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Post by Phaedrus on Dec 19, 2010 9:25:03 GMT -5
But playing an easy regional has its own pitfalls. Coming into the final four, Cal is viewed by many as being battle tested and having been sharpened by their route to the Final Four. Others have said with regard to teams that went through an easy regional that they will come in to the Final Four too cocky and not focused.
It is what it is. I am not saying that the system isn't unfair, but you still have to win. Cal did that, texas did that, USC did that and Penn State did that. Competition is always a great thing in order to make the team better, going through a weak regional may not be the advantage that everyone think it is.
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Post by tomclen on Dec 19, 2010 9:29:53 GMT -5
But playing an easy regional has its own pitfalls. Coming into the final four, Cal is viewed by many as being battle tested and having been sharpened by their route to the Final Four. Others have said with regard to teams that went through an easy regional that they will come in to the Final Four too cocky and not focused. It is what it is. I am not saying that the system isn't unfair, but you still have to win. Cal did that, texas did that, USC did that and Penn State did that. Competition is always a great thing in order to make the team better, going through a weak regional may not be the advantage that everyone think it is. You are 100 per cent correct. PSU won when it mattered, all I'm saying is that the easy bracket will tarnish the accomplishment in the eyes of some (many?). I'm sure if PSU had beaten Utah State in round one and then took out Washington and Minnesota, there wouldn't be a peep from anyone on this board about the greatness of Penn State. |
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Post by hardbop on Dec 19, 2010 9:38:47 GMT -5
This is what many of us knew was going to happen. No matter how convincingly PSU won against Texas and Cal, there would be questions about their draw that would, in the eyes of some, diminish their incredible accomplishment. And that's why I said earlier, Russ Rose is the one person who should be doing the most to try to make the brackets more equitable. No question Penn State clobbered Texas and manhandled Cal. But Cal had to play their very first tournament game against a conference tournament champion and then got sent to the Seattle "Regional of Death;" then had to play a Pac-10 team that had already beaten them twice. Penn State traveled in luxury to the final four in lecticas carried by the likes of Niagara, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma. Even Karch felt obligated to mention their draw at least a half-dozen times. No matter how remarkable their accomplishment getting the 4th trophy, there are some who will always put an asterisk on it. Nice try to keep this alive but Nah. Most fans will uncouple the two issues. Yes the brackets were unbalanced and there needs to be some effort to address this in a rational way. Yes THIS YEAR PSU played teams with lesser pedigrees prior to the FF. But when you win four in a row and do that with a team that started 3 freshmen and played 5 in the rotation and dismantle Texas and Cal in sweeps [during a "rebuilding year" for the PSU program] only a few people will continue to perseverate on the PSU "cakewalk" as if the FF performance doesn't make that excuse pretty irrelevant. No asterisk on this championship. |
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Post by c4ndlelight on Dec 19, 2010 9:44:16 GMT -5
Congrats PSU! They were the best when it counted. Sad to see Cal lose, but what can ya do....
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Post by nyline on Dec 19, 2010 10:22:42 GMT -5
But playing an easy regional has its own pitfalls. Coming into the final four, Cal is viewed by many as being battle tested and having been sharpened by their route to the Final Four. Others have said with regard to teams that went through an easy regional that they will come in to the Final Four too cocky and not focused. It is what it is. I am not saying that the system isn't unfair, but you still have to win. Cal did that, texas did that, USC did that and Penn State did that. Competition is always a great thing in order to make the team better, going through a weak regional may not be the advantage that everyone think it is. You are 100 per cent correct. PSU won when it mattered, all I'm saying is that the easy bracket will tarnish the accomplishment in the eyes of some (many?). I'm sure if PSU had beaten Utah State in round one and then took out Washington and Minnesota, there wouldn't be a peep from anyone on this board about the greatness of Penn State. That "tarnished" argument diminishes those who make it, not the Penn State team or coaches or support staff, nor the teams Penn State beat along the way. |
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Post by volleypaul on Dec 19, 2010 10:30:17 GMT -5
Congratulations to Penn State.
They are a very talented group of players. Their coaches do a great job of preparing the team for each opponent.
I am very proud of them.
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Post by calvbfan on Dec 19, 2010 10:55:15 GMT -5
The season's journey has ended for Cal, yet there is so much for the Bears to be proud of, including: national runner-up, Pac-10 champion, most wins (30) in a single by a Cal team, national coach of the year for Rich Feller and national player of the year for Carli Lloyd.
Saturday night's 3-0 final score didn't reflect the desired outcome for Cal. However, I tip my blue and gold Cal cap to Russ Rose and the Penn State Nittany Lions. They are a very talented and well-coached team ~ they executed a brilliant game plan to beat Cal ~ and they have an excellent future ahead of them.
To paraphrase Grantland Rice, it's "not that you won or lost, but how you played the game." Saturday night, the better team won the national championship and we celebrate Penn State's accomplishment of four consecutive national titles.
