So you're telling me there's still a chance?

Old Skool Cat · Post by **Old Skool Cat** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:15 pm

Three of the teams either tied with or below the Cats all lost last night; EWU, PSU, and ISU. This now leaves us in a tie for 5th place with EWU, who we play next Thursday. Of all the teams vying for a BSC tourney spot, we seem to have the best chance if you look at the schedules:

MSU -- @EWU, @PSU, ISU
EWU -- MSU, UM, @Weber
ISU -- Weber, UNC, @MSU
SSU -- NAU, Weber, at UNC
PSU -- who cares, they're not eligible

We are tied with EWU, and one game up on PSU, ISU, & SSU. If we can win all three of our last conference games, we're in. If we win two, we're probably in. I think even if we win one we can still get in just because all of those teams below us have brutal conference games remaining.

Now, thinking really, really optimistically, we are two games back of NAU for fourth place. It would be awesome if somehow this team can wake up and turn the jets on, finishing strong with three conference wins. NAU has games left at SSU, @NAU, and home against PSU. Those games against Sac State and N. Colorado could be tough. It most likely won't happen, but there is an outside shot at fourth place and a home first round game. But more likely, I think this team can rebound, and get a fifth seed, probably pitting us against NAU in Flagstaff. I think we can beat NAU if we play to our potential.

I have been a real Debbie Downer as of late on this team, but something just woke up inside my brain this morning, urging me, nay....beckoning me to keep the faith alive. We get in the tourney and anything can happen, Cat fans! Can I get a witness Nation?!!

ilovethecats · Post by **ilovethecats** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:39 pm

well, as crazy as it sounds, i too think that any team that makes the tourney is capable of winning it. for the cats i would list our chances at about 7%...but a chance none the less. i have watched too many sposrts over the years, and witnessed too many crazy upsets to say without a doubt that the cats cant win. but they'll have to play 2-3 times better than they have been. their transition defense will need to get much better....and for the love of all that is good in this world....they'll need to start making shots!

but you're right old skool. if the cats represent in the tourney, i'll be right there cheering them on and praying for a miracle.

and who knows? this might just be the typical cat way of doing things. i have seen us have pretty good teams over the years only to blow our opportunities. maybe it will be the worst cat team i have seen in a long time that gets us back to the dance!

at this point....nothing would shock me. but i won't be putting any money on it....

WSUWILDCAT · Post by **WSUWILDCAT** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:32 pm

Old Skool Cat wrote:Three of the teams either tied with or below the Cats all lost last night; EWU, PSU, and ISU. This now leaves us in a tie for 5th place with EWU, who we play next Thursday. Of all the teams vying for a BSC tourney spot, we seem to have the best chance if you look at the schedules:

MSU -- @EWU, @PSU, ISU
EWU -- MSU, UM, @Weber
ISU -- Weber, UNC, @MSU
SSU -- NAU, Weber, at UNC
PSU -- who cares, they're not eligible

We are tied with EWU, and one game up on PSU, ISU, & SSU. If we can win all three of our last conference games, we're in. If we win two, we're probably in. I think even if we win one we can still get in just because all of those teams below us have brutal conference games remaining.

Now, thinking really, really optimistically, we are two games back of NAU for fourth place. It would be awesome if somehow this team can wake up and turn the jets on, finishing strong with three conference wins. NAU has games left at SSU, @NAU, and home against PSU. Those games against Sac State and N. Colorado could be tough. It most likely won't happen, but there is an outside shot at fourth place and a home first round game. But more likely, I think this team can rebound, and get a fifth seed, probably pitting us against NAU in Flagstaff. I think we can beat NAU if we play to our potential.

I have been a real Debbie Downer as of late on this team, but something just woke up inside my brain this morning, urging me, nay....beckoning me to keep the faith alive. We get in the tourney and anything can happen, Cat fans! Can I get a witness Nation?!!

Nothing personal, but NAU MUST FINISH 4th, so that when Weber wins out and UM and UNC both lose one more game, Weber will get to host

TIrwin24 · Post by **TIrwin24** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:57 pm

I am soo glad that MSU's school colors don't include purple.

