Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

[Deuce2223]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

BEARS GO 30-0!!!!

That's right folks with a (97-83) victory over the NAU Lumberjacks in the Big Sky Championship, the Northern Colorado Bears have finished the season 30-0 since losing their first game of the season to the UNC Tar Heels to finish the season at 31-1.

Despite losing Senior Cam Atkinson for 2 weeks with a strained achilles, the Bears continued their winning way's in time for Atkinson to return for the final 2 games of the regular season and the Big Sky tournament. With 4 games under his belt since his return, Atkinson averaging 16.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.2 SPG and 1.6 BPG this season is looking forward to lead his team into the NCAA tournament with one goal on his mind. A Elite 8 showing or better..

With Atkinson out of the lineup SO Nate Forte joined the starting lineup and stepped up as he is now #2 on the team in scoring (14.4 PPG) well adding 4.8 RPG, 1.1 SPG, and 1.4 BPG, well fellow SR Bigman Aron Thompson also added double digits finishing the season with a 12.9 PPG and 5.6 RPG average.

UNC's bigmen were not the only ones doing the scoring though, the backcout duo of JR's T. Sylia (8.6 PPG, 4.4 APG) and W.M. Brady (10.1 PPG) both hit over 40% from 3pt, well JR SF K. Conway finished the season with a 7.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.5 APG, 1.0 SPG average.

Another player who really stepped up this season with both Forte and Atkinson missing time was 7'0 JR Jose Esterkamp. The backup center finished with 8.1 PPG game off the bench.

[Deuce2223]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

TOP-25 NEWS, BEARS FINISH #9!!!!

With Selection Sunday just hours away here is a look at the Final polls of the season.

The UNLV Running Rebels finished the season #1 in both the Media and Coaches Poll with a 30-2 record. UNLV has won 26 straight games since losing to Northern Colorado back on Nov 30th, winning both the MW regular season and conference titles, but like UNC playing in the MW conference has left them with just the #12 RPI.

The Duke Blue Devils finish the year #2 in the Media and #3 in the Coaches Poll with a 26-2 record. Duke won the ACC regular season title going 15-1, but lost in the ACC tournament to Virginia in the Quarter finals, however that didn’t stop them from having the #1 RPI.

Tennessee finished #3 in the Media and #5 in the Coaches Poll after going 28-5. Like UNLV, the Vol’s finished strong having won their past 10 games taking home both the SEC’s regular season and conference titles, leaving them with the #2 RPI.

Louisville finished #4 in the Media and #2 in the Coaches Poll with a 26-6 record. The Cards finished #2 in the Big East regular season (14-4) behind UConn and then lost to Georgetown in the Big East semi-finals ending the year with the #11 RPI.

Michigan State finished #5 in the Media and Coaches Poll with a 26-6 record as well and like Louisville finished #2 in the Big Ten and also lost in the semi-finals of the Big Ten tournament, but their #3 RPI has them still thinking about a possible #1 seed today.

Alabama finished #6 in the Media and #7 in the Coaches Poll with a 23-6 record finishing #2 in the SEC regular season before losing in the Quarter finals of the SEC tournament ending the season with the #7 RPI.

Oregon finished #7 in the Media Poll and #6 in the Coaches Poll with a 27-5 record. The Ducks finished #2 in the Pac-10 behind USC, but did manage to win the Pac-10 tournament title beating UCLA to finish with the #17 RPI.

Texas finished #8 in the Media Poll and #10 in the Coaches Poll with a 27-5 record. The Longhorns won the Big 12 regular season title but lost to Texas Tech in the Big 12 tournament finishing the season with the #5 RPI.

Northern Colorado with their 30 straight wins climbs to #9 in the Media Poll but finished just #15 in the Coaches Poll. With the #9 RPI in the nation, the Bears have a very good chance at landing a #2 or #3 seed come selection time.

UNC started the year #1 but finished the year #10 in the Media Poll and #8 in the Coaches Poll with a 24-10 record. They finished 5th in the ACC standings and lost to Virginia in the ACC semi-finals, finishing with the #10 RPI.

The Rest of the Top-25 Media Poll looks like this.

