Tournament Expectations

[StarkVegasSteve]

So despite some people's hoping and praying we tank and miss the tournament, we are a lock and we're going to make it. What are your expectations once we get there?

I think we'll win a game and, depending on matchups(which is all the NCAAT is about), we can win in the R32 and make it to the S16. I'm sure most think we are going to get bounced by 1 PM on Thursday, but does anyone else think we could actually make some noise?

[PGHBulldogBG]

I am not sure who thinks we will miss the tournament? I mean unless we lose to LSU, Texas @ Ark and 1st round of SEC tournament I don't think we will miss it and even with all those losses we would still most likely get in. Here is why I do not see us making any noise in the tournament. We have lost and pretty badly to the top SEC teams. As I said several weeks ago, I was not sold on aTm being in that group and it turns out I was right. We have not beat Aub, Bama, UF, UT, Auburn, Missouri or Kentucky. Those are the 7 best teams in the SEC. aTm, Miss State, Vandy and Ole Miss are in the next group. aTm, Vandy and Ole Miss have proven they can beat the top 7. We have not done that. I think we win the first round because we are beating for the most part the teams that are equal to us but have not shown we have the ability to beat a top team this year.

[DawgFromOxford]

Do we have a team that can make a sweet 16 run? Yes. Do I think it will happen? No.

I think we can hold our own in Round 1 unless we get matched up with a hot 3 point shooting team. So I'll say we get bounced in the Round of 32

[Coach34]

Win a game in the Tourney. We are getting closer and closer to 20 years since we won one

[HoopsDawg]

We can beat any team in the country outside of the SEC and maybe Duke.

I think a guy like Claudell Harris or a Kugel will look like different players in the tournament.

Hopefully we get a 6 or 7 seed. I think sweet 16 is possible.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Win a game in the Tourney. We are getting closer and closer to 20 years since we won one

Last tourney win was 08 vs Oregon where Rhodes went off if my memory serves me correct.

[EdwardDrayton]

So despite some people's hoping and praying we tank and miss the tournament, we are a lock and we're going to make it. What are your expectations once we get there?

I think we'll win a game and, depending on matchups(which is all the NCAAT is about), we can win in the R32 and make it to the S16. I'm sure most think we are going to get bounced by 1 PM on Thursday, but does anyone else think we could actually make some noise?

Honestly there is no way to predict this given our inconsistency between games and even in games. The continuum is so vast it could be one and done or S16 top end. So if we have discretionary money we won't miss, bet us. Otherwise keep it in the wallet.

[parabrave]

Lunardi says solid 7 seed/

[Homedawg]

We can beat any team in the country outside of the SEC and maybe Duke.

I think a guy like Claudell Harris or a Kugel will look like different players in the tournament.

Hopefully we get a 6 or 7 seed. I think sweet 16 is possible.

If you are a 7 seed you have to beat a 2 to get the sweet 16. Would take a great effort. Not impossible. But not likely. Just win one round.

[Coach34]

our best chance is as a 3-6 seed. 3 or 4 is unlikely unless we win out these next 3

[LC Dawg]

I know a lot of our fans like to look at the negatives but this team has proven they can win on the road and that is a good thing for tournament teams. I would love to win these next three games and finish the regular season with some momentum.
We'll be the higher seed in our first Tourney game so we should win that and it will be a disappointment if we don't. After that it's all about matchups.

[Brobi-wan]

I normally always pick the dawgs. I just feel like we get bounced 1st round.

[Hypnodawg]

If kuagle and Melendez can find their stroke we could make a deep run. Their play in pre sec is what had me fired up for this team.

[StarkVegasSteve]

If kuagle and Melendez can find their stroke we could make a deep run. Their play in pre sec is what had me fired up for this team.

Kugel and Melendez are definitely part of it. I think getting Harris hot from 3 is equally as important. He spaces things out well in that he doesn't have the tendency to run on top of people like Melendez and Kugel. So if he's hitting, it gives us another shooter on the floor where they can't just hound Hubbard off every screen or collapse when Murphy and Matthews wants to drive.

[RezDog7]

I like the optimism but last year's team was better. We will be an 8 seeds best and bounced first weekend.

[mparkerfd20]

I'm just glad we won't be a 1 seed so we can become only the 2nd team to lose to a 16 seed

[msstate7]

Win a game in the Tourney. We are getting closer and closer to 20 years since we won one

^^^^^^

[msugolf]

The tournament is all about guard play, shooters, and the coach?s ability to get guys open. And we have none of those. If we get matched up with a bubble team that struggles to score we will have a chance. But if we get a mid major that shoots 30 3s a game then it?s lights out

[StarkVegasSteve]

I like the optimism but last year's team was better. We will be an 8 seeds best and bounced first weekend.

