NCAA screw job

[JimmyJack]

Re: NCAA screw job

Bonus: We don't have a theatrical, vest-throwing coach to apologize for, but rather, from what I can tell, a class-act guy who does not need an episode of "What Not to Wear" leading a class-act program that is now on the map.

Good one. Rep to you and your hubby.

[91jack]

Re: NCAA screw job

Seriously, why is everyone so convinced we got screwed in location, seed, etc.???

Lubbock is over 350 miles from Waco, which is roughly the distance from Brookings to Rapid. I guess we could have flipped with Texas, and been a 6 seed in Columbus. That way we could have played Ohio State on the Buckeyes' home floor in round two.

And Ohio State was at full strength. We played a Baylor team that was missing their best player, an all-American. And with the coach Mulkey situation, they were ripe for the picking.

I can understand if people wanted us to be a 6 seed. I think 5 would have been a tad high for us, but understandable. We could have easily ended up with a 2nd round game against Cal in L.A., or against UNC in Chattanooga (which isn't much farther than Waco-to-Lubbock), or we could have played Georgia in the first round in nearby Duluth.

We all wanted the Jacks to win, and I was as heartbroken as the rest of us watching that Baylor game. But in the end we played in one of the *four closest* locations in the tournament to Brookings, and had every chance to win.

We are in our first year of tournament eligibility, and didn't beat anyone with a single-digit seed. We got a decent draw, and lost a game we should have won. Not because of seeding, or location...because we missed some shots we normally make.

I'm not worried about the location or seed. I think Iowa City would have been nice but there weren't many other options. I do think that there would have been "many" more SDSU fans if it was only a drive to Rapid. A five hour drive would have been nice. There just weren't many sites that close. Baylor was rated high but there weren't that good for a #2 seed. The #15 seed took them to OT and they were short handed. I liked the matchup and still do. If we play them 10 times, we should win 7(or so). It just wasn't our night.
There were 2 things that I think cost us that game:
1) Shooting- We had several open shots and didn't hit them. The shots were from all over. We missed Free Throws, Lay-ups and 3's. We were 3-15 from 3 point land and most of them were open shots. 75% in free throws isn't bad but this team can do better. I think the main thing about free throws is Baylor wasn't supposed to be good at them and shot lights out.
2) Fouls- I'm not going to say the officials sucked. Everybody has their own opinion on that but just when and who got into foul trouble. SDSU's big gals got into trouble early. With Ketty, Maria and Stacie on the bench; SDSU had to go really deep into their bench early. Morgan picked up 3 fouls in about 3 minutes early in the 1st half. Later in the 1st half, Sunnarborg and Schuttloffel were on the court during Baylor's run. They are good players but don't have the experience on both ends to play against a top 10-15 team in the country. In the 2nd half, SDSU didn't play as aggressive on defense because they were scared of fouling out(my opinion). It just changed the who completion of the game.

[91rabbit]

Re: NCAA screw job

Mrs. 91 here for this topic only:

As we sat at Buffalo Wild Wings with 5 other fans, the announcers commented about how the Jacks were not a 7-seed team as well as "criticized" some of the calls. And unlike Trey Wingo (or whatever you want to call him...those names made me laugh), they called us "South Dakota State". All of this felt like respect at least from the 2 guys calling the game.

Regarding the location, ask Duke how they felt about playing Michigan State in Lansing or Auburn about playing Rutgers in Piscataway.

And after watching many of the other women's games on TV, there have been many poor calls in most of the games--more than I remember from previous tournaments.

As someone who wears stripes, I want to believe it isn't/wasn't personal against the Jacks, but rather, just how things go on a given night ("that's life"). Similar to the nights when a player is hot and can't miss or ice-cold no matter what they do, officials are human and have good and bad nights. With that said, was I happy with the way the game was called? No. And I do think it stinks to be on the receiving end of a bad night of officiating. The tight whistles definitely made it more difficult for our defense to get the offense going. While the calls didn't dictate the outcome, I would say they definitely had an influence on it.

The fact that it came down to a last second play in spite of the circumstances speaks volumes about this team being the real-deal. Hopefully, that earns respect from the NCAA for next year. While it didn't end the way anyone wished, it WAS a great year.

Anecdote: Friends of ours in Lubbock were at both games. All the Texas Tech fans were cheering the Jacks, and many of the Baylor fans were rude with the comment, "Welcome to Divisoin I." Does that mean, welcome to unethical coaching (the girl could shoot if she could play the next weekend, probably just not shoot well) and no breaks with the calls until you've "earned" them?

Bonus: We don't have a theatrical, vest-throwing coach to apologize for, but rather, from what I can tell, a class-act guy who does not need an episode of "What Not to Wear" leading a class-act program that is now on the map. So Cowbell, hold off on that vest purchase for AJ.

Go Rabbits!

