UAB (3/30/23)

[GMG_Dallas]

4 minutes ago, Matt from A700 said:

Where was the third? I only remember two for five points.

In fact, after the first missed call, the refs tried to give UAB a make-up call by calling a shot clock violation on Tylor that wasn't. This was like the first or second possession after the timeout where the refs couldn't take away Tylor's first 3. But the shot missed anyway.

Saw that as well. It was obviously a make-up call which is BS but had he hit the shot, it would have been reviewed and surely would have counted.

[bstnsportsfan3]

9 hours ago, Big Z said:

One of the best nights of my life, so much fun hanging with a good group of people at the Chop Shop. GMG!

We had a hell of a time! Thanks for coming out! What a blast! GMG

[CMJ]

What a day. First off, to be there when we won was such a magical experience, truly I can't put it into words. 

My wife is waking up so I'll post more later. Just so proud. Though Perry hit the dagger, I knew we had it when Sissoko made his shot a few possessions earlier.

[Big Z]

15 minutes ago, bstnsportsfan3 said:

We had a hell of a time! Thanks for coming out! What a blast! GMG

Tony the whole night "We got them where we want them" 

@UNT 90 Grad  taking a Mean Green Victory Shot before the game is over = gangster move 

[bstnsportsfan3]

8 minutes ago, Big Z said:

Tony the whole night "We got them where we want them" 

@UNT 90 Grad  taking a Mean Green Victory Shot before the game is over = gangster move 

i knew we had them right where we wanted em!

[rws69]

10 hours ago, DeepGreen said:

What f*#k is Wren Baker doing with the team?

He was named chairman of NIT while still at NT. 

[MGNation92]

Postgame Press Conference

[FirefightnRick]

 

It’s amazing what an emphasis on playing SUFFOCATING, LOCK-DOWN, DISCIPLINED, HARD NOSED defense can do for your basketball program.

 

Rick

[Green Mean]

1 hour ago, CMJ said:

What a day. First off, to be there when we won was such a magical experience, truly I can't put it into words. 

My wife is waking up so I'll post more later. Just so proud. Though Perry hit the dagger, I knew we had it when Sissoko made his shot a few possessions earlier.

That Sissoko shot instantly reminded me of the long jumper Ian Mahinmi took and made in game 6 of the 2011 finals in Miami to end the 3rd quarter. That was when I knew Dallas was going to close it out and take the series and that was the same feeling I got last night after he made it.

[NorthTexasSportsNetwork]

4 hours ago, untbowler said:

to be fair UNT got away with 3 time clock violations, that accounted for at least 7 pts. Refs were at least consistent

3??? It was really 1 and they called a shot clock on us when there was one second left. Refs hosed us with UAB accounting for 7 missed free throws 

[NT80]

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/36011661

[Matt from A700]

1 hour ago, Green Mean said:

That Sissoko shot instantly reminded me of the long jumper Ian Mahinmi took and made in game 6 of the 2011 finals in Miami to end the 3rd quarter. That was when I knew Dallas was going to close it out and take the series and that was the same feeling I got last night after he made it.

I know exactly which shot you're talking about. Great comparison!!

[UNTLifer]

2 hours ago, MGNation92 said:

Postgame Press Conference

This is really why I love this team.  Great young men that represent us so well.  Great interviews, showed great respect for UAB and never talked poorly about their opponents, worked hard, thankful for others and they love each other.  I hope they realize how special this moment is.  So good.

[UNT 90 Grad]

4 hours ago, Big Z said:

Tony the whole night "We got them where we want them" 

@UNT 90 Grad  taking a Mean Green Victory Shot before the game is over = gangster move 

 

4 hours ago, bstnsportsfan3 said:

i knew we had them right where we wanted em!

Me too.  🤣

[MeanGreenTexan]

2 hours ago, NorthTexasSportsNetwork said:

3??? It was really 1 and they called a shot clock on us when there was one second left. Refs hosed us with UAB accounting for 7 missed free throws 

I also don't recall 3, but I certainly remember 2.  Both in pretty critical junctures that we wound up getting 5 points off of instead of it being UAB ball.

The first, at the 9:26 mark in the second half (18:48 mark in the Youtube clip above), where Moulaye pulled down the offensive rebound, then TP hit that LONG 3 pointer to regain the lead 50-49.   HUGE PLAY.
The second, in crunch time at the 1:19 mark in the second half (24:48 mark in the Youtube clip above), where Moulaye got the offensive rebound, then TP hit a midrange jumper for what was basically the game winner to put us up 6 with under a minute left.
If we turn the ball over on both of those possessions, as we should have, instead of scoring points & taking more time off the game clock...  who knows what UAB does with their possessions, and we definitely have a completely different game.   Regardless, I know the Toughest Team Wins, and there was no way NT was going to be denied.

I suppose the 3rd one was the one that was actually called (when it shouldn't have been called) with 1 second still on the shot clock that TP missed anyway, so it didn't really matter.

[golfingomez]

22 minutes ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

I also don't recall 3, but I certainly remember 2.  Both in pretty critical junctures that we wound up getting 5 points off of instead of it being UAB ball.