I'll make a bet we aren't an 8 seed. $100 to the State Excellence Fund.

[DDawg]

I want some of what you are smoking lol sweet 16 ������ this teams absolute ceiling is round of 32 and that’s a reach we don’t deserve to be a tournament team this year send us to the NIT and give us a shot at doing something

[maroonmania]

My expectation is we will be one and done. I mean that's all we've seen for a LONG time. My hope is we win 2 and make it to the second weekend.

[DawgFromOxford]

I want some of what you are smoking lol sweet 16 ������ this teams absolute ceiling is round of 32 and that?s a reach we don?t deserve to be a tournament team this year send us to the NIT and give us a shot at doing something

Get out of here. We aren't Auburn but we are 100% a tournament team

[StarkVegasSteve]

I want some of what you are smoking lol sweet 16 ������ this teams absolute ceiling is round of 32 and that?s a reach we don?t deserve to be a tournament team this year send us to the NIT and give us a shot at doing something

I actually do the THC infused seltzers. You should try them.

[MoreCowbell]

Win round 1, win round 2 (if not an SEC opponent), lose round 2 if against SEC team. Lose sweet 16 if we make it.

I expect and will be happy if we win a game. I will consider this season a failure if we fail to win 1st round.

[DDawg]

Get out of here. We aren't Auburn but we are 100% a tournament team

Oh yeah boy we are def a tournament team! Just shy of Auburn, I think us handling these last two conference games has proven we are a team that can handle business in crunch time!

[Bothrops]

One and done. Unless we're playing a bunch of girls.

[parabrave]

One and done.

[Coursesuper]

One and done.

[RezDog7]

Won't be winning another game this season. This team is mentally weak af.

[AROB44]

Won't be winning another game this season. This team is mentally weak af.

Not as weak as some "fans".

[DDawg]

The winless tournament streak will extend one more year, this is a very mediocre team. Hubbard is no better and no worse than a player like weatherspoon and everybody else is middle of the road caliber which we are used to. Respect to Jans and this team for playing hard this season but we are not a good team, maybe good moments but not built for winning consistently especially against above average teams regardless of conference.

[Dawgology]

One and done. Loss by 15+. Bookmark it.

[EdwardDrayton]

I actually do the THC infused seltzers. You should try them.

We ALL should try them! It's not easy being a State fan!!!

[EdwardDrayton]

Doubling down on there's no way to predict how we will do. We are truly a Jekyll and Hyde team. We could win against someone we should lose to or we could lose to an inferior team. Spin your magic eight ball and place your bets.

[mparkerfd20]

Miss tournament or 1 and done at best.

[State82]

Miss tournament or 1 and done at best.

We aren't missing the dance but there is nothing that suggests we will make it into the round of 32.

[Coach34]

Being an 8 seed it looks like is underachieving a little this season.

[Ranchdawg]

What gets me mad is there was so much upside to this team. They could’ve been a much higher ncaa tourney team. Even higher seed of SEC tourney with a bye. Jans gets some of the blame by refusing to tweak his defense allowing crazy amounts of 3’s by opposition. But I blame players more. Just not bringing A game every game or whole game.

One and done!

[KOdawg1]

An 8 seed and 3rd straight NCAAT in what will go down as one of, if not the best conferences ever looks good on paper.

But this team could've been so much more. They had the chance to be around the 5/6 seed area, but they just couldn't get out of their own way.

I just want to win a game in the tournament and then anything else is gravy.

[NCMSTFAN]

If we can play anything close to how we played to start the season against Memphis, SMU, Pitt... I like our chances to win 2 and get to the Sweet 16 (Of course matchups play a big role). But if we play how we have played to close the year, 1 and done. I'd like to pick up some momentum and win a couple in the SEC tourney heading into the dance but we have looked bad lately and I don't have the faith in Jans I once did to start the season.

[StarkVegasSteve]

If we can play anything close to how we played to start the season against Memphis, SMU, Pitt... I like our chances to win 2 and get to the Sweet 16 (Of course matchups play a big role). But if we play how we have played to close the year, 1 and done. I'd like to pick up some momentum and win a couple in the SEC tourney heading into the dance but we have looked bad lately and I don't have the faith in Jans I once did to start the season.

Realistically, if we could win two in Nashville and keep it respectable in the quarter finals we could possibly sneak up to the 7 line. We're right on the border in most brackets between 7 and 8.

[MoreCowbell]

I watched the replay of full Memphis game last night. Man, it looked like a completely different team. We also looked huge. I am starting to think the SEC was just insane and big because we towered over Memphis. Watched Duke game the other night and both teams looked tiny. I have no idea how Duke beat Auburn. I think we have a great chance to beat anyone not from the SEC.

