March Madness-NCAA Starts Today!
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Who you guys got?
I feel really good about Villanova. Well coached, offensive weapons and athletes, has been there and done that. North Carolina will also be a tough out with their experience and Joel Berry running the show.
Nova... I actually filled out 8 sheets vs friends and family, but my main sheet is Nova...
Duke Blue Devils.....they return to a locked down zone defense and have disked the man to man. It will work for them I believe.
Many good teams this year and upsets as usual will be forthcoming no doubt. The Rock
My gators are gonna make a run. Realistically they'll probably lose today though.
I have Villanova losing to Kansas in the semis, with Kansas beating UNC for the championship.
Zone defense Rocky? A team with a few shooters can destroy a zone. Zone D is for second graders. I played on a good small school team in high school and we would start drooling at the prospect of a zone D, didn’t hurt that 10 out of our 15 players could start any night and all had the green light from the 3 point line. That said I’ve always loved Duke.
For my final four I’ll take Duke, Villanova, Virginia and Michigan. Michigan and Villanova in the Final with nova winning.
I would love to see Kansas win but they just don’t have the horsepower. They lost twice this year to my Ok state cowboys that didn’t even make the dance.
KPC, you coming to any of the games? They are played two blocks from my office:)
I will not make it to any of the games. Our high school state tournament is at the same time. I may make it over next week to a game if I can find the time. I LOVE basketball, doesn't even matter who's playing!
Link, Duke will play LD Zone throughout the tournament. Bet on it. I am saying this knowing Duke always has been a man to man team. We live 35 minutes away from Villanova and my daughter attends their home games. There is firefight in this house about Villanova winning it all but I think Duke has the edge.
The Rock
I don't think Duke will win it all. They have a terrible defense. They are talented offensively but can't guard anyone. North Carolina shredded their defense in the ACC tournament. Plus, if Bagley gets in foul trouble (which will probably not happen as he doesn't guard anyone and Duke will get all the calls) they will struggle. Honestly....I don't know who wins as this year is such a crap shoot. Virginia is really good but their style keeps everyone close and in close games a couple of threes can beat you.
Well OU lost, that was predictable. What have they won 4 games since Christmas,lol? Should have never been there to begin with.
Bowfreak, Duke should and probably will employ the LD Zone as their PRIMARY defense because they are lacking at man to man. They may be a minor surprise.
If Villanova wins I have real problems. ;-)
The Rock
More excitement in Day 1 then all of college football postseason.
I LOVE March Madness!!!!
"Zone defense Rocky? A team with a few shooters can destroy a zone. Zone D is for second graders."
Syracuse has been an outstanding zone defense team.
Some awesome games yesterday! Very few upsets other than Arizona screwing the pooch and Loyola Chicago's buzzer beater was a highlight of the day! Michigan looked a little rusty last night but came alive in the second half to easily dispatch Montana. Really looking forward to day 2!
BB,
Zone defenses today are disguised hybrid defenses morphing from MTM to old box and 1 with the hot shooter and the triangle and 2 with guards up high then dropping back to protect the box and the lane. Duke has played its best 6 games using this hybrid zone defense and I believe it will be dusted off and employed in their March run. They could have used anything they wanted yesterday and they did. We will see.
The Rock
I'm 11 for 16 through the first half of the round. I didn't pick the upsets that happened, and so far the upsets that I did pick haven't happened. This is why I don't go to vegas!
Virginia has a great team, it's going to be hard to bet against them....but It's going to be even harder to bet against Villanova, their offense is just overwhelming.
I'd love to see Virginia versus Villanova in the final. Strength versus strength.
UB Bulls looked pretty impressive.
...but the talking heads say that Virginia got a raw deal having to face the winner of the Kentucky/Arizona game? Oops. One of those got spanked and the other held on for dear life in the first round. Typical blue-blood hype. Neither of those two extremely talented teams proved much during the season.
That's the intrigue of a 1 and done tournament. Anything can happen and every team is dangerous.
