2010 NCAA Tournament (and NIT) Thread

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

When do Mizzou/Clemson play? I'm excited to watch this style of game?

Tomorrow afternoon in the 2nd set of games.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by MacroGuru

I am a BYU homer and to hear everyone hand the Florida game to BYU scares me...In fact, I do not have a lot of faith in them to win the 1st round game. If they do win, I see them beating K-State due to playing the same type of ball and the confidence builder needed from that first win, but then lose the next game.

You arent giving your team enough credit. Id have them going a lot further if it wasnt for a 2nd round game. Ken Pomeroy loves them.

http://kenpom.com/rate.php

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Tomorrow afternoon in the 2nd set of games.

Thank you!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Today's games are now posted for selection in the online viewer. Might want to bring up that viewer now rather than later. The server to load the viewer gets hammered at game time.

It's nice that they don't have those silly line queues this year. Must have added enough servers to handle the load.

Two hours to go!

[JonInMiddleGA]

My son gets screwed over by a 10p start time for Tennessee on a school night.

[SportsDino]

Izzo is a great coach, just a question of whether he can connect with this team (I think they are suffering from a giant case of big head after last year). The first two games are good matchups so I think there is a chance for momentum heading into Kansas. Also it will be the first game of the weekend, so we'll probably come out with that ugly Big Ten basketball everyone hates, but potentially knocks teams out of their rhythm (see UConn and Kansas last year).

Kansas can put a stop to that though if they come out like UNC did last year. Come out as if the game is on the line, dominate the first ten minutes with your star power, and then run your starters back onto the court if State starts to make a run to get back in it. Don't get down early, cause coming back against State usually means the Spartans getting soft... if they are on their game the defense tends to take a lot of energy to overcome.

All this can be moot though, best to just throw the ball up and see what happens!

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by SportsDino

Izzo is a great coach, just a question of whether he can connect with this team (I think they are suffering from a giant case of big head after last year). The first two games are good matchups so I think there is a chance for momentum heading into Kansas. Also it will be the first game of the weekend, so we'll probably come out with that ugly Big Ten basketball everyone hates, but potentially knocks teams out of their rhythm (see UConn and Kansas last year).

Kansas can put a stop to that though if they come out like UNC did last year. Come out as if the game is on the line, dominate the first ten minutes with your star power, and then run your starters back onto the court if State starts to make a run to get back in it. Don't get down early, cause coming back against State usually means the Spartans getting soft... if they are on their game the defense tends to take a lot of energy to overcome.

All this can be moot though, best to just throw the ball up and see what happens!

They seem like they depend on Lucas too much and dont have much of a mid-range threat like they had last year. Lucious hasnt stepped his game up like I would have expected either. Like has been mentioned though they are coached by Izzo and it seems like he is as good as anyone at getting his team prepared around tourny time. Maryland is probably the perfect team to play in the 2nd round for them. They seem to feed off of finesse teams around tourny time.

[wade moore]

Argh - ODU is an early game. I'll have to try to stream from work, but it's somewhat frowned upon.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

My couple of thoughts before the tourney starts about the team I love and the team I hate.........

-I'd like to think that Mizzou has the better coach in the Clemson/Mizzou matchup and that will be the difference. I honestly also believe that Clemson is the tougher of the two matchups this weekend for Mizzou. IF Mizzou can advance past Clemson, I think we have a very good chance of beating West Virginia. WVU is obviously the better of the two teams, but the quick turnaround coupled with the fact that WVU will be playing their 5th game in ten days when facing Mizzou provides us with an advantage that we won't have in the first game.

-Anyone who doesn't pick KU as national champions is a fool. Yes, you heard that from a Mizzou fan. They are the best team by a good size margin. People often talk about Collins and Aldrich when they talk about how good Kansas is. What really makes KU good is their quality of depth. Henry and Taylor would be leading scorers at most any other program. The Morris twins are extremely gifted when they put their mind to it. Morningstar and Reed will make you pay every time you double down on Aldrich by knocking home a wide open three pointer. I hope and pray that KU doesn't win a national championship. But they should be your top dog in every bracket you create.

