Worst tournament loss since...?

[markchal]

We've had some tough losses in the tournament before (Duke, KSU, etc), but when was the last time we lost to a team seeded five lines below us? We've been so spoiled in March that this feels so weird, choking in the final seconds to a team we very much should've beaten.

[X Factor]

In DW's senior year, '03 - Xavier was a 3 seed and lost to 6 seeded Maryland in the 2nd round. Maryland controlled that game pretty much the entire way though. No buzzer beating heartache.

Also, can't remember the year, but we lost as a 6 seed to Marquette, seeded 11 in the first round of the tourney. Not really a close game either.


This is by far the worst considering the regular season we had and being a 2 seed with a great draw.

[markchal]

I forgot about that Marq loss. I wonder when they will get another tournament win.

The wasted potential is the worst part of this. The OSU loss was horrible, but that team wasn't going to the FF. This was supposed to be the team.

[Xville]

I have only been watching since 99 when I decided to attend xavier, so I don't have the historical perspective. With that said, this is the worst loss. The Ohio state loss sucked but we were a pretty big underdog in that game and we probably over achieved that year. This year anything but at least an elite eight was a disappointment being that we were a 2 seed and the draw was relatively easy.

I think outside of the 2nd nova game, this team peaked in november. Since after that tournament they have not looked like that team again aside from the 2nd nova game. Not sure if it was just that we got scouted from then on and Mack didn't make adjustments or what, but this team was much better in November than it was in February or much in my opinion.

[Muskie]

The team definitely seemed to lose something after Villanova.


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[Cheesehead]

For me, since Ohio State game.

[Xavier]

Ever. Look, it was our best chance. Playing 6 seed ND to go to the elite 8....still probably would have taken best game of the year to beat UNC but wouldve love the shot.

[markchal]

The team definitely seemed to lose something after Villanova.


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I feel like they found something in that game, but largely before and after we're pretty inconsistent. Just don't get why we fell apart at the end of the year.

[Xavier]

Yeah my fear durning November was we were peaking too early. Just wanted to bottle thst play up for March. Oh well, will take awhile to get over this one.

[THRILLHOUSE]

The 98 team was a 6 seed and lost on a shot with about 10 seconds left to 11 seed Washington. Very first game of that tournament if I remember correctly. Would've had 14 seed Richmond the next round as well. Probably the only other time where a higher seeded X team lost a "gut punch" of a game. As others have said, other times where X was the favorite and lost they got beat pretty handily.

[Jehoya]

Ever...Worse...loss....ever

[SemajParlor]

That Marquette was bad but they were just outplayed right from the start. This is one was worse for me.

[XMuskieFTW]

This is by far the worst. The level of talent, the way we lost, the path to the elite 8. Devastating. Just absolutely the worst.

[muethibp]

First, people saying this was the worst loss ever have very short memories. I can't imagine anything ever being worse than the OSU loss. And the KSU loss was absolutely brutal as well.

Second, I think someone can reasonably wonder if this team was ever actually as good as ranked. They ran roughshod over that Orlando tournament, I grant, and that put their ranking (human and computer) very high. There were certainly some good performances after that but they were plagued by inconsistency. There were some very sluggish wins against bad teams (the St. Johns games, Creighton at home...even Miami and NKU might have foreshadowed inconsistent effort), some inexplicably bad losses (home to Georgetown, listless at Creighton), and a distressing habit of falling behind early. When they needed to step up the energy against Seton Hall late in the season, it simply wasn't there. It's hard to be surprised by this loss.

[Mrs. Garrett]

This loss turns a great season into a disappointing one for me. I'd rather limp into the tournament and make the Sweet 16 like we did last year than have a great regular season and lose during the first weekend of the tournament.

[BandAid]

This thread sucks.

But OSU was still the worst

[GoMuskies]

First, people saying this was the worst loss ever have very short memories. I can't imagine anything ever being worse than the OSU loss. And the KSU loss was absolutely brutal as well.



To me, those losses stung more because Xavier played so damned well in defeat. When Xavier sucks out loud like they did yesterday, it's harder for me to be as upset about the outcome. It's more disappointment about the way the team played as opposed to the outcome. It's the difference between how I felt after the 2004 Duke game (devastated that the team played so well and came up short) and the 2008 UCLA game (mystified that the team came out and took a dump on that stage).

[RealDeal]

I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

[X-ceptional]

We've had some tough losses in the tournament before (Duke, KSU, etc) . . .

That's the thing that stings most about this loss... it was nothing like KSU. I actually wasn't upset about the KSU loss. As (I believe) Crawford said, "We went out like G's." They laid it all on the line. From Tu's absolute steel balls three free throws in a row to end regulation to the famous "Crawford 8 seconds... Crawford's gotta hurry... oh... OHHHHHHHHHH HE TIED IT!" I can still watch that game and enjoy it.

