Because it ain't too early, dammit.*
*Apparently it is too early, as I posted last year's preseason rankings. :lol:
You are teh fail
I know. I'm like the Big XII of basketball. :blush:
Washington is ranked starting this year, but not sure if they deserve it.
The backcourt is gonna be amazing, and Senior Pondexter should be good leader, but team has to figure out how to cover the loss of Jon Brockman who was one of top rebounder in country.
Posted because in basketball, the ACC is the only conference that matters.
QuoteDuke, UNC share ACC preseason favorite honors
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP)—Defending national champion North Carolina and Duke each have Hall of Fame coaches, deep front lines and questions in the backcourt this season.
They also share the honor of being co-favorites to win the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Tar Heels and Blue Devils represented the first tie in the 41-year history of the ACC Operation Basketball preseason event. Duke earned 25 of 48 first-place votes Sunday from media members, while North Carolina earned 20 first-place votes and also had 545 points.
It was the fourth straight year and 19th time that North Carolina has been picked to win the ACC title. For Duke, it was the 12th overall and first since the 2005-06 season.
Clemson was picked third, followed by Georgia Tech, Maryland, Wake Forest, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Miami, Virginia and North Carolina State.
In addition, Duke's Kyle Singler was voted preseason player of the year over Maryland's Greivis Vasquez, while Georgia Tech's Derrick Favors was voted rookie of the year. Clemson's Trevor Booker and Virginia Tech's Malcolm Delaney joined Singler, Vasquez and North Carolina's Ed Davis on the all-conference team.
North Carolina and Duke, rivals separated by a short drive along U.S. 15-501 between Chapel Hill and Durham, enter the season with similar questions. The Tar Heels (34-4) won the program's fifth NCAA championship last year, but lost four-year star Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green, Bobby Frasor, and underclassmen Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington.
The Tar Heels still boast plenty of experience with 6-foot-9 senior Deon Thompson (10.6 points) leading a front line that includes the 6-10 Davis, 7-foot sophomore Tyler Zeller and 6-10 freshman John Henson—who is expected to play small forward.
The question is how well sophomore Larry Drew II will fill Lawson's shoes at the point, and whether junior Will Graves or freshmen Dexter Strickland and Leslie McDonald can give North Carolina reliable minutes on the perimeter.
"We're just trying to get better at each and every thing we do," North Carolina coach Roy Williams said. "If you take the time to step back, we do have a chance to be a good team. We have a couple of major question marks that have to be answered and they're not going to be answered in practice. We have to wait and see how that happens during games."
Duke (30-7) won the ACC tournament for the eighth time in 11 years and reached the NCAA tournament's round of 16. But after losing Greg Paulus (graduation), Gerald Henderson (NBA draft) and Elliot Williams (transfer), coach Mike Krzyzewski is left with Jon Scheyer and Nolan Smith as the only returning guards from last year's rotation.
Like North Carolina, the Blue Devils have strength up front with Singler, senior Lance Thomas, 6-10 brothers Miles and Mason Plumlee and 7-1 reserve Brian Zoubek. Krzyzewski has said this could be his biggest team in three decades at Duke.
"I'm as confident as I've been since I've been here," Scheyer said. "We have a lot of work to do, but I've seen what this team is able to do and what its potential is, and it's as good as any team since I've been here."
Yet Pac-10 leads all conferences in Championships ^_^
Quote from: katmai on October 25, 2009, 09:34:25 PM
Yet Pac-10 leads all conferences in Championships ^_^
Subtract John Wooden from that number, and then talk.
Well, actually:
UCLA- 11
Rest of Pac 10- 4
NC & Duke- 8
Rest of ACC- 3
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 25, 2009, 09:25:23 PM
I know. I'm like the Big XII of basketball. :blush:
Man...I like the ACC and SEC but now I have to talk shit about them all the time just because of you.
Anyway yeah I am looking foward to basketball season, coach Barnes has a really good team coming in. Fear teh Steer.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 25, 2009, 09:31:03 PM
Posted because in basketball, the ACC is the only conference that matters.
That's what you & your best pal Dukie Vitale think, anyway.
Will Arizona keep the streak alive?
Nein!
QuoteMen's Basketball Makes Debut At Kraziness In The Kennel
Posted: Oct 24, 2009
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University head coach Mark Few unveiled the 2010 version of the Bulldog men's basketball team in public for the first time Saturday evening in front of a standing-room only crowd at Kraziness in the Kennel at the McCarthey Athletic Center, and for the most part the goals going into the event were accomplished.
For the record the Blue team posted a 56-50 victory over the Red team, but the cumulative statistics weren't the most important thing to Few. The Bulldogs played three periods, the score was re-set to zero for each period and some players played for both teams as the coaching staff experimented with combinations and match-ups.
"In regard to getting our guys out in front of a crowd, getting that kind of nervousness of playing in front of people and getting used to the pump of adrenalin in a game-like setting, we had a successful outing," Few said. "The crowd was incredible. The fact it was packed to the rafters for a scrimmage on a Saturday says a lot about our fans and the community. That was easily the most impressive part of the day."
Senior guard Matt Bouldin played for both sides and had a combined 14 points, as did freshman Elias Harris to lead all scorers. They were followed by sophomore guard Demetri Goodson with 13 and freshman forward Mangisto Arop with 11.
Few likes the potential of the newcomers. "They youngsters are going to be good. I don't know when. They'll show flashes of it here and there. Getting them to be consistent will be the biggest challenge, but that happens with youth," Few said of the seven newcomers who combine with three redshirts from a year ago to give the Bulldogs 10 players who have never played a minute of NCAA Division I basketball.
"The big guys are coming along very, very well. I thought Elias had a good afternoon, and Sam (Dower) and Kelly (Olynyk) have been strong all fall. Manny (Arop) has had a good couple of weeks although he didn't play real well tonight," Few said.
The only player who didn't see action was freshman Bol Kong who is nursing a sore foot.
Few said there's a lot of work remaining to be done prior to the Bulldogs lone exhibition contest Nov. 2 against the University of Alberta.
"Probably role identification is the biggest thing," Few said of one of the challenges facing his staff and team. "We have to start playing to our strengths and know what we are supposed to bring. We need to communicate that to them and they need to accept it and play with it. That's probably the best thing we can do right now offensively and defensively."
Rebounding and turnovers were also on Few's check list. "We need to keep shoring up our rebounding because that's going to be a big key for us this year, and we need to cut down on some of those silly turnovers. That happens early, though," he said.
The 11th-year head coach also said teaching continues to be critical with such a young squad. "They've (coaches) been breaking things down step-by-step and going much slower than we've gone in the past. Last year's group at this time was way further ahead, but that's the way it is with so many new guys," Few noted.
Of the veterans, Few said "Matt did a nice job tonight. Meech (Demetri) played well and we're trying to squeeze more leadership out of Steven (Gray."
The Bulldogs, who open the regular season at home Nov. 14 against Mississippi Valley State, are picked to win the West Coast Conference regular-season title, something the Bulldogs have done the last nine years. But the pressure of being No. 1 doesn't bother Few.
"We're used to it. We've pretty much been picked every year for the last 11 or 12. It's something we need to live up to and we need to teach the younger guys how we live up to it. The old guys have a responsibility there to teach them the tradition of this program and how we handle it," Few said of the favorite role.
Oliver Pierce, SID, Gonzaga University
Quote from: citizen k on October 26, 2009, 12:21:29 AM
QuoteMen's Basketball Makes Debut At Kraziness In The Kennel
Posted: Oct 24, 2009
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University head coach Mark Few unveiled the 2010 version of the Bulldog men's basketball team in public for the first time Saturday evening in front of a standing-room only crowd at Kraziness in the Kennel at the McCarthey Athletic Center, and for the most part the goals going into the event were accomplished.
For the record the Blue team posted a 56-50 victory over the Red team, but the cumulative statistics weren't the most important thing to Few. The Bulldogs played three periods, the score was re-set to zero for each period and some players played for both teams as the coaching staff experimented with combinations and match-ups.
"In regard to getting our guys out in front of a crowd, getting that kind of nervousness of playing in front of people and getting used to the pump of adrenalin in a game-like setting, we had a successful outing," Few said. "The crowd was incredible. The fact it was packed to the rafters for a scrimmage on a Saturday says a lot about our fans and the community. That was easily the most impressive part of the day."
Senior guard Matt Bouldin played for both sides and had a combined 14 points, as did freshman Elias Harris to lead all scorers. They were followed by sophomore guard Demetri Goodson with 13 and freshman forward Mangisto Arop with 11.
Few likes the potential of the newcomers. "They youngsters are going to be good. I don't know when. They'll show flashes of it here and there. Getting them to be consistent will be the biggest challenge, but that happens with youth," Few said of the seven newcomers who combine with three redshirts from a year ago to give the Bulldogs 10 players who have never played a minute of NCAA Division I basketball.
"The big guys are coming along very, very well. I thought Elias had a good afternoon, and Sam (Dower) and Kelly (Olynyk) have been strong all fall. Manny (Arop) has had a good couple of weeks although he didn't play real well tonight," Few said.
The only player who didn't see action was freshman Bol Kong who is nursing a sore foot.
Few said there's a lot of work remaining to be done prior to the Bulldogs lone exhibition contest Nov. 2 against the University of Alberta.
"Probably role identification is the biggest thing," Few said of one of the challenges facing his staff and team. "We have to start playing to our strengths and know what we are supposed to bring. We need to communicate that to them and they need to accept it and play with it. That's probably the best thing we can do right now offensively and defensively."
Rebounding and turnovers were also on Few's check list. "We need to keep shoring up our rebounding because that's going to be a big key for us this year, and we need to cut down on some of those silly turnovers. That happens early, though," he said.
The 11th-year head coach also said teaching continues to be critical with such a young squad. "They've (coaches) been breaking things down step-by-step and going much slower than we've gone in the past. Last year's group at this time was way further ahead, but that's the way it is with so many new guys," Few noted.
Of the veterans, Few said "Matt did a nice job tonight. Meech (Demetri) played well and we're trying to squeeze more leadership out of Steven (Gray."
The Bulldogs, who open the regular season at home Nov. 14 against Mississippi Valley State, are picked to win the West Coast Conference regular-season title, something the Bulldogs have done the last nine years. But the pressure of being No. 1 doesn't bother Few.
"We're used to it. We've pretty much been picked every year for the last 11 or 12. It's something we need to live up to and we need to teach the younger guys how we live up to it. The old guys have a responsibility there to teach them the tradition of this program and how we handle it," Few said of the favorite role.
Oliver Pierce, SID, Gonzaga University
U of A?
Kill those goddamn Golden Bears <_<
Quote from: Berkut on October 25, 2009, 11:43:24 PM
Will Arizona keep the streak alive?
From what I am hearing they had a really good off-season and will compete in the PAC-10 this year so I think: yes.
I expect Wyoming to fall apart early, then work back to not quite recovering. It is sometimes good to root for a consistent team.
I was surprised to find out your guys actually have a national championship in b-ball.
Quote from: Valmy on October 26, 2009, 08:14:46 AM
Quote from: Berkut on October 25, 2009, 11:43:24 PM
Will Arizona keep the streak alive?
From what I am hearing they had a really good off-season and will compete in the PAC-10 this year so I think: yes.
Miller has done a simply amazing job going from a recruiting class with literally nothing, to a top-10 in the country, and another great class for next year already shaping up.
He had a lot of help though - USC meltdown was Arizona's Christmas.
But there are going to be a lot of freshman with a lot of minutes.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 25, 2009, 09:31:03 PM
Posted because in basketball, the ACC is the only conference that matters.
When will Maryland be relevant again?
GO CUSE!
I remain flabbergasted at how big the following of college basketball is on this board compared with the almost total lack of interest for the NBA.
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 08:55:48 AM
I remain flabbergasted at how big the following of college basketball is on this board compared with the almost total lack of interest for the NBA.
I can only say for me my interest in NBA died out when Sonics moved to Oklahoma City.
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 08:55:48 AM
I remain flabbergasted at how big the following of college basketball is on this board compared with the almost total lack of interest for the NBA.
College basketball is interesting and exciting, and the NBA is fucking boring and lame.
:lol:
I didn't even know that the Sonics had moved.
I stopped following the NBA around the time of Jordan's second retirement. But I don't follow college basketball either. Maybe if Georgia makes some kind of run at the championship, I'll get into it.
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 08:55:48 AM
I remain flabbergasted at how big the following of college basketball is on this board compared with the almost total lack of interest for the NBA.
Pro sports are pretty much non-existant in Austin. I am only a NFL fan because my father is from DC where the Washington Redskins are an obsession.
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 09:01:34 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 08:55:48 AM
I remain flabbergasted at how big the following of college basketball is on this board compared with the almost total lack of interest for the NBA.
College basketball is interesting and exciting, and the NBA is fucking boring and lame.
For the little that I've followed college basketball, I find it really boring. Maybe if I had some kind of self-identification with the teams it'd be different, but in a vacuum it felt really half-arsed. All the talented players leave the college system after barely a year or two (there have been no seniors in the Top 10 of the last 3 draft editions), so there's no way to really build a proper team.
In which ways is the NBA boring and lame for you?
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:12:16 AM
In which ways is the NBA boring and lame for you?
The regular season games are meaningless, the playoffs go on way into baseball season when it just seems silly to play Basketball.
Basketball season ends in April, yet the NBA is not even close to ending. I just do not have the stamina to follow a season that long and tedious. But, as I said, I might feel differently about it if Austin had a team or if people here were interested at all in professional sports.
Quote from: Valmy on October 26, 2009, 09:05:57 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 08:55:48 AM
I remain flabbergasted at how big the following of college basketball is on this board compared with the almost total lack of interest for the NBA.
Pro sports are pretty much non-existant in Austin. I am only a NFL fan because my father is from DC where the Washington Redskins are an obsession.
Yet you have 3 NBA teams in Texas alone. Or is your allegiance only to Austin and not to Texas? :ph34r:
Quote from: Valmy on October 26, 2009, 09:14:14 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:12:16 AM
In which ways is the NBA boring and lame for you?
The regular season games are meaningless, the playoffs go on way into baseball season when it just seems silly to play Basketball.
Basketball season ends in April, yet the NBA is not even close to ending. I just do not have the stamina to follow a season that long and tedious. But, as I said, I might feel differently about it if Austin had a team or if people here were interested at all in professional sports.
Every pro sport in the US has a regular season and playoffs, what makes the NBA case so exceptional?
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:17:52 AM
Yet you have 3 NBA teams in Texas alone. Or is your allegiance only to Austin and not to Texas? :ph34r:
Well you have to understand the rivalry with Texas cities. All things Dallas and Houston (more so Dallas than Houston) are anathema to me and most native Austinites.
San Antonio is...acceptable and if there is an NBA team I like it is the Spurs. But San Antonio is very different culturally to Austin, they are very south west and they do not command a whole lot of emotional loyalty.
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:20:19 AM
Quote from: Valmy on October 26, 2009, 09:14:14 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:12:16 AM
In which ways is the NBA boring and lame for you?
The regular season games are meaningless, the playoffs go on way into baseball season when it just seems silly to play Basketball.
Basketball season ends in April, yet the NBA is not even close to ending. I just do not have the stamina to follow a season that long and tedious. But, as I said, I might feel differently about it if Austin had a team or if people here were interested at all in professional sports.
Every pro sport in the US has a regular season and playoffs, what makes the NBA case so exceptional?
Because too many teams make it into the playoffs.
The NBA is boring though because there isn't any character in it. At least that is the way it feels to me.
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 09:24:05 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:20:19 AM
Quote from: Valmy on October 26, 2009, 09:14:14 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:12:16 AM
In which ways is the NBA boring and lame for you?
The regular season games are meaningless, the playoffs go on way into baseball season when it just seems silly to play Basketball.
Basketball season ends in April, yet the NBA is not even close to ending. I just do not have the stamina to follow a season that long and tedious. But, as I said, I might feel differently about it if Austin had a team or if people here were interested at all in professional sports.
Every pro sport in the US has a regular season and playoffs, what makes the NBA case so exceptional?
Because too many teams make it into the playoffs.
The NBA is boring though because there isn't any character in it. At least that is the way it feels to me.
Excuse me for pulling two Yis in a row, but what do you mean by character in this context?
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:20:19 AM
Every pro sport in the US has a regular season and playoffs, what makes the NBA case so exceptional?
The NBA and NHL are infamous and exceptional for the following reasons:
1. They have really really long regular seasons that are rendered rather meaningless since every team that is not total dreck make the playoffs.
2. The have really really long playoffs that extend their seasons way past the part of the year their sports traditionally occupy. Hockey and Basketball are winter sports over here and yet both the NBA and NHL end their seasons in June. The low TV ratings for the NBA finals and NHL Stanley Cup finals in the US attest to this problem. We simply have a hard time getting excited about those sports in the summer unless we happen to be fans of the teams competing.
Major League baseball also increasingly has the second problem but at least it is alot harder to make the playoffs in baseball and the playoff race can be exciting.
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:27:22 AM
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 09:24:05 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:20:19 AM
Quote from: Valmy on October 26, 2009, 09:14:14 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:12:16 AM
In which ways is the NBA boring and lame for you?
The regular season games are meaningless, the playoffs go on way into baseball season when it just seems silly to play Basketball.
Basketball season ends in April, yet the NBA is not even close to ending. I just do not have the stamina to follow a season that long and tedious. But, as I said, I might feel differently about it if Austin had a team or if people here were interested at all in professional sports.
Every pro sport in the US has a regular season and playoffs, what makes the NBA case so exceptional?
Because too many teams make it into the playoffs.
The NBA is boring though because there isn't any character in it. At least that is the way it feels to me.
Excuse me for pulling two Yis in a row, but what do you mean by character in this context?
The teams don't feel interesting - they all seem the same. There isn't any "catch" to any of them, and all the stars seem like they are cut from the same mold.
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 09:01:34 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 08:55:48 AM
I remain flabbergasted at how big the following of college basketball is on this board compared with the almost total lack of interest for the NBA.
College basketball is interesting and exciting, and the NBA is fucking boring and lame.
:hug: :yes:
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:20:19 AM
Every pro sport in the US has a regular season and playoffs, what makes the NBA case so exceptional?
The players and coaches don't care in the regular season. The go through the motions of running up and down the court until the last few minutes of each game. At the point the players try a little which allows the better team to prevail. Basically the regular season is mailed in. Throw in how the league, it's sponsors, and the sports media are always trying to artificially create superstars and excitement just adds to how boring the total package has become.
Quote from: Strix on October 26, 2009, 09:39:07 AM
Basically the regular season is mailed in. Throw in how the league, it's sponsors, and the sports media are always trying to artificially create superstars and excitement just adds to how boring the total package has become.
Yeah they are always trying to make the next Michael Jordan and that gets pretty freaking tiresome. There is about as much chance of there being another Michael Jordan in Basketball as there is of their being another Babe Ruth in Baseball or another Tiger Woods in Golf.
Larchs comment about the best players leaving early might actually illustrate why I think the college game is more interesting really well.
