What matters?

[SWC75]

It's been argued in multiple threads that the NCAA tournament "is the only thing that matters" and that the Big East Tournament is "meaningless". One posters even said that the college basketball season is "one month long and the rest of it is an exhibition season". He said that 99.8 of fans agree with this. let's find out.

In my view the NCAA torunament is obviously the most important thing in college basketball and we do tend to remember seasons primaily by how we did in the tournament but the view that "nothing else matters" is too limited. That would mean that we've only had one successful, or "special" season. I think going 30-1 in the regular season is special. It think obtaining a #1 ranking is special. I think winning the conference regular season title is special. I think winning the conference tournament is special. Failing to follow those achievements up with a strong NCAA run is disappointing, but it doesn't negate what was achieved before. Am I part of the 0.2%?

 

[Marsh01]

It's been argued in multiple threads that the NCAA tournament "is the only thing that matters" and that the Big East Tournament is "meaningless". One posters even said that the college basketball season is "one month long and the rest of it is an exhibition season". He said that 99.8 of fans agree with this. let's find out.

In my view the NCAA torunament is obviously the most important thing in college basketball and we do tend to remember seasons primaily by how we did in the tournament but the view that "nothing else matters" is too limited. That would mean that we've only had one successful, or "special" season. I think going 30-1 in the regular season is special. It think obtaining a #1 ranking is special. I think winning the conference regular season title is special. I think winning the conference tournament is special. Failing to follow those achievements up with a strong NCAA run is disappointing, but it doesn't negate what was achieved before. Am I part of the 0.2%?

I am in the 0.2% as well. The argument is ridiculous.

 

[Flacusian]

It all matters. To argue otherwise is to imply that every team but 1 has played the season in vain. There is more to college basketball than just W's and L's.

 

[orange03]

I hate to diminish what we've done this year, or other years for that matter in the regular season but ultimately our success or lack there of in the tournament is what I really care about. If we bow out early the 31-2 won't seem nearly as good. This isn't little league, the whole point is to win the whole thing.

Of course it's a matter of opinion.

 

[Marsh01]

I hate to diminish what we've done this year, or other years for that matter in the regular season but ultimately our success or lack there of in the tournament is what I really care about. If we bow out early the 31-2 won't seem nearly as good. This isn't little league, the whole point is to win the whole thing.

Of course it's a matter of opinion.

The problem is that people then poo poo what we accomplished up to the tournament. Lots of great memories have been had this season and to diminish it is just silly.

 

[iommi]

With all of our flameouts in the recent years...this year I'm putting a ton of emphasis on the NCAA Tourney. If we lost in the first or even 2nd weekend, we will not have played to our seed (or to our talent) and this season will be a huge disappointment. College basketball legacies are built on Final Four runs and how many National Championship banners you hang.

Great regular season but New Orleans or busto for this fan.

 

[Cusefan95]

Sort of a stacked question the way you asked it. A better way to ask would be "Would a Big East tourney championship in 2003 made the national championship any sweeter" or "would winning the Big East tourney this year have made this a successful season even if we lost in the Sweet 16". Because those get to the core of my point, which you seem to be intent on avoiding.

 

[orange03]

The problem is that people then poo poo what we accomplished up to the tournament. Lots of great memories have been had this season and to diminish it is just silly.

I agree that it shouldn't be forgotten, but if the point isn't to win a championship then what's the point? I'd sacrifice a few regular season wins for a few more in the tournament if possible. All things considered we had a tremendous season up to this point--and I realize I only speak for myself here, but if we get bounced in the early rounds I really won't care what we did in December or January.

 

[Marsh01]

I agree that it shouldn't be forgotten, but if the point isn't to win a championship then what's the point? I'd sacrifice a few regular season wins for a few more in the tournament if possible. All things considered we had a tremendous season up to this point--and I realize I only speak for myself here, but if we get bounced in the early rounds I really won't care what we did in December or January.

