The Road To The NCAA Final Four....& March Madness!
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UConn Headed to Sweet 16
Final score: UCONN 87, KENTUCKY 83
This game ended up being uncomfortably close and UConn had to make free throws late to win the game. Patrick Sparks of Kentucky played out of his mind and had the game of his life.
Next up for UConn is Washington in the Sweet 16 Thursday night.
Final score: UCONN 87, KENTUCKY 83
This game ended up being uncomfortably close and UConn had to make free throws late to win the game. Patrick Sparks of Kentucky played out of his mind and had the game of his life.
Next up for UConn is Washington in the Sweet 16 Thursday night.
EagerBeaver said:
Don't forget lessons learned in the past EB,
Listerine does NOT get rid of the raw onion smell!
So this tournament is proving to be quite interesting. Even the normally mundane commentators have been remarking about all the twists and turns in so many closely contested games and upsets. They are actually giving some credit to the "Children of a lesser God" teams.
Two of the #2 seeds are out by the second round.
The Big East presence is halved by the second round.
Villanova and UConn combine for one of the lowest margins of victory in the first two games by #1 seeds in the history of the tournament and Duke didn't exactly "roll" either.
By contrast the #1 seeds in the womens tournament are winning by blowout margins including the lady Blue Devils beating Southern 96-27
!!! Duke's mens team didn't put away Southern's mens team until the waning minutes of the game.George Mason by beating #6 seed Mich St. and last years defending champs #3 seed UNC has proven it belongs in this tournament. Now try to imagine how pissed off Hofstra is who I mentioned earlier beat George Mason twice in one week, and had a better overall record than but were ignored by the NCAA selection committee.
Seems like some monumental f***ups were made again this year by those who rate the talent levels of the "no name" teams when compared to the "chosen ones." Yes there are upsets every year but as I said before, even the commentators for the games who usually don't question authority are remarking about how even the talent is. Time to turn our notions on their heads I guess.
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Don't forget the Big Ten who are now OUT of the tournament, 6 teams all gone.
Anyone out there have George Mason vs Wichita State in their bracket???
Go Shockers!
Quite a few actually had Wichita picked over Seton Hall and Tennessee, but not too many picked GMU over UNC!
George Mason has already beaten Wichita State in a close regular season game. Rematch should be interesting. The winner gets UConn/Washington winner. UConn better pick up their game a notch or they won't get past Washington.
I think Bradley is going to have their hands full with Memphis, though. Great year for the MVC no matter what happens from here.
Quite a few actually had Wichita picked over Seton Hall and Tennessee, but not too many picked GMU over UNC!
George Mason has already beaten Wichita State in a close regular season game. Rematch should be interesting. The winner gets UConn/Washington winner. UConn better pick up their game a notch or they won't get past Washington.
I think Bradley is going to have their hands full with Memphis, though. Great year for the MVC no matter what happens from here.
spin said:
NCAA Shocker!
FINAL SCORE: LSU 62, DUKE 54
LSU's 6'9", 310 pound behemoth Glen "Big Baby" Davis and crew shock Duke! Now everyone sees why UConn could only beat LSU by 1 earlier this year.
Duke star JJ Redick was held to 11 points on a woeful 3-18 shooting performance. LSU hounded and harassed him all game.
FINAL SCORE: LSU 62, DUKE 54
LSU's 6'9", 310 pound behemoth Glen "Big Baby" Davis and crew shock Duke! Now everyone sees why UConn could only beat LSU by 1 earlier this year.
Duke star JJ Redick was held to 11 points on a woeful 3-18 shooting performance. LSU hounded and harassed him all game.
Tragic loss for Gonzaga
Adam Morrison was absolutely beside himself as the final horn sounded, laying face down sobbing near mid court as UCLA celebrated their improbable, amazing comeback. My heart went out to him(Morrison) and his inconsolable state made me think how proud his team, family and friends should be of him as it indicates just how much this kid loves the game of basketball and pours his heart into it.
