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Thursday, January 10, 2013

OT: College Basketball Thread

In case anyone’s interested in discussing collegiate-flavored hoops ...

Forsch 10 From Navarone (Dayn) Posted: January 10, 2013 at 06:03 PM | 270 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: basketball, off-topic

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101. BDC

Posted: January 23, 2013 at 03:45 PM (#4353513)

49-47, but no such thing as an ugly road win in Madison

No kidding. State, despite being ranked "only" 13th nationally, has opened up a full game lead in the Big Ten standings. That and $2.95 will get them a latte, and there is nothing like a Big Ten season to humble everyone who participates, but it's been a nice few weeks.

102. just plain joe Posted: January 23, 2013 at 04:06 PM (#4353529)

UCLA. Kentucky's peripherals are mostly fine. And anyone who expected Nerlens Noel to be Anthony Davis, or even Anthony Davis-- is delusional.

This Kentucky team just frustrates me because it is obvious they have some talent but haven't figured out exactly what to do with it. I don't know what causes it exactly but last night's game was a perfect example of how they have managed to lose some winnable games. In the second half their offense just completely came apart, I think they shot 8-27 from the field after the break. Some of that was Alabama's defense adjusting to the offense UK was running but much of it was just plain bad shot selection. I know that Calipari's offensive philosophy is based on the dribble drive but if the other team adjusts and cuts that off, you have got to be flexible enough to change on the fly. For the life of me I don't understand why Wiltjer didn't get more touches in the second half, if nothing else it would prevent his defensive man from sluffing off into the lane. I admit it, I expect Kentucky to win every game, it was just the way I was raised :-)

103. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: January 23, 2013 at 04:11 PM (#4353532)

wisconsin cannot hit free throws to save its life. very un-ryan like team in that respect

also bury the needle on awkward players. yowsa

104. Crosseyed and Painless Posted: January 23, 2013 at 04:16 PM (#4353540)

wisconsin cannot hit free throws to save its life. very un-ryan like team in that respect

also bury the needle on awkward players. yowsa

They're worse at free throws, but not as bad as last night showed. MSU got lucky, but I won't complain or feel guilty about it. MSU also forced a good number of air-balls that turned into offensive rebounds. Probably one of their better defensive shows against Wisconsin.

105. Der_K Posted: January 23, 2013 at 08:43 PM (#4353760)

Miami over #1 duke 38-15 w/ 3 min left in the 1st half

106. bigboy1234 Posted: January 23, 2013 at 09:09 PM (#4353770)

Duke getting absolutely embarrassed.

107. Spivey Posted: January 23, 2013 at 10:10 PM (#4353783)

That was an ass-whipping.

108. madvillain Posted: January 23, 2013 at 10:54 PM (#4353795)

No kidding. State, despite being ranked "only" 13th nationally, has opened up a full game lead in the Big Ten standings. That and $2.95 will get them a latte, and there is nothing like a Big Ten season to humble everyone who participates, but it's been a nice few weeks.

Eh, I won't begrudge MSU's win over Whisky as any road win in the B1G is a good one. Wait, yes I will. Whisky failed to score in the last 5:30 and couldn't even hit half their FTs. Now, obviously some of that was a typical Izzo led squad's defensive effort, but a lot of it was just complete incompetence by Wisconsin.

That said, I'd put MSU in the top 4 right now behind Michigan (#2 nationally in margin per possession behind Florida, great win at Minny), IU (If only Crean could coach as well as he recruits), Minny (Their athletsicsm is nearing UM levels and they rebound 42% of their misses) and then MSU.

I think MSU is doing it with smoke and mirrors but they have a talented roster and Izzo's teams always improve as the year goes on.

The B1G is just simply loaded. All these teams that breezed through the non-conference schedule are finding it much tougher sledding, even against the middle of the league.

109. bigboy1234 Posted: January 23, 2013 at 11:43 PM (#4353810)

Wow at Creighton losing to an awful Drake team.

110. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: January 24, 2013 at 12:17 AM (#4353819)

Damnit Minnesota. It's one thing to lose to Michigan and Indiana, but you're gonna only score 48 against Northwestern? You scored more than that against Indiana in a half!

111. GregD Posted: January 24, 2013 at 11:44 AM (#4353989)

UCLA. Kentucky's peripherals are mostly fine. And anyone who expected Nerlens Noel to be Anthony Davis, or even Anthony Davis-- is delusional.

