The best mid-major team in NCAA history...

[greatgooglymoogly]

...just lost to a group of one and dones.

I don't know what to say. The landscape has changed permanently. I don't ever see a mid-major winning a national championship again.

As a Missouri Valley guy, today feels like the death of something. It's fun to have pride, to pick off individual targets and extrapolate them to justify all sorts of kooky conclusions. The fact of the matter is, the best we can ever hope to be is to be at the head of the de facto D-II.

I used to be mad that Missouri State was left out of the big dance with an RPI of 21. Looking back, I highly doubt that team would have made it out of the first weekend. It is now crystal clear that basketball cannot improve a school's athletic station.

[Eleazar]

It was a winnable game. On the other hand, Kentucky was a middle of the road team from a major conference that wasn't very good this year. It's always going to be a miracle when a Mercer beats a Duke. That's why they are Duke.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by Cochise

It was a winnable game. On the other hand, Kentucky was a middle of the road team from a major conference that wasn't very good this year. It's always going to be a miracle when a Mercer beats a Duke. That's why they are Duke.

Kentucky finally played up to their preseason #1 ranking today. If they can bottle that performance they can make it to the Final Four.

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by greatgooglymoogly

It's important to understand the reality of a mid-major program. How many are able to set themselves up as credible national title contenders? How often are they able to do it? KU can sign X number of McDonalds All-Americans. It's a perk of being a blue blood, the best will stand at your doorstep.

Marshall had to hit a ridiculous recruiting streak based mainly on players that major programs ignored. I've never seen anything like it. The level of play that Baker, Early, Van Vleet, etc. bring laps the rest of the Valley. They're the best team I've ever seen in person.

Even if Coach Y hits a similar streak, how many mid-majors can afford the salary bump that Wichita State handed out? Yeah, they still have Marshall, and he could have another top 5 team in four years, but how many different situations have to break right for them to be there again?

They were in the final four last year.

It will happen again for a mid major. Jeez. Seeding in the tourney is over-rated. You have to beat good teams to get to the championship no matter where you are seeded.

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by Cochise

It was a winnable game. On the other hand, Kentucky was a middle of the road team from a major conference that wasn't very good this year. It's always going to be a miracle when a Mercer beats a Duke. That's why they are Duke.

How many teams from that 'not very good conference' are in the sweet 16?

[NWTF]

Originally Posted by WhiteWhale

How many teams from that 'not very good conference' are in the sweet 16?

more then the vaunted big 12.

[Friendo]

Shockers & Heels both suffer the same malady: namely, zone abandonment for fear of the three. I thought the Shockers gave up too soon on the zone when UK hit one..I repeat one 3. Roy lets it go down the tubes by trying to play man on a guy for whom the only defense that had worked the whole game was zone. Good run by both teams tho.

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by greatgooglymoogly

...just lost to a group of one and dones.

I don't know what to say. The landscape has changed permanently. I don't ever see a mid-major winning a national championship again.

As a Missouri Valley guy, today feels like the death of something. It's fun to have pride, to pick off individual targets and extrapolate them to justify all sorts of kooky conclusions. The fact of the matter is, the best we can ever hope to be is to be at the head of the de facto D-II.

I used to be mad that Missouri State was left out of the big dance with an RPI of 21. Looking back, I highly doubt that team would have made it out of the first weekend. It is now crystal clear that basketball cannot improve a school's athletic station.

Division II is the de facto D-II, you dolt.

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

Division II is the de facto D-II, you dolt.

How many D-II schools field a roster of one-and-done players? How many non blue chip schools in Division I field a roster of one-and-dones?

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by Discuss Thrower

How many D-II schools field a roster of one-and-done players? How many non blue chip schools in Division I field a roster of one-and-dones?

*looks at tournament losses from the likes of Duke, Syracuse, etc.*
Obviously, teams compete without one-and-dones. Saying that a team these days can't win it all without one-and-done talent? Sure, but it doesn't follow from that that teams without one-and-done talent are playing in, metaphorically, an entirely separate division. It's far closer than that.

[Titty Meat]

This thread should be about Butler who made it to back to back Final 4's.

[RippedmyFlesh]

was over rated.

[Discuss Thrower]

Follow the money.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

It's UNLV and it isn't ****ing close. The 90-91 team that didn't win the national title is probably the best CBB team of the last 30+ years.

[Ultra Peanut]

[RippedmyFlesh]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

*looks at tournament losses from the likes of Duke, Syracuse, etc.*
Obviously, teams compete without one-and-dones. Saying that a team these days can't win it all without one-and-done talent? Sure, but it doesn't follow from that that teams without one-and-done talent are playing in, metaphorically, an entirely separate division. It's far closer than that.

Syracuse hasn't had a 1 and done player since Melo in 2003. That is why Syracuse goes after guys like CJ Fair who are not top 10 recruits but guys who develop and stick around for a few years. I would almost rather have those type guys than one and dones. No one has more one and done than Kansas.