In this era of me, me, me, money ball, it is guys like Morrison who restore our faith in the game somewhat. The game may not be pure, but players can be, in their drive for excellence. JJ Reddick had similar sadness pasted on his face tonight. These guys could be like too many other athletes and display a "whatever, I know I'm going to get paid next year" attitude, but not Reddick and Morrison, they absolutely live and die on the floor. Its no surprise that they are such good friends off the floor and call each other after games to check up on the others well being and discuss their performances.
Bravo, for the two best players in college basketball who we will not see as amateurs again.
Adam Morrison was absolutely beside himself as the final horn sounded, laying face down sobbing near mid court as UCLA celebrated their improbable, amazing comeback. My heart went out to him(Morrison) and his inconsolable state made me think how proud his team, family and friends should be of him as it indicates just how much this kid loves the game of basketball and pours his heart into it.
In this era of me, me, me, money ball, it is guys like Morrison who restore our faith in the game somewhat. The game may not be pure, but players can be, in their drive for excellence. JJ Reddick had similar sadness pasted on his face tonight. These guys could be like too many other athletes and display a "whatever, I know I'm going to get paid next year" attitude, but not Reddick and Morrison, they absolutely live and die on the floor. Its no surprise that they are such good friends off the floor and call each other after games to check up on the others well being and discuss their performances.
Bravo, for the two best players in college basketball who we will not see as amateurs again.
Redick and Morrison
A real basketball fan has to ask, where were JJ Redick and Adam Morrison when their teams needed them the most at the end of these critical games? Answer: nowhere to be found. Redick was completely shackled by LSU's defense the whole game, shot 3-18, did zero down the stretch to help his team, and even the few shots he made looked very awkward. Morrison looked better, but did not make a shot in the final 3:27 to help hold UCLA in check. I think NBA scouts watching Redick's performance last night have probably significantly downgraded him because LSU is a team that sort of simulates NBA type athleticism and physicality. Redick looked frail and could not get any clean looks even off screens as they were able to run out on him. The way he played against LSU is a very bad sign for his pro future. I think he will make it in the NBA, but as a shooting specialist off the bench. I doubt he will ever be an NBA starter.
Morrison unlike Redick is a lottery pick, but he did not help himself with last night's game.
The guy whose stock is going up as Redick's is falling is LSU's 6'9" Tyus Thomas. I never saw a 6'9" guy who can jump like Rudy Gay of UConn until I saw Thomas earlier this year when he terrorized UConn with 7 blocked shots. Thomas can jump out of the gym, and actually has a stronger looking body than Gay. He may be a better NBA prospect than Gay down the road. Thomas is only a freshman, Gay is a sophomore.
A real basketball fan has to ask, where were JJ Redick and Adam Morrison when their teams needed them the most at the end of these critical games? Answer: nowhere to be found. Redick was completely shackled by LSU's defense the whole game, shot 3-18, did zero down the stretch to help his team, and even the few shots he made looked very awkward. Morrison looked better, but did not make a shot in the final 3:27 to help hold UCLA in check. I think NBA scouts watching Redick's performance last night have probably significantly downgraded him because LSU is a team that sort of simulates NBA type athleticism and physicality. Redick looked frail and could not get any clean looks even off screens as they were able to run out on him. The way he played against LSU is a very bad sign for his pro future. I think he will make it in the NBA, but as a shooting specialist off the bench. I doubt he will ever be an NBA starter.
Morrison unlike Redick is a lottery pick, but he did not help himself with last night's game.
The guy whose stock is going up as Redick's is falling is LSU's 6'9" Tyus Thomas. I never saw a 6'9" guy who can jump like Rudy Gay of UConn until I saw Thomas earlier this year when he terrorized UConn with 7 blocked shots. Thomas can jump out of the gym, and actually has a stronger looking body than Gay. He may be a better NBA prospect than Gay down the road. Thomas is only a freshman, Gay is a sophomore.
