SPECIAL SEASON BREWING...Can we run the table?

[JasonB]

Foul trouble and the new defensive rules will hit us just like they have hit every other good team this year. The days of an undefeated run are over thanks to the new rules. A lot of sites are claiming that the teams are down this year. I think it is more because the new rules and the three evens things out more than ever.

[mrydel]

I just like that we have had a different player lead the charge in each game. Frazier was deadly in one and absent in the next when Nic took over. Then Tolbert. Sterling made a run that got us going in one.

Of course Nic is the glue, but not having to solely rely on one player is huge.

[Rebel10]

Foul trouble and the new defensive rules will hit us just like they have hit every other good team this year. The days of an undefeated run are over thanks to the new rules. A lot of sites are claiming that the teams are down this year. I think it is more because the new rules and the three evens things out more than ever.

I don't think it is because of the new rules because everyone plays under the same new rules. ESPN was even saying that this year there really isn't a standout team. And some of us were saying that even before the season started.

[Charleston Pony]

I just like that we have had a different player lead the charge in each game. Frazier was deadly in one and absent in the next when Nic took over. Then Tolbert. Sterling made a run that got us going in one.

Of course Nic is the glue, but not having to solely rely on one player is huge.

Big plus this year is that if Nic gets in foul trouble, Shake can handle the point and we don't go into complete collapse mode.

[LA_Mustang]

I just like that we have had a different player lead the charge in each game. Frazier was deadly in one and absent in the next when Nic took over. Then Tolbert. Sterling made a run that got us going in one.

Of course Nic is the glue, but not having to solely rely on one player is huge.

mrydel makes a great point. Last year there were times when Nic was the only offensive option on the floor. This year, Ben and Sterling are both looking for their shot more often and adding Shake and Jarrey to the mix makes this team so much more dangerous. We have quality offensive threats down low (MK & Jordan), forwards who can shoot outside or penetrate (Ben, Sterling, KF, Jarrey) and three point threats (Nic, KF, Shake, Jarrey and Sterling). And as Beilein stressed in his post game presser, everyone on our team passes the ball well. IMO, that's what makes this team special. That all comes from LB and staff preaching it everyday in practice.

[skyscraper]

Success = back 2 back regular season champs

[indianmustang]

only 10 teams left undefeated and SMU is one of them.
let us be the last team ,we get lot of good publicity.

[ontheedgeofmyseat]

Bittersweet......one of the best teams we have has in decades will be on the sidelines when it matters. As a 60 year old lifer, I have heard this song before....

[hoopmanx]

I know I'm in the minority, cause as much as I love March Madness, it's 'importance' is vastly overstated. A one off tourney should never be the measure of a season, no matter how great the spectacle.

[Rebel10]

Bittersweet......one of the best teams we have has in decades will be on the sidelines when it matters. As a 60 year old lifer, I have heard this song before....

Agreed.

[sadderbudweiser]

As an athlete I always set three levels of goals for myself. For lack of better terms they were:
1) expected
2) attainable
3) shoot for the moon

Expected for the Mustangs:
25-5, top 20 ranking

Attainable:
less than five losses and the regular season conference championship….top ten ranking.

Shoot the moon:
Run the table…woulda been a one seed.

I kind of agree with Hoop. Winning the regular season title requires determination and production over a good chunk of time. I don't think it gets the credit it deserves. Repeating is a reasonable, admirable and attainable goal this season.

Tournaments are great and teams are remembered for winning them. It's a different situation where neutral sites and intense pressure replace a conference schedule with road games, rivalries, etc.


oh….and F*** the NCAA.