[Rosiak's Blog] Most disappointing/painful MU losses

[ToddRosiakSays]

Most disappointing/painful MU losses


Mar. 13, 2009 10:52 a.m.  




So I was thinking on my way home from NYC this morning about what Wesley Matthews said yesterday, ranking the loss to Villanova as the No. 1 most disappointing/painful in his four years at MU.

Clearly, he was answering a tough question in the heat of the moment, and the memory of Dwayne Anderson knocking down the game-winning layup was fresh in his mind.

So was it really the most disappointing/painful loss during Matthews' time with the Golden Eagles? What about before that?

This is my seventh year on the MU beat (man, time flies), and I've seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows experienced by the Golden Eagles over that span. So I'm going to give you the top 10 most disappointing/painful Golden Eagles losses I've covered, in my opinion, in order.

Take a minute to look them over, and then let me know what you think. Do you agree, disagree? Rank certain losses higher or lower? Did I miss any?

Also, feel free to chime in with some disappointing losses pre-2002, as well. I'm sure there are a fair number of those as well.

Anyway, here goes:

1. Stanford 82, MU 81 OT (March 22, 2008): I'd bet upon further reflection Matthews would shift his vote to this one as well.

How could he not? The Golden Eagles missed out on their first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2002-'03 when Brook Lopez hit a crazy leaner from behind the backboard in the closing seconds of the extra session in Anaheim, Calif.

Wasted in the effort was a highlight-reel effort by Jerel McNeal, who poured in 30 points, and knocked down 3 threes in the overtime alone, and the ejection of then-Cardinal coach Trent Johnson, a huge momentum swing that the Golden Eagles couldn't fully capitalize on.

2. Villanova 76, MU 75 (March 12): The way the Wildcats won it was painful enough -- no time outs left, scrambling to make a play, and the Golden Eagles get caught cheating up and Anderson is left all alone on the baseline to hit the game winner.

But the aftereffects could be even more painful, with regard to MU's seeding in the upcoming NCAA tournament. The team desperately needed another marquee victory on its resume to try and avoid one of the dreaded 7-10 or 8-9 games in the first round.

But having lost seven of their last 11, and without Dominic James, the Golden Eagles might not be treated too kindly by the tournament selection committee. We shall see late Sunday afternoon.

3. Georgetown 70, MU 68 OT (March 1, 2008): The Golden Eagles had won five in a row coming into this one at the Bradley Center, and held an 11-point lead in the second half before a long drought allowed the Hoyas back into it.

Then, of course, James fouled Jonathan Wallace on a three-point attempt deep in the right corner with 2.8 seconds left, and Wallace made all three free throws to send it into OT.

Wallace then banked in a crucial three in the extra session, adding insult to injury. MU went 12 for 23 from the free-throw line as well.

4. Louisville 73, MU 70 (Feb. 15, 2003): The Golden Eagles were on a 10-game winning streak coming in, but were ultimately done in by a Wisconsin native.

Madison West graduate Reece Gaines hit a long three-pointer with time winding down that sealed the victory for the Cardinals at the Bradley Center.

MU won its next five games, including a 78-73 decision at Louisville about two weeks later, and of course went on to the Final Four. But that shot was a real kick in the gut for the Golden Eagles at the time.

5. Alabama 90, MU 85 (March 16, 2006): The name Jean Felix will live in infamy among MU fans for the unconscious shooting display he put on in this first-round NCAA tournament game in San Diego.

Clearly unaffected by a bomb scare earlier in the day, the previously unknown Felix knocked down 8 threes and 7 free throws off the bench to score a game-high 31 points for the Crimson Tide.

Steve Novak had a chance to tie the game late, but missed a three. It was highly disappointing at the time, but the belief was that the young guard trio of James, Matthews and McNeal would be back the next year and be able to take the next step....

6. Michigan State 61, MU 49 (March 15, 2007): ...but with McNeal out after late-season thumb surgery, the Golden Eagles were out of sorts from the opening tip and ultimately embarrassed by the Spartans and then-coach Tom Crean's mentor, Tom Izzo.

MU went scoreless for roughly the first 10 minutes, and never recovered en route to its second consecutive first-round flameout in the NCAA tournament in Winston-Salem, N.C.

7. Kansas 94, MU 61 (April 5, 2003): Talk about your anti-climactic endings.

MU made a miraculous run through the NCAA tournament, surviving OT against Missouri, a hard-hitting matchup with Pittsburgh and then drilling overall No. 1 seed Kentucky in the Elite Eight in MInneapolis to earn its first Final Four berth since 1977.

But it seemed as though as soon as the Golden Eagles reached the Superdome in New Orleans, that the mission had already been accomplished. Of course, a really good Kansas Jayhawks team featuring two eventual NBA lottery picks in Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison had something to say about it too.

The game was basically a blowout from the beginning, and on college basketball's biggest stage. Not good.