[Lathum]

There are some really amusing prop bets on BoDog right now, some surrounding Obamas picks.

Really excited for today, I don't blame people for not giving Udub much of a shot based on their entire body of work, but we have been playing with a different sense of urgency the past few weeks and athletically stack up against just about anybody.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

WVU is obviously the better of the two teams, but the quick turnaround coupled with the fact that WVU will be playing their 5th game in ten days when facing Mizzou provides us with an advantage that we won't have in the first game.

I really don't think 5 games in 10 days is a big deal when you've had 5 days rest in the middle of it.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

My couple of thoughts before the tourney starts about the team I love and the team I hate.........

-I'd like to think that Mizzou has the better coach in the Clemson/Mizzou matchup and that will be the difference. I honestly also believe that Clemson is the tougher of the two matchups this weekend for Mizzou. IF Mizzou can advance past Clemson, I think we have a very good chance of beating West Virginia. WVU is obviously the better of the two teams, but the quick turnaround coupled with the fact that WVU will be playing their 5th game in ten days when facing Mizzou provides us with an advantage that we won't have in the first game.

I totally disagree with you. Not because I am some expert on Mizzou, but because of the reasons you give.

1. WVU is pretty certain they will beat Morgan St and have probably done a considerable amount of film work and game planning for the Mizzou/Clemson style.

2. They had a 5 day layoff between now and the Big East final, plus, odds are WVU wins easily and rests guys in the second half while the Mizzo-Clemson game will likely be a 40 minute affair.

3. With regards to the amount of games played, these are 18-21 year old kids, they aren't broken down 33 year old pros at the end of a 72 game season, physically WVU will be just fine.

[DataKing]

Shame I have to work today, but at least I was able to take tomorrow off.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I totally disagree with you. Not because I am some expert on Mizzou, but because of the reasons you give.

1. WVU is pretty certain they will beat Morgan St and have probably done a considerable amount of film work and game planning for the Mizzou/Clemson style.

2. They had a 5 day layoff between now and the Big East final, plus, odds are WVU wins easily and rests guys in the second half while the Mizzo-Clemson game will likely be a 40 minute affair.

3. With regards to the amount of games played, these are 18-21 year old kids, they aren't broken down 33 year old pros at the end of a 72 game season, physically WVU will be just fine.

1. I'll agree to some extent, though other than the fact that they pressure, there's not a lot of similarities in how the pressure is run. MU runs it much differently than Clemson and both coaches will tell you exactly that.

2. I think you're underestimating Morgan State. I don't see that game as that big of a blowout.

3. This is just a situation where you have to see it to believe it. The stamina issue is always more evident in non-conference Mizzou games. Teams just aren't ready for that kind of pace.

We're obviously getting way ahead of ourselves here as Mizzou has to take care of business first, but it's definitely an intriguing matchup if it happens.

[lynchjm24]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Did I ever say they were "SO GOOD?" or did I miss what I wrote?

You listed a bunch of teams that they beat and said they don't stink. They stink, they stink to high heaven. Teams that don't stink don't fire their coach. Teams that don't stink don't end their season by losing to ND without Harangody, USF and St. John's by 25.

You want to defend Seton Hall and say they don't stink... ok. UConn is a horrible basketball team who's play by play announcer said 9 days ago that it was 'the low point in 20 years of Connecticut basketball'. I was there, stink isn't a strong enough word to describe that team.

[Lathum]

ESPN really needs these games to start. Their coverage has deluded into something you would see on local access television. Watching ESPNU the past 2 days is like watching Weird Al in UHF.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

3. This is just a situation where you have to see it to believe it. The stamina issue is always more evident in non-conference Mizzou games. Teams just aren't ready for that kind of pace.