I think this is right, but even more so they don't have an MKG. Noel has been fine, better than fine. It's the drop off that's killing them.

It's a strange team, as joe says. I'm not sure it's actually that good; I didn't think from the Maryland game that they looked like a good squad. Calipari has pulled off some turnarounds in December/January before--the Brandon Knight team looked lost in December and put it together to have a great run. But this team doesn't just lack experience; it lacks talent. Poythress looks good but hasn't really played well all year. Goodwin is fine but not a #1.

I suspect that Calipari 1) expected Sprague to be back and so thought Harrow was a good rotation player but not a starter and 2) thought Shabazz Muhammad was coming to UK and 3) expected Poythress to adjust more quickly. They lack a Mohammad type who can take over, and they obviously ain't getting it done at the point.

The complex question is going to be the offseason. The incoming class is better and has a chance to be the best ever if they get one of their last three targets (which you wouldn't bet against.) Cal needs some of the freshmen to leave to clear space; they have to leave or sit on the bench, I suspect. Noel is obviously gone. Poythress and Goodwin are trickier.

I haven't seen enough of UCLA to know whether they should be considered disappointing or not. My expectations for them were middling, but I always let some air out of UCLA preseason.

112. Shredder Posted: January 25, 2013 at 02:09 AM (#4354677)

UCLA looked pretty darn good tonight. And they did it without their most consistently quality player for the second half. Arizona is overrated, and they've survived a buch of scares, but that's not an easy environment for a bunch of freshmen to go in and control a game wire to wire.

113. VoodooR Posted: January 25, 2013 at 02:35 AM (#4354683)

Zags rebound from the Butler debacle with a resounding victory over a mediocre BYU team.

Worth mentioning is Kelly Olynyk's line from tonight: 9/9 from the field 8/8 from the free throw line. Dude's shooting just under 70% from the floor on the season. Perhaps the most offensively efficient big man in college basketball this year.

114. bigboy1234 Posted: January 26, 2013 at 12:43 PM (#4355462)

Pretty crappy Saturdays worth of games today, with the only good game being Minnesota @ Wisconsin, will probably end up watching Louisville @ Georgetown too. Although as we speak 'Nova is currently beating Syracuse, as the 1st half comes to an end, which is quite the surprise.

115. you got a STEAGLES? you're gonna need a STEAGLES. Posted: January 26, 2013 at 03:25 PM (#4355574)

Although as we speak 'Nova is currently beating Syracuse, as the 1st half comes to an end, which is quite the surprise.

they pulled out the win. they beat #5 louisville on tuesday and have now beaten #3 syracuse today. i cannot imagine there have been many unranked teams to pull off back to back wins over top 5 opposition.

i didn't see the louisville game, but i have to say that this was the best coached game i've seen in jay wright's tenure at villanova. he got lucky with the game-tying shot at the end of the 2nd half, but the way he blew up syracuse's zone at the high-post was an absolute thing of beauty. what they did was have their center post up on one of the guards at the top of syracuse's zone 16' out from the net, and then when they swung the ball from one side of the perimeter to the other, yarou would be able to dive to the net for an open shot, or his dive would cause the backside of syracuse's zone to collapse, leaving a shooter open in the short corner. it was really, really fun to watch,

116. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: January 26, 2013 at 05:21 PM (#4355621)

the wisky/mn game was butt ugly

not a hard core fan but if i was i don't know how i would be able to enjoy that game

117. madvillain Posted: January 26, 2013 at 05:30 PM (#4355625)

Tubby Smith has a top 10 roster but he can't coach his way out of a paper bag. The B1G is doing a great job of beating up on each other. Missed the game today but looked like a classic Wisconsin win. That Smith allowed them to dictate the pace is unacceptable considering how much more firepower they have. Whatever he needed to do to push the pace (press, throw in some trapping zone, whatever) he should have done imo.

Michigan gunning for #1 tmr at Illinois.

118. Chicago Joe

Posted: January 26, 2013 at 05:50 PM (#4355630)

Tubby Smith has a top 10 roster but he can't coach his way out of a paper bag. The B1G is doing a great job of beating up on each other. Missed the game today but looked like a classic Wisconsin win. That Smith allowed them to dictate the pace is unacceptable considering how much more firepower they have. Whatever he needed to do to push the pace (press, throw in some trapping zone, whatever) he should have done imo.