8. South Florida 57, MU 56 (Feb. 6): This was the loss that started the painful downward spiral for the Golden Eagles to close out the regular season.

They'd won 12 straight coming in, and were poised to gain their highest ranking in some 30 years had they just been able to come out of the Sun Dome with a victory.

But alas, 10-for-23 shooting from the free-throw line and point-blank misses in the closing seconds by Matthews and Lazar Hayward sealed the deal in a loss that was voted biggest upset of the season in the Big East in a recent poll of reporters who cover the league.

9. Louisville 61, MU 59 (Feb. 17, 2007): First Reece Gaines. Then Jerry Smith.

The former Wauwatosa East standout -- and one-time MU recruiting target -- just crushed the Golden Eagles with his long three-pointer at the buzzer.

Of course, his celebration afterward (tearing off his jersey and sprinting around the court) didn't endear himself to the Bradley Center crowd, but who could blame the kid? It was an incredibly difficult shot in a huge situation.

10. Louisville 64, MU 61 (Feb. 17, 2005): Sense a pattern here?

Exactly two years prior to Smith's game-winner, Francisco Garcia buried a long three-pointer in the waning seconds to lift the Cardinals past the Golden Eagles at the Bradley Center.

The fact the game was tied at the time moves it down the list a notch, as does the fact MU ultimately wasn't going anywhere that season anyway after Travis Diener broke his hand.

(Dis-)honorable mention:

Villanova 72, MU 67 (Feb. 4, 2006): James, Matthews and McNeal -- then freshmen -- had the No. 4 Wildcats and their guard trio of Randy Foye, Allan Ray and Kyle Lowry on the ropes at Villanova, but couldn't hold a late lead and ultimately fell. A game effort, but disappointing nonetheless.

North Dakota State 64, MU 60 (Dec. 2, 2006): Fresh off a huge upset of No. 9 Duke in the championship game of the CBE Classic, the Golden Eagles came home and laid a huge egg in the championship game of the final Blue & Gold Tournament at the Bradley Center.

Southern Mississippi 83, MU 61 (Jan. 16, 2004): Southern Miss created a huge stir when it agreed to play this one, a home game for them, at the Resch Center in Green Bay, under the guise of the school's ties to Brett Favre. It was actually a big payday for the school, and wound up being a huge egg on the face of MU.

Western Michigan 54, MU 40 (March 14, 2005): This was just a horribly painful game to watch. Without Diener, the Golden Eagles were just miserable in this, a first-round NIT game at the Bradley Center. It was a significant game, however, in that it helped provide the impetus for then-coach Tom Crean to recruit more and better guards -- hence, The Big Three the next season.

Louisville 99, MU 52 (Feb. 17, 2005): Diener was out for this one. Brutal, brutal beatdown at Freedom Hall. Worst loss in MU history. Enough said.

Maybe that'll help take your minds off yesterday. Maybe it'll make you even madder heading into Selection Sunday. I don't know.

But what do you think?

Oh, and on a personal note, want to talk about painful? How about my decision to leave my courtside seat at Madison Square Garden at halftime of the Syracuse-UConn 6OT classic in order to try and get some sleep so I could catch the earliest flight out in the morning?

I wound up watching all the rest of it from my hotel room anyway. Oops.

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http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/41210127.html

[Sir Lawrence]

Warning:  you'll need to pop an anti-depressant before reading the list.  Pretty good ranking, for the current era, however.  My all time worst loss was the 1974 NCAA Title game. 

[AlumKCof93]

I'd agree with the top 5, but not with the MSU or Kansas losses. With the buzzer beaters, I have trouble sleeping thinking of the ways the losses could have been avoided.  With Kansas and MSU, I was disappointed and a bit humiliated, but I don't feel too bad for the kids when they don't deserve to win.  They didn't in those 2 games.  On the other hand, I don't think I've slept that well since Hayard missed the layup at SFU on Feb 6th.

[Dish]

Most disappointing/embarassing in person I saw was Maine 68, MU 59 at the Bradley Center in Feb. 1997. That MU team went on to with the C-USA tourney that year too.

[foreverwarriors]

I think the Louisville blowout in 05 should be higher... probably the lowest point I think MU basketball has been at in a while - just an absolute embarrassment.

The memory of Marcus Jackson bringing the ball up the court still brings back nightmares.

[The Man in Gold]

Don't forget the CUSA tourney loss to TCU that led up to the NIT in 2005.  I think is fair to say any game post the Travis Diener punching bag experiment should be excluded from all history books.

[Sir Lawrence]

I thought of another, very painful game.

March 14, 1997, first round of the NCAA tournament, we got schooled by Providence, 81-59, Deane gets ejected, Croshere goes off for 30 some points. 

[MarquetteFan94]

I thought of another, very painful game.

March 14, 1997, first round of the NCAA tournament, we got schooled by Providence, 81-59, Deane gets ejected, Croshere goes off for 30 some points. 

