|
Post by paperclip on Feb 16, 2018 19:15:09 GMT -5
To be fair, it was absolute bullsh*t that Saint Mary's didn't make the tourney in 2016.
|
|
|
Post by lmu2015 on Feb 16, 2018 20:56:41 GMT -5
Not really... When your SOS is in the bottom half of the country, you can't afford to lose 5+ games. Those teams that pull .500 records in major conferences and end up with double digit losses, but have top 30 SOS will always get in over a team with a good record but didn't play anyone. The WCC, as a conference, had 0 top 25 wins that year. I am not saying Saint Mary's DIDNT deserve to get in over some teams that did, but I truly believe it was a 50/50 call, them being left out that year left them getting no more screwed than the typical team who is on the bubble.
And they may find themselves in a similar situation this year, out of conference there best win is by far at home vs New Mexico State (who is a fringe top 25 team), but also a team that has 0 impressive wins and will most likely not be a tourney team if they don't win the WAC. There only road game was at a truly terrible CAL team, and it was a competitive game. I am all for the WCC, but even at 24-4, when your non conference SOS ranks 340 out of 351 and then you don't play in one of the 6 major conferences, being 24-4 just doesn't mean that much. Gonzaga has honestly been there only quality opponent all year, and anyone who watched them play vs Georgia and WSU in the beginning of the season saw how much they struggle vs athleticism. Coming out of non conference, Georgia's resume was just as impressive, if not more impressive, than Saint Mary's. Then they go play in a tough SEC conference and go from 9-2 to 14-11 and 100% out of the NCAA tourney talks. You switch Georgia and Saint Mary's and Georgia is probably a 4 or 5 loss team and second best team in WCC... And does anyone here really think Saint Mary's would be even .500 in the SEC? Texas A&M and Kentucky, two teams that have more talent, and on a neutral court im sure would be favored over Saint Mary's, are sub .500 in SEC play. So when you have these bubble teams like the ones I mentioned, who will most likely finish with 10+ losses, it is tough to argue that a 5 or 6 loss Saint Mary's team deserves to get in over them.
As much as I want to see the conference succeed, I don't have a problem seeing Saint Mary's get left out. If they want to make the tourney, don't play a cupcake schedule of nothing but home games and then have your one true road game be a 20 minute drive vs arguably the worst team in a major 6 conference. Actually, I forgot they played a road game at San Jose State too... In summary, there non-conference schedule ranked 340/351, their two road games were against the two worst teams in the bay area, and then they say "hey look how good our record is, we should be in". The committee looks at "Quadrant 1 games", which is at home vs top 30, neutral vs top 50, or on the road vs top 75. Saint Mary's played in two all season, both vs Gonzaga, and are 1-1. That just doesn't hold up. So again, if there only loss the rest of the season is in the WCC championship vs Gonzaga I think they are in, but if they slip up and lose another one, then just like 2016 they will be a 5 or 6 loss team with 25+ wins and in the NIT, where frankly they would belong.
|
|
|
Post by lmu2015 on Feb 23, 2018 12:24:53 GMT -5
So surprises yesterday, but Gonzaga is not a top 10 team... Lunardi had them projected as a 4 seed last time a checked and I'd say that seems about right. They looked very good in a couple nationally televised games very early in the season, and then obviously took it to Saint Mary's last week. But the more Pac-12, SEC, and Big 12 games I watch the more I realize how much our conference really does fail the eye test (which does matter, especially when an entire conference has a quality non-conference win total of 1), it really is tough to justify more than 1 or 2 bids.
