Northern Iowa

[WSUShokker]

a 5 or 6 point loss is a curb stomp? I dont know about street dancers or MTV's best dance crew or anything like that but you go debbie downer

none have anything to do with the other

it actually refers to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV9Oj-vhLkE

WOW thank god you shared that with us...dont know what Id do without that lovely bit of americana to go with the quote. So Purdue put a gun to the back of UNI's proverbial head and made them suck the curb with their grill and then stomped the back of thier head.....precious

[Ashockalypse]

This tournament is getting boring real fast. The conferences-in-favor with all of their advantages are winning all of the games. By the end of next weekend it will be about as interesting as the NBA in October.

[WSUShokker]

By the end of next weekend it will be about as interesting as the NBA in October

Now thats comedy my friend...thanks I needed that

[benishock]

I have to agree with everything Royal said, hoiwever what kind of shadow does that cast on the Valley?

[Maggie]

Regardless of your interpretation of how Purdue played in the 2nd half, how is a 12-seed losing to a 5-seed by five all that surprising or disappointing?

It seems every year we expect the Valley team(s) to roll into the tournament and beat a higher seeded team. In the last 7-8 years I think the MVC has only been favored in 4 NCAA games (CU, WSU and SIU twice in the same tournament). We're 3-1 in those games, with the only loss by CU. Every other win was gravy and the losses were to be expected.

While I think that is a reasoned and rational opinion (and correct), I don’t see that standard applied to MVC teams when the selection process is taking place.

Winning is the only thing that seems to matter, regardless of the seed. Which is not fair and a distortion of reality; however, I fear these types of losses will be held against the MVC in the future – when they actually have several teams that should be considered.

[WSUwatcher]

Doom!

This is like one of those situations you see on TV or in the movies where you walk up to someone, slap him, and he says, "Thanks -- I needed that."

Pull yourself together, Shockerman (and while you're at it, quit watching stupid, gross videos). Before you equate the Valley and the MEAC, check your history for the last ten years or so and see how many at-large teams the MEAC has put in the tournament. Then count up the number of times MEAC teams have made it past the first round, much less the first weekend. You might as well compare KU vs. a "B" team to the MEAC.

And, by the way, Rose: "All Purdue had to do was make free throws and UNI had no chance." Really -- that's all? Gee, all Illinois State had to do was make free throws and UNI had no chance even to be in the tournament. And all Memphis had to do was make free throws and KU had no chance to win it last year. And, for that matter, all Creighton had to do was make free throws late in the game and the Shocks had no chance to come back on them in St. Louis. They may be free, but they aren't automatic, and as much as Purdue may have dominated the game, it wasn't over until they actually did make them.

[RoyalShock]

Regardless of your interpretation of how Purdue played in the 2nd half, how is a 12-seed losing to a 5-seed by five all that surprising or disappointing?

It seems every year we expect the Valley team(s) to roll into the tournament and beat a higher seeded team. In the last 7-8 years I think the MVC has only been favored in 4 NCAA games (CU, WSU and SIU twice in the same tournament). We're 3-1 in those games, with the only loss by CU. Every other win was gravy and the losses were to be expected.

While I think that is a reasoned and rational opinion (and correct), I don’t see that standard applied to MVC teams when the selection process is taking place.

Winning is the only thing that seems to matter, regardless of the seed. Which is not fair and a distortion of reality; however, I fear these types of losses will be held against the MVC in the future – when they actually have several teams that should be considered.

I think the selection process and seeding is a different animal. When MVC teams or other "mids" are being looked at compared with the power-conference teams, there is a clear schedule disparity. Those "PC" teams are getting 10 or more opportunities a year for statement wins. What do "mids" get, 1 or 2 in the non-conf? IMO, that is what hurts us during selection and seeding and why it is imperative that the MVC have 3 or 4 teams every year that perform impressively during the OOC portion of their schedules. Only then do we get a few conference games that are opportunities for statement wins and derivatively, opportunites for selection and higher seeds.

But ultimately, you have to win the games.

[Maggie]

Regardless of your interpretation of how Purdue played in the 2nd half, how is a 12-seed losing to a 5-seed by five all that surprising or disappointing?

It seems every year we expect the Valley team(s) to roll into the tournament and beat a higher seeded team. In the last 7-8 years I think the MVC has only been favored in 4 NCAA games (CU, WSU and SIU twice in the same tournament). We're 3-1 in those games, with the only loss by CU. Every other win was gravy and the losses were to be expected.

While I think that is a reasoned and rational opinion (and correct), I don’t see that standard applied to MVC teams when the selection process is taking place.

Winning is the only thing that seems to matter, regardless of the seed. Which is not fair and a distortion of reality; however, I fear these types of losses will be held against the MVC in the future – when they actually have several teams that should be considered.

