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Rep. Frank to step down at end of term (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Nipsey
- Start date
scrumptrulescent
Footballguy
GTFO - It's Michigan.
Apple Jack
Footballguy
How does Duke beat three top five teams in two weeks, remain undefeated, and get no higher than #4?
Indiana is the best team.
Indiana is the best team.
Last edited by a moderator:
The General
Footballguy
I guarantee you will only get legit non homer answers in here. The correct answer is Indiana.
sporthenry
Footballguy
And I'm supposed to believe this is a non-homer post. I think I'm a college basketball fan and even though I've yet to watch all the teams, there is no way a "non-homer" could give this answer. Truth is, there is no dominant team this year and a lot will come down to match ups in March.
PlasmaDogPlasma
Footballguy
No, you're not. It's shtick by a well known 'Cuse fan. Really the answer is Florida though. Can't wait to see the Gators crush Arizona in their own building on the 15th.
scrumptrulescent
Footballguy
Not getting the Syracuse love. Is it because they've beaten on a couple Ivy League intramural squads, plus powerhouses LBSU and EMU recently?
The General
Footballguy
I think that guy hypnotized me.
Officer Pete Malloy
Footballguy
butcher boy
Footballguy
Gonzaga
The General
Footballguy
Doctor Detroit
Please remove your headgear
Indiana of Pennsylvania
Nipsey
Footballguy
It's more the how than the who.
scrumptrulescent
Footballguy
It's more of how are they considered based on who they played.
Nipsey
Footballguy
They've played some very fine teams. Scrappy, no quit squads. Some real dark horses. SD St hasn't lost since our opening game beatdown.
butcher boy
Footballguy
http://insider.espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/blog/_/name/ncbexperts/id/8723605/why-gonzaga-bulldogs-nation-top-team-college-basketball
Case for Gonzaga as nation's best team
Ever since I named the Gonzaga Bulldogs as one of my picks to make the Final Four in the preseason, the support I have received from the Zags faithful has been overwhelming. The tweet-in ballots for my candidacy to become mayor of Spokane have continued to roll in, and as a result, I have decided to lay out my platform for Bulldogs supremacy come April.
For those of you wondering whether my enthusiasm for the Zags has been reduced at all following their near-miss Wednesday night against the Washington State Cougars, the answer is no. With the Bulldogs poised to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN2), it's time the public was educated on the completeness of this high-major team hiding in a mid-major conference.
There are no empty promises made or flip-flopping on the issues when I make this statement: This team isn't just the best in the West … I think they might be the best in the country.
Here are the talking points for my candidacy:
Gonzaga is experienced, and both physically and mentally mature
Led by four-year starter Elias Harris, Mark Few's team has eight contributing players with significant playing experience. The residual effect of this is a team that not only has experience with each other on the court, but understands the grind of a college basketball season. This group knows the importance of putting in work in the weight room, knows how to practice and prepare for games, and isn't vulnerable to hitting the wall in February like teams that heavily rely on freshmen are.
Gonzaga's guard play is excellent
To be an elite team in college basketball, you must have good guard play. In Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell Jr. and David Stockton, the Zags have a complete backcourt. They all have the ability to be a play-starter, a playmaker, and all of them can knock down the 3. As a group they shoot over 40 percent from deep.
Bell is a lockdown defender who runs the court hard, Pangos has a knack for making big shots and Stockton sees the floor well and is a steady ball-handler. They make up a very effective backcourt trio.
Gonzaga has very good frontcourt depth
How many other national title contenders have as many potential resources as the Zags? The aforementioned Harris will leave Spokane as one of the most productive players in Gonzaga history. He scores, rebounds, defends and wins. 7-foot redshirt junior Kelly Olynyk has developed into a complete post player. He can score on the block and knock down a 17-foot jumper, and he averages a rebound every three minutes. Freshman Przemek Karnowski (7-1, 305 pounds) is a mountain masquerading as a man. He has great hands, can score in the basket area and is a terrific passer. He reminds me of Arvydas Sabonis. Junior Sam Dower (6-9) averages nine points per game and a rebound every four minutes as the fourth post in the Zags' rotation.
What having a frontcourt this deep does for you as a coach is give you a unit that can overcome foul trouble to one or more of your top big men. The frontcourt is deep, talented, skilled and tough enough to wear down opposing front lines.
Gonzaga has solid role players
It's not just all about an efficient backcourt and deep frontcourt for the Zags. They also have a pair of excellent role players. Guy Landry Edi and Mike Hart play to their strengths and accept and champion their roles, bringing experience to the Kennel faithful.
Gonzaga has the flexibility to succeed against different types of opponents
In today's game, it is important to have the flexibility to deal with many different playing styles. This Gonzaga team can change defenses in order to alter the tempo of the game. The Bulldogs' zone, for example, takes away penetration, which eliminates potential mismatches and makes it easy for the Zags to run. This ability to play at more than one speed will serve Few's team well come March, as they are as comfortable executing their sets and motion in the halfcourt as they are pitching it ahead in transition. The more ways a team can win, the harder they are to beat.
Expectations are nothing new to Gonzaga. They went from being America's darlings several seasons ago to a program from which much is expected every season. But this season they appear very well-suited to handle the expectations.
Playing in the Old Spice Classic in November, the Bulldogs showed great poise against a well-disciplined, hard-screening Davidson team. This is the type of game that would have given the Bulldogs trouble previously, and not unlike the type of game they might encounter in the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament. On the road against Washington State Wednesday night, the Zags bounced back from a game-tying field goal by the Cougars to make the go-ahead bucket with 2 seconds left (courtesy of Pangos). This team has the character and intangibles to navigate the potential pitfalls of a season at or near the top of the polls.
Case for Gonzaga as nation's best team
Ever since I named the Gonzaga Bulldogs as one of my picks to make the Final Four in the preseason, the support I have received from the Zags faithful has been overwhelming. The tweet-in ballots for my candidacy to become mayor of Spokane have continued to roll in, and as a result, I have decided to lay out my platform for Bulldogs supremacy come April.
For those of you wondering whether my enthusiasm for the Zags has been reduced at all following their near-miss Wednesday night against the Washington State Cougars, the answer is no. With the Bulldogs poised to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini on Saturday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN2), it's time the public was educated on the completeness of this high-major team hiding in a mid-major conference.
There are no empty promises made or flip-flopping on the issues when I make this statement: This team isn't just the best in the West … I think they might be the best in the country.
Here are the talking points for my candidacy:
Gonzaga is experienced, and both physically and mentally mature
Led by four-year starter Elias Harris, Mark Few's team has eight contributing players with significant playing experience. The residual effect of this is a team that not only has experience with each other on the court, but understands the grind of a college basketball season. This group knows the importance of putting in work in the weight room, knows how to practice and prepare for games, and isn't vulnerable to hitting the wall in February like teams that heavily rely on freshmen are.
Gonzaga's guard play is excellent
To be an elite team in college basketball, you must have good guard play. In Kevin Pangos, Gary Bell Jr. and David Stockton, the Zags have a complete backcourt. They all have the ability to be a play-starter, a playmaker, and all of them can knock down the 3. As a group they shoot over 40 percent from deep.
Bell is a lockdown defender who runs the court hard, Pangos has a knack for making big shots and Stockton sees the floor well and is a steady ball-handler. They make up a very effective backcourt trio.
Gonzaga has very good frontcourt depth
How many other national title contenders have as many potential resources as the Zags? The aforementioned Harris will leave Spokane as one of the most productive players in Gonzaga history. He scores, rebounds, defends and wins. 7-foot redshirt junior Kelly Olynyk has developed into a complete post player. He can score on the block and knock down a 17-foot jumper, and he averages a rebound every three minutes. Freshman Przemek Karnowski (7-1, 305 pounds) is a mountain masquerading as a man. He has great hands, can score in the basket area and is a terrific passer. He reminds me of Arvydas Sabonis. Junior Sam Dower (6-9) averages nine points per game and a rebound every four minutes as the fourth post in the Zags' rotation.
What having a frontcourt this deep does for you as a coach is give you a unit that can overcome foul trouble to one or more of your top big men. The frontcourt is deep, talented, skilled and tough enough to wear down opposing front lines.
Gonzaga has solid role players
It's not just all about an efficient backcourt and deep frontcourt for the Zags. They also have a pair of excellent role players. Guy Landry Edi and Mike Hart play to their strengths and accept and champion their roles, bringing experience to the Kennel faithful.
Gonzaga has the flexibility to succeed against different types of opponents
In today's game, it is important to have the flexibility to deal with many different playing styles. This Gonzaga team can change defenses in order to alter the tempo of the game. The Bulldogs' zone, for example, takes away penetration, which eliminates potential mismatches and makes it easy for the Zags to run. This ability to play at more than one speed will serve Few's team well come March, as they are as comfortable executing their sets and motion in the halfcourt as they are pitching it ahead in transition. The more ways a team can win, the harder they are to beat.
Expectations are nothing new to Gonzaga. They went from being America's darlings several seasons ago to a program from which much is expected every season. But this season they appear very well-suited to handle the expectations.
Playing in the Old Spice Classic in November, the Bulldogs showed great poise against a well-disciplined, hard-screening Davidson team. This is the type of game that would have given the Bulldogs trouble previously, and not unlike the type of game they might encounter in the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament. On the road against Washington State Wednesday night, the Zags bounced back from a game-tying field goal by the Cougars to make the go-ahead bucket with 2 seconds left (courtesy of Pangos). This team has the character and intangibles to navigate the potential pitfalls of a season at or near the top of the polls.
I don't really see how any serious unbiased fan could pick a team other than Syracuse here.
scrumptrulescent
Footballguy
Could you not say the same for others at the top?Michigan starting 2 freshman....Big Dog Jr. and Larry Bird 2.0, and another freshman is their 6th man. They've got the best PG in America and a ton of room to grow with all that youth.
Nipsey
Footballguy
They're a fine squad. If you look at everything objectively though it's tough to say their better than Syracuse. Neutral court tonight you'd have to think the talented Orange win by 20-25.
scrumptrulescent
Footballguy
Hard to argue with facts like these.
oso diablo
Footballguy
my right-brain, homer-ific side says Duke
my left-brain, analytical side says Duke
my left-brain, analytical side says Duke
The General
Footballguy
The Cuse realistically will finish 3rd or 4th in the Big East. That's with considerable luck.
Nipsey
Footballguy
Maybe in some bizarro world but not this one.
The General
Footballguy
Once teams figure out the novelty zone defense you guys play it's all over. Same story every year.
Nipsey
Footballguy
Novelty my ###.
Patrick Bateman
Footballguy
sporthenry
Footballguy
Meanwhile, Duke has played some real ####ty teams who just quit. Duke played some real light horses. Minnesota, OSU, and Louisville haven't lost to anyone else. But yes, Syracuse's 1 signature win (which according to the AP Poll is worse than Duke's 3 top wins) is good enough to actually put Cuse above them.Top 4 seeds will be Indiana, Michigan, Duke and Syracuse. Indiana is the best team of that group. These are the dominant teams and will remain so throughout the season.
Nipsey
Footballguy
Neutral court, Cuse/Duke, what's the line? Gotta be something like Cuse -11.5. I'd lay that wood for sure.
Frostillicus
Footballguy
Good posting on the Gophers. Homer shtick aside, they might legitimately be the best team in the NCAA this year. They have five guys who are all pretty much unguardable and get this - ONE OF THEM COMES OFF THE BENCH.
Ramblin Wreck
Footballguy
Florida has looked fantastic. Duke has the most impressive wins so far.
Nipsey
Footballguy
And don't forget two years ago when they got rooked on a . If a couple of guys with whistles called things according to the rules Jimmy may be looking at a 3-peat this year.
AAABatteries
Footballguy
Why the hell are we wasting time talking about this? The real question is whether Cuse is the greatest team of all time. Needs to be discussed now so people don't miss their chance to watch history.
Mr. Know-It-All
Footballguy
I have only watched a handful of games so far - but Syracuse and Indiana seem to be little above the rest. Really though there are a handful of others teams that look pretty good including Duke and Louisville. Teams that could surprise based on matchup - Creighton and Gonzaga though they clearly aren't as deep as the top dogs.
I hope you all enjoy watching Indiana win the national championship.
I'll take the field for $100
Ilov80s
Footballguy
It is far too early to say definitively,but if you haven't seen Michigan yet, they play Arkansas at 12 eastern on CBS today. This team is a real contender for the top spot. Burke, Hardaway, 4 freshman that are playing good, size, depth, athleticism, loaded with shooters. This is a very fun team.
Hardaway has really really stepped up his game. He is so much more disciplined and is under control. This is a talented and well coached team.
Dought Man
Footballguy
Gotta go with the big man... Indiana is going to be a tough out come March.
Michigan, Syracuse, Duke should all be in the elite 8...but..gun to my head, Indiana is the best squad.
Michigan, Syracuse, Duke should all be in the elite 8...but..gun to my head, Indiana is the best squad.
The General
Footballguy
Indiana's front court is about to get a lot deeper - they have been playing without 2 freshmen who were rated fairly high and a solid senior forward whose been recovering from knee surgery. All 3 are due back in the next week or so.
