Jerry Palm article - MN and Arkansas

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I'd really like to avoid that play-in game. Not only is it another game you have to win, but those games just don't feel like tournament games even though they're technically called round 1.
 

jaymil said:
I'd really like to avoid that play-in game. Not only is it another game you have to win, but those games just don't feel like tournament games even though they're technically called round 1.
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I agree with you on that. Dont get me wrong...I'd take it in a heartbeat but would prefer not to play in that game. For the Gophers to make the field...so much has to go our way. First we need to win at minimum one more game which we've shown is not a gimmie. Then we have to win 1 if not 2 games in the BTT tournament...again not a gimmie. THEN you have to worry about other conference tournaments. If Wichita State doesn't win there tournament then somebody's bubble will pop and Gophers are right on the cusp. Still a LONG way to go and last nights win was big for this team...but season is not over yet. Pickup a win @ Michigan...then I really like our chances despite what we do in the BTT.
 

If Gophers win two more game from today forward, they won't be in the playoff (round 1) game.

Win, Win, | Loss
or Loss, Win, | Win, Loss

either one would have us around 9 or 10 seed I believe.
 

This is going to sound awful and contradictory to what I've posted in the past, but I'm not sure I care what seed we end up or if we're in a play-in game. Just making the Field would be a feather in the program's cap. And haven't a few of those play-in winners gone on runs from that position?
 


Bad Gopher said:
This is going to sound awful and contradictory to what I've posted in the past, but I'm not sure I care what seed we end up or if we're in a play-in game. Just making the Field would be a feather in the program's cap. And haven't a few of those play-in winners gone on runs from that position?
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Agreed, my goal from the start of the season until now has simply been to make the tournament. Even when we were rolling earlier in conference play I said I just want to make the tournament. Making the tournament despite being picked last or not next to last could do wonders on the recruiting trail, even more so if we won a game or two.
 

Bad Gopher said:
This is going to sound awful and contradictory to what I've posted in the past, but I'm not sure I care what seed we end up or if we're in a play-in game. Just making the Field would be a feather in the program's cap. And haven't a few of those play-in winners gone on runs from that position?
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Agree. Just get in. If Gophers have to come out of the First Four, so be it. The First Four didn't hinder VCU or La Salle.
 


Bad Gopher said:
This is going to sound awful and contradictory to what I've posted in the past, but I'm not sure I care what seed we end up or if we're in a play-in game. Just making the Field would be a feather in the program's cap. And haven't a few of those play-in winners gone on runs from that position?
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Just get in yes, but keep in mind what we wish for has no bearing, so it's okay to get greedy. I still like that 11 or 12 seed...........and no play-in.

18 days til Selection Sunday.

Looks like as of now we would be in a 7-10 game with Northwestern in BTT.

Standings:
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/standings
 



I want the team to make the tournament.

Good press for Richard, especially if he makes a run.
Better to get the tire kicking done the first year than a few years down the road.
 

Get in the field any which way you can. Great experience for the players and a great recruiting tool for the coaches. Most recruits aren't historians. If you can just tell them that Minnesota has been in the NCAAs 7 or 8 times out of the last 10 years- they think the program is legit. So we need to build that track record. Start by getting there regularly and go from there.
 

Bad Gopher said:
This is going to sound awful and contradictory to what I've posted in the past, but I'm not sure I care what seed we end up or if we're in a play-in game. Just making the Field would be a feather in the program's cap. And haven't a few of those play-in winners gone on runs from that position?
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VCU went to the Final Four
 

Bad Gopher said:
This is going to sound awful and contradictory to what I've posted in the past, but I'm not sure I care what seed we end up or if we're in a play-in game. Just making the Field would be a feather in the program's cap. And haven't a few of those play-in winners gone on runs from that position?
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Can't believe no one mentioned VCU - Final Four!
 



The NIT would be a huge bummer for this team. I imagine them going through the motions and losing the first game if they don't get in the real tourney.
 

I'm going to throw a bone to South Florida who advanced to the Round of 32 after being in the First 4. That was the same year that VCU advanced to the Final 4 from the First 4.
 

Whenever I start stressing about making the tourney or not or what seed we might end up with, I just take a look at this from October:

Big_10_Projections.jpg

It's all gravy, IMO.
 

bga1 said:
Get in the field any which way you can. Great experience for the players and a great recruiting tool for the coaches. Most recruits aren't historians. If you can just tell them that Minnesota has been in the NCAAs 7 or 8 times out of the last 10 years- they think the program is legit. So we need to build that track record. Start by getting there regularly and go from there.
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+1
 


bga1 said:
Get in the field any which way you can. Great experience for the players and a great recruiting tool for the coaches. Most recruits aren't historians. If you can just tell them that Minnesota has been in the NCAAs 7 or 8 times out of the last 10 years- they think the program is legit. So we need to build that track record. Start by getting there regularly and go from there.
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Totally agree. Scratch, crawl, fight our way in. Just get in.

Go Gophers!!
 

LaSalle made it to the Sweet 16 last year when playing the first four round game.

I think in a previous year some team from Virginia got to the final four after playing that opening round game.
And if you ask me now, I still say they did not deserve to be in the tournament that year.
 


Normally, Pitino would probably be given a pass for missing the tournament after taking over an inexperienced, talent lacking team. However, the expectations were raised after a much better than expected start. It's far more important to find a way in now than it was prior to the season.
 

So wait, did VCU go to the Final Four out of a play-in game or something? Just trying to clarify.
 

If I'm not mistaken, I believe Shaka Smart's team made it to the last weekend once within the last few years after barely making the tourney.
 

There was this team called the Rams one year, they were in the First Four, and then they ended up in the Final Four! Not sure which year
 

PitinoFan said:
Normally, Pitino would probably be given a pass for missing the tournament after taking over an inexperienced, talent lacking team. However, the expectations were raised after a much better than expected start. It's far more important to find a way in now than it was prior to the season.
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His predecessor could speak at length about the perils of raising expectations in the beginning of the year.
 

dpodoll68 said:
If I'm not mistaken, I believe Shaka Smart's team made it to the last weekend once within the last few years after barely making the tourney.
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Ya, sure. Did you hear that at the vu?
 

dpodoll68 said:
If I'm not mistaken, I believe Shaka Smart's team made it to the last weekend once within the last few years after barely making the tourney.
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Who's Shaka Smart? Is he that bald coach from Virginia who's team always got left out and is now on ESPN?
 

howeda7 said:
Who's Shaka Smart? Is he that bald coach from Virginia who's team always got left out and is now on ESPN?
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He's some guy that once coached a team all the way from the play in game to the final four.
 


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