How quickly we forget.

[McGrowlTowelZac]

We started 5-3 last year too.  We lost to teams last year that we should have beat, George Mason, Oregon, and maybe Notre Dame.  Though maybe we should have lost to Notre Dame,

This team was and is going to be frustrating to watch at times because they're still learning to play together and are still young.  Most of them have never played this many minutes before, it takes time.  Its too early to start panic.  There is still time to get things worked out before conference play.  This Thursday is big, if we can get a good win against S. Miss. that would be a nice jump start for the rest of the non-con.

However, even if we lose Thursday, all is not lost.  We just need to finish 11-3 or 10-4 in the non-con and hopefully win 6-8 games in the conference and have a shot at the NIT.  This is not a NCAA caliber team, not unless we have a big man step up big for us soon, and step up consistently.

A NIT berth would be great for this team.  NCAA would be utterly amazing.

[Bookcat]

agreed on all fronts. If we lose this Thursday in what is supposed to be a "hey look at us playing in KC" type of game we probably won't win more than 6 or 7 conference games.

[Bullfn33]

Notre Dame '07 > Kentucky '08
Oregon '07 > Oregon '08
George Mason '07 > Iowa '08

All three losses this season are worse than the three we had last season at this time.

[steve dave]

Notre Dame '07 > Kentucky '08
Oregon '07 > Oregon '08
George Mason '07 > Iowa '08

All three losses this season are worse than the three we had last season at this time.

We also got destroyed by Xavier fwiw.  If we can win in KC we prolly win out to B12 play. 

[michigancat]

I disagree w/ GMU > Iowa

[Bullfn33]

Notre Dame '07 > Kentucky '08
Oregon '07 > Oregon '08
George Mason '07 > Iowa '08

All three losses this season are worse than the three we had last season at this time.

We also got destroyed by Xavier fwiw.  If we can win in KC we prolly win out to B12 play. 

and that would give us zero quality wins in non-con unless Cleveland State wins the Horizon..at least last year we had a win over a high major team.

[Bullfn33]

I disagree w/ GMU > Iowa

GMason won their league and went to the NCAA tournament and that was an experienced team. I seriously doubt Iowa will be an NCAA tourney team so, for now, I'd put GMason '07 ahead.

[michigancat]

I disagree w/ GMU > Iowa

GMason won their league and went to the NCAA tournament and that was an experienced team. I seriously doubt Iowa will be an NCAA tourney team so, for now, I'd put GMason '07 ahead.

They got a lucky draw in their conference tournament.  They didn't come close to winning their regular season.

[ksu_FAN]

"Quality wins" really aren't on my radar this year.  Would love to have them, but my expectations going into the year weren't really counting on them being a major discussion point.  We've lost 3 games that I either thought we'd probably lose or would be toss ups going into the season.

And really, its such a fine line.  I mean we make a couple more shots, a couple more FTs, and get a couple more rebounds and this board is going absolutely nuts about how great this team is and how awesome Frank is.

[Skycat]

Individually, it's tough to be upset with any of the losses.  I've got to admit, I'm disappointed that we lost all three.

[McGrowlTowelZac]

"Quality wins" really aren't on my radar this year.  Would love to have them, but my expectations going into the year weren't really counting on them being a major discussion point.  We've lost 3 games that I either thought we'd probably lose or would be toss ups going into the season.

And really, its such a fine line.  I mean we make a couple more shots, a couple more FTs, and get a couple more rebounds and this board is going absolutely nuts about how great this team is and how awesome Frank is.

QFT.  We aren't going to be worried about quality wins at the end of this year.  I want the NIT this year, this team just isn't ready and it is unfair to heap expectations of anything more than that.  Just get better and grow as a team, we just don't have the experience, leadership, and talent to make the NCAA this year. 

Notre Dame '07 > Kentucky '08
Oregon '07 > Oregon '08
George Mason '07 > Iowa '08

All three losses this season are worse than the three we had last season at this time.