The first, at the 9:26 mark in the second half (18:48 mark in the Youtube clip above), where Moulaye pulled down the offensive rebound, then TP hit that LONG 3 pointer to regain the lead 50-49.   HUGE PLAY.
The second, in crunch time at the 1:19 mark in the second half (24:48 mark in the Youtube clip above), where Moulaye got the offensive rebound, then TP hit a midrange jumper for what was basically the game winner to put us up 6 with under a minute left.
If we turn the ball over on both of those possessions, as we should have, instead of scoring points & taking more time off the game clock...  who knows what UAB does with their possessions, and we definitely have a completely different game.   Regardless, I know the Toughest Team Wins, and there was no way NT was going to be denied.

I suppose the 3rd one was the one that was actually called (when it shouldn't have been called) with 1 second still on the shot clock that TP missed anyway, so it didn't really matter.

ok fine, make me watch the highlights again!

[Green Otaku]

What a great game! Our flight was delayed due to storms and wind in Las Vegas, so we were nervous about time. We thought we were going to get a nice and easy lead up to the game with plenty of time, after rushing out of the airport and sitting in 5pm traffic we made it to the tailgate. I can't express how grateful I am for the Alumni Association hosting the event, we literally had no time to eat or do anything else and this really saved our butts. Thank you to the organizers of the tailgate. Screamed and yelled the whole time UAB had the ball, it was a great atmosphere. I was nervous the game would go into OT since the latest flight I could get was 10:30pm, luckily we got to stay the whole time and see the trophy presentation, but sadly didn't get to see them cutting the nets down. I had to work Friday so we were forced to leave that night. I got to bed at around 1:30am, and got up at 5:30am. Rough, but it was so worth it!! Go Mean Green!!! NIT Champs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[greenminer]

https://uabsports.com/news/2023/3/31/mens-basketball-uab-mbb-falls-in-nit-championship-game

[BillySee58]

23 hours ago, DeepGreen said:

What f*#k is Wren Baker doing with the team?

You see, it’s actually because he is the Chairman of the NIT committee

[DeepGreen]

1 hour ago, BillySee58 said:

You see, it’s actually because he is the Chairman of the NIT committee

I’ll take that as the reason he was in the picture.  I mean, who knew?

[CMJ]

Was busy with my wife all day yesterday.  She'll be gone a lot of the day with her work thing, so I'll have time to catch up all I missed.

 

Anyway, like I said briefly yesterday it was a magical experience.  Well, once we got to the game any way!  Driving from LA, the trip usually takes 4-6 hours depending on traffic.  We thought leaving around 11  we'd make great time, maybe even before 4pm.  And we did till about 15 miles out of Baker, Ca - which is a dot on the map.  I don't know what kind of accident happened, but traffic was snarled forever as the cleared the road (the fact that it's only 2 lanes right there was the main reason I am sure).  We went from thinking we'd get to Vegas around 4pm to not even sure we'd make the game at all.  It took 3 hours just to go the 15 miles to Baker.  Once we got past the accident we flew to Vegas...but we missed the entire tailgate and the beginning of the game (following the score on the phone while my wife was racing 80-90mph down the highway).  Still, we got there around the second media timeout, so I despite being distraught I wasn't suicidal or anything.

Any way, my main take away was how HARD both teams played and how physical it was.  I'm not sure how that translated to TV, I'll have to watch the replay at some point.  Both teams really got after it though, you could tell something was on the line.  Perry hit a big 3 to retake the lead...maybe around 6 minutes left.  On the next possession when UAB didn't tie, I thought maybe that was the turning point, but it still was in doubt.  When it hit the under 4 media timeout (I think we were up four), I remember saying to my wife you wouldn't want it to be any other way for a title.  Even if a blowout would have been more comfortable, you wanted it to be down to the end.  I believe Sissoko put us up six with that bank shot a minute or so later (EDIT: Sissoko's shot was actually a couple of minutes earlier as I watched the highlights...oh well, can't remember the sequence of everything I guess).  Even though UAB quickly scored to get back to four, I was nearly certain we had it the second Sissoko's shot went it.  Of course Perry hit two daggers one right after the other to close the door.

I'm not sure how much the camera captured all the celebrations, but I was trying to take it all in.  The guys hugging each other, even before the game was over when the clock was ticking down.  The pandemonium with everyone running around.  McCasland and Wren Baker held each other for about 20 seconds at mid court, perhaps telling each other what NT meant to each of them even as they move on.  Scrappy dancing around with one of the Dance team while a few other dancers did snow angels in the confetti.  During the net cutting ceremony when Abou Ousmane's name was announced for his turn and the team all yelled his name, probably wishing he was there to take part.  McCasland finally climbing the ladder to take the full part of the net down.

 

Perry and Sissoko both came up into the stands and even though there weren't many NT fans still there by that point (the game had been over at least half an hour by now), people were hounding them for photos and to congratulate them.  I wanted to reach out, but figured I'd just be one more annoying fan hoping to get his moment.  My wife did go up to the first row or two to grab some confetti, so I now have a souvenir from the game.  As we were leaving I bought about 5 t-shirts of varying types for myself and others.

 

Best night of my NT fandom that goes back to childhood in the 80s.

Edited April 2, 2023 by CMJ

[NT80]

Final 2023 NIT Bracket with scores...

[CMJ]

My wife took a bunch of pictures from the game and aftermath.  Now that we've gotten back to Los Angeles, I've finally had a chance to go through them all.  This one was one of my favorites of a few of the guys examining the hardware.  

 

I will say that I liked the old NIT trophy much better than the new one (and even the one they used the last few years was better too).  C'est la vie.

 

Original NIT trophy that they used up until a half dozen or so years ago.