This Indiscriminate time period in College Hoops

[iggymcfly 0]

I know I've said it before, but I can't imagine how Georgia Tech could not win the national title this year. Their offense is just a thing of beauty, and their defense is solid too. I'm watching them play Michigan right now, and they really don't miss open shots ever. It's only halftime and they're already up 59-32, even with a little period where they got bored.

 

In fact, they're so good at the fundamental shooting and passing, I really think that they could have won a gold medal at the Olympics if they had gone instead of the NBA guys. Maybe get Tim Duncan to replace Schenscher (since he's Australian,) and you're set. The only way they'd lose is if they didn't have enough practice time for Duncan to fit into the system, because I know this squad could beat Lithuania or Italy orArgentina or whoever the hell won it.

[Mr. S£im Citrus 0]

I know I've said it before, but I can't imagine how Georgia Tech could not win the national title this year...

Can you imagine if Bosh had stayed?

 

 

ACC >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Big 10

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The ACC teams are going to beat up on each other to the point where each team will probably have at least 3 in conference losses...but I can imagine at least 7 teams going to the Tournament.

[therealworldschampion 0]

You know, I'd love to watch the Mich State/Duke game, then I remember Vitale will be the color man. Oh and he's pissed me off already with Coach K Hummer #1.

[Mik 0]

Remember all that talk after UNC lost their opener? Where is it now that they breezed through the Maui Invitational, pushing 100 in two games and just blowing away the competition.

 

And then they put a beatdown on USC.

 

Felton is the key. They are making the Final Four this year.

[iggymcfly 0]

Can you imagine if Bosh had stayed?

Yeah, I must have said that exact quote at least 15 times last year. He could actually still be a junior this year and be anchoring the defending national champions. And they would have been the champions, because Bosh would have completely shut down Okafor.

 

As for the ACC, they're far and away the best conference in college basketball every year. People just forget becuase the conference schedule beats them down. I mean Georgia Tech was 12-1 with one loss before the conference schedule started, and then they went 9-7 in the ACC. Miami and VT are gonna be lucky to get five conference wins combined this year, including their two wins over each other.

[cabbageboy 0]

Dudes, chill...they beat fucking MICHIGAN last night. Michigan hasn't been on the map since about 1995. Need I remind anyone that Ga Tech beat Illinois-Chicago by 1 a week or so ago? I've seen various levels of shakiness from nearly everyone so far this year (Kansas nearly lost to Vermont, UNC DID lose to Santa Clara, Ga Tech/UIC, Wake vs. Zona). Some teams that have routed opponents simply haven't played anyone yet (UConn, OK St., UK, etc).

 

Why anyone would think UNC's win over USC was notable is beyond me. USC lost to friggin LaSalle last night. We'll see what UNC can do against a real opponent this Sat. with Kentucky. If they squash UK I'll be the first to give them props. I'm pretty sure they'll kill IU tonight, heh.

 

I might be the only one who thinks Florida could be for real at long last. They've been smoking people thus far. We'll get a better idea of how good they are when U of L plays them in the Swamp though.

[lomasmoney 0]

Dudes, chill...they beat fucking MICHIGAN last night. Michigan hasn't been on the map since about 1995. Need I remind anyone that Ga Tech beat Illinois-Chicago by 1 a week or so ago? I've seen various levels of shakiness from nearly everyone so far this year (Kansas nearly lost to Vermont, UNC DID lose to Santa Clara, Ga Tech/UIC, Wake vs. Zona). Some teams that have routed opponents simply haven't played anyone yet (UConn, OK St., UK, etc).

 

Why anyone would think UNC's win over USC was notable is beyond me. USC lost to friggin LaSalle last night. We'll see what UNC can do against a real opponent this Sat. with Kentucky. If they squash UK I'll be the first to give them props. I'm pretty sure they'll kill IU tonight, heh.

 

I might be the only one who thinks Florida could be for real at long last. They've been smoking people thus far. We'll get a better idea of how good they are when U of L plays them in the Swamp though.

Michigan won the NIT last year, had some key players injured and was a preseason top 25 team that has played probably the toughest schedule in the nation to this point. When you have a walk-on starting against a top 5 team you will probably get blown out. A healthy Michigan team plays Georgia Tech much tougher. Thanks

[cabbageboy 0]

Yeah they might have lost by 15 instead of 30. Face it, Michigan is irrelevent in basketball these days and there's not much on the horizon to change that. The Big 10 as a whole is also garbage....that conf. will be lucky to get 3 bids this year (Illinois, Michigan St., Wisconsin). In this ACC/Big 10 challenge they'll be fortunate to win 2 games out of the 9, and that's if Illinois can beat Wake tonight.

 

Incidentally, why is Wake even ranked #1? They'll probably finish 3rd or 4th in the ACC behind Ga Tech, UNC, and maybe Duke (who was very solid last night vs. MSU). My motto on Wake: They didn't do anything when they had Tim Duncan, why would they start now?

