RIP 2006-2007 panthers

[williebat]

grant and brooks thanks for the memories. Can we get ther real and original Benny J back to play please!!!!!! Hope we find someone who is not afraid to score or we will be singing the same tune next year.

[BCPanther]

We are going to the NIT. BU will beat SIU tomorrow and punch their dance ticket. The NIT takes two Valley schools, us and WSU and the Valley has a record 6 in postseason play...

[DRAKELAWPANTHER]

We are not going to the NIT.

We don't deserve to go to the NIT.

[UNIPNTHR]

We are going to the NIT. BU will beat SIU tomorrow and punch their dance ticket. The NIT takes two Valley schools, us and WSU and the Valley has a record 6 in postseason play...

Well, crack open the champagne! Last I heard, we're not a lock for the NIT there Brett. There's a lot of basketball left to be played and we left a lot to be desired in the eyes of any and all postseason play decision makers.

On a tangent, if the NCAA is THE Dance... does that make the NIT like a middle school dance where no one dances they just stand around in their groups of friends right next to the blown speakers while the band director tries to DJ wearing a giant red cowboy hat and scratches records to the chicken dance and hokey-poky?

[jman2004]

We weren't even mentioned a lot of places to be on the bubble for the NIT before this game. I think we needed this to be a lock for the NIT.

But if Bradley and MO St. can make the championship game, I think the Valley could take 4 again to the NCAAs. We could sneak in the NIT, but it could be a long shot. I hate to say it, but I think the Hawks will be playing in the NIT before we do this season.

[BCPanther]

When did I say that the NIT was the ultimate goal?? The more games we can play and the more practice time we can have the better off the guys coming back next year will be...

This doom and gloom stuff makes you all sound like a bunch of Hawk fans...

[UNIChippewa]

I agree Brett. I guess three straight NCAA appearances creates a sense of entitlement for some fans, and when those expectations are not met, whining and b!tching ensue.

Look, I'm disappointed we couldn't keep up the hot start in the conference either, but there is still a chance we could get an NIT bid, and that's not nothing. Ten years ago while I was going to UNI the possibility of four straight postseason berths would have been unthinkable.

As fans, the only thing we really have control over is our own reaction to the team's performance. We can't call the plays, we can't score the baskets, we can't create the turnovers. All we can do is be happy when they win and be disappointed when they lose.

Feel free to complain and be negative if you want, but really, what good does it do?

[Panthers to the Bone]

A couple things.

UNI lost 80% of their guard minutes from last year to this year. We know that teams with experienced guards win in the Valley (as UNI has the past 2=3 years). This team had youth (talented...yet youthful). For UNI to finish at the same spot as last year in the MVC standings (one seed higher), and get to 18 wins and a tough road schedule non-con...I don't think that we can look at this season as bad. Yes, there were times that UNI didn't play well, but these guys never gave up. They always kept fighting. The Valley has 10 of the 15 guys on the All-Valley and Honorable Mention team as seniors...there is lots of room for guys to step up.

18 wins + potential post season + having 4 of your 5 bench players as true freshmen, I think we as a fan base have to put this season into perspective. This team overachieved so much over the past 4 years...the talent is improving, and as long as the younger guys play with a chip on their shoulder next year is going to be a very good year.

The NIT is not the ultimate goal, but getting to the NIT in a down year for UNI basketball is not a bad thing. We have become a little spoiled with the past 3 runs to the NCAA tourney, and with 38 of the 50 Valley starters coming back this past year, we knew it was going to be tough. Next year WILL be different. There will be at least one new head coach, plus potentially 2 more. The bottom will probably be weaker, while the top won't be as strong. This team as individuals will grow...this team as a unit will grow. They will get stronger and quicker. Have faith!

[BCPanther]

Make that 2 new coaches. WHO Radio is reporting that Dr. Tom is going to retire...

[DancerHall Cat]

Well, crack open the champagne! Last I heard, we're not a lock for the NIT there Brett. There's a lot of basketball left to be played and we left a lot to be desired in the eyes of any and all postseason play decision makers.

On a tangent, if the NCAA is THE Dance... does that make the NIT like a middle school dance where no one dances they just stand around in their groups of friends right next to the blown speakers while the band director tries to DJ wearing a giant red cowboy hat and scratches records to the chicken dance and hokey-poky?

I agree. Its a little difficult for me to get excited about being the tallest guy at the dwarf convention or the valedictorian of summer school.

[BCPanther]

I will say it again

Where did I say that the NIT was the Ultimate Goal??

[DRAKELAWPANTHER]

I agree there's nothing wrong with ONE down year (sometimes two)...or a trip to the NIT.

But we certainly should not be satisfied with this year's results, or pat our program on the back for being "so much better than it was 10 years ago." It's that type of "settle for mediocrity" attitude that led to a decade-long NCAA-drought from 1990 to 2003. Call it "being spoiled" or "whining" if you want, but I, for one, would prefer not to return to those days...

Hopefully, this season's disappointment only strengthens the alums' resolve to contribute to the program, to continue building it, and hopefully we get back on track next year.

[By the same token, our players should be congratulated for playing hard this year, and our seniors should be thanked for what they accomplished over the last four.]

[ejacobson]

I can tell you right now that guys like Coach Jake, Eric Coleman, Grant Stout, and Brooks McKowen do not treat what happened this season as "at least its better than 10 years ago". Coach Jake, Coleman, and Brooks (likely as a grad asst.) will get these youngins on the right track, this is group that has players who have tasted success and want it bad, and they will not "settle" for this season, as was said above this was not expected to be UNIs best season in the last 5 years, but theys guys fought hard and almost turned into something amazing, remember they were 14 -4 at one point and then the experience of our competition through out the league just took over. It sucks, but dont think for a minute that this is a group that has the mentallity that "hey were better than the worst team here ever" because this coaching staff and these players are not those type of people. Have some faith, hope for some post season for Grant and Brooks, and if not lets get ready for another year of Panther Football and another great recruiting class.

[General_Panther]

I will happily cheer on my boys if the make the NIT, hell I'll just be happy that our season didn't have to end in the terrible fashion that took yesterday afternoon.

I know that I haven't given up on our chances for the NIT, and I know that BRETT DIDN'T SAY IT WAS THE ULTIMATE GOAL. I just hope we get to continue on for the guys.

On the flip side, if we don't make the NIT I can understand why the committee wouldn't select us. We faltered down the stretch, and i'm sure there are teams that didn't play as poorly as we did with similar records. I just hope the committee takes into account the league we play in.

I for one still have faith.

[BCPanther]

I for one still have faith.

I do too, GP...

You would be surprised how rare that is around here today...

Here's to a run to New York...