Would you consider it progress from the previous two years?

The easy answer to question for me would be to say yes, it's one more win than the previous two years. But, I really expect us to win the first game against an easier opponent than we faced the last two times in our first round (Arizona, St. Louis). For me, progress would be beating our Thursday opponent handily and winning our second game in a close contest. Winning on Thursday and losing Saturday would feel like we are standing pat.

Don't get me wrong, I won't lose any sleep either way, but it feels like we have been standing still for the last few years and it would be nice to see us break toward the positive direction with Josh.

The main thing is that it is a HUGE monkey off the team and Pastner's back if we win just one. We will no longer have to go into the offseason saying Josh hasn't beaten a tournament team, and maybe ranked opponent if we beat St. Mary's.

YES

We are moving forward every year. Records, rankings, stats, recruiting and more! Even the eye test. If you do a trend analysis you will see all factors are moving up.

Hell yes it's progress....If for no other reason than it can no longer be said that Josh hasn't won an NCAA tournament game.

And don't let the seed or "play in" game status fool you....These teams are legit.

Absolutely. No one expects us to beat #3 Michigan State. If we win the first one and give MSU a battle, but fall short and finish the year with a 31-5 record, I think it has been a good year and Pastner continues to improve year over year.

Yes, because any progress is great progress. It will be a very successful year.

(03-18-2013 11:23 AM)JMSTiger Wrote:  Absolutely. No one expects us to beat #3 Michigan State. If we win the first one and give MSU a battle, but fall short and finish the year with a 31-5 record, I think it has been a good year and Pastner continues to improve year over year.

What were your tourney expectations at the beginning of the season?

Just win Thursday afternoon!

This will be a huge milestone and relieve a lot pressure.
Who knows what happens after that? One game at a time!
I believe that this Tigers team has a very high ceiling and we have only seen glimpses of how well they can play. We have also seen their flaws and this has resulted in them stumbling at times. It is growing pains. Win the 1st, get the monkey off Pastner's (team's) back, build on it, find a rhythm, ride it out....who knows where it takes us? Just hope they put it all together at the right time, like we know they can.

I believe! Go Tigers!!

Yes. It's BS that we have to play MSU in Michigan if we get to the 'third' round.

(03-18-2013 11:27 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(03-18-2013 11:23 AM)JMSTiger Wrote:  Absolutely. No one expects us to beat #3 Michigan State. If we win the first one and give MSU a battle, but fall short and finish the year with a 31-5 record, I think it has been a good year and Pastner continues to improve year over year.

What were your tourney expectations at the beginning of the season?

Sweet 16. But, in this case (Michigan State as a 3-seed in Auburn Hills), a single win in the Dance and at least a good showing against MSU would be good enough for me.

Quote:Stammers
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Post: #3RE: For all those predicting 30 wins and Elite 8
I think if we don't end the season ranked, and don't win an NCAA tournament game; Pastner is definitely on the hot seat; as well he should be.

Interesting.

Yes, and the outlook is nice with the recruiting people coming in

From NIT, to 12 seed, to 8 seed, to 6 seed, we are trending the right way.
I was thinking about all this stuff this morning. Think of where we were 13 years ago. A lot of programs that were in bad shape 13 years ago are still irrelevant. It would be disappointing, but not the end of the world. We are in good shape.

(03-18-2013 11:36 AM)bphenderson Wrote:  From NIT, to 12 seed, to 8 seed, to 6 seed, we are trending the right way.
I was thinking about all this stuff this morning. Think of where we were 13 years ago. A lot of programs that were in bad shape 13 years ago are still irrelevant. It would be disappointing, but not the end of the world. We are in good shape.

And 24 wins to 25 to 26 to 30. Slow and steady progress. Now it is time to show progress in the Dance.

Over the past decade Duke and UNC have 4 30 win seasons, Kansas and Memphis have the most 30 win seasons with 5 - that is pretty special.

Making the sweet 16 is always hard. Only 1 and 2 seeds should be expected to do so. Even 2 seeds are less than 50% odds so it's a stretch to say they should be expected.

It is silly to set expectations without taking statistical realities into account.

Not to mention MSU in Detroit.

All that said, I like our chances vs MSU. BUT if we get that far and win it should be seen as a roaring success, and if we get that far and lose, it should not be seen as a failure.

Win the first game and we're playing with house money.

(03-18-2013 11:32 AM)JMSTiger Wrote:  

(03-18-2013 11:27 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(03-18-2013 11:23 AM)JMSTiger Wrote:  Absolutely. No one expects us to beat #3 Michigan State. If we win the first one and give MSU a battle, but fall short and finish the year with a 31-5 record, I think it has been a good year and Pastner continues to improve year over year.

What were your tourney expectations at the beginning of the season?

Sweet 16. But, in this case (Michigan State as a 3-seed in Auburn Hills), a single win in the Dance and at least a good showing against MSU would be good enough for me.

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=601...pid8572373

Quote:JMSTiger
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Post: #8RE: Time for our annual revised expectations thread

Do what they have always done under Pastner- beat the crappy teams, lose to the good teams and exit early in March.

C'mon guys, throw the haters a bone.

(03-18-2013 11:44 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(03-18-2013 11:32 AM)JMSTiger Wrote:  

(03-18-2013 11:27 AM)salukiblue Wrote:  

(03-18-2013 11:23 AM)JMSTiger Wrote:  Absolutely. No one expects us to beat #3 Michigan State. If we win the first one and give MSU a battle, but fall short and finish the year with a 31-5 record, I think it has been a good year and Pastner continues to improve year over year.

What were your tourney expectations at the beginning of the season?

Sweet 16. But, in this case (Michigan State as a 3-seed in Auburn Hills), a single win in the Dance and at least a good showing against MSU would be good enough for me.

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=601...pid8572373

Quote:JMSTiger
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I Root For: Memphis
Location: East Memphis
Post: #8RE: Time for our annual revised expectations thread

Do what they have always done under Pastner- beat the crappy teams, lose to the good teams and exit early in March.

In my defense, that was one day after back-to-back losses to VCU and Minnesota. I was pissed. My expectation before the season began was a Sweet 16 finish.

What is the point of bringing up old posts (especially ones made right after the Tigers shat the bed in the Bahamas) and rubbing them in people's faces? You can really be a grade A *******.