Official NCAA Tourney Thread: SMU vs. USC

[sadderbudweiser]

I haven't been this anxious about a game in a long time.

Meanwhile I'm wondering: How the heck did we get thrown In a pod with Baylor, Kansas and OJU?

What did we ever do to women?

[ojaipony]

Nervous wreck. You'd think that since they beat us, we'll come out looking for revenge. But the matchups worry me. Boatwright is a handful. The formula for beating us is pretty easy, but most can't do it because we have such a high IQ: (1) get us in foul trouble (2) go off from 3 pt range. They have the bodies and shooters to do that. My feeling is that scoring in transition is going to be critical for us - we HAVE to finish plays at the rim and convert turnovers. Then hopefully 1 (or 3) of our guys go off from 3 pt range (Shake, etc). Sterling will be the key. If he can stay out of foul trouble, I love our chances. Love watching that young man play. Energy! Competitive fire! Bring it!

[RGV Pony]

Fun fact : last time around we were 2:10 start too.. And 3/14 match up preceded us. Time to exorcise the demons of Louisville

[Treadway21]

All the pub and being a favorite is very nerve racking as an SMU fan.

I am nervous that I am so confident. Something always goes wrong - like a airball goaltending call that costs us the game. Please be a blow out.

[RGV Pony]

With you treadway.. Hate it

[peruna81]

Guys (and occasional gals), this is what it is supposed to feel like when you have a program that has success...there is an anticipation of a match. Welcome to the beginning of being a fan-base again.

That said, WEAR OUT THE TROJANS!

(double entendre alert)

[gostangs]

I am nervous but not as much as I thought. I look at this team of starters and I think it would be holy hell to have to play them right now. They have way more demons to exercise than I think we know.

Nervous and also confident. weird combination. I hope its the new normal for SMU basketball.

[Stallion]

yep when you have a historic team losing one is more painful than an 0'for. That's why winning is going to be so great especially against the USCs and Baylors of the world

We got this-have confidence in our guys

[Arkpony]

I am with Stallion on this. It's DESTINY fellas!

[gostangs]

plus these guys are 19-22, without all the baggage we all carry around related to SMU sports. They couldn't care less about any of that. They have worked their tale off for just this moment - and I would guess they are not going to squander the opportunity.

Buzzsaw.

[oilpony]

Game Day in the Caribbean!

[mustangxc]

USC does not worry me, the moment does. If we manage to ignore the grandiosity of the stage we are on we should absolutely beat USC by 15+ points. However, exorcising demons is never easy and my concern is the game will be very close and anything can happen in the closing seconds of a tight game in the NCAA tournament.

[SMUstangs22]

Holy hell this feeling. I feel like I have a different respect for the name March Madness. Different when you have a boat in the race

[ojaipony]

Feels like possible UCLA all over again ("name" school used to the spotlight and much tougher schedule), but I have confidence in these guys. UCLA came out kicking our arse if I recall correctly and we finally woke up, stormed back, went up a bit and then collapsed at the very end (still had 2 shots in a row to win it at the very end). Last 5 minutes of the game is what it comes down to. If we go up by a bunch early, it won't matter bc USC has come back all year. Of course, need solid games from BenE and probably even MacDowell.

And, hopefully soon, we can get an easier first round matchup than UCLA or USC. Let's win a damn tourney game finally! Strap up. Pony Up!

[Comet]

USC does not worry me, the moment does. If we manage to ignore the grandiosity of the stage we are on we should absolutely beat USC by 15+ points. However, exorcising demons is never easy and my concern is the game will be very close and anything can happen in the closing seconds of a tight game in the NCAA tournament.

Absolutely right that exorcising demons is very difficult, however, being able to do it successfully makes you so ****ing stronger. That's why this game is much harder than normal. But if we can win, I will favor us over Baylor.