The Final Play

[shocksrbest]

Knowing everything that happened, would you guys have taken a loss in the regular season? The seasons is not as special as an undefeated one but we would have been a 2 or 3 seed with a better match up. What do you guys think?

I wouldn't, what an amazing year, just want to play the "what if? fame"!

Would not have taken a loss--nor would the players. We deserved the #1 seed, and played like a #1 seed. Not our fault the bracket was stacked against us--and who would have guessed it was to that extent?

I do think had we gotten past Kentucky, we would have won it all or at least gotten to the championship game. Kentucky was our greatest mismatch--IMO.

[ShockTalk]

Would not have taken a loss--nor would the players. We deserved the #1 seed, and played like a #1 seed. Not our fault the bracket was stacked against us--and who would have guessed it was to that extent?

I do think had we gotten past Kentucky, we would have won it all or at least gotten to the championship game. Kentucky was our greatest mismatch--IMO.

While I believe we had as good of chance as anyone, I think it's something like only 17% of the Final 4 teams over the last 35 years were back to back F4 teams, much less, in the championship game or champion. I guess we'll just have to enjoy another (and another and another) run at it.

[another shocker]

He's certainly capable of taking over. However, and it pains me to say this as it goes with Gottleibs line of thinking, Fred struggles against big athletic guards. There's a reason he wasn't shooting well against UK....he's not used to shooting over 6'6" guards.

i disagree with gottlieb 100%. fvv's biggest nemesis in that game was foul trouble (first half, no foul problems, wsu leads by 6 at halftime).

he is COMPLETELY, NO DOUBT in the mold of kemba walker, isiah thomas, mark price etc. 5'11" guards that can score at any time if they think they have to.

he is a top-10 finalist for the naismith poy award this year and i fully expect him to be a serious contender for national player of the year next season as well, if not the frontrunner (talking about his work ethic, which counts for a lot).

man, i hate to lose early and his spirit from this team, but thank goodness van vleet will be back.

[kochHead]

i disagree with gottlieb 100%. fvv's biggest nemesis in that game was foul trouble (first half, no foul problems, wsu leads by 6 at halftime).

he is COMPLETELY, NO DOUBT in the mold of kemba walker, isiah thomas, mark price etc. 5'11" guards that can score at any time if they think they have to.

he is a top-10 finalist for the naismith poy award this year and i fully expect him to be a serious contender for national player of the year next season as well, if not the frontrunner (talking about his work ethic, which counts for a lot).

man, i hate to lose early and his spirit from this team, but thank goodness van vleet will be back.

Ummm, his game is very different than kemba walker IMO. Fred has a ball iq that surpasses Kemba, while Kemba has athleticism that surpasses most pgs who have ever played.

[another shocker]

Ummm, his game is very different than kemba walker IMO. Fred has a ball iq that surpasses Kemba, while Kemba has athleticism that surpasses most pgs who have ever played.

fvv can score anytime he wants to.. pretty much. that he's more pass first than walker was doesn't change that. he is a frontrunner for npoy next season- you realize that, right? you know what you're seeing from him? let me venture a guess- you're seeing slow and unathletic from him?

[kochHead]

fvv can score anytime he wants to.. pretty much. that he's more pass first than walker was doesn't change that. he is a frontrunner for npoy next season- you realize that, right? you know what you're seeing from him? let me venture a guess- you're seeing slow and unathletic from him?

I know exactly what I am seeing from him. You do realize Kemba was a mcd All American, was the second leading scorer in the nation, won the Cousy award, won a national championship, and was a 1st round nba draft pick. He was an athletic freak. Not sure why you are putting words in my mouth about Fred, let me venture a guess, you are a sensitive little blind girl? Yes, blind. Either that, or you just don't watch and know the game.

[SHOXAAC]

I know exactly what I am seeing from him. You do realize Kemba was a mcd All American, was the second leading scorer in the nation, won the Cousy award, won a national championship, and was a 1st round nba draft pick. He was an athletic freak. Not sure why you are putting words in my mouth about Fred, let me venture a guess, you are a sensitive little blind girl? Yes, blind. Either that, or you just don't watch and know the game.

Watch it kochHead, another shocker is going to put you on ignore like he has me if you don't have better tone than that.

[kochHead]

Watch it kochHead, another shocker is going to put you on ignore like he has me if you don't have better tone than that.

another shocker set the tone, if he doesn't like it he should rethink his approach.

[HenryMuto]

Would not have taken a loss--nor would the players. We deserved the #1 seed, and played like a #1 seed. Not our fault the bracket was stacked against us--and who would have guessed it was to that extent?

I do think had we gotten past Kentucky, we would have won it all or at least gotten to the championship game. Kentucky was our greatest mismatch--IMO.

