Doc

Not mathematically out yet, but our chances are pathetically slim at present. In addition to Cincy, Rutgers, and Seton Hall, we can still catch: Providence - if they lose out Connecticut - if they lose out Villanova - if they lose out, and Rutgers wins out to force a three-way tie Of course, the Providence scenario doesn't factor in a three-way tie with UConn or someone else, which could hurt us, but I've wasted enough time with the above to worry about these other combinations. To stay alive until next weekend, we need PC to lose to Marquette OR UConn to lose to Rutgers (the 'Nova game doesn't immediately matter because a Rutgers win keeps us alive anyway).

Not going to cancel any travel plans, it will just be a lot lonlier in New York. Even seven wins isn't a sure thing anymore. Well, that's what happens when you have to rely on others for help. Hmm, I seem to remember Marquette needing our help just about one year ago. . . something like Crean getting on the loud speaker and saying "now let's all go home and be South Florida fans." Georgetown loses and Marquette gets the bye (but then loses to Georgetown anyway). Yeah, thanks for returning the favor. If Mac stays it will be because of the finances, not the improved record. As it has been said before, anything less than MSG would be a disappointment AND a failure.

Congratulations! Officially clinched spot in Hartford. Now, for that first-round bye, it looks like it will take at least eleven wins (three of last four) to make this happen. Two very tough road games, UConn at home, and a much improved Seton Hall team in the finale. Good luck!

Not a mathematical "must-win" game. But lose to Syracuse, and the DePaul game likely becomes a mathematical elimination game for us.

Just got back from the Louisville game. . . if we chalk up that dismal performance to "playing on the road" then we are in big trouble. Freedom Hall was as dead as I've ever seen it, have seen more enthusiastic crowds at their women's games, and we were still lucky to lose by ONLY 20. I think it's not so much about IF we win six games, but rather WHO we beat if we get to six. Winning only the three remaining home games probably won't do it anymore. I agree with the prior posts stating that DePaul, @ DePaul, and @ Seton Hall are the most important if we have to pick out three games. But needing two road wins for a team that is 0-14 in Big East road games makes me very nervous. . . However, even if we lose at Seton Hall, all is not lost. I still don't see the Pirates getting to six wins. That means home wins over DePaul and either PC or SU might keep the door open for MSG in the finale in Chicago (last year, DePaul blew their chances at MSG on the final game), requiring only one road win instead of two. One more thing -- check out Syracuse's remaining schedule: SJU, @USF, UCONN, @PC, GU, @NOVA. Even with a win over SJU, the rest of their games could all be losses and giving us the head-to-head advantage. This MAYBE allows for a sweep of our home slate to pass SHU and Syracuse, even with road losses to the Pirates and Blue Demons. Either way, my bags will be packed for Hartford and NYC. I just hope to have a team to cheer for in both venues.

Congratulations! On pace for a first round bye in the conference tourney. The largest home crowd was over 3000 for the UConn game about 5 years ago (non-conference game), mostly with Huskies fans. I'll be in Chicago for the DePaul game this week and a win there should put us over for the Top 25 (road win at a tough venue historically will turn more heads than wins over St. John's and Syracuseever could). Of course, they'll then have to beat Pittsburgh later in the week to keep those potential votes. . . and that could mean trouble. . .

Hey! Those photos are from my old seat. Is the "1" plaque still "missing" from the chair in the bottom row?

Congratulations to the team on the victory! I'm not sure who else would agree here, but I was NOT surprised one bit by the win. I fully expect USF to win every one of these home games regardless of the opponent's rank and was stunned by the Marquette loss (not televised in St. Louis so I didn't even read about the devastating fashion by which it happened until later). Now we have to figure out how to win one on the road. I'll do what I can to help in Louisville, but the big ones are obviously in St. John's, Seton Hall, and DePaul. Even with six home conference wins, mathematically it might get tricky getting to the Garden with road losses in these games. I still believe we have to win at least one to make it.

I'm not so sure. Rutgers just beat a ranked opponent, and I believe also beat a decent Temple team earlier this week. They'll get votes before we do, especially with their name-recognition and televised beat-down they handed us. Either way, with all those other teams going down, maybe, just maybe, this is the week.

Six wins should be enough. Five wins may even do it, if we keep picking off the other bottom feeders. Unfortunately, we play most of them on the road and so the Bulls will either need to pull off a few upsets at home, or win down the stretch on the road against teams also fighting for their lives. The Rutgers win over SHU was bad only if your goal is to finish 15th. We're aiming for 12th or better, and so any ground made up on those 3 and 4-loss teams is a good thing. A win over a higher-level team like Marquette would go a long way in a three-way tie if head-to-head is tied, since the next tie-breaker is record versus top team, then down the line.