[cabbageboy 0]

My bad, I forgot Iowa....they've looked tourney worthy thus far as well.

[Damaramu 0]

Umm.....go Big XII?

They're always like the 3rd best basketball conference behind the ACC and Big East.

Plus either OSU or Kansas are going to the Final Four.

Last year OSU took on the whole east coast and won.......and then lost to Georgia Tech b/c of a DUMB coaching decision and that was putting John Lucas in there to defend.

[iggymcfly 0]

Incidentally, why is Wake even ranked #1? They'll probably finish 3rd or 4th in the ACC behind Ga Tech, UNC, and maybe Duke (who was very solid last night vs. MSU). My motto on Wake: They didn't do anything when they had Tim Duncan, why would they start now?

I agree that Wake shouldn't be ranked #1 and will probably only finish third in the ACC, but if your criteria for "doing anything" is winning the ACC, they actually did do that with Tim Duncan.

 

I still remember the championship game, because that was when Ga. Tech had Stephon Marbury, and they still couldn't quite win the game.

 

Back on Georgia Tech quick, I was saying they should be preseason #1 over Kansas, UNC, and Wake right away, and this game only gave me a little bit of reason for support.

 

UIC's not that bad as they probably are a tournament team, and even in their championship run last year, Ga. Tech almost lost to a mid-major squad, only beating N. Iowa by 2 or 3 in the first round of the tournament. I was just saying the Michigan game showed what they can do when motivated.

 

I say Tech will probably go somewhere along the lines of 34-4 this year and win the NCAA title.

[cabbageboy 0]

"I agree that Wake shouldn't be ranked #1 and will probably only finish third in the ACC, but if your criteria for "doing anything" is winning the ACC, they actually did do that with Tim Duncan."

 

Wake won a very down ACC in 1995 or 96 though. Duke was garbage both those years (Coach K back ailment years). UNC was also nothing great in 96. With Duncan Wake jobbed out to OK State in 1995 (Sweet 16), got maimed by UK in the 96 Elite 8 (a game they shouldn't have been IN if U of L simply holds a late lead), and in 1997 they lost 2nd round to Stanford.

 

By doing something I refer to Final Four, or winning it all. As far as Ga Tech goes, I don't know. If you had told me last year after they crushed UConn that they'd make the final game, I'd say that made sense. But they were NOT an impressive team in the tourney, just barely scraping by N. Iowa, BC, Nevada, Kansas in OT, and OK State before UConn stomped them. In fact it seemed like a flukish run.

 

Dama is right about Kansas or OK St. I think OK St. will make the FF, or at least a regional final. Kansas will be their usual choking selves.

[mike546 0]

Can you imagine if Bosh had stayed?

Yeah, I must have said that exact quote at least 15 times last year. He could actually still be a junior this year and be anchoring the defending national champions. And they would have been the champions, because Bosh would have completely shut down Okafor.

 

I doubt that.

 

UCONN was simply playing insane during the tourney, blowing out EVERY team they faced. It wasn't only Okafor, Gordon and Rashaad too.

[iggymcfly 0]

The reason UConn blew teams out early in the tourney is that they had one of hte easiest draws I've ever seen. All the good teams got knocked out ahead of time, and they just kind of breezed into the Final Four.

 

Then, when they got there, Okafor did get shut down by Shelden Williams, and it wasn't until the last five minutes when both Williams and Randolph fouled out that Okafor finally managed to bring the Huskies back.

 

Now, back to what I came to talk about; is anyone else extremely impressed with Illinois? They dominated Gonzaga by much more than the final margin of about 20, and then they did even better tonight against Wake Forest.

 

I'd say they're definitely a Final Four team, and have looked more impressive than anyone else in the country thus far.

[mike546 0]

Actually, the reason UConn beat Duke was because Calluhoon took out Okfaor when he got in foul trouble, and Krystcheski didn't take out Williams when he did.

[iggymcfly 0]

Yes, Okafor got a lengthy rest in the first half, but even if Krzyzewski had rested Williams for Shavlik Randolph when Okafor was out, it wouldn't have mattered. They both guarded Okafor fine, and they both fouled out.

 

Unless Coach K anticipated that both of his big men were going to foul out for probably the only time all year, and gave third-stringer Nick Horvath time while Okafor was out, there was nothing he could do.

 

When your two top post defenders foul out, that's more indicative of a freaky coincidence than it is indicative of poor coaching.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Good to see Pitt trashing local PA teams.

[cabbageboy 0]

Pitt seasons of late go as thus: They crush jobbers and go about 15-0 and get to the top 5. And they hover around the top 10 and get a 2-3 seed in the tourney playing their ugly style. And they'll be gone by the Sweet 16 when they play someone who can score.

[Mik 0]

Well... down goes Wake.

[alfdogg 0]

Good to see the Hoosiers at least play it down to the wire with UNC.