[sleepy dawg]

I watched the replay of full Memphis game last night. Man, it looked like a completely different team. We also looked huge. I am starting to think the SEC was just insane and big because we towered over Memphis. Watched Duke game the other night and both teams looked tiny. I have no idea how Duke beat Auburn. I think we have a great chance to beat anyone not from the SEC.

For one, Duke is amazing. Both teams are... and 2, it was at Duke which is one of the most difficult places to play. It'll be one hell of a fun game to watch if we get to see them again in the finals, and it would be one of the very rare instances I'd actually pull for Duke.

[NCMSTFAN]

Realistically, if we could win two in Nashville and keep it respectable in the quarter finals we could possibly sneak up to the 7 line. We're right on the border in most brackets between 7 and 8.

Seven would be ideal, I hate that 8/9 seed because if you win you are facing a tough team next round, but heck every round will be tough. I'm glad the games are on neutral sites, hopefully that helps us.

[StarkVegasSteve]

Seven would be ideal, I hate that 8/9 seed because if you win you are facing a tough team next round, but heck every round will be tough. I'm glad the games are on neutral sites, hopefully that helps us.

I mean you're either going to play Houston, Duke, Texas Tech, or Michigan St if you're on those lines. Because Auburn and Florida will be the other 1's and Tennessee and Bama will be the other 2's. Interestingly enough, Jerry Palm has us as a 6 playing the winner of the play in game between San Diego St and Baylor. We'd be paired up with St. John's in the 2nd Round.

I really believe if we beat Missouri we could get a 7. Those two head to head wins over Ole Miss are going to loom large. That would give us 8 Q1 wins and Ole Miss would only have 7. That would give us 2 head to head wins over them and then we beat Memphis at Memphis and they were beat handily.

[DDawg]

I mean you're either going to play Houston, Duke, Texas Tech, or Michigan St if you're on those lines. Because Auburn and Florida will be the other 1's and Tennessee and Bama will be the other 2's. Interestingly enough, Jerry Palm has us as a 6 playing the winner of the play in game between San Diego St and Baylor. We'd be paired up with St. John's in the 2nd Round.

I really believe if we beat Missouri we could get a 7. Those two head to head wins over Ole Miss are going to loom large. That would give us 8 Q1 wins and Ole Miss would only have 7. That would give us 2 head to head wins over them and then we beat Memphis at Memphis and they were beat handily.

7 seed, 8 seed, 5th seed, 3rd seed. Doesn?t matter 0-1 and we try again next year, this is not a good team.

[maroonmania]

I watched the replay of full Memphis game last night. Man, it looked like a completely different team. We also looked huge. I am starting to think the SEC was just insane and big because we towered over Memphis. Watched Duke game the other night and both teams looked tiny. I have no idea how Duke beat Auburn. I think we have a great chance to beat anyone not from the SEC.

I've said for some time that we haven't really been the same since winning the game in Nashville. Yes, part of it is how good the SEC but there is something that happened to our team around that time. Not really sure what. One thing that happened is we lost our ability to make 3s at a good clip.

[StarkVegasSteve]

7 seed, 8 seed, 5th seed, 3rd seed. Doesn?t matter 0-1 and we try again next year, this is not a good team.

Well that is why they play the game. We just have to see. But since you have already made your mind up you will not even have to bother watching! You can move on to bitching about baseball.

[MoreCowbell]

For one, Duke is amazing. Both teams are... and 2, it was at Duke which is one of the most difficult places to play. It'll be one hell of a fun game to watch if we get to see them again in the finals, and it would be one of the very rare instances I'd actually pull for Duke.

Duke is amazing, specifically Flagg, but they are small/skinny compared to SEC teams

[NCMSTFAN]

7 seed, 8 seed, 5th seed, 3rd seed. Doesn?t matter 0-1 and we try again next year, this is not a good team.

Its all about who we match up with, and lets not forget how we see a random team make a deep run in the tournament every year, who knows what will happen.

[NCMSTFAN]

I've said for some time that we haven't really been the same since winning the game in Nashville. Yes, part of it is how good the SEC but there is something that happened to our team around that time. Not really sure what. One thing that happened is we lost our ability to make 3s at a good clip.

Agreed, we have seemed like a different team. We win games when Kugel and or Melendez are playing good, if one or both of them are off, we seem to lose. Hubbard and Murphy are typically pretty consistent, but we need the other guys to show up.

[msstate7]

Duke is amazing, specifically Flagg, but they are small/skinny compared to SEC teams

Sec teams better hope the refs let them play rough like we have in conference play. We could all find ourselves in foul trouble if they don't

[StarkVegasSteve]

Sec teams better hope the refs let them play rough like we have in conference play. We could all find ourselves in foul trouble if they don't

Watch the First 4. There will be at least one SEC team, possibly two, playing in it. If they're in foul trouble early, then it could be a bad tournament for the SEC.