Mizzou's pace is 69.9 possessions per 40 minutes. Syracuse 69.7, Villanova 71.6, and Providence 71.8.

[Swaggs]

I have no concerns that WVU will suffer from fatigue by potentially playing two games in three days. We won the Big East tournament, against a really good/competitive field, and also won the 76 Classic that featured teams like Butler, Texas ATM, and Minnesota. We play 11 to 12 deep.

Actually, the more I think about this pod of games in Buffalo, the more I like our chances with the matchups. Traditionally, Big East teams suffer when the refs call tight games. I think that, if the refs call a tight game, it will affect the winner of Mizzou/Clemson just as much or more than it would WVU. I also think Mizzou, should we met up, will have a tough time scoring against us due to our size/length, the fact that they will most likely have a physical/uptempo game, and they will have less recovery time. Hopefully, we have an easy time with Morgan State and Clemson/Mizzou play into overtime.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by lynchjm24

You listed a bunch of teams that they beat and said they don't stink. They stink, they stink to high heaven. Teams that don't stink don't fire their coach. Teams that don't stink don't end their season by losing to ND without Harangody, USF and St. John's by 25.

You want to defend Seton Hall and say they don't stink... ok. UConn is a horrible basketball team who's play by play announcer said 9 days ago that it was 'the low point in 20 years of Connecticut basketball'. I was there, stink isn't a strong enough word to describe that team.

You should probably catch up on the rest of the thread. I dont believe I was ever defending Seton Hall or UConn. I believe the whole point of my posts was that it appears the Big East may be a bit overvalued this year.

[lynchjm24]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

You should probably catch up on the rest of the thread. I dont believe I was ever defending Seton Hall or UConn. I believe the whole point of my posts was that it appears the Big East may be a bit overvalued this year.

Well then you are right. Except I look and I'm not sure who is any better....

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

1. I'll agree to some extent, though other than the fact that they pressure, there's not a lot of similarities in how the pressure is run. MU runs it much differently than Clemson and both coaches will tell you exactly that.

2. I think you're underestimating Morgan State. I don't see that game as that big of a blowout.

3. This is just a situation where you have to see it to believe it. The stamina issue is always more evident in non-conference Mizzou games. Teams just aren't ready for that kind of pace.

We're obviously getting way ahead of ourselves here as Mizzou has to take care of business first, but it's definitely an intriguing matchup if it happens.

I don't think Huggins will be surprised by anything that Anderson does (and vice versa), they have played against each other, in conference, for five seasons (four while Huggins was at UC and Anderson at UAB, and another one while both "rookies" in the Big 12).

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Mizzou's pace is 69.9 possessions per 40 minutes. Syracuse 69.7, Villanova 71.6, and Providence 71.8.

There's a big difference between walking the ball up the court every possession and forcing your way through a press and extended half court defenses.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by lynchjm24

Well then you are right. Except I look and I'm not sure who is any better....

Big 12 has very good conference comparisons. They are 1st in head to head vs other Big conferences and 2nd in conference computer rankings to the ACC who has less teams.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

There's a big difference between walking the ball up the court every possession and forcing your way through a press and extended half court defenses.

And I quickly remember why it's impossible to actually have any sort of discussion with you.

[lynchjm24]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Big 12 has very good conference comparisons. They are 1st in head to head vs other Big conferences and 2nd in conference computer rankings to the ACC who has less teams.

And I think Kansas is by far and away the best team, and like Baylor and Kansas State as well. The computer conference rankings really get thrown off by DePaul and Rutgers when you are comparing the Big East to others. DePaul is so bad that in past seasons when you remove them the Big East leaps way up.

There is just no way in the world that the ACC is the best conference. Georgia Tech and NC State as a semifinal in their tourney was an abomination. Terribly played and terribly coached by even the standards of the ACC over the past 5 years. They look good in the computers because they lack a Colorado or Rutgers or Oklahoma, but does anyone really expect anything this weekend from Clemson or Tech or Wake?