I will never watch this game again. This one hurt. Didn't feel right... not the way Farr and Remy should have to go out. ALL things considered, worst/most painful loss ever IMO.

[muethibp]

To me, those losses stung more because Xavier played so damned well in defeat. When Xavier sucks out loud like they did yesterday, it's harder for me to be as upset about the outcome. It's more disappointment about the way the team played as opposed to the outcome. It's the difference between how I felt after the 2004 Duke game (devastated that the team played so well and came up short) and the 2008 UCLA game (mystified that the team came out and took a dump on that stage).

I hear you, but the OSU loss will always be the worst for me because, while they did play so well, they also gave the game away at the end and the game would have been sealed had Oden been called for assault like he should have been late.

[Nigel Tufnel]

To me, those losses stung more because Xavier played so damned well in defeat. When Xavier sucks out loud like they did yesterday, it's harder for me to be as upset about the outcome. It's more disappointment about the way the team played as opposed to the outcome. It's the difference between how I felt after the 2004 Duke game (devastated that the team played so well and came up short) and the 2008 UCLA game (mystified that the team came out and took a dump on that stage).

Totally agree. The loss was very disappointing, but it wasn't ripped from them. They let Wisconsin stick around. X could have easily controlled their fate last night...instead, they let fate control the outcome. Never, ever should have been in a position to allow a buzzer beater to happen.

My 12 year old was devastated...that helped me keep things in perspective as I had to talk him thru it last night.

[X-ceptional]

And the KSU loss was absolutely brutal as well.


To me, those losses stung more because Xavier played so damned well in defeat.

Hmm... different strokes, I guess. I definitely see why those could sting more, but to me... if that was the end of the line (particularly, the KSU game), at least they went out in a fury. Not watching impotently as the game slipped away, and suffering two dagger threes to end it....... ugh.

I agree with whoever said this thread sucks. Not your fault markchal, it's a message board, so I get it.... this whole situation just sucks...

[BandAid]

This thread sucks.

But OSU was still the worst

I change my answer. The women's Elite Eight game against Stanford in 2010 was the worst tournament loss. I broke the remote control on that one.

[muethibp]

Totally agree. The loss was very disappointing, but it wasn't ripped from them. They let Wisconsin stick around. X could have easily controlled their fate last night...instead, they let fate control the outcome. Never, ever should have been in a position to allow a buzzer beater to happen.

My 12 year old was devastated...that helped me keep things in perspective as I had to talk him thru it last night.

More than anything, I am just guilty for opening this world to my kids. I should have known better. No reason to raise someone a Reds/Bengals/Xavier fan. It's just a lifetime of misery.

[SemajParlor]

Totally agree. The loss was very disappointing, but it wasn't ripped from them.

I appreciate the spin, but I don't know - that certainly felt like it was ripped from them. Leading for the last 9 minutes up until the final 2 seconds. I know they let them hang around but... that was tough.

[SemajParlor]

More than anything, I am just guilty for opening this world to my kids. I should have known better. No reason to raise someone a Reds/Bengals/Xavier fan. It's just a lifetime of misery.

Take Xavier out of that mix.

It could be worse - I'm a Mets / Jets / and Knicks fan.

[markchal]

Take Xavier out of that mix.

It could be worse - I'm a Mets / Jets / and Knicks fan.

Yeah we are nowhere near as bad as the other Cincy teams. We're usually fairly clutch in March, I think that's why it's so shocking we choked down the stretch.

[Drew]

Fact is, before Xavier was almost always the underdog and got to enjoy a no-lose situation. Now we are the hunted and the expectations are raised. I think this experience will only prepare them more for next year. Go X!

[markchal]

Ever. Look, it was our best chance. Playing 6 seed ND to go to the elite 8....still probably would have taken best game of the year to beat UNC but wouldve love the shot.

I agree with the part of this that it was our best chance. I feel like we may have missed our window. Not only did we have a decent draw to at least the elite 8, this is a down year for the big programs in college basketball. The one-and-dones are a lot deeper in next year's class, which will make any shot at taking them down much more difficult.

[XUMIOH12]

I agree with the part of this that it was our best chance. I feel like we may have missed our window. Not only did we have a decent draw to at least the elite 8, this is a down year for the big programs in college basketball. The one-and-dones are a lot deeper in next year's class, which will make any shot at taking them down much more difficult.

yeah we had a pretty favorable draw to reach the Elite 8, and should have made it there. Then at that point just see what happens. Not like we will never have another chance, but its tough to get another Xavier team this well put together in the coming seasons.

[BMoreX]

Ever.

[Nigel Tufnel]

I appreciate the spin, but I don't know - that certainly felt like it was ripped from them. Leading for the last 9 minutes up until the final 2 seconds. I know they let them hang around but... that was tough.