Before the game there was not many on this board that had much worry about playing Kentucky. Go back to the selection special thread and most were worried about Oklahoma State being an 8/9 and most had the response of "South Carolina" when anyone mentioned Kentucky or "Kentucky is awesome" in a mocking way. Then when it was evident you guys were going to play Kentucky the 1 guy who predicted Kentucky to win everyone else gave him all kinds of crap on the message board in the prediction thread telling him they couldn't wait to see him off the message board and how that basically guaranteed you guys the win. No one was showing any fear of Kentucky in the pregame thread but now everyone says how the committee screwed you or how this was the one team you didn't match up against. I did spend a lot of time on here saying I hated right out of the gate that you guys got a #1 and UK got a #8 and it wasn't because I thought we would beat you for sure no not at all I thought it was a 50/50 game and I thought that was unfair for you guys but of course I have homer bias rooting for UK but still I had that really bad feeling when I seen the draw because I knew 1 of us would lose and I thought you could make a Final 4 run. UK on the other hand I didn't think would make a Final Four run before the seeds came out I thought though we would be a 6 seed and when we got the 8 in your bracket I thought that just how the season fell that UK would certainly get up for that game it was the match up of the decade with how the UK talk of "40-0" before the season vs the team that could actually go "40-0" in you guys. I am happy for my team we won but will always wonder what could have been for your team if UK had been in a different region.

I find it all fascinating the talk on the board now after the game compared to before the game.

[ShockTalk]

Before the game there was not many on this board that had much worry about playing Kentucky. Go back to the selection special thread and most were worried about Oklahoma State being an 8/9 and most had the response of "South Carolina" when anyone mentioned Kentucky or "Kentucky is awesome" in a mocking way. Then when it was evident you guys were going to play Kentucky the 1 guy who predicted Kentucky to win everyone else gave him all kinds of crap on the message board in the prediction thread telling him they couldn't wait to see him off the message board and how that basically guaranteed you guys the win. No one was showing any fear of Kentucky in the pregame thread but now everyone says how the committee screwed you or how this was the one team you didn't match up against. I did spend a lot of time on here saying I hated right out of the gate that you guys got a #1 and UK got a #8 and it wasn't because I thought we would beat you for sure no not at all I thought it was a 50/50 game and I thought that was unfair for you guys but of course I have homer bias rooting for UK but still I had that really bad feeling when I seen the draw because I knew 1 of us would lose and I thought you could make a Final 4 run. UK on the other hand I didn't think would make a Final Four run before the seeds came out I thought though we would be a 6 seed and when we got the 8 in your bracket I thought that just how the season fell that UK would certainly get up for that game it was the match up of the decade with how the UK talk of "40-0" before the season vs the team that could actually go "40-0" in you guys. I am happy for my team we won but will always wonder what could have been for your team if UK had been in a different region.

I find it all fascinating the talk on the board now after the game compared to before the game.

Fair enough assessment, @HenryMuto:. However, it took what most UK fans and talking heads called "the best game UK had played all season" to turn the trick. I was not one to take UK lightly and don't believe I even made a prediction. When you get into the Dance, even the "lower" teams are capable of beating you (see Mercer/Duke).

I took all the "getting back to the F4" with a grain of salt. Were we capable of doing that? Absolutely. Was it likely? Not so much. I believe something like only 17% of all the teams to reach the F4 over the last 35 years have made it back to back.

I still feel WSU is the better team. Our average game beats UK's average game. With UK's best game, we were still only that last shot away from playing Louisville tonight.

[Shock Top]

Before the game there was not many on this board that had much worry about playing Kentucky. Go back to the selection special thread and most were worried about Oklahoma State being an 8/9 and most had the response of "South Carolina" when anyone mentioned Kentucky or "Kentucky is awesome" in a mocking way. Then when it was evident you guys were going to play Kentucky the 1 guy who predicted Kentucky to win everyone else gave him all kinds of crap on the message board in the prediction thread telling him they couldn't wait to see him off the message board and how that basically guaranteed you guys the win. No one was showing any fear of Kentucky in the pregame thread but now everyone says how the committee screwed you or how this was the one team you didn't match up against. I did spend a lot of time on here saying I hated right out of the gate that you guys got a #1 and UK got a #8 and it wasn't because I thought we would beat you for sure no not at all I thought it was a 50/50 game and I thought that was unfair for you guys but of course I have homer bias rooting for UK but still I had that really bad feeling when I seen the draw because I knew 1 of us would lose and I thought you could make a Final 4 run. UK on the other hand I didn't think would make a Final Four run before the seeds came out I thought though we would be a 6 seed and when we got the 8 in your bracket I thought that just how the season fell that UK would certainly get up for that game it was the match up of the decade with how the UK talk of "40-0" before the season vs the team that could actually go "40-0" in you guys. I am happy for my team we won but will always wonder what could have been for your team if UK had been in a different region.

I find it all fascinating the talk on the board now after the game compared to before the game.

NEWS FLASH:

This is a WSU board. If you want to read people talk up UK, go to one of theirs.

[kochHead]

In response to jumping on a poster who picked UK, I think it was more about who that poster was.

[HenryMuto]

NEWS FLASH:

This is a WSU board. If you want to read people talk up UK, go to one of theirs.

I get it. I tried to tell the guys on the UK board for months now that kept saying "I pray we get Wichita State in our bracket we would kill them" that we really didn't want Wichita State in our bracket. Game could gone either way for sure and at halftime I wasn't liking our chances.

Odds are we don't get past Louisville tonight and I will be feeling everything you guys feel and more come midnight.

[Shock Top]

I get it. I tried to tell the guys on the UK board for months now that kept saying "I pray we get Wichita State in our bracket we would kill them" that we really didn't want Wichita State in our bracket. Game could gone either way for sure and at halftime I wasn't liking our chances.

Odds are we don't get past Louisville tonight and I will be feeling everything you guys feel and more come midnight.

The way both teams have looked in the Tourney, I like UK's chances.

[kochHead]

@HenryMuto: which of the 4 teams on your avatar do you pull for the most?