The first-round loss to FGCU was disappointing, and some might even think of calling it a choke job. But I just think that the tournament is a totally different animal than the regular season, and this being a young Upstate team's first tournament game, they just got a few jitters and didn't play their A-game.

But I'm already looking forward to November and the 2012-13 season. Upstate returns all five starters, including the A-Sun player of the year Torrey Craig and freshman of the year Ty Greene, as well as the first three guys off the bench. And with the departure of Belmont to the OVC, you have to say that Upstate will be one of the favorites in the A-Sun next season. Now we'll just have to see how the guys respond to raised expectations and being the hunted, as the team will not be able to take anyone by surprise anymore.

Upstate may be the favorite next year.

The Hodge Center is pretty much impossible to play in because it's so tiny, and while that could hold them back, they are taking full advantage of it right now. They really struggle away from Spartanburg, though, as evidenced by the tournament.

The conference is going to be wide open with Belmont gone. If the Bucs can't win it, I wouldn't be too upset to see Upstate get a shot in the Big Dance.

(03-04-2012 10:56 AM)Mister Consistency Wrote:  The Hodge Center is pretty much impossible to play in because it's so tiny, and while that could hold them back, they are taking full advantage of it right now. They really struggle away from Spartanburg, though, as evidenced by the tournament.

The conference is going to be wide open with Belmont gone. If the Bucs can't win it, I wouldn't be too upset to see Upstate get a shot in the Big Dance.

I agree about the Hodge Center. Despite the recent renovations to it, it is still an embarrassing facility. I would think Upstate is eventually going to have to build a new arena if they are going to be really serious about basketball.

Upstate, FGCU, UNF and Mercer all look to be very good next year.