Unofficial Official 2012-13 College Basketball Thread

[Izulde]

Expected UNLV squash of Northern Arizona. Some folks were nervous after the slopfest that was the 81-80 win over Dixie State, but it was all good in a 92-54 romp. Man, I love Anthony Bennett. Kid is already something special IMO and he's just going to keep getting better. 18,187 people at the game, biggest home opening crowd in school history.

There's still a long ways to go. When you consider the guys switching positions in addition to the newcomers, we essentially have five new starts. Marshall's never really played PG and Moser is used to playing PF, not SF.

[mauchow]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

See, told you so. Deep end.

You were defending yourself. You can't backtrack what you already did. You sounded ludicrous, i called you out and you defended yourself and then you realized the absurdity and then called yourself sarcastic.

I'm a badgers fan, Usually realistic with expectations, I love bo as a coach and do believe in the guy and I do see improvements with this team that tells me we will be back into the top 4. Why am i considered off the deep end? They won't suck this year as they do have better players this year than last... logical right? Kenpom will agree. As usual.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by mauboy1

You were defending yourself. You can't backtrack what you already did. You sounded ludicrous, i called you out and you defended yourself and then you realized the absurdity and then called yourself sarcastic.

I'm a badgers fan, Usually realistic with expectations, I love bo as a coach and do believe in the guy and I do see improvements with this team that tells me we will be back into the top 4. Why am i considered off the deep end? They won't suck this year as they do have better players this year than last... logical right? Kenpom will agree. As usual.

LOL. I feel like I'm talking to MBBF here. Someone needs some more sunlight.

[Izulde]

Conspiracy Morpheus 2 - what i if told you mbbf and mauboy are the same person

[Passacaglia]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

LOL. I feel like I'm talking to MBBF here. Someone needs some more sunlight.

So you're saying that talking to mauboy is almost as bad as talking to you?

[mauchow]

Eh. Whatever. If I'm in line with mbbf then i must be bat shit crazy.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by mauboy1

Eh. Whatever. If I'm in line with mbbf then i must be bat shit crazy.

+1

[mauchow]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

I'll ignore the comparison (best to agree to disagree) and simply focus on Mizzou. Mizzou has averaged over 25 wins over the past three seasons. While I certainly realize that NCAA results play a big factor, 95% of the other schools would sell their soul for those results.

Mizzou is stacked with talent this year. Pressey has already been selected on a 1st team AA team (see previous post I made). Dixon should step right into Marcus Denmon's scorer role without any issues. Bowers returns from his injury and should be a great force in the post. Transfers Keion Bell and Earnest Ross were both the leading scorers for their old team (note that Ross won't even be starting for Mizzou). Oriachi won a national championship at UConn and should help Bowers find space. Jabari Brown is a 5 star recruit who has had a year to learn under last's year's senior-laden team (he'll be available in December).

Here's the schedule for this year for Mizzou with my prediction:



27-4 is what I have there. The three possible swing games that picked as a win that may swing the other way are @Arkansas, @Texas A&M, and @Tennessee. Even with all of them going away, that's still a 24-7 mark (with likely a couple more wins available in the SEC tourney). That prediction isn't out of line with the media selections I've seen thus far, with Mizzou and Kentucky being the only two teams even considered as a SEC champion selection option.

Here is you defending the notion. You went out of your way to defend yourself. Don't be silly now; but also dont think i think your whacky. I like crazy fans. Its all good.

[BishopMVP]

UMass scores 8 straight to win late in a game that we were leading until the last 5 minutes. Positives - Lalanne looks great (and healthy), they showed the resilience from last year in winning close games late, we probably won't shoot that poorly again, and nobody's going to remember how ugly this W was in March. Negatives - a whole lot. Gotta tighten up and shoot much better to beat Providence Thursday.

[Thomkal]

Probably just jinxed them, but Coastal Carolina is ahead of Ole' Miss 39-36 at the half. Coastal upset fellow SEC member LSU the past two years, so they are hoping to make it three in a row. They likely will now lose by 20 or 30

[britrock88]

Two ACC teams upset tonight...

Delaware beat UVA 59-53 in Charlottesville. It was a 62-possession game, so it was slow, but not bad basketball -- more like the Bennettball that's been installed since Toney arrived on the East Coast. But 43 percent shooting beats 35 percent shooting when all else is equal.

Seeing as the basketball gods let no good deed (eg, a Big Six team going on the road in non-conference play) go unpunished, Miami lost at Florida Gulf Coast 51-63. This one was 67 possessions, and was uglier offensively, as a full 25 percent of possessions ended with a turnover. Despite grabbing 33 percent of available offensive rebounds, Miami's 29 percent shooting doomed it.

