Oh and admitting that you couldn't have thrown it in the ocean from the edge of the beach is not sugar coating. We flat out sucked against GSU. Worst I've seen us play in about six years.

But I would be willing to bet we don't see that team again this year. Well, at least not until the conference tournament.

MT won't be considered as 'dominant' as UAB last year by all the basketball prognosticators on this board until they choke in a de facto home game in the first game of the conference tournament.

It's not "wide open" - it's ours to lose. Nobody else is as good as MT is this year, that is just a fact. However as has been said we aren't invincible and we WILL lose if we shoot ourselves in the foot like we did against GSU. Have to have a pulse on offense, but if we can do that then I expect we won't lose any more than 2 games in conference.

(01-04-2017 02:02 PM)MTowho Wrote:  MT won't be considered as 'dominant' as UAB last year by all the basketball prognosticators on this board until they choke in a de facto home game in the first game of the conference tournament.

UAB finished 16-2 last season before collapsing as you mentioned at home during the tournament. If MTSU wins 16 games I'll be happy to admit I was wrong in stating this year's team won't be as dominate as UAB's last season.

We're really not comparing apples to apples here. When I say MTSU won't dominate the way UAB did last season in conference it's not because I think they are an inferior team. What I'm saying is UAB faced an easier C-USA last season.

Last year's title contenders:

(5) UAB, MTSU, La Tech, Marshall, ODU

This year's projected title contenders:

(6) MTSU, Rice, La Tech, Marshall, ODU, UAB

UAB had a 3 game advantage over the next closest team (MTSU) last season as well as 2 head-to-head wins over them.

Of the 6 listed above each and every one of those teams has a legit shot to when the regular season title this year. I'd even argue La Tech, ODU, and Marshall could all perform better in conference than they did last season.

I say all that to emphasize that I'm not here to toot the horn for UAB and slight MTSU's accomplishments. I'm a fan of the entire conference. I want all the teams to be good every year. My only point is I think the separation between 1-7 is significantly closer than it was last year in result making the title chase wide open.

(01-04-2017 08:46 AM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(01-03-2017 11:08 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  

(01-03-2017 12:24 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  I enjoyed it, but I think MTSU is clearly the class of the conference and everyone else is a tier below them.

MTSU

fighting in the next tier:

LT
Rice
Marshall
ODU
UAB

Pretty large gap in the next tier:
Charlotte
WK


The rest

That's how I see it tiered right now, also.
Maybe MT is a "half-tier" up.
Head-n-shoulders above the rest.. but not completely out of reach, either.

I agree. I respect and enjoy watching Middle's team but they aren't as dominate as UAB was last year. The home loss to Georgia State was bad. With that being said they have the best trio of players and best coach so anything is possible for them.

I think they're going to struggle with La Tech's experience and size in the post and their emerging point guard DeQuan Bracey. If ODU's defense travels they'll make them grind it out like Georgia State did which resulted in a loss.

UAB 2015-16
Non con record: 10-3
Non con SOS: 283
Best win: SFA (62) - The only top 100 win.
Worst loss: Auburn (179)

MT 2016-17
Non con record: 10-3
Non con SOS: 14
Best win: UNCW (18) Also Ole Miss (47) & Vanderbilt (61)
Worst loss: Georgia State (117)

In a perfect world, MTSU will storm through the conference schedule in the regular season and then lose the tournament in the conference championship game. Thats our only chance of getting two bids to the NCAA tournament.

(01-04-2017 03:37 PM)theboro Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 08:46 AM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(01-03-2017 11:08 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  

(01-03-2017 12:24 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  I enjoyed it, but I think MTSU is clearly the class of the conference and everyone else is a tier below them.

MTSU

fighting in the next tier:

LT
Rice
Marshall
ODU
UAB

Pretty large gap in the next tier:
Charlotte
WK


The rest

That's how I see it tiered right now, also.
Maybe MT is a "half-tier" up.
Head-n-shoulders above the rest.. but not completely out of reach, either.

I agree. I respect and enjoy watching Middle's team but they aren't as dominate as UAB was last year. The home loss to Georgia State was bad. With that being said they have the best trio of players and best coach so anything is possible for them.

