That you knew this was going to be a special season? I went to see them play ASU in Atlanta, and remember thinking we have a solid team. Then we put up 100 at UK, but lost. I was impressed with the output, and realized UK shot lights out. What we did with TN at home was the game I knew we would go deep in the tournament, and can hang with any team in the country. We won in so many different ways. We could win in a slug fest or win going fast. The team is built like a Swiss Army knife. Fantastic ending last night!
Ok, good call. But in fairness he didn’t get much PT in the tourney. Hopefully in the offseason he works on a couple things, and helps us get back there next year.
The Kentucky game, even though we lost, was the first game I thought “ok, maybe this team is a threat” just because of the fight they showed in a tough environment after a relatively weak out of conference schedule. When Handlogten took the redshirt off and showed he could give us 10 quality minutes, that’s when I truly believed we’d be one of the last teams standing.
Yup, but like I said in the post and the next one I made in the thread, he addressed the last concern I had and provided a backup plan to the backup plan (Filling the distributor role at PG). The hope was he wouldn't be a key contributor because the first plans worked. And boy did the first plan work, whoa boy. Not only did the first plan work, he became MOP of the tourney.
the home win vs. Tennessee, when they were ranked #1 was really the biggest early "wow" game. Just very impressive to win by 30.
The Jumpman Invitational. I put money on them to win the NC at 30 to 1. After the NC game it dropped to 20 to 1.
UNC was a biggie, and I knew we were one of the 10 or 12 teams legitimately in the national championship hunt. The UT game in Gainesville made me think, nope, we're better than that. Top 8. The win at Awbrin made me think WE are the team others need to fear.
During the preseason when we went 4-0 against the ACC I thought we might be pretty good. After the loss at UK, then running UT off the court, I thought we might be better than I thought. Then the response after losing to UT & beating UA jumped my expectations. Finally after losing to UGA then running off wins against 5-6 ranked teams in a row, I thought we had a chance for the Final Four.
The late game comeback against UNC, which was basically a road game. Had been driving for 4 hours in the rain and pulled over to listen to the last three minutes in a Publix parking lot.
don’t forget that SC game where we never led until the buzzer. That was a hostile environment and we gutted it out. That game helped us moving forward, never give up or get down.
That game was a lot like yesterday's game, actually. In other words, we mage Houston look like the worst team in the SEC.
Oh man, you guys saw it way before I did. Here’s my evolution: Tennessee - Wow that was impressive. At Miss St - This team has grit At Auburn - This team can beat anyone At Bama - This team is a favorite to cut down the nets SEC championship - This team might be the favorite to cut down the nets NCAA championship - This team did cut down the nets!
The UT game was a big win but UT played really poorly. Winning at Auburn was it for me. We didn't have Martin, they jumped us early but we were completely unfazed. I think that was the best game we played all year.
rolling Auburn. Although I didn't think "National Champions" -- after last season's first round bounce out, I was hoping for a Sweet 16.
Yeah, it was Auburn for me. The Tennessee win was amazing, but upsets happen. It was when we walked into Auburn and played a team that was ranked #1 and didn't play poorly and beat them easily, down a starter.
I can't remember the game, but it was the Chinyelu dunk celebration where he pointed to the bench and everyone went crazy. That was the moment I knew this team was legitimately having fun out there, and that's a good sign. Wasn't until the tournament that I ever felt we were tight this year, and that's when Clayton's poise and confidence took over.
