The Last 8
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The Last 8
Well will they or won't they?
Lots of talk how they need 10 wins to get in and likely 1 tournament win as well.
This team is not easy to predict.....I'm still waiting for their best basketball....as seen below with three ranked wins and a home game sweep....here's how I pick 'em:
A&M (R) L
Texas W
Vandy W
AR (R) L
Tenn W
MS (R) W
OK(R) L
AR W
Lots of talk how they need 10 wins to get in and likely 1 tournament win as well.
This team is not easy to predict.....I'm still waiting for their best basketball....as seen below with three ranked wins and a home game sweep....here's how I pick 'em:
A&M (R) L
Texas W
Vandy W
AR (R) L
Tenn W
MS (R) W
OK(R) L
AR W
Re: The Last 8
We go 4-4 and we have a legit shot. Go 5-3 and we should be in. If we go 3-5, we will need to win the SEC tourney.
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Sophrosyne
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Re: The Last 8
Let me clear this up (pardon the contortion of English). We win 4 more, we are in with a 10-8 conference record. If we end up 9-9, I don't think we get in, even with some wins in the SEC tourny. Wins in the SEC tourny mean little.dhsux wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 08:13 am Well will they or won't they?
Lots of talk how they need 10 wins to get in and likely 1 tournament win as well.
This team is not easy to predict.....I'm still waiting for their best basketball....as seen below with three ranked wins and a home game sweep....here's how I pick 'em:
A&M (R) L
Texas W
Vandy W
AR (R) L
Tenn W
MS (R) W
OK(R) L
AR W
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Sophrosyne
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Re: The Last 8
By the way, my guess is we go 4-4 for the rest of the way, but we could struggle to get the 4 wins.
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TheMajicMan
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Re: The Last 8
I think most people on here think that Mizzou should be a blueblood. They are a team that is equal in skill and talent to both Mississippi schools, LSU. Oklahoma and Texas. (Mizzou has a tough time with Texas because of their defense) Mizzou isn't a blueblood and remember they couldn't financially replace Grill and Bates. Hate Gates all you wanna, but I compare him to Pinkel....He get's more out of less and people still want him to get to a Final 4 something Norm Stewart couldn't do in 40 years.
About him losing to Princeton in the second round of the tournament...Princeton beat a 4th seeded Arizona in the first round. (This was Gates FIRST year as head coach and he had to throw a budget basement team together quickly) This past year when he lost to Drake who had one of the best defenses in college ball....Drake was predicted by most to beat Mizzou who struggled at the end of the year offensively. That Drake team is now at Iowa with their coach and they are 17-5 in the B10.
About him losing to Princeton in the second round of the tournament...Princeton beat a 4th seeded Arizona in the first round. (This was Gates FIRST year as head coach and he had to throw a budget basement team together quickly) This past year when he lost to Drake who had one of the best defenses in college ball....Drake was predicted by most to beat Mizzou who struggled at the end of the year offensively. That Drake team is now at Iowa with their coach and they are 17-5 in the B10.
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winonsports
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Re: The Last 8
And yet, you went ahead and did it anyway, and once again, opened up the door for negative vibes after a win.dhsux wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 08:13 am Well will they or won't they?
Lots of talk how they need 10 wins to get in and likely 1 tournament win as well.
This team is not easy to predict.....I'm still waiting for their best basketball....as seen below with three ranked wins and a home game sweep....here's how I pick 'em:
A&M (R) L
Texas W
Vandy W
AR (R) L
Tenn W
MS (R) W
OK(R) L
AR W
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11WSChamps
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Re: The Last 8
I never saw Missouri as a blue blood or a final four team in decades.TheMajicMan wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 11:01 am I think most people on here think that Mizzou should be a blueblood. They are a team that is equal in skill and talent to both Mississippi schools, LSU. Oklahoma and Texas. (Mizzou has a tough time with Texas because of their defense) Mizzou isn't a blueblood and remember they couldn't financially replace Grill and Bates. Hate Gates all you wanna, but I compare him to Pinkel....He get's more out of less and people still want him to get to a Final 4 something Norm Stewart couldn't do in 40 years.
About him losing to Princeton in the second round of the tournament...Princeton beat a 4th seeded Arizona in the first round. (This was Gates FIRST year as head coach and he had to throw a budget basement team together quickly) This past year when he lost to Drake who had one of the best defenses in college ball....Drake was predicted by most to beat Mizzou who struggled at the end of the year offensively. That Drake team is now at Iowa with their coach and they are 17-5 in the B10.
What you should see is sound fundamentals and plenty of energy and sound rotations. Disciplined on offense with good or better point guard play and high energy help defense and be consistent on both ends.
Do those things and you don't have to necessarily have blue blood talent to have a chance in one 40 minute game.
Oh BTW your buddy Gates was woefully out coached in the Drake game. You missed that part.
You can go back to your crying now.
