Blessed1 wrote:paradox wrote:This discussion really shouldn't even be about the big south. I think it's bigger than that. I think that we can all appreciate the frustration involved with having a great season and then not getting into the dance. This is life if you're in a low mid-major conference. Take Winthrop for example. They lost at the buzzer to Tennessee three years ago, but just barely got to the dance after a razor thin win against Coastal in the big south final. The next year Winthrop actually knocked off Notre Dame. But do they even get to the dance if they lose to VMI in the big south final. The VMI game came down to the final play.
We can take this a little closer to home and look at what Steph Curry accomplished last year, almost making it to the final four. Would Steph Curry even be Steph Curry the potential NBA lottery pick without that performance? What if they didn't get in? Who would he be then? Just look at what happened in the southern conference this year: Davidson has another great year, gets knocked out by a good Charleston team, who in turn gets upset by a bad Chattanooga team, and Chattanooga goes to the dance and gets blown away. If you're a Curry with three years of eligibility left and Coack K want s you over at Duke. You're gonna take that opportunity. Nothing against the big south, southern, or even the CAA. It's just a far greater opportunity. And let's face it, if you're Duke, you always go dancing in march.
I agree with you on most of your points, but the Seth Curry thing. Folks are hurt because he didn't stick things out. Who knows, he could've had a "one shining moment" like his big bro. Even if it was only for one year, the NCAA tourny helped Steph reach that national level. I believe most of us here envisioned LU making the tourny at least 2 times while Seth was here. But you know what.....
As much as I hate the Gators and Tim Tebow, I loved it when Tebow said he wanted to finish what he started and that he loves UF's coaches and fans. He said he "owed" it to them to stay for his final year. I have to respect a man that shows that type of integrity.
Yes, but Tim Tebow is competing for national championships on the highest level. Seth on the other hand was going to be the main focus of every big south team for the next three years. Slip up once, like Davidson did this year, and you don't even get in. Tebow and the Gators on the other hand, can have an off day or two and still end up in the title game.
We actually signed Seth in Nov '07. That was at least four months prior to Steph's magical run in the tourney. Had Seth waited until the later signing period, he could have gone ACC then. He did honor his initial commitment and play here for a year, which when it's all said and done did help our program. I think that we benefitted in many ways, including gaining both Sanders brothers.
One more thing, there's no shame in losing a player to an ACC school. And if it turns out to be Duke or UNC, then how can we say that we can blame him? Practically every kid on the east coast, if not the country, would play for one of those two schools if they had the opportunity. And I'm sure that many kids growing up in Florida dream about playing for the Gators, like Tebow.
- By Tothehoopyall1
- By TH Spangler