The Official NIT Thread!

[CardiacCoug]

No kidding. Those signs are dumb. So what if you are LDS and root for another school? Who cares?

I think the guy made the sign as a missionary tool and I think it's great -- he wants to point out to Southern Miss fans that Mormons are regular people, their friends, and also cheer for USM.

Probably a good message for the Stake President to send to thousands of USM fans/students for free if he has the opportunity. Good for him.

[PaloAltoCougar]

As we emerge from our CS cyber-comas, I hope to see some commentary from junkie, Napper, Killerdog and others who analyze the game far better than I with respect to the NIT run. I was probably most surprised by Nate Austin, who I thought played his best game of the year Tuesday. While that's damning by faint praise, it gave me much hope for next year. I feel better about the future following the Baylor loss than I did after the San Diego loss.

[CJF]

As we emerge from our CS cyber-comas, I hope to see some commentary from junkie, Napper, Killerdog and others who analyze the game far better than I with respect to the NIT run. I was probably most surprised by Nate Austin, who I thought played his best game of the year Tuesday. While that's damning by faint praise, it gave me much hope for next year. I feel better about the future following the Baylor loss than I did after the San Diego loss.

God likes Baptist sports more than Mormon sports.

[Indy Coug]

God likes Baptist sports more than Mormon sports.

He doesn't like Catholic PGs.

[CJF]

He doesn't like Catholic PGs.

Neither did I for about 60% of the season.

[smokymountainrain]

I was disappointed to see BYU go to the blackhole Davies on seemingly every possession down the stretch - prior to the Matty C show. It seems to me that you want the ball in the hands of the best player and rather than go through Haws, BYU went through Davies, who at times appeared to be playing keep away from Haws, neglecting to pass TH the ball even when he had open opportunities at the hoop. Perhaps TH isn't there yet in terms of creating his own shot or at least that may be Rose's feeling, but either way as I watched the game, I had zero confidence that BYU could win as long as they were going through Davies every time down the court. Davies takes or forces too many bad shots, doesn't see the court and isn't either a willing or talented enough passer for that to work. Haws is the best player - either win or lose through him, IMO.

[jay santos]

I was disappointed to see BYU go to the blackhole Davies on seemingly every possession down the stretch - prior to the Matty C show. It seems to me that you want the ball in the hands of the best player and rather than go through Haws, BYU went through Davies, who at times appeared to be playing keep away from Haws, neglecting to pass TH the ball even when he had open opportunities at the hoop. Perhaps TH isn't there yet in terms of creating his own shot or at least that may be Rose's feeling, but either way as I watched the game, I had zero confidence that BYU could win as long as they were going through Davies every time down the court. Davies takes or forces too many bad shots, doesn't see the court and isn't either a willing or talented enough passer for that to work. Haws is the best player - either win or lose through him, IMO.

I missed the game, so I don't know exactly what you're talking about here, but Davies shot 52% to Haws' 48%. I agree Haws is the better player, but when you need a bucket, I don't see why it's such a mistake to try to go to Davies.

[smokymountainrain]

I missed the game, so I don't know exactly what you're talking about here, but Davies shot 52% to Haws' 48%. I agree Haws is the better player, but when you need a bucket, I don't see why it's such a mistake to try to go to Davies.

I'm thinking it might not be a bad idea to take into account how they were playing and being defended in that particular game. Haws was 9-15, while Davies was 4-11. And it's not as if you have a situation where the superstar is having a subpar game and the POS bench player just happens to be having the game of his life and you continue to go to the superstar. That would be understandable because you're going to the guy who got you there. In this case, Haws has been the better player all season and having the better game. Haws is also a far superior FT shooter, a guy who can score in more ways, from 3pt range, and seems to me to simply be a smarter player with a better Bball IQ and the guy I want to have the ball in his hands.

Having said all that, maybe Haws didn't want the ball. Maybe he simply can't create his shot well enough the be the go to guy. Maybe he was tired. I don't think I believe any of that, but I guess those are certainly possibilities.