Re: The Last 8
A&M does not have the talent Missouri has. Their new coach had to scramble to assemble a roster of castoffs, and they are 7-3 in the SEC. Gates doesn't want excuses.TheMajicMan wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 11:01 am I think most people on here think that Mizzou should be a blueblood. They are a team that is equal in skill and talent to both Mississippi schools, LSU. Oklahoma and Texas. (Mizzou has a tough time with Texas because of their defense) Mizzou isn't a blueblood and remember they couldn't financially replace Grill and Bates. Hate Gates all you wanna, but I compare him to Pinkel....He get's more out of less and people still want him to get to a Final 4 something Norm Stewart couldn't do in 40 years.
About him losing to Princeton in the second round of the tournament...Princeton beat a 4th seeded Arizona in the first round. (This was Gates FIRST year as head coach and he had to throw a budget basement team together quickly) This past year when he lost to Drake who had one of the best defenses in college ball....Drake was predicted by most to beat Mizzou who struggled at the end of the year offensively. That Drake team is now at Iowa with their coach and they are 17-5 in the B10.
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MIDMOBIRDTWO
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Re: The Last 8
I am at the point I just want to grab my popcorn and that gives me something to do besides whining about the coach. I really don't know what is involved in pulling in big time recruits, but I believe the good players are bought like in a meat market, eg the big offensive tackle from Ozark to Miami. Kansas almost always pays better than MU does, thus they get elite talent like the Peterson kid and the five star coming in next year. You have to surround guys like that with solid, experienced guys from winning programs. No pun intended, they know how to win and do the things that allow you to look like a better coach.
Re: The Last 8
Gates has big time recruits coming in next year.MIDMOBIRDTWO wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 13:34 pm I am at the point I just want to grab my popcorn and that gives me something to do besides whining about the coach. I really don't know what is involved in pulling in big time recruits, but I believe the good players are bought like in a meat market, eg the big offensive tackle from Ozark to Miami. Kansas almost always pays better than MU does, thus they get elite talent like the Peterson kid and the five star coming in next year. You have to surround guys like that with solid, experienced guys from winning programs. No pun intended, they know how to win and do the things that allow you to look like a better coach.
Re: The Last 8
we aren't a blueblood?
even with all the Final 4's and titles under Norm?
even with all the Final 4's and titles under Norm?
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winonsports
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Re: The Last 8
They mean the same as the regular season.Sophrosyne wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 09:58 am Let me clear this up (pardon the contortion of English). We win 4 more, we are in with a 10-8 conference record. If we end up 9-9, I don't think we get in, even with some wins in the SEC tourny. Wins in the SEC tourny mean little.
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Sophrosyne
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Re: The Last 8
No, actually they don't. A 10-8 conference record gets you into the NCAA tournament. An 8-10 or 9-9 record, even if you throw on a couple of SEC tournament wins, likely doesn't get you into the NCAA field.winonsports wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 15:35 pmThey mean the same as the regular season.Sophrosyne wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 09:58 am Let me clear this up (pardon the contortion of English). We win 4 more, we are in with a 10-8 conference record. If we end up 9-9, I don't think we get in, even with some wins in the SEC tourny. Wins in the SEC tourny mean little.
Re: The Last 8
Everyone here knows about this clown and his desperate need to display his imagined know it all greatness.Sophrosyne wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 15:56 pm
No, actually they don't. A 10-8 conference record gets you into the NCAA tournament. An 8-10 or 9-9 record, even if you throw on a couple of SEC tournament wins, likely doesn't get you into the NCAA field.
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MIDMOBIRDTWO
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Re: The Last 8
They are still going to need the support of experienced college players. I don't think they are Duke or KU level big time or they would be going to the old line blue blood programs. But I think there are some good talents, hopefully live up to the hype.icon wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 13:46 pmGates has big time recruits coming in next year.MIDMOBIRDTWO wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 13:34 pm I am at the point I just want to grab my popcorn and that gives me something to do besides whining about the coach. I really don't know what is involved in pulling in big time recruits, but I believe the good players are bought like in a meat market, eg the big offensive tackle from Ozark to Miami. Kansas almost always pays better than MU does, thus they get elite talent likLe the Peterson kid and the five star coming in next year. You have to surround guys like that with solid, experienced guys from winning programs. No pun intended, they know how to win and do the things that allow you to look like a better coach.
Re: The Last 8
Crowe is a 5* Top 5 recruit. Bryant is a 5* Top 15 recruit. Crowe was offered by Arizona, Bama, Arky, UK, UCLA, among others.MIDMOBIRDTWO wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 16:33 pmThey are still going to need the support of experienced college players. I don't think they are Duke or KU level big time or they would be going to the old line blue blood programs. But I think there are some good talents, hopefully live up to the hype.icon wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 13:46 pmGates has big time recruits coming in next year.MIDMOBIRDTWO wrote: ↑08 Feb 2026 13:34 pm I am at the point I just want to grab my popcorn and that gives me something to do besides whining about the coach. I really don't know what is involved in pulling in big time recruits, but I believe the good players are bought like in a meat market, eg the big offensive tackle from Ozark to Miami. Kansas almost always pays better than MU does, thus they get elite talent likLe the Peterson kid and the five star coming in next year. You have to surround guys like that with solid, experienced guys from winning programs. No pun intended, they know how to win and do the things that allow you to look like a better coach.