He is right - the superstars are always gone. And the NBA fans love that, because the NBA is all about who has the biggest super-star. It is all about the individuals, and their crib, and THEM. It isn't about the team - and to the extent that it is about the team, it is still about whether the team has a super-start to compete with the other teams super-star.
Everyone though college hoops was fucked when underclassmen started bailing regularly - but that hasn't happened at all. It is more popular than ever, if anything.
And I think that is because the college game is about the team, the school. We still have the stars, of course, but we all know they won't be around long - their influence is about whether you can put a run together when you get them on your team with the right timing.
But they will be gone soon enough, and then you will be looking at that next freshman, and whether he will be good enough to keep the momentum.
And that is why we love those guys who are great players, but not quite great enough to go be a lottery pick. They are going to stick around a little longer, be a little more part of the team, and not just the latest merc passing through.
The NBA feels like it is just a big giant pool of the mercs, and they get doled out to one team or another, and who knows (or cares) what any of it means?
This is all my perception, btw - I won't try to defend it on rational grounds, because I am sure you can argue that is is mostly bullshit.
Quote from: Strix on October 26, 2009, 09:39:07 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:20:19 AM
Every pro sport in the US has a regular season and playoffs, what makes the NBA case so exceptional?
The players and coaches don't care in the regular season. The go through the motions of running up and down the court until the last few minutes of each game. At the point the players try a little which allows the better team to prevail. Basically the regular season is mailed in. Throw in how the league, it's sponsors, and the sports media are always trying to artificially create superstars and excitement just adds to how boring the total package has become.
True enough - so much of the "excitement" in the NBA feels manufactured.
Like Nike has a factory somewhere where 6 year olds are churning out bling and blam for your viewing pleasure.
They are like the McDonalds of professional sports.
Quote from: Valmy on October 26, 2009, 09:28:08 AM
1. They have really really long regular seasons that are rendered rather meaningless since every team that is not total dreck make the playoffs.
2. The have really really long playoffs that extend their seasons way past the part of the year their sports traditionally occupy. Hockey and Basketball are winter sports over here and yet both the NBA and NHL end their seasons in June. The low TV ratings for the NBA finals and NHL Stanley Cup finals in the US attest to this problem. We simply have a hard time getting excited about those sports in the summer unless we happen to be fans of the teams competing.
I agree with 1. The regular season is way too long, 82 games are too many, and the last weeks are basically useless. Also in the last couple of seasons there have been tons of injuries to the regular players in most teams due to the excessive number of games and the load that puts on player's feet, knees, ankles and backs. Also the calendar is bizarre. Personally I'd cut it to around 60 games at most, and I'd shorten the playoffs too, to a best of 3 games for the first couple of rounds, best of 5 for conference finals and best of 7 for the NBA finals.
About the "too many teams get into the playoffs", that may be true as well, but I don't think that halving the number of teams that get to the playoffs would be fair. Right now it's 8 teams per conference. Cutting that to 4 teams per conference leaves a lot of good teams and players out, with the chances of upsets, a huge part of the interest at least IMO, greatly lowered as well.
About 2), well, I guess that has to do more with your obsession about sport seasonality. Personally I've always found US sports bizarre in this respect. What's the point of setting up a huge sports infrastructure if it is only going to be played for a few months? I mean, the way I'm used to sports, US seasons are awfully short, being used to the august-may calendar of European soccer leagues.
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 09:29:16 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:27:22 AM
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 09:24:05 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:20:19 AM
Quote from: Valmy on October 26, 2009, 09:14:14 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:12:16 AM
In which ways is the NBA boring and lame for you?
The regular season games are meaningless, the playoffs go on way into baseball season when it just seems silly to play Basketball.
Basketball season ends in April, yet the NBA is not even close to ending. I just do not have the stamina to follow a season that long and tedious. But, as I said, I might feel differently about it if Austin had a team or if people here were interested at all in professional sports.
Every pro sport in the US has a regular season and playoffs, what makes the NBA case so exceptional?
Because too many teams make it into the playoffs.
The NBA is boring though because there isn't any character in it. At least that is the way it feels to me.
Excuse me for pulling two Yis in a row, but what do you mean by character in this context?
The teams don't feel interesting - they all seem the same. There isn't any "catch" to any of them, and all the stars seem like they are cut from the same mold.
And can't that be said of basically every professional US sport? I'd blame that more on the franchise system that on the particular flaws of each sport.
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 10:32:28 AM
About 2), well, I guess that has to do more with your obsession about sport seasonality. Personally I've always found US sports bizarre in this respect. What's the point of setting up a huge sports infrastructure if it is only going to be played for a few months? I mean, the way I'm used to sports, US seasons are awfully short, being used to the august-may calendar of European soccer leagues.
Traditionally in the US we have the big three: football, baseball, basketball and then you throw hockey in there for the northern part of the coutry. We seasonally follow them: baseball in summer, football in fall, basketball in winter. If we only had one big sport, like the Euros do for soccer, then yeah it would be logical to go year round.
Quote from: Valmy on October 26, 2009, 10:43:09 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 10:32:28 AM
About 2), well, I guess that has to do more with your obsession about sport seasonality. Personally I've always found US sports bizarre in this respect. What's the point of setting up a huge sports infrastructure if it is only going to be played for a few months? I mean, the way I'm used to sports, US seasons are awfully short, being used to the august-may calendar of European soccer leagues.
Traditionally in the US we have the big three: football, baseball, basketball and then you throw hockey in there for the northern part of the coutry. We seasonally follow them: baseball in summer, football in fall, basketball in winter. If we only had one big sport, like the Euros do for soccer, then yeah it would be logical to go year round.
Even if soccer is the main sutff, we're able to run healthy leagues of other sports as well simultaneously. All of them start in the late summer and finish in mid-late spring, and all of them survive. What's the problem of running leagues simultaneously?
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 10:47:49 AM
Even if soccer is the main sutff, we're able to run healthy leagues of other sports as well simultaneously. All of them start in the late summer and finish in mid-late spring, and all of them survive. What's the problem of running leagues simultaneously?
There is no problem if you don't mind your audience no longer watching your games, having moved on to the next sport. I, for one, consider Basketball over once the College Championship is decided in early April. Then it is Baseball season and that is what I watch. Sorry NBA.
But it's not like the NBA is in danger of folding just because the TV ratings for the Finals are down. They still make their millions and billions.
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 10:40:25 AM
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 09:29:16 AM
The teams don't feel interesting - they all seem the same. There isn't any "catch" to any of them, and all the stars seem like they are cut from the same mold.
And can't that be said of basically every professional US sport? I'd blame that more on the franchise system that on the particular flaws of each sport.
Not really - I don't think pro football suffers from that at all, for example.
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 10:32:28 AM
About the "too many teams get into the playoffs", that may be true as well, but I don't think that halving the number of teams that get to the playoffs would be fair. Right now it's 8 teams per conference. Cutting that to 4 teams per conference leaves a lot of good teams and players out, with the chances of upsets, a huge part of the interest at least IMO, greatly lowered as well.
That could be true for any sport as well - would the NFL playoffs be better if a bunch of 8-8 or 7-9 teams made it every year?
Maybe - but then the regular season would mean much less, since losing a game doesn't matter that much.
The NBA combines the length and dreariness of the MLB regular season with the "everyone goes" silliness of the NHL. At least with the MLB season, each game may not be as critical, but only a few teams are going to the playoffs.
In the NBA you combine a large number of games with everyone making the post-season. It is no wonder nobody cares about the regular season, or the first couple rounds of the post-season.
Contrast that with the NFL, where the first round of the playoffs are very exciting.
Much less with NCAA hoops, where conference titles are a huge deal, AND of course the greatest tournament outside the World Cup.
Quote from: Valmy on October 26, 2009, 10:50:40 AM
But it's not like the NBA is in danger of folding just because the TV ratings for the Finals are down. They still make their millions and billions.
Actually, they're tightening their belts, as last season saw much lower benefits. Salary cap is going down, and player salaries are also lowering a lot. You see guys that used to make more than 10 millions per year feeling lucky if they manage to get 3 millions this year. Granted, it's in the bizarro world of pro sport salaries, but they're feeling the economic crush as well.
They should tighten things up and reinstate the "no-underclassmen" rule.
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 11:24:57 AM
They should tighten things up and reinstate the "no-underclassmen" rule.
Then you'd get those same players bolting to European leagues, rather than staying in college. Think Brandon Jennings or Josh Childress.
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 11:28:15 AM
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 11:24:57 AM
They should tighten things up and reinstate the "no-underclassmen" rule.
Then you'd get those same players bolting to European leagues, rather than staying in college. Think Brandon Jennings or Josh Childress.
Not really. Some might, but for the most part the better bet is to just play in the US colleges, assuming you want to play in the NBA eventually.
It is a moot point, since those restrictions won't make it past a court case anyway.
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 11:17:52 AMIn the NBA you combine a large number of games with everyone making the post-season.
:huh:
Edit: Oh, and the NBA and NHL seasons are the same number of games, and the same number of teams (16) make the playoffs. They also both have the same total number of teams (30).
Be sure to ask the Suns about everyone making it, and the Mavericks fans about how little they care about the first round because ffffff boring matchup. ;)
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 26, 2009, 11:53:45 AM
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 11:17:52 AMIn the NBA you combine a large number of games with everyone making the post-season.
:huh:
Edit: Oh, and the NBA and NHL seasons are the same number of games, and the same number of teams (16) make the playoffs. They also both have the same total number of teams (30).
I don't care about the NHL either though, so you aren't selling me there.
And 16/30 make the playoffs? That is ridiculous. I never said anything about boring first round games, I said that many games with that many teams making the playoffs makes the regular season largely uninteresting. If you cannot make the playoffs when more than half the teams make it, you got no bitch.
And for the same reason, I hate that most NCAA conferences now have Conference tournaments, although at least the Pac-10 does not acknowledge the Pac-10 conference tourny champion as the Pac-10 champion, no matter what Washington thinks.
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 12:18:38 PM
I don't care about the NHL either though, so you aren't selling me there.
I don't care about selling you, it just seemed like you thought there was some sort of difference in the playoff format between the two. There's not really, unless the NHL has some kind of gimmicky seeding system going on.
QuoteAnd 16/30 make the playoffs? That is ridiculous. I never said anything about boring first round games, I said that many games with that many teams making the playoffs makes the regular season largely uninteresting. If you cannot make the playoffs when more than half the teams make it, you got no bitch.
While I rather liked the shorter season that came about because of the strike (probably wouldn't want it to be THAT short every year though), the regular season does
really matter, especially when it comes to who wins the divisions, etc. The three division winners go as the 1,2,3 seeds (ordered by overall record). The #4 team is chosen as the team with the best record that didn't win the division, then the teams with the next best records are added. This makes it so a really good team can have the second best record in the league, but if the team with the best record wins the division, those other scrubs the #4 seed, which in turn means they have to fight their way through a first round series against the #5 instead of the #8.
The 16 teams making it means you can have 3 playoff rounds without dumbass bye weeks+the Finals. It also makes it so you can have a team that only won 42 games absolutely annihilate the 67 win juggernaut in the first round, or the really goddamn good team that couldn't quite win their division get knocked out by a 5 seed in a game that wouldn't happen under the division winner+wild card type system. Shit...remember when the Clippers actually won a playoff series a couple years back? 6 seed, and pretty far back from the 4. Not even sniffing the playoffs in an MLB style system.
Here's the regular season standings for that Clippers year: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/standings?season=2006&group=conference&seasontype=2&standType=standings See: Dallas
Edit: Don't get me wrong, I totally dig the MLB and NFL playoffs, but I certainly don't want any changes to the NBA and NHL styles either. I think the different types work out for those different sports. Kind of undecided on conference tournaments.
You are arguing that the regular season REALLY matter because of seeding. I guess. I don't really buy it though - you cannot convince me that the pressure to seed well is as intense as "Hey, if you don't win more than you lose, you simply won't be in the playoffs".
Why limit it to just 16 then? Lets get REALLY exciting and just have everyone make the playoffs! It won't diminish from the regular season, since everyone will be playing for seeding, and I guess that is just as important anyway! You cannot have it both ways - it cannot be super important to get good seeding, when apparently you can win it all even if you have crap seeding.
NBA == boring.
Blech.
The CFL has 6 of it's 8 teams make the playoffs, and I still find the regular season to be exciting. :Canuck:
I think it's just that there are too many damn games in NHL/NBA. Why the hell should I care about 82 games?
Quote from: Barrister on October 26, 2009, 01:03:25 PM
The CFL has 6 of it's 8 teams make the playoffs, and I still find the regular season to be exciting. :Canuck:
I think it's just that there are too many damn games in NHL/NBA. Why the hell should I care about 82 games?
It might be exciting, but it clearly doesn't matter.
6/8?
Canadians.
Quote from: Barrister on October 26, 2009, 01:03:25 PM
The CFL has 6 of it's 8 teams make the playoffs
How do you structure a playoff for 6 times, and why not just have the other 2 involved?
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 01:01:07 PM
You are arguing that the regular season REALLY matter because of seeding. I guess. I don't really buy it though - you cannot convince me that the pressure to seed well is as intense as "Hey, if you don't win more than you lose, you simply won't be in the playoffs".
I'm not trying to convince you of anything, really. I'm simply trying to explain to you how it works, since you apparently don't even get the basics, and some of the things that have happened, both exceptional (Golden State) and relatively routine (5 beating 4) that wouldn't happen at all in a different system, since you've apparently never actually even seen what you're attempting to talk about.
And yeah, having more losses than wins isn't a good way to get into the playoffs in the NBA. Last year, there was one in the Eastern Conference, Detroit of all teams, with the West cutting it off at a .585 percentage. West 1 beat East 3 in the Finals.
QuoteWhy limit it to just 16 then? Lets get REALLY exciting and just have everyone make the playoffs! It won't diminish from the regular season, since everyone will be playing for seeding, and I guess that is just as important anyway! You cannot have it both ways - it cannot be super important to get good seeding, when apparently you can win it all even if you have crap seeding.
Don't be a fucking idiot.
Quote from: Valmy on October 26, 2009, 10:43:09 AM
Traditionally in the US we have the big three: football, baseball, basketball and then you throw hockey in there for the northern part of the coutry. We seasonally follow them: baseball in summer, football in fall, basketball in winter. If we only had one big sport, like the Euros do for soccer, then yeah it would be logical to go year round.
I support your plan, and suggest "football" as the one big sport.
Quote from: ulmont on October 26, 2009, 01:16:39 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 26, 2009, 01:03:25 PM
The CFL has 6 of it's 8 teams make the playoffs
How do you structure a playoff for 6 times, and why not just have the other 2 involved?
League is divided into 2 divisions of 4.
1st place gets a bye into the division final. #2 and #3 play in the semi-final.
And the regular season is very meaningful. There are 2 games left, and for one example Winnipeg and Hamilton are tied for 2nd place with 7-9 records. In the West it's almost all up for grabs, with Saskatchewan and Calgary tied for 1st place with 9-6-1 records, while BE (8-8) and Edmonton (7-9) nipping at their heels.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 26, 2009, 01:17:26 PM
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 01:01:07 PM
You are arguing that the regular season REALLY matter because of seeding. I guess. I don't really buy it though - you cannot convince me that the pressure to seed well is as intense as "Hey, if you don't win more than you lose, you simply won't be in the playoffs".
I'm not trying to convince you of anything, really. I'm simply trying to explain to you how it works, since you apparently don't even get the basics, and some of the things that have happened, both exceptional (Golden State) and relatively routine (5 beating 4) that wouldn't happen at all in a different system, since you've apparently never actually even seen what you're attempting to talk about.
[
Oh please, like this is ever so complicated, and the mechanics need "explaining". You are certainly trying to convince me when you say "Oh, the regular season is REALLY important!". That has nothing to do with mechanics.
Don't be an ass, of course I have seen the NBA playoffs.
Quote
And yeah, having more losses than wins isn't a good way to get into the playoffs in the NBA.
I don't imagine it is. What is your point?
Quote
Last year, there was one in the Eastern Conference, Detroit of all teams, with the West cutting it off at a .585 percentage. West 1 beat East 3 in the Finals.
So? How does that show that a system where more than ahlf the teams make the playoffs does not diminaish the importance of the regualr season comapred to sports where you have to actually be better than average to make the playoffs?
It's not like the NBA is the only one out there that has this incredible concept of "seeding".
Quote
QuoteWhy limit it to just 16 then? Lets get REALLY exciting and just have everyone make the playoffs! It won't diminish from the regular season, since everyone will be playing for seeding, and I guess that is just as important anyway! You cannot have it both ways - it cannot be super important to get good seeding, when apparently you can win it all even if you have crap seeding.
Don't be a fucking idiot.
Ahhh, I see my point is without rebuttal. Thanks for the concession.
If 16/30 is great, why not make it 24/30? Or 28/30? Or all 30?
Quote from: Barrister on October 26, 2009, 01:21:31 PM
Quote from: ulmont on October 26, 2009, 01:16:39 PM
Quote from: Barrister on October 26, 2009, 01:03:25 PM
The CFL has 6 of it's 8 teams make the playoffs
How do you structure a playoff for 6 times, and why not just have the other 2 involved?
League is divided into 2 divisions of 4.
1st place gets a bye into the division final. #2 and #3 play in the semi-final.
And the regular season is very meaningful. There are 2 games left, and for one example Winnipeg and Hamilton are tied for 2nd place with 7-9 records. In the West it's almost all up for grabs, with Saskatchewan and Calgary tied for 1st place with 9-6-1 records, while BE (8-8) and Edmonton (7-9) nipping at their heels.
So the bar for making the playoffs is "Don't be utterly terrible".
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 01:39:45 PM
So the bar for making the playoffs is "Don't be utterly terrible".
Yeah, but coming in as a #3 seed and having to win 2 road games to make it to the Grey Cup is a pretty crappy position to be in, especially when compared to the #1 seed only having to win one home game.
You are picking on 16 of 30 as being a terrible ratio, but how is that significantly different from 12 of 32 in the NFL? MLB has only 8 of 30 teams make the playoffs, but it still feels like the regular season is a ridiculously long borefest.
What makes the regular season exciting and interesting is the relative number of games it contains, not how you structure your playoffs.
It is significantly different because when 12/32 make it, you have to be one of the best in the league, whereas by definition, if 16/30 make it, you have teams that are not even in the top half of the league make it.
If you are going to let 6/8 in, why not just let in all 8? Why should the 6th best team get in, but not the 8th best team?
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 01:38:37 PM
Oh please, like this is ever so complicated, and the mechanics need "explaining". You are certainly trying to convince me when you say "Oh, the regular season is REALLY important!". That has nothing to do with mechanics.
Don't be an ass, of course I have seen the NBA playoffs.
I don't know...you were saying the NBA and NHL share the "everyone makes it" system, and you clearly don't have any sort of clue about what has actually happened under the current system, both in the playoffs and in the regular season, so......
Not that that will keep you from arguing anything and everything to death.
QuoteI don't imagine it is. What is your point?
You brought up records, not me.
QuoteSo? How does that show that a system where more than ahlf the teams make the playoffs does not diminaish the importance of the regualr season comapred to sports where you have to actually be better than average to make the playoffs?