I would argue with this.  Last year we should have never lost to George Mason or Oregon.  Notre Dame maybe.  Losing the games this year, considering what we're working with isn't that bad.  What's tough is how close we were winning, but it just proves this team doesn't know how win at this point.  Jacking up deep three's, taking it to the hoop against a 1 on 3, and turning the ball over isn't going to win you many games down the stretch.

Now learn from it and get better.

[PowerKAT]

You really think our "big men" can handle the paint in the Big 12?  jw

[michigancat]

You really think our "big men" can handle the paint in the Big 12?  jw

They'll be less of a problem than lack of depth at guard.

[McGrowlTowelZac]

You really think our "big men" can handle the paint in the Big 12?  jw

No, not at this point, no way.  This is what is so upsetting about Herrera, if he can't play against this competition, then he might as well not even dress for the Big 12.  

[Bullfn33]

I disagree w/ GMU > Iowa

GMason won their league and went to the NCAA tournament and that was an experienced team. I seriously doubt Iowa will be an NCAA tourney team so, for now, I'd put GMason '07 ahead.

They got a lucky draw in their conference tournament.  They didn't come close to winning their regular season.

GMason finished second in their conference last year and had returning experience from their final four team and, again, they were an NCAA tournament team because they were good enough to make it. Iowa sucks.

[michigancat]

GMason finished second in their conference last year and had returning experience from their final four team and, again, they were an NCAA tournament team because they were good enough to make it. Iowa sucks.

They were only in because they were automatic qualifiers.  Did not have an at-large caliber resume.

[Bullfn33]

Notre Dame '07 > Kentucky '08
Oregon '07 > Oregon '08
George Mason '07 > Iowa '08

All three losses this season are worse than the three we had last season at this time.

I would argue with this.  Last year we should have never lost to George Mason or Oregon.  Notre Dame maybe.  Losing the games this year, considering what we're working with isn't that bad.  What's tough is how close we were winning, but it just proves this team doesn't know how win at this point.  Jacking up deep three's, taking it to the hoop against a 1 on 3, and turning the ball over isn't going to win you many games down the stretch.

Now learn from it and get better.

We should have lost to GMason because they were experienced and our guys were still running circles around Mike at that point in the season. Both Oregon and Notre Dame were also experienced teams that went to the NCAAs the previous year but they were more talented than GMason. So I disagree, we lost because we should have given the point in our teams development. Had we played them later in the season then we would have beaten GMason and Oregon @home but ND continued to get better throughout the season and we would have still lost to them on a neutral court.

There was no excuse to lose to Iowa this year.

[Bullfn33]

GMason finished second in their conference last year and had returning experience from their final four team and, again, they were an NCAA tournament team because they were good enough to make it. Iowa sucks.

They were only in because they were automatic qualifiers.  Did not have an at-large caliber resume.

I know that but it doesn't change the fact they made the tournament. They made the Tournament because they earned it like everyone else. You don't win those conference tourney's if you aren't good and they did win 23 games. All I'm saying is they were better than last week's Iowa team; not trying to say they are a great team.

[McGrowlTowelZac]

Notre Dame '07 > Kentucky '08
Oregon '07 > Oregon '08
George Mason '07 > Iowa '08

All three losses this season are worse than the three we had last season at this time.

I would argue with this.  Last year we should have never lost to George Mason or Oregon.  Notre Dame maybe.  Losing the games this year, considering what we're working with isn't that bad.  What's tough is how close we were winning, but it just proves this team doesn't know how win at this point.  Jacking up deep three's, taking it to the hoop against a 1 on 3, and turning the ball over isn't going to win you many games down the stretch.

Now learn from it and get better.

We should have lost to GMason because they were experienced and our guys were still running circles around Mike at that point in the season. Both Oregon and Notre Dame were also experienced teams that went to the NCAAs the previous year but they were more talented than GMason. So I disagree, we lost because we should have given the point in our teams development. Had we played them later in the season then we would have beaten GMason and Oregon @home but ND continued to get better throughout the season and we would have still lost to them on a neutral court.

There was no excuse to lose to Iowa this year.

We lost to George Mason due to coaching.  Ask Frank, he said as much late in the year.  We had more talent, but didn't know how to put it together yet.  Kinda like Iowa, more talent, just not putting it together yet.