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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2022 10:29:18 GMT -6
11-27-1996 The pre-season NIT, which was just another way of bringing good teams to New York for the fun of it. Duke Tulsa The Knight Machine and Evansville? WE were hanging in there and a loose-ball scrum with 2 seconds left, if only if only if only somebody, anybody, could have swatted it a few feet out ... but nooooooooooooooooooooo .... the script was for Patterson to make a basket with zilch left on the clock. 74-73. IU went on to bonk Duke for the "title" in this event. Years later, I still think it's the most painful loss I've ever witnessed on television. Summary of the season: IU lost in the regionals to Colorado; Aces were 17-14 with the emerging Marcus Wilson as a star in the making; Chris Hollender was a top player. Somehow, IU lured us back into the Hoosier Dome later in the year and beat us again. Duke beat Murray, lost to Providence in the NCAAs. Tulsa, which beat the Aces 55-51 in that consolation game, finished 24-10 and had one game of 128 points against TCU. How did we get two games against IU? Well, you had to have the phone number. All in all, a competitive Aces team with plenty of upside. They would prove that later on.  |
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Post by E-Villan on Jan 20, 2022 12:25:53 GMT -6
Funny, 25 years later and I can remember exactly what I was doing. Wednesday night bowling league at Arc Lanes. Finished up, and ran into the bar for final 10 minutes or so. You could hear a pin drop after Patterson hit that shot.
I would say the worst loss I ever saw in person would be the 1988 MCC Semi's at Market Square Arena. We were the two seed, facing a horrible, last place Detroit team, who had cleared SLU out of our way the night before. Get by these guys, and even a close loss to Xavier in the championship, would probably give us an at-large NCAA. Back and forth all night, and Marty clunked a couple of free throws late that I recall sunk us.
A close 2nd would be the 2016 MVC Championship Game against 4th place UNI. Marty doing Marty things cost us that one as well.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2022 13:15:12 GMT -6
Funny, 25 years later and I can remember exactly what I was doing. Wednesday night bowling league at Arc Lanes. Finished up, and ran into the bar for final 10 minutes or so. You could hear a pin drop after Patterson hit that shot. I would say the worst loss I ever saw in person would be the 1988 MCC Semi's at Market Square Arena. We were the two seed, facing a horrible, last place Detroit team, who had cleared SLU out of our way the night before. Get by these guys, and even a close loss to Xavier in the championship, would probably give us an at-large NCAA. Back and forth all night, and Marty clunked a couple of free throws late that I recall sunk us. A close 2nd would be the 2016 MVC Championship Game against 4th place UNI. Marty doing Marty things cost us that one as well. The 2016 title game is odd for me because most of the first half, I figured we were just going through the motions. Then all of a sudden it's freakin' tied or some such. That was the only point in the game I actually took any real interest in it. When Washpun dropped that egg, it was as though ... well, we had it coming. I did expect them to make the NIT and maybe do pretty well in that. But that Detroit game was pretty nasty. I wasn't as close to being a fan in those days, with other things in my life being more important. Xavier scoring 122 points in the final game, yeah ... that's a night to remember. I don't know what my excuse is now. |
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Post by acescott on Jan 20, 2022 13:40:52 GMT -6
It kind of begs the philosophical basketball question of what's more painful, a heartbreaker in a consequential game (2016 vs. UNI) or against a big name opponent for an almost 'statement' win (1995 IU) or extreme blowout losses vs. Big names to be splattered all over ESPN (Duke 2017) or blowout losses against conference 'equals' - Mo St 2007 or even Bradley a week ago. Don't know that I have an answer.. but I'll go with 2016 UNI.
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Post by aceschamps6571 on Jan 20, 2022 13:53:16 GMT -6
The most disappointing, heartbreaking loss for me was 50 years 😔 ago. It's been that long already?
I was a junior in high school, the Aces were defending college division national champions, and their titles were "supposed" to come in pairs- 1959 and '60, 1964 and '65, and 1971 and....'72 was supposed to happen. And Don Buse was going to win a championship in his last game with the Aces just like Jerry Sloan did.
But those hopes for another one were ruined in the Great Lakes Regional championship by the Eastern Michigan Hurons (now Eagles) and George Gervin. He then embarrassed himself and his team the next week by punching a Roanoke player and getting himself thrown out of the tournament. If only they hadn't even been there 😕.
The Aces just couldn't quite pull it out against Eastern Michigan. In the last few minutes, they were within one point a couple times, and EMU responded both times. Once, in the final minute, the Aces had possession, down 2, missed and had to foul. When it was over, the Aces lost 93-88.
The Eastern Michigan coach said afterward they would have lost the game if they had ever lost the lead with the crowd as loud as it was.
There were still some solid opponents to have to beat the next week, but I have always felt the Aces would have won it all again had they won that night.
The 2 buddies I sat with, we said nothing as we left. When I got home, my parents, who usually asked about the Aces game, said nothing. They knew I was crushed.
I actually attended the high school Semi State the next day, with the same two friends. I remember seeing some pretty good games (saw future Ace Jeff Frey), but mostly remember just sitting in the Stadium still stunned.
There were other memorable NCAA tourney losses- 1968 with the Vampire Five, 1974 with Jerry Conrad and co. who lost in OT, 1976 with Frey, Mike Smith, Platt and co., and in Div. I, 1982, with Leaf, Eric Harris and the Snowman- that stung. But that one in '72, with Buse, Coffey, Welmer, etc., was the toughest.
Looking back, losses always felt worse as a kid.