bigmacvirginia · Post by **bigmacvirginia** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:20 pm

i think MSU will make a late push and win a 1st round game. I think the seniors will finally step up and play a good 40 minutes. They are capable of beating any team in the Big Sky. Lets be honest, you people are talking about how MSU doesnt have the talent of other people in the league and maybe they dont have as much as Weber, UM, or UNC this year but they clearly have as much as anyone else. If ISU or PSU or Sac State have so much more talent than why are the Cats ahead of them in the standings with alot more favorble schedule to finish the season. You people are clueless! I promised i would never get on these things as im way to old and god forbid my kids ever see me on this website. I have seen Erik Rush, Piepoli, and even Bobby improve tremendously over the 5 years he has been in Montana. They are in a fragile mindstate right now and should have never lost to Sac State but i am confident that they will finally step up here in the next couple weeks. I am hoping to get out to the EWU game to support them as should all of you. These kids need us

ilovethecats · Post by **ilovethecats** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 3:55 pm

bigmacvirginia wrote:i think MSU will make a late push and win a 1st round game. I think the seniors will finally step up and play a good 40 minutes. They are capable of beating any team in the Big Sky. Lets be honest, you people are talking about how MSU doesnt have the talent of other people in the league and maybe they dont have as much as Weber, UM, or UNC this year but they clearly have as much as anyone else. If ISU or PSU or Sac State have so much more talent than why are the Cats ahead of them in the standings with alot more favorble schedule to finish the season. You people are clueless! I promised i would never get on these things as im way to old and god forbid my kids ever see me on this website. I have seen Erik Rush, Piepoli, and even Bobby improve tremendously over the 5 years he has been in Montana. They are in a fragile mindstate right now and should have never lost to Sac State but i am confident that they will finally step up here in the next couple weeks. I am hoping to get out to the EWU game to support them as should all of you. These kids need us

with all due respect, i really don't know how you can come on here saying stuff like this. you are entitled to your opinion. that is fine. i am entitled to mine. i feel like i have adequate stats to back up my claims that we are not very talented. let's start with the fact that we are riding an 8 game losing streak, 3 of which have been at home. our average margin of defeat has been over 12 points a game. also, at one point we lost 3 games in a row by 20 or more!

we are near the bottom of almost every relevant statistic in conference play. the two teams that are routinely below us (sac st and idaho st) have BOTH beaten us already. we can't shoot. we can't defend. and we can't get defensive boards. we get more assists to turnovers (1st in the conference) and we do a great job on the offensive glass (2nd in the conference).

that is great that you think you have seen the guys on this team improve. i'm trying hard to grasp how. rush has improved, but he is so hit or miss you can't rely on him. piepoli has gotten worse over the years. bobby i concede has gotten better over the years and right now is playing better than anyone else on our squad. but who else has shown improvement? and even if some have...does that equal talent? my son has improved a ton too....he's still not talented! (and NO....i'm not comparing the guys on our team to my 4 year olds abilities....

so, you have already come here telling guys like me how clueless we are....will you eat your words if the team continues to play like they have been? will you eat your words if they don't win a playoff game, or will you just say that they are a very talented team that somehow can't shoot, defend, or win?

and yes...i too will be there cheering their next game....and i won't tell you you're clueless even if none of your predictions come true....

GrizinWashington · Post by **GrizinWashington** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:54 am

At this point, as much as I'd like to see it, I cannot see the the Cats going to Flagstaff and beating NAU. In fact, I don't see ANYone going to Flagstaff and winning.

WSUWILDCAT · Post by **WSUWILDCAT** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:27 pm

GrizinWashington wrote:At this point, as much as I'd like to see it, I cannot see the the Cats going to Flagstaff and beating NAU. In fact, I don't see ANYone going to Flagstaff and winning.

Weber did once, and with how good Weber is playing right now, and with how inconsitant NAU is right now, Im thinking Weber could do it again.

GrizinWashington · Post by **GrizinWashington** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 5:44 pm

WSUWILDCAT wrote:
GrizinWashington wrote:At this point, as much as I'd like to see it, I cannot see the the Cats going to Flagstaff and beating NAU. In fact, I don't see ANYone going to Flagstaff and winning.

Weber did once, and with how good Weber is playing right now, and with how inconsitant NAU is right now, Im thinking Weber could do it again.

Perhaps.

I could also easily envision you losing by 19.

WSUWILDCAT · Post by **WSUWILDCAT** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:44 pm

GrizinWashington wrote:
WSUWILDCAT wrote:
GrizinWashington wrote:At this point, as much as I'd like to see it, I cannot see the the Cats going to Flagstaff and beating NAU. In fact, I don't see ANYone going to Flagstaff and winning.

Weber did once, and with how good Weber is playing right now, and with how inconsitant NAU is right now, Im thinking Weber could do it again.

Perhaps.

I could also easily envision you losing by 19.

Thats the Big Sky conf road for ya.

So you're telling me there's still a chance?

So you're telling me there's still a chance?

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