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NCAA HOOPS THREAD! -- K petitions to get Maui Jim Maui Invitational moved to Transylvania (4 Viewers)

Who is worse?

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WOOOO! We took down Oregon today and looked a lot like the Stanford team from early January, the one that looked like it could go somewhere. Everything we wanted to do, we did. After that debacle on Thursday...very uplifting.

 
Long Ball Larry said:
Great game. Would love to see a rubber match.
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I'm all for it. Been fun watching those two go at it.

There was a bit more at stake for KU today than it seemed on the surface. Conference titles don't mean as much in the March Madness era, but KU has finished first in the Big XII (alone or tied) for 11 straight years and keeping that streak alive is a big deal to the program and their fans. Today's win was huge in the Big XII conference race - with the win, KU and WVU are at the top at 9-3, and OU dropped to 8-4. Any road conference game can be a land mine, but KU has their games at Morgantown, Norman, and Ames out of the way now.

11 straight conference titles passed anything UNLV ever did. A 12th would eclipse Gonzaga's run. 13 would tie Wooden-era UCLA for the all-time record.

 
AZ-USC could be an interesting game tonight. USC won the first matchup in 4 Ot and it seems like Enfield kind of has something going and might not be a one-trick pony after all.

 
Long Ball Larry said:
AZ-USC could be an interesting game tonight. USC won the first matchup in 4 Ot and it seems like Enfield kind of has something going and might not be a one-trick pony after all.
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I wonder how long he'll last at USC before he takes a bigger job...turning SC around in a few years is quite impressive and likely to get some attention.

 
Long Ball Larry said:
AZ-USC could be an interesting game tonight. USC won the first matchup in 4 Ot and it seems like Enfield kind of has something going and might not be a one-trick pony after all.
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Or not. USC looking pretty sloppy.

I really dislike Sean Miller.

 
The UK game was the biggest load if bull#### I've ever seen in my life.  Unbelievable.  Refs will be patted on the back,  though.  Np.  Just #### UK out of a win

 
Was very pleased with how yesterday's action played out.

KU has a 2-game lead on the field in the Big XII with four games left.  Just need to win home games against TxTech and Iowa State to clinch back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back conference titles, and a 3-1 finish pretty much locks up a 1-seed.

Not sure how much postseason action I'll attend in person this year.  The Big XII Tournament is in KC and the Sprint Center is a great facility.  Might catch a session or two given how deep the field is this season - the conference is on track for 7 NCAA Tournament bids.  

KU's opening weekend site will be Des Moines.  I'll be at that arena earlier in the week for a concert.  Doubt I'll make the drive back up a couple days later.

Haven't heard if KU prefers Chicago or Louisville as a regional site.  They're pretty much the same distance away; so close it matters where in Chicago, Louisville, or Lawrence you use as your measuring point to determine which is closer.  IIRC there are more KU alumni in Chicago than Louisville, but likely to run into a scenario in Chicago where the 2- or 3-seed traveled a shorter distance to get there.   

 
The NCAAT is setting up to be a crap shoot, right? Not so much because there are scary mid-majors (though, there are a few), but because there's no clear cut majors above anyone else. I don't think any round-of-32 loss by anyone to anyone would surprise me this year.

 
Uruk-Hai said:
The NCAAT is setting up to be a crap shoot, right? Not so much because there are scary mid-majors (though, there are a few), but because there's no clear cut majors above anyone else. I don't think any round-of-32 loss by anyone to anyone would surprise me this year.
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Trying to seed this thing is going to be insane...do not envy the committee at all this year.  

 
Uruk-Hai said:
The NCAAT is setting up to be a crap shoot, right? Not so much because there are scary mid-majors (though, there are a few), but because there's no clear cut majors above anyone else. I don't think any round-of-32 loss by anyone to anyone would surprise me this year.
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I agree.  Last year at this time, we had a really good feel for which eight teams would fill out the top two seed lines, and it was difficult to imagine a scenario where the champ would come from outside that group.

