Censored by Laurie

Typically they reference "close games" for teams like TAMCC or Jackson State or Monmouth...teams that play in the lower tier of conferences that are already relagated to 15 and 16 seeds...when they talk about Butler or Virginia Communwealth or Missouri St they talk wins. I think the Sun Belt is right in between there, a mid-mid-major...and to get to where this conference should be, a Missouri Valley, an Atlantic 10 or a West Coast I think the language and the expectations need to be raised. No doubt it was a strong showing for WKU...and USA fought through a tough night and nearly beat a good team as well...but this conference should be pulling 12 and 13 seeds and in order to do that these teams need to get wins in these games...not just strong showings. Had this been Troy or Denver playing Gonzaga this tight I'd be elated...WKU needed this win.

This thread needs to go. Last week we posted some tidbits from the Okie State board and how they were complaining about playing us in Denton...and how they would've won had the game been in Stillwater and we were laughing at them and their lame excuses. How the hell does this look? It wasn't the stage that beat us...it was UTA...again. Say what you want about Dennis being out, or missed opportunities, or god-forbid poor officiating...its a loss. Last season's loss to UTA made us better...so will this one. Calvin Watson was a complimentary player last year until Kendrick broke his hand...K.D.'s absence forced Calvin to step up and he responded and he will now be rembebered as one of UNT's greatest players by many of us. This year we have 6 talented guards...5 of who didn't play here last season...trying to learn a new system and adjust to a higher-level of compition. This loss will build charcter and roles will become more defined. I would rather lose this game than go to UT undefeated...I still think we match up well with the Horns and could sneak out a victory...but this loss just needs to serve as a reminder to JJ, the players and the fans that there is still A LOT of work yet to be done to get this team where we all know it should be.

USA - 59 Miami (OH) - 64 - South Alabama falls to 2-2 after giving up 25 second half points to Rehawk guard Michael Bramos...and shooting a dismal 8 of 21 (38%) from the free throw line in the opening round of the Anaheim Classic. USA shot 47% from the field, led by Brandon Davis' 13 points...but free throw shooting killed the Jags as post Ronald Coleman went 3-10, Davis went 1-3 and guard Daon Merritt buoyed their percentage with a mediocre 4-8. USA's leading scorer, Demetric Bennett also struggled, shooting 3-14 from the field and finishing with a season low 8 points. South Alabama will match up with San Diego tonight in another SBC-WCC matchup. WKU - 71 #14. Gonzaga - 74 - The opportunity was there and WKU just couldn't quite seize it. The Toppers caught the Zags on an off night and had a chance to make a huge statement for themselves and the conference and it slipped away on a Robert Sacre put-back with 22 seconds remaining. Western was anchored by Courtney Lee's 19 and A.J. Slaughter's 13. Gonzaga distanced themselves late, even without the services of Austin Daye and Abdullahi Kuso, who both fouled out. WKU will match-up with host school Alaska-Anchorage tonight. In addition to WKU and USA, Middle Tennessee will try to lick its wounds tonight against Tennessee Wesylan...for those who forgot, MTSU is fresh off of a 69 point dismantling at the hands of Tennessee and will really need a win heading into a very difficult stretch of their schedule.

Take our loss last night for what it was: a road game against an experienced team, an off night shooting without our best shooter, our inexperience showing...and things aren't that bad. Take UL-Monroe's loss for what it was: a road game against a team whose only loss came at Texas Tech and returns four starters. Put them together on the same night...and man this just kills Sun Belt credibility...especially considering these are supposed to be two of the elite SBC teams. UNT - 64 UTA - 72 - Most of you were either at the game or saw it...I did neither so most know better than I why we lost. I am, and will continue to be a big Ben Bell fan...I feel he needs to be on the floor, he was second on the team in rebounds last night, but I'm not liking his role this season. JJ seems to be playing him in an off-guard role as evidenced by his 12 shots tonight. Josh White has yet to have a favorable assist:turnover ratio and thats got to improve. 67% free throw shooting isnt terrible...but how did we only get 9 free throw attempts? ULM - 68 SFA - 71 - Orlando Early may want to consider scrapping the four guard line up for a while when a 6'5" 215 pound freshman pulls down 16 rebounds like Nick Shaw did last night for the Lumberjacks. Tony Hooper continues his solid play for Monroe, scoring 23 on 50% shooting, but his backcourt mates have yet to find the touch they had last season. Jonas Brown and Jordan Payne both went 3-12 from the floor; Payne did get to the line 9 times and was perfect at the stripe and finished with 15. This is a bad showing for a conference who already has wins against the ACC, Big 12, Mountain West, and West Coast Conferences...and a couple of strong showings against the SEC (not MTSU). On a positive note: FIU improves to 2-0 with their 83-74 win over Kennesaw State. Alex Galindo had a double double with 16 points, 12 rebounds, post Russell hicks added 18 and FIU got 31 points from its bench in the victory. A couple of important SBC games tonight: Western Kentucky vs. Gonzaga - WKU talks a big game...now do something to back it up...a win would do wonders for our conference...and give temporary credibility to the constant WKU bitching about how they're mirred in a lousy conference...atleast until they bow out in the tourney semi-finals. South Alabama vs. Miami (OH) - Miami (OH) is 1-0 with a two point win over Xavier, and fresh off an NCAA tourney appearance after they banked home a winning three last year in the MAC championship. 2-0 tonight would go a long way...go Toppers, go Jags!

