A Hypothetical

[Donatello Cat]

Obviously, last night's game was a nail biter. Lots of drama, plot twists, etc . . . not entirely dissimilar to the gridiron Cardiac Cats of years past. I couldn't help but to wonder. . . what would it have been like to watch that game if we were a bubble team and that was a "must win" game? Imagine all of the emotions you felt throughout that game last night, but perhaps multiplied by 10?

I don't really have a point other than just to say that it was interesting to think about, and I hope we do get to experience the above sometime soon.

(Although I would be ok with being solidly into the tournament at this time of year and not a bubble team, too.)

 

[EvanstonCat]

Then Stupor would have accepted last night as worthy of his top 10.

 

[ParisCat_rivals]

I was there with my 12-year-old son. Last game of the year, and who knows whether he'll want to keep attending games with his old man when he becomes a too-cool teenager. I know it was a completely meaningless game in the grand scheme of things, but we both pretended throughout the second half and the OTs that it was the national championship game. Just pretending that the stakes were that high made an incredible game feel even more epic. I'll cherish that memory for a long time.

 

[NURoseBowl]

Originally posted by DonatelloCat:
Obviously, last night's game was a nail biter. Lots of drama, plot twists, etc . . . not entirely dissimilar to the gridiron Cardiac Cats of years past. I couldn't help but to wonder. . . what would it have been like to watch that game if we were a bubble team and that was a "must win" game? Imagine all of the emotions you felt throughout that game last night, but perhaps multiplied by 10?

I don't really have a point other than just to say that it was interesting to think about, and I hope we do get to experience the above sometime soon.

(Although I would be ok with being solidly into the tournament at this time of year and not a bubble team, too.)

Paging all board cardiologists, STAT!!!

 

[SmellyCat]

I actually thought about this as well, but I was thinking more along the lines of, "I'm so glad we're not in it this year, because this loss would have just been devastating." Like the Ohio State game with Sullinger a few years ago. I thought that several times, when it looked like we were going to lose. And of course, we won, and I think if this game were part of our resume, I doubt my heart would be able to take it.

 

[CappyNU]

We had that game - it was against OSU in 2012, when Marcotullio hit the 3 to tie it, only to have Sullinger win it 2 seconds later at the other end. That was a bubble game for us, when just one more win over a top-50 team might've put us over the edge.

 

[MCC_Cat]

A completely meaningful game from my view

Thing is this was NOT a meaningless game. We're still in the hunt for a postseason bid (win Saturday and I guarantee we are in the NIT); we broke a 7-game loss streak to Michigan, during which we had numerous chances to win and one or two of which would've likely gotten us an NCAA tourney bid in years past; we continued the recent positive trend of this program and are building something special for the future; it was Senior Night; and, it was quite simply the best Cats comeback I have ever seen in 30+ years of watching them play. The only comeback that even approached this was the Iowa win 10 yrs ago when they rallied from 12 down with 3 to play thanks to Vukusic going bonkers, and then Michael Jenkins hitting the game winner from the corner that rolled around before going in. But still, this was more epic than that and the way the comeback occurred, TWICE, was nothing short of incredible and FANTASTIC! This was a game I'll remember forever.
This post was edited on 3/4 1:59 PM by MC_Cat

 

[Donatello Cat]

Re: A completely meaningful game from my view

Originally posted by MC_Cat:
Thing is this was NOT a meaningless game. We're still in the hunt for a postseason bid (win Saturday and I guarantee we are in the NIT); we broke a 7-game loss streak to Michigan, during which we had numerous chances to win and one or two of which would've likely gotten us an NCAA tourney bid in years past; we continued the recent positive trend of this program and are building something special for the future; it was Senior Night; and, it was quite simply the best Cats comeback I have ever seen in 30+ years of watching them play. The only comeback that even approached this was the Iowa win 10 yrs ago when they rallied from 12 down with 3 to play thanks to Vukusic going bonkers, and then Michael Jenkins hitting the game winner from the corner that rolled around before going in. But still, this was more epic than that and the way the comeback occurred, TWICE, was nothing short of incredible and FANTASTIC! This was a game I'll remember forever.
This post was edited on 3/4 1:59 PM by MC_Cat

I'm certainly not trying to say that it was a meaningless game but . . . it was less meaningful than it would have been if an NCAA tournament bid were on the line. In other words, it was already an insane experience, but it's scary to think that it could have been even more intense!

 

[MCC_Cat]

Re: A completely meaningful game from my view

I see your point. They all matter to me, and when we beat one of the big boys (especially after the schnide we've been on against UM in particular), it's all the sweeter.

 

[Styre]

Re: A completely meaningful game from my view

We'll need to win Saturday and then win at least 2 games in the BTT to have a shot at the NIT. Last year the worst at-large NIT team (West Virginia) was RPI 88 and we're currently 112.

 

[NUCat320]

The opposing viewpoint is that, because Northwestern is not on the bubble, we got to just enjoy this one without further context.

Northwestern was about to inbound in overtime, and we got to think, I wonder if he makes it. We didn't have to think, If he doesn't make it our hopes and dreams are dashed forever.

Maybe I'm just too well trained in following Wildcat hoops that the other shoe will always drop.