I think they're going to struggle with La Tech's experience and size in the post and their emerging point guard DeQuan Bracey. If ODU's defense travels they'll make them grind it out like Georgia State did which resulted in a loss.

UAB 2015-16
Non con record: 10-3
Non con SOS: 283
Best win: SFA (62) - The only top 100 win.
Worst loss: Auburn (179)

MT 2016-17
Non con record: 10-3
Non con SOS: 14
Best win: UNCW (18) Also Ole Miss (47) & Vanderbilt (61)
Worst loss: Georgia State (117)

You obviously didn't read the comment I wrote directly before yours. I never said anything about their non-conference performance vs. UAB's.

If you want me to come out and say it I will. I think MTSU has a better team this year than UAB's last year. There's a reason UAB lost to WKU twice and got spanked by BYU. UAB was good, but had flaws.

Again, I just don't think MTSU will be as dominate in conference play as UAB was last year for the reasons I listed above.

(01-04-2017 03:37 PM)theboro Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 08:46 AM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(01-03-2017 11:08 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  

(01-03-2017 12:24 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  I enjoyed it, but I think MTSU is clearly the class of the conference and everyone else is a tier below them.

MTSU

fighting in the next tier:

LT
Rice
Marshall
ODU
UAB

Pretty large gap in the next tier:
Charlotte
WK


The rest

That's how I see it tiered right now, also.
Maybe MT is a "half-tier" up.
Head-n-shoulders above the rest.. but not completely out of reach, either.

I agree. I respect and enjoy watching Middle's team but they aren't as dominate as UAB was last year. The home loss to Georgia State was bad. With that being said they have the best trio of players and best coach so anything is possible for them.

I think they're going to struggle with La Tech's experience and size in the post and their emerging point guard DeQuan Bracey. If ODU's defense travels they'll make them grind it out like Georgia State did which resulted in a loss.

UAB 2015-16
Non con record: 10-3
Non con SOS: 283
Best win: SFA (62) - The only top 100 win.
Worst loss: Auburn (179)

MT 2016-17
Non con record: 10-3
Non con SOS: 14
Best win: UNCW (18) Also Ole Miss (47) & Vanderbilt (61)
Worst loss: Georgia State (117)

You're completely missing the point being made. He's not saying last year's UAB team was better than this year's MTSU team. He's saying that CUSA as a whole is more competitive this year, which it is, and there's more good teams at the top.

(01-04-2017 04:18 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  You're completely missing the point being made. He's not saying last year's UAB team was better than this year's MTSU team. He's saying that CUSA as a whole is more competitive this year, which it is, and there's more good teams at the top.

He specifically mentioned the Georgia State loss as a reason that MT wasn't as "dominant" this year. That loss would have nothing to do with the rest of the conference. I know what is being said now but I don't think that was the original opinion.

By the way, CUSA's conference RPI is worse this year than it was at the end of last year. It will move a little more but I'm not sure I buy CUSA being 'better' this year than last at this point.

All of that said I am not saying MT is going to run the table.

(01-04-2017 04:34 PM)MTowho Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 04:18 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  You're completely missing the point being made. He's not saying last year's UAB team was better than this year's MTSU team. He's saying that CUSA as a whole is more competitive this year, which it is, and there's more good teams at the top.

He specifically mentioned the Georgia State loss as a reason that MT wasn't as "dominant" this year. That loss would have nothing to do with the rest of the conference. I know what is being said now but I don't think that was the original opinion.

By the way, CUSA's conference RPI is worse this year than it was at the end of last year. It will move a little more but I'm not sure I buy CUSA being 'better' this year than last at this point.

All of that said I am not saying MT is going to run the table.

You're right I shouldn't have mixed those two opinions. That's my fault. I think we both have the same opinion of MT whether or not I conveyed it correctly on my first attempt.

Looking at RPI I can see your argument. However, if you consider KenPom's conference rankings they're currently at 18 but were as high as 12 before the last week on non-conference play. Let's just say there is more depth at the top this year?

