Tennessee (2-seed) loses to Mercer (7-seed) in first round of NIT
Normally, I don't think this would be board worthy. But after Tennessee Coach Cuonzo Martin complained yesterday about how the SEC was treated like a mid major in the NCAA tournament selection, I can't resist.
For those who missed Martin's comments, here are the ones from yesterday:
Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin predicted two weeks ago that the SEC would earn six bids.
Martin said the SEC's three bids were an ''embarrassment'' after the brackets were revealed, and he didn't back down from those comments Monday. He said Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama are ''NCAA tournament teams'' that landed in the NIT.
''It's almost like a mid-major mentality in this league, when you've got your second-place team that doesn't get in the NCAA tournament,'' Martin said. ''This is a BCS league. It's one of the best leagues in America. That shouldn't happen.''
The SEC's non-conference performance indicates it actually wasn't one of the best leagues in the nation this season.
And then Tennessee and Kentucky went on to lose in the first round of the NIT, to Mercer and Robert Morris respectively. That's a true power conference right there.
I was aware that the original story wasn't knew, however I thought the update would allow some of us to have a laugh at states expense. The story seemed to be showing up on many news sources as well.
Thanks for checking it out anyways.
Has there been a major program in the past decade that's had two worse consecutive hires than Derek Dooley and Cuonzo Martin?
I mean that's as bad as it gets. Tennessee used to be a powerhouse.
March 21st, 2013 at 11:42 AM ^
I am a UM alum living in Knoxville, and something of a UT basketball fan (distant second to Michigan, although my house was divided when they played in the tournament 2 years ago). A lot of UT fans here compare the Dooley and Martin hires, but I think that there is a big distinction - Martin's teams have improved over the course of the season, while Dooley's never did.
On the football situation - it's worth noting that Lane Kiffin left the football program in total disarray - leaving after one year, but still managing to bring NCAA sanctions on the school. Dooley was not a BCS level head coach, but they couldn't get someone at that level on short notice and under a cloud.
One more note on Cuonzo Martin's comments about the SEC - they might be boneheaded, but he has to come out defending the SEC a little too loudly. There's some suspicion of him here because of his BIG pedigree.
Don't feel too sorry for the Volunteers - there's always women's basketball!
This brought the slighest smile to my face, but it still isn't justified.
The funny story in the numbers is that Mercer won despite Tennessee maintaining an offensive rebound percentage that was over two times what Mercer was achieving (51.4% to 24%). The SEC was simply outshot by a significant margin (effective FG% for Mercer was 56.7%, nearly 13% better than Tennessee).
It seems, at this point, that if the SEC adopted a mid-major mentality and approach that Martin derided, they might actually improve their basketball outlook.
And just think, without the addition of Missouri, the SEC might have had only two teams in the NCAA tournament.
If Florida would just bomb out early so we could all feel well and truly smug....
what happened to that Tennessee fan that was on the blog yesterday. I'm guessing we may never hear from him again
Michigan is better than Tennessee in everything ever. Including 1997 Heisman trophies
back-to-back Elite 8's? Call me impressed that a program that's been to one Elite 8 in their history managed to get there two years in a row.
March 21st, 2013 at 11:48 AM ^
Hopefully your title is obsolete by 9:30 tonight.
I've never heard of Mercer. Awesome.
I'm not laughing. They ruined my NIT bracket!
March 21st, 2013 at 11:28 AM ^
Really? Or is that a joke? Cuz I've never known of anyone who had an NIT bracket.
essssssssssss eeeeeeeeeeeeee seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
SEC! SEC! SEC!
Tennessee's coach is an asshat.
be oppossed to naming a kid Mercer Woodson?
March 21st, 2013 at 10:18 AM ^
March 21st, 2013 at 11:18 AM ^
March 21st, 2013 at 11:54 AM ^
It's funny, but we've got to start winning national championships before we can talk trash. The SEC has won three in basketball since we won our last one (2000).
maybe Kentucky and Florida will be at that level, but the rest of the SEC is just...
March 21st, 2013 at 10:43 PM ^
#suckstosuck
that is all