Postseason Expectations

First of all this is already our most successful season in 25 years, no matter what happens. Even if we lose @ Marquette, the first round of the BET, and the first round of the NCAAT it will still be our most successful season this century.

I said preseason that we had to win an NCAAT game for this season to be a success. That's what I'll stick with. Unless we are a 2 seed then the second game will likely be nearly a tossup (for example, #4 vs. #5), and in the NCAAT anything can happen. I'm super impressed with how this team has done this year, and the body of work (#7 in the nation) tells me more than one game could. Get a win and I'll be thrilled, though I'm sure the team has higher expectations than that.

I'm not taking anything for granted, we're living a dream scenario right now, but I have little doubt that next year's team can be great also. Sure if we're eliminated early I'll be upset for a day, but this isn't a senior-laden team in the pre-transfer portal/NIL era. There's not going to be another 4 year rebuild after this like we previously had to endure.

Win at least one NCAAT game, keep the NIL rolling with Top 25 preseason expectations for next year, and this year will be a success in my book.
 
I obviously want to go as far as possible. But the only way I’ll actually be disappointed this year is if we don’t end our NCAA tournament win drought. If we go in there, beat the 13/14 seed we’re gonna play, and then lose a hard fought close game to a good 5/6 seed, I will surely be sad but I will still be satisfied with the season.
 
Jack Williams said:
I obviously want to go as far as possible. But the only way I’ll actually be disappointed this year is if we don’t end our NCAA tournament win drought. If we go in there, beat the 13/14 seed we’re gonna play, and then lose a hard fought close game to a good 5/6 seed, I will surely be sad but I will still be satisfied with the season.
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Big East Tourney first. Let's not get ambushed, particularly by UConn.
 
pdcjay said:
Anything less than playing in the second weekend is a disappointment and the final 4 will be a success. After watching Bama vs Tennessee yesterday I’m convinced this team can play with anyone so I’m beginning to think we need to aim higher. Pitino will have these guys peaking at the right time.
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I’m watching MSU-Wisconsin now and we can play with either of those teams. We are a legit 2-3 seed. Anything short of sweet 16 will be disappoint. Anything beyond that is a great season. But it all depends on matchups.
 
The only reason I’m personally not in sweet 16 or bust mode is because we can’t shoot.

If we come up against someone in the round of 32, and they shoot the rock better than us and move on as a result, there’s no way I’d call the season a disappointment. They’ve given us so much, and honestly maxed out their talent given the shooting woes
 
gman said:
I’m watching MSU-Wisconsin now and we can play with either of those teams. We are a legit 2-3 seed. Anything short of sweet 16 will be disappoint. Anything beyond that is a great season. But it all depends on matchups.
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Watching same thing. Neither team can run with us. Neither team can creat off the dribble. Neither team can shoot really well and require open shots earned via their half court offense to make them. Neither team capable of defending like we do. They’re clones of each other pretty much.
 
I’m personally already completely and utterly satisfied with this team. They’ve overachieved, are a ton of fun to watch and are all extremely rootable guys. Winning a Big East regular season title is a huge deal, and something that makes them immortal with this program already — no matter what happens.

One-and-done tournaments are a crapshoot and are matchup based after the first round. I’m hopeful we can make the second weekend, but don’t think it’s fair to place expectations after that without knowing the teams we’re facing.
 
Jack Williams said:
The only reason I’m personally not in sweet 16 or bust mode is because we can’t shoot.

If we come up against someone in the round of 32, and they shoot the rock better than us and move on as a result, there’s no way I’d call the season a disappointment. They’ve given us so much, and honestly maxed out their talent given the shooting woes
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But we can definitely score in the 70s, that combined with our defense gives me hope.
 
Wow. Rough question because right now I have bruises from pinching myself.

Let's start negative then go positive:

On a day where all we had to do is beat the last place team in our conference at home after crushing them on their court, we struggled mightily to finally pull away in the last few minuted. Despite 17-2, 26-4, and a top 7 ranking, we could have lost yesterday.

On the plus side, we won, our defense stiffened, we made big plays down the stretch. We avoided what every real fan in the building had in the back of their minds and rapidly creeping to the front: This vould rank with our most embarrassing losses ever. Humble pie, hold the confetti. This year is different, the kids are gamers who believe in their coach and the coach the players. Sadiku Abine Ayo is no Max Hooper, another success story of Pitino player rotations. No Scott, no problem.

We are headed to a 2/15, 3/14, or 4/13 game. Before that the BET as the #1 seed.

BET goal: Get to the finals. If we win great, they will cut the net into a zillion pieces to raise $$ on commemorative pieces. I'll buy one if that happens.

Anything short of the finals, especially should we not beat Marquette in the season finale, will be disappointing. If we fsil at both, ncaa expectations will be reset.

For now it's 2 1/2 wins in the ncaa tourney. I can't decide if it's getting to the elite 8, or sweet 16.
 
Nccat is so much based on matchups. We need to one win a game to get another monkey off the programs back. After that it really depends on matchup. If we are a 3 seed we get a 6 in round 2. The 6 seeds on Bracketmatrix are Oregon, st. Mary’s, Kansas and Louisville. We would be favored in all 4 but not easy games by any means. My point is win a game and hopefully get to S16. There’s too much unknown in a single elimination tournament to expect more but hope for more yes of course.
 
Would love to make Sweet 16 but only 16 teams can do that. I am not gonna lie if we win a game in BET and game in tournament I would be content. Anything above that gravy for me.
 
Win our first tourney game in decades is baseline for me and sweet 16 would make this season a historic success in my book. BET isn't that important based on our regular season championship other than seeding. There's been plenty of instances where good teams lost early in their conference tournaments and went on a run in NCAA.
 
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