[Nidaros]

Re: NCAA screw job

Jackmd, and the rest of those who disagreed with the seeding and location, I don't take offense. I appreciate your honesty, and enjoy occasionally taking part in these discussions.

I have no issue with anyone having an opinion, whether it's the same as mine or if it differs. Personally, I don't think it was that big of a screwing, for the reasons I mentioned in the previous post.

But in the end, it's nice to be a mid-major and debating the merits of whether or not a 7-seed is a screwjob. Let's hope we can prove ourselves worthy of higher seeds and make deeper tournament runs in the upcoming years.

Athletics are about competition, and if we take care of business we usually have something to show for. Our women bb team has a good start towards a National championship. Lets keep it going. I for one had not paid a whole lot of attention to the women's big dance, but I was surprised to learn that Baylor won it all in 2005. The possibilty is there, we just have to make it happen.

[ivandrago]

Re: NCAA screw job

Jackmd, and the rest of those who disagreed with the seeding and location, I don't take offense. I appreciate your honesty, and enjoy occasionally taking part in these discussions.

I have no issue with anyone having an opinion, whether it's the same as mine or if it differs. Personally, I don't think it was that big of a screwing, for the reasons I mentioned in the previous post.

But in the end, it's nice to be a mid-major and debating the merits of whether or not a 7-seed is a screwjob. Let's hope we can prove ourselves worthy of higher seeds and make deeper tournament runs in the upcoming years.

[zooropa]

Re: NCAA screw job

Things which the Jacks could control they did marvelously. The rest is just life.

[jackmd]

Re: NCAA screw job

Dr., I think you are making some big leaps in logic here. To go from what ivandrago said to equating it with those who doubted the move to DI is a bit of a stretch. Did we prove that we belonged in the Big Dance - yup. Did we win a game - yup. No matter what bracket we were in there were going to see big dogs looming. And this was the year to take down Baylor and get a sweet 16 birth. Came up short for whatever reason. Turn page.

Didn't mean to make it seem like I'm making a big leap and I'm not trying to be a jerk even though it seems as if I'm being a jerk. When that game ended I just couldn't believe this season was over. I sat with 2 SDSU hall of famers, one a former women's basketball player, and all we could think is that something wasn't right with the way that game went. I'm not sure how it looked or felt on the tv or radio but I walked out of there not certain what to think.

Now, I had my 7 year old daughter with me and never once did I curse the officiating or belittle the effort of the opponent. As we walked out of that beautiful arena I kept reminding my daughter that sometimes losing can teach you more than winning. Shortly after the game I received 2 phone calls from previous athletes at SDSU, both were intense and unhappy about the course of that game and both referred to the circumstances leading to the seed and the location.

So, I guess I'm not fully understanding why its hard to understand my need to express my frustration with the circumstances in Lubbock. It only further encourages my ongoing support of the Jackrabbits.

Do I take offense when others call me a whiner? Sure I do. Call me what you must call me but always remember that I'm going to be cheering or whining or whatever you want to call it for the Jackrabbits.

[filbert]

Re: NCAA screw job

My attitude is still that you win respect through big wins . . . wins in the Tournament, wins against Top 10 teams during the season, that kind of thing.

There's plenty of respect for SDSU in women's basketball (I'll be wearing SDSU gear going to the Women's Final Four games, and will be kinda keeping track of the number of WBB fans who notice/say something, just for fun). But at some point you need to take the respect you do have and do something with it.

I know there are years when the Tennessee fans were complaining bitterly about their seed, the site they're sent to, the bracket they were in, the bad call that went against them, etc., etc. so I guess I've heard all of it before. And this is coming from freakin' Tennessee fans, after all!

The best revenge is coming out and doing it again next year, but this time when we get a shot at a top 10 team next season (like we did with Maryland last season) we've got to take them down, and when we get a shot at a Baylor in a tournament game (should we be so fortunate as to make the field again next year) then finish the deal there, too.

Bad calls, bad seeds, bad sites are pretty much the norm in women's basketball from what I've seen ***, watching it as closely as I have the past five years since Snookums turned me into a Lady Vols fan (at least when they're not playing the Rabbits). Maybe that's why I'm a lot more sanguine about it than some other posters here.

But rave on, those who feel the need, rave on!

***Well, unless you're UConn, that is . . .

[Chains]

Re: NCAA screw job

Yeah, I don't buy that. The players that put in the effort this year to be who they were deserve the respect. I'll stand up for them even if I'm the only one. The mid-majors in general didn't get the respect they deserved and we are the prime example. What good does it do Jenn, Staci, Ashley and Morgan to hold the program to a level of expectation that may or may not be honored? What good does it do those of us who took the time to follow the team to Texas this year?

I'm a little sick and tired of the passive approach. The same approach lead to a lot of people being opposed to the move to DI. The "we aren't good enough" approach crap in my opinion. Again, I'm not sure where many of you were or what your stance was when the move up was declared but I was on board (and on this board) and vocal about it. I'm not backing of my stance about the circumstances in Lubbock.

