Early Valley Predictions

[valleychamp]

There is a huge difference between hopes and actuality.

Of course UNI, Evansville, Drake et al want to win at the highest level. Of course their coaches and fans set goals, lofty goals and try to achieve said goals.

Its cute how you just haphazardly toss UNI in a group with Evansville and Drake, whom have a combined 1 tournament appearance in the last 15 years.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret, because too many of you don't get it. You aren't going to win, nationally, without talent. You might sneak a win here and there, but you simply aren't going to succeed long term, whether that's 2 weeks or 4 years.

UNI is the PERFECT example. Their program is built to win in the Valley. They can't compete with the big boys day in and day out. Now, they are well coached enough to catch the occasional team napping on a bad day, but they simply do not attract or go after enough big time athletes to win at the highest level. Why? Well, money for starters. They don't commit enough money to recruit in the areas most likely to produce those kind of players. They don't commit enough money because they don't have enough money. They also have a crappy school in the middle of nowhere in a cold weather environment that you can't get to from anywhere in the country, but that's another story. No doubt, they are up against it. And do they overachieve with what they have? Sometimes, you bet! They get a lot out of not much.

Nope, you're right. UNI has proven time and time again it can't compete "with the big boys". 5 NCAA's in 9 years, countless wins over big time programs like Kansas, Indiana, UNLV, New Mexico, LSU, Iowa, Iowa State, etc. You know, just catching them all "on a bad day".

Funny, a Wichita fan trashing UNI as "a crappy school".

But don't confuse 1 really good season with sustained national success and direction.

1 good season. Who are we talking about here? Drake? Indiana State? Wichita State? I know it isnt UNI, because UNI has been good for a decade. You might not have even been a senior citizen yet the last time UNI finished in the bottom half of the league.

[valleychamp]

No other Valley team CAN say that, unless you still count Creighton as a Valley team. I'm sorry UNI is a 2nd class citizen, but it's not WSU's fault. Spend money. Raise money. That's on you, not WSU.

And no, making an impact does not in fact start within the conference, UNLESS that's the only way you can get there. For UNI that's truthful, but it's not for WSU. It's also true for the likes of Southern, Texas Arlington, Weber State etc etc.

But you misunderstand, and I am not surprised, because it's a state you often times find yourself. WSU making the Final Four doesn't make them the only Valley teams with aspirations. It proves without a doubt they are the only program that actually had them in the first place. But even if they didn't make the FF, they are the only program that is actually doing the things that make the possibility even the most remote chance.

UNI has had two at-large bids during this recent run, and would have had another if they did not win the conf tournament (you wouldn't know how that works, I know). But you're probably right, we are no different than Arlington, Weber, or Southern. Yep, no difference.

[siufan4life]

I'm really tired of this. Wichita State had the easiest run for any Valley team the Final 4. They played Pitt who they caught on a bad day, Gonzaga who was at best a 4 seed in my opinion, LaSalle who was a cinderella, Ohio State who they caught on a horrible shooting day, and got beat by Louisville. SIU in their 2007 Sweet Sixteen run had to go against Holy Cross who was considered the top 13 seed in the tourney, Virginia Tech who sweep Duke and Carolina that year, and would have beaten a Kansas team with 7 future lottery picks if it weren't for a few bad calls.

[CBB_Fan]

I'm really tired of this. Wichita State had the easiest run for any Valley team the Final 4. They played Pitt who they caught on a bad day, Gonzaga who was at best a 4 seed in my opinion, LaSalle who was a cinderella, Ohio State who they caught on a horrible shooting day, and got beat by Louisville. SIU in their 2007 Sweet Sixteen run had to go against Holy Cross who was considered the top 13 seed in the tourney, Virginia Tech who sweep Duke and Carolina that year, and would have beaten a Kansas team with 7 future lottery picks if it weren't for a few bad calls.

Lot of "ifs" in that statement. Funny how we played everyone on bad days. However, you are flat out WRONG if you think we had an easy road.

In fact...

Most difficult paths to the Final Four
Seed Year Team Pyth F4PathSOS
9 2013 Wichita State .8970 .9219
3 2003 Marquette .9077 .9208
5 2010 Butler .9259 .9102
8 2011 Butler .8407 .9100
4 2006 LSU .9274 .9079
4 2011 Kentucky .9390 .9040
11 2006 George Mason .8864 .9037
4 2013 Michigan .9476 .9028
3 2009 Villanova .9278 .9011
4 2012 Louisville .9070 .8977

[siufan4life]

That formula is based on wins of opponents not quality. Gonzaga had 32 wins and only played 3 actual games and almost lost to a 16 seed in the first round. Pitt is the choking master of the NCAAs. La Salle got a good draw. Ohio State shot horribly in that game and would beat Wichita 9 out of 10 times.

[xsaluki]

Wow. You are really saying holy cross, VT, were bigger wins than beating Pitt, Gonzaga, and Oh State? I think the salukis of 2002 had a harder road than 2007.

WSU won games without gimmick Ds and without a team of 3 pt shooters. They made the big names resort to gimmicks.

Now, I do understand wanting to argue with the some of the douchebags in this thread, but that comparison is thin at best.

[Snaggletooth]

UNI has had two at-large bids during this recent run, and would have had another if they did not win the conf tournament (you wouldn't know how that works, I know). But you're probably right, we are no different than Arlington, Weber, or Southern. Yep, no difference.

WE ARE WSU, FINAL 4 TEAM. Winngest MVC team of this Decade.

[rlh04d]

I'm really tired of this. Wichita State had the easiest run for any Valley team the Final 4. They played Pitt who they caught on a bad day, Gonzaga who was at best a 4 seed in my opinion, LaSalle who was a cinderella, Ohio State who they caught on a horrible shooting day, and got beat by Louisville. SIU in their 2007 Sweet Sixteen run had to go against Holy Cross who was considered the top 13 seed in the tourney, Virginia Tech who sweep Duke and Carolina that year, and would have beaten a Kansas team with 7 future lottery picks if it weren't for a few bad calls.

Holy crap, you're really trying to dismiss our run and compare it to your little Sweet 16 of beating Holy Cross and Virginia Tech?

Are you high?

We beat the #1 team in the country, the #7 team in the country, and nearly beat the #1 overall seed in the entire tournament. Those three AND a ranked Pitt were all in KenPom's top ten overall teams.

There's no use arguing with you on this. If you truly believe the bullshit you're spewing, and you're honestly in any way trying to compare an SIU Sweet 16 run over Holy Cross and Virginia Tech to our Final Four run, you are beyond past rational discussion.

Your Sweet 16 run doesn't even compare to OUR Sweet 16 run (where we beat a 10 seed and a 2 seed) in 2006, let alone enough being worth mentioning in the same sentence as this last run.

I'm glad we're getting past the point where everyone pretends to be happy about WSU's Final Four run and start jumping into the blatant jealousy stage.

[rlh04d]

UNI has had two at-large bids during this recent run, and would have had another if they did not win the conf tournament (you wouldn't know how that works, I know). But you're probably right, we are no different than Arlington, Weber, or Southern. Yep, no difference.

You have no winning argument here. You should really just stop.

[rlh04d]

Wow. You are really saying holy cross, VT, were bigger wins than beating Pitt, Gonzaga, and Oh State? I think the salukis of 2002 had a harder road than 2007.

WSU won games without gimmick Ds and without a team of 3 pt shooters. They made the big names resort to gimmicks.

Now, I do understand wanting to argue with the some of the douchebags in this thread, but that comparison is thin at best.

Thank you.

I get that some WSU fans are instigating this, but for Christ sake, this is getting ridiculous.