Musketeer Madness

We now know we'll play Texas Southern. It seems like most of us fans are very laid back for our 1st game as a #1 seed has never lost.
I have a friend working 2nd shift who always takes off for Tourney games. Not this time. The only other time I think we were pretty laid
back as fans was as the #2 seed. We are 27-27 overall in NCAA in 27 appearances. That's 54 games & I'd say we were extremely confident / laid back in only a handful. We have probably been the underdog in about 40 of those games. Anybody got records of where are seeds were since the Tourney went to 64 teams. We have 1 #1 seed, 1 #2 seed & uncertain beyond that. After our 1st win Friday all might get a little edgy for Round 2 where a lot of 8 & 9 seeds have pulled off upsets. I don't think we've ever beaten a #1 seed and don't have to in order to reach our 1st Final 4. Get revved up XU Fans - this is a real Tourney game ,will be fun to see what players are ready to step up to the plate.

Hoping the guys just come out cool and confident. Bully the crap out of Texas southern and pound it down low and use the size and athleticism over them. Don't come out tight and lackadaisical on d, as long as you're not giving them open 3s it should be a breeze.

Always respect the posts from Lionel, but not sure what game you all were watching last eve. What I saw in Tex S. was a group of kids that are on the talent level of a decent mid-major. Not a typical 16 seed. Looks like this program has gone the route of sifting through the rubble of kids that were recruited by bigger programs but fell out due to grades, discipline or attitude problems. Sort of an island of misfit toys. Are they as good as St. Johns? Hell no, but are they equivalent of ETSU? I believe roughly so - and we know how that went. Not being overly paranoid but Tex S. would seem to be the type of team that a) could give us issues due to their quickness. & b) have some hard-nosed fighters that could get juiced up if we let them hang around. I saw the line was approx. 21 pts, would definitely take them points and run to the window. We should win, we should be able to pound them down low with Kanter and especially Big Sean. But do I expect to be coasting in my rocking chair by halftime - - - No.

I sampled parts of the recording of game last night and had similar thought that this Texas Southern team is not usual 16 seed team, with a coach who is familiar with NCAA tournament. They played a very difficult OOC schedule, which they lost in, but they have been exposed to playing against much better teams. I agree with Lionel that if X plays with toughness and strong sense of purpose, we will win, but I don't see an easy game. Just as well. The biggest liability of this team is the tendency to sometimes let down their edge, becoming relatively complacent in the course of some games. That's when defense lags, and shots stop falling as they struggle to get the edge back.