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Post by aces1982 on Jan 20, 2022 14:13:25 GMT -6
Funny, 25 years later and I can remember exactly what I was doing. Wednesday night bowling league at Arc Lanes. Finished up, and ran into the bar for final 10 minutes or so. You could hear a pin drop after Patterson hit that shot. I would say the worst loss I ever saw in person would be the 1988 MCC Semi's at Market Square Arena. We were the two seed, facing a horrible, last place Detroit team, who had cleared SLU out of our way the night before. Get by these guys, and even a close loss to Xavier in the championship, would probably give us an at-large NCAA. Back and forth all night, and Marty clunked a couple of free throws late that I recall sunk us. A close 2nd would be the 2016 MVC Championship Game against 4th place UNI. Marty doing Marty things cost us that one as well. Marty missed free throws to seal the game and Archie Tullos hit a 3 at the buzzer to win the game 75-74. There is probably video of it somewhere. |
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Post by Tom Servo on Jan 20, 2022 15:13:22 GMT -6
Here is that IU game - the game uploaded here is actually our VHS copy thanks to River City Ace for uploading it. Part 1 www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaYwtSj3OaoPart 2 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao4GXcRzVJAThat was a brutal one - but I would say we played very well. The fact that we scored over 70 pts against a big ten team is sort of amazing looking back on it now. The Detroit one was before I was born but I have heard how bad that was from my parents. Awful to have it end like that. But I've got to agree the 2016 game against UNI has to be the worst. Just look what has happened since. Nothing but torture. I was there at that game and I've never left a game more disappointed than I was after that one. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2022 16:46:22 GMT -6
Champs6571 mentioned the 1972 E. Michigan game. I was at that one and, yeah ... I don't think anyone really had known how good Gervin was. I have some plans to post a clip or two of that game and some others, so this is impetus. Although the summary above pretty well covers it.
Detroit paper was underwhelmed by the Hurons, as a guy named Lindell Reason had made 2 foul shots at the end to give them a 61-59 win over Wesleyan to set up the game against the Aces. EMU was ranked 4th in the College Division; the Aces were 7th. Roanoke won it all. Unranked, they were. Tennessee State had been the favorite all year. I am gonna ask politely if anyone remembers the Roanoke side show.
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Post by aceschamps6571 on Jan 20, 2022 17:49:48 GMT -6
The Aces were ranked # 1 early that season, but they played the toughest schedule in the country in the College Division.
After Eastern Michigan barely beat KWC, I had high hopes the Aces would win, but then UE had a scare of its own against the slow down tactics of Wittenberg.
As for Roanoke, I only saw one of their 3 games here. But I believe you may be referring to their dance team. 😉
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Post by Deleted on Jan 20, 2022 18:20:43 GMT -6
The Aces were ranked # 1 early that season, but they played the toughest schedule in the country in the College Division. After Eastern Michigan barely beat KWC, I had high hopes the Aces would win, but then UE had a scare of its own against the slow down tactics of Wittenberg. As for Roanoke, I only saw one of their 3 games here. But I believe you may be referring to their dance team. 😉 It was one specific person. It was definitely Roanoke, but maybe a different year for this young woman. She was involved in "statistics" of some sort. |
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Post by lawrencevgibson on Jan 21, 2022 13:15:57 GMT -6
11-27-1996 The pre-season NIT, which was just another way of bringing good teams to New York for the fun of it. Duke Tulsa The Knight Machine and Evansville? WE were hanging in there and a loose-ball scrum with 2 seconds left, if only if only if only somebody, anybody, could have swatted it a few feet out ... but nooooooooooooooooooooo .... the script was for Patterson to make a basket with zilch left on the clock. 74-73. IU went on to bonk Duke for the "title" in this event. Years later, I still think it's the most painful loss I've ever witnessed on television. Summary of the season: IU lost in the regionals to Colorado; Aces were 17-14 with the emerging Marcus Wilson as a star in the making; Chris Hollender was a top player. Somehow, IU lured us back into the Hoosier Dome later in the year and beat us again. Duke beat Murray, lost to Providence in the NCAAs. Tulsa, which beat the Aces 55-51 in that consolation game, finished 24-10 and had one game of 128 points against TCU. How did we get two games against IU? Well, you had to have the phone number. All in all, a competitive Aces team with plenty of upside. They would prove that later on. You for got the Wes Washpun last second shot that bounced off the rim, 3 feet up and fall back in. Cost us the tournament championship and trip to the dance. They still show it on the Arch Madness promo. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 21, 2022 13:22:56 GMT -6
You for got the Wes Washpun last second shot that bounced off the rim, 3 feet up and fall back in. Cost us the tournament championship and trip to the dance. They still show it on the Arch Madness promo. I covered all that. |
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Post by tbird728 on Feb 8, 2022 14:45:14 GMT -6
The Aces were ranked # 1 early that season, but they played the toughest schedule in the country in the College Division. After Eastern Michigan barely beat KWC, I had high hopes the Aces would win, but then UE had a scare of its own against the slow down tactics of Wittenberg. As for Roanoke, I only saw one of their 3 games here. But I believe you may be referring to their dance team. 😉 It was one specific person. It was definitely Roanoke, but maybe a different year for this young woman. She was involved in "statistics" of some sort. Interesting ... do tell about the "statistics". |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 8, 2022 15:03:42 GMT -6
It was one specific person. It was definitely Roanoke, but maybe a different year for this young woman. She was involved in "statistics" of some sort. Interesting ... do tell about the "statistics". She scored in the mid-40s. |
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Post by tbird728 on Feb 8, 2022 15:19:35 GMT -6
Interesting ... do tell about the "statistics". She scored in the mid-40s. LOL ... still not getting it. |
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