Not to mention the half court shot they hit right before halftime....can't remember if Croshere was the one who made the shot or not...probably.

[Henry Sugar]

Hey Todd,

Could have done without that.  To quote Jon Stewart... "F*ck you!"

[WellsstreetWanderer]

I agree with Stanford...I was screaming at the TV as Lopez loped down and took the same spot time after time and popped that little shot. Why Crean never had someone take that position away was maddening. Even I could see that .

[MarquetteFan94]

I would probably add the first round NCAA loss to Tulsa in 2002 and the loss to UAB in the C-USA tourney in 2003 in there as dishonrable mention.

I remember being so excited that MU basketball was back in the big dance against Tulsa with a potential game against Kentucky in the second round....so much for that.

Then in 2003, I felt like we were ready to take the next step...until we played UAB in Louisville...they killed us with their speed and we looked like a mess....I had the "here we go again feeling..."...glad I was wrong.

[Dish]

Good call on that Tulsa game. I made the drive down to St. Louis that morning for the game, probably as excited as I had been for a solid weekend of MU basketball.

The end of that game was a real disaster. Diener (then a frosh) threw up a wild 30 footer, just a complete breakdown to end that one.

[Buzz Williams' Spillproof Chiclets Cup]

Man, that was depressing reading.

[Mike Deane]

just popped an alieve!  Thanks, Todd, for bringing up all those moments, all in the same post!!!

[MarquetteFan94]

The end of that game was a real disaster. Diener (then a frosh) threw up a wild 30 footer, just a complete breakdown to end that one.

I remember Diener's shot was short and Wade came from out of nowhere to almost convert an amazing NC State-esque alley-oop.....didn't happen.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Notre Dame at Marquette

early '90s ('91-'92 season if memory serves me correct)

MU has 20+ point lead going into halftime

Laphonso Ellis goes insane in the 2nd half and ND wins

Horrible

[GGGG]

I thought of another, very painful game.

March 14, 1997, first round of the NCAA tournament, we got schooled by Providence, 81-59, Deane gets ejected, Croshere goes off for 30 some points. 

Yes...that was after we won the CUSA tournament that year too.

Another one was the second round loss to #12 seed Arkansas in 1996 after we were seeded fourth and destroyed Monmouth in the first round.

Typical Mike Deanne coaching jobs...

[THEGYMBAR]

Ohio State when Dean the Dream fouled out and Allie McGuire stepped out of bounds late in the game. Closely followed by Miami of Ohio in 1978. Both of the games were knockout punches to two great teams.

Last years Stanford loss was tough on me for some reason. A painful loss to me means it is post season. Plenty of regular season losses pissed me off but got over them.

Oh yeah, yesterday's loss also comes to mind.

[RaleighWarrior]

Ohio State when Dean the Dream fouled out and Allie McGuire stepped out of bounds late in the game. Closely followed by Miami of Ohio in 1978. Both of the games were knockout punches to two great teams.

Last years Stanford loss was tough on me for some reason. A painful loss to me means it is post season. Plenty of regular season losses pissed me off but got over them.

Oh yeah, yesterday's loss also comes to mind.

Was that the game in which Jerome Whitehead was ejected for supposedly throwing his elbows?

[MUfan12]

My list-

1) Kansas, 2003. F-ing embarrassing.
2) Stanford, 2008. F-ing Lopez.
3) UL, 2003. F-ing Gaines.
4) Duke, 1994. F-ing Refs.
5) Gtown, 2008. F-ing Wallace.
6) UL, 2007. F-ing Smith
7) UL, 2005. F-ing Garcia. F-ing Amoroso.
8) VTech- 1995 NIT. F-ing Smith.
9) Bama, 2006. F-ing Felix.
10) VU, yesterday. F-ing Jerel.

[MU B2002]

I remember Diener's shot was short and Wade came from out of nowhere to almost convert an amazing NC State-esque alley-oop.....didn't happen.

I remember sitting in absolute silence in the Annex after that happened.  Nobody understood how that was the play we came up with.  Didn't know if it was a 3 or a failed alley-oop.

[THEGYMBAR]

Gforce---that is the game!!! Phantom elbow followed by Hank T and down went the Warriors.

[NotAnAlum]

How about the @ Cinc game D Wade's first year.  As I recall we had that game won and one of Cinc rebounding beasts who never shoots anything but put backs makes a 16 footer to beat us.

[RaleighWarrior]

Gforce---that is the game!!! Phantom elbow followed by Hank T and down went the Warriors.

Ouch, I forgot about the T.  What about Rick Mount hitting a jumper for Purdue with 2 seconds left in OT to beat MU in the regional final in 1969 in Madison.

[MU111]

I remember Diener's shot was short and Wade came from out of nowhere to almost convert an amazing NC State-esque alley-oop.....didn't happen.

I remember being so mad and was yelling at Crean to call a timeout to set up an in-bound play, only to watch Diener dribble around a bit and then air it out at the top of the key.