This year, our top teams have demonstrated weaknesses either with losses to weak teams, or holes in their talent level or schemes.  If you look at who is projecting towards the 4- and 5-seeds, those are all teams who could knock off a 1-seed on their best day.  And like you said, the projected 1s and 2s could dip down to an opening weekend loss on their worst day.  

This is shaping up like one of those years where the office pool is won by someone who doesn't follow the sport.

 
Prince Myshkin said:
If UK fools around and gets to be a 4 or 5 seed in the Louisville region, there is going to be one upset #1 seed (assuming they survive to get there)
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That's the point - assuming anyone is getting to the Sweet 16 this year is rolling the dice. Hell, I'm a Maryland fan and think they are as good as anyone when they play right. They are playing their way down to a 4 or a 5 seed (I think they lose to both Indiana and Purdue, and one of those or MSU will bounce them in the B1GT), but I don't think any of the top 12 or 16 seeds are better than they are. Nor do I think Maryland is better than any of those schools. UK (& every other team) is in the same boat.

As Ferris said, brackets this year are going to be crazy.

 
Long Ball Larry said:
I think everyone knows, but just doesn't want to admit, that Davidson is going to put it all together and go on an epic run.
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Why not? 

I think, though, that it'll be amusing to watch Duke and Kentucky fans play the "NO one thought we had a chance" card if one of them makes the Elite 8. Yeah, because there were 9 other heavy favorites you overcame. It's coming - you watch.

 
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Uruk-Hai said:
Why not? 

I think, though, that it'll be amusing to watch Duke and Kentucky fans play the "NO one thought we had a chance" card if one of them makes the Elite 8. Yeah, because there were 9 other heavy favorites you overcame. It's coming - you watch.
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:no:   UK fan here and anything less than Final 4 is a disappointment any year. That may be unreasonable, but Cal has spoiled us by going to 4 of the last 5.  This year's team can beat anybody, or get beaten by anybody, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them back in the Final 4. 

Now two years ago when they ran through undefeated #2 ranked Wichita St., #5 Louisville, Michigan and Wisconsin after losing 3 of their final 4 regular season games, I was surprised.  Not this year, though (unless these injuries keep coming).  

 
Prince Myshkin said:
:no:   UK fan here and anything less than Final 4 is a disappointment any year. That may be unreasonable, but Cal has spoiled us by going to 4 of the last 5.  This year's team can beat anybody, or get beaten by anybody, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them back in the Final 4.

Now two years ago when they ran through undefeated #2 ranked Wichita St., #5 Louisville, Michigan and Wisconsin after losing 3 of their final 4 regular season games, I was surprised.  Not this year, though (unless these injuries keep coming).
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(From KSR):  Coach Cal had nothing to offer regarding the status of Derek Willis, when asked about Willis’ sprained ankle on today’s SEC coaches teleconference. Cal said he had not yet seen Willis today, therefore he doesn’t know if he will play tomorrow against Alabama.

Cal did say Alex Poythress worked out on Sunday. I’m told there is a chance he will return to action tomorrow night. That was the plan for Poythress as of late last week.

If Willis plays tomorrow night I'll wear UL-red underwear to work the next day.  Come on, Cal.

 
Uruk-Hai said:
The NCAAT is setting up to be a crap shoot, right? Not so much because there are scary mid-majors (though, there are a few), but because there's no clear cut majors above anyone else. I don't think any round-of-32 loss by anyone to anyone would surprise me this year.
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Agreed. I think there's an upper echelon of teams: Carolina, Maryland, Mich St, UVA, Kansas, and Oklahoma. And even those teams aren't without their flaws. But after those 6, there's no real separation, IMO, of the rest. Wouldn't be shocked to see no #1 seeds in the Final Four, let alone Elite Eight.

