Rose could make that statement, backed by a roster filled with returning players. With better health and the presumed return of guard Nick Emery, the Cougars should be an NCAA Tournament team in 2019. As of Tuesday, though, they were the latest example of people who should have stopped when they were ahead in Las Vegas.
To their credit, they didn’t quit when hopelessly behind, but the damage was done when they trailed 63-31, a score remarkably similar to a checkpoint in last year’s semifinal loss to Saint Mary’s, the game the Cougars thought they had exorcised Monday.