390 replies to this topic

[You Play to Win the Game]

Thinking it's a bad loss isn't the same as saying that's some big indictment on MD. Like you said, even elite teams lose to teams they shouldn't.

[Mackus]

Are you kidding?  There are about 50,000* posts on this site calling the Michigan game a bad loss.

 

*approximation.

 

He means the first part.  Plenty of people called it a bad loss, myself included.  Nobody said having a bad loss on your resume means you can't accomplish your goals for the season and need to give up or fire everybody (the "indictment on the program" part).

 

Well, maybe Pete thinks that and that's why he's so adamant that it wasn't a bad loss.  If a "bad loss" means a season-disrupting loss, then Michigan wasn't that.  I think bad losses have a lower threshold.  I think that Michigan game was a game where the difference in quality of the teams was wide enough such that we could've played poorly, they could've played well, and we still should've won.  That makes it a bad loss.  Top 5 losing to unranked will almost always fall in the bad loss category, IMO.

[mweb08]

semanticz

[bnickle]

We have a shitload more talent than Purdue or Indiana. I think this is a team that should be a no-doubt top-5 team all year long. We've not played that well, but that's the type of team we should be and that's what I'm basing my opinions and expectations on. I don't think we've met expectations to this point at least in terms of caliber of play, but I'm not lowering my expectations of what I want us to be and think we will be yet.

That's why I think losing at Michigan was a bad loss but our loss last season to, say, Illinois wasn't as bad. Illinois last year is about as good as I think Michigan is this season, but we're a lot better this year than last, so the loss is worse.

It's fine to think we should be better, have more talent than those teams but we haven't been much if any better than either. Purdue is 13th in Kenpom and Indiana 20th. We mostly agree here. I don't deny the talent of our starting 5, but I'm leery they'll consistently kick it up a gear. As is now, we'd still have a shot at the FF and title but unlike you I doubt we'll get to that point where I'm pretty confident heading into the tournament.

[Pedro Cerrano]

There are lots of posts that essentially read as:

 

"Maryland isn't performing as well as they should be, they aren't as good as everyone thinks etc etc" with a primary reason being the Michigan loss.

 

So yea, it's in indictment, but whatever.  Nobody is changing anyone's mind and the last thing I want to do is start a stupid semantics debate.

[bnickle]

I probably shouldn't go down this road, because my point will get twisted. What game do you look at that we've played this year and say, if we play like that it's gonna be very tough for anyone to beat us. When have we brought our A game. Oh St at home maybe??


And again, this isn't to say I expect us to bring our A game every night. Thats not my expectation or point. You need to bring a consistently higher level of play to win the NCAA tournament. You almost always have one game where the opposition pushes you to bring your A game. I look back at 2002 and UCONN pushed us to our limit. Made us play a terrific game of basketball. Then we turned around and did it to Kansas the next weekend. We brought it back to back games. Really, we played consistently well to beat Kentucky and Wisconsin too. I knew going into that tournament, despite the loss to NC State, that we had a great shot at getting back to the FF. We certainly could have lost to UCONN, but I expected a deep run. The vibe isn't the same, nor do I think this MD team is as good as '02, but show me something to give me some confidence and belief a great run is possible.

[Markus]

The general thought was they are happy with the record but concerned with our underwhelming play overall.

This is pretty much where I'm at. Happy as a pig in shit that we're actually relevant again and not jockeying for a NIT seed but I do think there are some serious issues that have prevented us from going to that next level, so-to-speak.

Oh and this thread has been gold, Jerry. Gold.

[SBTarheel]

This is pretty much where I'm at. Happy as a pig in shit that we're actually relevant again and not jockeying for a NIT seed but I do think there are some serious issues that have prevented us from going to that next level, so-to-speak.

Oh and this thread has been gold, Jerry. Gold.

i said it earlier, and it's worth repeating:

 

amazeballs. 

 

As i said to Ricker privately,this thread after a game they WON. 

 

My team lost a road game the other night. 

[You Play to Win the Game]

As you said in that convo with me though... gotta love the passion.

[SBTarheel]

As you said in that convo with me though... gotta love the passion.

No doubt. LOVE the passion. 

[PD24]

And #8 Texas A&M, currently ranked as a #2 seed by Joe Lunardi, gets blown out by 18 on the road at a 12-9, unranked Vanderbilt team.