Yeak take Kron out of the equation because we never could beat them, and take us out of the equation because we can't play ourselves....and the rest of the MAC that we actually beat this year was PATHETIC.

This team underwhelmed and underperformed all year, but at least they were consistent I'll give em that. They weren't GOOD but they were consistent.

I predicted a 10-15 point loss tonight. If Denver doesn't shoot 50% or whatever god awful percentage it was from the foul line, that's about exactly what we would have gotten. Like I said, we're consistent.

I still have a hunch we'll be a MAC force for years to come once JC gets his guys and his style implemented, though it's going to be a much bigger and slower style of play. Can't say I agree with the style, but it is what it is, and if it's run correctly it CAN be successful. Of course if this trend of never being able to beat anybody unless you have far superior talent continues then we're in really REALLY big trouble. 

The $20,000 question is whether being a MAC force is good enough? For me, that answer depends on how good the MAC as a conference performs. If it's as bad as this year and has been for awhile, then the answer is an astounding no. It's akin to dominating the Patriot league (oops, they actually rank higher than the MAC this year). Now if the MAC gets back to being a top 12 league in a good year and only down around 14/15 in a bad year...and is getting 2+ bids more years than only 1...then yeah being a MAC force will be good enough. But that's really the "next level" we're all talking about. The level where we have enough national recognition like a Butler or Gonzaga that even though we aren't in a major conference people know us and talk about us all year. The level where we're in the running for an at-large bid EVERY season and we aren't dependent on 1 week in Cleveland. The level where we don't make the NCAA every season (nobody does) but it's more rare that we don't than when we do.

This season had all the makings of being able to start building that national resume. NCAA's 3 out of 4 years. Sweet 16. NCAA tourney wins every time. Gonzaga and Butler didn't get national recognition for ONE amazing run, the same way George Mason didn't just because they went to one final four. No you earn that by doing it over multiple years and consistently knocking off teams and making runs in the NCAA tourney. With literally every contributing player returning from last year, this was the best chance I've ever seen in my lifetime for us to actually start that trend. But alas, it wasn't to be and we threw that chance in the trash. Time to start building all over again. We'll see where we are in another 3-5 years. Hopefully we're still having these conversations/debates because it will mean we've either made it or are at least close. 

Nice, probably the first time I have ever laughed out loud at a BA comment.

I remembered the George Washington game after posting. I was lucky to be in the presser afterwards; Mike Jarvis was like a stand up comic!

Yeah, Geter was POY. At the time, I was thinking OU wouldn't have one of those again for a while. He certainly was good but I put Trent, Coop, Hunter, G. Ford and Tillman ahead of him. Maybe if he didn't play for the "Children of the Corn" I would rank him higher. 

Take the top 2 or 3 teams out of the MAC every year over the last 5 years... And the conference would be just as bad as it is this year with the top 2 or 3 teams out.

The numbers show "This is the worst MAC ever!" argument is completely without merit.

I'm not going to argue that it's not pathetic... But guess what? We lost a lot more MAC games in those other pathetic years. Hell, in 2010 we finished 9th.

The revisionist history needs to end.

I think he would jump in the air and throw a ball at you............

agreed 99%, they didn't get it done this year, no good out of conference wins ( 3 good chances all blown), couldn't beat the top conference team in 3 chances, lack of defense all year, Last year's sweet 16 run might be the high of bobcat basketball for some time to come. 

Thank you!

9704, Monroe, motorcity,  and a few more of the so called Bobcat fans out there who do not appreciate a season that sees their team winning 24 games, 14-2, regular season co-champs, play in the finals in Cleveland, plays in the post season, can all go to H#%% , or go to NIU, or EMU.  These threads just prove what people have no idea how difficult it is to play winning basketball at this level over a long period of time.   Think about what you are typing, thinking, trying to defend.   24 Wins !  14-2,   Oh, forget it.  You guys just do not understand college basketball and never will.....you never played it, you never coached it, and you continue to prove that you know nothing about it.   I look forward to taking time away from this board, if for no other reason than  to avoid the thoughts of all naysayers.  I prefer to spend my time following the development of the kids in our atheltic programs via spring football, off-season hoops in the convo, bobcat baseball etc.  Look forward to the arrival of the new 'Cats who will make up the next teams we get to follow.  We are not entitiled to win 20 games every year.  We are not guarranteed a return trip to the sweet 16 just because we caught lightning in a bottle last year and returned a team with many of the same strengths and weaknesses of the year before.   College basketball does not work that way.  Some of you out there just do not get it, and you never will.  Hopefully by next year you will become more realistic, understanding and appreciative of what we have.......no, you are right, that would be asking way to much from you !  Please join Big Blue Nation, where winning a national championship is the only worthwhile goal, and you all can be miserable for 98% of your life, because even Kentucky is not going to win every game.

I think it's safe to say that the Sweet 16 run will be the highlight of this program for some time to come. And that is in no way a bad thing. I'm beginning to think some Ohio  fans failed to understand how amazing that run was.

Winning 20+ games in a season may look great until you consider who those 20+ wins involved, and more importantly, how did other teams fare against some of the teams we lost to?  Here is a small sample:

OKLAHOMA SOONERS:                                                                                   

UT Arlington (WAC)                                                   W 63-59
Oral Roberts  (Southland)                                       W 63-62
Northwestern State (Southland)                             W 69-65
SFA  (Southland)                                                        L  56-55
Ohio (MAC)                                                                 W 74-63

 
UMASS:                                                                                                          BELMONT BRUINS:

Siena (MAAC)                                                              W 64-63                   Morehead State (OVC)        W 64-63
Northeastern (CAA)                                                    W 72-66                   Oral Roberts (Southland)   W 70-67
Elon (SoCon)                                                               W 78-73 (OT)         Northeastern (CAA)              W 74-71
Miami (Ohio) (MAC)                                                    W 70-69                   Ohio (MAC)                            W 81-62                  
Stony Brook (AEC)                                                      L 71-58 
Ohio (MAC)                                                                   W 85-76



MEMPHIS TIGERS:

Northern Iowa (MVC)                                                 W 52-47
Samford (SoCon)                                                       W 65-54
Lipscomb (Atlantic Sun)                                            W 62-56
Oral Roberts (Southland)                                          W 72-57
Ohio (MAC)                                                                   W 81-62

Kent and WMU both won at home, we had to go on the road against a very good team with a short turn around, and we only lost by 4 points. 

Don't tell me we didn't put up much of a fight. If that is your takeaway I have a hard time believing you even watched the game. 

We were 4-4 over the last 8 at the important time of the year.  Last year, at this same time, this same team was ON!

Someone posted about how UMich is playing better now, perhaps because of how we did them last year at this time.  Us, not so much.

Tell me who gave played quite well against Denver.  Or did it look, sadly, like us losing or being unable to hold a lead as in so many key games this year.

I don't enjoy this but I think it's a reasonable analysis.