That was referring to your comment on records and how they worked out last year.
QuoteIt's not like the NBA is the only one out there that has this incredible concept of "seeding".
Need me to go over those with you as well?
QuoteAhhh, I see my point is without rebuttal. Thanks for the concession.
If 16/30 is great, why not make it 24/30? Or 28/30? Or all 30?
Again: Stop being a fucking idiot. I refuse to believe that you're
this stupid and don't understand that the current 16 team system works nicely for the NBA. There are no bye weeks for the first round, there aren't potentially excellent first round matchups cut out because they moved "the line" up, but 17 win expansion-ish teams and teams that drop 50 games aren't making it either.
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 01:47:58 PM
It is significantly different because when 12/32 make it, you have to be one of the best in the league, whereas by definition, if 16/30 make it, you have teams that are not even in the top half of the league make it.
That's not actually true. In the NFL it is quite conceivable for an 8-8 or even 7-9 team to make the playoffs.
Why not have all the teams make the playoffs? Well I don't think it would work so well for the CFL since that would mean taking away the first place teams first-place bye. I suppose it could conceivably work in some systems.
Quote from: Barrister on October 26, 2009, 01:54:21 PM
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 01:47:58 PM
It is significantly different because when 12/32 make it, you have to be one of the best in the league, whereas by definition, if 16/30 make it, you have teams that are not even in the top half of the league make it.
That's not actually true. In the NFL it is quite conceivable for an 8-8 or even 7-9 team to make the playoffs.
And if they do, then they are one of the 12 best teams, as determined by the seeding rules.
So it is in fact "quite true".
Quote
Why not have all the teams make the playoffs? Well I don't think it would work so well for the CFL since that would mean taking away the first place teams first-place bye. I suppose it could conceivably work in some systems.
It could work in any system, they are all trade offs depending on what you want to do. MbM is telling me the 16/32 is necessary so as to avoid byes, you are telling me 8/8 cannot work because then you would not have byes, which are apparently critical.
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 01:59:20 PM
It could work in any system, they are all trade offs depending on what you want to do. MbM is telling me the 16/32 is necessary so as to avoid byes, you are telling me 8/8 cannot work because then you would not have byes, which are apparently critical.
Of course I'm talking about basketball, and Beeb is talking about football.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 26, 2009, 02:01:36 PM
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 01:59:20 PM
It could work in any system, they are all trade offs depending on what you want to do. MbM is telling me the 16/32 is necessary so as to avoid byes, you are telling me 8/8 cannot work because then you would not have byes, which are apparently critical.
Of course I'm talking about basketball, and Beeb is talking about football.
Well what I'm argueing is that it isn't the # of teams in the playoffs that makes the regular season exciting - it is how long the regular season is that makes it exciting. Which is why I think both baseball (with very few teams making the playoffs) and hockey (with many teams making the playoffs) have very boring regular seasons.
If the NHL cut the regular season down to, say, 30 games, then allowed every team into the playoffs that would make for a much more interesting regular season than lengthening the regular season to 100 games, then simply having the top 2 teams fight for the Stanley Cup, would be.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 26, 2009, 01:50:47 PM
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 01:38:37 PM
Oh please, like this is ever so complicated, and the mechanics need "explaining". You are certainly trying to convince me when you say "Oh, the regular season is REALLY important!". That has nothing to do with mechanics.
Don't be an ass, of course I have seen the NBA playoffs.
I don't know...you were saying the NBA and NHL share the "everyone makes it" system, and you clearly don't have any sort of clue about what has actually happened under the current system, both in the playoffs and in the regular season, so......
Not that that will keep you from arguing anything and everything to death.
uhh, you are the one arguing and getting pissed off and making shit up, not me. Why, I have no idea, since this is all basically about my personal preference.
The NBA's "everyone makes it" system is lame. I understand the mechanics of it perfectly well, and so far you have not told me anything I did not know this morning. I can only presume the personal attacks are some kind of defensive thing on your part?
Having more than half the teams make the playoffs is lame, and diminishes the importance of the regular season, which is already diminished by have too many game. That is my opinion, and while it can be changed, it won't be by you pretending like you are coming down off the mountain with the brilliant revelations about how the system operates mechanically, which we all know perfectly well.
Quote
QuoteI don't imagine it is. What is your point?
You brought up records, not me.
Right - I brought upthe point that a playoff system where teams with losing records make the playoffs routinely is lame. If you cannot win more than half your games, you don't have any business playing for the title, evn if now and again it means some shitty team knocks off a better team.
Quote
QuoteSo? How does that show that a system where more than ahlf the teams make the playoffs does not diminaish the importance of the regualr season comapred to sports where you have to actually be better than average to make the playoffs?
That was referring to your comment on records and how they worked out last year.
I did not make a comment on records and how they worked out last year.
Quote
QuoteIt's not like the NBA is the only one out there that has this incredible concept of "seeding".
Need me to go over those with you as well?
I am sure you will, and then feel very proud at stating the obvious. But you are the one who made the argument that seeding is what makes the regular season important compared to....other systems that use seeding as well?
Quote
QuoteAhhh, I see my point is without rebuttal. Thanks for the concession.
If 16/30 is great, why not make it 24/30? Or 28/30? Or all 30?
Again: Stop being a fucking idiot. I refuse to believe that you're this stupid and don't understand that the current 16 team system works nicely for the NBA. There are no bye weeks for the first round, there aren't potentially excellent first round matchups cut out because they moved "the line" up, but 17 win expansion-ish teams and teams that drop 50 games aren't making it either.
What is wrong with 17 win expansion teams making the playoffs? Imagine how exciting it might be if they knock someone off! Why are you so against this kind of incredible excitement!
Your basic argument for the 16 team seed is that it makes for nice round numbers, and avoids the need for buys. I don't think buys are that bad, and don't see that it is worth letting teams that are not even in the top 50% of the league play for a title.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 26, 2009, 02:01:36 PM
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 01:59:20 PM
It could work in any system, they are all trade offs depending on what you want to do. MbM is telling me the 16/32 is necessary so as to avoid byes, you are telling me 8/8 cannot work because then you would not have byes, which are apparently critical.
Of course I'm talking about basketball, and Beeb is talking about football.
And there is something so different about the two games that means that in one you cannot possibly have a system with a buy, and the other you MUST have a system with a buy?
Please.
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 02:06:04 PM
uhh, you are the one arguing and getting pissed off and making shit up, not me. Why, I have no idea, since this is all basically about my personal preference.
The NBA's "everyone makes it" system is lame. I understand the mechanics of it perfectly well, and so far you have not told me anything I did not know this morning. I can only presume the personal attacks are some kind of defensive thing on your part?
Having more than half the teams make the playoffs is lame, and diminishes the importance of the regular season, which is already diminished by have too many game. That is my opinion, and while it can be changed, it won't be by you pretending like you are coming down off the mountain with the brilliant revelations about how the system operates mechanically, which we all know perfectly well.
So....does everyone make it or not?
QuoteRight - I brought upthe point that a playoff system where teams with losing records make the playoffs routinely is lame. If you cannot win more than half your games, you don't have any business playing for the title, evn if now and again it means some shitty team knocks off a better team.
But hey, those are the top eight teams in that conference, just like you were talking about the .500 or less NFL teams potentially making it. What's the fucking problem?
QuoteI did not make a comment on records and how they worked out last year.
You made comments on records, some stupidity about sub .500 teams being in the playoffs, I pointed out what happened last year. You still aren't getting it.
QuoteI am sure you will, and then feel very proud at stating the obvious. But you are the one who made the argument that seeding is what makes the regular season important compared to....other systems that use seeding as well?
Well...do you need help with them?
QuoteWhat is wrong with 17 win expansion teams making the playoffs? Imagine how exciting it might be if they knock someone off! Why are you so against this kind of incredible excitement!
Your basic argument for the 16 team seed is that it makes for nice round numbers, and avoids the need for buys. I don't think buys are that bad, and don't see that it is worth letting teams that are not even in the top 50% of the league play for a title.
QuoteAnd there is something so different about the two games that means that in one you cannot possibly have a system with a buy, and the other you MUST have a system with a buy?
Please.
The NBA and NFL(and CFL, I presume) playoffs are pretty massively different, dude.
And I don't know that you MUST have a bye in the NFL/CFL playoffs, but they're currently there, and I don't really mind them.
I certainly don't think you should have one in the NBA playoffs, where you have a series of games per round that potentially can go for ~2 weeks, but are only potentially separated by a couple of days (e: the series, that is) . A first round NBA bye means the top two teams sitting around while 2-5, and 3-4 kick the shit out of each other, then have to start up a new series against some team that has been hanging out for a while. That would be a pretty huge disadvantage for the teams that had to play the first round. The NFL/CFL teams at least get a week off no matter what.
You don't see the difference? :lol:
Quote from: Barrister on October 26, 2009, 01:54:21 PM
That's not actually true. In the NFL it is quite conceivable for an 8-8 or even 7-9 team to make the playoffs.
The Chargers made the playoffs last year as 8-8, yes.
Quote from: ulmont on October 26, 2009, 02:27:42 PM
The Chargers made the playoffs last year as 8-8, yes.
True but there are lots of teams who did not at 10-6. The Chargers got lucky and won their division.
Anyway at least the NFL season is only 16 games. If the NBA had a 40 game regular season it would not matter there were so many playoff spots it would still be alot more compelling.
Indiana better win more than 6 games, or I will have no peace in my household.
Quote from: Valmy on October 26, 2009, 02:32:30 PM
If the NBA had a 40 game regular season it would not matter there were so many playoff spots it would still be alot more compelling.
:yes:
Quote from: Berkut on October 26, 2009, 09:01:34 AM
College basketball is interesting and exciting, and the NBA is fucking boring and lame.
Correct.
Quote from: Valmy on October 26, 2009, 02:32:30 PM
Anyway at least the NFL season is only 16 games. If the NBA had a 40 game regular season it would not matter there were so many playoff spots it would still be alot more compelling.
There needs to be fewer regular season games, but 40 might not be enough unless they change the playoff format (potentially 28 games). That strike season was really exciting all year (it probably helps that the Spurs kicked some ass that year :P), but it was only 50 games long, and was almost awkwardly short, especially when they had a regular playoff schedule (first round was only best of 5 then though). So maybe tacking on an extra 10 games to that would help, for a total of 60. 22 fewer games compared to now, the playoffs won't seem abnormally long after a super short season, but if you lose...probably 20-25 games, at least in the current West, you're really really close to being fucked and not making it. Leave the divisional winner+5 more playoff system.
E: They will never do this, of course. <_<
Quote from: Valmy on October 26, 2009, 09:05:57 AM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 08:55:48 AM
I remain flabbergasted at how big the following of college basketball is on this board compared with the almost total lack of interest for the NBA.
Pro sports are pretty much non-existant in Austin. I am only a NFL fan because my father is from DC where the Washington Redskins are an obsession.
The Redskins are only an obsession with NoVa homers and PG and Monkey County. DC proper is full of transplants that brought their Cubbies hats with them.
Quote from: Strix on October 26, 2009, 08:49:25 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 25, 2009, 09:31:03 PM
Posted because in basketball, the ACC is the only conference that matters.
When will Maryland be relevant again?
GO CUSE!
Meh, I'm used to the AL East, so being 3rd in a conference as the best possibilitiy is old hat.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 26, 2009, 06:03:16 PM
The Redskins are only an obsession with NoVa homers and PG and Monkey County. DC proper is full of transplants that brought their Cubbies hats with them.
The 60% of DC that is black and home grown is big on the Skins.
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:12:16 AM
In which ways is the NBA boring and lame for you?
No defense, no fundamentals. PASS THE BALL FOUR TIMES BEFORE SHOOTING. FOUR!
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 26, 2009, 06:09:08 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 26, 2009, 06:03:16 PM
The Redskins are only an obsession with NoVa homers and PG and Monkey County. DC proper is full of transplants that brought their Cubbies hats with them.
The 60% of DC that is black and home grown is big on the Skins.
They can't afford tickets, so they don't count.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 26, 2009, 06:10:10 PM
They can't afford tickets, so they don't count.
The old dude who dressed up as an Indian and got his ass kicked up in Philly was black.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 26, 2009, 06:11:43 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 26, 2009, 06:10:10 PM
They can't afford tickets, so they don't count.
The old dude who dressed up as an Indian and got his ass kicked up in Philly was black.
I think Daniel Snyder sued him.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 26, 2009, 11:53:45 AM
Edit: Oh, and the NBA and NHL seasons are the same number of games, and the same number of teams (16) make the playoffs. They also both have the same total number of teams (30).
Really? You're going to say that something is alright because the NHL does it too? The NHL, the worst-managed pro league there is? The NHL, whose popularity has disintegrated over the last twenty years?
And BTW: Baseball is for fags. Either stop watching it or get a divorce.
Quote from: Neil on October 26, 2009, 06:34:08 PM
Really? You're going to say that something is alright because the NHL does it too?
what
QuoteAnd BTW: Baseball is for fags. Either stop watching it or get a divorce.
Who are you talking to?
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on October 26, 2009, 06:54:50 PM
Quote from: Neil on October 26, 2009, 06:34:08 PM
Really? You're going to say that something is alright because the NHL does it too?
what
30 teams, 80-something games, more than half the league in the playoffs. Those are the things that the NBA and NHL have in common. They are also part of what has destroyed the NHL as a top-flight league.
QuoteQuoteAnd BTW: Baseball is for fags. Either stop watching it or get a divorce.
Who are you talking to?
Valmy.
Quote from: Neil on October 26, 2009, 07:00:37 PM
30 teams, 80-something games, more than half the league in the playoffs. Those are the things that the NBA and NHL have in common. They are also part of what has destroyed the NHL as a top-flight league.
Okay. It is too bad about the NHL, yes.
e: Speaking of things that have destroyed the NHL, the, or one of the, minor league affiliates of the Coyotes is here. They're not generally all that good, but it's a nice change of pace hitting up one of their games every once in a while. They're owned by the wildly successful local NBA team.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 26, 2009, 06:09:51 PM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:12:16 AM
In which ways is the NBA boring and lame for you?
No defense, no fundamentals. PASS THE BALL FOUR TIMES BEFORE SHOOTING. FOUR!
I'd say that that was more the case some 5 years ago or earlier, I've been following the league regularly for the last few years and I don't get that vibe. Other comments seem similarly dated to me, like the "new Jordan" ones and so on.
Have you guys been following the league lately, or did you stop in the early 00s? I mean, sure there are some guys and teams that have that kind of streetball mentality and so on, but I think that the level of the game has gotten better lately, so I'd say that you could give this NBA season a shot, just to check. :)
Quote from: The Larch on October 27, 2009, 05:16:34 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 26, 2009, 06:09:51 PM
Quote from: The Larch on October 26, 2009, 09:12:16 AM
In which ways is the NBA boring and lame for you?
No defense, no fundamentals. PASS THE BALL FOUR TIMES BEFORE SHOOTING. FOUR!
I'd say that that was more the case some 5 years ago or earlier, I've been following the league regularly for the last few years and I don't get that vibe. Other comments seem similarly dated to me, like the "new Jordan" ones and so on.
Have you guys been following the league lately, or did you stop in the early 00s? I mean, sure there are some guys and teams that have that kind of streetball mentality and so on, but I think that the level of the game has gotten better lately, so I'd say that you could give this NBA season a shot, just to check. :)
Meh, the other great thing about college over the NBA: white guys can still impact the game.
And yes, I stopped watching the NBA somewhere around 9/11.
But when NBC dumped John Tesh's master work, that was it for me.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 27, 2009, 05:56:50 AMMeh, the other great thing about college over the NBA: white guys can still impact the game.
And yes, I stopped watching the NBA somewhere around 9/11.
But when NBC dumped John Tesh's master work, that was it for me.
White guys impact the game as well in the NBA. The Lakers didn't get to be a title contender again since O'Neal left until they traded for Pau Gasol, and the main doubt about Orlando Magic's possibilities to get to the finals again is how they're going to cope with the loss of Turkoglu. Nash and Nowitzki won MVPs between 2004 and 2007, and white players hold key positions in many teams.
Quote from: ulmont on October 26, 2009, 01:19:07 PM
I support your plan, and suggest "football" as the one big sport.
All year? Boring. The whole joy of football is each game is so meaningful.
Quote from: Neil on October 26, 2009, 06:34:08 PM
And BTW: Baseball is for fags. Either stop watching it or get a divorce.
Yeah and it is even better you college sports hater, I watch College Baseball. Oh how the haterade overfloweth!
College baseball is about as important as college track meets.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 27, 2009, 08:55:06 AM
College baseball is about as important as college track meets.
It is important enough to be televised.
Anyway it is also a sporting event I love that I can actually afford to attend. I consider myself very lucky to love something few others do. It is good for the budget while the rest of the suckers pay $100+ to go see the football team stomp Louisiana Monroe, I probably spend less than that attending tons of games in an awesome baseball season. It truly is the best time of the year for me sportswise. There is no substitute for being there and getting to know the players and the coaches.
Nothing says baseball like the dramatic ping of aluminum tube meeting ball.
"the ping of the bat, the scattered applause of the crowd"?
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on October 27, 2009, 09:09:09 AM
"the ping of the bat, the scattered applause of the crowd"?
We go nuts man. That atmosphere is kick ass. I attended a minor league once and it was pretty lame how passive everybody was. We are there to will Texas to win not sit there eating hot dogs and shit.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on October 27, 2009, 09:05:45 AM
Nothing says baseball like the dramatic ping of aluminum tube meeting ball.
Damn straight. Seriously nobody but the major leagues uses those over priced shitty wooden bats anymore. It is about as baseball as caviar and chrystal chandeliers.
Quote from: Valmy on October 27, 2009, 07:47:36 AM
Quote from: ulmont on October 26, 2009, 01:19:07 PM
I support your plan, and suggest "football" as the one big sport.
All year? Boring. The whole joy of football is each game is so meaningful.
I think you could run 2 series, basically with a Winter Bowl and a Summer Bowl, or something similar. The tough part would be finding a way to do 2 drafts a year.
Quote from: ulmont on October 27, 2009, 09:40:07 AM
I think you could run 2 series, basically with a Winter Bowl and a Summer Bowl, or something similar. The tough part would be finding a way to do 2 drafts a year.
Well that may come about anyway, they are always trying to do a Spring league all the time.
But they never really went anywhere and the players need an off-season to rest and recuperate so it cannot be the same league playing two seasons.
Oh I forgot the other reason I don't care for the NBA: the cheating refs.
http://deadspin.com/5392067/excerpts-from-the-book-the-nba-doesnt-want-you-to-read?skyline=true&s=x
Quote from: Valmy on October 28, 2009, 10:19:12 PM
Oh I forgot the other reason I don't care for the NBA: the cheating refs.
http://deadspin.com/5392067/excerpts-from-the-book-the-nba-doesnt-want-you-to-read?skyline=true&s=x
Wow. Of course, the guy is a liar and a cheat, so I imagine he is making up 95% of this, or exaggerating tremendously in an effort to diminish his own lack of integrity, but still...wow.
