Strong Showings May Not Be Enough

Censored by Laurie · November 23, 2007

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.

SUMG · November 23, 2007

As I recall....when it comes to NCAA tournament time.....close losses (to ranked teams) can actually help a team. Last year, when the commentators would be going over possible "at large" teams......they mentioned certain games that helped those teams' causes. And some of those games weren't wins.

So playing Gonzaga close.......shouldn't hurt WKU....and might help them. (Of course, a win would have REALLY HELPED).

Edited November 23, 2007 by SUMG

Censored by Laurie · November 23, 2007

As I recall....when it comes to NCAA tournament time.....close losses (to ranked teams) can actually help a team. Last year, when the commentators would be going over possible "at large" teams......they mentioned certain games that helped those teams' causes. And some of those games weren't wins.
So playing Gonzaga close.......shouldn't hurt WKU....and might help them. (Of course, a win would have REALLY HELPED).

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.