Michigan gunning for #1 tmr at Illinois.

Or you could say, Illinois is gunning for #2 against Michigan. :)
I don't think there's much anyone can do to speed up Wisconsin-they've given up 60 or more 6 times this season, and are 1-5 in those games. Only given up 70 4 times. Last year was even crazier-the magic number was 57 and they only gave up more than 70 twice (71 and 72). 5-10 over 57, 21-0 below.

Minnesota does not by any means have a top-10 roster. It's well constructed, but they have real problems in the half-court.

119. I am going to be Frank Posted: January 26, 2013 at 06:46 PM (#4355661)

I hope bad Illinois shows up tomorrow. Even though #1 at this point in the season is meaningless (other than the fact that once getting it, you'll lose), it would still be nice to see Michigan reach that point.

I wonder how Wisconsin's tempo will work against Michigan. As long as they don't have a clone of Aaron Craft, Michigan should be able to run a little. I guess we'll know in two weeks.

120. you got a STEAGLES? you're gonna need a STEAGLES. Posted: January 26, 2013 at 06:54 PM (#4355668)

so, how about northern illinois? 4 points in the entire first half, 25 for the game, 1-33 from beyond the arc.

121. Chicago Joe

Posted: January 26, 2013 at 06:59 PM (#4355672)

Haven't broken 60 on a Saturday yet this year. Scored 34 last week against WMU.

122. Der_K Posted: January 26, 2013 at 07:20 PM (#4355681)

But their last game was a 74-61 win against a .500 team (cmu, like their opponent today - emu), the 74 a season high, where they were 10-19 from three...

123. Chicago Joe

Posted: January 26, 2013 at 07:24 PM (#4355685)

But their last game was a 74-61 win against a .500 team (cmu, like their opponent today - emu), the 74 a season high, where they were 10-19 from three...

Mark Montgomery is regretting taking that job, I bet. From Izzo to this?

124. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: January 26, 2013 at 07:24 PM (#4355686)

OK, until further notice, I am taking ASU for realz.

125. Chicago Joe

Posted: January 26, 2013 at 07:34 PM (#4355692)

Lost to...DePaul? Pass.

126. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: January 26, 2013 at 08:38 PM (#4355711)

16-4 overall, 5-2 in P12; against teams ranked in Pomeroy's top 100, 4-3.

This season is a job-saver for Sendek, anyway,

127. CFBF Hates Hyphens Posted: January 26, 2013 at 10:03 PM (#4355748)

Man, the SEC is bad. Florida is really good, but...damn, this is a bad conference.

128. bigboy1234 Posted: January 27, 2013 at 03:48 PM (#4356037)

Great game between Indiana and Michigan State going on right now.

129. VoodooR Posted: January 27, 2013 at 04:14 PM (#4356056)

Michigan State looked pretty darn good in a close loss vs. the Hoosiers. They have great interior passing among other qualities. Indiana is a dynamite offensive team and can play enough defense to pull out gritty victories like today.

Pretty incredible to think that according to KenPom, MSU is the sixth best team in the B1G. I don't buy that -- and the numbers are so close that nobody really should -- I'd slot them third behind UI and UM, just ahead of OSU and a clear notch ahead of Wisconsin and Minnesota.

130. bigboy1234 Posted: January 27, 2013 at 04:36 PM (#4356066)

Has one conference ever had 6 top 4 seeds in the tourney before, like it looks like the B10 deserves?

131. VoodooR Posted: January 27, 2013 at 04:58 PM (#4356084)

Not sure, but the Big East got five in 2009, 2010 and 2011. In 2010, WVU was their sixth team and got a #5 seed.

But I'd bet against the B10 doing that this year. Right now, Wisconsin is pegged at an 8 seed on Bracket Matrix projection aggregator.

132. bigboy1234 Posted: January 28, 2013 at 09:56 PM (#4357036)

How the hell is Pitt unranked?

133. CFBF Hates Hyphens Posted: January 31, 2013 at 12:35 AM (#4358757)

Florida just beat South Carolina, 75-36. At one point in the second half the score was 55-15.

Frank Martin is going to beat someone to death with their own arms.

134. Shredder Posted: January 31, 2013 at 01:43 AM (#4358775)

I'm almost always the last guy to call for a coach's head, but Ben Howland needs to be fired. That program is a shell of what it should be. And it won't be getting better anytime soon.

