why this loss may actually be beneficial

[Northside Hawk]

No way in hell was this team ever going to sniff the final four and no one even expects it. S16 is the ceiling for this squad, by then you’re likely playing a 3 seed

We avoided the three seed (Pitt) in the sweet sixteen round in 1987 and it was a huge break. That Pitt team had Charles Davis, Jerome Lane, and physical guards.

We got Oklahoma instead, a free wheeling, high scoring team but with tiny guards that could be posted up, and a coach who didn't like to use his bench.

Kevin Gamble was unstoppable, as he pretty much was the entire tournament.