#11 USC (25-6) Pac-10 regular season champs #13 RPI

#12 Oklahoma State (26-5) #4 RPI

#13 Wisconsin (25-7) Big Ten regular season champs #8 RPI

#14 Saint Joseph’s (26-4) A-10 regular season champs, finished #8 in the Coaches Poll, #22 RPI

#15 Clemson (25-7) #14 RPI

#16 UConn (25-7) Big East regular season champs, #20 RPI

#17 Kentucky (25-7) #6 RPI

#18 Hofstra (28-3), Colonial regular and conference champs, have won 15 straight, #30 RPI

#19 Kansas (22-10) #15 RPI

#20 Stanford (23-9) #17 RPI

#21 Indiana (23-10), won the Big 10 tournament #21 RPI

#22 Texas Tech (24-10) won the Big 12 tournament #23 RPI

#23 BYU (20-9) #29 RPI

#24 Utah State (23-6) won both the WAC regular season and conference titles, 7 game win streak, #40 RPI

#25 Bradley (24-7) won both the regular season MVC title and tournament, #31 RPI

[Deuce2223]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

NORTHERN COLORADO GETS #1 SEED!!!!

This year college basketball fans were rewarded with some amazing basketball and some even bigger story lines. The Northern Colorado Bears finished the season on a 30 game win streak, well the UNLV Running Rebels won 26 straight after a loss to UNC to finish #1 in the nation and (30-2) Overall. The Hofstra Pride also shocked all winning the Colonial and finishing in the Top-25 with a 15 game win streak that led to 28-3 Overall record.

Well none of that was lost on the selection committee as they made one of the most shocking selections in college basketball history by naming N. Colorado as the #1 seed in the West!!!

Joining UNC as #1 will be UNLV (Midwest), Duke (South) and Tennessee (East).

The Vol's will open the tournament playing the winner of the Play-in-Game (Texas A&M-CC vs Quinnipac).

Well most consider UNC's #1 seed the biggest gift the committee has ever given out, the Bears road to the Final 4 will not be without challenges, as North Carolina is named the #4 seed in the West leading to a possible rematch of the UNC's in the Sweet 15

Coach Deuce

"As excited as I am about the #1 seed, it's almost a cruel joke that we will have to face UNC to get to the Elite 8. As a college basketball fan, I understand it's a matchup everyone wants to see but I was hoping for it latter in the tournament (like a National Title game )"

The Selection committee didn't stop there with featured matchup's here is a look at the entire bracket

EAST REGIONAL

#1 Tennessee vs #16 Play-in-Winner
#8 San Diego State vs #9 Notre Dame
#5 Hofstra vs #12 Fordham
#4 Clemson vs #13 Wake Forest
#6 Utah State vs #11 LSU
#3 Alabamba vs #14 Coastal Carolina
#7 Bradley vs #10 Santa Clara
#2 Oklahoma State vs #15 Southern Utah.

Must watch #5 Hofstra as well as possible Round 32 matchup of #3 Alabama vs #11 LSU

West Regional

#1 N. Colorado vs #16 Howard
#8 Miami FL vs #9 Georgetown
#5 Indiana vs #12 Missouri
#4 North Carolina vs #13 Vermont
#6 Texas Tech vs #11 Maryland
#3 Wisconsin vs #10 West Virginia
#2 Texas vs #15 Cornell

Must watch a rematch of the UNC's, as well Texas vs Oklahoma in Round 32 and possible Texas vs Texas Tech in Sweet 16.

South Regional

#1 Duke vs #16 Jacksonville State
#8 Washington State vs #9 Illinois-Chicago
#5 Uconn vs #12 Western Michigan
#4 Saint Joseph's vs #13 Villanova
#6 Butler vs #11 Sienna
#3 USC vs #14 Chattanooga
#7 BYU vs #10 Georgia Tech
#2 Michigan State vs #15 Gardner-Webb

Saint Joe's run as well as Butler. MSU vs Duke in the Elite 8?