135. smileyy Posted: January 31, 2013 at 01:55 AM (#4358778)

Dayton has not won at Xavier since 1981 -- right before Reagan was inaugurated. When you can't secure 2 rebounds off of missed front-ends of 1-1's, when trailing by 1, yeah, you probably deserve to lose.

Whose talent is underperforming more? LAL or UCLA?

136. smileyy Posted: February 01, 2013 at 04:56 PM (#4360292)

Let's talk about a sport at which the SEC is lousy!

Which conference is Florida in? ;)

137. bigboy1234 Posted: February 02, 2013 at 01:02 PM (#4360682)

Couple awesome games today, starting with one in a couple minutes, then a night capper.

'Cuse @ Pitt
Michigan @ Indiana

Both toss-up games for me, but I'll be safe and take the home team in both instances. Then not quite on that level, as all those are elite teams facing each other, but OSU/Kansas and MISS/UF should be decent secondary games to catch. Florida is probably the best team in the country, so wouldn't surprise me even if they won by double-digits. Kansas game should be a little bit closer, but would still favor Kansas by about 7.

138. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: February 02, 2013 at 01:15 PM (#4360692)

ASU @ U-Dub should be fun.

If the Sun Devils win, this brings my plan for a Vegas vacation, centered around the P12 tourney, closer to reality.

139. CFBF Hates Hyphens Posted: February 02, 2013 at 10:14 PM (#4360902)

Florida power forward Erik Murphy, who is 6'10, is now shooting about 50 percent from three this year. He's not as cool as Kevin Pittsnogle, because THE MURPH is never going to be cool to type in all-caps as THE NOGLE, but he's still pretty awesome.

140. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: February 03, 2013 at 12:54 AM (#4360947)

Well, ASU-UW was fun, even if the wrong team won.

Damn, Jahii Carson may be the greatest individual talent in school history.

141. smileyy Posted: February 03, 2013 at 02:46 AM (#4360964)

Huh. Better than Harden?

142. Shredder Posted: February 03, 2013 at 04:57 PM (#4361266)

Or Diogu?

143. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: February 03, 2013 at 07:07 PM (#4361342)

wisconsin beating illinois is always good to see

144. CFBF Hates Hyphens Posted: February 05, 2013 at 08:31 PM (#4363484)

Well, Florida's run appears to be ending with an unholy thud in Arkansas.

145. bigboy1234 Posted: February 06, 2013 at 11:29 PM (#4364669)

Kansas having the most embarrassing performance by any team I've seen this year.

146. KJOK Posted: February 07, 2013 at 12:28 AM (#4364697)

Kansas lost to TCU, who was 0-8 in conference? Unbelievable.

147. Mike Webber Posted: February 07, 2013 at 02:05 AM (#4364731)

TCU closest game in conference play before tonight was a nine point loss to Texas.

148. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: February 07, 2013 at 02:52 AM (#4364734)

Talent, not player. Carson has the tools to be great, but he's not great just yet.

TOP PAC-12 FRESHMAN SCORING AVERAGE (ALL GAMES)
1. 21.1-Shareef Abdur-Rahim, CAL, 1996
2. 20.6-Harold Miner, USC, 1990
3. 20.7-O.J. Mayo, USC, 2008
4. 19.7-Jerryd Bayless, ARIZ, 2008
5. 19.0-Ike Diogu, ASU, 2003
6. 18.6-Don MacLean, UCLA, 1989
7. 18.4-Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA, 2013
7. 18.4-Cliff Robinson, USC, 1978
9. 18.3-Jahii Carson, ASU, 2013
10. 17.8-James Harden, ASU, 2008
11. 17.6-Tom Lewis, USC, 1986
12. 17.5-Kevin Love, UCLA, 2008

149. Der_K Posted: February 07, 2013 at 09:56 AM (#4364783)

Kansas had 13 in the first half.
It's TCU's first ever win versus a top 5 team.
The win raises TCU's kenpom ranking to #251 nationally.

On a related note, kenpom ranks 347 teams. Grambling is ranked last in *both* offense and defense - and by wide margins. That's amazing; they're 0-20. Five of those losses have been by less than 20 points (as many as have been by 40 or more), none by single digits. They appear to have one useful guy on offense (a jump shooting swingman), no good rebounders, they don't force turnovers... oof.