Marshall over Witchita State...never saw that coming
Anyone who picked Virginia is wrong.
Didn't see that one coming either
UMBC didn't just best Virginia, they blasted them. Greatest upset in CBB history.
That just goes to show why we play the game because on a given night you can get your butt beat by a team who is on fire.
Exactly.
That Virginia game was awesome. To watch that 16 play with heart and grit was a great example of a well coached team. There's NO WAY they should have won that game. Awesome.
That completely blew up everyone's bracket I'm sure. The only one in the country who will get the bracket right this year will be someone who threw darts at a chart to randomly pick teams.
Villanova is being given all they can handle by Alabama right now
Well, I missed the first 4 minutes of the second half and came back to a blowout
Well now.....that is two games in a row that Duke employed that 2nd grade zone defense I predicted there bb. Granted Rhode Island is not a juggernaut but the triangle and two protecting the high post worked well for Duke both times when NO ONE believed they would go zone....but what do I know.
The Rock
The Rock
"Well now.....that is two games in a row that Duke employed that 2nd grade zone defense I predicted there bb."
Not sure what your post means there Rocky...was that a shot at me? Because if it is, you may want to go back and re- read what I said, because I never said anything about " 2nd grade zone defense".
bb,
My utter exuberance in regards to my prediction was directed at LINK. Somehow the person who agreed with me got torched unintentionally. I am in your debt. ;-)
LINK..where ya at? You got me in trouble. ;-)
The Rock
A sixteen, two thirteens and two elevens advance!
I love March Madness!
If anyone cares the NCAA wrestling finals are on ESPN 2. True freshman Spencer Lee just won a National championship.
I’ll see myself out.
Holy COW did anyone see Michigan's Hail Mary win ???
That was nuts. That might be a highlight for years.
Well it looks like Duke and Villanova are on a collision course in the Final Four. I have a real problem. My daughter and son in law say bring Duke or anybody else on. All I hear is 'Nova this and 'Nova that. If I must lose who better to lose to? I do have the upper hand though because if he aggravates me to no end I can always fire him. My daughter just punk slapped behind my head. ;-) We will see. The Rock
I think Cincinnati has the potential of giving Villanova a tough time, even though I don't see anyone matching the firepower of Villanova if they are hitting. I also think Duke won't get past Xavier. i'm not so sure they can get past Kansas
Hmmmmm.... Syracuse takes down #3 Michigan State with another high post ZONE defense. Link, where you at?
The Rock
bb,
Right now 'Nova is on automatic zoom. Now Xavier can be tough and has been tough all year but Duke just has too much for them coupled with their defense which totally takes away the paint or the drive through it.
The Rock
Yeah but Syracuse winning today changes things up a bit. I think they match up well with Duke. I think their zone is better.
Way to go OBama..... he picked Michigan State to win it all........
BB,
He also picked the witch from hell. He is on a roll. ;-)
The Rock
Holy Cow!!!!
What a comeback by Nevada!
They trailed 65-43 with 11:37 left, then went on a 32-8 run and won! The 'Pack took it's first lead with 9.1 seconds to go.
On to The Sweet Sixteen!
What a year.
First, Top-seeded Virginia loses by 22 to the lowest seed in the tournament. Then UNC gets crushed by 21 and now 5th seed Clemson is humiliating 4th seed Auburn.
And then, of course, #2 seed Cincinnati got dominated by 7th seed Nevada in the last eleven minutes, getting out-scored 32-8 after leading by 22!
This seems to be a particularly problematic year to pick teams. Cincinnati is gone. The Clemson game doesn't surprise me.
As a Cincinnati grad 2 times over.......what the F
I'm surprised about that also, they looked good this year.
Anyone paying attention saw the potential for this. A lot of very good or potentially very good teams and not so many great teams.
More than one commentator predicted this could be the year a #1 goes down to a #16 - even before the tournament was set.
