Can anyone explain why Montana is a trendy upset pick?

[PeteCalvin]

It's really quite simple. Just as it's always the "IN" thing to bash Syracuse's schedule, it is always the "IN" thing to pick against us in the tournament because of our history (Richmond, Vermont, etc.). People never seem to notice that Kansas has laid just as many first and second round eggs over the last 20 years, just because they are Kansas. No one mentions their slip ups anymore. Going to Final Fours apparently negates those.

We will always be the Rodney Dangerfield of college basketball. Just accept it.

 

[Shenexon]

We've had mixed results over the past month and though our losses were to good teams, we've had times when we looked out of sync offensively. Inconsistency gives us an aura of risk that the "trendy" picks feed on.

The NCAA basketball tournament is the best part of college sports. All teams from every part of the country have an opportunity to compete for the title. Kudos to Montana for getting to the tournament yet again. They've had a good run of tournament appearances themselves. They have weaknesses, but so do we. I just think our length & athleticism will be too much.

In the end, I expect our level of intensity to remain high with a decent opportunity to get back to the final four. Playing two games a weekend is much different than 4 games in four days and think we're on a run of our own.

 

[Scotiacuse]

... some people in there seemed to be a little disenchanted by the inaccurate assumption that we were in a southern conference.

Actually, that poster explained that he was just making an observation about that conference and put it in the wrong thread. He wasn't referring to Montana.

 

[SBU72]

We didn't really over-extend ourselves in the BE Tourney.
We only played three-and-a-half games.

Acatually, the way the 2nd half went for the last 3 (haveing leads cut or worse!), you could almost say they only played 2 full games.

 

[RF2044]

I'd say because most of the talking heads apparently weren't convinced by our wins over Pitt and Georgetown. All they're focused on is the second half collapse against louisville, which apparently invalidated many good aspects of our team peformance last week.

If our guards play poorly, we don't shoot well, and don't rebound anybody can beat us. When we do those things, we can beat anybody.

 

[Texas Otto]

Fort Worth Star-Telegram picked Montana FWIW

 

[Upstate]

One thing I feel pretty strongly about with this matchup is that SU's athletes, all over the place, will be much better than the athletes that Montana will have out there. CJ should have a crazy game, as should MCW. If Rak can get shake his Seasonal Affective Disorder, he could do well in the post. Hopefully Coleman gets some run. He would probably qualify as the largest person in the state of Montana if he ever stepped foot there.

 

[jncuse]

Line has been pushed down from 15 to 13.5. I'm not sure that many think we would lose, but obviously some questions on Syracuse in betting public for whatever its worth.

 

[Texas Otto]

Line has been pushed down from 15 to 13.5. I'm not sure that many think we would lose, but obviously some questions on Syracuse in betting public for whatever its worth.

I think too many [eople are looking at the end of season swan song and the close games against Hoya and Panther without taking tinto account how good those teams are IMHO

 

[Timonen]

More fuel to feed the wolf, we sure as heck are not going down without a fight!

Don't you bring your mixed metaphors into our house!

(thanks for stopping by)

 

[sutomcat]

Hey, consonance, good to see a Griz fan here - I noticed on your board that a lot of people weren't able to get registered here, and I found that unfortunate since I was hoping to have/read some good conversations with some of your fanbase.

I feel the need to inform you that not all posters here are uninformed, cynical wiseasses, and I hope you are able to tell which are which.

Best of luck to you, and I hope we pound the crap out of you.

We have, to my knowledge, okayed all requests to post from Montana fans.

Any Montana lurkers that want to post, make a request and we will hook you up. We definitely want feedback from the Griz fans.

 

[mslamariner]

We have, to my knowledge, okayed all requests to post from Montana fans.

Any Montana lurkers that want to post, make a request and we will hook you up. We definitely want feedback from the Griz fans.

I didn't have any problems signing up and logging in today -- maybe there was some chair-to-keyboard-interface errors happening.

 

[ordigger]

I didn't have any problems signing up and logging in today -- maybe there was some chair-to-keyboard-interface errors happening.