150. Mike Webber Posted: February 07, 2013 at 10:13 AM (#4364800)

an email from one of my rabid Wildcat fan buddies.

@fakeDanBeebe is the best follow on Twitter after a big power in the Big XII loses. Last night - no different

HOW DOES ANYONE LOSE TO TCU IN BASKETBALL, THAT'S LIKE LOSING TO FAT PEOPLE IN THE STEEPLECHASE

THE TCU FANS DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE THEY HAD NEVER SEEN A WIN BEFORE AND NEVER WILL AGAIN

THIS WAS BASICALLY KANSAS TELLING THE WORLD "IT'S TIME FOR A 1 SEED TO LOSE TO A 16 SEED AND WE'RE JUST THE TEAM TO DO IT."

AT LEAST THERE'S FOOTBALL, KANSAS. NOT *YOUR* FOOTBALL, BUT THE SPORT IN GENERAL

HONEST TO GOD I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW TCU HAD A BASKETBALL TEAM UNTIL 90 MINUTES AGO

Direct Message to Bill Self: Hey, can you ask your wife if I left my watch on her nightstand? Can't find it anywhere.

I WOULD ACCUSE KU OF THROWING THIS GAME BUT I JUST SAW THEM PLAY AND I WOULDN'T TRUST THEM TO THROW ANYTHING WITHOUT HITTING A FAN IN ROW 8

I KNEW GIVING BILL SELF A "What Would Rick Barnes Do?" BRACELET WOULD PAY OFF, I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IT'D BE THIS RICH

BUT LOOK ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, KANSAS: THE NCAA TOURNEY STARTS IN 43 DAYS, SO THIS NIGHTMARE OF A SEASON HAS 44 DAYS LEFT, TOPS

151. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: February 07, 2013 at 02:05 PM (#4364996)

Those tweets are gold.

152. The Buddy Biancalana Hit Counter Posted: February 07, 2013 at 02:13 PM (#4365004)

So K-State fans intend to fill the "celebrating other teams beating Kansas at basketball" void opened up when Missouri left the Big 12?

153. CFBF Hates Hyphens Posted: February 07, 2013 at 04:24 PM (#4365180)

Florida's lost Will Yeguete for the regular season. Yeguete's one of those 3/4 hybrid/tweener types, and someone who is invariably described as a "glue guy." His loss last year really hurt UF's defense.

154. madvillain Posted: February 07, 2013 at 04:47 PM (#4365212)

So that Michigan/OSU game was intense. Both teams were playing at an extremely high level (check the 4 factors, both teams shot lights out, took care of the ball and didn't foul), in fact OSU played what was probably their best game of the season, only to have the shear talent of Michigan's backcourt win out. THJR and Burke willed the team to victory despite mediocre performances elsewhere on the perimeter. The crowd and atmosphere no doubt helped, I've never seen Crisler that hyped. OSU hadn't given up more than 1.11 PPP before Michigan put up 1.19 on them. Even on a night where GRIII and Stauskus were mediocre Michigan still managed 1.19 PPP, which is pretty insane. Their offense is better than excellent, it's elite, like 2004-5 Illinois elite.

Mitch McGary stepped in big time for the injured Morgan but going forward Michigan needs a healthy Morgan to be at their best. Morgan is the key to their defense. With him they are good to very good on that end, without him they are mediocre.

Michigan is looking good for a #1 seed but they need a split this week @ Whisky and @ MSU. Thad Matta said it best, this (the B1G) league is about getting knocked down and getting back up. You have 4 legit contenders in the B1G (Michigan, IU, OSU, MSU) and then a number of solid teams before getting to the bottom.

155. madvillain Posted: February 08, 2013 at 01:22 AM (#4365504)

That just happened. IU is a great team but away from home they are clearly vulnerable. Gotta say that a conference is loaded when the 7th best team or so if capable of pulling an upset like this, granted it was at home. If I believe correctly this is now the 4th top 10 team (at the time of the game) that the Illini have beat. They move to 4-6 in the B1G and significantly boost their Tourney stock from solidly bubble to solidly in -- atm.

156. SoSH U at work Posted: February 08, 2013 at 01:30 AM (#4365507)

They move to 4-6 in the B1G and significantly boost their Tourney stock from solidly bubble to solidly in -- atm.

Illinois is 3-7 in the Big 10. I'd say they're still on the outside looking in with that conference mark.

