Tech Withdrawing from the Big 12

[Bball Girl]

....it's true, we are no longer worthy of your esteemed company. Our world is over, we don't stand a chance of winning the Big 12 or even going to the NCAAs this year...we'll probably lose all of our remaining games, so we're going to quit now, eliminate the women's basketball program...the USA now belongs soley to Bobby Knight... http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/frown.gif


bye, bye.....


Yeah right.it's a sad state of affairs on RaiderPower....geez but I hope our girls don't read it. DblT81 has elevated the level of conversation over there, but it's not an easy task she's taken on.

Thank goodness for HoopScoop...for fans who know basketball and can appreciate another team's performance.

[schooner2]

Yep. The bigger they are ..... well, you know the rest. But that's only true because of two typical responses fans have to losing a game when they thought they were the best and were unbeatable. Those two responses are: 1) We are horrible, not anywhere near worthy of our original ranking and praise heaped on us by everyone; and 2) all the blame will undoubtedly be pointed to one thing - as if that one thing solves everything. I don't know what they are doing at RaiderPower, but I can almost bet that is what is happening.

Why? I have seen this happen many times before. And just got through witnessing it once again here in Soonerland. Our football team was being touted as one of the best of all time. Surely unbeatable. And then we lose not only once, but twice. In all reality, OU football was still probably the 3rd best team in all of collegiate football. Yet suddenly according to fans we were just horrible and our nearly 50 ppg average was just smoke and mirrors all season long. Which led to the 2nd reaction. All blame was put at the feet of Jason White. In fact, the overwhelmingly reaction is the coaching staff should have put in Paul Thompson (backup QB) in place of Jason White and Paul would have led us to the glory land. Nevermind Jason just got through winning the Heisman. Nevermind Jason was nearly a god around here all season long. How incredibly fickle people can be.

Good grief! What people will make themselves believe so they can wrap their minds around something they thought would never happen. Hey, how about this for a reaction. Hey!, maybe LSU is actually better than OU?! Gasp, surely not. That just can't be!

Back to basketball. This is the Big 12. Any team, any night can beat you. Especially if you are playing on the road. Learn it. Don't forget it.

Thankfully, we here at HoopScoop realize that.

[35TangoTango]

Bball Girl, this is the price you pay for having so many fans! It's the down side of having 10,000 people in the stands at the drop of a hat!

You get a lot of people that are into the Lady Raiders, but not really into WBB, so they don't have a good feel for what's going on. What they do know, of course is how to coach, and how they could have done it better.

Some of the rest of us are lucky if anyone notices at all, so I guess it's pick your poison.

From an outsider's point of view it is kind of funny though, because the people you are talking about are the same people that spent the week argueing with their counterparts from UT about which of them was the best team in the country!!


HUBRIS - a word from greek tragedies that, roughly translated, means "the pride that goeth before a fall".

We're all subject to it. Us Sooners were going around saying "We took the number 3 team in the country to the wire on the road - and only a bad call beat us". Next thing we know we're lucky to scrape out an overtime win against the bottom team in the conference (and if truth be known with a bad call to help us).

In retrospect, the "If you could pick one game" thread is the silliest thing that's been posted on this board for a while. In the Big 12 this year the operative cliches have to be "One game at a time", and "The most important game is the next game".

[dem]

Fascinating thread on RaiderPower about the Iowa State game, with many dismal predictions about the rest of the Lady Raider season. Perhaps someone [not me!] should remind them what happened to the Oklahoma team that nearly took down Connecticut in the national championship game, when THEY came in to Hilton that same season . . . (And anybody remember how many conference games Kansas State lost last season besides their loss at Hilton? And last year's ISU team was no better than this year's.)

I'm sure that Coach Sharp will be able to put this disappointing loss to very good use. I've heard coaches say that it's a lot easier to get players to take you seriously about fixing what's broke, if they have at least one lost game to help focus their attention.

