them that they still have a shot if they win against KSU.  With only a couple of seniors on the team there's a chance that a player or two will have mentally checked out following the Tech game.

Monds said the other day that it doesn't matter if they make the NCAA tourney or not because right now they'd lose in the first round no matter who they play.  He went on to say that there were some "personal issues" that need to be addressed before the team is going to play well again.  I have no idea to what he was referring but I'd wager that it has something to do with players having thrown in the towel. 

I think the "backs against the wall" thing does have some merit, particularly for very experienced teams but it looks like OSU has already given up so I doubt it's going to help them much at all. 

[sys]

they'd lose in the first round no matter who they play.  He went on to say that there were some "personal issues" that need to be addressed before the team is going to play well again.

supposedly some of the players hate some of the other players.

[Wildcat Jack]

Re: Do you believe in the "backs against the wall" mentality in sports?

Nope.  The vast majority of time the better team wins.  It's a filler media talking-point brought on by the allure of the tournament.

Besides, why aren't our backs against the wall? 

Dude, we beat Iowa State, ku, Missouri, and LaTech.  Those were colossal mismatches back then.

You forgot OSU that year....down 21-0 and come back to beat 'em 44-21.  It was a screamer...

[cireksu]

I think whichever team truly is thinking ahead during a game or during preparation then the opponent has an advantage of being focused on one task.