College Hoops: November

[Damaramu 0]

Well it's always a good day when Duke loses. Unfortunately it looksl ike there won't be many good days this basketball season!

[cabbageboy 0]

One thing that might hurt Duke is that the ACC is way, way down. UNC has nobody left, Maryland is their usual post 2002 mediocre selves. Wake didn't impress anyone in losing to Florida(?!). Please Herb Sendek, save us from the evil Duke!

[SilverPhoenix 0]

Memphis is like the bully in C-USA now that all the other good teams left.

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I'd give CUSA a little bit more credit than that (just a little, but not much), you still have UAB who gets its jollies off by taking down the "big boys" (see Kentucky and LSU), and as long as Mike Anderson is around (I have a feeling he's going to head his ass up to the Big East (*coughRutgerscough*), after this season is over, anyway.) they'll be very dangerous.

 

Then there is UTEP, who I would not sleep on at all.

 

As for Houston.. Until they win big, they aren't shit in my eyes.

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Now as far as the ACC goes, I say it once, and I'll say it again...Boston College and Al Skinner are everyone's best chances to prevent Duke from winning, and possibly running the ACC Table.

[cabbageboy 0]

I keep forgetting BC is in the ACC now. Are they really all that great? Personally I thought they were ludicrously overhyped last year and that was accurate once they lost the 2nd round to Wis.-Milwaukee.

 

I do agree though, C-USA is certainly crappy compared to what it has been the past few years, but this talk of Memphis running the table is absurd. UTEP has made the tourney the past couple years, giving Maryland a scare and taking Utah to the finish. UAB is likely to finish 2nd in the league and I think they can beat Memphis at least once.

 

I know Duke, UConn, and Texas all won their tourneys to start the season, but were any really all that impressive? Duke looked great at times but staggered past Drexel and were on the ropes vs. Memphis. Texas flat out should have lost to WVU before Pittsnoggle decided to choke at the FT line. UConn at least beat Zona and Gonzaga while shorthanded but I would like to see a rematch with Zaga when the Zags hadn't played an epic 3 OT marathon the night before.

[Guest Leelee]

There's a few teams capable of beating Memphis in C-USA... but, they're still the overwhelming favorites. Plus, it doesn't hurt that their conference tournament is on their home court, either.

 

I haven't seen many games, yet... but I'd say UConn is the best team I've seen, thus far. I don't think Dook is close to #1, unless one of their PG's steps up big time.

[Guest]

From what I've seen.......

 

1. UConn

2. Texas

3. Gonzaga

4. Duke

5. Oklahoma

[mike546 0]

The thing is, UConn is still missing its best point guard in Marcus Williams. Once he gets back, they'll get even better. I'm actually shocked they won with the Maui tourney with Austrie at PG, and Gay struggling like he did in the last two games. But both Denham Brown and Hilton Armstrong stepped up.

[Guest Leelee]

WVU showing that Top 15 preseason rank was silliness... with another SEC loss to LSU, at home. When you're probably 2nd best player is a transfer from Bonaventure, you're just not that good. And let's remember that this team still barely snuck into the NCAA's last year, in the first place.

[SilverPhoenix 0]

WVU showing that Top 15 preseason rank was silliness... with another SEC loss to LSU, at home.  When you're probably 2nd best player is a transfer from Bonaventure, you're just not that good.  And let's remember that this team still barely snuck into the NCAA's last year, in the first place.

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I have to agree with you for the time being. West Virginia should NOT be losing to middle of the road SEC Teams, there's no excuse for it. Escpecially when you're at home.

[Guest Leelee]

Some school called Cal State-Stanislaus won at UC Irvine 91-90. Good job, Stanford.

 

Also, tonight is the big night of the ACC-Big 10 challenge. It's tied at 3-3, so far. But, of course the Big 10 will lose it like they do every year.

[Mik 0]

UNC played a great game against Illinois. I expected them to get blown out, but I watched to see the freshmen. They played extremely well - especially Ginyard and Hansbrough.

 

They'll be decent by the end of the year.

[Guest Leelee]

UNC will just get better and better.

 

But, I'm already sick of them as ESPN reminded us 2134124 times that they are getting every good recruit. And they will win, a lot. And the ACC is amazing.