Midwest Regional

#1 UNLV vs #16 Navy
#8 Ole Miss vs #9 Virginia
#6 Kansas vs #12 Rhode Island
#4 Kentucky vs #13 CS Fullerton
#6 Stanford vs #11 Akron
#3 Louisville vs #14 Alabama A&M
#7 Florida State vs #11 George Washington
#2 Oregon vs #15 Denver

Can #9 Virginia winner of the ACC tournament end UNLV's run? Kentucky vs Kansas in Round of 32. Oregon or Louisville?

[southernmetalhead]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

Awesome season and congrats on the #1 seed. Looking forward to what kind of run you can put together in the tournament.

[Knickerbocker91]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

Good luck in the tournament, congrats on getting a 1 seed. Tough region though, hope you make it out.

[milldaddy35]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

Wow! Shock the world baby! Congrats on the season. Go get em in the tourney. Can only imagine what kind of job offers you'll be getting after this!

[Deuce2223]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

Wow! Shock the world baby! Congrats on the season. Go get em in the tourney. Can only imagine what kind of job offers you'll be getting after this!

Well I looked twice, but times with my team losing to UNC in the Sweet 16, so should make for a very interesting game when I go to play it. Let's just say some power schools come calling plus both times Mark Few left Gonzaga for the top job but I was the #2 coach everyone wanted, which left me several interesting choices to pick from.

Problem is I still have 3 starters returning from this year's squad, the #12 class in the country last season plus a pretty solid class coming in, so I am having a hard time with the idea of leaving even though the Big Sky opponents have zero chance of beating UNC right now.

[Deuce2223]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

Good luck in the tournament, congrats on getting a 1 seed. Tough region though, hope you make it out.

Yeah they didn't really do me any favors giving me the #1 seed. Yeah it was great for the attribute point, but playing UNC in the Sweet 16 is just a slap in the face

[pfeifere1]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

Heck of a season! Didn't get rewarded with that bracket though. I'm looking forward to the UNC rematch if it gets there....third time is the charm!

[DARKxKNIGHTx2013]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

Wow! Awesome season! Good luck in the tourney. It looks like the only thing standing between you and a Final Four appearance is the Tar Heels. They always seem to bring it together in the tourney no matter how rough their season is.
I'm also interested to see what you do at the end of the season. In one of my legacies that I did on my own I had a great team in the Big West and left for a very mediocre Akron team. It's always fun to build up one team then go build up a next. Having a powerhouse for years gets to be boring, especially if you're in a mid-major conference. I've never really attempted going for a Duke or UNC. Regardless, it'll be fun to see where you go next, if you leave Northern Colorado.

[Deuce2223]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

UNC BEARS WIN AT THE BUZZER!!!

Round of 32


After cruising in the opening round beating #16 Howard (104-58), the Bears faced off against the #9 Georgetown Hoyas in Round 2 for a exciting buzzer beater to set up a Sweet 16 rematch against #4 North Carolina.

In the opening round game, SO Nate Forte came up huge scoring 30 pts off the bench well also grabbing 6 rebs and blocking 5 shots, to show he is ready to step up and be the star next season with the graduation of PF Cam Atkinson.

However against the Hoyas, Forte would struggle picking up 2 early fouls at the start of each half limiting his playing time as he finishes with just 5 points and 5 rebounds. With Bears struggling to shoot from the outside UNC would still manage to lead at the half (33-27).

In the 2nd half, Georgetown would rally and at one point even build a 6 pt lead, but the Bears never gave up and with just 4.8 seconds to play, UNC would take the 2 point lead on a bucket by Atkinson. The Hoyas had a chance win the game or at least force O.T. at the buzzer but the basket fell short as the Bears advance to the Sweet 16 for the 2nd straight season.

Cam Atkinson led the team with 17 pts and was the only player to score in double digits for the Bears.

SR PF Adam Chalmers led the Hoyas in the loss with 20 pts and 8 reb. Chalmers averaged 19.7 PPG on the season and is projected as a 1st Round draft pick, well fellow 7'0 bigman C. Leslie added 17 pts matching his season average of 17.2 PPG.

FINAL SCORE UNC-66 GEORGETOWN-64

[Deuce2223]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

WHO'S NEXT?