Hey I am all aboard with wanting to win an NC. The tournament is just so damn hard and with a one and done a lot of teams fan base will feel the same way.

 

[CorduroyG]

all i know is if we dont make the final 4 this year nobody will take us seriously. we could be 34-0 next year heading into the tourny and everyone will say "who cares, cuse will flame out in the tourny like they do every year." we need to change the perception of this team as tourny failures, and the only way to do that is to make a final 4, especially with a 1 seed. this is a huge tournament for this program, put up or shut up!

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[PoppyHart]

It depends on where you are as a program.

If you're Harvard or Northwestern, just making the tournament is what matters. If you're Providence, you're still talking about the '94 BEC. If you're Duke, you can't even remember the years you won the conference tourney or regular season titles. For the teams that aspire to that latter level, you are judged solely on NCAA tournament success.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

It's been argued in multiple threads that the NCAA tournament "is the only thing that matters" and that the Big East Tournament is "meaningless". One posters even said that the college basketball season is "one month long and the rest of it is an exhibition season". He said that 99.8 of fans agree with this. let's find out.

In my view the NCAA torunament is obviously the most important thing in college basketball and we do tend to remember seasons primaily by how we did in the tournament but the view that "nothing else matters" is too limited. That would mean that we've only had one successful, or "special" season. I think going 30-1 in the regular season is special. It think obtaining a #1 ranking is special. I think winning the conference regular season title is special. I think winning the conference tournament is special. Failing to follow those achievements up with a strong NCAA run is disappointing, but it doesn't negate what was achieved before. Am I part of the 0.2%?

I don't view it as all or nothing. Everything has value and I want to win everything.

That said, strictly for me, the NCAA tournament means more than the regular season and the regular season means more than the BET

 

[SWC75]

Sort of a stacked question the way you asked it. A better way to ask would be "Would a Big East tourney championship in 2003 made the national championship any sweeter" or "would winning the Big East tourney this year have made this a successful season even if we lost in the Sweet 16". Because those get to the core of my point, which you seem to be intent on avoiding.

My question gets right to the core of the point. if we'd won the 2003 Big East tournament, it would have made the 2003 sweeter. it just would have been the lesser of two found memories. This is already a special season, (my preferred word). The question is, can we make it historical by winnign another national championship?

 

[SWC75]

I don't view it as all or nothing. Everything has value and I want to win everything.

That said, strictly for me, the NCAA tournament means more than the regular season and the regular season means more than the BET

That's the correct ranking. But it is a ranking. It's not #1 and then nothing.

 

[Dick_in_MI]

That's the correct ranking. But it is a ranking. It's not #1 and then nothing.

Like I said, it's not all or nothing for me

We talk about great SU teams and players all the time but only one team and a small number of players won it all.

If we fail to win it all this year, it won't negate everything that this historic team has accomplished. Fans will talk about the 31-1 Season long after I'm gone

 

[Eric15]

The answer to this question is very simple... what "matters" is entirely in the eye of the beholder. If it entertains you and makes you feel proud, then it matters.

Some people don't care about Big East Tournament titles, I do. Neither one of us are right or wrong, it's just what we personally value. I'm very proud of our BET and BE regular season titles. Do I value them as much as a Final Four or National Title? Of course not. But they definitely matter to me.

I mean, at the end of the day, to 95% of the world population, a bunch of 18-22 year old kids running up and down a court and putting a ball in a hoop doesn't "matter".

 

[iommi]

all i know is if we dont make the final 4 this year nobody will take us seriously. we could be 34-0 next year heading into the tourny and everyone will say "who cares, cuse will flame out in the tourny like they do every year." we need to change the perception of this team as tourny failures, and the only way to do that is to make a final 4, especially with a 1 seed. this is a huge tournament for this program, put up or shut up!

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This.