Quote from: Berkut on October 29, 2009, 09:14:33 AM
Wow. Of course, the guy is a liar and a cheat, so I imagine he is making up 95% of this, or exaggerating tremendously in an effort to diminish his own lack of integrity, but still...wow.
The reason I find most of what he says credible is I remember at the time people talking about how unfairly alot of those series were called. Of course knowing that would be useful in putting together a good lie...but still.
Ok, NOW THE REAL PRESEASON RANKINGS:
Quote
1. Kansas (55) 27-8 1,612 14
2. Michigan St. (5) 31-7 1,515 8
3. Texas (1) 23-12 1,397 --
4. Kentucky (3) 22-14 1,372 --
5. Villanova 30-8 1,347 11
6. North Carolina (1) 34-4 1,320 2
7. Purdue 27-10 1,284 17
8. West Virginia 23-12 1,115 --
9. Duke 30-7 1,064 6
10. Tennessee 21-13 897 --
11. Butler 26-6 864 22
12. Connecticut 31-5 844 5
13. California 22-11 800 --
14. Washington 26-9 776 15
15. Michigan 21-14 578 --
16. Ohio St. 22-11 465 --
17. Oklahoma 30-6 410 7
18. Mississippi St. 23-13 393 --
19. Louisville 31-6 335 1
20. Georgetown 16-15 326 --
21. Dayton 27-8 318 --
22. Georgia Tech 12-19 301 --
23. Illinois 24-10 282 --
24. Clemson 23-9 217 24
25. Minnesota 22-11 172 --
Others receiving votes: Maryland 171, Siena 112, Notre Dame 107, Florida St. 92, Vanderbilt 90, Syracuse 83, Oklahoma St. 65, UCLA 63, Florida 53, Wake Forest 50, Xavier 42, Gonzaga 37, South Carolina 28, Kansas St. 24, BYU 21, N. Iowa 16, Tulsa 16, Mississippi 15, Texas A&M 10, Missouri 8, Boston College 6, Pittsburgh 4, Utah St. 2, Va. Commonwealth 2, W. Kentucky 2, Holy Cross 1, Old Dominion 1.
Quote from: Valmy on October 27, 2009, 07:47:36 AM
Quote from: ulmont on October 26, 2009, 01:19:07 PM
I support your plan, and suggest "football" as the one big sport.
All year? Boring. The whole joy of football is each game is so meaningful.
By the way, I'm able to follow football from June through to early February (from the start of CFL training camp, through to the Superbowl). With multiple leagues I see no reason why you couldn't have meaningful football all year round.
Quote from: Barrister on October 29, 2009, 05:44:53 PM
By the way, I'm able to follow football from June through to early February (from the start of CFL training camp, through to the Superbowl). With multiple leagues I see no reason why you couldn't have meaningful football all year round.
I suppose. I enjoy following multiple sports though so I personally would never go for Spring football.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 29, 2009, 05:35:10 PM
Ok, NOW THE REAL PRESEASON RANKINGS:
This makes me even more pumped for my two Christmas presents to myself this year:
12/19 against #6 North Carolina at Jerry World
12/22 against #2 Michigan State in Austin
Looking forward to it.
Quote21. Dayton 27-8 318 --
heh, the Flyers made the list. I bet they blow it. They tend to go down the tubes after a good year.
That, and a cowardly fear of playing Wright State nearby.
Wow, Arizona did not get even one single vote. I cannot remember the last time that has happened.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on October 29, 2009, 05:35:10 PM
8. West Virginia 23-12 1,115 --
:punk: That's a lot to live up to, but it will be nice to not have to win their first 12 games & knock off the top two Big East teams in order to get top 25 votes.
Bob Knight: Fuck You, IU.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4606433
In a classier way of course. :P
@ ethnic Albertans: :console:
QuoteGonzaga defeats the University of Alberta 94-53
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University head coach Mark Few came away with a pretty good feeling about his team following Monday's 94-53 exhibition rout of the University of Alberta in front of a sold out McCarthey Athletic Center crowd.
The Bulldogs got 17 points from senior guard Matt Bouldin, 15 from freshman forward Sam Dower and 11 from post Robert Sacre, seeing his first game action since December of last year.
Alberta was led by Harvey Bradford with 12 points, the lone visitor in double figures. He went 5-for-10 from the field.
Freshman Mangisto Arop, one of four Canadians to dot the Bulldog roster who have ties with Alberta head coach Greg Francis, grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and scored 8 points that included a 3-for-5 night from the field.
Bouldin scored 15 of his points in the opening half, played just five minutes in the second half and sat down after going 6-for-9 from the field as Few had a chance to do what exhibition games are all about and clear his bench. Fifteen of the 16 players on the Bulldog roster got into the game, Bol Kong the only one to sit while nursing a sore ankle.
Gonzaga had a dominating night on the boards, holding a 63-29 advantage. The Bulldogs shot 54.1 percent from the field in the first half. Down 22-21 with 11:46 to go in the opening half, the Bulldogs went on a 25-6 tear the rest of the half and built a 46-28 halftime lead.
Few said it took a little while for his team to get going. "After the first five minutes our defense got going, our rebounding and transition game got running and all of our bodies wore them out," Few said. "Early on they (Alberta) came out shooting the ball well. They had a plan and it's hard to guard when all the guys can shoot the three like that."
The Golden Bears went 5-for-10 from 3-point range in the first half, all five of their treys coming in the first nine minutes in building the 22-21 lead. Alberta finished just 7-for-20 from long range for the game.
Few said the Alberta zone defense threw some unseen wrinkles at his team.
"We haven't played against a whole lot of zone in practice and we saw a lot of zone for the first 30 minutes," Few said.
Overall the 11th-year head coach liked what he saw.
"By and large I think we were happy with the guys effort, especially the first five minutes of the second half was some really good basketball on our part as far as defensive pressure, great rebounding position and we were pretty darn efficient on the offensive end," Few noted.
The Bulldogs hit three of their first four shots in the second half and out-scored the visitors 14-2 to increase the lead to 60-30 with just less than five minutes gone in the half. Gonzaga also forced the ball inside and connected on 8-of-10 free throws in the opening five minutes.
Few said it isn't only the new guys who were being evaluated.
"It's not just the new guys, we're trying to see what they can do, trying to evaluate them a little bit under pressure and adversity, see who is playing well together and see who is understanding some of the concepts we're trying to get through," Few said of the overall approach. "There are a lot of them - we got 15 guys in that game today and I think that's a record, at least for me."
Few said everybody pretty much passed the test.
"It's not easy. Some of them stepped up very, very well. Kelly Olynyk played on a sprained ankle and showed some toughness and battled. I thought the freshmen by and large were impressive with how they handled everything," Few said.
Sacre, who played just five games last year before being sidelined with a foot injury, played 11 minutes Monday, going 4-for-5 from the field while scoring 11 points and grabbing five rebounds.
It was also somewhat of a reunion for the Canadian members of the Bulldogs. Arop and Olynyk played for Canada's National Junior Team coached by Francis in last year's U-19 FIBA World Championships in New Zealand as Canada finished seventh, three members of the Golden Bears also playing on that U-19 team. Sacre and Kong also have ties with Francis and the Junior National Team.
The Bulldogs will scrimmage Texas this weekend before they turn their attention to the regular-season and home opener Nov. 14 against Mississippi Valley State University.
In case you're interested, here's an article about Brandon Jennings, the rookie that skipped college to play in Italy, now playing for the Milwaukee Bucks after being drafted 10th in last season's draft. It includes some criticism on the current NBA policy of having players one year removed from High School in order to be eligible for the draft, and on the college system itself.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AoSD8eqfXWPeWOwBAgJzy9W8vLYF?slug=dw-jenningsbucks110209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AoSD8eqfXWPeWOwBAgJzy9W8vLYF?slug=dw-jenningsbucks110209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns)
DAMN YOU FATMAI!
Your Washington Huskies beat the Wright State Raiders. :weep:
Yeah, meant to mention it last night. Wright st looked decent though el jefe, huskies only won by 5 and wright was missing two of it's better players from what I heard.
Another, long, long, LONG Uwyo sports season starts. The men's team opened against...South Dakota State at home...and lost...
Sigh, kill me now.
Quote from: PDH on November 14, 2009, 08:49:48 PM
Another, long, long, LONG Uwyo sports season starts. The men's team opened against...South Dakota State at home...and lost...
Sigh, kill me now.
You didn't synergize!
I was luck to -ize at all after that...
Quote from: PDH on November 14, 2009, 08:56:39 PM
I was luck to -ize at all after that...
I inflated my Brutus today. With my inflatable synergy, they won.
Try more synergy.
My inflatable Pistol Pete broke its tethers, flew into power lines, burst into flames as it plummeted, burning down the local dance hall...
Quote from: PDH on November 14, 2009, 09:04:29 PM
My inflatable Pistol Pete broke its tethers, flew into power lines, burst into flames as it plummeted, burning down the local dance hall...
Keep Brain away from the inflatable Cowboy Joe.
That is the horse, right?
Yeah, a pony....*shudder at the Swedish invasion*
Huskies are in 3rd game of non-conference playing Portland St, with 3 mins left the score is 100-50
Arizona continues their march to yet another Tourney invite, crushing the highly regarded and dangerous Northern Arizona University.
24 hours of college basketball beginning right now on ESPN.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?page=09marathon
Couple of women's games in there, but that's alright.
Edit: CS Fullerton leads UCLA 2 - 0 3+ minutes in. One of the announcers might be Pam Ward. Just...ugh. :bleeding:
2: It got better. Fullerton leads UCLA by 6 at the half. 3: And now OT. Fullerton had a chance to take the lead with ~9 seconds left, but dude only made 1 of 2 from the line.
Heh Titans win in 2OT. Apparently this is the first time they've ever beaten UCLA, so that's cool. And good god...they switched to the next game, and it's not even close. 20 point lead ~midway through the first.
Speaking of NCAA hoops...I just got asked to help officiate a scrimmage at RIT (local Div-III college) this week.
Nobody cares about my budding NCAA career... :(
As long as you aren't part of PAC-10 crew you'll do fine
Quote from: katmai on November 17, 2009, 03:34:20 PM
As long as you aren't part of PAC-10 crew you'll do fine
You don't think I could give a fair shake to another team playing the Cats? Or another team playing some other team who the Cats need to lose to secure their righful place in the conference? Or a team playing a team that played a team that the Cats need to lose (or win) to increase their SoS to secure their rightful place in the tournament seeding? Or a team...
Quote from: Berkut on November 17, 2009, 10:20:18 AM
Speaking of NCAA hoops...I just got asked to help officiate a scrimmage at RIT (local Div-III college) this week.
I am looking forward to seeing you do your first Final Four.
Quote from: Valmy on November 17, 2009, 03:37:03 PM
Quote from: Berkut on November 17, 2009, 10:20:18 AM
Speaking of NCAA hoops...I just got asked to help officiate a scrimmage at RIT (local Div-III college) this week.
I am looking forward to seeing you do your first Final Four.
How insanely awesome would that be?
Someone published a study about Div-1 college hoops official. Apparently, there are something like 600 active D1 officials. On average, however, each one only gets about ten games a year.
The top 20 officials do around 100 games/year. So while there are a lot off officials, the bulk of the games are probably being done by less than 100 officials.
So it would seem that getting into D1, while pretty hard, isn't even half the battle. Breaking into group that is doing significant numbers of games is almost impossible. And you know it is those top-20/30 guys who are getting the tourney games.
Quote from: Berkut on November 17, 2009, 10:20:18 AM
Speaking of NCAA hoops...I just got asked to help officiate a scrimmage at RIT (local Div-III college) this week.
:cheers:
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on November 17, 2009, 10:05:11 PM
Quote from: Berkut on November 17, 2009, 10:20:18 AM
Speaking of NCAA hoops...I just got asked to help officiate a scrimmage at RIT (local Div-III college) this week.
:cheers:
All it probably means is that they are short officials willing to work for free, to be honest. But hey, it at least gets me in front of some people who are the ones who actually assign those games. It is a start.
Quote from: Berkut on November 17, 2009, 10:13:21 PM
All it probably means is that they are short officials willing to work for free, to be honest. But hey, it at least gets me in front of some people who are the ones who actually assign those games. It is a start.
Exactly. Before you know it, it'll be like those Buffalo Wild Wings commercials where we're calling you up saying we don't want the game to be over yet, and you're tripping players and calling totally unnecessary fouls to get it into triple OT.
It'll be great.
The Zags gave Michigan State a run for their money, 71-75.
It went very well, I think. THe surprising thing about the speed was on defense - how much faster the players can move and cut off a penetration without fouling.
It was a blast - a LOT of running.
Cool, so any indication of more chances to officiate?
Quote from: katmai on November 19, 2009, 12:28:51 AM
Cool, so any indication of more chances to officiate?
Well, the evaluator said he thought I did an excellent job, and I should certianly pursue college officiating. To do that, however, means attending college camps where the assignors look at officials during the off season. And those are generally rather expensive. The system kind of sucks - you basically have to pay someone to look at you.
The real kicker to all of this is that I am not even a high school varsity basketball official. I am still just a JV in basketball. When the evaluator asked me about my varsity schedule this year and I told him I had not moved up yet, he got pretty pissed off that I was not doing varsity, which was rather amusing. He made a comment about the bullshit involved in the local board and how they didn't move people who they should.
So who knows? Hopefully I move up this year to the varsity level in high school, although I would not be the first official in the area to start doing college ball before doing varsity high school.
Ohio State choked against the ACC again. But since I can't stand their basketball, I can laugh.
(22) Maryland 57, Cincinnati 69 :contract:
Big East > ACC
Quote from: derspiess on November 24, 2009, 10:25:49 PM
(22) Maryland 57, Cincinnati 69 :contract:
Big East > ACC
:zipped:
Quote from: derspiess on November 24, 2009, 10:25:49 PM
(22) Maryland 57, Cincinnati 69 :contract:
Big East > ACC
Texas 78 Pittsburgh 62
Big East = Fail
Just ran into a few wazzu players at my local grocery store as they are playing in tourney right down the road.
Zags play Cincinnati tonight in Maui.
Zags are busy little beavers. Getting a lot of air time.
Dick Vitale thinks the Big 10 is the best conference in the country right now, followed by the ACC then the Big East.
That Plumlee kid at Duke has some serious ups.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on November 27, 2009, 12:21:17 PM
Dick Vitale thinks the Big 10 is the best conference in the country right now, followed by the ACC then the Big East.
That Plumlee kid at Duke has some serious ups.
Dukie Vitale says things like that early in the season, but by mid-season it's "ACC, Baby! Duke, Baby! ACC, Baby..."
WVU plays Texas A&M @ 2:30 & I'm stuck at work. Thankfully, we get ESPN360 here :shifty:
Funny thing about Dickie V, if you go back and watch old games (like from around '91 or so), he is much more composed. Still tosses out stupid phrases, but is actually good at the color commentary.
WVU can't seem to pull ahead of Texas A&M. Down 42-41 with ~15:00 left in the 2nd half.
WVU pulled out a pretty decent win. At least we have a good basketball coach.
Quote from: Ed Anger on November 27, 2009, 01:47:55 PM
Funny thing about Dickie V, if you go back and watch old games (like from around '91 or so), he is much more composed. Still tosses out stupid phrases, but is actually good at the color commentary.
Yes; much like John Madden, he only got stupider.
As awesome as the Pac-10 was this year in football, it is going to be that bad in hoops.
I think every team that finished in the top of the conference last year got worse instead of better.
The Pac-10 could see only three teams in the tournament this year. I haven't decided yet if that is good for Arizona (since everyone else sucks too, maybe we will do better than expected) or bad (a down year in a down conference means it is going to be ahrd to get the SoS needed to be considered as an at large bid).
Uh what?
This years Husky team is deeper than last and more athletic.
Quote from: katmai on November 30, 2009, 05:48:01 PM
Uh what?
This years Husky team is deeper than last and more athletic.
But not as talented, although in the rather weak Pac-10, they will do very well.
Oh I know they will do well since only other team that impresses me is Cal and they have been inconsistent.
Less talented, not so sure about that, they lost senior guard but replaced him with highly regarded frosh who backed out of Zona with Lute leaving and Pondexter is playing better than Jon Brockman did in his senior year.
Gaddy isn't even going to start.
I will grant that if Gaddy in fact plays to his rather lofty hype, they may actually be as good as last year, but that is a lot to expect.
Overall, I do not think they are as good a team as last year. Losing Brockman and a senior point guard is not easy to replace.
Yeah he had his first start last night because of tardyness of another player.
Didn't do much with chance. But look forward to seeing him, Thomas and the apparent stud from turkey they recruited for next year.
I am calling out YOU PAC-10! Prepare to be put in your place by the Basketball Juggernaut that is the Big 12!
Eh just got home and see the huskies lost to tech ah well.
Quote from: katmai on December 03, 2009, 09:57:49 PM
Eh just got home and see the huskies lost to tech ah well.
Ah the bitter rage of defeat.
Quote from: Valmy on December 03, 2009, 10:32:41 PM
Quote from: katmai on December 03, 2009, 09:57:49 PM
Eh just got home and see the huskies lost to tech ah well.
Ah the bitter rage of defeat.
You don't want to see me angry, you wouldn't like me angry.
Quote from: katmai on December 03, 2009, 11:52:19 PM
Quote from: Valmy on December 03, 2009, 10:32:41 PM
Quote from: katmai on December 03, 2009, 09:57:49 PM
Eh just got home and see the huskies lost to tech ah well.
Ah the bitter rage of defeat.
You don't want to see me angry, you wouldn't like me angry.
Because when Katmai gets angry...donuts die!
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 04, 2009, 06:35:51 AM
Quote from: katmai on December 03, 2009, 11:52:19 PM
You don't want to see me angry, you wouldn't like me angry.
Because when Katmai gets angry...donuts die!
I'm not the former po-po here.
Quote from: katmai on December 04, 2009, 06:48:07 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on December 04, 2009, 06:35:51 AM
Quote from: katmai on December 03, 2009, 11:52:19 PM
You don't want to see me angry, you wouldn't like me angry.
Because when Katmai gets angry...donuts die!
I'm not the former po-po here.
I never murdered donuts. Merely gave them their angel wings.
Evan Turner of Ohio state broke his back! :(
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/06/evan-turner-injury-video_n_381781.html
Fucking Villanova.
Hey Speesh: the commentary dude (who I had never heard of and who's commentary was not that great) on last night's Syracuse/Florida game said his Final Four picks were Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse and WVU.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 11, 2009, 12:41:23 PM
Hey Speesh: the commentary dude (who I had never heard of and who's commentary was not that great) on last night's Syracuse/Florida game said his Final Four picks were Kansas, Kentucky, Syracuse and WVU.
Well, that'd be a bit farther than they got last March (knocked out in the first round). I just hope they can stay in the top 10 throughout the year & land a 2 seed. Their Turkish dude will be allowed to play around February, so he will definitely help when the time comes.
They definitely have the coach, and they have the talent. But they need to gel a little better as a team before I can seriously think of them as Final Four-worthy.
Has Huggins turned them all into thugs yet?