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EagerBeaver said:
What a classless prick, did you see how he taunted the other guy when he scored over him + the refs had to restrain him on a couple plays. UCLA got the last laugh, though.
This should not happen in college ball. I guess he's honing himself for the NBA.
That really disgusts me when I see that kind of behaviour in the NBA. Artest, S. Jackson, Marbury and Payton are the worst filthy rich offenders in this league.
Bird, Jordan or Johnson didn't act like that. They talked trash but never taunted their foes.
CW,
I agree with you on Morrison's behavior, and it isn't the first time it has happened either. I can't say I felt badly for him or Redick as they both deserved what they got based on their performances. The Gonzaga team had one of the greatest late game chokes I have ever seen in the NCAA tourney (with possible exception of Duke blowing that 19 point lead to Kentucky in 1998 which was the all time choke). I felt Duke also choked mentally against LSU down the stretch, as there was play after play where defensive assignments were blown and they gave up some easy baskets.
Meanwhile, Memphis has very quietly looked very impressive. They already beat UCLA earlier this year and I believe they will beat them again and advance to the Final 4.
I like LSU to beat Texas and advance to the Final Four. I think Villanova and UConn will also make it, but both teams have very difficult games tonight against BC and Washington respectively.
I agree with you on Morrison's behavior, and it isn't the first time it has happened either. I can't say I felt badly for him or Redick as they both deserved what they got based on their performances. The Gonzaga team had one of the greatest late game chokes I have ever seen in the NCAA tourney (with possible exception of Duke blowing that 19 point lead to Kentucky in 1998 which was the all time choke). I felt Duke also choked mentally against LSU down the stretch, as there was play after play where defensive assignments were blown and they gave up some easy baskets.
Meanwhile, Memphis has very quietly looked very impressive. They already beat UCLA earlier this year and I believe they will beat them again and advance to the Final 4.
I like LSU to beat Texas and advance to the Final Four. I think Villanova and UConn will also make it, but both teams have very difficult games tonight against BC and Washington respectively.
EagerBeaver said:
Maybe Gonz shouldn't have played the clock with a few minutes to go, they should have been more agressive to the end. I wonder if J. Stockton was in attendance? That must be heartcrushing for this guy.
Regarding T. Thomas, his vertical leap is monstrous, he must have got double digits in blocks, offensive and defensive rebounding
and he's only a freshman.needed to win ncaa
Anyone who studies the history of college basketball will find that teams need two dominate positions. The point guard and center are the most crucial positions. It is interesting that last night two quality teams with shooting guards being their dominate players lost. Duke nor Gon. had a dominate point guard. Duke had a chance but in the last 10 minutes Williams, their center, was barely involved.
Exceptions to any rule happens. Of the 2 positions my belief is that the point guard is the most important position in college because of the variety of defenses they see (unlike the pros). However, I may be biased being a former point guard.
Anyone who studies the history of college basketball will find that teams need two dominate positions. The point guard and center are the most crucial positions. It is interesting that last night two quality teams with shooting guards being their dominate players lost. Duke nor Gon. had a dominate point guard. Duke had a chance but in the last 10 minutes Williams, their center, was barely involved.
Exceptions to any rule happens. Of the 2 positions my belief is that the point guard is the most important position in college because of the variety of defenses they see (unlike the pros). However, I may be biased being a former point guard.