[Bball Girl]

Tech beat KSU twice, KSU beat Texas, Texas beat Tech 3 times and ISU beat KSU...go figure.

I'm an Arizona alum....and I've lost track of the times UofA went into the NCAAs as #1 or a #1 seed and lost in the first round.

Last week Coach Sharp said that the believes the Tech fans are better educated about wbb than they used to be.

I was one of the people arguing with some UT fans who came over to slap Tech. I see nothing that tells me that Texas is better than Tech or Tech is better than Texas at this point in the season and I don't appreciate their ongoing smack just because they don't have a place to talk women's Longhorn basketball.

Hubris in themselves...but not in the team, because most of the people who are yowling are the ones who saying...we'll probably lose at ISU, this team always does a....., Coach Sharp never does b.......

All this yowling also misses the point. ISU won because they played good ball, they had a good plan that was well executed.

[Jennifer]

Ya know, my attitude over the past couple of years has been, "It's just a game". Not to belittle it to the players and coaches, to whom it's much more than that, but really in the overall scheme of life, to a fan it is just a game. There'll be another one later, and another one after that and so on. I guess certain experiences I've had over the past few years have led me to not get worked up when my team loses or plays bad-things that sort of put it in perspective. There's so much worse out there in the world that I'm not going to waste my emotions on a ball game.
So remember, It's just a game!

[YCN]

Very good thread. It seems to me that a lot of people who consider themselves diehard fans of their teams wrap themselves up emotionally into their programs, when those teams are winning at a high level it becomes almost like a religious experience to them.

While I love several sports in I've long since learned that you simply cannot put that much emotional attachment into sports. It isn't healthy. I had a friend that was so caught up in the Denver Broncos football team that he would actually cry (actually sob!) when they lost a big game.

Anytime you are putting that much emotional capital into sports, it says something about your overal priorities in life, and about a void elsewhere in your existence that needs to be addressed, rather than going into the deep dark void of despair if your team doesn't fulfill your dreams.

As Jennifer said, and it cannot be said enough, it's only a game! If you cannot bring yourself to accept that, you need to back off and re-evaluate where you are in life. I can barely stand to visit OUFans right now, the gloom and despair is so thick. You'd think these people had lost a member of their immediate families, not that their teams had lost some games.


[This message has been edited by YCN (edited 01-16-2004).]

[Big12Bear]

I'm not going out on a limb by saying that with Tech's #1 ranking, with it you are going to have a ton of bandwagon fans, and many of them casual observers of the program at best, hopping on. A good portion of these type of fans tend to be some of the harshest when things do go bad.

To keep it in perspective, it was a narrow loss in a hostile venue on the road. The sky is falling!!!

[bosley]

Soonerman has perhaps the best take when he points out "The most important game is the next game". The cream that will rise to the top will be those teams that take care of the home court and slip up on another team when they go on the road. I think that's what was so disheartening when my Lady Bears dropped the opening game at home to Colorado.

[40ishHorn]

I was one of the people arguing with some UT fans who came over to slap Tech. I see nothing that tells me that Texas is better than Tech or Tech is better than Texas at this point in the season and I don't appreciate their ongoing smack just because they don't have a place to talk women's Longhorn basketball.

On contrare. While I haven't bothered to register to post on the Tech site (and probably never will), I do take a gander at the talk over there and have for years. Please don't use such a broad brush to paint UT fans talking smack when it's only a couple. Seriously.

BTW, there is a place to talk Lady Horn basketball (granted nowhere near the traffic, just as in game attendance) and I found it hilarious to read on the Tech board about all the hand-wringing and *****ing going down on the Texas site after the Baylor loss...there was NONE (it was just assumed). The Baylor loss was dissapointing, but there was no meltdown as in Raiderland this week. A few more losses might change that, but Burnt Orange Country is still enjoying the year!

[carolann]

....it's true, we are no longer worthy of your esteemed company. Our world is over, we don't stand a chance of winning the Big 12 or even going to the NCAAs this year...we'll probably lose all of our remaining games, so we're going to quit now, eliminate the women's basketball program...the USA now belongs soley to Bobby Knight...


