Wit State rated #8 and #10 in nation...

[pantherfan4ever]

So, I havent followed them very close at all and I know they have a good team... but is their ranking inflated at all or are they really this good? Just like to hear other peoples thoughts... because looking at their team vs ours, i think we definitely are good enough to play with them and even beat them.

[tcondon]

They have beat George Mason, LSU, Syracuse and Wyoming all of the road. That should tell you a lot.

[NorthernIowaBacker]

If Kansas or North Carolina, etc would have played the same schedule with the same results...they'd be ranked in the Top 3.

[unigriff]

George Mason lost a ton...WSU was prob. favored by 10 id guess...LSU is always overrated at the beginning of the season, they are a 2nd half-season team. Doesn't suprise me. Syracuse...purely overrated in general, they ahve not much this year. Wyoming...didnt even know they had a decent team. Woulda picked WSU before the season started.

[BCPanther]

T-Minus 19 days until we roll into Wichita and give them their first loss...

(After we win a tough one this weekend, beat a good Wartburg team, and Christen the Mac for the Valley on ESPN2)

[pantherfan4ever]

George Mason lost a ton...WSU was prob. favored by 10 id guess...LSU is always overrated at the beginning of the season, they are a 2nd half-season team. Doesn't suprise me. Syracuse...purely overrated in general, they ahve not much this year. Wyoming...didnt even know they had a decent team. Woulda picked WSU before the season started.

I am going to have to agree with you 100%... we beat a better LSU team last year than WSU did this year.. overrated... george mason hasnt beat anyone yet and lost a ton of guys.... syracuse is overrated, and wyoming has a decent team but they arent great either....

I know WSU beat these teams and this is why they are rated so high, but that really doesnt have to do with my question since I think they are all overrated anyways... My question is whether y'all look at this WSU team and see a powerhouse or not? Because when i look at their team (not their record since i think it is watered down since some of those wins are a bit overrated in my opinion) i dont see a team that is way better than ours or other valley teams...

Maybe the valley is just that good

[SteinPizza]

Syracuse...purely overrated in general, they ahve not much this year.

According to their website, they return four starters from a team the won the Big East tourney last year. It's hard to overrate that. They've lost to two nationally ranked teams, WSU and then Oklahoma St. Good guess says they'll get their act together a little better, then go on a run. This will probably be a huge win later in the year in terms of Valley RPI, with a positive, indirect effect on how many Valley teams make the tourney.

[FerociousCat]

Syracuse also has one of the top freshmen in the country in Paul Harris.

[Lil Panther]

Did someone expect them to be really good for them to be overrated. They are pretty good, but not amazing.

[Marc Wigim]

According to their website, they return four starters from a team the won the Big East tourney last year.

...but up until that point it was assumed that they were NIT material. Ridiculous comebacks in a couple of do-or-die games was the reason the Orange were in the NCAAs, nothing more.

[unigriff]

well 1. we all know from personal experience how some websites can lie with stats and such. and 2. just cuz they MAY have 4 starters back doesn't mean they can play as a team like they did last year.

You take a key part of the lineup out and ur screwed (See game vs. UMKC and taking Day out)

Where as on my personal own opinion...we took Benny J out last year, and I thought we played 3x better. Have him in, we are only mediocre. personally benny peaked his Jr. year. He had a great career, but wasn't or shouldnt of been the go-to guy all the time last year. (for example...the yelling at me from some fans because they hated that Mac though Benny should have the ball at the end of close games..I would agree he SHOULD prob. 60% of the time (depending on the situation), as for the MVC tourney last year...he shoulda passed it to JLitt in the corner...cuz damn he was open, and who knows! All i can say to them was...I dunno, i wasn't coaching them, I agree and disagree with you...etc...etc...

so saying they have 4 players back...really doesn't mean they'll be as good. Just MHO

[DWadle1983]

well 1. we all know from personal experience how some websites can lie with stats and such. and 2. just cuz they MAY have 4 starters back doesn't mean they can play as a team like they did last year.

You take a key part of the lineup out and ur screwed (See game vs. UMKC and taking Day out)

Where as on my personal own opinion...we took Benny J out last year, and I thought we played 3x better. Have him in, we are only mediocre. personally benny peaked his Jr. year. He had a great career, but wasn't or shouldnt of been the go-to guy all the time last year. (for example...the yelling at me from some fans because they hated that Mac though Benny should have the ball at the end of close games..I would agree he SHOULD prob. 60% of the time (depending on the situation), as for the MVC tourney last year...he shoulda passed it to JLitt in the corner...cuz damn he was open, and who knows! All i can say to them was...I dunno, i wasn't coaching them, I agree and disagree with you...etc...etc...

so saying they have 4 players back...really doesn't mean they'll be as good. Just MHO

How is it better to not have a good player on the floor, or not have him this season? From the games I saw on TV, if you can have a complaint it's not how Jacobson played but the UNI offense. Jacobson was often asked to play the role of Michael Jordan being handed the ball late in the shot clock and bail out a possession.

[unigriff]

it was just an analogy...saying 1 player can change the entire complexion of a team. benny was a damn fine baller...no doubt...but senior year...he missed more clutch shots than made...I personally thought the offense ran "smoother" (maybe not better) with him out, which was not often.

[r54uni]

UNI basketball will never be about one player because we won't be able to recruit McDonald's All-Americans who can take over a game and dominate by themselves. UNI basketball will continue to be about putting five players on the floor who play well together as a team. (Much like every team that beats Team USA!!!!) We will work harder, play smarter and continue winning games even when we lose key components each year.

[unigriff]

cheers to that!