Admitting when you’re wrong
So Lee and I have both received some texts in the past 12 hours since Wichita State beat No. 1 Gonzaga to advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tourney. They say the same thing: am I going to admit to Lee that I was wrong when I wrote this in a post earlier this year:
I contend that the best Missouri Valley Conference team would not have an easy game against the middle-of-the-pack teams in the big-boy conferences and would certainly lose to the top teams in those conferences. I love going to Wichita State University games but as I said earlier, overall the level of play in the Valley is just weaker.
As a season-ticket holder and a Wichita resident for 18 years now, I am thrilled that the Shockers played so well and took down what some considered to be the best team in the nation. It was a breath-taking game to watch and I couldn’t stay seated for most of the last five minutes of the game.
I’m disappointed that my Missouri Tigers didn’t hold up their end of the deal — a meeting of Missouri and Wichita State in the Final Four could’ve been sweet and settled a lot of debates in the Schnyder household! Now we’ll never know how a game between the black and gold squads would’ve played out this season.
So here it is: I was wrong about this Wichita State basketball team. The Shockers can and did play a top team and come out on top.
Now, keep proving me wrong and make it to Atlanta!
p.s. I’m still standing firm that I will always root for the Tigers in head-to-head competition, even if it happens on Lee’s birthday!!
3 Comments
Quailman
Let me start off saying I want the Shockers to move on in the tourney. But come on, Gonzaga is not “the big boys.” With all due respect to Lee and everyone in the Shocker Nation – the Zags were way over-rated. They held the No 1 spot because of the collective guilt of the sportswriters who shunned them for years. This is why they were never taken seriously. They struggled against the 16 seed (I admit it – so did KU) and lost to the 9 – a very good 9, but a 9. The Zags never should have been No 1 and never will be again. Both teams play in soft conferences. Let’s just say the Shockers “did good” on the national stage before we make such grandiose statements. #windyouup #MIZ? #mygamecocksarewatchingathometoo
Melinda
Hey folks — HE said it, not me!! I’m just replying ;-)
Good points Quailman. I guess this was more about WSU playing well on a national stage while all eyes were supposed to be on the Zags’ Kelly Olynyk.
It’s a huge win for the Shocker program, no doubt. But, no, this doesn’t mean the Missouri Valley can play with the best from big-time conferences on a consistent basis.
Lee
There are 16 teams left and the Shockers are one of them. You can’t punish them for who they are playing. Every year the seeding process is questioned by sports nerds with too much time on their hands. If you would like to add an asterisk to the victory go ahead but I think the motto now is “win or go home” and the Shockers aren’t ready to go home yet.