157. madvillain Posted: February 08, 2013 at 02:01 AM (#4365519)

Well I was looking at NU but Illini are now up to 46th in RPI, and look at who they have played -- a murderers row. They should fatten up against the rest of their schedule to put the w/l record with the advanced rankings. I don't like RPI but the committee loves it.

158. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: February 08, 2013 at 02:04 AM (#4365522)

ASU scrapes past Cal. At the moment, Sun Devils are in a 3-way tie for second.

Either Oregon is turning into a pumpkin, or Colorado is getting off the mat.

159. Shredder Posted: February 08, 2013 at 11:06 AM (#4365588)

If Illinois wins their three home games and at least one road game, they'll still probably need two tournament wins to get in. It's really a shame that a team capable of doing what they did last night has simply wasted opportunity after opportunity this season.

160. bigboy1234 Posted: February 09, 2013 at 02:51 PM (#4366116)

ZOMG at that Wisconsin shot.

161. Shredder Posted: February 09, 2013 at 03:03 PM (#4366123)

That was impressive.

162. Conor Posted: February 09, 2013 at 03:11 PM (#4366128)

The Big 10 is so strong this year that Illinois might have a shot at 7 wins in the league and then winning the first conf tourny game. Lunardi just updated yesterday, fwiw, and he has Illinois as the last team in.

If they get to 8-10, they'd have to be a lock, right? That would mean they pick up a road win against one of Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, or Ohio State. Iowa isn't in the class of those other 3, but they are a pretty decent team.

It might be hard for the committee to overlook a team that has the wins Illinois does, especially because the competition they are going against may not have one win at the caliber of Indiana, Gonzaga, Ohio State, or Butler.

163. puck Posted: February 09, 2013 at 04:20 PM (#4366156)

Either Oregon is turning into a pumpkin, or Colorado is getting off the mat.

Maybe just a bad game? 48-47 sounds pretty ugly.

I don't watch much basketball but sometimes catch CU, and they seem pretty thin. They rely heavily on two freshman and two sophs, and they're not blue chippers. Poor free throw shooting team. They look like a bubble team again, don't they? They don't win on the road--Oregon was the first win of note; the other two road wins were Wash St and Fresno St. And yet somehow they're around 20th in RPI-I don't get that.

Though being a bubble team is a big step up for CU basketball!

164. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: February 09, 2013 at 05:21 PM (#4366178)

Poor free throw shooting team.

The Buffs shoot like Steve Nash* compared to ASU: 62.5 FT% this season, which ranks 324th out of 347 teams. And in conference play alone, the Sun Devils are, somehow, worse: 61.5%.

* - Not really. Colorado: 66.2%, ranking 220th.

165. smileyy Posted: February 09, 2013 at 08:06 PM (#4366246)

I think I exhibit only one real instance of homerism: unrelenting schadenfreude regarding Dayton's failures. I posted about the loss to Xavier above.

Today, Dayton blew a 9 point lead with under 4 to play against Temple. That stretch featured 3 turnovers from their point guard. But the capper was Dayton being at the line with one second left on the clock, trailing by one, shooting two free throws after a surprising off-the-ball foul call. And missing both free throws.

166. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: February 09, 2013 at 09:39 PM (#4366287)

Stanford shooting the lights out in Tempe.

167. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: February 09, 2013 at 11:45 PM (#4366341)

Yeesh. Cardinal finished 10-of-18 on 3s. (But only 12-for-28 on 2s.)

Really hoped ASU would step up and get this one. I have a feeling the Devils are going to spend the rest of the season in the "First Four Out" zone.

168. Forsch 10 From Navarone (Dayn)

Posted: February 10, 2013 at 01:21 AM (#4366365)

Notre Dame-Louisville headed to fifth overtime. For reals.

169. Der_K Posted: February 10, 2013 at 11:32 AM (#4366433)

WATN: Jay Williams in the NYT

170. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: February 10, 2013 at 12:38 PM (#4366474)

ND-LVL last night was pretty fun.

171. Der_K Posted: February 10, 2013 at 04:14 PM (#4366591)

Russ Smith is JR Smith on PEDs (as archetype, not player)

New to me: hoop-math.com. High level college PBP stats.

