Who had the better season: Villanova or UCLA

[radecicco]

What are your thoughts as to who had the better season. (I am not a Villanova alum. Just curious on perspective)


Villanova: 32-2 regular season
14-2 Big East
Top 10 all season
Big East regular season and tournament champions
#1 seed in the NCAA East Regional
Eliminated 2nd round NCAA by North Carolina State

UCLA: 22-13 regular season
11-7 Pac 12
Never in top 25
4th place Pac 12
#11 seed in NCAA South Regional
Sweet 16

 

[Halldan1]

Not even close. Nova.

The season is not dictated by 1 win or loss in the round of 32.

Now in the unlikely scenario that UCLA wins a couple more games that changes everything. But if not no one is going to remember UCLA advanced one more round that Nova did.

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

Arcidiacano

 

[anon_4htvdezyfe7k9]

Jk. Actually not a bad question but as much as I respect dan's response ncaa hoops bad become all about how far you advance in the tourney. Nova obviously had the better season but if given the choice Id take being a bubble team and having a shot at an elite 8 appearance over being a 1 seed and getting bounced in the 2nd rd.

 

[JIMSOULS]

Financially speaking, UCLA. And that's something that will lead to future positive results on the hardwood. All things considered, the prospects are brighter for UCLA's basketball program than Villanova's. Once Xavier gets bounced from the tournament, the Big East will go on its summer/fall vacation. Meanwhile, the football conferences will be rolling in the dough for the next nine-plus months. It's the new world order in college sports, and Villanova (and the Big East) is not part of it.

On a related note, I'm sure you've all seen the linked story.


ACC rakes in NCAA Tournament dollars

 

[Section112]

Originally posted by JIMSOULS:

Financially speaking, UCLA. And that's something that will lead to future positive results on the hardwood. All things considered, the prospects are brighter for UCLA's basketball program than Villanova's. Once Xavier gets bounced from the tournament, the Big East will go on its summer/fall vacation. Meanwhile, the football conferences will be rolling in the dough for the next nine-plus months. It's the new world order in college sports, and Villanova (and the Big East) is not part of it.

On a related note, I'm sure you've all seen the linked story.

Jim and that was what it was always about. Money. The fans and the rivalries be damned and they are getting their wish unfortunately.

In answer to the question I still say Nova. But the rich just get richer unfortunately. I would imagine Fox cannot be happy with our league's performance in the Dance.

 

[Pirate143]

i agree with Dan, Nova. the seson is 5 months, not 3 weeks in march.

 

[ShuVol]

As much as I hate to say it, UCLA, because it all comes down to how you finish the season.

 

[dcPirate]

The problem for Nova (and the new Big East) is they are far and away the top dog of the conference and the consistent early exits from the NCAA are not helping themselves or more importantly for Hall fans the BE. The conference really needed them to go deep this year. Between the Big East and Big 12, shows the RPI (although an important barometer at times) doesn't mean jack when it comes to the tournament.

 

[Section112]

Originally posted by dcPirate:
The problem for Nova (and the new Big East) is they are far and away the top dog of the conference and the consistent early exits from the NCAA are not helping themselves or more importantly for Hall fans the BE. The conference really needed them to go deep this year. Between the Big East and Big 12, shows the RPI (although an important barometer at times) doesn't mean jack when it comes to the tournament.

dc I get what you are saying but its not Nova's job to help Hall fans (I think what you wrote came out wrong). Maybe Seton Hall should take their role seriously in the Big East and try to do well for a change and help the Big East out too. Wouldn't that be a novel idea?

 

[Halldan1]

Originally posted by ShuVol:
As much as I hate to say it, UCLA, because it all comes down to how you finish the season.

Then the story is not finished.

If as I noted above UCLA gets bounced in their next game it's ludicrous to say that UCLA had a better season than Nova. Winning one extra game in the Dance doesn't make up for what happened during the entire campaign.

Now if UCLA continues to win (unlikely) than the answer changes.

 

[Pirate6711]

Originally posted by Halldan1:

Originally posted by ShuVol:
As much as I hate to say it, UCLA, because it all comes down to how you finish the season.

Then the story is not finished.

If as I noted above UCLA gets bounced in their next game it's ludicrous to say that UCLA had a better season than Nova. Winning one extra game in the Dance doesn't make up for what happened during the entire campaign.

Now if UCLA continues to win (unlikely) than the answer changes.

Agree with Dan's take here.

 

[Piratz]

I would prefer to have UCLA's season. I'd rather be in the Sweet Sixteen than out in Round 2, regardless of how dominant the regular season was.