You're right there are not very many great teams in this tournament. But there were some very solid teams that went down to teams that had no business winning. But I would like to know the commentator that had any idea Virginia would fall to UMBC.
bb, the comments were made before the #1's were known. It was generic, not specific.
I know. I understood what you were referring to. There are some that predict that every year, makes them look like geniuses if it happens. This is a tough year to predict, the gap seems to be narrowing between the top teams and lower tiers, then again, maybe this year is an anomaly.
Nobody I know saw Virginia get taken out by such a low seed in UMBC.....nobody. Kentucky benefits the most from these teams getting smoked. Like I said Duke and especially 'Nova are getting a greased board.
The Rock
Xavier gone now also. Wow, I'm not sure if I have ever seen a goofier NCAA tournament.
I am surprised that Xavier is out. West Virginia is a sleeper who could knock off one of the big bulls. They can play.
The Rock
I was thinking the same thing
Nine of the Top 16 seeds didn't make it out of the weekend!
I also saw the prediction that perhaps a 16 would beat a 1. But it was Xavier that was 'The 1,' not UVA.
Rocky I never said that Duke wouldn’t run a zone and you notice I said they would make it to the final four. Defense wins championships and a zone is not a real defense, it’s a band aid. Duke has been my favorite team outside of my state for a long time. They have the best coach in the game. They can overcome a lot because they are Duke but a top 4 type team will break that zone down.
LINK, Duke can easily go hybrid pushing a shooting team like 'Nova outside the edge of the key and bringing the low post up in the middle. The problem that Duke would have is that 'Nova can both shoot, drive the paint and scrape the O boards.
BTW....has anyone else noticed the empty seats at the Tournament so far. I know it will pick up but I never saw anything like this before. People must be checking their phones for updates in lieu of attending. I think the earlier rounds should be in smaller venues and pack the house for optics.
The Rock
The Rock
Rock, we've been trying for years to get a first/second round here in Sioux Falls. The NCAA is a tough nut to crack. We would pack the house to the rafters, have a world class facility, and have everything required to host. I guess we just aren't greasing the right pockets at the NCAA. We have one the highest women's attendance for any conference tournament and our men's conference tournament is ranked 8th out of all 32 major conference tournaments. Still can't get them to throw us a bone!
Brotsky,
If the NCAA does not demand the cameras stay focused on the bench I believe your in the not so distant future. ;-)
The Rock
"BTW....has anyone else noticed the empty seats at the Tournament so far."
Yes, I have. I even mentioned that to buddies while watching the Kansas vs. Seton Hall game last Saturday. Hopefully it will pick up for the Sweet 16.
Did anyone watch the Kansas State vs. UMBC game last night? That was some of the ugliest basketball I've seen in the tournament, so far.
Matt
Matt,
UMBC shot 29.8 from the field and 27.3 from the three and they were still in it for a while.Thirty five turnovers. That's 35 for both teams. The game sucked, only Michigan State's going 0 for 7 minutes was worse. Kansas likes to play down low and in the paint and that's where they won the game.
I think you going to see something in WV and 'Nova. Sparks are going to fly.
The Rock
The Rock
Nevada started the tournament as the 7th seed in their bracket, But with the #1, #2, #3, #4 and #6 seeds now gone, The Wolfpack is now the essentially the 2nd seed behind Kentucky.
In their win yesterday over Cincinnati, Nevada committed just TWO turnovers in the entire game.
Kyle, Two turnovers USUALLY results in a win unless the opponent is shooting lights out or if they are just far superior. If Nevada would have hit half their free throws the game would have been closer than it looked. Three turnovers and we may be in overtime. ;-)
Nevada has a breather coming up but after that will have to do what they do best and really attack the rim.
The Rock
The Rock
Rocky,
Um, Nevada shot 9-16 from the free throw line.
That's not good, but even by what passes for math in today's public schools, I'm pretty sure 9-16 is more than 50%.
