UConn and USF in the 8 vs 9 matchup

[JimHurley]

With Carlton peaking, Polley hitting shots, and Jalen back healthy all we need is Gilbert healthy to run the table. #HurleyDifference

That is why I said I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gilbert give it a go on Friday if he’s medically cleared. If you feel good enough to play and you’re playing the #1 seed in the conference tournament, you play. I hope for a quick recovery for Rique.

 

[SubInATub]

Should be a good game and I think we have the advantage. They only beat us in one half of basketball this season after our collapse in the 1st game.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Can someone explain to me why record against Wichita State is the tie-breaker? That makes no sense at all.

 

[Hi-Low]

That is why I said I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gilbert give it a go on Friday if he’s medically cleared. If you feel good enough to play and you’re playing the #1 seed in the conference tournament, you play. I hope for a quick recovery for Rique.

Well if AG gets on the plane to Memphis we'll find out, no real reason for him to travel post-concussion / injury if there isn't a chance to play. I have my doubts that he will / should play but if he flies then he might.

 

[JimHurley]

Can someone explain to me why record against Wichita State is the tie-breaker? That makes no sense at all.

Yes. If 2 teams are tied, the first tiebreaker is head to head. We split so into the next metric. The next metric is record against the top seed in the conference, which is Houston. We both lost to Houston so then it goes to record against the 2 seed in the conference. We both lost to Cincy so onto record against the 3 seed, etc. It keeps going down in the standings until Wichita, who we beat once and SMU lost to.

 

[CTBasketball]

Good things sometimes happen when we’re the #9 seed in a conference tournament.

 

[Jaker]

Doomed. The season is over.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

Feels a little 2011ish to me...we finished 9th in the Big East that year and then went on a tear. Not saying that will happen again, but give me the 9 seed and let’s do this. Beat Houston and we take their 1 seed. They may come out flat after a big win at Cincy and almost a week off. Hoping AG can go by Friday otherwise we’ll have a hard time staying in front of Davis

Aside from having the best player in college hoops, an undefeated out of conference, and being ranked, I'm feeling the same 2011 vibes too!

 

[gtcam]

That is why I said I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gilbert give it a go on Friday if he’s medically cleared. If you feel good enough to play and you’re playing the #1 seed in the conference tournament, you play. I hope for a quick recovery for Rique.

Did USF forfeit?

 

[UofCT]

Did USF forfeit?

Palpable Buzz

 

[AZHuskiePop]

We had a easier first game in 2011 that seemed to right the floundering ship.
But If we play well we could win against a pretty decent team. . I always thought teams with a bye in tourneys are at a disadvantage so a second round upset is a distinct possibility.
Maybe getting to the third round may get us in to the NIT but I suspect not.
The fourth round is must but if you get that far why not win it all.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

Only on the boneyard -- we complain about a tough path to the championship game after a 15-16 season. It's not supposed to be easy as a 9 seed!

This is disingenuous. It's not complaining as if we "deserve better". We just got sort of unlucky the way the seeding falls in terms of timing and matchups. Most on here are unable to watch the games. Also, the 10 seed (lower than our seed) has an easier path and night games. Our complaints have nothing to do with what you're saying. You can't tell me you wouldn't rather be the 10 seed doing night games, playing Tulsa and then Cinci, on the opposite side of Houston/UCF.

 

[ucp990411]

Would have much rather been the 10/11 seed. Houston in the second round is tough.

Houston should be the team poopin their shorts. “Crap we have to play UConn in the 2nd round! Everyone knows come tournament time all they do is win”

 

[GHSWolverines]

I am coming down with a cold. Looks like a sick day on Thursday

 

[UConnDad]

This is disingenuous. It's not complaining as if we "deserve better". We just got sort of unlucky the way the seeding falls in terms of timing and matchups. Most on here are unable to watch the games. Also, the 10 seed (lower than our seed) has an easier path and night games. Our complaints have nothing to do with what you're saying. You can't tell me you wouldn't rather be the 10 seed doing night games, playing Tulsa and then Cinci, on the opposite side of Houston/UCF.

You have to watch every game like it's your last! Let's go!

 

[UConnDad]

I am coming down with a cold. Looks like a sick day on Thursday

Potentially a 2 day illness.

 

[GHSWolverines]

Potentially a 2 day illness.

oh yeah!

 

[JB75]

This is disingenuous. It's not complaining as if we "deserve better". We just got sort of unlucky the way the seeding falls in terms of timing and matchups. Most on here are unable to watch the games. Also, the 10 seed (lower than our seed) has an easier path and night games. Our complaints have nothing to do with what you're saying. You can't tell me you wouldn't rather be the 10 seed doing night games, playing Tulsa and then Cinci, on the opposite side of Houston/UCF.

Well said. I was about to respond with exact same thing. I don’t think we deserve anything the way we played this year but it’s just fitting that with all the things that have happened this year - they also draw the worst possible section of the bracket in the worst possible time slots

 

[intlzncster]

I always thought teams with a bye in tourneys are at a disadvantage so a second round upset is a distinct possibility.

Not in the Big East it wasn't. Outside of 2011, it was the only way to win the whole thing.

 

[auror]

I am coming down with a cold. Looks like a sick day on Thursday

Can you do it 2 weeks in a row, though?

 

[businesslawyer]

Only on the boneyard -- we complain about a tough path to the championship game after a 15-16 season. It's not supposed to be easy as a 9 seed!

This isn't a tough path. The tough path was in '11 when we had to beat DePaul, Georgetown, Pitt, Syracuse and Louisville in succession. IIRC, the last three were all in and around the top ten and Georgetown may have just fallen out of being ranked all year. THAT was a tough path to a conference championship. But did we whine about it? No. We listened to makers mark tell us to toughen up and fasten our seatbelts, we got to MSG and we won and then kept winning.

It's like some of you don't remember having to walk barefoot 20 miles to pre-school in the snow all winter. Sheesh.

 

[jibsey]

This isn't a tough path. The tough path was in '11 when we had to beat DePaul, Georgetown, Pitt, Syracuse and Louisville in succession. IIRC, the last three were all in and around the top ten and Georgetown may have just fallen out of being ranked all year. THAT was a tough path to a conference championship. But did we whine about it? No. We listened to makers mark tell us to toughen up and fasten our seatbelts, we got to MSG and we won and then kept winning.

It's like with some of you don't remember having to walk barefoot 20 miles to pre-school in the snow all winter. Sheesh.

That was MakersMuppet and the greatest post in the history of sports message boards, and yes if “he” comes back from the dead we could use another one.

 

[Jimdish255]

We haven't played our best this year with guys learning their roles, missing games for various reasons, and some guys still just young and developing. It seems crazy but if we can be healthy enough and make a few shots (and foul shots) we can make a run. Houston is a longshot, but if by some miracle that happens I see these guys turning a corner with huge momentum. Don't wake me up.