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 11, 2009, 03:35:20 PM
Has Huggins turned them all into thugs yet?
Working on it. He really needs to get his own recruits in there before we'll see solid results.
Quote from: derspiess on December 11, 2009, 03:51:40 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 11, 2009, 03:35:20 PM
Has Huggins turned them all into thugs yet?
Working on it. He really needs to get his own recruits in there before we'll see solid results.
I remember when one of Huggin's former players was killed trying a home invasion up here by the teenage girl inside. good times.
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 11, 2009, 04:00:21 PM
I remember when one of Huggin's former players was killed trying a home invasion up here by the teenage girl inside. good times.
I missed that one. When did it happen?
Quote from: derspiess on December 11, 2009, 04:55:41 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on December 11, 2009, 04:00:21 PM
I remember when one of Huggin's former players was killed trying a home invasion up here by the teenage girl inside. good times.
I missed that one. When did it happen?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1753313/posts
it was a scrub.
Hoya Saxa Hoya Saxa!
YOUR WERE SICK YOU WERE SICK
Woo.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 12, 2009, 04:17:53 PM
Hoya Saxa Hoya Saxa!
YOUR WERE SICK YOU WERE SICK
Woo.
Didnt' get to see the game, but heard you guys were dominating, grats.
Quote from: katmai on December 12, 2009, 07:44:19 PM
Didnt' get to see the game, but heard you guys were dominating, grats.
Fucker. Whine about a call or two. Make it fun mang.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on December 12, 2009, 08:28:51 PM
Quote from: katmai on December 12, 2009, 07:44:19 PM
Didnt' get to see the game, but heard you guys were dominating, grats.
Fucker. Whine about a call or two. Make it fun mang.
I DIDN"T SEE THE GAME!
Quote from: katmai on December 12, 2009, 08:40:55 PM
I DIDN"T SEE THE GAME!
:rolleyes: Don't hide behind technicalities.
Ref tossed a couple Bama fans from the Bama Purdue game. Would love to know what they were saying.
:bleeding: x ∞
Now, now Berkie, all of the losses are against teams that should make it to Madness, I mean the teams are like 35-11 combined records.
Roy Williams is such a bitch.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/blog/the_dagger/post/Roy-Williams-kicks-out-heckling-fan-at-the-Dean-?urn=ncaab,208335
QuoteWith six minutes to go in North Carolina's blowout win over Presbyterian yesterday at The Dean Dome, Roy Williams instructed security personnel to eject a fan (http://live-blogs.fayobserver.com/accbasketball/December-2009/Roy-freaks-out-over-heckler,-asks-everyone-else-to) who had heckled the Heels' Deon Thompson during a free throw attempt. The man, wearing a Presbyterian shirt and sitting a few rows behind the Carolina bench, yelled "hey Deon, don't miss it!" during the second free throw, which caused Williams to turn around, exchange some words and, eventually, point him out to security. WRAL has video of the incident (http://www.wralsportsfan.com/unc/video/6605651/).
Drunk, profane fans are a menace at games, but there's no indication the ejected party was either of those things. "Hey Deon, don't miss it," is about as tame a taunt as there gets in a college basketball arena. That may be the nicest heckle Deon Thompson hears all season. When the Tar Heels go play at Duke, such a statement might be considered a compliment.
When asked about the move after the game, Williams said:"I don't think anybody should yell anything negative at our players. Period. Let's don't make it a bigger thing than it is. But I just don't think anybody should yell negative things toward our players (when) you come in on our tickets to watch our game."Let's not make it a bigger thing than it is? That's easy to say after Roy himself made it a bigger thing by having some cops grab a guy who was rooting for his team in an acceptable (if slightly obnoxious) manner. If the other people sitting around the Presbyterian fan were offended, they could have gone to security themselves. What's a two-time national championship coach doing worrying about what some guy from a tiny little school is saying in a game that his team would end up winning by 39? Isn't this a little beneath Roy Williams?
Because Roy is normally such an affable guy and this came in a meaningless game in the middle of December, there won't be much criticism lobbed his way. There should be. It's was inappropriate for Williams to censor a fan that wasn't breaking any rules. He overstepped his bounds and should be embarrassed about his actions.
Dan Wiederer makes a good point (http://live-blogs.fayobserver.com/accbasketball/December-2009/Roy-freaks-out-over-heckler,-asks-everyone-else-to) on his blog The Fast Break: If Mike Krzyzewski had ejected a heckler at Cameron Indoor can you imagine what the public outcry would have been? We'd be comparing him to Kim-Jong Il. When good ol' Roy does it, it's folky and home-spun and protective of his players.
It's a little thing and, in the long run, not a big deal. On most nights, Roy Williams is as classy a man as there is in college basketball. Saturday, as we all do sometimes, he slipped up.
Good thing he isn't overly sensitive or anything.
Texas is kicking the crap out of North Carolina! Bring on Michigan State baby!
I would also like to announce my mancrush for Damien James.
Quote from: Valmy on December 19, 2009, 04:21:28 PM
Texas is kicking the crap out of North Carolina!
Duke is doing the same thing to Gonzaga. At Madison Square Garden. :Embarrass:
U Dub is giving some payback to Portland as they are up 38-13 with 4mins left in 1st half.
For a team I have never heard of, Lipscomb gave Arizona all they could handle at home, before losing 83-82 in OT on a last tenth of a second shot the officials took about 5 minutes to decide was good.
Even watching the replays over and over again, I could not tell you for sure if the ball was out of his hand when time expired.
Quote from: Valmy on December 19, 2009, 04:21:28 PM
I would also like to announce my mancrush for Damien James.
I too am here to profess my manlove for Damion James.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on December 22, 2009, 09:35:42 PM
Quote from: Valmy on December 19, 2009, 04:21:28 PM
I would also like to announce my mancrush for Damien James.
I too am here to profess my manlove for Damion James.
Hell to the yeah at the game tonight! The atmosphere was INCREDIBLE and Texas kept it close with Michigan State until the last 10 minutes and then WHAM. It was a thing of beauty man. :cry:
Finally beat Michigan State those dudes have had Texas' number for years. This is the greatest team Rick Barnes has ever had. The Big XII is on notice, burnt orange beat downs are coming.
UDub wins conference opener 76-70 over Oregon St. Both teams entered the game with exactly 1,600 wins for each program (the 15th & 16th schools in Nation to reach that feat, Kentucky leads all schools with just over 2,000)
For Larchie about the wonderful NBA :P
QuoteThe Wizards and Arenas both have acknowledged that Arenas kept guns in his locker. The team has said the firearms were unloaded and kept in a locked container with no ammunition. Arenas has said he took his guns to the Verizon Center because he didn't want them in his house after the birth of his latest child. He said he later handed them over to team security to give to police.
"They just want to know where I got them from," Arenas said on Tuesday. "They want to make sure they're not dirty guns."
But Yahoo! Sports and the New York Post, both citing unidentified sources, reported the investigation now involves Crittenton. The Post reported Crittenton became angry at Arenas for refusing to make good on a gambling debt. That prompted Arenas to draw on Crittenton, who then reached for a gun, league security sources told the Post.
They should change the Washington team back to the "Bullets".
Going to Columbus tonight for the Indiana-Ohio State game. I'm going to be bored silly. No Bob Knight, no interest. :(
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 06, 2010, 05:22:28 PM
Going to Columbus tonight for the Indiana-Ohio State game. I'm going to be bored silly. No Bob Knight, no interest. :(
One of the worst basketball games ever. I spent most of the game listening to my mp3 player.
Tool rocks.
Wazzu just beat Berkie's wildcats 78-76 with basket at 0.08 secs.
Arizona came back to tie it with 10 seconds left, but WSU put up a shot with a couple seconds, got the rebound, and that was that.
.500 in a bad Pac-10 is about as much as we can hope for, I think.
Lute wept.
Quote from: Berkut on January 09, 2010, 05:47:20 PM
Arizona came back to tie it with 10 seconds left, but WSU put up a shot with a couple seconds, got the rebound, and that was that.
.500 in a bad Pac-10 is about as much as we can hope for, I think.
Lute wept.
It is better than the 1-2 Huskies :cry:
They are actually missing Dentman more than Brockman.
Hoyas come back from 19 down to beat Yukon.
Texas is now 15 - 0. A&M on the 16th, Kansas State on the 18th, and UConn on the 23rd.
UTSA is also doing well, actually. ^_^ 11-3 overall (losses to Eastern Kentucky, Oklahoma State, and Utah), number one in the SLC (1-0 in the conference, so no big deal really). No super ridiculous wins, but they did beat Houston, so that's something.
Quote from: katmai on January 09, 2010, 06:52:17 PM
Quote from: Berkut on January 09, 2010, 05:47:20 PM
Arizona came back to tie it with 10 seconds left, but WSU put up a shot with a couple seconds, got the rebound, and that was that.
.500 in a bad Pac-10 is about as much as we can hope for, I think.
Lute wept.
It is better than the 1-2 Huskies :cry:
They are actually missing Dentman more than Brockman.
Wow, lose to WSU, then stomp the shit out of Washington. Go figure.
Quote from: Berkut on January 10, 2010, 08:22:26 PM
Quote from: katmai on January 09, 2010, 06:52:17 PM
Quote from: Berkut on January 09, 2010, 05:47:20 PM
Arizona came back to tie it with 10 seconds left, but WSU put up a shot with a couple seconds, got the rebound, and that was that.
.500 in a bad Pac-10 is about as much as we can hope for, I think.
Lute wept.
It is better than the 1-2 Huskies :cry:
They are actually missing Dentman more than Brockman.
Wow, lose to WSU, then stomp the shit out of Washington. Go figure.
Don't ask me, the Huskies have looked like complete shit last three games. :lol: :cry:
Texas is #1 baby!
Quote from: Valmy on January 11, 2010, 02:27:27 AM
Quote from: Barrister on January 11, 2010, 01:59:29 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 09, 2010, 07:25:55 PM
Hoyas come back from 19 down to beat Yukon.
:unsure:
He means UCONN :P
:rolleyes:
I'm pretty sure he did. But he was obviously looking for some kind of response from everyone's favourite Yukoner, so I gave him one...
Terpies dropped #19 FSU. Eat it, Bobby Bowden!
For the first time EVAH
Coaches
1. Texas (30) 15-0 774 2
2. Kentucky (1) 16-0 745 3
3. Kansas 14-1 697 1
4. Villanova 14-1 681 6
5. Syracuse 15-1 641 7
6. Purdue 14-1 625 4
7. Duke 13-2 578 5
8. Michigan State 13-3 556 11
9. West Virginia 12-2 471 8
10. Tennessee 12-2 463 15
11. Georgetown 12-2 439 12
12. Kansas State 13-2 375 10
13. North Carolina 12-4 362 9
14. Gonzaga 12-3 345 18
15. Connecticut 11-4 293 13
16. Wisconsin 13-3 289 20
17. Brigham Young 16-1 285 23
18. Georgia Tech 12-3 261 17
19. Clemson 13-3 213 21
20. Pittsburgh 13-2 201 NR
21. Temple 13-3 151 25
22. Butler 12-4 106 24
23. Mississippi 12-3 90 16
24. Baylor 13-1 66 NR
25. Florida State 13-3 65 19
AP
1. Texas (56) 15-0 1,616
2. Kentucky (9) 16-0 1,569
3. Kansas 14-1 1,441
4. Villanova 14-1 1,426
5. Syracuse 15-1 1,353
6. Purdue 14-1 1,317
7. Michigan State 13-3 1,191
8. Duke 13-2 1,178
9. Tennessee 12-2 1,030
10. West Virginia 12-2 1,006
11. Georgetown 12-2 934
12. North Carolina 12-4 844
13. Kansas State 13-2 746
13. Wisconsin 13-3 746
15. Connecticut 11-4 633
16. Pittsburgh 13-2 565
17. Gonzaga 12-3 559
18. Brigham Young 16-1 456
19. Temple 13-3 388
20. Georgia Tech 12-3 342
21. Mississippi 12-3 326
22. Baylor 13-1 301
23. Miami (FL) 15-1 189
24. Clemson 13-3 167
25. Florida State 13-3 155
I am trying to really enjoy this since the Horns stay at #1 will probably be: short.
The next four games are:
at Iowa State
Texas A&M
at # 12 Kansas State
at # 15 Yukon
Ouch.
Not a single team from the Pac-10 in the top 25, and the supposedly *best* team in the conference has sole possession of last place in the conference standings.
Should make for an interesting conference race, if nothing else.
California 2-1 10-5 .667
Oregon 2-1 10-5 .667
Stanford 2-1 8-7 .533
Washington State 2-2 12-4 .750
Arizona State 2-2 12-5 .706
USC 2-2 10-6 .625
Arizona 2-2 8-8 .500
UCLA 2-2 7-9 .438
Oregon State 1-2 7-8 .467
Washington 1-3 10-5 .667
Kentucky looks good but they almost made Georgia look better this weekend.
This 'Nova-L'ville game is off da hook.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 09, 2010, 07:25:55 PM
Hoyas come back from 19 down to beat Yukon.
Whitehorse has a team?
Whew Texas survived Iowa State's barrage of 3s to survive the first conference road test 90-83. Next up: home against A&M...and then it really gets hard.
Oh and Damion James just set the all time Big XII record for rebounds...and he still has more than half of his senior season to play.
And Texas survives again against Texas A&M in OT. This stretch has been every bit as tough as I thought it would.
But it only gets tougher. On to Manhattan....the Kansas one.
17-0 is pretty freaking sweet though.
Quote from: Berkut on January 11, 2010, 04:13:53 PM
Not a single team from the Pac-10 in the top 25, and the supposedly *best* team in the conference has sole possession of last place in the conference standings.
Should make for an interesting conference race, if nothing else.
California 2-1 10-5 .667
Oregon 2-1 10-5 .667
Stanford 2-1 8-7 .533
Washington State 2-2 12-4 .750
Arizona State 2-2 12-5 .706
USC 2-2 10-6 .625
Arizona 2-2 8-8 .500
UCLA 2-2 7-9 .438
Oregon State 1-2 7-8 .467
Washington 1-3 10-5 .667
Every team has two losses now this early in season. Huskies looked like a completely different team this weekend's game. Blowing out Cal and Stanford.
Glorious day for the Big East. First WVU overcomes a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Ed's forlorn Buckeyes, then UCONN rolls to knock off #1 (for now) ranked Texas.
Quote from: Valmy on January 16, 2010, 10:45:50 PM
17-0 is pretty freaking sweet though.
Way to ruin it, cause them to lose twice, and make everyone go back to not giving a shit until
maybe March, Valmy. < :mad:>
Bill is probably on his way to your house as I'm typing this.
Quote from: MadBurgerMaker on January 24, 2010, 02:13:05 AM
Way to ruin it, cause them to lose twice, and make everyone go back to not giving a shit until maybe March, Valmy. < :mad:>
Bill is probably on his way to your house as I'm typing this.
No joy in mudville the last two games :cry:
Only way to reverse the slide is if they send the chaps girls to the roundball games.
Quote from: derspiess on January 23, 2010, 08:16:45 PM
Glorious day for the Big East. First WVU overcomes a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Ed's forlorn Buckeyes, then UCONN rolls to knock off #1 (for now) ranked Texas.
*cough*
Ed doesn't follow Ohio State basketball. I follow Wright State.
*cough*
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 24, 2010, 08:52:29 AM
Quote from: derspiess on January 23, 2010, 08:16:45 PM
Glorious day for the Big East. First WVU overcomes a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Ed's forlorn Buckeyes, then UCONN rolls to knock off #1 (for now) ranked Texas.
*cough*
Ed doesn't follow Ohio State basketball. I follow Wright State.
*cough*
About the only team Huskies could beat this year! :w00t:
:cry:
Quote from: katmai on January 24, 2010, 08:55:25 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 24, 2010, 08:52:29 AM
Quote from: derspiess on January 23, 2010, 08:16:45 PM
Glorious day for the Big East. First WVU overcomes a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Ed's forlorn Buckeyes, then UCONN rolls to knock off #1 (for now) ranked Texas.
*cough*
Ed doesn't follow Ohio State basketball. I follow Wright State.
*cough*
About the only team Huskies could beat this year! :w00t:
:cry:
Congrats! they beat up a Horizon league team. And only barely.
Hence the cry, well that and getting asses handed to them by USC last night.
Right now I don't see them making the Tourney even as they can't win on road at all.
Quote from: katmai on January 24, 2010, 09:03:28 AM
Hence the cry, well that and getting asses handed to them by USC last night.
Right now I don't see them making the Tourney even as they can't win on road at all.
:console:
I wonder if the tourney can just revoke the Pac-10s automatic bid?
Quote from: Berkut on January 24, 2010, 11:36:12 AM
I wonder if the tourney can just revoke the Pac-10s automatic bid?
Well since USC banned themselves and if they win the Tourny :lol:
:cry:
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 24, 2010, 08:52:29 AM
Quote from: derspiess on January 23, 2010, 08:16:45 PM
Glorious day for the Big East. First WVU overcomes a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Ed's forlorn Buckeyes, then UCONN rolls to knock off #1 (for now) ranked Texas.
*cough*
Ed doesn't follow Ohio State basketball. I follow Wright State.
*cough*
Hence my use of the word "forlorn". You *should* follow the Buckeyes in hoops. And Dayton :ph34r:
Quote from: derspiess on January 24, 2010, 03:50:06 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 24, 2010, 08:52:29 AM
Quote from: derspiess on January 23, 2010, 08:16:45 PM
Glorious day for the Big East. First WVU overcomes a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Ed's forlorn Buckeyes, then UCONN rolls to knock off #1 (for now) ranked Texas.
*cough*
Ed doesn't follow Ohio State basketball. I follow Wright State.
*cough*
Hence my use of the word "forlorn". You *should* follow the Buckeyes in hoops. And Dayton :ph34r:
It'll be a cold day in hell before I follow UD basketball. A COLD DAY IN HELL SIR.
I have to admit that if you had told me a month ago that Arizona would be playing for the #1 spot in the conference at the end of January I would have thought you were smoking crack, but that is exactly what is going to happen tomorrow.
Props to Stanford - they came into McKale with 6 scholarship players dressed and gave the Wildcats a good run.
I think that blowout win against ASU last week could be the pivot point for Arizona. if they can get a win against Cal at home, the future will be looking for good.
Quote from: Berkut on January 29, 2010, 11:27:25 AM
I have to admit that if you had told me a month ago that Arizona would be playing for the #1 spot in the conference at the end of January I would have thought you were smoking crack, but that is exactly what is going to happen tomorrow.
Props to Stanford - they came into McKale with 6 scholarship players dressed and gave the Wildcats a good run.
I think that blowout win against ASU last week could be the pivot point for Arizona. if they can get a win against Cal at home, the future will be looking for good.
Yeah skimmed a story talking about how Zona is in thick of race.
PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA, leader of the free world, watched with great interest as the fabled Hoyas of Georgetown fucked the much reviled Blue Devils of Duke up the ass. The honorable Joseph Biden was also on hand and was caught on camera cackling with glee at the serious ass fucking Duke received. He paused only to run his fingers through his thick, natural-looking hair. President B. H. Obama demonstrated his versatility by taking a turn at microphone, bantering light-heartedly with the regular announcing team and singling out the Hoya backcourt for their integral part in the ass fucking.