 

[cernjSHU]

Who had the better year? The 1991 Seton Hall Pirates 9-7 in the Big Eastfor 4th Place, overall 25-9 but went to the Final 8 before losing to UNLV or 1993 Pirates who went 14-4 in the Big East for 1st Place, overall 28-7 but lost to Western Kentucky in the second round to Western Kentucky. For me it was 1991 Pirates. The 1993 teams was one of the most disappointing endings ever,


So, if UCLA wins one more game, I would say UCLA with out a doubt. Right now it is even. No matter how successful of a regular season a team has, it is the Tournament that makes the season.

 

[Muggsy Blue]

UCLA, no question about it; it's all about the dance!

 

[dcPirate]

Originally posted by Section112:

Originally posted by dcPirate:
The problem for Nova (and the new Big East) is they are far and away the top dog of the conference and the consistent early exits from the NCAA are not helping themselves or more importantly for Hall fans the BE. The conference really needed them to go deep this year. Between the Big East and Big 12, shows the RPI (although an important barometer at times) doesn't mean jack when it comes to the tournament.

dc I get what you are saying but its not Nova's job to help Hall fans (I think what you wrote came out wrong). Maybe Seton Hall should take their role seriously in the Big East and try to do well for a change and help the Big East out too. Wouldn't that be a novel idea?

I agree completely. The Hall should be helping themselves which they are not... What I meant was the Big East (and in part Seton Hall) needed a better showing from every team that made the Dance to help the conference down the road. Wright and JT3 are the upper tier coaches/programs in the league, but are getting a reputation for early exits (especially GTown, but Nova has been doing it from higher seeds). Not good any way you look at it.

 

[SHUMAN]

Stated another way - which school's fans probably had a more enjoyable season?

Nothing quite as heartbreaking as when your high expectations for your team come crumbling down (see Seton Hall 1993).

To me, sweet sixteen is the bottom level for achieving a great season. Yes, Nova won the conference and was ranked. But they couldn't get it done when it counts.

 

[newshu]

UCLA not even close the post season is all that matters who cares about being a 1 seed and 32-2 if you are going to go out in the 2nd round

 

[boatshu]

Agreed with newshu- its all about peaking at the right time. The tournament championship is the end goal of every team. Whoever gets closer is more successful. Plain and simple.

 

[HALL28]

Good question, very debatable.

I lean to UCLA IF they beat Gonzaga. If they go out, then OK, they got to the Sweet 16 beating UAB and SMU. Woopee.

Every year a few teams luck their way into the Sweet 16 based on a favorable draw (don't get me wrong, why can't that be us just one time!?). Not to mention UCLA got the added benefit of the ref blowing that goaltending call.

If UCLA can get thru the Zags to an Elite 8 matchup with Duke, then I will say UCLA had the better season. If not, it's really just a tie.

 

[Halldan1]

Originally posted by HALL28:

I lean to UCLA IF they beat Gonzaga. If they go out, then OK, they got to the Sweet 16 beating UAB and SMU. Woopee.

Exactly. Same could be said of Xavier who beat 11 seed Mississippi and 14 seed Georgie St on their way to the Sweet 16. Does anyone think they too had a better season than Nova?

Now if UCLA and Xavier spring big upsets in the next round then the answer changes. But to date, IMO not even close.

 

[dcPirate]

If you are a fan of either UCLA or Xavier versus a fan of Nova, does your thought process change? I'm sure all Nova fans are absolutely crushed right now with yet another early exit from the tournament. UCLA and Xavier fans are pretty high right now, even if both bow out this round. When you have had the sustained (regular) season success Nova has had, at some point does going 33-3 become "meaningless" to a fan unless you finally advance to a Final 4?? Obviously those are "high class" problems to have to even consider that record being a disappointment, but just wondering.

 

[Halldan1]

The question is not about fans and expectations. It's about results.

Hell if we're judging seasons by a happiness meter than Georgia State clearly had a superior season than Nova as well.

 

[dcPirate]

I would argue the question is all about fans and expectations (although I agree with the GA State example, which again comes back to expectations, which shows its completely subjective). If Kentucky goes 39-1 and does not win the title, is that a successful season? From the outside it would still appear to be a hugely successful season obviously. I would think you ask any Kentucky Coach/player/fan and it's a tremendous disappointment because of expectations.



This post was edited on 3/25 9:20 AM by dcPirate

 

[boatshu]

Originally posted by Halldan1:
The question is not about fans and expectations. It's about results.

Hell if we're judging seasons by a happiness meter than Georgia State clearly had a superior season than Nova as well.

Yes results! Everything that happens during the season is prep for the tournament- thats what counts, thats the target and benchmark for every team.

Performing well in qualifications is meaningless if you can't hack it when it comes time. Nobody cares about a team that wins every qualifying round only lose out in the opening rounds of the tournament.

 

[Muggsy Blue]

Losing out in the early rounds? I'd be happy with just an invitation.

 

[shu09]

Without a doubt, Villanova had the better year.