(01-04-2017 04:34 PM)MTowho Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 04:18 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  You're completely missing the point being made. He's not saying last year's UAB team was better than this year's MTSU team. He's saying that CUSA as a whole is more competitive this year, which it is, and there's more good teams at the top.

He specifically mentioned the Georgia State loss as a reason that MT wasn't as "dominant" this year. That loss would have nothing to do with the rest of the conference. I know what is being said now but I don't think that was the original opinion.

By the way, CUSA's conference RPI is worse this year than it was at the end of last year. It will move a little more but I'm not sure I buy CUSA being 'better' this year than last at this point.

All of that said I am not saying MT is going to run the table.

Fair enough. Personally, I think MTSU is a more complete and better coached team than last year's UAB team. That said, I'd be surprised if MTSU only loses two games in conference like UAB did last year. I was surprised by UAB doing it. It's just difficult not to have a couple of off games over the course of a 16 game conference season like MTSU had against GSU.

To the original point however, I disagree that the conference is wide open. If MTSU doesn't win the regular season title I'd be surprised. Of course, anything can happen in the tournament.

(01-04-2017 03:35 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 02:02 PM)MTowho Wrote:  MT won't be considered as 'dominant' as UAB last year by all the basketball prognosticators on this board until they choke in a de facto home game in the first game of the conference tournament.

UAB finished 16-2 last season before collapsing as you mentioned at home during the tournament. If MTSU wins 16 games I'll be happy to admit I was wrong in stating this year's team won't be as dominate as UAB's last season.

We're really not comparing apples to apples here. When I say MTSU won't dominate the way UAB did last season in conference it's not because I think they are an inferior team. What I'm saying is UAB faced an easier C-USA last season.

Last year's title contenders:

(5) UAB, MTSU, La Tech, Marshall, ODU

This year's projected title contenders:

(6) MTSU, Rice, La Tech, Marshall, ODU, UAB

UAB had a 3 game advantage over the next closest team (MTSU) last season as well as 2 head-to-head wins over them.

Of the 6 listed above each and every one of those teams has a legit shot to when the regular season title this year. I'd even argue La Tech, ODU, and Marshall could all perform better in conference than they did last season.

I say all that to emphasize that I'm not here to toot the horn for UAB and slight MTSU's accomplishments. I'm a fan of the entire conference. I want all the teams to be good every year. My only point is I think the separation between 1-7 is significantly closer than it was last year in result making the title chase wide open.

Oh so we're a "contender" now?

It's hard for me to think looking back but I feel like there's a greater separation between 1 & 2 this year than last. That is I feel like MT is the clear leader and the title is theirs to lose right now. Last year I think the waters were muddier. Just my opinion. If I had to choose a number 2 right now it'd be Marshall.

(01-04-2017 04:58 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 03:35 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 02:02 PM)MTowho Wrote:  MT won't be considered as 'dominant' as UAB last year by all the basketball prognosticators on this board until they choke in a de facto home game in the first game of the conference tournament.

UAB finished 16-2 last season before collapsing as you mentioned at home during the tournament. If MTSU wins 16 games I'll be happy to admit I was wrong in stating this year's team won't be as dominate as UAB's last season.

We're really not comparing apples to apples here. When I say MTSU won't dominate the way UAB did last season in conference it's not because I think they are an inferior team. What I'm saying is UAB faced an easier C-USA last season.

Last year's title contenders:

(5) UAB, MTSU, La Tech, Marshall, ODU

This year's projected title contenders:

(6) MTSU, Rice, La Tech, Marshall, ODU, UAB

UAB had a 3 game advantage over the next closest team (MTSU) last season as well as 2 head-to-head wins over them.

Of the 6 listed above each and every one of those teams has a legit shot to when the regular season title this year. I'd even argue La Tech, ODU, and Marshall could all perform better in conference than they did last season.

I say all that to emphasize that I'm not here to toot the horn for UAB and slight MTSU's accomplishments. I'm a fan of the entire conference. I want all the teams to be good every year. My only point is I think the separation between 1-7 is significantly closer than it was last year in result making the title chase wide open.

Oh so we're a "contender" now?