I think the selection process and seeding is a different animal. When MVC teams or other "mids" are being looked at compared with the power-conference teams, there is a clear schedule disparity. Those "PC" teams are getting 10 or more opportunities a year for statement wins. What do "mids" get, 1 or 2 in the non-conf? IMO, that is what hurts us during selection and seeding and why it is imperative that the MVC have 3 or 4 teams every year that perform impressively during the OOC portion of their schedules. Only then do we get a few conference games that are opportunities for statement wins and derivatively, opportunites for selection and higher seeds.

But ultimately, you have to win the games.

I agree with you; however, having a history of NCAA Tournament success does help the perception of all MVC teams. And I think that matters too.

[vbird53]

UNI got a bad draw. Just face it. Purdue is for real.

[Shoxfan11]

4 or 5 years ago, Northern Iowa lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Georgia Tech. IIRC, UNI was somewhat criticized for "making the MVC look bad" as well. That Georgia Tech team went on to lose in the National Championship game..

Purdue could very well make that exact same run.

[SpanglerFan316]

Dude Purdue plays some of the best defense in the country. they did again today. Yeah Matt Painter the coach happened to responsible for Southern Illinois "in your shorts" defense that resided there up till this year. They kept Koch from touching the ball much. That was the key to victory. Purdue is better than the ranking they have. Northern Iowa has nothing to be ashamed of today. They played the same today as they did all year. No quit. I thought they represented very well. Had they lined up with say Utah or FSU I think things may have been different. Now had they lined up with Illinois and Bruce Weber (another former SIU coach) who is very familiar with Northern Iowa and how they play you may have seen the same result as the Purdue game today. Just my 2 cents.

Illinois lost to Western Kentucky. 76-72

[vbird53]

Dude Purdue plays some of the best defense in the country. they did again today. Yeah Matt Painter the coach happened to responsible for Southern Illinois "in your shorts" defense that resided there up till this year. They kept Koch from touching the ball much. That was the key to victory. Purdue is better than the ranking they have. Northern Iowa has nothing to be ashamed of today. They played the same today as they did all year. No quit. I thought they represented very well. Had they lined up with say Utah or FSU I think things may have been different. Now had they lined up with Illinois and Bruce Weber (another former SIU coach) who is very familiar with Northern Iowa and how they play you may have seen the same result as the Purdue game today. Just my 2 cents.

Illinois lost to Western Kentucky. 76-72

Western Kentucky is a solid basketball team.

[Shox21]

Western Kentucky is a solid basketball team.

Just ask Drake. WK only has one freshman, all the rest are evenly spread (3 Soph, 4 Jrs., and 4 Sr.)

[t7017s]

Dude Purdue plays some of the best defense in the country. they did again today. Yeah Matt Painter the coach happened to responsible for Southern Illinois "in your shorts" defense that resided there up till this year. They kept Koch from touching the ball much. That was the key to victory. Purdue is better than the ranking they have. Northern Iowa has nothing to be ashamed of today. They played the same today as they did all year. No quit. I thought they represented very well. Had they lined up with say Utah or FSU I think things may have been different. Now had they lined up with Illinois and Bruce Weber (another former SIU coach) who is very familiar with Northern Iowa and how they play you may have seen the same result as the Purdue game today. Just my 2 cents.

Illinois lost to Western Kentucky. 76-72

Yes Illinois did lose to WKU. But I doubt they would have lost to UNI. Weber knows all about Northern Iowa and the "system" they run. My point had nothing to do with a match up with WKU and everything to do with a match up with UNI.

[Shockerman]

Re: Doom!

This is like one of those situations you see on TV or in the movies where you walk up to someone, slap him, and he says, "Thanks -- I needed that."

Pull yourself together, Shockerman (and while you're at it, quit watching stupid, gross videos). Before you equate the Valley and the MEAC, check your history for the last ten years or so and see how many at-large teams the MEAC has put in the tournament. Then count up the number of times MEAC teams have made it past the first round, much less the first weekend. You might as well compare KU vs. a "B" team to the MEAC.

And, by the way, Rose: "All Purdue had to do was make free throws and UNI had no chance." Really -- that's all? Gee, all Illinois State had to do was make free throws and UNI had no chance even to be in the tournament. And all Memphis had to do was make free throws and KU had no chance to win it last year. And, for that matter, all Creighton had to do was make free throws late in the game and the Shocks had no chance to come back on them in St. Louis. They may be free, but they aren't automatic, and as much as Purdue may have dominated the game, it wasn't over until they actually did make them.

American History X is a great flick but Curb stomping is just another sporting slang in the English Language much like these...

Smoked
Boatraced (a current Shockernet favorite)
Burned
Destroyed
Owned
etc
etc

I have come back to grips today as yesterday I just want to see the Valley do well and I kind of went a "touch" nuts. I am kind of a closet UNI fan as they always seem like the little engine that could and I was disapointed for them yesterday.