2012 NCAA Tournament Thread

[Scoobz0202]

Why do they always use his full name?

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Radii

Apologies to Kansas fans for James Michael McAdoo, he clearly ignored the no defense pact the rest of the players have with that steal.

It will be returned in kind with a Withey block at some point and we'll all be even

SI

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

Why do they always use his full name?

Future serial killer or assassin?

SI

[sterlingice]

Thanks for the 3 Robinson.

Now don't ever do that again

SI

[Radii]

White showing some scrappiness and an energy level that no one on UNC had against Ohio, good stuff!

[sterlingice]

I've seen this game for a Roy Williams team a lot from his days for KU. It's where the team is perfectly content to score at will and won't play any D.

Not used to seeing that from a Bill Self team, tho

SI

[hoopsguy]

UNC needs Henson to get back in this game ... Robinson is going around Zeller with impunity when facing up, no threat of a shot-blocker when he gets past his man.

Seems like Jayhawks are getting more "scrappy" buckets, while UNC is operating much more efficiently than you would expect in the halfcourt. Has to be discouraging for them to be down 5.

Also, how badly has Barnes drilled his draft stock? He has been a non-factor in the last game and a half. His numbers last year when Marshall wasn't in the lineup were pretty weak as well ...

[sterlingice]

That was the most unambiguous charge ever. Zeller was just standing there for a good second- you almost never see that.

(Elijah, you gotta know better)

SI

[Radii]

Huge sequence for UNC there, I was really getting worried that Kansas would blow it wide open going into halftime.

[Radii]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

Also, how badly has Barnes drilled his draft stock? He has been a non-factor in the last game and a half. His numbers last year when Marshall wasn't in the lineup were pretty weak as well ...

I think he heard you...

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Radii

Apologies to Kansas fans for James Michael McAdoo, he clearly ignored the no defense pact the rest of the players have with that steal.

Looking back at this comment, it was the smartest thing to do. They're calling the game fairly tight so everyone's just backing off on playing defense to avoid foul trouble.

SI

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Radii

Huge sequence for UNC there, I was really getting worried that Kansas would blow it wide open going into halftime.

I don't think it's possible for that to happen in this game. Whenever a team will start to get a lead here, the other will use up a couple of fouls and ratchet up the defensive effort to come back.

SI

[Radii]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Looking back at this comment, it was the smartest thing to do. They're calling the game fairly tight so everyone's just backing off on playing defense to avoid foul trouble.

This is true, McAdoo's plays were both jumping on something out in the open floor, which he's done all tournament.


Ugh, really ugly final possession but I'm obviously thrilled with this half, especially the way Carolina played after Kansas got ahead 40-33.

[sterlingice]

And I'm happy to be tied at half, considering how our last couple of first halves have done. This one's probably coming down to the last couple of minutes unless one team gets really cold

SI

[Radii]

I've enjoyed listening to Frank Martin but even in this setting I'm completely terrified of him.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Radii

I've enjoyed listening to Frank Martin but even in this setting I'm completely terrified of him.

+1

Tho I was hoping for something more than that "How proud are you of your players" layup to Motta. You're a coach- ask something slightly more interesting

SI

[hoopsguy]

So our resident UNC/KU fans are now locking in on the game instead of doing the "live journal" thing?

[dave731]

Taylor taking the 3 pt shot there had me yelling at the TV. Why take a shot like that with 25+ seconds left on the shot clock??!!

[dave731]

ELIJAH JOHNSON!!!

[Radii]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

So our resident UNC/KU fans are now locking in on the game instead of doing the "live journal" thing?

I went into this with zero expectations without Marshall so the first half was pretty relaxed, but now.. not so much anymore.

It still feels like Kansas is clearly better, coming up with a huge defensive possession every time they need one and keeping the lead the entire half, but hell as long as it stays close anything can happen in the end.

[kingfc22]

That was one hell of a finish.

[Radii]

dola, never mind, its over, Kansas just locked this thing down on defense

[Lathum]

pop goes unc

[MizzouRah]

I bet SI is going nuts!

[dave731]

ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK!!! Kansas is closing this thing STRONG!

[Radii]

I don't understand why it took 37 minutes for Kansas to do this, it seems like they could have at any point in the second half.

Grats SI.

[Easy Mac]

I love how no one covered White for about 5 minutes, they didn't care about him. So he finally dribbles, and is rejected. They still leave him wide open, and he bricks a wide open three.

[Young Drachma]

Great game. Was rooting for UNC for top gun purposes, so naturally they don't win.

[hoopsguy]

Yep, my brackets are done with this result. Maybe a little bitter about it because I really feel like UNC would win this game with their PG intact. The offensive execution in the second half was pretty lousy for the Tar Heels.

Hate to say something good about Self, but he had a lot to do with the win today. He should get a bunch of credit this year for taking a team to the Final Four, just as he has gotten crushed for his more talented teams crashing and burning in the past.

