Belmont

[Southeast]

Re: Belmont

The last time i got smacked in the mouth, I came back with both arms swinging.

I thought we saw that at MT. Now (taking the schedule as a whole), the MT game looks like the outlier among a bunch of stinkers. There is still plenty of time for "swinging", with nearly the entire Summit schedule to play. My expectations, however, have dropped a long way from where they were back in early November. I'm hoping we can finish in the top 4 in order to get a decent seed for the conference tournament. I'm officially done pondering what seed we might get in the NCAA Tournament. Doing so looks silly at this point.

[joeboo22]

Re: Belmont

I must be the only one that is not worried. Maybe that is because over the past 10 years I've watched a ton of basketball, and other then the 09 North Carolina squad and maybe last years Kentucky squad few teams have just blown through the year. in 2011 UConn goes from not even on the bubble to winning the conference tournament and then winning the NCAA tournament. Teams come out of no where, they turn on the play, and they go places. This team was never going to get an at large bid, so losing to a good Belmont team badly in December is going to matter as much as losing to Idaho 4 years ago did.

Has SDSU played up to their capability? No, clearly not, but I do think some people underestimate some of the competition they have played. Is Nate healthy? no, Has Chad and Jordan shot well from the perimeter yet? No. Has Jake and Taevaunn been able to play those grunt minutes needed? Not exactly. Horstman was hurt over the summer and then turns an ankle so his progression is down from where it could/should be. The bench needs to step it up, that is obvious, guys need to start shooting better, defense needs to get better and rebounding needs to get better. The thing about all of those is if they can start shooting a little better, the defense is easier to set up, and the rebounding margin isn't as bad because of lack of rebounding opportunities on offense.

Who even thought SDSU would be able to beat Oral Roberts or Oakland in the tournament last year? O yeah they didn't have to play either. Stuff changes, injuries occur and sh*t happens. But at the end of the day you only need to win 3 games in a row to consider your season a success. Calm down, take a breath and think of what you will do Saturday when the world doesn't end tomorrow

[LakeJack]

Re: Belmont

To all of you who just jumped off. We will see you in a few weeks. As for me I am staying put. Go Jacks!

[MontanaRabbit]

Re: Belmont

I must be the only one that is not worried. Maybe that is because over the past 10 years I've watched a ton of basketball, and other then the 09 North Carolina squad and maybe last years Kentucky squad few teams have just blown through the year. in 2011 UConn goes from not even on the bubble to winning the conference tournament and then winning the NCAA tournament. Teams come out of no where, they turn on the play, and they go places. This team was never going to get an at large bid, so losing to a good Belmont team badly in December is going to matter as much as losing to Idaho 4 years ago did.

Has SDSU played up to their capability? No, clearly not, but I do think some people underestimate some of the competition they have played. Is Nate healthy? no, Has Chad and Jordan shot well from the perimeter yet? No. Has Jake and Taevaunn been able to play those grunt minutes needed? Not exactly. Horstman was hurt over the summer and then turns an ankle so his progression is down from where it could/should be. The bench needs to step it up, that is obvious, guys need to start shooting better, defense needs to get better and rebounding needs to get better. The thing about all of those is if they can start shooting a little better, the defense is easier to set up, and the rebounding margin isn't as bad because of lack of rebounding opportunities on offense.

Who even thought SDSU would be able to beat Oral Roberts or Oakland in the tournament last year? O yeah they didn't have to play either. Stuff changes, injuries occur and sh*t happens. But at the end of the day you only need to win 3 games in a row to consider your season a success. Calm down, take a breath and think of what you will do Saturday when the world doesn't end tomorrow

Ok, I'll bite.

We are not UNC and we are not UConn. Losing to Belmont is big...why? Because we have very very very few opportunities at "marquee" wins. We need to win those games to improve seeding should we win the conference tourney. Let's face it, being seeded 14-16, your odds of winning an NCAA tournament game are slim. Assuming we lose to New Mexico I don't see anyway we get a seed higher (er' lower) than 14. We would have zero wins that the tournament selection committee would use to bump us up.

Also what bothers me most about the game last night was the effort in the 2nd half. It flat out was not there. A team we should have played with worked us. The game was over 4 minutes into the second half.

I guess it boils down to the fact that I would like to see us win an NCAA tourney game or two. That's tough when you face a top 10 team in the first round.