I'm working in Sooner land so perhaps that has something to do with it. Took a couple times but got approved recently.

As for Montana being a trendy pick it has seemed that way since 2006 when as a 12 seed we upset 5th seeded Nevada. I remember ESPN really pushed that story line back then. And in next game we stayed with Boston College before eventually falling to them. Since that time though we always seem to get that "upset minded" moniker. However we have yet to do so since then.

The 2010 team got some love as a 14 seed vs New Mexico, perhaps that was because of Anthony Johnson's Big Sky Championship game in which he scored 31 points in the 2nd half, and the Griz overcame a 20 point deficit to beat our rivals Weber State. That team fell by 5 to UNM.

The 2012 team last year, also seemed to be a trendy pick but we got Wisconsin in the draw, and had no answer for their defensive intensity and their outside shooting. I do believe this years team will have learned from that game last year though.

 

[BuffOrange]

IMO it has nothing to do with them, it has everything to do with our streaky play and recent tournament history (sans last year).

Honestly, this is it. If you're a tv analyst you decide who you don't like before the brackets, grab a piece of paper with the opponent's roster names that tell you their leading scorer and say "I think John Smith is going to give them problems" as if to pretend you've seen them play.

 

[realorange]

When going over that part of the bracket, Katz had to add that the last time the Cuse was a 4 they lost to Vermont. Still trying to stick the knife in the ribs of JB.

 

[mslamariner]

I dunno about all you guys, but my strategy for filling out a bracket is to have my wife help me fill it out based on team-name, cuteness of mascot, and uniform color/style.

 

[Madbiker]

Aside from people still remembering the upset by Vermont in 2005, it's probably due to media guys that just can't stand JB and therefore enjoy spouting off negative stuff about Cuse.

 

[kuethstheman]

I haven't seen many people picking Montana but I really don't care what the talking heads say, they're often wrong and some times just want to get attention by making an edgy prediction. I can only construct two reasons for making a case for a Montana upset and they're kind of flimsy and not hugely substantial. a) SU having to travel across country for a Thursday match-up at 10 pm (1 am our clock) after a grueling BET; b) SU's history in the NCAAs after a deep run in the BET is spotty at best - we've had some bad performances after going all-in in NYC.

Well, yeah. All that and SU is capable of going 0 for <however many shots they take>.

 

[rstone7727]

The 2012 team last year, also seemed to be a trendy pick but we got Wisconsin in the draw, and had no answer for their defensive intensity and their outside shooting. I do believe this years team will have learned from that game last year though.

They torched the nets against us too, fortunately we seemed to score at will inside against them and squeezed out a 64-63 win.

 

[rstone7727]

I dunno about all you guys, but my strategy for filling out a bracket is to have my wife help me fill it out based on team-name, cuteness of mascot, and uniform color/style.

Coach with the wavy hair...? My wife likes Carolina blew...

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Its really not. Montana is a plucky team that steamrolled its conference this year. Played some decent teams nonconf in BYU, Davidson and Col St (lost to them all). But they lost their leading scorer March 7. They're a stupid pick in view of that.

For the eleventieth time, playing BYU this season shouldn't impress anyone, ever, under any circumstances.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[SUalldway]

I think Tom Brennan has Montana in his bracket too...

Charles Barkley has Montana as well.

 

[cuseguy]

Charles Barkley has Montana as well.

Well, that should make us just about a lock to win.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Czar]

It's really quite simple. Just as it's always the "IN" thing to bash Syracuse's schedule, it is always the "IN" thing to pick against us in the tournament because of our history (Richmond, Vermont, etc.). People never seem to notice that Kansas has laid just as many first and second round eggs over the last 20 years, just because they are Kansas. No one mentions their slip ups anymore. Going to Final Fours apparently negates those.

We will always be the Rodney Dangerfield of college basketball. Just accept it.

You have to live in a bubble then, I see Kansas jokes all the time.

 

[SWC75]

Per USA Today, we looked exhausted vs. Louisville and will have to travel 3000 miles to play this game. I guess they think the game will be played the next day.