[Passacaglia]

I'm not sure if possessions per 40 minutes is really the best way to measure that kind of thing. Doesn't that pretty much just tell you how long the team takes until they get a shot off? I think to judge the effect on stamina, you'd have to figure out if the players are running around a lot, or just standing around waiting to set something up -- in fact, I'd expect a team that's trying to wear out the opposition to hold on to the ball longer and make the defense chase them around for a while.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

I don't think Huggins will be surprised by anything that Anderson does (and vice versa), they have played against each other, in conference, for five seasons (four while Huggins was at UC and Anderson at UAB, and another one while both "rookies" in the Big 12).

Actually, I believe they only coached against each other for three years in CUSA before UC moved right before Anderson's final year at UAB. Huggins record against Anderson is 3-2 with the home team winning every single matchup. They've never met on a neutral court.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by Passacaglia

I'm not sure if possessions per 40 minutes is really the best way to measure that kind of thing. Doesn't that pretty much just tell you how long the team takes until they get a shot off? I think to judge the effect on stamina, you'd have to figure out if the players are running around a lot, or just standing around waiting to set something up -- in fact, I'd expect a team that's trying to wear out the opposition to hold on to the ball longer and make the defense chase them around for a while.

Shots+(FTs/2)+TO's is basically the equation.

Id agree that possessions against Mizzou is different then possessions against Providence but I still dont think a bunch of kids are going to be tired after a 3-4 day break. Just watching the tourny's last week it appeared the teams playing back to backs had better records than the teams with days off.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by lynchjm24

Teams that don't stink don't fire their coach.

They fired him because he was an &*(^&&, not because of his record. The team had shown steady improvement in his 4 years.

Funny, they fired him for his boorish attitude, the character issues of the players, plus they want someone who gets to the tournament every so often. Sounds like the guy they want is Louis Orr!

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Here we go!!!!!!!! Time for some basketball!!!!!!!

[panerd]

Originally Posted by Atocep

And I quickly remember why it's impossible to actually have any sort of discussion with you.

Yeah, it's a little much at times and even though I love Mizzou it is still way over the top. Do I hope we will give WVU a game?(if we beat Clemson) Yes. Does the evidence show that we can handle a team with tall and talented players? No.

[Swaggs]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Actually, I believe they only coached against each other for three years in CUSA before UC moved right before Anderson's final year at UAB. Huggins record against Anderson is 3-2 with the home team winning every single matchup. They've never met on a neutral court.

Huggins never had the opportunity to coach UC in the Big East -- he was dismissed prior to their first game. After checking, they were actually only in CUSA for three seasons ('02/'03 -- '04/0'5) and then again in the Big 12 in '06/'07. I'm not sure on their records against one another, but I'm sure that they are each familiar with one another's systems (though probably not with the caliber of talent they currently have).

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Reynolds and Fisher will not start for Villanova, but will play. No word on what they did.

[Swaggs]

Scary fact (found after checking Huggins' history on wiki): Huggins has 666 wins entering the tournament.

[wade moore]

I grabbed the $10 MMOD app for the iPod.

It's pretty sweet.

GO ODU!

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

-Anyone who doesn't pick KU as national champions is a fool. Yes, you heard that from a Mizzou fan. They are the best team by a good size margin. People often talk about Collins and Aldrich when they talk about how good Kansas is. What really makes KU good is their quality of depth. Henry and Taylor would be leading scorers at most any other program. The Morris twins are extremely gifted when they put their mind to it. Morningstar and Reed will make you pay every time you double down on Aldrich by knocking home a wide open three pointer. I hope and pray that KU doesn't win a national championship. But they should be your top dog in every bracket you create.

You're just doing this to screw us, aren't you?