172. Shredder Posted: February 10, 2013 at 09:19 PM (#4366785)

Huge win for Illinois. Minnesota just looked way too long in the first game, and the first ten minutes of this one, but when a team is draining threes, that team can beat anyone. I think 7-11 definitely gets them in now, but they're looking more like an 8-10 team, which should easily be enough.

173. SouthSideRyan Posted: February 10, 2013 at 09:21 PM (#4366788)

Well that was fantastic, and they're making me believe a win in Evanston or Carver-Hawkeye isn't an outrageous hope.

174. Harveys Wallbangers

Posted: February 10, 2013 at 09:29 PM (#4366794)

how 'bout them badgers?

this wisconsin team looks like the finnish national team yet somehow stay in games.

175. smileyy Posted: February 11, 2013 at 01:38 PM (#4367095)

and they're making me believe a win in Evanston

I first read this as "Evansville" and was surprised at the MVC fandom in here.

176. Shredder Posted: February 12, 2013 at 01:03 AM (#4367601)

177. Chicago Joe

Posted: February 12, 2013 at 02:02 AM (#4367619)

True story, a good friend of mine's father in law is the President of the University of Evansville. We've played quite a bit of golf together with a group at my club up by Traverse City the past two Labor Day weekends.

You should start dropping a bunch of Scott Haffner references in your conversation with the Prez.

Well that was fantastic, and they're making me believe a win in Evanston or Carver-Hawkeye isn't an outrageous hope.

It was a beautiful ugly win, but remember that Rodney Williams didn't play on Sunday.

how 'bout them badgers?

this wisconsin team looks like the finnish national team yet somehow stay in games.

Bo frickin' Ryan. I think its mostly the move from George Marshall to Traevon Jackson which has at least coincided with Wisconsin's improvement and (IMO) has catalyzed it. He's a better game manager than Marshall (who's still a bit wild). That free throw shooting has to be worrisome-best FT shooting team in the country two years ago to ranked somewhere in the bottom 10%.

178. Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines Posted: February 12, 2013 at 02:11 AM (#4367622)

True story, a good friend of mine's father in law is the President of the University of Evansville. We've played quite a bit of golf together with a group at my club up by Traverse City the past two Labor Day weekends.

It's no coincidence that Evansville and Traverse City both have teams in the Frontier League. The two cities are connected in so many ways.

179. CFBF Hates Hyphens Posted: February 12, 2013 at 10:08 PM (#4368423)

Nerlens Noel went down after striking his knee on the basket support. Looked awful. He was howling in pain. Had to be carried off the court.

180. Tulo's Fishy Mullet (mrams) Posted: February 12, 2013 at 11:45 PM (#4368466)

69-39 Sparty with 6 min to go. Ouch. Michigan's gauntlet didn't go so well.

181. cmd600 Posted: February 13, 2013 at 01:06 AM (#4368489)

how 'bout them badgers?

Can't think of a team I wouldn't rather watch play. Taking the air out of the ball and counting on the Big Ten refs to let more stuff go uncalled is infuriating. Look at them in the non-conference, and away from the anything-goes B1G refs and they lost to all the possible tournament teams they play.

182. CFBF Hates Hyphens Posted: February 13, 2013 at 03:15 PM (#4368899)

And Noel did tear his ACL.

That pretty much eliminates Kentucky from contention for just about anything, on the off chance you still believed in them. Might be a struggle to make the tournament at this point.

183. smileyy Posted: February 13, 2013 at 03:20 PM (#4368915)

Its unfortunate that Nerlens Noel has to be the poster child for the NBA age limit.

184. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: February 14, 2013 at 06:26 PM (#4369939)

Sun Devils, I am disappoint.

185. VoodooR Posted: February 14, 2013 at 10:26 PM (#4370062)

Big game for Gonzaga tonight @ St. Mary's, a team that -- if KenPom #'s are to be believed -- is very underrated given their consensus status as a bubble team needing a victory over the Zags to have an at large shot. St. Mary's sits at #22 in the KenPom rankings and is a very similar team to Gonzaga in many ways. It's generally agreed that Gonzaga has an elite offense -- the nation's 4th most efficient according to Pomeroy -- and a mediocre (for a FF contender) defense at #44. The much-less heralded Gaels have the 5th best offense in the country, and the 94th best defense.

Should be a really good game between two high-powered offenses. Those of you lamenting the methodical, bruising tone of B1G games might enjoy this one.

186. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: February 15, 2013 at 01:12 AM (#4370120)

And Colorado gets revenge on Arizona. Top of the P12 is turning into a dogpile; by the end of tonight, there will be a 4-way tie for 4th and a 2-way tie for 2nd.

187. puck Posted: February 15, 2013 at 01:39 AM (#4370123)

Will the muddling at the top of the Pac12 hurt the number of at large bids from the Conference? I don't follow this stuff closely--any idea how many the conf will get this year?

188. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: February 15, 2013 at 01:54 AM (#4370127)

I've read anywhere from 2 to 5.

189. VoodooR Posted: February 15, 2013 at 03:30 AM (#4370141)

Right now I'd say that they are going to get four -- Arizona, Oregon, UCLA, and Colorado. Only the Wildcats are a lock and after that the Ducks seem pretty safe while the Bruins and Buffs have to grind out some more wins and avoid the bad losses. Cal, ASU, or Stanford (not looking good for them after losing at home to USC tonight) could get hot and steal a bid, but as of now they have to be considered on the outside looking in.

190. Chicago Joe

Posted: February 15, 2013 at 03:50 AM (#4370146)

Should be a really good game between two high-powered offenses. Those of you lamenting the methodical, bruising tone of B1G games might enjoy this one.

Well, so much for that. St Mary's needs to win the conference tourney now, I'd reckon.

191. Edmundo got dem ol' Kozma blues again mama

Posted: February 15, 2013 at 10:15 AM (#4370198)

I hope Sam H. has an alibi. Penn's 1979 Final Four** starting center Matthew White was stabbed to death via the neck:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-basketball/news/20130212/matthew-white.ap/

** Lost to Magic's MSU.

192. VoodooR Posted: February 16, 2013 at 01:28 PM (#4370704)

St Mary's needs to win the conference tourney now, I'd reckon.

They do have a home game with Creighton next weekend for the Bracketbusters event, but what seemed like it may have been a marquee victory opportunity a few weeks ago looks a bit ho-hum after Creighton shockingly has fallen apart against mediocre MVC competition.

I still think St. Mary's is better than your average bubble fodder (but not by much, really) but they have no good wins to hang their hat on, in large part because they played nobody worth a salt (and lost to some lousy teams) during OOC. They set their season up to have it all ride on beating the Zags once or twice this year, which has worked for them on occasion in the past, but Gonzaga is too good this year and now they may have to beat them in the WCC tourney (seems unlikely) or they'll be at the mercy of an NCAA committee that has left them on the outside looking in several times before in similar situations.

193. Gold Star - just Gold Star Posted: February 17, 2013 at 12:50 AM (#4370911)

ASU won despite being outrebounded 40-18, 18-2 on the offensive glass.

194. Der_K Posted: February 18, 2013 at 12:56 PM (#4371351)

RIP Duke's Phil Henderson, 44.

195. smileyy Posted: February 18, 2013 at 01:30 PM (#4371359)

[193] Offensive Rebounding is weird. You don't mind it so much when the team still shoots 35% from the floor. Or when a guy who pulls down 9 offensive rebounds shoots 4-9 from the floor. Or when the guy with 6 offensive rebounds is 4-11.

Basically, you can get a lot of offensive rebounds on one possession, and still not score.

196. CFBF Hates Hyphens Posted: February 20, 2013 at 12:13 AM (#4372351)

Florida better win a lot of NCAA Tournament games by 30 points, because for a good team with a great coach the Gators are completely ####### clueless in a close, end-game situation. Absolutely awful.

197. puck Posted: February 21, 2013 at 01:34 AM (#4373175)

Right now, Wisconsin is pegged at an 8 seed on Bracket Matrix projection aggregator.

Is that matrix just an aggregation, or is he weighting them somehow?

198. smileyy Posted: February 21, 2013 at 02:49 AM (#4373188)

Man, I love Xavier, but this season, they play the kinds of games that make people complain about college basketball. 55-42 over Rhode Island. Xavier shoots 18-45 from the floor; URI shoots 13-54 from the floor, 5-30(!) from 3. That's the kind of game that's so bad I enjoy it more _not_ watching it.

199. bunyon Posted: February 23, 2013 at 05:23 PM (#4374905)

GO DEACS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

200. bunyon Posted: February 23, 2013 at 05:24 PM (#4374906)

We're going to end each page with me talking about a Wake upset. See you in April!

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