Sweet 16 like Final 4?

[azbirdfan]

A lot of you have gotten on Turgeon for making comments about a team like WSU making the Sweet 16 is like a big school making the Final Four as if it were an insult to all of us but I must say, I don't agree with that statement.

Look how much we're celebrating Bradley and WSU being in the Sweet 16! I'm thrilled to death that we've got two teams in the Sweet 16. When was the last time that happened, if at all? The statement he made was flat out true in my opinion. Now, hopefully we as a conference can start making this a habit but as of now, this is a big, big deal.

I've always said that the way we get rid of the "mid" is by producing results on the court and specifically, in the NCAA tournament. This is something that has to be consistent and over a period of years.

For a school like Duke to make the Sweet 16, it's no big deal. They could care less. It's 9 straight trips for them. We need to start making this a habit and I believe it's possible to do so.

Losing McDermott to Iowa State is unfortunate but all we can ask of our coaches is that when they leave for a better job, that they left the program better than it was when they got there. McDermont has done that and if Turgeon were to leave today, I don't think there would be any question that he has as well.

The great thing about the recognition that the Valley has gotten and the level we're rising to is that we should be a very attractive job to any up and coming coach. SIU has done a good job so far with replacing coaches and hopefully any other school to lose a coach to more money will be able to do the same. It's really in the hands of the Athletic Directors at each school to make sure they make the right hires such that their respective program doesn't have a set back. We need to ride this momentum!

:valley:

[gosmsgo]

Mr. Packer could not agree more.

getting to the sweet sixteen is like going to the final four for these small conferences. That is why they do not deserve as many teams as the acc, big east etc.

Their expectations and results are much much lower.

[azbirdfan]

go,

why are we celebrating having two teams in then? Be real about this! There should be no celebration of the fact that we have two teams in. In fact, I'm a little pissed we don't have 3 because I really felt Northern Iowa should have won their game.

When was the last time we had two teams in the Sweet 16? I honestly don't know the answer and am not sure if it's ever happened but I'm pretty sure that the Pac 10, SEC, Big 10, ACC, and Big East have had two or more teams in multiple Final Fours, let alone Sweet 16s.

This isn't a knock on the Valley in any way, shape, or form. It's just our reality. Hopefully this NCAA Tournament will be our collective "coming out party" where it's going to become a habit but look at the history.

We certainly deserved 5-6 teams in this tournament and I'm still holding out hope of two Final Four teams. I believe WSU and Bradley can play with anyone!

We're still in a position where we're open prey to BCS conferences taking our coaches such as with McDermott leaving for Iowa State. We're not yet at the point where we can pay our coaches the money to stay. This is our current reality. I believe we're moving in an incredibly positive direction but we haven't fully arrived yet. When guys like Turgeon and McDermott are turning down Big 12 offers and offers from other conferences to stay in the Valley and we're getting multiple teams to the Sweet 16 every year and a few to the Final Four, then I'll say we've arrived to where I'd like to see us.

Again, I'm thrilled at the direction we're moving as a conference but we've still got a ways to go, based on results

[7hottamales]

It's hard to not agree considering less teams from the Valley have made the Sweet 16 over the past 7 or 8 years than teams from the Big 12 (or Big 10, ACC, etc) have made the Final Four. I think what Turgeon said has some definite validity.

[dawg_tired nemesis]

gosmsgo, when was the last time an mvc team made the final 4? What about the elite 8? So is it not a big deal for an mvc team to make the sweet 16? Do you honestly think recruits that come to play in the MVC are in this league to win a national title? I rest YOUR case!!!!!!

[gosmsgo]

screw reality,

Lets all act like barry. Did anyone catch his tirade at the mvc media day?

Lets beat our chests and call out the big boys. Lets act like we would have 3 teams in the sweet sixteen in mo state would of made the tourney.

[DUShock]

screw reality,

Lets all act like barry. Did anyone catch his tirade at the mvc media day?

Lets beat our chests and call out the big boys. Lets act like we would have 3 teams in the sweet sixteen in mo state would of made the tourney.

I think Bradley, MSU, and Wichita will do just that once our respective programs are finished playing the big boys this season!

You have gotta hit the 25 meter target first and I hope there is still a lot of basketball to be played by my alma mater.

GO BU, GO MSU, GO WSU!

Go Valley!!

Go Shocks!!!!

[C0|db|00ded]

There are a lot of BCS programs that would be celebrating just like us if they were in the Sweet Sixteen. Don't compare anyone with Duke, UCONN and the like.. those are "ultra" basketball programs that few can compare to. I think Bill Self and Co. or Roy Williams and Co. would be mighty happy to be in the Sweet Sixteen right about now.


T


...:original: