Jon from Big Sky Basketball Blog says it best...

[narly]

I suppose I will get pounded for this post, but all four of us Griz fans who watched the game at a sports bar last night agreed with this.

The Griz looked like a deer in the head lights from the opening tip. They were scared out there. They shot when they should have passed, and passed when they should have shot. Jamar looked the most intimidated of all. He passed up at least 6-8 wide open threes, and looked like he wanted no part of having the ball in his possession. Really, the entire team played scared, which showed on the national stage. Cherry resorted to doing the very same thing he did last season against Wisconsin, which is drive into traffic and throw up a prayer with nowhere to go.

My point is this. This team has played scared the past two years in the NCAA tournament. Why? Tinks has got to share some of the blame for not instilling confidence in them. I did not see the same scared look in any other low-seeded team yesterday. The coaches have got to fix this thing before we play again in the show, which should be next year. It is all between the player's ears, and they must overcome it.

 

[GrizLA]

All good comments, although I wish to add:

Perception become reality (for Big Sky conference and Griz)

If the selection committee views the BSC and Griz to be small, slow, noncompetitive then they will give us high seeding and difficult matchups. The higher seeds bring lower odds of winning. Losing the tourney games to the teams (in a noncompetitve manner) from the power conferences reinforces the perception. When UM gets a matchup like Wisconsin that appears to be reasonable, they have to capitalize by being very competitive (i.e. Davidson did so yesterday).

All that aside, congratulations to Wayne Tinkle and the Griz on a good season. Thank you Ward and Cherry.

This. Wouldn't surprise me at all if NEXT year's BSC winner is in a play-in game.

depends...not if the conf tourney winner is 19-1 and 25-6 overall....get a clue...did u watch the 16seed playin games this year? teams with records of 15-20, 19-15, 20-14 and 21-15...sorry but if you think the griz should have been in the play in game because we got throttled by syarcuse your not thinking clearly. Now if PSU wins the bigsky next year with a record of 18-15, you are right, play in game :thumb:

Having watched the game last night, and seeing the heads of the UM players down after the game, I have to believe, that a "play in" game would be just what the Griz need. They would win,more likely than not, and in the process, get over the "big time, Big team" nerves that plagued them last night. They are simply not as bad as the score indicates or the play last night. They were overwhelmed by the atmosphere, the media, the attention, and the very thought of playing a "big name"....a play in game might have helped boost the swagger we know them to have....It is going to be difficult to overcome the record of most lopsided loss in CAA tourney play...but, next year, who knows?

 

[SeaGrizluvr]

I suppose I will get pounded for this post, but all four of us Griz fans who watched the game at a sports bar last night agreed with this.

The Griz looked like a deer in the head lights from the opening tip. They were scared out there. They shot when they should have passed, and passed when they should have shot. Jamar looked the most intimidated of all. He passed up at least 6-8 wide open threes, and looked like he wanted no part of having the ball in his possession. Really, the entire team played scared, which showed on the national stage. Cherry resorted to doing the very same thing he did last season against Wisconsin, which is drive into traffic and throw up a prayer with nowhere to go.

My point is this. This team has played scared the past two years in the NCAA tournament. Why? Tinks has got to share some of the blame for not instilling confidence in them. I did not see the same scared look in any other low-seeded team yesterday. The coaches have got to fix this thing before we play again in the show, which should be next year. It is all between the player's ears, and they must overcome it.

Perfectly put! :thumb:

 

[Speedy Grizzales]

Look at bright side amigos. Dos blowouts in last dos NCAA tournament keeps Senor Tinkle from being courted as much to vamonos....

Stay thirsty, amigos.