|
|
|
Post by slblions08 on Feb 23, 2018 12:37:44 GMT -5
So surprises yesterday, but Gonzaga is not a top 10 team... Lunardi had them projected as a 4 seed last time a checked and I'd say that seems about right. They looked very good in a couple nationally televised games very early in the season, and then obviously took it to Saint Mary's last week. But the more Pac-12, SEC, and Big 12 games I watch the more I realize how much our conference really does fail the eye test (which does matter, especially when an entire conference has a quality non-conference win total of 1), it really is tough to justify more than 1 or 2 bids. Well, having more than one bid is actually respectable. Currently Lunardi only has 9 conferences with more than 1 bid, and we're one of them. Take out the power conferences (Big East, Big 10, ACC, Big 12, SEC, Pac-12) and we're right there with the American who has 3, and the A-10 with two. In fact, the Pac-12 only has 2, but I assume they will get one more. I think the WCC is down and it is noticeable because the rest of NCAAB is down, and you would think that the good mid major conferences with 4 year guys should be rising to the top. I think that happened last year, with Gonzaga and St. Mary's at their peak. But the thing with 4 year programs is that once a class graduates or people leave, you have to rebuild, so no capitalization on that this year. Also, our bottom part of the conference has been pretty bad and we haven't really gotten good scheduling or preseason tournament invites. Usually before the Maui or things like that, big programs would come play us, and so far that hasn't really happened as bigger programs are now playing in west coast tournaments with other big programs. The best chances to get good wins are like when BYU plays the Utah or another Pac-12 team (but the Pac-12 is down), St. Mary's gets Bay-Area or something, Gonzaga plays the big preseason tournaments, San Diego gets San Diego state (but they are down), Portland plays the Oregon schools, etc. Additionally, Pacific and San Diego, both bottom of the conference programs, have made good coaching hires and are now mediocre. San Fran and Santa Clara haven't made a jump, so now we have 4 teams who are all the same. BYU is only slightly above those guys because they have a gym that is difficult to play in, an actual system that they identify with for years, and slightly better recruits. But if they don't watch out, they'll fall with the rest of the pack.
|
|
|
Post by LIONS90045 on Feb 23, 2018 13:20:33 GMT -5
I’m hoping the Lions can play in an interesting early season tournament next year. Mattias and Scott, Batemon may be nice draws to get an invite.
|
|
|
Post by ALioninWinter on Feb 23, 2018 21:05:46 GMT -5
I agree that it would be good for the Lions to play in a tournament but I will be shocked if CMD actually schedules one. It’s not in his DNA.
|
|
|
Post by ironlion on Feb 25, 2018 23:49:20 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by thx4leavinjimlynam on Feb 26, 2018 0:04:40 GMT -5
These situations are always tough… If the accusations are true, then Smith, especially with everything going on these days in the world, is done.
However, even if the accusations prove to be false, the stink of this arrest will always be with him.
It is literally a no-win situation, I seriously hope no one was injured, but even if nobody was, Smith’s reputation will never be the same.
|
|
|
Post by lmu2015 on Feb 26, 2018 0:09:19 GMT -5
this is tough, anyone think he will be coaching the WCC tourney?
|
|
|
Post by ironlion on Feb 26, 2018 0:13:13 GMT -5
I doubt he will be coaching at the WCC tourney- seems like there is a lot of information that needs to be gathered still.
|
|
|
Post by LIONS90045 on Feb 26, 2018 18:02:51 GMT -5
This one stinks Smith is married but is charged with beating up his girlfriend at the hotel on a road trip I think Smith is history
|
|
|
Post by LIONS90045 on Feb 26, 2018 18:55:49 GMT -5
Smith is on “administrative leave” and the assistant coach will lead the team. There goes WCC coach of the year honors.
|
|
|
Post by lmu2015 on Feb 27, 2018 11:05:35 GMT -5
Apparently the girl who is accusing him of domestic violence was covered in bruises... He also has a wife and two kids. Ignoring the obvious impact this has to his family, I don't know how big of an impact this will have on USD. They don't have any incoming recruits yet, and to be frank they really don't need any as they aren't losing anyone. If they don't lose any of their players to transfer, assuming they can find a solid new hire, this hopefully shouldn't hurt them going forward, as next year should be a very good year for them (hopefully NIT bound, and in the discussion of midmajormadness top 25 mid major teams). USD, Pacific, and USF were all trending in the right direction under their new coaches, hopefully this continues and USD doesn't fall off. As for Smith, assuming he is guilty, hopefully he is done.
|
|
|
Post by slblions08 on Feb 27, 2018 11:53:28 GMT -5
I found it odd that after sizzling in non conference and picking up a couple nice conference wins, the team went into a bit of a tailspin to recover at .500. I have no idea if there is a correlation, but perhaps the success Lamont was having him made him feel powerful and accountable to no one. If he's guilty hopefully he's out and hanging out with Pitino, Eustachy, Miller and the others in the island of misfit coaches. Prayers to the victims in this.
San Diego basketball just can't get out of its own way. After the Brandon Johnson thing, now this. They have a great looking gym, seemingly a good vibes campus, and a down San Diego State to compete with. They are also a team that could have made a leap.
|
|
|
Post by ironlion on Feb 27, 2018 13:19:30 GMT -5
|
|