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

greatgooglymoogly · 03-23-2014, 03:37 PM

...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.

TLO · 03-23-2014, 03:39 PM

GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY

KC_Connection · 03-23-2014, 03:39 PM

You're being a bit over dramatic, experience still wins the day in most cases. If WSU hits that shot, they could have easily went on to win the whole thing. The margin is that small.

Pasta Little Brioni · 03-23-2014, 03:40 PM

It was a winnable game they just didn't get it done

tk13 · 03-23-2014, 03:41 PM

I don't know about that. If anything this tournament has proved that experience matters.

And I'm not sure I'd rank this team ahead of Bird's Indiana State team in terms of mid majors... but that's another argument.

GoChargers · 03-23-2014, 03:42 PM

San Diego State could very well win it all, so I wouldn't be so quick to write off mid-majors' chances yet.

greatgooglymoogly · 03-23-2014, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGM

It was a winnable game they just didn't get it done

It was a winnable game...against an 8 seed. Wichita State spent untold millions on their basketball program, from facilities to their coach. Good lord, Marshall's salary alone killed off the hopes and dreams of the rest of the Valley. We can't pay half of what they can pay. Their situation was the absolute best a mid-major can have, and it got them nowhere.

GoChargers · 03-23-2014, 03:43 PM

Also, it's a lot easier to grow your athletic program from practically nothing in basketball than it is in football. Boise State is pretty much the only one I can think of who has done it in football.

KC_Connection · 03-23-2014, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greatgooglymoogly

It was a winnable game...against an 8 seed. Wichita State spent untold millions on their basketball program, from facilities to their coach. Good lord, Marshall's salary alone killed off the hopes and dreams of the rest of the Valley. We can't pay half of what they can pay. Their situation was the absolute best a mid-major can have, and it got them nowhere.

This lack of perspective is incredible to me. They had a great season. They lost in a crapshoot tournament at the end like 63 other teams do, it happens.

WhiteWhale · 03-23-2014, 03:45 PM

It was a good game. WSU could have won, but they didn't get it done. Too many errors in the 2nd half.

Don't be a drama queen.

tk13 · 03-23-2014, 03:47 PM

We're also just a couple years removed from Butler making back-to-back title games. We've also seen VCU and George Mason make it to the Final Four in the last 10 years.

Although I think it's fair to have concerns about the growth of these super conferences. That could be a legit concern.

**Bearcat** · 03-23-2014, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greatgooglymoogly

It was a winnable game...against an 8 seed. Wichita State spent untold millions on their basketball program, from facilities to their coach. Good lord, Marshall's salary alone killed off the hopes and dreams of the rest of the Valley. We can't pay half of what they can pay. Their situation was the absolute best a mid-major can have, and it got them nowhere.

An 8 seed with Kentucky on their jersey that was talking about their own undefeated season prior to this season... teams don't magically go from one Final Four in the 60s to national champions. A Final Four followed by a 35-0 start isn't no where.

GordonGekko · 03-23-2014, 03:48 PM

UK was the team that pulled the huge upset here. And this was a pretty big upset, UK was a mostly dogshit team with regards to their talent for most of the season.

**Baby Lee** · 03-23-2014, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

This lack of perspective is incredible to me. They had a great season. They lost in a crapshoot tournament at the end like 63 other teams do, it happens.

This just in, I must have misheard, . . . failure is NOW an option!!

GordonGekko · 03-23-2014, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

We're also just a couple years removed from Butler making back-to-back title games. We've also seen VCU and George Mason make it to the Final Four in the last 10 years.

Although I think it's fair to have concerns about the growth of these super conferences. That could be a legit concern.

Great point. Mid-majors are going to be a huge factor every year.

03-23-2014, 03:37 PM
greatgooglymoogly Starter Join Date: Jan 2014 Casino cash: $10004900	The best mid-major team in NCAA history... ...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.
Posts: 509

03-23-2014, 03:39 PM	#2
TLO Life is changing.. Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: NW Missouri Casino cash: $1884900	GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY
Posts: 38,932

03-23-2014, 03:39 PM	#3
KC_Connection Perpetual Mediocrity Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $5342783	You're being a bit over dramatic, experience still wins the day in most cases. If WSU hits that shot, they could have easily went on to win the whole thing. The margin is that small.
Posts: 48,952

03-23-2014, 03:40 PM	#4
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $3948880	It was a winnable game they just didn't get it done
Posts: 68,566

03-23-2014, 03:41 PM	#5
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1952500	I don't know about that. If anything this tournament has proved that experience matters. And I'm not sure I'd rank this team ahead of Bird's Indiana State team in terms of mid majors... but that's another argument.
Posts: 54,957

03-23-2014, 03:42 PM	#6
GoChargers Dean Spanos is a Traitor Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $10013554	San Diego State could very well win it all, so I wouldn't be so quick to write off mid-majors' chances yet. __________________ Disclaimer: my username refers to the SAN DIEGO Chargers only. I will never cheer for the LA Chargers as long as the Spanos family owns the team.
Posts: 3,620

03-23-2014, 03:43 PM	#8
GoChargers Dean Spanos is a Traitor Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $10013554	Also, it's a lot easier to grow your athletic program from practically nothing in basketball than it is in football. Boise State is pretty much the only one I can think of who has done it in football. __________________ Disclaimer: my username refers to the SAN DIEGO Chargers only. I will never cheer for the LA Chargers as long as the Spanos family owns the team.
Posts: 3,620

03-23-2014, 03:45 PM	#10
WhiteWhale Bring it on Ahab! Join Date: May 2011 Location: Doo-Dah Casino cash: $10015152	It was a good game. WSU could have won, but they didn't get it done. Too many errors in the 2nd half. Don't be a drama queen.
Posts: 14,861

03-23-2014, 03:47 PM	#11
tk13 ... Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1952500	We're also just a couple years removed from Butler making back-to-back title games. We've also seen VCU and George Mason make it to the Final Four in the last 10 years. Although I think it's fair to have concerns about the growth of these super conferences. That could be a legit concern.
Posts: 54,957

03-23-2014, 03:48 PM	#13
GordonGekko On the inside Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Casino cash: $10008880	UK was the team that pulled the huge upset here. And this was a pretty big upset, UK was a mostly dogshit team with regards to their talent for most of the season.
Posts: 3,080