Game Thread - Vs. Little Rock
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Mindset is everything. NIT is a consolation. Naismith Invitational Tournament might as well stand for “Not in THETournament”. Our team is really good and we should be focused on an NCAA bid. Anything less is short of the goal. Especially for a team that has experienced so much success over the years.
It’s our year to clinch this conference tournament and auto bid. Big D1 stuff.
It’s our year to clinch this conference tournament and auto bid. Big D1 stuff.
You can have multiple goals. And none of them are an NIT bid either for the record. It would just be a byproduct of reaching the first goal.
Goal 1: regular season championship, which would earn us at least an NIT bid (assuming NIT goes to regular format)
Goal 2: tournament championship, which would earn us an NCAA tourney bid
Goal 3: win an NCAA tournament game
One thing we can't do is get all happy and content with just reaching goal 1 though for sure. Or we'll end up like we did last year.
Goal 1: regular season championship, which would earn us at least an NIT bid (assuming NIT goes to regular format)
Goal 2: tournament championship, which would earn us an NCAA tourney bid
Goal 3: win an NCAA tournament game
One thing we can't do is get all happy and content with just reaching goal 1 though for sure. Or we'll end up like we did last year.
I don't think anyone is saying the NIT should be the team goal, or something the team should be content on settling for... 
The NIT probably wouldn't move the needle much for apathetic students and alums anyhow.
As long-suffering fans however, the NIT would be the biggest stage this program has played on in 25 years. (before any player on the current roster was born)
The program putting itself in a position to clinch a major tourney invite BEFORE the conference tournament plays out is something I think we as fans could be pleased with. (for the moment)
The NIT probably wouldn't move the needle much for apathetic students and alums anyhow.As long-suffering fans however, the NIT would be the biggest stage this program has played on in 25 years. (before any player on the current roster was born)
The program putting itself in a position to clinch a major tourney invite BEFORE the conference tournament plays out is something I think we as fans could be pleased with. (for the moment)
He's very quickly become my favorite coach on campus. His POV and demeanor is just so on point w/ what I believe a coach should be.
Congrats to Adams on getting married in the middle of a season, and asking TJ to move practice back so he wouldn't miss! Wow - what a week for him!
Congrats to Adams on getting married in the middle of a season, and asking TJ to move practice back so he wouldn't miss! Wow - what a week for him!
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franslasttwinkie
Active member
Very well said and on point. It's like having house chips before you arrive at the table. The question is if if we end up splitting the remaining games against USA/Troy which one do we want to win. Doesn't seem to matter much which one we win as long as we win one of them. Curious which game is the preferred win?I don't think anyone is saying the NIT should be the team goal, or something the team should be content on settling for...
As long-suffering fans however, the NIT would be the biggest stage this program has played on in 25 years. (before any player on the current roster was born)
The program putting itself in a position to clinch a major tourney invite BEFORE the conference tournament plays out is something I think we as fans could be pleased with. (for the moment)
We accomplish a lot by splitting USA/Troy....we hit 20 regular season wins again....even with a very short season
TXST
Active member
For me, I'm wanting to see how we match up against USA more than Troy. Last outing with Troy we didn't have Harrell, Drinnon, Adams, or Morgan and I think it was a respectable outing so I think this time will be an entirely different outcome. USA has quite a few P5 transfers that could be tough matchups for us and could be a good test for the tournament if we're fortunate enough to make it.
Anyone know how that correlates w/ not only our covid sits vs the opponents? A lot has been made about the h/a disparity, but I'm curious how many of those games were between full rosters. @_x_ ? @stlwildcats ?
X might have the breakdown of players missing with his thorough previews.
Ultimately our scheduling assisted quite a bit in the big discrepancy. @Houston, @LSU, @Vandy (our only Quad 1 or 2 games) While no competent team came to Strahan. Coastal Carolina/App State (160/163 NET) are the two best teams that we hosted.
Ultimately our scheduling assisted quite a bit in the big discrepancy. @Houston, @LSU, @Vandy (our only Quad 1 or 2 games) While no competent team came to Strahan. Coastal Carolina/App State (160/163 NET) are the two best teams that we hosted.
Also, ULL (203 NET) and Rice (205) look to be our best road wins. We’ll have to improve on that with USA (134) and Troy (170) coming up.
USA is 12-1 at home just like we are. Troy is 9-2.
We're probably gonna be dogs in both these games I think, USA for sure. I'd like to think we can get one of them, but this is a tough week to end on. I think USA is the tougher matchup of the two, personally. Either way I don't see us going 2-0 this week. If we win vs. USA we'll inevitably let our guard down Friday vs. Troy I feel like unfortunately unless the prospect of a nationally televised game gets us up for it.
Don't have COVID stats off the top of my head and sounds like a lot of work to figure out....
We're probably gonna be dogs in both these games I think, USA for sure. I'd like to think we can get one of them, but this is a tough week to end on. I think USA is the tougher matchup of the two, personally. Either way I don't see us going 2-0 this week. If we win vs. USA we'll inevitably let our guard down Friday vs. Troy I feel like unfortunately unless the prospect of a nationally televised game gets us up for it.
Don't have COVID stats off the top of my head and sounds like a lot of work to figure out....
franslasttwinkie
Active member
Exact thoughts....just feel like we have to tread way too lightly headed into tourney on a 9 streak..... that something will feel offBit of superstition on my end, but I don't want us to go 2-0 this week. Ideally 1-1, get the reg season championship, and break our win streak in order to build a new one in the tourney