Unofficial Official 2012-13 College Basketball Thread

[bhlloy]

Originally Posted by Logan

I love how they completely made up the need to put 0.1 back on the clock to justify that free timeout they gave Arizona. What a shot.

Absolutely ridiculous, as if the last minute of close games weren't obnoxious enough. Although it would surprise me at all to find that the NCAA has handed a directive down that these plays need to be reviewed in order to squeeze a few more high value adverts in.

[TLK]

Rachel Nichols gives off the vibe that she knows how to party...

[mauchow]

Indiana getting pwnd.

THey need to calm the eff down.

[JPhillips]

Can IU get to 20 by half?

[JPhillips]

Keita just took one hell of a fall.

[Matthean]

That's gonna have to be one hell of a half time speech by Crean.

[hoopsguy]

Down to 11, if they can get to 8-10 before half that would be a big win considering it was up to 18 with about 5 left.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Matthean

That's gonna have to be one hell of a half time speech by Crean.

He might want to skip the speech and spend his time figuring out how to score on that zone.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

cuse always takes it foot off the gas. it's my biggest peeve about boeheim. double digit lead they'll try to kill clock with 12 minutes left

[mauchow]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

He might want to skip the speech and spend his time figuring out how to score on that zone.

Watch Wisconsin vs 'Cuse last year....

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I don't think I'd call them a mid-major at the moment, but I could definitely see them falling into that classification within a very short period of time if they aren't both careful AND highly successful.

Originally Posted by Arles

In terms of sustainability - I see Georgetown, Marquette, maybe Butler and then a fringe in Creighton/Xavier.

As RKG points out, Villanova is in that top tier, but I think Butler can fall off a cliff if Stevens leaves, down into the Seton Hall/DePaul/Providence/St. John's level. (I'd also use St. Bonaventure as your 4th A-10 weak sister, and not Dayton.) Georgetown (by reputation) and Marquette (by NCAA Tournament success) are both very good programs, but I'm not sure either is the anchor a Syracuse, Louisville or UConn has been for the Big East. I've always been a bit of a Big East hater, and maybe I grew up at a time when a number of those teams were down, but I've always thought the talk of them as equal to the big 5 conferences was going overboard. Just not sure I see the market for a Creighton-Marquette or Georgetown-Butler game unless both schools are in the top 25.

VCU is going to be in a tough spot after this new "Big East" conference. With no Butler/Xavier, it's down to just St. Louis, La Salle and Temple. Only Temple has shown any kind of sustained relevance. Smart's only chance will be to knock off some big dogs in non-conference play and roll through the conference. Even then, a 4-6 seed is the best he can get. If they start to struggle and even miss the tourney with a subpar RPI, a lot of the bloom will fall off his rose. It's a gamble, I might have jumped at a major conference job this offseason if I were him.

I think the A10 is marginally better than you say, with St. Joe's, LaSalle, UMass and Dayton all at least above-average teams, and George Mason coming in, but even if they aren't I see no reason why VCU's ceiling is a 4-6 seed. Gonzaga just came out of a 2 bid conference where 5 of the 9 teams were rpi deadweights and got a 1 seed.

(It's also worth noting that 3 of his 4 best players come back, and ~75% of scoring, minutes, steals, etc. Maybe he's made up his mind to stay at VCU forever, but it's just as likely he just thinks that he has a really good team coming back and there's always at least one high-paying job open every year, so why not roll with it - especially since he's getting $1.2m/y - half of what he probably would make at a BCS program, but solidly into lifetime family security range, as opposed to 10 years ago when even the best mid-major coaches were getting under $500k/y.)

[hoopsguy]

Syracuse just having whoever is guarded by Hulls get clear-out, go right at him. Only surprised because I haven't seen teams be this effective posting him + Yogi in the games I've watched this year.

[rowech]

I'm pretty sure Cody Zeller should figure out he's not even close to ready for the NBA.

[hoopsguy]

I know everyone assumes Zeller is going pro after this year, but this is some really, really, really bad tape for what would be his final game.

[Julio Riddols]

I'd say Indiana is toast. Syracuse is playing retarded good defense.

[hoopsguy]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

So sick of seeing the Zeller parents.

Actually, I'm ready to see them now.

[Julio Riddols]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

I know everyone assumes Zeller is going pro after this year, but this is some really, really, really bad tape for what would be his final game.

Also, this. He looks over matched athletically a lot for a guy that is supposed to be as good as he is.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

I know everyone assumes Zeller is going pro after this year, but this is some really, really, really bad tape for what would be his final game.

Indeed, and as the game as went on he has started forcing which is turning this game into a disaster for him.

I thought Hulls would be a bigger factor.

[Karlifornia]

How does Tyler zeller's performance affect the UCLA coaching search?

[hoopsguy]

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

How does Tyler zeller's performance affect the UCLA coaching search?

If MJ4H breaks Suitcase Mike shows as a candidate for the job, then this thread will self-destruct.