One Cinderella stories emerged in Round 1 of the NCAA tournament as #14 Coastal Carolina upset #3 Alabama (72-67) well several other lower seed teams pulled off wins as well

#10 Santa Clara beat #7 Bradley (60-57)
#12 Missouri beat #5 Indiana (67-61)
#11 Maryland beat #6 Texas Tech (88-85)
#10 W. Virginia beat #7 Oklahoma (62-52)
#11 Sienna beat #6 Butler (70-63)
#10 Georgia Tech beat #7 BYU (92-87)

In Round 32 the big story was that of #5 Hofstra. The Pride dominated Fordham in the opening round (85-49) and then held off #4 Clemson in a game of 2 halves to move on to the Sweet 16 where they will face #1 Tennessee.

Against Clemson, Hofstra led 42-19 at the half but then pulled a 180 and allowed the Tigers to score 41 in the 2nd half compared to their 21 leading to a (63-60) victory.

Here is a look at the Sweet 16 Matchup's.

#1 Tennessee vs #5 Hofstra
#6 Utah State vs #2 Oklahoma State

#1 UNC vs #4 UNC
#3 Wisconsin vs #2 Texas

#1 Duke vs #5 UConn
#3 USC vs #2 MSU

#1 UNLV vs #4 Kentucky
#6 Stanford vs #2 Oregon

[Deuce2223]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

REVENGE IS SWEET!!!


#1 VS #4

Coach Deuce and the UNC Bears have gotten their revenge over the UNC Tar Heels and will advance to the Elite 8!!

Everyone say's 3rd times a Charm and they must be right. Northern Colorado cruised to a (47-32) 1st half lead, led by W.M. Brady and A. Thompson's 11 pts. Star Cam Atkinson added 8 pts, 4 reb and 4 assists despite playing with a broken finger, well UNC was led by SF J. Armstrong's 13 pts.

In the 2nd half, Northern Colorado would lead by as much as 20 points, but a 12-2 run by North Carolina with 3 minutes to play would cut the lead within 8 with under a minute to play, but the Tar Heels were forced to foul late in the game giving the Bears the win from the line.

FINAL SCORE NORTHERN COLORADO-91 NORTH CAROLINA-82

Cam Atkinson was named POG as he finished with a game high 25 pts hitting 13/18 from the F.T. line including 6-6 in the final 2 minutes. He also added 6 rebs and 4 assists.

A. Thompson had 16 pts 7 reb and W. Brady added 14 pts in the win.

J. Armstrong finished with 22 pts in the loss.

The Bears will face #3 Wisconsin in the Elite 8 matchup, after the Badgers beat #2 Texas (82-72)

[beast10]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

Good win! Now everybody knows who the real UNC is lol.

[Deuce2223]

Re: Following in the footsteps of a Legend (CH2k8)

#1 VOL'S END HOFSTRA'S DREAMS!!

Tied (49-49) at the half, the Hofstra Pride just didn't have enough left in the tank to beat the #1 Overall seed, as the Vols end Hofstra's win streak (89-81).

Tennessee will move on to the Elite 8 to face #2 Oklahoma State who defeated #6 Utah State (76-65). The Vol's will be looking to make a Final 4 appearance for the 2nd time in 3 seasons having won the Championship just 2 years ago.

AND THEN THEIR WAS 2!!!

@

Many fan's saw their brackets busted in a bigway as both #1 Duke and #1 UNLV fall in the Sweet 16.

The Blue Devils cruised in Round 1 with a (99-55) win and then went on to beat Illinois-Chicago in the Round of 32 (91-61) but when it came time to beat #5 UConn they just didn't have it, falling (90-70).

The Huskies will face #2 Michigan State in the Elite 8 after the Spartans beat #3 USC (92-51).


For UNLV their 32 game winning streak came to a end. After beating Navy (90-63) in Round 1 and #9 Virginia (83-63) in Round 2, the Rebels came up just short in their game vs #5 Kentucky. Trailing by 1 pt at the half (39-38) was what this game came down to as the Wildcats hold on to win the game (78-77). Mountain West POY G. Cowan had 25 pts 13 reb in the loss.

Kentucky will face #2 Oregon in the Elite 8 matchup. The Ducks defeated Stanford (77-64) in a Pac-10 showdown.