Last night, though, it was super fun just to watch a really, really exciting game. This is entertainment, after all.

 

[Mr. Stupor]

I think I said it'd have been #1 if we were on the bubble. Most of my top ten are stretch run games where we were all as nervous as we were AT THE ROSE BOWL because that stuff matters. A lot. That's a high, high bar. Bobby Jones once said "there's golf and there's tournament golf and One bears little resemblance to the other" or something like that. The point was that "great" play when it doesn't matter isn't great. Sports are at their BEST when it matters. That's where the emotions are insane and the nerves get raw. And that's what makes sports so great at the important levels. The rest are just playing the games...

A few others:

Beating ND on St. Patrick's Day. Losing the next game to DePaul on Skip Dillard's shot. Beating Indiana the year they won NCAAs. The OSU game Cappy mentioned. That Fab Four game - because that got us into the NIT. The Drew Crawford drive to the left game. That damn Iowa game. We don't have to win for it to be an all time NU game. But the nerves have to be RAW. I didn't get goose bumps once last night. I didn't want to break anything. I didn't hit my maximum current vertical leap of 4 inches . None of that stuff. Why? Because that stuff comes out when it MATTERS. Wins are tough and matter most when there is DOWNSIDE. And as wonderful as last night was, it didn't MATTER. I am DYING for when it does. And I feel it coming soon and can't wait. Because that's when sports is best. When it gets emotional - both ways.

This post was edited on 3/4 4:08 PM by Mr. Stupor

 

[Donatello Cat]

Originally posted by Mr. Stupor:
I think I said it'd have been #1 if we were on the bubble. Most of my top ten are stretch run games where we were all as nervous as we were AT THE ROSE BOWL because that stuff matters. A lot. That's a high, high bar. Bobby Jones once said "there's golf and there's tournament golf and One bears little resemblance to the other" or something like that. The point was that "great" play when it doesn't matter isn't great. Sports are at their BEST when it matters. That's where the emotions are insane and the nerves get raw. And that's what makes sports so great at the important levels. The rest are just playing the games...

A few others:

Beating ND on St. Patrick's Day. Losing the next game to DePaul on Skip Dillard's shot. Beating Indiana the year they won NCAAs. The OSU game Cappy mentioned. That Fab Four game - because that got us into the NIT. The Drew Crawford drive to the left game. That damn Iowa game. We don't have to win for it to be an all time NU game. But the nerves have to be RAW. I didn't get goose bumps once last night. I didn't want to break anything. I didn't hit my maximum current vertical leap of 4 inches . None of that stuff. Why? Because that stuff comes out when it MATTERS. Wins are tough and matter most when there is DOWNSIDE. And as wonderful as last night was, it didn't MATTER. I am DYING for when it does. And I feel it coming soon and can't wait. Because that's when sports is best. When it gets emotional - both ways.

This post was edited on 3/4 4:08 PM by Mr. Stupor

I'm not sure if beating up on a bunch of shaggy haired foreigners is really anything to get excited about!

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

 

[mikewebb68]

Originally posted by Mr. Stupor:
I think I said it'd have been #1 if we were on the bubble. Most of my top ten are stretch run games where we were all as nervous as we were AT THE ROSE BOWL because that stuff matters. A lot. That's a high, high bar. Bobby Jones once said "there's golf and there's tournament golf and One bears little resemblance to the other" or something like that. The point was that "great" play when it doesn't matter isn't great. Sports are at their BEST when it matters. That's where the emotions are insane and the nerves get raw. And that's what makes sports so great at the important levels. The rest are just playing the games...

A few others:

Beating ND on St. Patrick's Day. Losing the next game to DePaul on Skip Dillard's shot. Beating Indiana the year they won NCAAs. The OSU game Cappy mentioned. That Fab Four game - because that got us into the NIT. The Drew Crawford drive to the left game. That damn Iowa game. We don't have to win for it to be an all time NU game. But the nerves have to be RAW. I didn't get goose bumps once last night. I didn't want to break anything. I didn't hit my maximum current vertical leap of 4 inches . None of that stuff. Why? Because that stuff comes out when it MATTERS. Wins are tough and matter most when there is DOWNSIDE. And as wonderful as last night was, it didn't MATTER. I am DYING for when it does. And I feel it coming soon and can't wait. Because that's when sports is best. When it gets emotional - both ways.

This post was edited on 3/4 4:08 PM by Mr. Stupor

You still haven't mentioned 10 games "in recent memory", as was your claim in relation to last night's game. Many of these games occurred years ago, outside of recent memory.

 

[Mr. Stupor]

Nor do I intend to suit your whim. I was talking to OTHER PEOPLE. Not you. And I consider the 80s "recent". If you don't, that's your problem and just highlights your short-sightedness. No go crawl back into your basement so your short memory and distorted views on history are nobody's issue but your own.

 

[PURPLECAT88]

Originally posted by Mr. Stupor:
Beating Indiana the year they won NCAAs.

Quick correction. We beat Indiana in 1988, the year after they won the NCAAs. Alford was gone by then.

 

[eastbaycat99]

Slow Correction

Geez. It was Kenny Patterson, not Skip Dillard who made the shot for DePaul. If you are going to expound on great games, get your facts straight.