Second string is about where she belongs...she would think she deserves to be starting though and would just prove to be a cancer in the locker room

I have no recollection of that name, sir. JB wasn't even a force against 6'1" posts in a local rec-league yet he dominated Emeka, Paul Davis and Brian Buckman in that game

though...that said...I will consider your offer Quoner

Please tell me your response to this challenge will be more creative than gay humor...you're better than that. Go Lady Eagles circa 2003!!

You don't like Scrubs? So angry over Sarah Chalke...

Maggie Gyllenhaal Norah Jones Regina Spektor Kate for "Lost" Sarah Chalke Ani DeFranco Hot pig-tail chick from "Mythbusters" Ashley Judd Kelsie Edwards (whoooooops) Kasey Chambers Penelope Cruz Sober Lindsay Lohan Feist and...Barbera Eden...from "I Dream of Jeanie"

Neither of these losses will hurt the Belt too much...ULL and Troy are the bottom feeders of the league...Oral Roberts has built a solid mid-major program...Utah Valley State is a D-I independent who is now 2-0 against the SBC, but also has two respectable losses; by one in OT at Boise St. and by 11 at Marquette (a team that just beat OK State by 30).

It won't severly hurt their depth, but it will make an inexperienced team even less experienced. O'Neil would've been a reserve had Adam Vogelsburg returned...O'Neil is a junior on a team with no seniors so its more his game experience that will be missed. Josh Sain (6'5" 205 Fr.) would've probably redshirted this season but has now seen action in 3 games b/c of O'Neil's injury. Another true freshman Broderick Gilchrist (6'0" 175) is seeing more action as well...and if hes solid at the one, O'Neil's injury may allow Kevin Kanaskie to slide to a scoring guard and may actually be a benefit to the Raiders.

Thank you for not making this post entirely complimentary...I wouldn't know how to take it ...it has been a while since i've had a date, though... Watched a few minutes at the gym...just embarrassing for OSU, and unfortunantly hurts our cred...really looking forward to tonight's Duke/Marquette game

Good: UALR - 72 Centenary - 64 - UALR bounced back from its loss to UTA with a solid performance against Centenary, putting 4 guys in double figures. Shane Edwards, a JUCO transfer in his first season with the Trojans led the way with 19 points and Ole Miss transfer big man Mike Smith grabbed his first double-double of the season with 10 points and 14 boards. UALR's next game is Saturday against Louisiana Tech. The Trojans are still searching for consistancy from their line-up and await the return of forward Lakeithyan Malone. Shane Edwards play is promising and more nights like this from Mike Smith will be key to UALR haing a frontcourt pressence. Bad: ASU - 63 #3.Memphis - 84 - Memphis took an 18 point lead into the half and coasted to a 21 point win. ASU is still searching for someone to compliment guard Adrian Banks, whose 32 points contributed 51% of ASU's scoring. Ryan Wedel contributed 8...but the loss of Isaac Wells is becoming more and more significant as JUCO transfer Yima Chia-Kur continues to struggle. ASU is back in action on Saturday against Eastern Illinois. Hideously Ugly: MTSU - 40 #7.Tennessee - 109 - Nobody for the Raiders managed double figures in their 69 point defeat to the Vols. Kevin Kanaskie led the way with 9 points and 6 rebounds. MTSU handed out 29 turnovers and shot 31% from the field, 17% from 3pt land on 2-12 shooting. MTSU lost starting 2 guard Calvin O'Neil for the season in the first game of the year to a torn ACL...MTSU will have a chance to rebound Friday against Division II Tennessee Weslyan before a tough December with road games at Houston, Memphis and Belmont (fresh off a win against Alabama)

Tennessee's half time total of 61 would've outscored MTSU by 21!

Under-rated post

Well put...I said at the beginning of the season that I didn't believe anyone on this team would average 15 points...but 5-6 would average double figures, with 2-3 just a step down from that. I love our balance so far and believe we'll be even deeper when McCoy and Willingham get comfortable and White matures through the season. Every day I feel better and better about this being a very special team...and every day I feel more and more depressed that this was the year I chose to move 2000 miles away

Not completly out of the realm of possibilities.

A couple of things: 1. Shooters need shots to find their stroke...give McCoy and Willingham some time, they're both accomplished shooters and experienced players and they will find their range 2. Starters are no where near as important as who finishes and/or who is playing while the other team is making a run. 3. You can have too many shooters and scorers on the floor at the same time...in line-ups you're looking for balance. 4. With the starting line-up you proposed you have a TOTAL of 12 assists. 5. Bell is your floor leader and best perimeter defender. 6. Dennis is thriving as our Jet Terry...hes a pure scorer and this role off the bench fits him perfectly

MAC...and I think thats kinda funny because of this list the MAC, MVC, WCC, SBC and the Horizon are all better, or at least comparable, basketball conferences to the WAC, Mountain West or C-USA

Did you know Herbstreit was a college quarterback? They never mention it.

Me too...thats saying the opinion of Texas Tech is significantly higher than that of Oklahoma St. I just don't see it

No...in fact I suggested it earlier in this thread...posting a couple of eBay options including one with wings, reminiscent of an eagle.

my apologies...I was still thinking of these two T's when I made that last post:

If you want some real SMU-like living in the past...take a few moments to explore the Hilltopper Haven fan board. They believe they are vastly superior than the Sun Belt...yet they haven't won a league title since 2003...and in one respect, they may be worse than SMU as I have attempted numerous times to get a WKU account if for no other reason than to discuss basketball but they are incredibly restrictive, they don't want to hear any outside opinions of their team...its like 17th century English Monarchial inbreeding over there.