[MontanaRabbit]

Re: Belmont

To all of you who just jumped off. We will see you in a few weeks. As for me I am staying put. Go Jacks!

Nice!

I have not jumped off and never will. Games like last night's are damn frustrating though! They are so fricking important for mid-majors.

[Givethebunnyabone]

Re: Belmont

Did anyone tune into the Oakland game last night on the ESPN2? I'd add them to your worries in WIU and NDSU.

Best thing that can happen for SDSU.....take 3rd in the SL going into the tournament. Be the hunter and not the hunted.

[goon]

Re: Belmont

To all of you who just jumped off. We will see you in a few weeks. As for me I am staying put. Go Jacks!

Coolest bandwagon ever. Sweet ride man.

[Nidaros]

Re: Belmont

Coolest bandwagon ever. Sweet ride man.

Thats my Uncle Henry playing the bass drum, nah not really, trying to have some fun. What is the source of this photo? I do think these guys could cheer us a bit after last night. Strike up the band to the tune of yellow and blue.

[goon]

Re: Belmont

Thats my Uncle Henry playing the bass drum, nah not really, trying to have some fun. What is the source of this photo? I do think these guys could cheer us a bit after last night. Strike up the band to the tune of yellow and blue.

Your uncle? Heck I thought that was you. Just kidding, but seriously

[joeboo22]

Re: Belmont

Ok, I'll bite.

We are not UNC and we are not UConn. Losing to Belmont is big...why? Because we have very very very few opportunities at "marquee" wins. We need to win those games to improve seeding should we win the conference tourney. Let's face it, being seeded 14-16, your odds of winning an NCAA tournament game are slim. Assuming we lose to New Mexico I don't see anyway we get a seed higher (er' lower) than 14. We would have zero wins that the tournament selection committee would use to bump us up.

Also what bothers me most about the game last night was the effort in the 2nd half. It flat out was not there. A team we should have played with worked us. The game was over 4 minutes into the second half.

I guess it boils down to the fact that I would like to see us win an NCAA tourney game or two. That's tough when you face a top 10 team in the first round.

If SDSU had won every game except Minnesota and New Mexico this year, if Alabama and Hofstra had stayed at full force and had solid years on top, Belmont and Montana win their conference, I'd still be willing to bet that SDSU wouldn't be higher then a 12 seed. Now I understand what you are saying, but I saw similar things early in the season last year. I've watched a ton of basketball in my life, and it seems like every year there is 1-2 high majors and a handful of mid majors as well that I watch and say they will be lucky to get into the NIT and all and behold March comes around and they are in the sweet 16.

Now I'm not saying that some things need to be worked on, but I've seen bigger problems fixed.

[1bunnies]

Re: Belmont

A few days after getting kicked by UND a year we opened up a can of of Whoop Ass on Washington

[MontanaRabbit]

Re: Belmont

A few days after getting kicked by UND a year we opened up a can of of Whoop Ass on Washington

I hope you are right. We have a chance Saturday to hand New Mexico their first loss.

The thing that concerns me comparing this year and last year are the number of close games. We could easily have 2 more losses (UND and Marshall), although I could say the same thing about two more wins (Hofstra and Alabama).

Some of this might come from the fact that we are no longer doing the hunting....we are getting hunted. We get most teams best shot.

[Givethebunnyabone]

Re: Belmont

Best seed SDSU can hope for coming out of the SL tournament would be a 15. Ship it. The RPI will be horrible this year and a 13 or 14 seed is easily out of the question right now. And a 12 seed is NEVER in play unless you are from a power conference.

[bigticket1]

Re: Belmont

To all of you who just jumped off. We will see you in a few weeks. As for me I am staying put. Go Jacks!

I agree - I tried to express this in my post last night,but it didn't help much. Hopefully everyone taped their ankles before they took the leap - wouldn't want any sprains.

[RabbitObsessed]

Re: Belmont

Perhaps the frank honesty of my posts has created some confusion. I expect and believe that this team has the talent to compete at a much higher level then they are. Therefore, I am very disappointed in the outcome of these games. I am beginning to believe that my expectations are too great but I am not yet willing to admit that. Therefore, the result of games like U of Minn and Belmont, although not season breaking losses and perhaps expected L's, make me feel jaded.

I don't know if this team is not playing up to it potential or if this is "just who they are". I hope its the former.

Maybe we just don't have the talent? I honestly haven't seen it this year on the offensive side of the ball.