Post by Mr Buffalo on Mar 17, 2005 17:29:52 GMT -5
As Buffalo players waited for an NCAA tournament bid that never arrived, they likely replayed those final seconds over and over.
What if Leon Williams' tip-in had dribbled off the rim? What if the Bulls had protected a 19-point second-half lead in the MAC tournament final vs. Ohio?
After a heart-wrenching 80-79 overtime loss March 12, the Bulls had to settle for an NIT bid since the MAC received only one NCAA tournament entry. Buffalo will host Drexel on March 16 in a first-round NIT game.
"It's disappointing because the Mid-American Conference doesn't get the respect that we deserve," PG Turner Battle said after the selections. "They let three teams from the Missouri Valley in. I mean, Kent State beat (MVC member) Creighton. I feel that we compete with those conferences, if not better than them."
Miami (Ohio) figured to be the MAC's best bet for an at-large berth, but Buffalo's impressive run through the league tournament opened new possibilities. The Bulls beat defending league champion Western Michigan 75-68 to advance to the league tournament final. The NCAA's selection of Northern Iowa, which lost in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament quarterfinals, seemed to bother Buffalo players the most.
"Right now Buffalo belongs in the NCAA Tournament," Ohio coach Tim O'Shea said after the MAC final.
"They have 22 Division I wins and had won nine of 10 coming into the game. They don't only belong in the tournament, but they could advance and be a Sweet 16 team. We should have three teams in the field."
Named MAC Player of the Year earlier in the week, Battle tallied 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds in the final.
"It's shocking and disappointing, but we didn't take care of business (Saturday) night," Battle said.
"We put it in the committee's hands. You have to be realistic at some point. Buffalo really doesn't have a lot of basketball tradition yet, so hopefully in the long run if another situation like this occurs, then we'll get the same respect as the Missouri Valley gets."
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What if Leon Williams' tip-in had dribbled off the rim? What if the Bulls had protected a 19-point second-half lead in the MAC tournament final vs. Ohio?
After a heart-wrenching 80-79 overtime loss March 12, the Bulls had to settle for an NIT bid since the MAC received only one NCAA tournament entry. Buffalo will host Drexel on March 16 in a first-round NIT game.
"It's disappointing because the Mid-American Conference doesn't get the respect that we deserve," PG Turner Battle said after the selections. "They let three teams from the Missouri Valley in. I mean, Kent State beat (MVC member) Creighton. I feel that we compete with those conferences, if not better than them."
Miami (Ohio) figured to be the MAC's best bet for an at-large berth, but Buffalo's impressive run through the league tournament opened new possibilities. The Bulls beat defending league champion Western Michigan 75-68 to advance to the league tournament final. The NCAA's selection of Northern Iowa, which lost in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament quarterfinals, seemed to bother Buffalo players the most.
"Right now Buffalo belongs in the NCAA Tournament," Ohio coach Tim O'Shea said after the MAC final.
"They have 22 Division I wins and had won nine of 10 coming into the game. They don't only belong in the tournament, but they could advance and be a Sweet 16 team. We should have three teams in the field."
Named MAC Player of the Year earlier in the week, Battle tallied 22 points, eight assists and six rebounds in the final.
"It's shocking and disappointing, but we didn't take care of business (Saturday) night," Battle said.
"We put it in the committee's hands. You have to be realistic at some point. Buffalo really doesn't have a lot of basketball tradition yet, so hopefully in the long run if another situation like this occurs, then we'll get the same respect as the Missouri Valley gets."
****