In notable mid-major land, Wichita State edged VCU in Richmond, 53-51. (This was the return game for BracketBusters, I think.) This game featured the best defensive/worst offensive play of all, as a 64-possession matchup. There were no excessive turnover rates or anything like that, but both teams shot 35 percent from the field.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

Probably just jinxed them, but Coastal Carolina is ahead of Ole' Miss 39-36 at the half. Coastal upset fellow SEC member LSU the past two years, so they are hoping to make it three in a row. They likely will now lose by 20 or 30

Yep Jinxed and almost by 20-Coastal loses by 18.

[mauchow]

Originally Posted by britrock88

Two ACC teams upset tonight...

Delaware beat UVA 59-53 in Charlottesville. It was a 62-possession game, so it was slow, but not bad basketball -- more like the Bennettball that's been installed since Toney arrived on the East Coast. But 43 percent shooting beats 35 percent shooting when all else is equal.

Seeing as the basketball gods let no good deed (eg, a Big Six team going on the road in non-conference play) go unpunished, Miami lost at Florida Gulf Coast 51-63. This one was 67 possessions, and was uglier offensively, as a full 25 percent of possessions ended with a turnover. Despite grabbing 33 percent of available offensive rebounds, Miami's 29 percent shooting doomed it.

In notable mid-major land, Wichita State edged VCU in Richmond, 53-51. (This was the return game for BracketBusters, I think.) This game featured the best defensive/worst offensive play of all, as a 64-possession matchup. There were no excessive turnover rates or anything like that, but both teams shot 35 percent from the field.

Ouch, yeh that's pretty bad on both counts. I was counting on a good game with the connections that Wisconsin and Virginia have. I am still certain it will be a fun one for the fans of the teams to watch.

[Lathum]

It's going to be a very long season. losing at home to Albany, are you shitting me?

[HeavyReign]

Originally Posted by Lathum

It's going to be a very long season. losing at home to Albany, are you shitting me?

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by Lathum

It's going to be a very long season. losing at home to Albany, are you shitting me?

Same bad game we've seen just about every season from Romar & the crew. He's a pretty good recruiter and has taken this program to heights they haven't seen since the '50's, but he's not the greatest coach in the world. Way too many fundamental breakdowns on defense, letting that little 3-ball specialist get free too many times, allowing way too many backdoor screens, an offense that has far too much standing around, etc.

I wouldn't necessarily take this game as a sign of a bad season, but it does show that the backcourt depth is just not there - losing Suggs was a huge blow. No way Hikeem Stewart should be getting major minutes.

[MrBug708]

Romar is going to push Aaron Gordon to UW

[MrBug708]

Time for UCLA to Mike Brown, Ben Howland

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

Same bad game we've seen just about every season from Romar & the crew. He's a pretty good recruiter and has taken this program to heights they haven't seen since the '50's, but he's not the greatest coach in the world. Way too many fundamental breakdowns on defense, letting that little 3-ball specialist get free too many times, allowing way too many backdoor screens, an offense that has far too much standing around, etc.

I wouldn't necessarily take this game as a sign of a bad season, but it does show that the backcourt depth is just not there - losing Suggs was a huge blow. No way Hikeem Stewart should be getting major minutes.

yup, last year it was getting torched at home by South Dakota State. With such a weak OOC schedule this loss is going to be a killer come tourny time

[Logan]

Arizona senior sees change coming in recruiting

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Time for UCLA to Mike Brown, Ben Howland

Every offseason, I get jazzed about the talent coming back on UCLA etams and every November, it gets dashed by the appearance of the actual product on the floor. I can't think that a team which struggles that much at home against UCI is going to come anywhere near a national title, even if Shabazz is finally allowed to play.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Awfully good night last night. MU wins big, KU and UK lose. Not a better trifecta than that if you're a Mizzou fan.

[tarcone]

Who would have thought the B1G would be the premier basketball league in the nation. We are turning into the ACC. Terrible football and awesome basketball.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by tarcone

Who would have thought the B1G would be the premier basketball league in the nation. We are turning into the ACC. Terrible football and awesome basketball.

It's AWFULLY early to make that proclamation. Probably best to use the 10-game rule like Pomeroy uses. Not much to go on until we get about a third of the way into the season.

[Kodos]

IU is doing what they can to improve in both. Love the direction both in football and basketball. Great time to be a Hoosier.

[mauchow]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

It's AWFULLY early to make that proclamation. Probably best to use the 10-game rule like Pomeroy uses. Not much to go on until we get about a third of the way into the season.

It's pretty easy to see the talent this year in the B1G to proclaim already that the B1G is the best of the rest this year.

/homer

[mauchow]

Good start for the Badgers(not), missing all their shots so far, most of them threes. Not much has changed from last year's offense so, prepare to see a lot of threes tonight. 7-0 Florida up.

[Kodos]

Wisky getting rolled by 20 with 4 minutes left. Lookin' good, Bo! I smell Big Ten Championship!