In other news I heard Baylor just beat Texass.
Looks like USF is about to beat the Zags in overtime. :huh:
Arizona is now leading the Pac-10.
Seriously - I shit you not!
Quote from: Berkut on January 31, 2010, 10:59:42 PM
Arizona is now leading the Pac-10.
Seriously - I shit you not!
I hope the Huskies make it short lived :)
Quote from: katmai on January 31, 2010, 11:00:15 PM
Quote from: Berkut on January 31, 2010, 10:59:42 PM
Arizona is now leading the Pac-10.
Seriously - I shit you not!
I hope the Huskies make it short lived :)
If we can split the Washington trip, I will be very, very happy.
Quote from: Berkut on January 31, 2010, 11:01:38 PM
If we can split the Washington trip, I will be very, very happy.
Very possible, hell I can't make out what this UW team will do from half to half, not to mention game to game.
They were down 40-36 at halftime vs Wazzu
Then went and put up 56 in 2nd half to win 92-64 . :blink:
Wow Texas' offense has completely fallen apart...I can take some issue with the players Barnes is sending out there (When Pittman, Mason, and Balbay are out there at the same time it is a real snooze fest) but really this is the second year in a row they have had this problem mid-season. I think Dexter Pittman just runs out of gas, the front court is impotent without him being in top form and the team folds like the proverbial cheap tent offensively.
Wright State is a respectable 14-8, with the most vile enemy coming up....Butler. :yuk:
WVU bitchslapped Pitt last night to remain in contention for the Big East title. When they slipped a few weeks ago, I didn't think they would make it back inside the top 10 before the NCAA tourney, but to my surprise they are now back to: #6.
The student section is doing their part: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4881299 :lol:
Oh Hoyas, you are so beautiful. Especially when breaking No. 2 Nova over your knee like a little bitch.
Lovely, lovely game. I'm particularly happy with the development of the younger frontcourt players.
So if there was anyway Udub could host pac-10 tourney and oh i don't know all of the NCAA they might have a chance. but as it is will have to be content with the sweep of the Arizona schools and hope they can finally win one on the road to take a tie of first this Thur vs Cal.
Quote from: Ed Anger on February 01, 2010, 09:47:22 AM
Wright State is a respectable 14-8, with the most vile enemy coming up....Butler. :yuk:
Evil won on national TV. :(
Quote from: katmai on February 07, 2010, 12:31:41 AM
So if there was anyway Udub could host pac-10 tourney and oh i don't know all of the NCAA they might have a chance. but as it is will have to be content with the sweep of the Arizona schools and hope they can finally win one on the road to take a tie of first this Thur vs Cal.
The entire conference is just a freaking logjam.
And yeah, if UW could play every game at home with their homer refs, they would be unstoppable. What I really like about them is how much they flop, whine, and cry about calls while they shove everyone to the floor every time they are on defense.
Quote from: Berkut on February 07, 2010, 09:38:42 AM
Quote from: katmai on February 07, 2010, 12:31:41 AM
So if there was anyway Udub could host pac-10 tourney and oh i don't know all of the NCAA they might have a chance. but as it is will have to be content with the sweep of the Arizona schools and hope they can finally win one on the road to take a tie of first this Thur vs Cal.
The entire conference is just a freaking logjam.
And yeah, if UW could play every game at home with their homer refs, they would be unstoppable. What I really like about them is how much they flop, whine, and cry about calls while they shove everyone to the floor every time they are on defense.
Aw is that what happened at Wazzu too?
I never would have taken you to whine about refs :lol:
Quote from: katmai on February 07, 2010, 10:13:48 AM
Quote from: Berkut on February 07, 2010, 09:38:42 AM
Quote from: katmai on February 07, 2010, 12:31:41 AM
So if there was anyway Udub could host pac-10 tourney and oh i don't know all of the NCAA they might have a chance. but as it is will have to be content with the sweep of the Arizona schools and hope they can finally win one on the road to take a tie of first this Thur vs Cal.
The entire conference is just a freaking logjam.
And yeah, if UW could play every game at home with their homer refs, they would be unstoppable. What I really like about them is how much they flop, whine, and cry about calls while they shove everyone to the floor every time they are on defense.
Aw is that what happened at Wazzu too?
I never would have taken you to whine about refs :lol:
No, Wazzu just kicked the shit out of the Cats. Some kind of match up thing there or something. I didn't watch the game though - but clearly they didn't need any help from the stripes. UW however, barely managed a win at home when the refs sent Arizona's second best player to the bench for 33 minutes of the game.
And really, it isn't me whining about calls, it is the entire UW basketball team and Romar. Apparently it works, too - you think it is coincidence that UW is 16-1 at home, and .500 on the road? Watching Pondexter flop was around was classic UW basketball.
.500 on road?
You give them too much credit.
More like winless away from Hec-ed.
Quote from: katmai on February 08, 2010, 04:54:46 PM
.500 on road?
You give them too much credit.
More like winless away from Hec-ed.
Like i said Berkie, too much credit as they are down 15 with about 7mins in 2nd half at Cal so they will keep that perfect road record. :P
Wow Huskies won a game on the road! :w00t:
And sure are quiet misters Yi and Scippy.
Well, shit. UCONN decided to put their good team out on the court tonight. There was some awful officiating but WVU was outplayed & shot miserably from the free throw line.
WVU had better finish out strong & do well in the Big East tourney or they'll find themselves as a 5th seed or worse.
Quote from: katmai on February 14, 2010, 09:03:15 PM
And sure are quiet misters Yi and Scippy.
Team's a fucking rollercoaster. Too uneven, too shallow, too dependent on streak shooting. I'll consider it a huge moral victory if we get to 16.
Still, you can't take out away the blowout of then #2 Nova.
This is without a doubt the most satisfying Maryland season since 2001.
Okay, I made the mistake of looking at Bracketology on espn.com. I would be totally okay with WVU ending up a #3 seed as they projected.... were it not for the fact that they have New Mexico as a 2 seed. W-T-F. A 28-3 record doesn't mean jack squat when your strength of schedule is 58th. (Btw, Georgetown is 1st in SOS).
Anywho, whether or not they can beat Nova tomorrow, WVU needs to win a game (or two) in the Big East tourney to solidify themselves even as a #3 seed.
Austin Freeman, GU's one consistent scoring threat, has been diagnosed with diabetes and is questionable for the rest of the season. :(
Arizona is a lock for the tournament again.
As long as they win the Pac-10 tournament, that is.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 05, 2010, 06:22:03 PM
Austin Freeman, GU's one consistent scoring threat, has been diagnosed with diabetes and is questionable for the rest of the season. :(
Hopefully he can pull an Adam Morrison & continue to play.
QuoteMcConnell, Allen hot from outside as Gaels upset Bulldogs
West Coast Conference Standings
TEAM CONF W-L TOTAL W-L
#14 Gonzaga 12-2 26-6
Saint Mary's 11-3 26-5
Portland 10-4 21-10
San Francisco 7-7 12-18
Loyola Marymount7-7 18-15
San Diego 3-11 11-21
Santa Clara 3-11 11-21
Pepperdine 3-11 7-24
LAS VEGAS -- Omar Samhan practically floated down the Orleans Arena hallway with a net around his neck when Mickey McConnell rushed up from behind, jumped and joyously shoved his Saint Mary's teammate, nearly knocking him down.
Easy there, MVP. After making mighty Gonzaga look ordinary, these remarkable Gaels need to stay healthy through their first peaceful Selection Sunday in years before a trip to the NCAA tournament.
McConnell matched his career high with 26 points, Ben Allen added a career-best 20 and Saint Mary's upset the Zags (No. 14 ESPN/USA Today, No. 18 AP) 81-62 Monday night, winning the West Coast Conference tournament title game with stunning decisiveness.
Jorden Page scored 11 points and Samhan had nine points and seven rebounds for the Gaels (26-5), who earned the sixth NCAA berth in the small Bay Area school's history with a stellar shooting performance against top-seeded Gonzaga (26-6), the 10-time regular-season WCC champions.
Samhan, one of just two seniors in uniform for the Gaels, said he wanted this win "more than anything else in my life."
When the on-court celebration with dozens of their traveling fans finally ended in an arena nearly filled with Gonzaga supporters, the Gaels could finally ponder what they accomplished -- even while thinking ahead to a week of celebrations in the verdant East Bay hills.
"The last two years, we've been sitting there on Selection Sunday, hoping and waiting," Samhan said. "One year we were in, one year we weren't. This year, we wanted to make sure."
Saint Mary's won the WCC tournament for just the second time since it began in 1987, beating Gonzaga for the first time in 10 tourney meetings -- and it did it with an all-around impressive offensive game that included 68 percent shooting in the second half.
McConnell and Allen hit four 3-pointers apiece, propelling the Gaels to a first-half lead before an electric 18-7 run down the second-half stretch. McConnell credited his offensive flair to his talks with Bennett and Samhan after he failed to score in the Gaels' loss at Gonzaga earlier this season.
"I tried to be aggressive from the get-go, and luckily the shots went in," said McConnell, who jumped over press row to hug his parents before accepting the tournament MVP award. "I got a couple of open looks I wouldn't normally get."
Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett has been chasing the Gonzaga powerhouse for nearly a decade, establishing a recruiting pipeline to Australia and generally trying anything to become the closest thing to a rival for Gonzaga. When he finally caught the Bulldogs, even for a game, Bennett couldn't believe it just yet.
"It hasn't really set in," Bennett said. "It's not like we've done this a whole bunch of times. I was excited with about a minute left because, hey, we're getting this one done."
Saint Mary's lost 83-58 to Gonzaga in last year's tournament title game in Las Vegas, and subsequently were denied an at-large NCAA berth. But even after losing stars Patty Mills and Diamon Simpson from last year's 28-7 team, these Gaels rebounded from two decisive regular-season losses to the Zags with a landmark victory in school history.
"It's hard to get to this position, and this group was finally able to knock the door down," Bennett said. "It feels great to beat the best team. It makes it a little more special for us."
Steven Gray scored 16 points and Matt Bouldin added 14 for Gonzaga, which had won nine of the last 11 WCC tournaments. Elias Harris managed just eight points on 3 of 13 shooting, and the Bulldogs couldn't match Saint Mary's second-half rally.
Gonzaga likely is still headed back to the NCAAs, but it won't get the WCC's automatic bid for just the third time in 12 years.
"They did lots of penetrating and hitting the 3s," Gray said. "We were getting caught off screens. It hurts to see them [celebrate]. There's so many things you wish you could change."
The win was redemption for a string of entertaining teams led by Bennett and dotted with Australians. They've included high-scoring point guard Mills, who failed in his attempt to jump to the NBA this year, and current players Allen, Page and Matthew Dellavedova, who had seven points and six assists.
"We knew we were in for a tough game," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "They were hungry and desperate, with an NCAA tournament bid on the line. We didn't do a good job moving the basketball, and Saint Mary's stepped up and just made shot after shot."
While Gonzaga's thousands of traveling fans drowned out the smaller Bay Area contingent before the game, Saint Mary's made an outstanding start. McConnell hit a high-arching 3-pointer from well behind the NBA line to put the Gaels up 12-7 early, and they never trailed in the half while taking 10 more shots than Gonzaga and making just two turnovers.
After Demetri Goodson put the Zags ahead on the first possession of the second half, Saint Mary's moved back ahead 46-40 on McConnell's layup with 12:05 left, and Samhan didn't end up hurting the Gaels when he got a technical foul on the next possession for shoving Robert Sacre out of his way.
"Sacre was talking a lot before the game," Samhan said with a grin. "But we won."
UCLA is having one of the their worst seasons since the pre-Wooden days. Thus.... basketball is dead to me :cool:
Big East Tourney starts today :punk:
I havent seen as many games as I would have liked this year. However, because of an odd channel (Peach TV) out of Georgia that I get with my current satellite provider I have been able to see a lot of Georgia and Kentucky.
I saw that Duke killed NC which warmed my heart but the last time I say Duke - early in the year - they didnt look like they had the horsepower to beat a good highschool team.
I am going to do really poorly in tournament pools this year.
The Cincinnati-Louisville game is boring me :mellow:
edit: sure enough, 5 minutes after I typed that, it got interesting.
As the Wildcat Turns.
Great article - I really like the job Ted Miller does covering the Pac-10.
Quote
In 1985, Arizona's basketball team, which had gone 4-24 two seasons before, played in the NCAA basketball tournament. The 10th-seeded Wildcats and coach Robert Olson lost in the first round to Alabama.
It was hardly a moment of sporting gravity. It's unlikely anyone had an inkling then of what lay ahead.
The Wildcats and Olson, sometimes known as "Lute," would go on to find a bit of success. There was Olson's first Pac-10 title in 1986, the first of 11 he'd win. And four Final Fours. And a 1997 national title.
Through the years in Tucson, fans understood two things: 1. It was going to be hot in the summer; 2. The Wildcats would earn an NCAA tournament berth.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/champweek2010/news/story?id=4981679
I think Arizona has as good a shot as anyone in the conference who isn't Cal to win the conference tournament. However, they could just lose to UCLA in the first round. Or get creamed again by Cal in the second round. Or lose to ASU again in the third round.
They are all elimination games from here out. What a great story for the Cats to extend the streak by wining the conference tournament though...
Some people on a Wildcats board I read are all "Dude, Ted Miller is Teh Stupid! He doesn't even know that nobody calls Olson 'Robert'!!!"
Christ, people are fucking stupid.
Damn
QuoteTurner sinks Wolverines at buzzer
FREE PRESS STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES
INDIANAPOLIS — Evan Turner drained a 37-footer at the buzzer to give No. 5 Ohio State a 69-68 win over Michigan today in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals.
Turner took the inbounds pass, dribbled upcourt and pulled up barely past halfcourt. The Big Ten player of the year left his arm in the air after the release, confident the long shot would fall.
His attempt was so close to the buzzer that the play was reviewed. When officials signaled the shot was good, the red-clad section of the crowd erupted.
"I felt like I was in a gym by myself," he said.
Turner finished with 18 points and eight assists for the Buckeyes (25-7), who advanced to play the winner between Illinois and No. 13 Wisconsin.
Michigan's Manny Harris hit a jumper from 11 feet with 2.2 seconds left to give Michigan a 68-66 lead. Harris led the Wolverines (15-17) with 26 points, Michigan's Manny Harris hit a jumper from 11 feet with 2.2 seconds left to give Michigan a 68-66 lead. Harris led the Wolverines (15-17) with 26 points, and his big performance made the final result all the more disappointing for the Wolverines.
"It definitely hurt," Harris said. "They had two seconds, a lot of time to shoot and score, and that's what Evan Turner did."
Michigan began the season ranked 15th, but Friday's game was representative of the season for Wolverines.
"That's a great catch phrase, microcosm of the season," U-M coach John Beilein said. "That's a little bit of the frustration that we have this year. Some things that you can't always control happen to you. It's certainly indicative of some things that happened."
Turner shot only 2 for 9 in the second half after going 4 for 6 in the first 20 minutes. David Lighty and William Buford each scored 15 points for Ohio State. Stu Douglass and DeShawn Sims each had 16 points for Michigan.
The Buckeyes led 39-29 early in the second half before back-to-back 3-pointers by Douglass chopped the Buckeyes' lead to 39-35.
Another three-pointer by Douglass trimmed Ohio State's lead to 42-38, but Ohio State responded with a 9-0 run. A 3-pointer by Turner capped the spurt midway through the second half.
Michigan surged again, and a three-pointer by Harris while fading away from beyond the key cut Ohio State's lead to 59-57, leading to frantic final few minutes.
Oh well, congratulations Brutus and Go State!
Fighting garbon U upset the Sun Devils last night.
Which means Udub has a good shot making it to Pac-10 tourny final. They should make the field of 64 even if they lose that game, unless UCLA wins the whole thing (they would have to beat regular season champs Cal and winner of Stanford/ UW)
I missed GU's mindboggling upset of the Orange because I was at lunch with my sister's familly. :(
Quote from: Savonarola on March 12, 2010, 04:47:16 PM
Damn
QuoteTurner sinks Wolverines at buzzer
FREE PRESS STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES
INDIANAPOLIS — Evan Turner drained a 37-footer at the buzzer to give No. 5 Ohio State a 69-68 win over Michigan today in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals.
Turner took the inbounds pass, dribbled upcourt and pulled up barely past halfcourt. The Big Ten player of the year left his arm in the air after the release, confident the long shot would fall.
His attempt was so close to the buzzer that the play was reviewed. When officials signaled the shot was good, the red-clad section of the crowd erupted.
"I felt like I was in a gym by myself," he said.
Turner finished with 18 points and eight assists for the Buckeyes (25-7), who advanced to play the winner between Illinois and No. 13 Wisconsin.
Michigan's Manny Harris hit a jumper from 11 feet with 2.2 seconds left to give Michigan a 68-66 lead. Harris led the Wolverines (15-17) with 26 points, Michigan's Manny Harris hit a jumper from 11 feet with 2.2 seconds left to give Michigan a 68-66 lead. Harris led the Wolverines (15-17) with 26 points, and his big performance made the final result all the more disappointing for the Wolverines.
"It definitely hurt," Harris said. "They had two seconds, a lot of time to shoot and score, and that's what Evan Turner did."
Michigan began the season ranked 15th, but Friday's game was representative of the season for Wolverines.
"That's a great catch phrase, microcosm of the season," U-M coach John Beilein said. "That's a little bit of the frustration that we have this year. Some things that you can't always control happen to you. It's certainly indicative of some things that happened."
Turner shot only 2 for 9 in the second half after going 4 for 6 in the first 20 minutes. David Lighty and William Buford each scored 15 points for Ohio State. Stu Douglass and DeShawn Sims each had 16 points for Michigan.
The Buckeyes led 39-29 early in the second half before back-to-back 3-pointers by Douglass chopped the Buckeyes' lead to 39-35.
Another three-pointer by Douglass trimmed Ohio State's lead to 42-38, but Ohio State responded with a 9-0 run. A 3-pointer by Turner capped the spurt midway through the second half.
Michigan surged again, and a three-pointer by Harris while fading away from beyond the key cut Ohio State's lead to 59-57, leading to frantic final few minutes.
Oh well, congratulations Brutus and Go State!
Hilarious game to watch, and I didn't even have a dog in the hunt.
Plus:
http://deadspin.com/5492163/let-us-now-savor-the-bitter-tears-of-michigan-fans
Just learned during the GU-Marquette game that GU, in addition to being # 1 SOS, is #9 RPI. How is RPI calculated?
Speesh's Fighting Hillbillies are the only double bye left in the Big East tourney.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 12, 2010, 07:58:48 PM
Just learned during the GU-Marquette game that GU, in addition to being # 1 SOS, is #9 RPI. How is RPI calculated?
QuoteThe basic formula is 25% team winning percentage (WP), 50% opponents' average winning percentage (OWP), and 25% opponents' opponents' average winning percentage (OOWP).
