2008 NIT Final: UMass vs Ohio St. (Thur, 7pm ESPN)

[CollegeSportsInfo]

Here's a thread for any Umass (or OSU) fans for Thursday night championship game. This has been a great run for UMass, one that proves to me that they should have been in the NCAAs this year. But this run will hopefully be the spark for the program, similar to the NIT runs in the early 90's. A few years later, UMass was a national power.

Here's hoping for a great game!

[Col Hogan]

I was on a Buckeye site earlier today...and I think they get it after watching our comebacks against Akron, Syracuse and Florida...

The OSU coach is talking about not being able to rest...not to take this team lightly...etc...

I know that's typical coach-speak...but I think this is going to be a good game...

Question is...how deep does OSU go on their bench...and can they keep pace the the high-octane team Coach Ford puts on the floor?

I can't wait...

[UMass922]

This has been a great run for UMass, one that proves to me that they should have been in the NCAAs this year. But this run will hopefully be the spark for the program, similar to the NIT runs in the early 90's. A few years later, UMass was a national power.

I wouldn't say that this run proves that UMass should have been in the NCAAs--it's hard to complain when, knowing that you're already on the bubble, you blow a 17-point halftime lead to a mediocre team and in doing so fail to win a game in your conference tourney--but I agree that this should be a spark: I think it does provide reasonable hope that the NCAAs can be a fixture in UMass's near future. As I said in another thread, the key is keeping Travis Ford around. He's definitely pushing the right buttons.

[CollegeSportsInfo]

I wouldn't say that this run proves that UMass should have been in the NCAAs--it's hard to complain when, knowing that you're already on the bubble, you blow a 17-point halftime lead to a mediocre team and in doing so fail to win a game in your conference tourney--but I agree that this should be a spark: I think it does provide reasonable hope that the NCAAs can be a fixture in UMass's near future. As I said in another thread, the key is keeping Travis Ford around. He's definitely pushing the right buttons.

You misinterpreted my post. I didn't say that UMass deserved to be in the tourney or that they got screwed over. Simply that they should have been in the tourney based on their overall play and talent. My umasshoops posts about that topic include a number of teams that deserved to be in the tournament that were passed on.

[UMass922]

You misinterpreted my post. I didn't say that UMass deserved to be in the tourney or that they got screwed over. Simply that they should have been in the tourney based on their overall play and talent. My umasshoops posts about that topic include a number of teams that deserved to be in the tournament that were passed on.

Ah, ok. Sorry about that.

[Col Hogan]

You misinterpreted my post. I didn't say that UMass deserved to be in the tourney or that they got screwed over. Simply that they should have been in the tourney based on their overall play and talent. My umasshoops posts about that topic include a number of teams that deserved to be in the tournament that were passed on.

Your assessment is right on...we have the team...it failed to perform when needed to get into the NCAAs

They are making up for it here, though...xthumbsupx

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Will this be Travis Fords last game as coach of the Minutemen? His name seems to flying around quite a bit.

[UMass922]

Will this be Travis Fords last game as coach of the Minutemen? His name seems to flying around quite a bit.

I wish we could at least get to the NCAAs under him first. What a tease it would be to lose him so soon. At least WKU fans got a Sweet 16 out of it before losing their coach.

[Cobblestone]

Will this be Travis Fords last game as coach of the Minutemen? His name seems to flying around quite a bit.

Check out the UMASS Basketball Fans... thread that I started. Providence College is very interested in him. I love A-10 basketball but I think from a coaching point of view that he might grab any Big East job offered to him.

[GoGuins]

Go UMASS! I root for anybody that plays the Hairless Nuts

[CollegeSportsInfo]

5 hours 'til gametime

[CollegeSportsInfo]

Go Umass Go. Keep up the intensity!

[Col Hogan]

10 point lead right now...frantic pace...UMass is in charge...

Buckeyes won't keep up...if they can't slow it down...they are toast...

[CollegeSportsInfo]

Good first half. Hopefully the second half matches previous games.

[Col Hogan]

OK, 20 minutes to go...

[Cobblestone]

just tuned in. Go UMASS!

[Cobblestone]

you guys are missing some easy shots

[Cobblestone]

nice 3!

[Col Hogan]

You missed a frantic paced first half....

[Cobblestone]

you guys are fading this half.

[Cobblestone]

so much easier to root for UMASS now that you don't have James Life anymore. I couldn't stand that punk.

[Cobblestone]

back within 3.

[Col Hogan]

Gotta have faith......Gotta.....

[Cobblestone]

that was sweet.

[JoltinJoe]

:49 seconds. down by six,

come on UMass

[Ivytalk]

I hate Buckeye Nazis.xmadx

[Cobblestone]

Bummer.

Good season for UMASS, they represented the A-10 well.

[Col Hogan]

Now that I've caught my breath...I can say it's been a heck of a run for this team...

Hope Coach Ford stays with us...because they have a strong team returning, despite the loss of the three senior starters...

[Umass74]

Can't complain. We had a good run. The guys played hard. :)

[minuteman65]

I had a bad feeling when we were leading at the half. xsmhx