Biggest Game in 50 years?

[Capitol Shock II]

That's a long time. It's hard to believe that this game may be the biggest in that time? What are some other games that might be considered bigger than this one? The NIT Championship comes to mind. After that....can't think of any except the Battle of New Orleans but that wasn't against the number one team in the whole country.

[SPEShockAlum]

When we played UCLA during the Wooden era (not quite 50 years ago) and got smoked by 30+.

[shock-it-to-me]

Sweet 16 game against GM. A winnable game that would have sent us to the elite 8.

[jocoshock]

When we played UCLA during the Wooden era (not quite 50 years ago) and got smoked by 30+.

True. But keep in mind that year, that we lost both Dave Stallworth and Nate Bowman, two future NBA first round top 10 picks at mid-season and still won the Valley and made it to the Final Four. That was the end of an era.

Something tells me we are still at the beginning of a new one....

[GarH]

Yes, a win would be fantastic press and help recruiting.

[jocoshock]

#1 WSU vs. #2 Michigan in 1965 (we lost but it was a BIG game and WE were number 1)
Any number of victories over #1 teams in the early 60s (Cincy, Loyola, others)
Victory over Iowa to get us to New Orleans
End of season Victory over Creighton in '06
Beating Al McGuire in his last home game at Marquette - the year they won the National Championship
Victory over Tennessee to get to the S16 in 2006
Beating Syracuse in the Carrier Dome in 2007

[shoxlax]

One of my favorite games of all time was when we went into Milwaukee and dominated Marquette and Al McGuire the same year they won the national championship. Unfortunately, we were 18-10 that year and the NCAA only took 32 teams...talk about an RPI boost.

I also loved the Michigan game Cheese Johnson's freshman year. I was pissing myself that we were playing with them. We had that thing won...turns out Michigan ended up playing for the title against a great Indiana team.

[Capitol Shock II]

It seems strange to me that it's taken 50 years for us to have a shot at a number 1 team? We are long, long, long over due. I'm glad the opportunity has presented itself during the tournament since it may never happen at home.

[shoxlax]

The way our league is headed we may be the 16 seed in the dance and get this chance every year!

[1979Shocker]

The way our league is headed we may be the 16 seed in the dance and get this chance every year!

The day we become a 16 seed is the day Marshall is gone. Either that or it's now a 256-team tournament.

[BostonWu]

That's a long time. It's hard to believe that this game may be the biggest in that time? What are some other games that might be considered bigger than this one? The NIT Championship comes to mind. After that....can't think of any except the Battle of New Orleans but that wasn't against the number one team in the whole country.

The game is much bigger than the NIT championship game. Win this one and the whole basketball universe is revolving around you. I'd say biggest since Battle of Orleans.

[SPEShockAlum]

It seems strange to me that it's taken 50 years for us to have a shot at a number 1 team? We are long, long, long over due. I'm glad the opportunity has presented itself during the tournament since it may never happen at home.

Well, when many of those games came against MVC foe Cincinnati and you've seen how well our conference administration has done throughout the years to either keep or lure formidable teams, does it still seem strange?

[jocoshock]

50 years ago...

1962-1963 Final AP Poll
Rank Prev Team Wins Losses Conference
1 1 Cincinnati 26 2 Big East Schedule
2 2 Duke 27 3 ACC Schedule
3 5 Loyola (Chicago 29 2 Horizon Schedule
4 4 Arizona State 26 3 Pac-12 Schedule
5 6 Wichita State 19 8 Missouri Valley Schedule
6 7 Mississippi Sta 22 6 SEC Schedule
7 3 Ohio State 20 4 Big Ten Schedule
8 8 Illinois 20 6 Big Ten Schedule
9 - NYU 18 5 No Conference Affiliation Schedule
10 - Colorado 19 7 Pac-12 Schedule


Note that Wichita State that year split with number 1 Cincinnati in the regular season and was one of only two teams to beat #3 Loyola, who beat #1 Cincinnati for the National Championship in OT 60-58, denying Cincy a three-peat national championship run....

[_kai_]

#1 WSU vs. #2 Michigan in 1965 (we lost but it was a BIG game and WE were number 1)
Any number of victories over #1 teams in the early 60s (Cincy, Loyola, others)
Victory over Iowa to get us to New Orleans
End of season Victory over Creighton in '06
Beating Al McGuire in his last home game at Marquette - the year they won the National Championship
Victory over Tennessee to get to the S16 in 2006
Beating Syracuse in the Carrier Dome in 2007

All of those are superb, the UT game to get to the S16 is up there. I think the destination of winning the game is huge in this conversation. Where do you get to go with winning? It's amazing to think that this game against the #1 team in the country, a 1 seed in the tournament, will get us to the same place beating UT in 06 gave us. This is easily the biggest game in my lifetime.

[ABC]

I would add either the SIU or CU game in 2006 - games that essentially clinched WSU's first MVC championship in 23 years.