For the 2004-05 season, the formula was changed to give more weight to road wins vs home wins. A team's win total for RPI purposes is 1.4 * road wins + neutral site wins + 0.6 * home wins. A team's losses is calculated as 0.6 * road losses + neutral site losses + 1.4 * home losses.
For example, a team that is 4-0 at home and 2-7 on the road has a RPI record of 5.2 wins (1.4 * 2 + 0.6 * 4) and 4.2 losses (0.6 * 7). That means that even though it is 6-7, for RPI purposes, it is above .500 (5.2-4.2).
This "weighted" record is only used for the 25% of the formula that is each team's winning percentage. The regular team records are used to calculate OWP and OOWP.
As always, only games against Division I opponents count in the RPI.
Thanks mang. And what does it stand for?
The RPI (Rating Percentage Index)
:nelson: at UD blowing it against Xavier. Enjoy the NIT bitches. Red Scare my ass.
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 13, 2010, 10:09:01 AM
:nelson: at UD blowing it against Xavier. Enjoy the NIT bitches. Red Scare my ass.
Traitor!!!
The WVU-Notre Dame game was excruciating but ultimately satisfying. I got rather tired of Brey being hailed as such a genius just because his team hit a hot streak (which just happened to coincide with Harangody's return).
Thursday night as I was driving back from Chicago, I happened to be driving through northern Indiana during the Notre Dame-Pitt game & was in range of the local Notre Dame broadcast the entire time. The homerism of their announcers made me ill, and reminded me why I hate Notre Dame sports so much.
Anywho, WVU & Georgetown in the big showdown tonight. WVU is now #4 RPI & Georgetown is #9. Georgetown is still 1st for Strength of Schedule, but WVU is now: 2nd.
If WVU continues to shoot as bad as they have recently, I don't see them winning, but if they do, they have a legit shot at hell freezing over-- erm, I mean a #1 seed :D
Holy shit, I just heard Dukie Vitale say he didn't think the ACC deserves to get 7 teams in the tournament. Shortly after that, though, he referred to Rhode Island as a conference :lol:
Good is trailing Evil by 4 points at the half. Very good half court defense by Evil. Nobody in foul trouble.
Thuggins was magna cum laude. Never would have guessed that.
U Dub made sure they wouldn't have their bubble burst by winning tourney title. Now to see how low of seed they get at 24-9 and tourney champs.
:punk: :punk:
Never thought I'd see WVU win the Big East. Awesome tournament.
No shot at a 1 seed now, but who cares.
Congratulations. Well played game.
#1 seeds announced.
Kansas: Midwest
Kentucky: East
Duke: South
Syracuse: West
Yahoo sports march madness bracket set up, if you were in last years you will have an e-mail sent to whatever address you used.
anyone else let me know and i'll toss an invite.
I'm in! Giggidy giggidy giggidy...
I want ins, mang.
LANGUISH MM 10 GROUP ID# 76101
Password: bubble
Great, now all the crazies are gonna show up :D
Filled out my bracket. Man...what a bizarre season for Texas.
I'm in!
I've probably followed college basketball closer this season than any other, and I felt more clueless than ever filling out my bracket. I should have just had my wife or kid do mine :D
I usually tend to hedge my bets on WVU so as not to jinx them, but I think they can make the Final Four if they can improve their shooting just a little.
Can we do an NIT bracket???
Oh wait, Arizona didn't make the NIT either. Never mind.
Huh - Minnesota qualified.
Maybe I should give a damn about the tournament?
Nah...
Our commander in chief has unveiled his pics:
Kansas over Kentucky in the final!!!! :o
Seems to be the prevailing take by most of the big giant talking heads of bball
I was gently ribbing our chief executive for picking the overall #1 seed two years running.
I have appropriately named my bracket "Gibberish"
Im never listening to derspicy again. The big least has screwed up my brackets already.
Washington has this one.
Shit, I just noticed some of the games were in Providence this year! WTF man, I could have totally gone to a game.
Quote from: katmai on March 18, 2010, 01:44:17 PM
Im never listening to derspicy again. The big least has screwed up my brackets already.
No shit. And Cuse hasn't even played yet. Brutal day :(
I don't even have to look at my bracket to realize it's already more broken than a chick with tatoos doing two black guys at once to get back at Daddy. What a Tournafail.
Damn, I've done just awful.
EDIT: Wait a minute, I'm winning. WTF? :blink:
Bummer.
Spectacular Hoya meltdown.
And the season comes to a merciful end.
Actually there was nothing merciful about how Texas lost that game...but at least I don't have to watch them play another.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 19, 2010, 12:53:34 AM
Damn, I've done just awful.
EDIT: Wait a minute, I'm winning. WTF? :blink:
You with your 11/16 score = WINNAR :D
We all got brutalized. In my Bengals bracket, the guy in 1st place somehow got 14/16.
Big Least is due for a rebound today. Hopefully the three (almost 4) upsets yesterday were a wakeup call to the rest. I'm more nervous about WVU playing against a 14 seed now than I would if they were playing a 5 or 6 seed.
LOLZ, Hoyas beaten by the Bobcats. hohohoho.
Speaking of which, if it would make Yi & Scippy feel any better, I'd be happy to punch a couple Ohio U grads in the nuts here at work.
Quote from: derspiess on March 19, 2010, 08:51:02 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 19, 2010, 12:53:34 AM
Damn, I've done just awful.
EDIT: Wait a minute, I'm winning. WTF? :blink:
You with your 11/16 score = WINNAR :D
We all got brutalized. In my Bengals bracket, the guy in 1st place somehow got 14/16.
Big Least is due for a rebound today. Hopefully the three (almost 4) upsets yesterday were a wakeup call to the rest. I'm more nervous about WVU playing against a 14 seed now than I would if they were playing a 5 or 6 seed.
I picked Ohio, I am genuis! :homestar:
Quote from: derspiess on March 19, 2010, 09:56:36 AM
Speaking of which, if it would make Yi & Scippy feel any better, I'd be happy to punch a couple Ohio U grads in the nuts here at work.
It would make me feel better. Ohio U sucks.
QuoteDay 1: Comebacks and come from behinds
By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports Mar 18, 6:13 pm EDT
Murray State isn't actually its own state, it's located in Murray, Ky., way out in the western part of the state and known for each October holding a heck of a Lumberjack Challenge ("Come smell the nitro and watch the chips fly!").
At least until Thursday.
Athens, Ohio, has been declared one of the 15 most haunted places in America by the people that rank such things. It's good to be known for something because that's a lot higher than anyone ranked the local Ohio University basketball team.
At least until Thursday.
And how disrespected was Northern Iowa? The CBS scoreboard abbreviated their school name "No Iowa." No Iowa? What does CBS have against Iowa? (The network's scoreboard abbreviations were in rare form all day, first encouraging fans to "Rob Morr" and later to "Wake Texas".)
The greatest opening day in the history of the tournament proved to be for the forgotten, the never known and the anonymous. It was for upsets, extra sessions and endless drama. It was for everyone having a chance and many of them stunning the country.
It was paced by the little guys. Ohio beat mighty Georgetown. Murray wiped out prestigious Vanderbilt. Northern Iowa got past UNLV. And that was just the half of it.
This was the NCAA tournament on steroids. Last year, Thursday games produced no significant upsets and just three games decided by 10 points or less.
This year there were victories by seven higher seeded teams. There was one double-overtime game. There were two single-overtime games. There were three games decided by one point and one game decided by two points and three games decided by three points.
There were comebacks, come from behinds and way behind the line prayers answered. There was a true buzzer-beater (ball in the air when time expired).
There was a 5-9, Mohawk-sporting guard from Robert Morris (previous accomplishment: getting the Stamp Act of 1765 repealed) that electrified the Dunkin' Donuts Center.
There was a kid of Iranian descent, Ali Farokhmanesh, draining a game-winning 3 for decidedly Middle America Iowa (previous accomplishment: Kurt Warner went and bagged groceries there).
There was a 6-1, New York Mormon named Jimmer who led Brigham Young to victory by dropping 37 on Florida, which after winning consecutive NCAA titles, now hasn't won a single tourney game in three years.
There was defense too: a key block by Wake Forest's L.D. Williams, shutdown defense by Villanova's Scottie Reynolds and the typical Old Dominion team effort, making Notre Dame (50 points) the 20th opponent to score below 60 on them this season.
It was just that kind of day. There was one surprise after the next.
Actually, by the time Wake Forest had outlasted Texas in overtime thanks to a pull-up jumper by Ishmael Smith and clocks in the East read 12:30 a.m., it wasn't a surprise. Of course Smith was going to hit the shot for a one-point victory. That's how it works this year.
Then, for a nightcap, as 1 a.m. approached, New Mexico and Montana naturally battled into the final seconds before the Lobos held on.
There was no way to predict such a day, results baffling even the most studious of experts.
The Big East Conference spent most of the year hailed as the best in the nation. Thursday league teams went 1-3 (Marquette, Georgetown and Notre Dame fell) and the lone victory was No. 2 seed Villanova needing overtime to evade a humbling loss to 15-seed Robert Morris.
Butler tied a first-round record by draining 13 3-pointers as it ran away from UTEP, draining shots like a team full of Jimmy Chitwoods. Then Ohio duplicated the feat in scoring 97 points on Georgetown, the most the Hoyas had given up in 70 NCAA tournament games.
That was a Georgetown team that played brilliantly as the runner-up in the Big East tournament. Ohio, meanwhile, finished ninth in the Mid-American Conference.
Villanova's Scottie Reynolds (1) and guard Dominic Cheek (23) defend against Robert Morris' Karon Abraham (4) during overtime.
(Stew Milne/US Presswire)
So you're not the only one with the blown up bracket – although President Obama survived with a 12-4 record on the day (entertainment purposes only, as far as the IRS knows).
The most telling thing about Thursday was the confidence that the smaller schools displayed. They were rarely in awe of the famous name on the front of the other guy's jersey. They pressed defensively, crashed the boards with purpose and tried to force the action, letting fear of being upset creep into the favorites' minds.
Even Kansas, the prohibitive favorite to win the national championship, got all it could handle from 16-seed Lehigh for much of the game.
The NBA's one-and-done rule has made it nearly impossible for powerhouse teams to build consistent winners – their best players often bolt at first chance. It's how perennial powers such as defending national champion North Carolina, UCLA, Arizona, Connecticut and Indiana didn't even make the tournament this year.
In their place are a number of lesser known, but better experienced teams. St. Mary's isn't just star center Omar Samhan, who had 29 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Richmond. The Gaels start three seniors and a junior, each of whom average double-figure points. Ohio has five double-digit scorers.
Murray State is so balanced it has five players who average between 10.3 and 10.6 points a game. That's what got the Racers past Vanderbilt. On a final-second play they patiently passed the ball around until Danero Thomas had an open look.
(The Racers move onto the second round for a game that sounds like a good insurance agent: Murray Butler. There are 17 men named Murray Butler in America, according to whitepages.com, which should make Saturday a rather schizophrenic experience.)
These are teams, not quickly assembled packages of good recruits. And where Georgetown and Villanova looked unprepared at the start, these clubs were eager for their chance at March immortality.
In their programs' limited histories and in their often tiny towns, they will. Division I basketball is played in 49 states (save Alaska) and in counterintuitive fashion, it doesn't matter how big your city or state is. Neither New York City nor Los Angeles had a team in the tourney. Vermont and Montana did.
That's what Thursday of the NCAA tournament is all about: Players few know and schools many have forgotten stepping up to entertain, to amaze and to surprise. It's about fair play and a level playing field in a country where both are increasingly rare. It is close games and dramatic plays causing people to crowd around break-room televisions, huddle over cubicle computers and sneak off to midday sports bars. It's what caused sleepy schoolkids and bleary work eyes Friday morning.
It's a noon-to-(past)-midnight festival. It's America's tournament, and they've never done it any better than Thursday.
Quote from: derspiess on March 19, 2010, 09:56:36 AM
Speaking of which, if it would make Yi & Scippy feel any better, I'd be happy to punch a couple Ohio U grads in the nuts here at work.
Nah, I'm cool. It was a pretty good season.
:lol: Kansas
And Huskies crusing to sweet 16 in Syracuse next thur.
Quote from: katmai on March 20, 2010, 07:06:16 PM
:lol: Kansas
And Huskies crusing to sweet 16 in Syracuse next thur.
I still dont know how Kansas didnt win that game.
I didnt see the Huskies play until this the tournament. They play a very nice brand of basketball. I love the defence and the run and gun.
I hope the Gonzaga does well against Duke. They have a couple players from my neck of the woods.
The huskies style is usually compared to Nolan Richardson's Arkansas teams
the team really does go 9-11 deep, and had two of five of the Pac-10 all defensive team and the defender if year to boot.
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 20, 2010, 10:53:52 PM
I hope the Gonzaga does well against Duke. They have a couple players from my neck of the woods.
Robert Sacre is great. But Gonzaga plays Syracuse tomorrow. :(
Oh well, the WCC is represented in the Sweet 16 by St. Mary's.
Quote from: citizen k on March 20, 2010, 11:08:14 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 20, 2010, 10:53:52 PM
I hope the Gonzaga does well against Duke. They have a couple players from my neck of the woods.
Robert Sacre is great. But Gonzaga plays Syracuse tomorrow. :(
Oh, my mistake. Even better. Syracuse looks beatable without their big guy.
Yeah Duke plays the fighting disturbed perverts aka California.
What foul sorcery is this! :mad:
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2010/03/18/ready-for-a-96-team-ncaa-tournament-enjoy-this-one-before-the-onset-of-bloated-bracket-syndrome/
QuoteReady for a 96-team NCAA tournament? Enjoy this one before the onset of Bloated Bracket Syndrome
Posted by Tim Kawakami on March 18th, 2010 at 11:41 am | Categorized as Cal, College basketball, Television
* Straight from this morning's paper...
Back-posted to get this out of the way of the McCloughan developments...
—-the column/
Savor your bracket this bright March morning, because it might never be like this again.
I'm not just talking about our tournament bracket picks, pure and pristine before the grisly cross-outs and upset debacles begin today.
I'm not just talking about the events today and Saturday at HP Pavilion.
I'm talking about the shape and feel of the NCAA Tournament — the 65 teams, the symmetry and rhythm of three weekends, six rounds, and no byes.
I'm talking about the possibility that, as soon as next year, the tournament could be very different — and much more bloated — than it has been for 26 years.
In fact, if you trust the NCAA to make the clunky money grab whenever possible, you can almost guarantee that these are the final days of the tournament as we know it.
The word is that the NCAA is looking to expand the field to 96 teams as early as next year, presuming ESPN or Turner Sports ante up and the NCAA opts out of its long-term deal with CBS by July 31.
"I don't like it," Washington coach Lorenzo Romar said Wednesday of the 96-team potential. "I'm not going to tell you I'm going to get out of coaching because of it. But I'm more of a traditionalist . . .
"Now, there's a mystique, there's something special about being in the tournament. If they expanded, that mystique would go away."
Next year, your brackets could look very different, with much smaller print.
Next year, the whole thing probably will get another layer of fat. We could have the Final Four, Elite Eight, Sweet 16, Thankful 32 and... err... Surviving 64.
Ready for a Louisville-Quinnipiac first-round matchup, for the right to play Cal?
That is almost certainly what the first round would be like if the 96-team field was in place this year — basically the NIT dressed up in Big Dance makeup.
If this happens, there will be an instant result: More games mean more money for the NCAA. Can we make sure to funnel some of that money to other needy groups, like Big Oil and maybe Wall Street bankers?
Practical result: Because the NCAA is determined to stick to the three-week window, the added round would be squeezed into the same time period, probably meaning games on Tuesday and Wednesday after the first weekend.
More practical result: It's likely that the top 32 teams would get first-round byes, with the other 64 teams playing in to the second round.
Understood result: The dilution of the NCAA Tournament after the postseason tournaments diluted it, after the expansion to 64 teams diluted it and after the glut of televised games diluted everything.
Anybody hear of diminishing returns? The NCAA hasn't.
More understood result: The cheapening of tournament berths across the board, as the NCAA gets richer. Weird how that works.
For instance, this year Florida, Utah State and Virginia Tech were "bubble" teams — Florida and Utah State got in, Virginia Tech did not, and it's hard to get too excited about any of that.
In a 96-team field, all of those teams would have been in by mid-February, and the "bubble" would have included mediocrities such as Portland, Arizona and Texas Tech.
Another intended result: Many coaches, as a rule, love any expansion of the tournament, because it means more teams get into the dance and fewer coaches get fired.
Since 1985, when the tournament field had its last significant expansion — from 48 to 64 — Division I has expanded from 284 to 347.
Coaches and administrators point out that currently only 18.7 percent of Division I teams make it into the tournament, while in football, almost 60 percent of Football Bowl Subdivision teams get bowl berths.
But, as Romar points out, isn't that also what makes the tournament good? That qualifying for the 65-team field means something?
Potential unintended result: Are you ready for 13 Big East teams in the field?
At some point, would ESPN lose interest in the mid-major postseason tournaments if the network had the actual tournament coming up and if the mid-major conferences already had multiple bids locked up?
Yet another unintended result: This might make it more difficult for Cinderellas, who would have to win an extra game before taking on the elite teams, and who might get less TV exposure, not more.
Oh, well. The expansion is probably happening next year. Nothing we say is likely to change the NCAA's greed.
So savor this tournament. Enjoy what you see, while it lasts, and prepare yourself for next year's Bloated Bracket Syndrome.
I hope they rape your tournament if they fuck with the bowls.
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 21, 2010, 07:46:42 AM
I hope they rape your tournament if they fuck with the bowls.
Bowl games are meaningless except for the one that decides the national championship.
That is what makes March Madness the superior sports product.
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 21, 2010, 09:12:06 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 21, 2010, 07:46:42 AM
I hope they rape your tournament if they fuck with the bowls.
Bowl games are meaningless except for the one that decides the national championship.
That is what makes March Madness the superior sports product.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftrollcats.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F05%2Fcontrarian_trollcat.jpg&hash=1ad41bfb7d9a85200f9ac270918b3be2269db3fd)
I want Tim to suffer for his bandwagon fagg0try.
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 21, 2010, 09:12:06 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 21, 2010, 07:46:42 AM
I hope they rape your tournament if they fuck with the bowls.
Bowl games are meaningless except for the one that decides the national championship.
That is what makes March Madness the superior sports product.
This is the conventional wisdom, and probably holds true for the uninitiated, but while the NCAA basketball tournament is a great spectator sport for those who really pay no attention to the game except in the tournament, what it is doing is killing the game during the season. National BB scores don't even get much play in the local papers, because it doesn't matter until the tournament comes. People don't go to games unless they are students or alums. I don't really mind; March Madness has weaned me off college basketball completely and I haven't felt any desire to look back. But I would hate to see the NCAA football ruined by this kind of thing. December football tournaments would suck (especially for teams like Florida, that may have to play in a freezing/snowy Columbus in an early-round game) and would simply encourage the same neglect for the regular season you find in NCAA hoops.
Dear God,
Please let the Terps land a wet steaming shit all over Charliebear's Spartans of Fail.