 
Regarding sleepers, here are the small-conference teams with the highest RPIs right now:

Akron (40)

Princeton (41)

Ark Little Rock (42)

Monmouth (46)

South Dakota St. (47)

Valpo is 31 in KenPom's rankings and Arkansas-Little Rock is 38.  They are 24-3.  This team has me intrigued.  The beat San Diego State in SD. They also won at Tulsa and at Depaul (for whatever that's worth)/

 
Looking forward to KU at Baylor tonight.  Self usually has a lot of success against Drew, but Baylor is coming off a big win at Texas.  

For those of you who remember the Dale Brown "Freak" defense LSU ran in the 1980s... Baylor is about as close to the Freak as any P6 team right now.  Their base defense is 1-3-1 zone, but they will sometimes collapse to a 2-3 as the ball goes to the wings and corners.  It's pretty effective at defending 3s when everyone is on the same page, and very effective at giving up straight-line drives to the hoop when someone blows a coverage.  Historically, KU has countered it by reversing the ball a bunch of times until a defender gets lost and then drive to the rack.  This season's team doesn't have an explosive wing attacker/dunker like Wiggins or Oubre, but Selden and Mason are penetrators who can finish in traffic, and overall IMO this is their best overall outside shooting team since 2008.  

I expect KU to run keep the ball moving, looking for corner threes on the third/fourth side.  Brannen Greene, the best shooter on the roster, should get some run tonight despite being a bit allergic to defense.  They will be able to hide him.  Also look for Ellis to pop out after the initial movement, either for a three out top, or clearing space for a cutter going back-door if the zone gets caught watching the ball.      

 
Long Ball Larry said:
Regarding sleepers, here are the small-conference teams with the highest RPIs right now:

Akron (40)

Princeton (41)

Ark Little Rock (42)

Monmouth (46)

South Dakota St. (47)

Valpo is 31 in KenPom's rankings and Arkansas-Little Rock is 38.  They are 24-3.  This team has me intrigued.  The beat San Diego State in SD. They also won at Tulsa and at Depaul (for whatever that's worth)/
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Not quite sure about this Arkansas Little Rock any more.  I found the most recent replay they had on ESPN3, from Thursday night at Georgia State.  Not particularly impressive.  They are a serious ball control team.  Kenpom has them at 15 in defensive efficiency.  I can see how they would match up well with and beat SD State 49-43.  Game probably set basketball back 30 years.

Just don't like teams like this in the tournament when you know it will be close game at best and they do not have the playmakers.

Some of the other highly-ranked small-conference teams have some great offenses (according to kenpom efficiency) but pitiful defenses (all ranked 250 or 300 and worse).

 
I feel like Arizona is underrated. They have so much SIZE, and it's skilled. Could just be bias to the teams I've seen the most, and KenPom does have them at 14, but I think they're quite good. Certainly the team that caused me the most concern of all the ones I've scouted.

 
PlasmaDogPlasma said:
Same content. They're just going to talk very slow.
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I doubt that I would watch it anyway, but they really do hustle the commentators through their "analysis" of the brackets.  Each guy gets like 10 seconds on a quadrant and they are totally rushed through, it's pretty much a waste of time.  A little more time seems like it could be useful.

 
Honestly, how is the Atlantic Sun even a thing?  What a ridiculous collection of schools.  Aside from having Artis Gilmore as an alumnus, there is nothing redeeming about this conference at all.  They got teams poached by the Southern Conference, for god's sake.  And how does someone like Lipscomb even make any money off of this?  Yet here I am, sitting through Lipscomb-Kennesaw State, for some reason.

 
Instinctive said:
I feel like Arizona is underrated. They have so much SIZE, and it's skilled. Could just be bias to the teams I've seen the most, and KenPom does have them at 14, but I think they're quite good. Certainly the team that caused me the most concern of all the ones I've scouted.
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They do have some size.  However,  this Arizona team is the least talented team they have had over the past several years.  Pac 12 has several teams that could make a run in the tournament. 

