GMG_Dallas

Why would the edge be given to UAB? We beat them 2 out of 3 times and have a much better NET. I actually don't think the UAB game did anything for or against us because we already beat them twice. Would have been worst to beat UAB a 3rd time and lose to FAU a 3rd time IMO.

No. It's not definitely. Since the NET has been around, I believe only 5 teams with a NET of 40 or better have missed out on the big dance. We'd be number 6. The first 5 were actually power conference schools snubbed for mid-majors. There were no bid thiefs this year so we could still make it unless they want power conference teams with NETs in the 60s like Michigan, Arizona State, Pitt, and Clemson. Seems like a long shot but not all hope is gone.

@greenmineryeah I get it's supposed to be the best 68 teams. If that's the case, follow the season-long metrics that tell you who the best teams are. They developed the NET for a reason. Follow it. About Gaines, I love his talent but he needs better coaching. A question was posed on here a couple weeks ago asking which player from another team would you choose to have right now if you could pick anybody. I was between him and one of the UAB bigs. With better coaching, Gaines would be an all-conference player. Gaines was one of the top combo guards in his class and ultimately chose LSU over Houston, Alabama, and others. He's one of the many examples we can point to when critizing Andy Kennedy and UAB underachieving. They have all this talent running wild on the court with little direction. Better coaching would have that group absolutely dominating CUSA. With TP's shot creating ability, I know he's not as quick as Walker but he has an incredibly fast shot release. The thing is Walker pulls the trigger as soon as he has an inch of space. It's how he gets so many foul calls. It's also how he went 6/20 yesterday. I still wouldn't be mad with TP jacking up more shots. Run him off a screen to get an open 3 like they do Walker.

I got on the record and boy was I wrong. Congrats to FAU.

Right. I don't know what the right formula is but I know the power conferences are once again favored way too much. 10 years ago, you'd get around 10 midmajor at large bids. Now you get maybe 6? It's nonsense. All this because of perceived conference strength. UNT wouldn't be in the bubble conversation with UNC's season. Remove the names, and decide who should be in based on actual metrics.

The big dance is supposed to reflect an entire season. There's too much money in the conference tournaments to do away with it. I think how many bids each conference gets can be determined by recent conference success, though, and that would help everybody get a fair shot without just what a committee feels are the best teams. In international soccer, FIFA uses the 5 previous Champions Leagues to determine how many teams each association can send every year. They also use metrics for the World Cup to see which continents are actually producing results. They don't just say "this country has good players so send them." They have to earn their keep each world cup for the next as a continent. If one of the biggest money making sports federations/associations in the world can do it, the NCAA can too.

That luck carried them all game yesterday. I recall a defensive possession where the ball got loose. Ousmane and Jones both dive for the ball and neither come up with it. They actually got in each others' way. The UAB player watching the play ended up with the ball. Happened several times.

I think every conference needs a bid or you end up with the mess that is college football. Every now and then, a small program from a nobody conference makes a crazy run à la St Peter's last year. Those runs are what make March Madness great. My issue is actually how many bids conferences can get. I personally think bids should be earned by recent conference performance with a minimum of 1 bid allocated to each conference. If you're like the MWC and went 0-4 last year, maybe you shouldn't get 4 bids this year. If you're like the Big 10 and 8 of your 9 bids were out by the 2nd round in 2022, maybe you shouldn't get 9 bids in 2023. There's quality teams all over. It's problematic when a good team doesn't get a bid because they got upset in their conference tournament but an 18-14 power conference school can get in without showing anything. The little guy never gets a chance to show what they can do without the AQ.

I feel like Perry could do that if permitted but McCasland wants a slower pace. Watch UAB play and the amount of "bad" shots Walker takes is astounding. 30 feet out, double teamed, doesn't matter, he clearly has the green light to take whatever shot he wants whenever he wants. That wouldn't fly with McCasland.

Washington had 11 points in yesterday's 52-44 playoff win over Desoto. Lake Highlands advances to the 6A state championship game. https://lakehighlands.advocatemag.com/2023/03/11/wildcats-to-play-for-state-basketball-title/

We lost because we missed 6 dunks/layups in the first 10 minutes. If FAU can make their layups/dunks, I think they win. I know we should have. Edit: for the purposes of the exercise, I'll answer UAB wins because I don't think FAU will get the looks we were able to get.

It was a satirical post. Thought it was funny. We're not the only loves chuckling at that mess.

Maybe I watched a different game but yesterday's scoring drought to start the game was not due to offensive holes or lack of ball movement; players simply weren't finishing "easy" shots. I went back through the ESPN play-by-play for these numbers: Abou missed a dunk and a lay-up, huntsberry missed 2 free throws on 1 trip and missed 3 layups, and Perry missed a lay-up. All this in the first 10ish minutes. That doesn't include post shots and open jumpers that were missed. From lay-ups, a dunk, and Kai's early empty trip to the FT line, that's 14 points right there that we didn't get. UNT was not outmatched. Just couldn't get the shots to drop early. This team beats UAB almost any other day. Just a rough start yesterday. It happens to everybody but for our guys it happened at the worst time.

I too will be watching. If UAB steals it, you're looking at 2 tournament teams which we haven't had in a while. I personally haven't lost hope for UNT either. A NET of 38 as of today when the field will be finalized. Every other bubble team either crapped the bed yesterday or earlier in the week. Hope is alive as long as OH State, Vanderbilt, and Cincinnati lose today. Those are the last three possible bubble thiefs.

Happy for Jones and TSU. Saw this article the other day. Shaqir O'Neal cited Jones as one of the reasons he chose TSU because Jones also coached his dad (Shaq) at LSU. Just a reminder as to the type of person coach Jones is that 30 years later, he's still highly regarded by former players. A positive lasting impact is an indication of a great coach. https://www.khou.com/amp/article/sports/ncaa/ncaab/ncaa-tournament/shaqir-oneal-tsu-shaquille-oneal-son/285-409bf885-75ed-49be-a61b-7940fb38d5dc

I really wish he would have been put in the game when we were down 20 something to 2. We couldn't hit a shot and that guy can really shoot. All it takes is a couple 3s to drop and everything changes. Could have been jolt we needed. Ultimately, we came close to tying or winning so I think Grant played it out well. Really excited to see Moore develop, though.

They battled back. First 10 minutes were killer. Can't start both halves on huge droughts like that

Need to speed up the pace. Personally I think it's too late but we'll see.

Sissoko with some good moves and power. Need to push the pace a bit.

First foul for the Blazers as I hit submit.

They have zero fouls 10 minutes into the half. Recipe for disaster.

I was thinking about this too. They had 10+ team fouls I believe. Put pressure and get them into foul trouble. If the game goes to OT, that may be a difference maker.

Two terrible calls. Walker leaned into the 3 and was pushing though Jones on the inbounds.

Consider it done lol. 7 point game at the half.