Thank you,
CdM
PS: Then again, since you let me bang two different chicks the last two nights, I'll understand if I've already burned up my prayer quota this week.
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 21, 2010, 09:33:40 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 21, 2010, 09:12:06 AM
Quote from: Ed Anger on March 21, 2010, 07:46:42 AM
I hope they rape your tournament if they fuck with the bowls.
Bowl games are meaningless except for the one that decides the national championship.
That is what makes March Madness the superior sports product.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ftrollcats.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2009%2F05%2Fcontrarian_trollcat.jpg&hash=1ad41bfb7d9a85200f9ac270918b3be2269db3fd)
I want Tim to suffer for his bandwagon fagg0try.
Now that's a good picture.
Oh Christ, what a 2nd half.
How 'bout those Spartans!
Sweet 16, baby! :punk:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on March 21, 2010, 11:38:35 AM
Dear God,
Please let the Terps land a wet steaming shit all over Charliebear's Spartans of Fail.
Thank you,
CdM
PS: Then again, since you let me bang two different chicks the last two nights, I'll understand if I've already burned up my prayer quota this week.
putz
Quote from: charliebear on March 21, 2010, 04:00:05 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on March 21, 2010, 11:38:35 AM
Dear God,
Please let the Terps land a wet steaming shit all over Charliebear's Spartans of Fail.
Thank you,
CdM
PS: Then again, since you let me bang two different chicks the last two nights, I'll understand if I've already burned up my prayer quota this week.
putz
Fuck you. Disappear for weeks and show up just to talk smack over a Spartoon lucky bucket. You're worse than Strix.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 21, 2010, 07:30:34 AM
What foul sorcery is this! :mad:
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/kawakami/2010/03/18/ready-for-a-96-team-ncaa-tournament-enjoy-this-one-before-the-onset-of-bloated-bracket-syndrome/
QuoteReady for a 96-team NCAA tournament? Enjoy this one before the onset of Bloated Bracket Syndrome
Posted by Tim Kawakami on March 18th, 2010 at 11:41 am | Categorized as Cal, College basketball, Television
* Straight from this morning's paper...
Back-posted to get this out of the way of the McCloughan developments...
—-the column/
Savor your bracket this bright March morning, because it might never be like this again.
I'm not just talking about our tournament bracket picks, pure and pristine before the grisly cross-outs and upset debacles begin today.
I'm not just talking about the events today and Saturday at HP Pavilion.
I'm talking about the shape and feel of the NCAA Tournament — the 65 teams, the symmetry and rhythm of three weekends, six rounds, and no byes.
I'm talking about the possibility that, as soon as next year, the tournament could be very different — and much more bloated — than it has been for 26 years.
In fact, if you trust the NCAA to make the clunky money grab whenever possible, you can almost guarantee that these are the final days of the tournament as we know it.
The word is that the NCAA is looking to expand the field to 96 teams as early as next year, presuming ESPN or Turner Sports ante up and the NCAA opts out of its long-term deal with CBS by July 31.
"I don't like it," Washington coach Lorenzo Romar said Wednesday of the 96-team potential. "I'm not going to tell you I'm going to get out of coaching because of it. But I'm more of a traditionalist . . .
"Now, there's a mystique, there's something special about being in the tournament. If they expanded, that mystique would go away."
Next year, your brackets could look very different, with much smaller print.
Next year, the whole thing probably will get another layer of fat. We could have the Final Four, Elite Eight, Sweet 16, Thankful 32 and... err... Surviving 64.
Ready for a Louisville-Quinnipiac first-round matchup, for the right to play Cal?
That is almost certainly what the first round would be like if the 96-team field was in place this year — basically the NIT dressed up in Big Dance makeup.
If this happens, there will be an instant result: More games mean more money for the NCAA. Can we make sure to funnel some of that money to other needy groups, like Big Oil and maybe Wall Street bankers?
Practical result: Because the NCAA is determined to stick to the three-week window, the added round would be squeezed into the same time period, probably meaning games on Tuesday and Wednesday after the first weekend.
More practical result: It's likely that the top 32 teams would get first-round byes, with the other 64 teams playing in to the second round.
Understood result: The dilution of the NCAA Tournament after the postseason tournaments diluted it, after the expansion to 64 teams diluted it and after the glut of televised games diluted everything.
Anybody hear of diminishing returns? The NCAA hasn't.
More understood result: The cheapening of tournament berths across the board, as the NCAA gets richer. Weird how that works.
For instance, this year Florida, Utah State and Virginia Tech were "bubble" teams — Florida and Utah State got in, Virginia Tech did not, and it's hard to get too excited about any of that.
In a 96-team field, all of those teams would have been in by mid-February, and the "bubble" would have included mediocrities such as Portland, Arizona and Texas Tech.
Another intended result: Many coaches, as a rule, love any expansion of the tournament, because it means more teams get into the dance and fewer coaches get fired.
Since 1985, when the tournament field had its last significant expansion — from 48 to 64 — Division I has expanded from 284 to 347.
Coaches and administrators point out that currently only 18.7 percent of Division I teams make it into the tournament, while in football, almost 60 percent of Football Bowl Subdivision teams get bowl berths.
But, as Romar points out, isn't that also what makes the tournament good? That qualifying for the 65-team field means something?
Potential unintended result: Are you ready for 13 Big East teams in the field?
At some point, would ESPN lose interest in the mid-major postseason tournaments if the network had the actual tournament coming up and if the mid-major conferences already had multiple bids locked up?
Yet another unintended result: This might make it more difficult for Cinderellas, who would have to win an extra game before taking on the elite teams, and who might get less TV exposure, not more.
Oh, well. The expansion is probably happening next year. Nothing we say is likely to change the NCAA's greed.
So savor this tournament. Enjoy what you see, while it lasts, and prepare yourself for next year's Bloated Bracket Syndrome.
They have expanded the number of teams in the Tournament about seven or eight times now. It has only gotten better each time.
AWAY WITH YOUR CHICKEN LITTLE CRAP!
I did not feel the slightest bit comfortable in the WVU-Mizzou game until about 30 seconds until the end of regulation. WVU was consistently up 5 or so points, but the way they struggled it felt like they were behind.
After a disappointing 1 & out last year, it's good to have them in the Sweet 16 again. Can't say I'd be satisfied though unless they make it to the Elite 8. I expect a tough game vs. U-Dub, but I'll be majorly pissed if WVU doesn't get their date with destiny & play UK.
Heh imagine the road to final four if fighting Hamilcars of Cornell upset the Cats.
11 of my sweet 16 are in and I'm on top!
Suck it!
Quote from: grumbler on March 21, 2010, 11:33:40 AM
This is the conventional wisdom, and probably holds true for the uninitiated, but while the NCAA basketball tournament is a great spectator sport for those who really pay no attention to the game except in the tournament, what it is doing is killing the game during the season. National BB scores don't even get much play in the local papers, because it doesn't matter until the tournament comes. People don't go to games unless they are students or alums. I don't really mind; March Madness has weaned me off college basketball completely and I haven't felt any desire to look back. But I would hate to see the NCAA football ruined by this kind of thing. December football tournaments would suck (especially for teams like Florida, that may have to play in a freezing/snowy Columbus in an early-round game) and would simply encourage the same neglect for the regular season you find in NCAA hoops.
I see. How long has this tournament been played? How long do you say people havent cared about basketball during the regular season?
Even if your underlying assumption is accurate, which I doubt, how are regular season football games - which determine seeding for many unimportant bowl games any more important then regular season basketball games which determine access to and seeding within one of the greatest sporting events in the history of sport.
Also, are you initiated or uninitiated and how did you become so?
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 21, 2010, 09:41:49 PM
11 of my sweet 16 are in and I'm on top!
Suck it!
This is a year I am not sure I would be too proud of those stats since it means that you made some pretty irrational choices.
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 22, 2010, 01:07:51 PM
This is a year I am not sure I would be too proud of those stats since it means that you made some pretty irrational choices.
Just like you should be ashamed when your long shot horse wins the race? :huh:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 22, 2010, 05:37:18 PM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 22, 2010, 01:07:51 PM
This is a year I am not sure I would be too proud of those stats since it means that you made some pretty irrational choices.
Just like you should be ashamed when your long shot horse wins the race? :huh:
I wouldnt be telling everyone that had bet according to the beyer numbers to "suck it" since those people were placing their bets based on data and logic whereas I was simply making, as you say, a long shot bet.
The exception to this is if I saw some informaton in the racing form that told me that this horse had a better chance then the odds in which case I would be making a bet worth bragging about.
If Timmay can tell us what he saw that everyone else missed then he will be able to say "suck it" with justifiable pride.
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 23, 2010, 11:05:53 AM
If Timmay can tell us what he saw that everyone else missed then he will be able to say "suck it" with justifiable pride.
Or at the very least, wait until he's actually won. He's screwed if Duke and/or Syracuse make it to the Final Four.
Oddly enough, our last place Scippy still has the most Points Possible. If Cuse goes all the way, he probably wins. With Kansas dead, I think I would need Duke to win out to have a shot :mellow:
Quote from: derspiess on March 23, 2010, 11:51:38 AM
Quote from: crazy canuck on March 23, 2010, 11:05:53 AM
If Timmay can tell us what he saw that everyone else missed then he will be able to say "suck it" with justifiable pride.
Or at the very least, wait until he's actually won. He's screwed if Duke and/or Syracuse make it to the Final Four.
Oddly enough, our last place Scippy still has the most Points Possible. If Cuse goes all the way, he probably wins. With Kansas dead, I think I would need Duke to win out to have a shot :mellow:
Timmay has a habit of declaring victory before anything is over.
This amuses me:
http://www.gusjohnsongetsbuckets.com/
WVU's starting point guard Truck Bryant broke his foot in practice :pinch:
Good news is that Mazzulla has been playing most of the game, and there are a couple guys who should do a decent job subbing in for Mazzulla.
In any case, it should be a good game between two hot teams. WVU has won its last 8 & U-Dub has won its last 9. I guess the only game tonight that shouldn't be much of a contest is UK-Cornell.
Quote from: derspiess on March 25, 2010, 10:41:30 AM
In any case, it should be a good game between two hot teams. WVU has won its last 8 & U-Dub has won its last 9. I guess the only game tonight that shouldn't be much of a contest is UK-Cornell.
I don't know, I think UK can give them a run for their money.
Is Syracuse's big gorilla still out?
He might be back in time for the Final Four according to CBS.
Butler's looking strong early on, can they hang on?
I don't expect Syracuse to close their eyes and throw the ball away on every possession in the second half.
Other game is a real high-octane affair.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 25, 2010, 07:03:06 PM
I don't expect Syracuse to close their eyes and throw the ball away on every possession in the second half.
Other game is a real high-octane affair.
That's the way Huskies would like it, but 29-27 halftime score leans towards WVU i think..
Ugly just Ugly.
What a series of daggers!
Quote from: katmai on March 25, 2010, 07:28:36 PM
That's the way Huskies would like it, but 29-27 halftime score leans towards WVU i think..
WVU's depth makes it a good 2nd half team. I was still pretty nervous at the half.
Anywho, Elite 8!! :w00t:
Nah you guys stopped huskies from running and into half court game which meant it is certain you guys would win.
Quote from: katmai on March 25, 2010, 09:09:29 PM
Nah you guys stopped huskies from running and into half court game which meant it is certain you guys would win.
As much as I love to see the Huskies lose I was hoping for a Pac-1o team in the Elite 8 just to salvage some league pride. :(
Quote from: sbr on March 25, 2010, 09:17:18 PM
As much as I love to see the Huskies lose I was hoping for a Pac-1o team in the Elite 8 just to salvage some league pride. :(
At least they haven't gone from 8 teams in the tourney to just 1.
Quote from: derspiess on March 25, 2010, 09:31:38 PM
Quote from: sbr on March 25, 2010, 09:17:18 PM
As much as I love to see the Huskies lose I was hoping for a Pac-1o team in the Elite 8 just to salvage some league pride. :(
At least they haven't gone from 8 teams in the tourney to just 1.
I was gonna ask if WVU was sole BE team :lol:
Crawford is amazing!
Quote from: sbr on March 23, 2010, 09:43:29 PM
This amuses me:
http://www.gusjohnsongetsbuckets.com/
There's a few more things to add to that from tonight :D
3 of 4 picks correct today.
Fuck Butler.
Goddamn you Tim, you're always one point ahead of me, despite me having guessed one more right than you have :ultra:
Quote from: derspiess on March 27, 2010, 12:01:02 AM
Goddamn you Tim, you're always one point ahead of me, despite me having guessed one more right than you have :ultra:
And I've got 3 of my final 4 left to your 2. :P
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 27, 2010, 01:38:06 AM
Quote from: derspiess on March 27, 2010, 12:01:02 AM
Goddamn you Tim, you're always one point ahead of me, despite me having guessed one more right than you have :ultra:
And I've got 3 of my final 4 left to your 2. :P
True, but on the other hand you have Baylor playing in the Championship :D
Quote from: derspiess on March 27, 2010, 02:46:26 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 27, 2010, 01:38:06 AM
Quote from: derspiess on March 27, 2010, 12:01:02 AM
Goddamn you Tim, you're always one point ahead of me, despite me having guessed one more right than you have :ultra:
And I've got 3 of my final 4 left to your 2. :P
True, but on the other hand you have Baylor playing in the Championship :D
And after everything we've seen so far that's impossible?
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 27, 2010, 03:25:06 AM
And after everything we've seen so far that's impossible?
Teams come back down to earth for the Elite 8/Final 4 games. Of course, as I type that, Butler is up on K-State 18-10 :lol:
I think you're still in the driver's seat, but there are three others in contention if UK keeps winning (which I hope they don't, naturally).
Hey Speesh, when was the last time the Fighting Hillbillies had someone from in-state on the team?
Grats spicy as it appears WVU is headed to Indy.
Quote from: katmai on March 27, 2010, 08:07:05 PM
Grats spicy as it appears WVU is headed to Indy.
:punk: and so am I (I hope).
Might be the biggest win in WVU history.
Better win whole thing, then at least I can say Huskies lost to champs. :P
Looks like our big non-money Languish bracket of 6 participants will be decided by the Baylor-Duke game tomorrow. I'll be happy to lose, as it would mean WVU faces Baylor, not Duke in Indy :)
FUCK BUTLER
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 28, 2010, 09:26:47 AM
You have money on K. state?
They always smack down his beloved Wright State Raiders. Plus I'm guessing there is an Indiana angle of some sort with his in-laws.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on March 27, 2010, 07:03:18 PM
Hey Speesh, when was the last time the Fighting Hillbillies had someone from in-state on the team?
That would be the 2009-2010 season. They have a sophomore guard from Charleston. Jerry West's son is on the team, so I would count that as two :P
But I get your point. West Virginia is a small state and traditionally the top high school recruits end up at a higher-prestige school-- e.g., OJ Mayo going to USC and Patrick Patterson going to UK. Hopefully Huggins will put an end to that with his recruiting magic.
Quote from: derspiess on March 28, 2010, 02:01:23 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on March 28, 2010, 09:26:47 AM
You have money on K. state?
They always smack down his beloved Wright State Raiders. Plus I'm guessing there is an Indiana angle of some sort with his in-laws.
First part correct. Although the Raiders occasionally bite Butler in the ass in the Horizon league.
The Raiders can't get good big men and play small ball.
How 'bout those Spartans!
Final Four, baby :punk:
Quote from: charliebear on March 28, 2010, 03:47:18 PM
How 'bout those Spartans!
Final Four, baby :punk:
More importantly, I win the Languish bracket. Duke & WVU saved my ass. Tim's penalty for picking Baylor is 3rd place. None of us had any correct picks for the semifinals or finals, so the scores are all set.
Quote from: derspiess on March 28, 2010, 08:36:13 PM
Quote from: charliebear on March 28, 2010, 03:47:18 PM
How 'bout those Spartans!
Final Four, baby :punk:
More importantly, I win the Languish bracket. Duke & WVU saved my ass. Tim's penalty for picking Baylor is 3rd place. None of us had any correct picks for the semifinals or finals, so the scores are all set.
HA! The fucker counted his chickens before they hatched, and the sports gods punished him. HAHAHAHA
Michigan State
Butler
West Virginia
Duke
Just as I predicted!
Seedy can be proud!
They just released a study of graduation rates for basketball players from various Division I schools. The University of Maryland was the worst! They graduated ZERO black players and only 8% of their white ones.
FEAR the Turtle!
http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2010/03/19/ncaa-mens-basketball-graduation-rate-disparity-between-races-grows.html (http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/best-colleges/2010/03/19/ncaa-mens-basketball-graduation-rate-disparity-between-races-grows.html)
EDIT: Link to study http://www.ncasports.org/Articles/2010_Mens_Bball_PR.pdf (http://www.ncasports.org/Articles/2010_Mens_Bball_PR.pdf)
The minute a black kid starts playing college hoops, unless he goes to the NBA (and usually even then) he has no future anyways.
Quote from: Neil on March 29, 2010, 08:04:35 PM
The minute a black kid starts playing college hoops, unless he goes to the NBA (and usually even then) he has no future anyways.
Unless he goes to Duke, in which case he'll be coaching a Div I school within 2 years of graduation.
Quote from: Strix on March 29, 2010, 07:45:06 PM
Seedy can be proud!
They just released a study of graduation rates for basketball players from various Division I schools. The University of Maryland was the worst! They graduated ZERO black players and only 8% of their white ones.
FEAR the Turtle!
Well, it is a tough school.
QuoteButler Hoops Team Under Investigation – AP
INDIANAPOLIS–Butler's run in the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship Game may be tarnished after reports surfaced today that all 13 scholarship players on the roster are being given good educations in an effort to help them find good jobs after they leave the school. "It's important to remember that right now these are only allegations — allegations that we are looking into," said NCAA president James Isch.
"But, obviously, if true, this would be very disappointing. The NCAA has certain expectations and standards. It's not fair for players at one school to be given good educations while athletes at other member schools receive basic, remedial instruction that is worth essentially nothing." According to documents seized from the school's registrar's office, Butler players have received an education worth $38,616 per year totaling more than $150,000 over a four-year career.
Compare that to player at a school like Kentucky , where tuition is set at $4,051 — but with an actual value far below that. "We don't want to say too much until these reports are confirmed," said Kentucky head basketball coach John Calipari. "But we're talking about almost $140,000 difference in education per player — and that's even if my players stayed four years or graduated, which many of them do not. Then these Butler players are reportedly stepping into good jobs after graduation while my kids, if they don't make the NBA, have absolutely no job prospects or life skills. It's far from a balanced playing field. They are buying the best players by giving them a high-priced education."
In addition to the allegations that they were given an expensive education, many Butler players have been spotted around campus holding books, studying and engaging in interesting conversations. Others have been seen with people who are known to not be tutors. Butler shooting guard and Kentucky native Shelvin Mack, who is reportedly a secondary education major, denied allegations that the Bulldog program is cheating.
"The discourse on this matter is fatuous and inane," he said, implicating the program further.
:lmfao: That's great.
I know that's parody, but still.....
FUCK BUTLER.
:lol: Awesome