[MizzouRah]

Congrats KU fans... oh my, did I just say that?

Actually, as a college basketball fan, Kansas vs Ohio St. shapes up to be a great game to watch.

[sterlingice]

Oh my gosh, wow. We have no business being in the Final Four with our team this year and I am so happy

A few thoughts but first I'm going to enjoy this

SI

[Scoobz0202]

Excited for the rematch. Kansas struggled against a Sullinger-less OSU team at home. Hopefully a full OSU team can take of bidness.

Should be a good game.

Oh, and Go Louisville.

[Radii]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

Maybe a little bitter about it because I really feel like UNC would win this game with their PG intact.

I don't mean to discredit Kansas but yeah, pretty much this. White really filled in nicely, but the phrase "out of sync" has been said by pretty much everyone about UNC's offense the last two games.

[Scoobz0202]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

Hate to say something good about Self, but he had a lot to do with the win today. He should get a bunch of credit this year for taking a team to the Final Four, just as he has gotten crushed for his more talented teams crashing and burning in the past.

Really, it makes no sense. He couldn't do shit with a loaded team, and now he is in the final four.

[dave731]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

Really, it makes no sense. He couldn't do shit with a loaded team, and now he is in the final four.

Kansas' run this year makes absolutely no sense at all....but I'm loving it! This Final Four is going to be good times!

[Comey]

I think Kansas winning seals my pool. I now have a one-point lead over second place; we both share Kentucky in the final, but he had UNC in the final too, so he can get no more points after Kentucky. We both also have Ohio State in the Final Four.

I have Kentucky over Kansas in the final, so that happening would put it away.

[sterlingice]

Sorry, Radii- I had seen that script too many times for a Roy Williams team at Kansas. Below is a chat on Google with a fellow KU alumnus with about 6 to go in the game as it was going back and forth:

Originally Posted by chat

This feels so much like the average Roy Williams Kansas team
UNC, I mean
the whole "we don't play D until we need to"
because they're so offensively talented
but then they'll take stupid shots
and it will be closer than it should be late
hopefully we can take advantage of it

It's maddening. I think I posted this earlier in the thread when maybe it was you who posted the "if we play our game, we're the best of anyone in the country". I remember that exact feeling a lot of times here and then we'd run into some defensive team that would take us out of the game and we'd go "how did that happen".

Roy has the team that when it's at it best, it is amazing. Go watch the 2003 Marquette-Kansas Final Four game. They slaughtered the Dwayne Wade led team 59-30 in the first half. Who scores almost 60 in the first half of a Final Four game?!? But then Syracuse slowed us down, and we were left going "wow- how did we shoot so bad" in the final game.

Bill Self is more moderated. We don't win by as much and he can't recruit talent the level of Roy Williams. But it's rarely lacking in intensity and steady and plodding and predictable.

BTW, I am now going to have to go get a new Final Four shirt for KU. I will be very happy to get this one

SI

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by dave731

Kansas' run this year makes absolutely no sense at all....but I'm loving it! This Final Four is going to be good times!

I don't care if we win another game. We have no business being here and we're playing with house money. I'm just so happy about this team

sI

[dave731]

Originally Posted by Comey

I think Kansas winning seals my pool. I now have a one-point lead over second place; we both share Kentucky in the final, but he had UNC in the final too, so he can get no more points after Kentucky. We both also have Ohio State in the Final Four.

I have Kentucky over Kansas in the final, so that happening would put it away.

Are you in the FOFC CBS pool? I am in first with Kansas and Louisville in the Championship and Kansas winning it all.

[ColtCrazy]

Congrats SI. You may not think this is one of Kansas' better teams, but considering how erratic OSU can look at times, there's a shot at the final game now.

I'm not really sure any of the last 3 have a shot against Kentucky. Not Louisville, they don't match up well and got creamed when they played last time. MAYBE Ohio St...they have physical guards and Sullinger will keep Davis busy, but if Sullinger gets in trouble it's over. Kansas? Maybe. They've been an enigma so far. Could be a sleeper champion really.

[spleen1015]

Grats SI.

Thank you Kansas for getting rid of UNC. Now please get rid of Sullinger.

Thanks.

[cougarfreak]

Originally Posted by ColtCrazy

Congrats SI. You may not think this is one of Kansas' better teams, but considering how erratic OSU can look at times, there's a shot at the final game now.

I'm not really sure any of the last 3 have a shot against Kentucky. Not Louisville, they don't match up well and got creamed when they played last time. MAYBE Ohio St...they have physical guards and Sullinger will keep Davis busy, but if Sullinger gets in trouble it's over. Kansas? Maybe. They've been an enigma so far. Could be a sleeper champion really.

Louisville only lost by 7 last time, and they were pretty beat up. Louisville/UK will be all emotion. I think that may favor Louisville a bit more, their players have more invested, they aren't one or two year wonders. It'll be interesting for sure.