I totally understand your perspective. I guess I feel like they gave it away more than it was ripped from them. If I was a SFA fan, I would have been more devastated than I felt last night as an X fan.

[BandAid]

I totally understand your perspective. I guess I feel like they gave it away more than it was ripped from them. If I was a SFA fan, I would have been more devastated than I felt last night as an X fan.

Or UNI.
Or Michigan State.
Or uc.

[SemajParlor]

I can deal with blown leads and bad collapses. The "what if" is what did and will continue to keep me up at night.

At the end of the day, we all know the drill in March. The season ends in a tough way for 67 teams in this tournament.

[xu82]

I skipped straight to the end. I couldn't stand the thought of wallowing through all that pain.

[muskieindent]

This is the toughest one ever.I thought I'd never say that after the OSU loss.The second round loss in 2003 was equally disappointing in terms of the expectations for that team but a buzzer beater makes this one even tougher to take

[markchal]

I can't believe how much this one stings. Still feels surreal a day later.

I did find reading this old Bill Simmons column helped though- http://grantland.com/features/the-consequences-caring/

[GuyFawkes38]

The lost to OSU was much worse for me. It sounds sort of silly now, but
I hated Thad for bolting back then. That loss put me into a rage.

I'm honestly sick of just how much importance is placed on the NCAA Tournament. It's a small, 3-15 percent sampling of the season. We should all focus more on the regular season as a measure of success.

[X Factor]

The lost to OSU was much worse for me. It sounds sort of silly now, but
I hated Thad for bolting back then. That loss put me into a rage.

I'm honestly sick of just how much importance is placed on the NCAA Tournament. It's a small, 3-15 percent sampling of the season. We should all focus more on the regular season as a measure of success.

Focus on the regular season? Yep, the regular season is why UK, Kansas, Duke, UNC, UConn, IU, etc. recruit at the level they do.

A LOT of teams have regular season success. Not many teams win conference championships and make Final Fours and win National Titles.

[XMuskieFTW]

I can't believe how much this one stings. Still feels surreal a day later.

I did find reading this old Bill Simmons column helped though- http://grantland.com/features/the-consequences-caring/

I've never felt this horrible about a loss in any sport ever. This did help a bit. The worst part of being so invested in college basketball is how long the offseasons really are. Cannot wait for our first game next season.

[GuyFawkes38]

Focus on the regular season? Yep, the regular season is why UK, Kansas, Duke, UNC, UConn, IU, etc. recruit at the level they do.

A LOT of teams have regular season success. Not many teams win conference championships and make Final Fours and win National Titles.

Demanding Final Fours will drive you crazy. The NCAA Tourney is roulette and the odds aren't in our favor (or even UK, IU, Kansas, etc favor). Much more reasonable to demand success for the regular season and take whatever happens in the Tourney and hope to someday breakthrough in the Tourney.

Calling this season a failure because we lost in the 2nd round is absurd.

[XUMIOH12]

I've never felt this horrible about a loss in any sport ever. This did help a bit. The worst part of being so invested in college basketball is how long the offseasons really are. Cannot wait for our first game next season.

yeah just another 7 and a half months until next season. Quite a long time to wait for another game

[X-ceptional]

I can't believe how much this one stings. Still feels surreal a day later.

I did find reading this old Bill Simmons column helped though- http://grantland.com/features/the-consequences-caring/

Public reps on that. For the tl;dr crowd, my key takeaway is here:


Sports is a metaphor for life. Everything is black and white on the surface. You win, you lose, you laugh, you cry, you cheer, you boo, and most of all, you care. Lurking underneath that surface, that’s where all the good stuff is — the memories, the connections, the love, the fans, the layers that make sports what they are.

The loss sucked, no doubt about it. But damn, there was a lot of the good stuff underneath the surface of this season.

Running roughshod through the Advocare tourney, including a 30 point dismantling of the Cryers--which, I have mentioned before, carries personal weight for me because it was the first Xavier game I ever watched with my son who was born the day before... truly, not even a national championship can top that feeling for me.
Farr’s transformation as a whole.
Ed’s nasty dunk in the Shootout.
So many of JP’s 3’s, but especially the Mack-shouting-for-someone-to-call-timeout-but-the-play-isn’t-over-until-JP-says-its-over-SOUL-CRUSHER against Providence.
#5 hosting #1… enough said.


I could go on, and on, and on. But still, I guess that’s why this one hurt so much initially. I am used to Xavier being good… but I’m not quite used to them being THIS good.

Maybe, however, that should offer a level of comfort. I will miss seeing Farr and Remy play, but the cupboard is not bare. Xavier will remain THIS good in the foreseeable future... in fact, even better as far as I can tell. There is a lot of luck involved in winning the NCAA tourney, and the teams that can take advantage of that luck are the teams that are protected seeds year after year. Xavier is trending that way, and it should only be a matter of time. This story isn’t over yet.