No, I didn't think that you were trying to be smart-ass. You also have a good point about what happens at the organizational level that is driven by ca$h. As far as fairness within the game is considered, that was set with the original rules in each sport. No team has an unfair advantage in terms of both the rules within the game and the structure of the sport (distance from the foul line, height of the basket, etc.). It is only when some schools with resources can exploit those rules to take advantage of some of them (in basketball height, of course) to gain an unfair advantage that it becomes unfair as you point out. If no money or status was involved no school would need to exploit those rules in the same way. Pure athletic skill and coaching ability would determine the winners in an ideal world, which was the case in the early NCAA rules when teams like La Salle, UTEP and even Cal could win national titles.

Yes, but I think that has to do with the level of Big West teams. I will be interested in seeing if his recruiting and strategic focuses now change. I still remember the Aggies Division 2 teams where we would be excited to get a player who was 6' 7".

Fairness is a central tenet of sports, if not law. It's also not well considered. This past season is a good illustration. Some teams get hot near the end, as Fullerton has done, and go on to do a lot better than their seeding would predict. Teams that could have been a top seed (e.g. UCD) suffer injuries but, if the injured return, could be a lot better than their seeding. Finally, the Big West seedings this year were based on tiebreakers and since the 3-7 seeds, were separated by only one game, the seedings were based on the outcomes of one game per team. In other words, seeding is not always a measure of the best teams.

I see your point, but I still think it isn't fair.

"Top four remain - just shows how important getting a bye is!" I really don't like the BIg West Tournamnet format. It gives the top seeds too much of an advantage. Next year, I think we'll see the more traditional playoff with the top seed playing the bottom seed. etc. in the first round. Most likely it will bean 8 team tourney with the bottom two teams of the regular season disqualified.

As disappointing as it is this game illustrates why Jim Les is a great coach. He got his team to improve their rebounding and defense fighting through their fatigue to play Fullerton pretty even in the second half. It's pretty clear that the players like and respect him as evidenced by the fact that he loses very few players to the transfer portal. He is able to recruit intelligent players seeing potential in them that he is able to bring out, probably through good teaching. His play designs, especially on in-bounds plays has been remarked upon my numerous commentators. Davis needs to keep him next year not only for stability but because he has shown foresight in recruiting a lot of young players who will likely stay at UCD next year and well all improve. The Ags only lose Rocak and Daughtery for next year. All of the underclassmen will be better. I like our chances in the MWC next season as many of thebetter teams will be gone.

Note that the difference in the game is 15 (70-55) at this point and the Titans have made exactly 15 more free throws so far, getting more than twice as many chances as the Aggies. Also, Sevilla is 2 for 7. I think his hand is still bothering him.

Hard to blame anyone for what appears to be a loss in the last Big West game the Aggies will ever play, but especially the coach. This team has been inconsistent all year and with the injuries, fatigue and playing a hot team, this was going to be a tough one to win,

What happened to the defense in the last 5 minutes? Are the guys that tired?

Titans out rebounding gthe Aggies 24-14, 7-1 in offensive boards.

The offenses are pathetic!

CSUN eliminated UCSD 80-70.

I thought it was flagrant too, until I saw the replay. Sevilla is the definition of clutch.

Don't know but I'd guess there are a few.

I'd bet that Coach Pasternak isn't sorry to see the Aggies head to the Mountain West.:grin:

Whew, bring on the Titans. That Sevilla is tough. I sure hope he can go tomorrow. Telling stat: Gauchos' A/TA was .42, Ags 1.3. Did any of you watching the game on ESPN+ get the impression that the commentators were pulling for Santa Barbara?

I was wrong about the Gauchos hitting more 3s in the second half, but it's hard to believe how bad they've been from out there. If we win, that will be one of the main reasons. The other one being Daughtery's shooting.

They've given UCSB 2 and half times as many fouls shots as the Ags.

UCSB gas only made one trey. I don't expect that to continue. If Daughtery can keep his hot hand and we can get a couple from Conner, though, we cold pull this one out. Unfortunatetly, this team has lost a lot of games this season in the second half.

Wish Sevilla can get going. He's now 0 for his last 7 fgas.