I am with you MD. The lady Jacks were slighted from the get - go. In every publication I read the feeling was that the Jack women should have been a higher seed than a (7). Every interview I heard from any Coach supported the Lady Jacks & should have been a higher seed. Of the 16 first round host sites the Jacks and Depaul were the only two teams sent to a host site with the other 3 teams being from the host state. I have watched the Baylor game three times and still can't figure out three or four critical calls that significantly hurt the Jacks. Would have other sites been more difficult? Any Closer? Makes no difference! Slighted is still slighted.

But we move on and forward. Congrats to Jenn again. What a great bunch of women.

GBGBGJ

[Cowbell]

Re: NCAA screw job

Dr., I think you are making some big leaps in logic here. To go from what ivandrago said to equating it with those who doubted the move to DI is a bit of a stretch. Did we prove that we belonged in the Big Dance - yup. Did we win a game - yup. No matter what bracket we were in there were going to see big dogs looming. And this was the year to take down Baylor and get a sweet 16 birth. Came up short for whatever reason. Turn page.

[jackmd]

Re: NCAA screw job

I think ivandrago's post is well-balanced. Going back to childhood, it takes awhile for new kids on the block to be accepted. Gotta stay the course. One great season won't cut it. In a few years I hope other coaches echo the famous words of Dennis Green, "They are who we thought they were."

Yeah, I don't buy that. The players that put in the effort this year to be who they were deserve the respect. I'll stand up for them even if I'm the only one. The mid-majors in general didn't get the respect they deserved and we are the prime example. What good does it do Jenn, Staci, Ashley and Morgan to hold the program to a level of expectation that may or may not be honored? What good does it do those of us who took the time to follow the team to Texas this year?

I'm a little sick and tired of the passive approach. The same approach lead to a lot of people being opposed to the move to DI. The "we aren't good enough" approach crap in my opinion. Again, I'm not sure where many of you were or what your stance was when the move up was declared but I was on board (and on this board) and vocal about it. I'm not backing of my stance about the circumstances in Lubbock.

[Cowbell]

Re: NCAA screw job

I think ivandrago's post is well-balanced. Going back to childhood, it takes awhile for new kids on the block to be accepted. Gotta stay the course. One great season won't cut it. In a few years I hope other coaches echo the famous words of Dennis Green, "They are who we thought they were."

[zooropa]

Re: NCAA screw job

didn't beat anyone with a single-digit seed

Utah: #9

[ivandrago]

Re: NCAA screw job

Seriously, why is everyone so convinced we got screwed in location, seed, etc.???

Lubbock is over 350 miles from Waco, which is roughly the distance from Brookings to Rapid. I guess we could have flipped with Texas, and been a 6 seed in Columbus. That way we could have played Ohio State on the Buckeyes' home floor in round two.

And Ohio State was at full strength. We played a Baylor team that was missing their best player, an all-American. And with the coach Mulkey situation, they were ripe for the picking.

I can understand if people wanted us to be a 6 seed. I think 5 would have been a tad high for us, but understandable. We could have easily ended up with a 2nd round game against Cal in L.A., or against UNC in Chattanooga (which isn't much farther than Waco-to-Lubbock), or we could have played Georgia in the first round in nearby Duluth.

We all wanted the Jacks to win, and I was as heartbroken as the rest of us watching that Baylor game. But in the end we played in one of the *four closest* locations in the tournament to Brookings, and had every chance to win.

We are in our first year of tournament eligibility, and didn't beat anyone with a single-digit seed. We got a decent draw, and lost a game we should have won. Not because of seeding, or location...because we missed some shots we normally make.

[jackmd]

Re: NCAA screw job

Call a spade a spade and see where that gets you. IMO we were the better team on the court that night, we deserved better than a 7 seed and there really wasn't a worse location the NCAA could have placed us. The officiating was poor and biased in favor of Baylor. I don't think that was intentional, it just happened that way.

None of those things alone or even in combination make one bit of difference now but that doesn't mean they aren't worth dicussing. If you wanted a different title for the thread because you find the "srew job" part offensive I appreciate that. Let me just say I took that quote from someone else in attendance who happens to be a much more prominent figure in the NCAA ranks than some Jackrabbit fan like myself.

Did anyone read the quotes in the USA Today from the Utah head coach regarding the disrespect shown to mid-majors, South Dakota State in particular? I'm a little disappointed that some of our fans aren't willing to discuss these issues. It isn't just "whining" or "bitching". Perhaps it's perceived this way and I just can't recognize it.

Anyways, I think our program deserved a little better treatment than we got and I hope the NCAA hears that. I don't have any influence at that level but the person who spoke these words to me does.

Good luck to Louisville, they look pretty tough to beat against Baylor and Maryland.