If BYU Won Out... Would a #1 Seed be Possible?

clemdiggitydog1 wrote:
it's unsettling to be a fan,especially when your team has lost on the biggest stage consistently over the last few years,to continue to be optimistic.for that reason it's hard to argue with someone like mizzoucoug when he is pessimistic about our chance to breakthrough this year and get to the Sweet 16 and reverse this trend.He's also from MIssouri obviously,and therefore the "show-me state mentality" becomes a factor.However, i would argue that the poor performance streak in the tourney has to end sometime,and that there are things about this team which make this eventuality more likely this year than ever before.#1,emergence of inside presence with the triumverate of Miles,Davies and Hartsock playing good defense and taking pressure off the outside game to have to score.we aren't seeing the 3-6 min scoring droughts which have always been the hallmark of Dave Rose's teams for the last several years, when the outside game goes south.#2 guard play.this is a tournament must and teams generally go as far as their guard play will carry them.in this mix I include not just the Jammer/jackson combo as well as very capable back-ups of Morgan/Loyd,but also our slasher all-purpose Iceman who is part of the guardline in reality,the shoe-in MWC freshman of the year Tyler Haws.#3,the onball ability to guard with Jackson,Charles and Loyd,any which is capable of shutting down a big time scorer for the opposition.#4,the wild card that is JT.this is a real plus this year precisely because we DON"T HAVE TO HAVE HIM SCORE TO WIN! what we get from JT is really simply a bonus.now,it was important to have his scoring when Jimmer was out but not with us at full-strength.recently he has been a strong plus that the opposition does have to game plan for.#4 free throw shooting.we have been money in all kinds of situations this year when the game is on the line,and have several guys on the court in crunch time who are shooting above 80%.this is huge.in short this is a very versatile and deep team that's rolling,I'm not sure I can say much more to help assuage your doubts and fears.

The bottom line, is that it's not easy to win in the dance to start with and our last half dozen matchups and seedings have been brutal, which hasn't helped either.

This BYU team hasn't seemed terribly shy on the road and have only once wilted under the pressure of an opposing court and fans. In a neutral court game where we're favored, I have to believe that this BYU would win 90% of the time. This is what happens if we get a good seed.



Now if we falloff and lose 4-5 games to UNM UNLV Utah SDSU and finish with 6 or so losses and get an 8/9... then I'd be worried about the matchup, etc. etc.



random side note:

I'm assuming you were just making light of the pessimism of mizzoucougs posts, but

being a Liberty, Missouri grad, I can say that being from the "show-me" state has as much bearing on an individual as say New Jersey and the "garden state." I've been to New Jersey and unless they're talking about beer gardens.....

I don't think there's a "show-me" mentality in my homestate anymore than anywhere else.

clemdiggitydog1 wrote:
it's unsettling to be a fan,especially when your team has lost on the biggest stage consistently over the last few years,to continue to be optimistic.for that reason it's hard to argue with someone like mizzoucoug when he is pessimistic about our chance to breakthrough this year and get to the Sweet 16 and reverse this trend.He's also from MIssouri obviously,and therefore the "show-me state mentality" becomes a factor.However, i would argue that the poor performance streak in the tourney has to end sometime,and that there are things about this team which make this eventuality more likely this year than ever before.#1,emergence of inside presence with the triumverate of Miles,Davies and Hartsock playing good defense and taking pressure off the outside game to have to score.we aren't seeing the 3-6 min scoring droughts which have always been the hallmark of Dave Rose's teams for the last several years, when the outside game goes south.#2 guard play.this is a tournament must and teams generally go as far as their guard play will carry them.in this mix I include not just the Jammer/jackson combo as well as very capable back-ups of Morgan/Loyd,but also our slasher all-purpose Iceman who is part of the guardline in reality,the shoe-in MWC freshman of the year Tyler Haws.#3,the onball ability to guard with Jackson,Charles and Loyd,any which is capable of shutting down a big time scorer for the opposition.#4,the wild card that is JT.this is a real plus this year precisely because we DON"T HAVE TO HAVE HIM SCORE TO WIN! what we get from JT is really simply a bonus.now,it was important to have his scoring when Jimmer was out but not with us at full-strength.recently he has been a strong plus that the opposition does have to game plan for.#4 free throw shooting.we have been money in all kinds of situations this year when the game is on the line,and have several guys on the court in crunch time who are shooting above 80%.this is huge.in short this is a very versatile and deep team that's rolling,I'm not sure I can say much more to help assuage your doubts and fears.

I agree with everything and I don't hesitate to say this is the best team we've had in probably 20 years...it's more mental than anything for me. Every year I assume we'll win in March. This year I"m not getting my hopes up for anything because it's depressing to go through it every year. Honestly though, the lack of scoring droughts is the biggest difference. This team doesn't have them because when one begins, Jimmer takes it to the hole and gets a bucket or a call--it's a thing of beauty. Trust me, I love this team, but I refuse to give into hype. So with that, we'll just see...

hey craigo,the "show me state" schtick was ,as you guessed,TIC.i"m married to a gal from Jackson Cnty. whose family then moved out to the Johnson Cnty.burbs and went to Shawnee Mission South;she reminds me all the time about her skeptical inclinations based on her demographic heritage.all in good fun Mizzoucoug,we'll get there this year,here's hoping.

HMmmmmmm more Cannibalism =D



#11 and 6, and 23 lost =D two of those help us.