[Izulde]

Runnin' Rebels Sign Two - UNLV Official Athletic Site

Christian Wood from Findlay Prep and juco Jelan Kendrick sign LOIs to join UNLV.

I absolutely love that Dave Rice is tapping into Findlay Prep. Last year we got Anthony Bennett, who is the first McD's High School All-American to sign with UNLV straight out of high school in 30 years, and now this year we nab Wood, who reportedly looks like an excellent get as well.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Here's the number of top 25 classes by conference. SEC tops both lists with a few conference close behind.

ESPN Top 25

SEC 5
B12 4
BEast 4
B10 4
ACC 4
Pac12 2
Indep. 1
CUSA 1

Rivals Top 25

SEC 5
B12 4
BEast 4
ACC 4
B10 3
Pac12 3
MWest 1
CUSA 1

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

dola

Creighton having some issues with UAB. Only up by 2 with 13 to go.

[mauchow]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Wisky getting rolled by 20 with 4 minutes left. Lookin' good, Bo! I smell Big Ten Championship!

A hot start for Florida coupled with better athletes we were never able to contain them.

I have never liked Ryan Evans. He's not a basketball player, he thinks he can do so much more than he can... He can't shoot for shit and when he does make them I think they're lucky makes to be honest. Ah, well. At least we get to watch Dekker grow and hopefully improve our defense and string together a good season. I still foresee a top 4 finish in the B1G even for how badly we got smoked tonight. One game doesn't mean anything, fortunately.

Missing Gasser hurts a ton for us defensively and from a leadership stand-point. He was our only starting guard returning and he played 30+ minutes a game last year.

[Balldog]

IMO

NCAA tourney > recruiting class ranking

[MrBug708]

Early signing is mostly useless. Doesnt factor in college firings and spring signings

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by Balldog

IMO

NCAA tourney > recruiting class ranking

Just like games in November don't really matter. I'm happy Duke beat Kentucky, but will they be able to do it again in March?

[MrBug708]

Overheard conversation suggests NCAA prejudged Shabazz Muhammad case

A conversation overheard on an Aug. 7 commuter flight from Chicago to Memphis, Tenn., has prompted attorneys representing UCLA basketball player Shabazz Muhammad to call for the NCAA to drop its investigation and declare him eligible.

The conversation came to light in an email from an attorney who said she was seated behind a man who was speaking loudly about the work of his girlfriend, an "attorney with the NCAA."

The girlfriend, whom he identified as "Abigail," was investigating Muhammad. The man made it clear that the NCAA would find Muhammad ineligible and not allow him to play this season, the email said. Abigail Grantstein, an assistant director of enforcement, is the NCAA's lead investigator on the Muhammad case.

The attorney, who confirmed her story in a telephone interview with The Times on Wednesday, said in her email that she was concerned with the lack of confidentiality and "the cavalier discussion of this young man's future being tossed about for everyone to hear."

The email was sent to Dennis Thomas, a former chairman of the NCAA's infractions committee. The attorney said she also sent a copy to UCLA and to attorney Robert Orr after learning that he was Muhammad's personal attorney. The Times also obtained a copy of the email.

Orr and attorney Bill Trosch, who is representing the Muhammad family, said this revelation was reason enough for the NCAA to declare Muhammad eligible immediately. The NCAA announced last Friday that the 6-foot-6 swingman was ineligible for violating its amateurism rules.

"This puts a far brighter light on the failings of the NCAA process, and it calls into question the impartiality of the decision," Orr said. "They have prolonged this investigation, trying extraordinarily hard to find some basis to rule Shabazz ineligible — for whatever reason, and I don't know what that reason is."

The NCAA had not seen the email and did not know it existed until it was brought to the organization's attention Wednesday, spokeswoman Stacey Osburn said. "While we cannot comment on specifics, we expect our staff to protect the integrity of the process and any credible claims to the contrary are taken seriously," the NCAA said in a statement.

Osburn would not confirm nor deny whether the NCAA was investigating the matter.

The timing of the incident is key, according to Muhammad's representatives. The flight was only eight days after NCAA investigators say they first requested documents from Muhammad's family. The first installment of what was thousands of pages of documentation was not delivered until Sept. 25, and Muhammad's parents, Ron Holmes and Faye Muhammad, were not formally interviewed until Nov. 1 and 2.

"This confirms our greatest fears, that this case was decided long before the facts were gathered," Trosch said. "This taints the whole process, and I think Shabazz should be able to play immediately."

The attorney signed her name to the email but requested anonymity from The Times to avoid an onslaught of media attention. Her email to Thomas was dated two days after the flight.

In her email, she explained that she did "not follow college sports regularly and had to ask if Muhammad played football or basketball."

"I do not have any interest in this matter," she wrote.