Texas Tech - We'll miss you! Maybe you can join the Mountain West where you can play New Mexico every year.

Re: Horn Fans
Yes, there is a place to talk Texas womens basketball. It is just that a couple of people would rather go to someone else's board and stir things up. Other Texas fans may post on the Tech board with friendly intent just as some Tech fans post on the Texas board with friendly intent. Those people just have to accept that they may be met with hostility on a rival board no matter what they say.


[This message has been edited by carolann (edited 01-16-2004).]

[elfdenmom]

Loved your post Bball Girl. Sigh! Sackcloth and ashes from now on...not even welcome in the Mountain West because New Mexico has blackballed Cisti.

[Jimi]

Originally posted by elfdenmom:
Loved your post Bball Girl. Sigh! Sackcloth and ashes from now on...not even welcome in the Mountain West because New Mexico has blackballed Cisti.

Hey! Come on now. Its not that bad. We still plan to welcome you to Manhattan. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

Ummm - I'd say if you want to look for the LR's anytime the rest of the season and the next few years the top 25 or the top 10 will be a good place to start.

To paraphrase Coach Roy Williams when he had some bad luck at KU a couple of years ago "If Marsha Sharp is stupid it did not just happen. She has been "stupid" a long time". I'd say anyone who thinks Sharp is not a top notch coach has lost all sense and not just their sense of proportion.

[BEAR SKIN]

PLEASE make it effective within 24 hours!

[MsProudSooner]

One thing I have learned over the years is this: If you have a really great victory or an undefeated season that puts you on top of the world, there will come a time - in the not so distant future - when you will feel equally bad. It all balances out in the end.

One thing being a Sooner fan teaches you is that there are some people who take all of this way, way to seriously! Since our very young men's team has lost badly in two games, there have been posts about fans being embarrased and humiliated. GET A LIFE, PEOPLE! Enjoy the victories and support your team after the losses. The sun will rise again.

[Bball Girl]

Tech in the Mountain West...surely you jest..nah we'd end up in the WAC with La Tech. The only mts in Texas are really in New Mexico.... http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

I understand getting emotionally involved with a team...I certainly do and I feel sick when they lose, but I get over it cause as you've said, "it's just a game". The sun will come up again....

"It's a bad loss"...well first that's a slap at ISU and they played good ball. Second, it's only "bad" if we let it be bad...

I just wonder how many of these people put the same effort into their work or school that they expect from our players. Do they "win" every day? Do they give 110%...probably not.

It's like they have their self esteem tied up in our basketball team...that's scary.

I was at Ole Miss the year Peyton Manning chose to attend Tennessee instead of Ole Miss and the hue and outcry was absurd..he received death threats, yes death threats....

"I'm going to kill you if you don't play for us" would not encourage me to go to that university...

So, where's this Texas wbb board. I'd love to look it..sometime, it's always fun to hear other folks talk about their teams.

Guess we'll have to stay and play some ball with Baylor coming to town. I'm looking forward to a great game.

[40ishHorn]

So, where's this Texas wbb board. I'd love to look it..sometime, it's always fun to hear other folks talk about their teams.

Oh come on BBall, you are all Big 12 first teamer and probably post there. If not, figure it out.

[Bball Girl]

If I posted there, I would NOT ask about it. I looked once and didn't find anything...but if this is a sensitive issue for some, forgive me for asking...

[Beerman]

Hey folks. I couldn't decide whether or not to respond to this but it keeps getting bumped back to the top. So....

I'm here, you don't have to call me "these people". I do know you are referring to more than one person when you say that but I think I'm part of 'em since I was pretty critical and upset.

In my defense: I never used the words "sucks", "fired", "cancel" etc etc.