[sterlingice]

Kentucky makes me think of 2008 Memphis, right down to the soon-to-be-vacated part of the title game. But with even more talent- scary as that is: 5 NBA 1st rounders, according to nbadraft.net.

That said, this Kansas team isn't close to the 2008 version. There are 2 NBA players in the current rotation as opposed to 8. Of the 8 players who played in the 2008 National Title game, 6 were drafted and 2 others were signed to NBA teams before being let go. So that's 8 NBA or near-NBA caliber players.

For the current Kansas rotation, 2 are going to the NBA after this season (Robinson, Taylor), Withey might be drafted just because he's 7' but has no offensive game, and the rest likely have no NBA prospects (Releford, Teaford, Young, and Johnson). The team is not deep: it's 2 stars and 5 role players so the talent just isn't the same.

So, I can't say I'm too optimistic about KU's chances. Still, 2 games and win a title.

SI

[timmynausea]

The 2010 Kentucky team had 5 guys drafted in the 1st round - 1.1 John Wall, 1.5 DeMarcus Cousins, 1.14 Patrick Patterson, 1.18 Eric Bledsoe and 1.29 Daniel Orton - but they lost to a tough Big East team with a head coach that could coach circles around Cal. That was WVU, but you could use those words to describe Louisville this year.

Huggins went to a 1-3-1 zone that the Kentucky freshmen never figured out. It will be interesting to see what Pitino throws at them. I'm not saying I expect Louisville to win, but I think they've got a real chance.

[RedKingGold]

Originally Posted by timmynausea

The 2010 Kentucky team had 5 guys drafted in the 1st round - 1.1 John Wall, 1.5 DeMarcus Cousins, 1.14 Patrick Patterson, 1.18 Eric Bledsoe and 1.29 Daniel Orton - but they lost to a tough Big East team with a head coach that could coach circles around Cal. That was WVU, but you could use those words to describe Louisville this year.

Huggins went to a 1-3-1 zone that the Kentucky freshmen never figured out. It will be interesting to see what Pitino throws at them. I'm not saying I expect Louisville to win, but I think they've got a real chance.

So, Cal got "outcoached" but the reason Kentucky lost that year was the inexperience of Kentucky's young team?

[Radii]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

It's maddening. I think I posted this earlier in the thread when maybe it was you who posted the "if we play our game, we're the best of anyone in the country". I remember that exact feeling a lot of times here and then we'd run into some defensive team that would take us out of the game and we'd go "how did that happen".

Yeah, I was the one that posted that. I would have loved to have watched that game with Marshall but you play the hand you're dealt and Kansas responded properly in the second half and did great.

I find Roy a lot less maddening, I have no idea why he never got a title with Kansas but the two titles he's gotten at UNC make pretty much anything forgivable, except for the Matt Doherty years, I still blame him for that mess and always will, but at least he's redeemed himself.

It was of course a very good season, maybe one of the more memorable seasons that didn't end in a title. The aircraft carrier game was a huge thrill, UNC/Kentucky was one of the best games of the regular season, the Austin Rivers shot was an epic addition to the UNC/Duke Rivalry and UNC's response in Durham was wonderful. Watching Marshall break the ACC Single Season Assist record and watching what Tyler Zeller became as a senior were truly special. Also, Lehigh. ahhhh lehigh.

Now to see who goes pro. I can't imagine Barnes staying but god he doesn't seem ready. Come back and work on your 3 point shot buddy. Same for Marhsall, become a legit offensive threat next year! McAdoo showed signs of being an amazing athlete in the postseason, he'll be lots of fun to watch next year.

[GoBuckeyes]

New Orleans is going to be an awesome place to be this Saturday..but I think being in Lexington/Louisville this week would be just a bit better! The T-shirts and the trash talking has already started!

[Ksyrup]

We're going to be in Tennessee for a softball tournament so will miss the madness in Lexington if they win. You wouldn't believe how many teams canceled or moved practice yesterday because the game was at 2:30.

[GoBuckeyes]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

We're going to be in Tennessee for a softball tournament so will miss the madness in Lexington if they win. You wouldn't believe how many teams canceled or moved practice yesterday because the game was at 2:30.

Being around for the '92 Duke game, the '96 and '98 titles...trust me, yes I would believe it Shame yer gonna be out of state, you're right on the line between cities, it's gonna be fun this week, that's for sure.

[GoBuckeyes]

I meant to add, they almost pulled this stunt off in '04 but Michigan St. dumped UK in the Elite 8. I was actually down in Lexington for a family visit during that time. Most of the UK crowd donned Louisville gear for support against Illinois that weekend..somehow if UL beats UK, I don't see that happening too much for Monday night. That is unless Louisville gets Kansas, then maybe...God I wished I was there!!