A spokeswoman in Thomas' office — he is commissioner of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference — referred an inquiry to Osburn of the NCAA.

In a telephone interview, the attorney expanded on what she heard: "He was insistent that, 'My girlfriend is investigating him and he's dirty' and … 'I can guarantee you that he's not going to play.'

"He talked specifically about taking money. That's what he kept saying: 'Abby knows it' and 'They're dirty and they were taking money and she's going to get them.'

"I was more offended in the delight he seemed to take in something that was very serious and could ruin this man's life, which is the reason that this stuck with me."

The attorney said the man referred to his girlfriend by name, mentioned a connection she had to Kansas and said she was a former college athlete. Abigail Grantstein was a member of Ohio State's swimming and diving team and attended law school at Kansas, according to her biography on LinkedIn.com.

In its ruling against Muhammad, the NCAA said that in addition to other "pending issues," he accepted airfare and lodging for three unofficial recruiting visits. The visits were to Duke and North Carolina and were paid for by financial advisor Benjamin Lincoln.

The Muhammad family has said Lincoln is a longtime family friend whose assistance should be allowed under NCAA rules.

UCLA on Wednesday appealed the NCAA's decision. The case is expected to be heard by an appeals committee on Friday.

If the committee sides with UCLA, Muhammad would probably become eligible immediately. If the committee denies the appeal, Muhammad would have to go through a reinstatement process to regain his eligibility.

[email protected]

Twitter: @BaxterHolmes

[spleen1015]

Poor kid. If you follow the rules, this sort of thing doesn't happen.

[BishopMVP]

Missouri fans - any info from your side on why Zach Coleman de-committed. He's signed with UMass now, and it seems like he might be a bit of a head case. Was he being over-recruited or pushed out from the Missouri side, or was it really just re-opening the recruitment like the dad said?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Missouri fans - any info from your side on why Zach Coleman de-committed. He's signed with UMass now, and it seems like he might be a bit of a head case. Was he being over-recruited or pushed out from the Missouri side, or was it really just re-opening the recruitment like the dad said?

Was really multiple scenarios. We had assistant coach changes. Some of the coaches which were recruiting him moved on to better jobs at other schools. Also, we started recruiting and eventually signed Johnathan Williams III, who is a much higher rated PF in the same class so playing time for Zach would be a concern.

[Butter]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Wisky getting rolled by 20 with 4 minutes left. Lookin' good, Bo! I smell Big Ten Championship!

I lolled.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

Poor kid. If you follow the rules, this sort of thing doesn't happen.

I think they made some decisions they shouldn't have. They should have made sure the financial advisor qualified as the family friend they say he is before accepting his offer to pay for those trips.

That said, from everything I have seen, it appears they thought they were on the up and up (and maybe still are). They might be mistaken, but it doesn' look like they were trying to work the system.

And if all that is true about the NCAA, then that's just a shit organization through and through. Not that that would shock anyone.

[dawgfan]

So we're going to take the overheard braggings of the boyfriend of the lead investigator as clear evidence about the NCAA's intentions in this case?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Upset alert. Kansas trails UT-Chattanooga by eight at home at halftime.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

So we're going to take the overheard braggings of the boyfriend of the lead investigator as clear evidence about the NCAA's intentions in this case?

If there is any truth to it, the NCAA would be wise to move forward ASAP. The lawsuit goes away when Shabazz can play. If he's deemed ineligible, the lawsuit will go on, even if the season is already done

That being said, UCLA is going to put over 120 on a team better than Albany

[cartman]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Upset alert. Kansas trails UT-Chattanooga by eight at home at halftime.

No mention that KU won by 14?..............

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by cartman

No mention that KU won by 14?..............

You really asking Hannity to provide fair and reasonable reporting?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by cartman

No mention that KU won by 14?..............

My apologies. I had a sick two year old that threw up just after halftime. I felt caring for her was a better use of my time over reporting the KU final score to FOFC. I'm sure the rest of us that don't have the Longhorn Network were able to get the final score from ESPN.com.

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

My apologies. I had a sick two year old that threw up just after halftime. I felt caring for her was a better use of my time over reporting the KU final score to FOFC. I'm sure the rest of us that don't have the Longhorn Network were able to get the final score from ESPN.com.

.

[MrBug708]

Why do I get that feeling that Kansas lost, the iPhone would have been in the bathroom, letting us know what happened

[BishopMVP]

UMass continued their two game trend of dominating a team early, being up ~8-10 when it feels like 20, let the other team back in the game right around halftime, go down 4-5 late, get a couple DEEP 3's in the last minute+, then win at the buzzer. This time with a fall-away tip in off a miss.

NC State today at 5pm. By objective measures, they should win easily off our first two games, but I'm pretty sure we just play to the level of our competition, so it'll be close. Odds on one team having a double digit lead at some point and losing it are about 90%.