[SilverPhoenix 0]

I ignore this week of College Hoops. Why? For these reasons.

 

1) The Big 10 Never Wins the Challenge.

2) The ACC gets a verbal blowjob, including Clemson and Virginia

 

3) The Big East SOMEHOW gets bashed no less than 5 times during this week. Only to have the same network suck their dick every Monday, starting in 4 weeks.

 

4) The Basketball is usually garbage, escpecially coming from 2 of the Top 3 Conferences in the Nation.

 

I usually dub this the worst week of the season, and can't wait for December to start. Speaking of which, new thread goes up tonight.

[Guest]

I'm gonna watch a little of Duke/Indiana but if Indiana's not within 2 points with 10 minutes to go in the 1st half, I'm changing it. Vitale+Duke=No fun

[Damaramu 0]

Despite being ranked #5 and having great shooters OU STILL goes through offensive droughts where they couldn't throw a basketball into the ocean. It's gotta be Sampson.

[Guest Leelee]

Tulsa stinks this year, too... I thought OU would win that one by like 30.

[cabbageboy 0]

Dama, this is the worry I posed for OU in my initial top 25 thoughts. Can OU hit the broadside of a barn?

 

I too have been lecturing UK fans about why the WVU win isn't as great as they think it is. Let's face it, WVU had a fluke miracle run last year, somewhat similar to Bama in 2004. They had a bunch of dudes get ridiculously hot from 3 pt. land, beat BC and Nova in the BE tourney, and then carried that momentum past Wake and damn near beat U of L. Before that though? They were a middle of the road team.

 

I dunno what I think of UConn yet. They looked bleh vs. Arkansas, pretty decent vs. Zona, and I can't judge the Zaga game since Zaga had to be gassed after that 3 OT game.

 

Yeah, Duke, UConn, and Texas have cemented themselves as the top 3 but I don't think any of them are really amazing or unbeatable.

[Damaramu 0]

Dama, this is the worry I posed for OU in my initial top 25 thoughts.  Can OU hit the broadside of a barn?

 

I too have been lecturing UK fans about why the WVU win isn't as great as they think it is.  Let's face it, WVU had a fluke miracle run last year, somewhat similar to Bama in 2004.  They had a bunch of dudes get ridiculously hot from 3 pt. land, beat BC and Nova in the BE tourney, and then carried that momentum past Wake and damn near beat U of L.  Before that though?  They were a middle of the road team.

 

I dunno what I think of UConn yet.  They looked bleh vs. Arkansas, pretty decent vs. Zona, and I can't judge the Zaga game since Zaga had to be gassed after that 3 OT game.

 

Yeah, Duke, UConn, and Texas have cemented themselves as the top 3 but I don't think any of them are really amazing or unbeatable.

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Well the young kids they have are great shooters. So it begs me to think that Sampson's coaching style leads to the disadvantage. However they can play good defense. They'll goon you to death!

[cabbageboy 0]

How about a UK vs. OU game in the tourney? Say a 2/3 type matchup. Think that would be a pretty affair?

[Crimson Platypus 0]

Well the young kids they have are great shooters. So it begs me to think that Sampson's coaching style leads to the disadvantage. However they can play good defense. They'll goon you to death!

 

What about his coaching style makes these great shooters unable to make a basket?

[cabbageboy 0]

I have a feeling Sampson is somewhat similar to Tubby Smith in that he deemphasizes his players' offensive skills in favor of making them constantly practice D. One problem there is that college hoops is the exception to the rule that defense wins championships. Defense can win the SEC. Defense can win lots of games in the Big 12. It cannot however win a 6 game tourney in this day and age with a shot clock. Because no matter how good you are on defense eventually someone in the tourney will be able to hit some shots...and then you better be able to score.

 

Consider UK's past couple of Elite 8 losses. Marquette actually made shots against them and UK didn't have enough offense to match them. Ditto MSU this past year, they made an insane amount of shots.

 

I think Pitt has had the same problem.

[Guest Leelee]

Good point.

 

And like the adage says, guard play wins championships. That's the only thing I don't like about the NCAA tourney... it nullifies the importance of my beloved hosses. Unless said hosses can make 20 foot shots. But, then they're technically no longer hosses.