Meanwhile, the runner-up, Cal, touched a lot of hearts across the country with their desire, hard work and camaraderie. The future looks bright for the Bears, and I can't wait for the 2011 season to start. A proud University of California and its fans congratulate the Bears ~ Carli, Tarah, Shannon, Kat, Erin, Meagan, Robin, Correy, Adrienne, Elly, Tia, Lauren ~ and Coach Rich Feller and his staff on an exciting and memorable season.
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Post by Guest on Dec 19, 2010 11:01:07 GMT -5
The season's journey has ended for Cal, yet there is so much for the Bears to be proud of, including: national runner-up, Pac-10 champion, most wins (30) in a single by a Cal team, national coach of the year for Rich Feller and national player of the year for Carli Lloyd. Saturday night's 3-0 final score didn't reflect the desired outcome for Cal. However, I tip my blue and gold Cal cap to Russ Rose and the Penn State Nittany Lions ~ they are a very talented and well-coached team, and they have an excellent future ahead of them. To paraphrase Grantland Rice, it's "not that you won or lost, but how you played the game." Saturday night, the better team won the national championship and we celebrate Penn State's accomplishment of four consecutive national titles. Meanwhile, the runner-up, Cal, touched a lot of hearts across the country with their desire, hard work and camaraderie. The future looks bright for the Bears and I can't wait for the 2011 season to start. A proud University of California and its fans congratulate the Bears ~ Carli, Tarah, Shannon, Kat, Erin, Meagan, Robin, Correy, Adrienne, Elly, Tia, Lauren ~ and Coach Rich Feller and his staff on an exciting and memorable season. +1, nice post. |
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Post by nyline on Dec 19, 2010 11:18:55 GMT -5
The season's journey has ended for Cal, yet there is so much for the Bears to be proud of, including: national runner-up, Pac-10 champion, most wins (30) in a single by a Cal team, national coach of the year for Rich Feller and national player of the year for Carli Lloyd. Saturday night's 3-0 final score didn't reflect the desired outcome for Cal. However, I tip my blue and gold Cal cap to Russ Rose and the Penn State Nittany Lions ~ they are a very talented and well-coached team ~ they executed a brilliant game plan to beat Cal ~ and they have an excellent future ahead of them. To paraphrase Grantland Rice, it's "not that you won or lost, but how you played the game." Saturday night, the better team won the national championship and we celebrate Penn State's accomplishment of four consecutive national titles. Meanwhile, the runner-up, Cal, touched a lot of hearts across the country with their desire, hard work and camaraderie. The future looks bright for the Bears, and I can't wait for the 2011 season to start. A proud University of California and its fans congratulate the Bears ~ Carli, Tarah, Shannon, Kat, Erin, Meagan, Robin, Correy, Adrienne, Elly, Tia, Lauren ~ and Coach Rich Feller and his staff on an exciting and memorable season. Another +1. Tough last match does nothing to diminish a great year. |
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Post by austintatious on Dec 19, 2010 11:31:31 GMT -5
maybe if they had beaten cal and texas 25-0, 25-0, 25-0 people would believe that the best team won? I doubt it |
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Post by ccman on Dec 19, 2010 11:50:40 GMT -5
"I'm sure if PSU had beaten Utah State in round one and then took out Washington and Minnesota, there wouldn't be a peep from anyone on this board about the greatness of Penn State."
If PSU had played Minnesota in the round of 16, then this tournament would have needed a congressional investigation. You have to hand it to PSU, they got their best win of the season in their last match. The only thing missing this year was a win over Stanford, PSU got better and Stanford didn't get over some humps. Nobody preps their teams better than Rose.
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Post by ESTRELLA on Dec 19, 2010 11:55:50 GMT -5
Path taken, players, ref calls...you name it. At the end the National Championship Trophy will be at PSU in its trophy case for all to see. PSU are National Champs....case closed!
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Post by mikegarrison on Dec 19, 2010 11:57:17 GMT -5
If PSU had played Minnesota in the round of 16, then this tournament would have needed a congressional investigation. Why? Cal had to play them then. The round of 16 is when seeded teams are supposed to be playing other seeded teams. I'm not complaining that the wrong team won the tournament. I'm complaining that the wrong tournament was played. There is a difference between the two complaints, but some of you folks are too defensive to accept that. |
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Post by ccman on Dec 19, 2010 12:15:40 GMT -5
"I'm complaining that the wrong tournament was played."
no argument there. at least we got some good interconf match-ups Cal-Minn, UW-Neb, & Cal-PSU, PSU-Tex, Fl-Purdue, Fl-FSU match-ups in the tournament. Having USC-Stan in the same bracket really sucked though.
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Post by Guest on Dec 19, 2010 12:18:27 GMT -5
Would the tournament go better if all teams were seeded like the Men's BBall?
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