Doesn't look like there will be TV for this one. I'm making the drive to South Bend early Sunday morning to watch the drama unfold in person. If you hear an unexplained game stoppage on the radio, it's probably the ref telling me to sit down and shut up, much like what happened at a women's game a couple of years back.

I remember that rain game too -- my horn-hat took a beating that night but managed to make it all the way through. The score was closer than it should've been if I'm not mistaken, something like 14-0. I'll have my Bulls car flag flying this afternoon as I make my way to Birmingham from St. Louis. Looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Only 17 undefeated teams left, and two of them are playing ranked teams tonight. Go Bulls, beat the Spiders and keep the streak going. I'll be eagerly watching the ESPN ticker tonight, since I don't think we get any Full Court games until conference play begins.

TAMU-CC lost to Oklahoma State last night, leaving USF with the longest stretch without tasting defeat. Time to plan for that parade! Only 29 unbeatens remain, and only eight schools left with both men's and women's teams undefeated.

Paying homage to Denny Green: "The Mountaineers are who we thought they were!"

Expecting a loss should never be a reason to stay home. The team's record shouldn't factor into the decision. Last season, USF was something like a combined 1-12 all-sports when I made an appearance, but yet I keep making the trip. Haven't seen a football victory in person since 2002 against Memphis, a game we nearly lost on the final play. My other fetish involves the Arizona Cardinals who are a pitiful 3-21 when I show up, but I'll be there to watch them in St. Louis this Sunday. . .

78 It would just be one ticket for me, and probably only staying for the game, not even overnight.

You guys take care of Louisville and Pittsburgh, and I'll take care of DePaul and George Washington. There, that should do it. . . correct me if I'm wrong, neither men's nor women's B-ball has even made top 25 before, right?

Creepy? Thanks, man. I've been called worse, by better.

Nice pics! Thanks for posting them. I think I see the top of my horns in one of them! Yeah!!!

Who said I'm leaving the SunDolls? I do like your use of the words "SunDolls" and "behind" in the same sentence though.

Hmm, George Washington and Arkansas still have to deal with me in Saint Louis. You better believe that if they are still ahead of us come gametime, I'll be on my most vicious behavior when they take on the Lady Billikens. They play in a 1920s-era gymnasium where I can stand about a foot-and-a-half off the sideline and yank down a visiting player by her ponytail if she gets too close and the ref isn't looking. . .

OK, anyone got gurlybull's number then?

A little off topic but I guess it's as good a place as any to ask: Why don't you guys play the fight song the way it was meant to be played, before it was changed to 6/8 time? The lyrics actually fit the pre-1999 version and sounded much less dainty than the current song. And if you insist on keeping this version, any thoughts on where I could get an audio clip of the original version (I know they still played it in a radio ad until just a few years ago)? Thanks, and keep up the excellent work!

Hey, I'll take an ugly win over a pretty loss any time. As mentioned above, these are the close games we lost last year, against good & bad opposition. Probably a good thing I didn't see the game, although the ESPN ticker totally screwed this one up, showing a questionable 67-59 Bulls' lead and not updating the score (but showing it was in OT) until well after it went final. . . not many nails left on my fingers. Looks like only 36 unbeatens remain, and with the Bulls safely in the clubhouse until next week, expect that number to drop a bit before we take the court again. There are still a few small-conference pretenders to weed out, and a few more big boys to likely go down in the ACC-BigTen challenge. Maybe low to mid 20s left before the Richmond game, and with a win, perhaps some ESPN talking head will mention us on some list and give us some positive exposure. As for TAMU-CC, I was there in Springfield, MO last season and saw them hand our team a bad beatdown. Very under-rated, and I believe they now hold the nation's longest winning streak (five wins to end last year, and undefeated so far this year). Only they and our Bulls can still trace a winning streak to last season. For those not keeping score at home, here are the final three dozen unbeatens by my count: LaSalle, Clem, MD, NCSt, UVA, WF, UConn, Marq, Pitt, USF, Syr, Ill, OhioSt, IowaSt, Mizzou, Nebr, OklaSt, TAMU, UCF, USM, Butler, NIU, Ohio, WichSt, NewMex, SDSt, RobMorris, Oregon, UCLA, Wash, WashSt, Alab, Ark, TAMU-CC, FresSt, Nev. Five at risk Tuesday night. . . Yes, this IS my hobby, sad to say.