 
Nugget said:
How does that halftime speech go?
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"I'll be honest with you guys, it's hard for me to get too upset about anything now that I get paid millions of dollars to spend my winters in Arizona instead of #######ed Buffalo, and stare at the hottest female student body in the country.  Plus, any coach K with a wacked-out name has some kind of devil magic.  So I'm gonna have my brother skype in and freak the #### out on you while I go in my office and shoot a porno with 3 of these co-eds.  If Danny has an aneurysm, tell Laettner."

(Points to Laettner leaning against the back wall, smoking a cigarette.)

 
I'm guessing they'll still give the seeds out like always, but now they've added more time to talk about the matchups like ESPN.  They used to just end the show and tell you to go to the CBSSports channel for more analysis.

 
Horizon League is really a blast to watch. Oakland 108/Detroit 97 tonight...2nd half was one of the most action packed halves I've seen this year. Dangerous time of year for me, as I fall in love with a bunch of these small schools during their Conference Tournaments and forget all about non-Conference October when those March winds start blowing!

 
KU shooting the lights out today at the Phog.  At least a share of the conference title is clinched if they don't blow this 20-point lead with 10 minutes to go.  Going to be tough to bump them off the 1-seed line after today, too.

 
interesting slate today: OK-TX, Louisville-MIA, AZ-Utah, UVA-UNC.

First 3 all right now, plus #1 Villanova.  3 close games plus interesting to see a surging a Utah.

 
Long Ball Larry said:
and they clinch that 12th-straight BIG 12 reg season championship over the tech tubbies.
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It was a bit excessive to cut the nets down after that, but it was nice seeing Aaron Miles and Wayne Simien back in Lawrence.  Simien was the leading scorer and Miles led the team in assists when this conference title streak started, so the streak goes back to the last set of Roy Williams recruits to contribute.  The next season was Self's first monster recruiting class (Julian Wright, Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush), and that's when the program finally took on his image.

Hopeful that this season doesn't end the way the first season of the streak did - a first-round exit to Bucknell.  Bucknell is leading the Patriot and projecting to a 16-seed, so it's quite possible there will be a rematch next month.  

 
Long Ball Larry said:
interesting slate today: OK-TX, Louisville-MIA, AZ-Utah, UVA-UNC.

First 3 all right now, plus #1 Villanova.  3 close games plus interesting to see a surging a Utah.
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Texas likely to knock OU off here.  Big for Shaka Smart, and now OU probably needs to win the Big XII Tournament to snag that last 1-seed.

Very curious to see how UNC/UVA plays out.  Classic hare v tortoise in that one.

 
Long Ball Larry said:
Regarding sleepers, here are the small-conference teams with the highest RPIs right now:

Akron (40)

Princeton (41)

Ark Little Rock (42)

Monmouth (46)

South Dakota St. (47)

Valpo is 31 in KenPom's rankings and Arkansas-Little Rock is 38.  They are 24-3.  This team has me intrigued.  The beat San Diego State in SD. They also won at Tulsa and at Depaul (for whatever that's worth)/
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Stony Brook had an RPI of 45 coming into tonight's game, but struggled and lost to Vermont, which dropped them to 63, according to rpi forecast.  Their two best wins, from an RPI standpoint, I suppose are a little suspect: Princeton (39) and Hofstra (58).  They dominated their conference, though it is poor.  

Still, they look like an intriguing upset pick, as they are led by 3 seniors and a junior, which includes their starting guards.  They have decent size and, more importantly, their big guys look very good on offense around the basket.  They are above average from 3, so overall on offense they seem good enough, though kenpom has them at 121.  Kenpom has them at 25 on defense (though again perhaps inflated by the poor conference).  FT% is not great, so possibly an achilles' heel.

 
Obviously biased statement alert: Stanford could make noise here. Need to win @ASU for sure, and may need to win at Zona.
 Then need 1-2 wins in the Pac-12 tourney. Could potentially be in an 11-seed play in game. Currently 66 in RPI, #2 in the country SoS.

Will be interesting.

 
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