It doesn't work if you're doing it intentionally. It's like the guy who pulls some prediction out of his ass and it happens. When he follows it up with something like "Oh, and I'd like strippers to deliver me a million dollar", it doesn't happen, does it?

I think of all the teams in the tourney, we have the best chance. However, if you're giving me Kansas or the field for a bet, I'll take the field every time.

SI

[DaddyTorgo]

I took KU in my bracket. Over...'Nova I think, IIRC.

[MacroGuru]

Stupid CBS...teasing me with BYU then moving to the RM/Nova game...now I have to watch the game streaming on the computer.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Swaggs

Scary fact (found after checking Huggins' history on wiki): Huggins has 666 wins entering the tournament.

I know some K-State fans who would think this is apt.

SI

[lynchjm24]

Originally Posted by Samdari

They fired him because he was an &*(^&&, not because of his record. The team had shown steady improvement in his 4 years.

Funny, they fired him for his boorish attitude, the character issues of the players, plus they want someone who gets to the tournament every so often. Sounds like the guy they want is Louis Orr!

Had he been playing today and not Tuesday they wouldn't have fired him, if they really cared about his personality they never would have hired him in the first place.

Abraham is a very good player at RMU, I saw him in person earlier this year and he is excellent.

[Lathum]

Harrongody with 2 early fouls

[whomario]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Shots+(FTs/2)+TO's is basically the equation.

Id agree that possessions against Mizzou is different then possessions against Providence but I still dont think a bunch of kids are going to be tired after a 3-4 day break. Just watching the tourny's last week it appeared the teams playing back to backs had better records than the teams with days off.

I don´t think it´s a matter of stamina, but of being mentally fresh and able to execute under pressure and staying with a game plan. It´s one thing preparing for a pressing defense, another to actually execute come game time, yet anotherto beat it often enough to stay in the game 30 minutes in and then there comes the point where you start to grow tired of having to run hard with the ball after being pushed to the sideline or come to deliver help for a teammate in the backcourt or make the Xth "simple" pass to get the ball up court methodically.
At some point a lot of teams give in and force the issue. As said, i wouldn´t say that is or isn´t the case with WVU as i haven´t seen them play.

Not going to comment on the teams in question, just thought i´d chime in with that

Hate Gonzaga´s first round matchup, Florida State have a lot of length up front which might spell trouble for Gonzaga´s front court and especially Harris who propably isn´t used to using his quickness after playing 6´7 PFs most of the games ... (plus his perimeter skills aren´t earth shattering anyway, pretty good but not brilliant really) .

Can´t wait to get off work and get home (propably in another half hour), hope the March madness on demand option works ...

[sterlingice]

I strive to do what I did last year where I had one game on tv and two on different laptops at my house. However, I'm at work now so only one game at a time.

Tho I could have two different ones, if I had one on my site computer and one on my laptop... hm...

SI

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

I strive to do what I did last year where I had one game on tv and two on different laptops at my house. However, I'm at work now so only one game at a time.

Tho I could have two different ones, if I had one on my site computer and one on my laptop... hm...

SI

This is what I have going on right now!

[sterlingice]

Nice run there in BYU!

SI

[wade moore]

Weird how ODU is the more physical team in this game. ND is leading based on 3-point shots while ODU is owning them inside on offense.

[sterlingice]

That's ODU, tho. They have big conference size but not quite skill.

SI

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

I strive to do what I did last year where I had one game on tv and two on different laptops at my house. However, I'm at work now so only one game at a time.

Tho I could have two different ones, if I had one on my site computer and one on my laptop... hm...

SI

I have a similar set up. My wife thinks I am crazy but she is a woman which means she is stupid.

[muns]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

That's ODU, tho. They have big conference size but not quite skill.

SI

ODU staying in zone is just a bad move IMO. No problems with switching it up to keep Dotre Dame on its toes but sticking with it is going to burn them I think.

[jbergey22]

And we have nova in early trouble.