[Guest The Shadow Behind You]

I strongly despise pre-season rankings.

 

I don't think they should have rankings until Conf. Schedules get under way.

[iggymcfly 0]

Nah, if they waited until after conference play started, everybody would just forget about all the things that ACC teams did outside of their conferences, and they'd get hosed worse than they usually do once they beat each other down in the conference slate.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

You know, I'd love to watch the Mich State/Duke game, then I remember Vitale will be the color man. Oh and he's pissed me off already with Coach K Hummer #1.

Vitale's love for Coach K and Duke is the only announcer/team-player-coach love that surpasses John Madden and his Farve cock-sucking. I never listen to him announce Duke games, opting for the radio or another game. It's just sickening.

[cabbageboy 0]

Most announcers these days suck Favre's cock, so it's nothing shocking.

 

Vitale can be effective when he's NOT calling an ACC game, but when he's calling the ACC, mute the TV. I would go off on my usual tangent about the ACC/Big East conspiracy, but since U of L is JOINING the Big East next year I'll refrain. Heh.

[Damaramu 0]

ACC/Big East conpsiracy? I want to hear. I love sports conspiracies.

[Crimson Platypus 0]

Most announcers these days suck Favre's cock, so it's nothing shocking.

 

Vitale can be effective when he's NOT calling an ACC game, but when he's calling the ACC, mute the TV. I would go off on my usual tangent about the ACC/Big East conspiracy, but since U of L is JOINING the Big East next year I'll refrain. Heh.

Oh I agree with you there, and the thing is, it's not like Farve isn't deserving of praise. Just not to the amount that is heaped on him.

 

I too would love to hear your conspiracy theory.

[cabbageboy 0]

The ACC/Big East conspiracy pertains to basketball, not so much football where the Big East especially is crap. Here goes: Since most of the major media is around the east coast they actively want teams from the ACC and Big East to do well, thus they give them the most media coverage and send the top announcers to those games. I ask you, where was the Big East before ESPN? Sure, the ACC was a credible conference before that but it took on added importance when you hear announcers like Vitale constantly pimping it. Ditto Billy Packer and his ilk.

 

You almost NEVER hear the major networks or announcers give historically important programs like UK, IU, Kansas, or UCLA their due. And note how virtually anything west of the Mississippi is treated almost with contempt (Pac 10, Gonzaga, etc.). Even a league like C-USA that had a FF rep. in 2003 and SIX tourney bids last year is treated as a mid major joke. It's all "The ACC is great" and "The Big East is awesome" and after a while it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy and all the best coaches and recruits go there and the leagues themselves expand to add it new members, of which my boys U of L are a newbie to the BE.

 

Also, come tourney time it seems like these teams conveniently get draws right in their own area. Whenever Duke cruises to a Final Four, it's usually in part because they get two rounds right there in NC (Greensboro, Charlotte, Winston-Salem). I realize that UConn won both nat. titles coming from the west (though quite easy draws), but how about Syracuse getting to stay in state for the 2003 regionals? Meanwhile, Kentucky will get shipped to Birmingham (somewhat hostile SEC territory), or maybe up to Minneapolis (where they have to play nearby teams like Marquette or Wisconsin).

 

Thus, it's all a vast conspiracy that no one especially ends up objecting to, unless you are a fan of teams like UK, OK St., Illinois, Kansas, etc. My team finally said "If you can't beat em, join em" and is headed to the Big East next year. So perhaps I'll have to amend my conspiracy to The ACC Conspiracy. Heh.

[iggymcfly 0]

I don't really agree. Indiana and Michigan both got plenty of love from ESPN until they started sucking. Since the ACC, Big East, and Big Ten all have TV deals with ESPN, they're naturally going to get the lion's share of their attention, but it's certainly not any conspiracy to build them up.

 

Back when the SEC was the best conference in America, most of the announcers on ESPN recognized it, and said that the ACC was only number two. However, for the last few years, the ACC has been so far ahead of the rest of the country, that ESPN had no choice but to stand up and take notice. They had what, maybe 6 Sweet 16 teams last year? Georgia Tech was only fourth in the conference at 9-7, but they still managed to make it all the way to the national title game, blowing through the two premier midwestern teams in Kansas and Oklahoma State.

 

Meanwhile, Stanford was the big story all through the regular season with their undefeated record, but when it came tournament time, they predictably got knocked off by Alabama, and then the other two Pac-Ten teams both lost in the first round. I watched almost every Cougar home game last year, so I'd stand up for West Coast hoops if I could, but it's really not anywhere near the same quality basketball that you get in the ACC.

[Damaramu 0]

I wouldn't really say GT blew through OSU when they won by 2 points and even then it was a coaching brain fart by throwing John Lucas on defense when he couldn't defend anyone all night.

And I maintain that the Big XII is 3rd best right now. Based off of having Kansas and OSU and probably sending 6 tourney teams this year(hell maybe 7).