Never? Friend who has little else to do than comb for sports minutiae said tonight no team who hasn't made the semi finals of their conference tournament has gone on to win national championship since the mid 80s. I might not have that exactly right (cocktails were involved), but interesting stat of the day if true.
You and some others are missing the point about rest. Who gives a crap about rest for the BTT. The rest people are talking about is for the NCAA tournament. Getting extra physical and mental rest and preparation for way more important is critical. Also for those who are nursing an injury like Grandison. Doesn't mean we are going to automatically win but getting extra rest for the most important games of the season doesn't hurt.
If CoHawk finishes that, we win this game. What a momentum shift that would have been. Aside from it being the literal difference in the game or whatever.I believe Bardo commented on that layup that CH just had to make that play. The replay showed Race Thompson smacked Coleman across the face and arm. Let's see you complete that play Steve!
The most recent that I found was Arizona in 97. The Pac 10 didn't have a conference tournament but they lost their last two regular season games before the tournament. That team was such an outlier though as they finished 5th in Pac 10 that year.
Great article...bottom para says it all...but defeats some of our consolation....Does not look like that has ever happened.
In there a benefit to losing early in your conference tournament?
Fans of teams that are upset early on in their conference tournament love to play the “extra rest” card, but is there actually any benefit to not having to play three or four consecutive games the week before the start of the NCAA Tournament?www.sbnation.com
Have a feeling this year could be different...
Only three exceptions that came to mind for me were three instances where the champ didn’t play a conference tourney.
I’m not that upset over the loss, but i do find the arguments that it helps us, we didn’t care, we chose to save ourselves because were want to win it all, laughable.
UConn 2011
I agree, we were mentally not in the game. Other than Hawk and Belo, we were going through the motion. This may be a blessing as it gives us a full week to rest and get our heads right. Winning the B1G tourney is nice but havin g a deep run into March is the prize here. All I know is that Hawk keeps playing he best game each time out anymore. Belo kept us in the game where Plummer and Trent checked out. New season, lets win 6 games
Anybody checked our season average on the front end of one and ones? I'm guessing it's around 65%.
They said 1st game of their conference tourney, not semi's. Cheers, though.
I have a confession to make. During Belo's convalescence and much of the time since he returned to the court, I have been afraid that he was somehow permanently broken by his concussion. That he could still be a good player, but that he would no longer be the crazy genius we saw so often last year.
The 4 turnovers in last 3 minutes....wow. that is glaring and avoidable.
Like the enthusiasm and outlook but results on the court haven’t looked like a final four team. Not something you can turn off and onAll I will say is....the focus over the last month has focused on getting ready for the NCAA tourney. They want to go to a final 4, last year kind of took away the importance of the BTT. They will be playing at a different intensity we’ve seen all year. I’m telling you, this team will go to the final 4. Calling my shot-come back to this in a few weeks
Good observation. Wondered why the coaches were not all over that