[Swaggs]

I wonder if Boeheim retires if Syracuse makes the Final Four...

[Logan]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

Also, this. He looks over matched athletically a lot for a guy that is supposed to be as good as he is.

I'm embarrassed to have Zeller on my Top Gun team.

[mauchow]

You're in the S16, down 12 with over a minute to go and you don't at least TRY to win by fouling? Pathetic, Crean.

[mauchow]

OH, NOW YOU FOUL! GENIUS!

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by Julio Riddols

Also, this. He looks over matched athletically a lot for a guy that is supposed to be as good as he is.

Hey Julio! Are you supposed to be playing in the current WW game? You're on the sign up list there, and everyone is wondering where you are.

[Marmel]

Cuse is in the house!

I kept waiting for Indiana to come back but Cuse was bigger, particularly at the guard spots, stronger and more physical.

[Matthean]

I bet Indiana losing screwed up more brackets than Gonzaga did.

[Buccaneer]

Yes, Kodos, we just smile.

[DeToxRox]

I love watching Crean handle losing with class and dignity.

[Kodos]

Knew this would be a tough matchup for us. Syracuse really took us out of our game. Feel bad for Hulls and the other seniors. I hope this motivates Oladipo to come back. I'm pretty sure Zeller will be back. Disappointing loss, but still a good season.

[DeToxRox]

Crean really does remind me of Bret Bielema.

[Matthean]

Also, as good as the Big Ten's rep is, the conference is rather lackluster in the Sweet 16 as of late. With both Michigan and MSU playing higher seeds, the Big Ten could be 1-3 this weekend.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by Matthean

I bet Indiana losing screwed up more brackets than Gonzaga did.

Out of 64 brackets in my office pool, 60 of them had Indiana winning this game. The 4 that didn't were all by the same guy, a Michigan fan.

[Julio Riddols]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Hey Julio! Are you supposed to be playing in the current WW game? You're on the sign up list there, and everyone is wondering where you are.

Yes, totally slipped my mind in the "conflusion" around the house this week. We're all just coming out of a week of battling the flu or whatever it was. I'll make sure to catch up.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

Out of 64 brackets in my office pool, 60 of them had Indiana winning this game. The 4 that didn't were all by the same guy, a Michigan fan.

There's a bit of geographic preference going on there, tho. Just like when I ran pools in the dorms in Lawrence, not shockingly, a majority of people picked Kansas to go far.

SI

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

There's a bit of geographic preference going on there, tho. Just like when I ran pools in the dorms in Lawrence, not shockingly, a majority of people picked Kansas to go far.

SI

Well, both are #1 seeds so it isn't surprising that people would pick them to go far.

[spleen1015]

Brad Stevens ‏@BUCoachStevens 12m

Love walking thru Hinkle in the morning... Anxious to get started on our spring workouts next week.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Matthean

Well, both are #1 seeds so it isn't surprising that people would pick them to go far.

Not necessarily this year- that was back in the late 90s and early 00s.

SI

[cartman]

Stolen from my friend's FB feed.

Hugo Chavez isn't dead, he's coaching Marquette!

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

Out of 64 brackets in my office pool, 60 of them had Indiana winning this game. The 4 that didn't were all by the same guy, a Michigan fan.

You let people have 4 (or more?) brackets in a pool?

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

You let people have 4 (or more?) brackets in a pool?

Yeah, Yahoo allows a max of 5 so that is what I allowed.

I had 3 people with 4 and about 6 or 8 with 2 and the rest were 1. Makes the pot bigger.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

You let people have 4 (or more?) brackets in a pool?

why wouldn't you?

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

Brad Stevens ‏@BUCoachStevens 12m

Love walking thru Hinkle in the morning... Anxious to get started on our spring workouts next week.

Not a good sign

[Chief Rum]

UCLA has offered Stevens their basketball coaching position (unlike Smart). The rumor is $3 M per year or something like that.

Ball is in Stevens' court.

[spleen1015]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

UCLA has offered Stevens their basketball coaching position (unlike Smart). The rumor is $3 M per year or something like that.

Ball is in Stevens' court.

That was the story last night right before the games started, right?

Stevens tweeted that tweet this morning. I don't think he is going anywhere, but Saban lied, so who knows.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

That was the story last night right before the games started, right?

Stevens tweeted that tweet this morning. I don't think he is going anywhere, but Saban lied, so who knows.

No, that story just came from one of the most reliable reporters I know of, and he posted it about 15 minutes ago.

[Chief Rum]

That said, I still think it's more than 50-50 that Stevens stays with Butler.

[spleen1015]

They should just hire Kareem.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

They should just hire Kareem.

Well, he DOES want the job, lol.

[spleen1015]

Brad Stevens staying at Butler despite UCLA overtures - ESPN Chicago

In an earlier text message to ESPN, Stevens reaffirmed his coaching status at Butler, but he also left the door slightly ajar by saying he would not comment on "any other speculation or situation."

"I'm the coach at Butler," he wrote.