Comments on: There’s No Room For Crying Across The SEC Today

By: Holtbru

Holtbru — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:32:28 +0000

First thing Auburn could do for itself would be to get a NEW AD !!!!

By: Fayettechill14

Fayettechill14 — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:54:40 +0000

Arkansas (and probably LSU) deserved NIT bids. This is not an issue for debate. There is no question.

Here’s your eye test. “Eye” a comparison of St John’s (NIT 5-seed) and Arkansas’ resume:

Team Record (Conf)      RPI vs50 vs100 vs150+    Road Best W Worst L
Arkansas 19-13 (10-8)    88 3-6 7-10 9-1    1-9 #9 #224
St John’s 16-15 (8-10)    93 3-7 5-11 8-2        4-7 #36 #215

Looking at the resume, my question is that if next year Arkansas goes 8-24 (and 8-3 on the road), will they be a 4-seed or a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament? That’s where it appears they should be with the way the criteria is currently weighted.

By: DaveinExile

DaveinExile — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:56:43 +0000

March Madness is making basketball a tough proposition for middle-tier BCS schools. At this point, being Maryland, Alabama, Virginia, Tennessee, or Washington has proven to be a disadvantage relative to schools like Butler, Creighton, VCU, UNLV and Gonzaga. Doug McDermott would not be a 4 year automatic ticket to the NCAA tournament in Knoxville or Tuscaloosa. He is at a small school in Omaha. Sorry – that ain’t right.

Everyone knows the rules, so you’re right – no complaining about the lack of bids. Complaining about the system, however, is fine. Blow it up.

By: Robert Spurlock

Robert Spurlock — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:07:07 +0000

As a Tennessee fan, I freely admit that you hit the nail squarely with your analysis of them. They “left too much fruit hanging on the tree.” If they had simply handled the Georges, they would have been a solid tournament team. That is to say, had they beat Georgetown and won either or both of the Georgia games, they would have been fine. As a matter of fact, winning both Georgia games might well have landed them a higher seed in the SEC Tourney. There were a few other close losses that could have helped, had they been wins. Having said that, I hope the Vols don’t sleep through the NIT. I enjoy reading this site. Always great information here.

By: Statesman

Statesman — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 18:02:13 +0000

@John at MrSEC

“Guess a lot of people were delusional”………That happens all the time. Most folks have the herd mentality, even if it means being wrong. Pressey is the only player on the team, with 5 transfers and Bowers(out last season) comprise the 8-man rotation. No other team other than UK can say the same. The conference underachieved, but Mizzou did their part.

By: RoadTrip

RoadTrip — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:36:40 +0000

Too tied up in manipulated stats to see it for what it is IMO. Simply look at St. Mary’s schedule/results. Go ahead and explain how they had a higher rating and try to keep from laughing. Five Mountain West teams in?! Please.

It explains what UT should do today – right now. Schedule mid-major and lower on the road and then go win 90% of them. Make most of them real cupcakes like those other bubble schools play every game in their conferences and OOC’s. Schedule only a few better OOC’s with as many of them at home as possible. Then win 12+ in the SEC. Then tell Slive he no longer has any authority over basketball in the SEC and hire a separate leader. Someone who has the guts to tell the officials to call the games according to the rules of the game or be publicly fired.

The last point applied to all of the games I watched for all of the SEC schools. Example: I spotted a half dozen obvious hacks on layups within the last 2 minutes of several games where no fouls were called and the shots were missed. Who are they kidding? Two handed shoves under the boards on dozens of occasions never called. Whatever they think they are accomplishing in Sliveville ain’t happening in basketball. The SEC and PAC are the current laughingstocks of college BB because they do nothing to change it and let the power shift to the little guys. Guess Slive’s too focused on his SEC network project.

By: John at MrSEC

John at MrSEC — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:24:08 +0000

@CowbellCruiser

Rick Ray had reasons for his troubles — as did Frank Martin. Stated that in the piece. But MSU did not exceed expectations. The Bulldogs were picked for last place. The finished one game out of last place.

That’s no knock on Ray who inherited a mess, but I don’t think he exceeded expectations.

John

By: John at MrSEC

John at MrSEC — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:18:52 +0000

@Statesman

Missouri was ranked 15th in the preseason AP poll and they were ranked #7 in December. They ended their season 8-6 over their last 14 games.

SEC media members picked Missouri to finish in third place in the SEC (with one first-place vote). Missouri wound up seeded sixth in the SEC Tournament.

Guess a lot of people were delusional.

John

By: Statesman

Statesman — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:55:09 +0000

MrSec……..News flash!!! Mizzou made the tournament. If anyone(including you) predicted a team that returned 1 player from last years’s entire roster to be a top 10 team, they were delusional. Even UK’s champions & Final Four returned 3-4 role players to supplement the 1 & Dones. Mizzou is in,(although playing Louisville in Lexington insures an early exit).

SEC basketball has 3 issues:
1) the Horrible losses in November & December. The coaches need to prepare their teams just as the other major conferences to beat the early season cupcakes. In the SEC it appears folks are still celebrating football
2) Officiating……the inconsistent officiating hurts the teams and chances to make tournaments. The home team has a decided advantage not because teams cant play on the road,but because the officials call 2 different games,one for the vistors and one favoring the home team. This exist across the board throughout the SEC.
3) In conference Schedule- It lacks rhyme or reason. If football can be broken into 2 leagues then why can’t basketball. At least have thedivisions play round robin against each other.

By: CowbellCruiser

CowbellCruiser — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:24:02 +0000

Considering Rick Ray was expected (before he was down to 6 scholarship players) to finish last and with 4 or 5 wins, yes, there are other coaches who deserve a pat on the back for what they did.