ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll Week 8 (Dec. 26)

Cool.

(12-26-2011 05:33 PM)BlueRaiderFan. Wrote:  Cool.

no memphis or vandy...

That makes us #34 in the Coaches' Poll, if I've counted correctly. A nice start, we should get more if we don't lose any Sun Belt games. The Mid-Major Top 25 isn't out yet, but we were ranked #16 in last week's poll. I expect we'll be up a good number of spots after our win over Mississippi. For comparison, Murray State, who we beat in a preseason scrimmage, is #2 in that poll and Denver is #21.

shhh...karma is a B*tch...

I don't think MT has won more than 19 under Kermit, and never won more than 23 games under Bruce Stewart or Jimmy Earle...

Winning 24 would be a huge achievement IMO. I'd be happier if we won a tournament championship, no matter the record.

(12-26-2011 04:52 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll Week 8 (Dec. 26)

CONGRATS to MT . .

MT is definitely the team to beat this year. Solid team and should lose only minimal games throughout the SBC schedule. Can Kermit get them to the NCAAs this year. It's his best chance.

(12-26-2011 05:37 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  

(12-26-2011 05:33 PM)BlueRaiderFan. Wrote:  Cool.

no memphis or vandy...

Even cooler. Both fan bases are poor sportsmen. They deserve to be exactly where they are.

(12-26-2011 08:06 PM)CrushMI Wrote:  MT is definitely the team to beat this year. Solid team and should lose only minimal games throughout the SBC schedule. Can Kermit get them to the NCAAs this year. It's his best chance.

That's the ultimate question.

(12-26-2011 08:06 PM)CrushMI Wrote:  Can Kermit get them to the NCAAs this year.

I'm not one who asks much of our basketball team (NCAA's or bust, etc.). I'm just glad that the team is exciting to watch. We haven't had this kind of "above the rim" play since 2005/06. Attendance has suffered because of THAT, not the lack of postseason play, IMO.

This is great stuff. I'm very jealous... Congrats to you guys and keep it up. I hope you only two more games all year, maximum.

as much as i hate middle and i do i want them to have one hella year. only lose a couple in conference then lose in the tourney final. if they only have around 4-5 losses i could see them as a possible at large like south al was the year we went to the sweet 16.

that would work. go from the play in game to an at large.

but i really don't have faith in kermit not screwing it up.

(12-28-2011 10:47 AM)dahbeed Wrote:  as much as i hate middle and i do i want them to have one hella year. only lose a couple in conference then lose in the tourney final. if they only have around 4-5 losses i could see them as a possible at large like south al was the year we went to the sweet 16.

that would work. go from the play in game to an at large.

but i really don't have faith in kermit not screwing it up.

Beed,
Normally I would agree with you about Kermit, but (and I can't believe I'm saying this) he's changed. He's always been a great floor coach, but he's changed his approach with the players and they aren't living in fear anymore.

He lets them play and is going about 11 deep right now. Our depth is what beat Ole Miss and UCLA. (Not to mention we shoot 54 percent as a team).

Agreed. Our depth is a certain strength. When we play more players, we play better. Our offensive system is amazing this year.

(12-28-2011 12:24 PM)theboro Wrote:  

(12-28-2011 10:47 AM)dahbeed Wrote:  as much as i hate middle and i do i want them to have one hella year. only lose a couple in conference then lose in the tourney final. if they only have around 4-5 losses i could see them as a possible at large like south al was the year we went to the sweet 16.

that would work. go from the play in game to an at large.

but i really don't have faith in kermit not screwing it up.

Beed,
Normally I would agree with you about Kermit, but (and I can't believe I'm saying this) he's changed. He's always been a great floor coach, but he's changed his approach with the players and they aren't living in fear anymore.

He lets them play and is going about 11 deep right now. Our depth is what beat Ole Miss and UCLA. (Not to mention we shoot 54 percent as a team).

The floor mic during the Mississippi game was picking him up, and he sounded like the same old disruptive overcoacher we've all come to know and love.

Can't hate on his results this year, though.

I'm too hesitant to talk up this team...

Something is going to make them implode.

(12-28-2011 10:47 AM)dahbeed Wrote:  as much as i hate middle and i do i want them to have one hella year. only lose a couple in conference then lose in the tourney final. if they only have around 4-5 losses i could see them as a possible at large like south al was the year we went to the sweet 16.

that would work. go from the play in game to an at large.

but i really don't have faith in kermit not screwing it up.

Us getting into the Top 25 would do a lot for the conference. I hope we win the rest of our games, but good luck.

(12-28-2011 01:56 PM)Raider_ATO Wrote:  I'm too hesitant to talk up this team...

Something is going to make them implode.

Last year, we had an epic run of injuries that destroyed our 13-2 start. At one point, we were down to just 6 or 7 relatively healthy bodies.

I can't see that happening again to another team, be it Middle or Denver.

The nice thing about this Middle team is that it isn't as dependent on star players. The last Middle team I really feared/respected was the old Kanaskie and Yates lineup. If Kanaskie hadn't suffered his back injury, I still think you guys would have made at least one NCAA tournament before he graduated.

The difference, this year, in my opinion, are the assitant coaches. We no longer have "yes men".

Monte Towe has been around too long not to have some input.

Heck, I think we play better when our all-conference guy (Jason Jones) is on the bench. I do think we miss Kerry Hammonds in the lineup, though.

The one word I would use to descibe this team = Unselfish

(12-28-2011 02:22 PM)thetastygreek Wrote:  

(12-28-2011 01:56 PM)Raider_ATO Wrote:  I'm too hesitant to talk up this team...

Something is going to make them implode.

Last year, we had an epic run of injuries that destroyed our 13-2 start. At one point, we were down to just 6 or 7 relatively healthy bodies.

I can't see that happening again to another team, be it Middle or Denver.

The nice thing about this Middle team is that it isn't as dependent on star players. The last Middle team I really feared/respected was the old Kanaskie and Yates lineup. If Kanaskie hadn't suffered his back injury, I still think you guys would have made at least one NCAA tournament before he graduated.

The Kanaskie/Yates team was one of my favorites, but my favorite team so far was the Mike Cuffee and Mike Dean teams back in like 2004, one year I really believe we were going to win the tournament and then Mike Dean broke his wrist in practice a day or two before the tournament started IIRC.