 

[Rocco]

Alot of people might think that all that matters is the NCAA tourney, but to me at least it shouldn't be completely all about that. What SU did this year was incredible. They beat up on some really good teams and won alot of close matchups as well, in which most other years, they would have lost a few of those.

You can't tell a fan that experiences a Dome game on a Saturday in February that the regular season doesn't matter. There are alot of memorable moments from those days that people will remember for a long time.

 

[baggerbob]

To me its always been 2 seasons the regular season and the NCAA tournament. I've always felt since they went to 64 teams getting 2 wins and being in tne final 8 game is a success. Thats what the Kansas,Duke,North Carolina,Kentucky fans expect. When DC was here we got there 3 of 4 years, and except for last year we started getting back there. We need this year to get to the final 8 for a very successful season but this team has had a good season either way.

 

[Victory Lap]

What matters is what and how we remember a season; wounds heal. '09-10 team: great regular season, disappointing postseason, very fond memories. '05-'06 team: disappointing regular season, amazing BET, disappointing NCAA flame-out, very fond memories. And so on. If the NCAA tourney was all that mattered, I would only have fond memories of '02-'03.

 

[omniorange]

For me, the order of importance is NC, Final Four, Regular Season Title, BET Champs.

So not getting to the Final Four this year will be disappointing.

Cheers,
Neil

 

[SWC75]

The answer to this question is very simple... what "matters" is entirely in the eye of the beholder. If it entertains you and makes you feel proud, then it matters.

Some people don't care about Big East Tournament titles, I do. Neither one of us are right or wrong, it's just what we personally value. I'm very proud of our BET and BE regular season titles. Do I value them as much as a Final Four or National Title? Of course not. But they definitely matter to me.

I mean, at the end of the day, to 95% of the world population, a bunch of 18-22 year old kids running up and down a court and putting a ball in a hoop doesn't "matter".

Agreed. If you don't care about basketball, the national championship is meaningless.

If you do care about basketball, I think every part of the season has some meaning. It's not going to be the same level of meaning, but it will have somemeaning. "meaningless" is one of those words that gets thrown around too much. The Big East Tournament, which features some of the best basketball games any of us can remember, has some meaning. I agree that the regular seaosn Big East title is a greater achievement. Certainly winning the national championship is the greatest achievement of all.

 

[orangefan13]

While it matters would you want to bump and bang and get soar inside when you got your first NCAA tournament game in a week?
The BET could be looked at as a tough 3 game BE stretch like the Gtown, Uconn, Ville one we went through earlier in the season for a one seed.

Or it could be looked as what cincy is going through they have something to prove that they have finally clicked.

Interesting how we settled for alot of jumpers wasn't it?

Its all perception and needs based on what you did all season really.

Cincy and Ville coincidently have something to prove. Although I don't believe Ville has the offesne to belong in the finals we beat them twice of course and shooting 1-29 outside the paint.

 

[SWC75]

To me its always been 2 seasons the regular season and the NCAA tournament. I've always felt since they went to 64 teams getting 2 wins and being in tne final 8 game is a success. Thats what the Kansas,Duke,North Carolina,Kentucky fans expect. When DC was here we got there 3 of 4 years, and except for last year we started getting back there. We need this year to get to the final 8 for a very successful season but this team has had a good season either way.

Those UCLA teams under John Wooden won only 4 NCAA games to win their national titles, (except the last one,who won 5). It could be argued that any team that makes the Final Four these days has accomplished as much. orinially the NCAA torunament was an 8 team tournament and all you had to do was win 3 games. So any Elite 8 team has won as many as the early champs.

 

[rstone7727]

Is the reason we are in the market for so many top recruits because we won the national championship back in 2003 or is the reason because SU has been so successful in the regular season over the past 40 years?

I think being a winning team repeatedly is what brings recruits more than anything. Only a handful of teams are considered overachievers in the tourney. Off the top of my head I'd say Michigan St, Duke, UCLA, Uconn. I'm sure there are others but not many. Success can't be measured in number of titles only.