In a historical context, I can't remember a non-conference game that was this big for UNCW, at least not for over a decade. We're playing a solid, but beatable, non-Top 25 P5 team, so at first glance it shouldn't be hyped up excessively. After all, we've played ranked teams within the season before.

But having played, and beaten, a Saint Bonaventure team whose fans called their game with us THEIR biggest non-conference game since 2002.....it's reasonable to wonder where this game stands for us. We're carrying a pretty big profile with us to Clemson tonight, against our former coach, whose team has a potential NBA 1st round pick and is having a superb season.

So where does this rank among "big games", non-conference or otherwise, in UNCW Basketball history? I think you have to go back to the '05-06 season to find a game that was as big or bigger. The 2 games with George Mason and the road game against Wisconsin certainly seem to qualify. What others can you think of?

The only one that comes to mind is the one Solo and CG mentioned - @ Wisconsin almost exactly 10 years ago where we almost pulled it off. We were 7-1 going into that game with decent wins and one road loss. Big game fo sho. Lets go Hawks

Do I remember wrong or did we give Louisville a scare two years ago?

We did.

I don't remember many big non conference games during the Wainwright-Brownell era. I know we beat Minnesota after getting pummeled by Ohio State. But it was not on TV and did not mean that much at the time.

I know we beat Butler at Trask back when they were in the Horizon and I remember us beating Penn St and Wake during Moss' tenure, nice wins but in the grand scheme of things did not mean much.

Big non conference games can only occur when you know your team is in contention and expectations are high. So yeah it probably is our biggest non conference game, but IMO that is not a high hurdle to overcome.

I remember playing in Indiana's tourney with Brian Rowsom. We came so close to winning that Bobby Knight came into the locker room and told our guys that they deserved to win. Rowsom was the first non Indiana player to be named MVP of their tournament.

(12-28-2016 02:54 PM)SEA33HAWK Wrote:  Do I remember wrong or did we give Louisville a scare two years ago?

We did, but I'm more thinking of "pre-game hype" here. That game was big, but because we knew we'd have little shot of winning it in Keatts' first year (there's a reason Pitino hasn't played us since), I don't put it quite on the same level. These are 2 red hot teams going at it, where either could win. And it's fairly equally important to both teams' non-conference resumes.

(12-28-2016 03:20 PM)solohawks Wrote:  Big non conference games can only occur when you know your team is in contention and expectations are high.

Precisely what I meant by this thread, thanks solo.

(12-28-2016 03:38 PM)SEA33HAWK Wrote:  I remember playing in Indiana's tourney with Brian Rowsom. We came so close to winning that Bobby Knight came into the locker room and told our guys that they deserved to win. Rowsom was the first non Indiana player to be named MVP of their tournament.

I heard about that game from my stepdad.

The opening game at trask against wake forest.it was a sell out and I think it was on tv.we came so close to winning that game

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Since you didn't stipulate it has to be reg season, Duke in the Tourney :)

(12-28-2016 04:38 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(12-28-2016 03:38 PM)SEA33HAWK Wrote:  I remember playing in Indiana's tourney with Brian Rowsom. We came so close to winning that Bobby Knight came into the locker room and told our guys that they deserved to win. Rowsom was the first non Indiana player to be named MVP of their tournament.

I heard about that game from my stepdad.

I was at that game. We had the last possession with 7 or 8 seconds missed a shot & had several tips but just couldn't put in the hole. In fact, I've got that game on dvd. It was something.

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(12-28-2016 06:36 PM)Proff Wrote:  

(12-28-2016 04:38 PM)solohawks Wrote:  

(12-28-2016 03:38 PM)SEA33HAWK Wrote:  I remember playing in Indiana's tourney with Brian Rowsom. We came so close to winning that Bobby Knight came into the locker room and told our guys that they deserved to win. Rowsom was the first non Indiana player to be named MVP of their tournament.

I heard about that game from my stepdad.

I was at that game. We had the last possession with 7 or 8 seconds missed a shot & had several tips but just couldn't put in the hole. In fact, I've got that game on dvd. It was something.

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Man. I'd love to see some vintage UNCW back before I even knew who they were. I don't remember that game and I grew up following Indiana basketball. I still believe Bobby Knight is the greatest coach of all time. When I was a kid I dreamed of being Pat Knight and Calbert Cheaney.

big enough for us not to show up apparently.

Keep in mind we hadn't played in a week.