It's hard for me to think looking back but I feel like there's a greater separation between 1 & 2 this year than last. That is I feel like MT is the clear leader and the title is theirs to lose right now. Last year I think the waters were muddier. Just my opinion. If I had to choose a number 2 right now it'd be Marshall.

I agree with you on Marshall. They are getting hot at the right time.

(01-04-2017 05:01 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 04:58 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 03:35 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 02:02 PM)MTowho Wrote:  MT won't be considered as 'dominant' as UAB last year by all the basketball prognosticators on this board until they choke in a de facto home game in the first game of the conference tournament.

UAB finished 16-2 last season before collapsing as you mentioned at home during the tournament. If MTSU wins 16 games I'll be happy to admit I was wrong in stating this year's team won't be as dominate as UAB's last season.

We're really not comparing apples to apples here. When I say MTSU won't dominate the way UAB did last season in conference it's not because I think they are an inferior team. What I'm saying is UAB faced an easier C-USA last season.

Last year's title contenders:

(5) UAB, MTSU, La Tech, Marshall, ODU

This year's projected title contenders:

(6) MTSU, Rice, La Tech, Marshall, ODU, UAB

UAB had a 3 game advantage over the next closest team (MTSU) last season as well as 2 head-to-head wins over them.

Of the 6 listed above each and every one of those teams has a legit shot to when the regular season title this year. I'd even argue La Tech, ODU, and Marshall could all perform better in conference than they did last season.

I say all that to emphasize that I'm not here to toot the horn for UAB and slight MTSU's accomplishments. I'm a fan of the entire conference. I want all the teams to be good every year. My only point is I think the separation between 1-7 is significantly closer than it was last year in result making the title chase wide open.

Oh so we're a "contender" now?

It's hard for me to think looking back but I feel like there's a greater separation between 1 & 2 this year than last. That is I feel like MT is the clear leader and the title is theirs to lose right now. Last year I think the waters were muddier. Just my opinion. If I had to choose a number 2 right now it'd be Marshall.

I agree with you on Marshall. They are getting hot at the right time.

You looked in a crystal ball and seen us get hot during the cusa tourney? Because that is the right time.

(01-04-2017 12:27 AM)Noodles Wrote:  I anticipate a hell of a fight at the bottom of the conference. Parity!

UTEP will have it locked up by mid-February.

(01-05-2017 11:35 PM)goherd24herdfans Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 05:01 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 04:58 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 03:35 PM)BlazerGold09 Wrote:  

(01-04-2017 02:02 PM)MTowho Wrote:  MT won't be considered as 'dominant' as UAB last year by all the basketball prognosticators on this board until they choke in a de facto home game in the first game of the conference tournament.

UAB finished 16-2 last season before collapsing as you mentioned at home during the tournament. If MTSU wins 16 games I'll be happy to admit I was wrong in stating this year's team won't be as dominate as UAB's last season.

We're really not comparing apples to apples here. When I say MTSU won't dominate the way UAB did last season in conference it's not because I think they are an inferior team. What I'm saying is UAB faced an easier C-USA last season.

Last year's title contenders:

(5) UAB, MTSU, La Tech, Marshall, ODU

This year's projected title contenders:

(6) MTSU, Rice, La Tech, Marshall, ODU, UAB

UAB had a 3 game advantage over the next closest team (MTSU) last season as well as 2 head-to-head wins over them.

Of the 6 listed above each and every one of those teams has a legit shot to when the regular season title this year. I'd even argue La Tech, ODU, and Marshall could all perform better in conference than they did last season.

I say all that to emphasize that I'm not here to toot the horn for UAB and slight MTSU's accomplishments. I'm a fan of the entire conference. I want all the teams to be good every year. My only point is I think the separation between 1-7 is significantly closer than it was last year in result making the title chase wide open.

Oh so we're a "contender" now?

It's hard for me to think looking back but I feel like there's a greater separation between 1 & 2 this year than last. That is I feel like MT is the clear leader and the title is theirs to lose right now. Last year I think the waters were muddier. Just my opinion. If I had to choose a number 2 right now it'd be Marshall.

I agree with you on Marshall. They are getting hot at the right time.

You looked in a crystal ball and seen us get hot during the cusa tourney? Because that is the right time.

saw