I do stand by my statement that it was a bad loss. Sorry Clones, no disrespect meant. At this point in the season or shall I say, up until Wed night, ya'll were struggling and it's not a stretch to say that you probably weren't gonna be challenging for the conf title. Am I wrong in thinking that? I know this conf is strong but I think most here were calling it a 3 maybe 4 team race. Correct? Based on that, and ISU not being one of those 4 is why I think it was a bad loss.

Throw in that it happened on the same night that UT lost and Tech could have got a game up on the Horns, but also it happened in the same week as another UConn loss where some separation could have occurred.

Now, yes it is early in the conf season and many good things can still happen. I will NOT disagree with that.

Don't think you want me to get into why I said what I did about a championship this year so I won't unless you ask.

I do enjoy this board because of the good discussions here and not the pissing contests that are found elsewhere.

If you are saying, "pot meet kettle" then I do apologize for that because that was not my intent. I truly feel like I was airing legit concerns about the LR's based on past seasons and when and how and where they were defeated.

Thanks for you time and here's to another exciting Big12 bball weekend. http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

[horntooter]

Hey BBall girl - here's the link: http://forums.hornfans.com/php/wwwthreads/postlist.php?Cat=&Board=wbb

Good posts, by the way.

[swok34]

thank you for the link, horntooter.....I went over to this site right after the OU/Texas game and I read a post by Babhorn...
she did an excellent job "reporting" the game by someone who was there.



[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 01-16-2004).]

[dem]

Originally posted by Beerman:
I do stand by my statement that it was a bad loss. Sorry Clones, no disrespect meant. At this point in the season or shall I say, up until Wed night, ya'll were struggling and it's not a stretch to say that you probably weren't gonna be challenging for the conf title. Am I wrong in thinking that? I know this conf is strong but I think most here were calling it a 3 maybe 4 team race. Correct? Based on that, and ISU not being one of those 4 is why I think it was a bad loss.



Iowa State has been on the other end of a very similar situation. In 2001, ISU came down to Waco with a record of 15-1, ranked #7 in the country, having lost only to #5 Duke in front of the second largest womens' basketball crowd ever at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Baylor had piled up a lot of wins against teams with RPI's in the 200-300 range but had just lost three consecutive conference games, most recently to Texas A & M, who had an RPI way over 100 and finished that season with only two conference wins.

Iowa State got beat 79-74 in what was probably Baylor's first big win of the KMR era; it was Baylor's first-ever win over a top-10 team. The Baylor team and fans had an ecstatic (and well-deserved) celebration while ISU fans and players tried to hold back tears. It was very definitely a "bad" loss for ISU.

The final chapter of that story: ISU went on to beat Oklahoma in the championship game of the Big 12 tournament, made it to the Sweet 16, advancing to the Regional Semifinals in Denver (where they lost to Vandy).


Two years ago, Oklahoma (then 14-1) came into Hilton with a #3 national ranking to play a faltering Iowa State team. ISU had just suffered a crushing loss to lowly Texas A & M after first being upset by Texas in Austin. ISU, then 1-3 in Big 12 games, seemed to be watching its season coming apart, and after the A & M game Coach Fennelly sounded as low as I had ever heard him.

Oklahoma looked tentative and uncertain as the first half unfolded, and Iowa State took a three-point lead into the locker at halftime. The Sooners did not play well the rest of the way and got soundly beaten; their 16-point loss was to be the worst they suffered that entire season. Ten weeks later, playing truly inspired basketball, they came within an eyelash of upsetting Connecticut in the national championship game.


So, all I'm suggesting is: keep things in perspective. Texas Tech could take this "bad loss" and still end up in the national championship game. One person who I know would not be very surprised if that happened is Coach Fennelly, who has been ranking Tech and Texas at #1 and #2, respectively, in the coaches' poll. And, for my money, no coach in women's basketball has demonstrated more consistent excellence over the past decade and a half than Marsha Sharp. She will take this team far, no doubt in my mind. Keep the faith.

[carolann]

Tech in the Mountain West...surely you jest..nah we'd end up in the WAC with La Tech.
Yes, I am jesting!