kenf said:
kenf,
Excellent analysis. I coached basketball and am an avid college basketball fan, and there is no question that especially in the NCAA tournament a veteran point guard is crucial to having success against the assorted and usually very good defenses of different teams in the NCAA tourney. For this reason I am very concerned for UConn tonight because Washington has an outstanding, quick point guard with a great crossover dribble who got into the lane whenever he wanted to against Illinois. Earlier this year in UConn's losses to Marquette and Villanova, the common theme was getting burned by penetration of a quick point guard (James of Marquette and Lowry of Villanova). Marcus Williams (UConn point guard) is 6'3" and a great passer with a great instinctive feel for the game, but he really struggles defensively with the quick waterbug type point guards and this will be the key matchup in the late game tonight. The only player on the UConn roster capable of covering small, jet-quick point guards is Craig Austrie, who is a 6'2" freshman that usually plays only about 10 minutes a game and is still learning the ropes (although he played very well in UConn's first two tourney games, especially on defense).
coaches agreeing
EB,
I also coached for 27 years. Con. is in good shape bedause they do have a point guard and also they not only have a good post game, especially defensively, but they have depth inside. As with all basketball tournaments as one progresses through the tourny scoring goes down and maintaining possession of the ball ( getting quality shots each time) and team defensive becomes especially rebounding become paramount. Having watched coach Calhoun in practice I can tell you that rebounding is a top priority of his. That is why I would pick U Conn. to win. Although I would like to BC. Problem with BC is they don't fit my profile of what it takes to win a NCAA championship.
Maybe we will run into each other in Montreal sometime. Girls and hoops shooting on goal! Sounds like a good combo to me!!
EB,
I also coached for 27 years. Con. is in good shape bedause they do have a point guard and also they not only have a good post game, especially defensively, but they have depth inside. As with all basketball tournaments as one progresses through the tourny scoring goes down and maintaining possession of the ball ( getting quality shots each time) and team defensive becomes especially rebounding become paramount. Having watched coach Calhoun in practice I can tell you that rebounding is a top priority of his. That is why I would pick U Conn. to win. Although I would like to BC. Problem with BC is they don't fit my profile of what it takes to win a NCAA championship.
Maybe we will run into each other in Montreal sometime. Girls and hoops shooting on goal! Sounds like a good combo to me!!
grammar lessons
After just having read my previous post I believe I need some grammar lessons. My english instructors would be disappointed. That's what happens when you rush. Out of here I am late for a hoops pick-up game (oldtimers)!
After just having read my previous post I believe I need some grammar lessons. My english instructors would be disappointed. That's what happens when you rush. Out of here I am late for a hoops pick-up game (oldtimers)!
Nice job kenf and EagerBeaver, you guys have taken this thread to a new level (one unfortunatly well out of my reach) but very interesting reading. You both seem to definitly know your college basketball.
Any opinions on how far Florida will go? My favorite ex-girlfriend was a Gator and I've always had a soft spot for them.
Any opinions on how far Florida will go? My favorite ex-girlfriend was a Gator and I've always had a soft spot for them.
Florida vs. Georgetown
Spin,
I really like the Florida team talent-wise, but they have a very young team. Georgetown is a very difficult team to play because they run the Princeton-style motion offense which spreads the floor, but they do it with excellent athletes. Georgetown has a 7'2" center, Hibbard, who has really developed and played well late in the year and this offense which spreads the floor benefits him tremendously. Earlier this year UConn played Georgetown at home, and only beat GU by 7 despite playing very well. The game is a tossup although Florida has an edge in talent, but as I said their talent is young and in high pressure tourney games young talent sometimes does not perform well.
Florida is a top 2 team with North Carolina next year assuming all of their players return to school.
Spin,
I really like the Florida team talent-wise, but they have a very young team. Georgetown is a very difficult team to play because they run the Princeton-style motion offense which spreads the floor, but they do it with excellent athletes. Georgetown has a 7'2" center, Hibbard, who has really developed and played well late in the year and this offense which spreads the floor benefits him tremendously. Earlier this year UConn played Georgetown at home, and only beat GU by 7 despite playing very well. The game is a tossup although Florida has an edge in talent, but as I said their talent is young and in high pressure tourney games young talent sometimes does not perform well.
Florida is a top 2 team with North Carolina next year assuming all of their players return to school.
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