The foul-fest that happens in the last few minutes of every game makes college basketball very difficult for me to watch. I don't tune in to see fouls and free-throws when the game is on the line. That's not how the game should be played, IMO.
Matt
Kyle,
I hope you know I did mean half the shots they missed. 9/16 is terrible by any stretch for any player let alone your shot makers. Shot makers are routinely in the 78-80% range. Add 3.5 shots to the make and they would have shot 76% from the line.Coaches will freeze out everyone and foul the player with that percentage every time in the last 50 seconds. Most games you get 9 points from the line your going down.
The Rock
Matt, This is where coaching strategy comes in to recover the ball. I think it sets up the miracle shot for the team who appears to have no chance with 1.2 on the clock. Free throws with evenly matched teams is where the game is won. Who you foul and when you foul them is critical.
The Rock
The Rock,
I just don't think intentional fouls and penalty shots should play such a large part of the game. I played a lot of basketball thru high school, but I don't recall strategic fouling being the norm at the end of every game, like it is now. It's makes the last few minutes of every game about as exciting as watching paint dry.
Just my opinion,
The Matt
Matt, No doubt watching beautiful assists, play making, athletic ability and draining 3's is exciting. Strategically slow walking the game does suck I agree but does serve a purpose. I think what you are trying to say is that it is not fair after the opposing team controlled for all but 1.30 left and then they sneaked in. ;-)
BTW... does feel good to exchange views other than political.
The Rock
The Rock, what I'm saying is I don't recall another sport were you get rewarded for intentionally fouling.
The shot clock was a welcomed addition, since it eliminated the stalling, but it also created this fouling albatross. I think every foul in the last 2 minutes should get 3 free throws. That would cut down on it a bunch.
The Matt
Sorry, Rocky, but as a team, ~ 70% from the line is about average. You can't simply cherry-pick the top free throw shooters when all players get fouled and go to the line.
Either give 3 free-throws for a foul in the last 2 minutes, or move the free-throw line to 10 feet in the last 2 minutes. A team should not be rewarded for fouling, IMO.
Matt
Link: "Defense wins championships and a zone is not a real defense, it’s a band aid." Why hasn't someone pointed that out to Boeheim? He most likely didn't know that.
"......and a zone is not a real defense...."
WHUT?
I think defense means making it harder for the other team to score.
Period!
Kyle, Duke.....from season 70.9 to last 3 games....76.4 ..... Kentucky...70.1 to 78.5 WV 76 to 82.7
Villanova 77 to 81.8 ... just a few teams..... You better be shooting 76 from the line or better unless your blowing a team out as this tourney progresses because the games and the comp become tighter and the line can make the difference.
bb, I was not a fan of zone defenses until I seen these hybrids over the past 4 years. They can easily go from pressuring the ball on the inbounds with a man up high and the other at the half then drop into the triangle and two. Kills 3-4 seconds off the shot clock and delay's the play setup. Took a while to accept but I am now impressed. You must of course have speed and a deep bench helps.
The Rock
The Rock
Syracuse has been giving teams fits for the last 20 + years running that zone defense. It may be a bandaid at the highschool level but not th D1 level. On another note, I’m going to quit trying to guess winners with the mens tournament. I’ going to follow the womens tournament, that’s easier to call
The women's team at Central Michigan had never won an NCAA tournament game before this year...... But they just beat Ohio State to advance to the sweet 16......... That's pretty big news for a MAC school.
BB, I marvel at the skill of women today in sports but can't watch them for more than 10 minutes except the Olympics. I know I know but I am a throwback. They deserve all the attention they get.
The Rock
My step daughter is just finishing up her internship for her Bachelors degree at Central. She was a cheerleader there for 4 years but was all done with that this year.... the cheerleaders get to make the trip to the ladies sweet 16 game....
I'll be rooting for Michigan on the Men's side on Thursday... but I don't know if they're good enough to get much further... We'll see. A girl I work with is Jordan Morgan's mom.... It was fun to watch Michigan when he was with them. He plays in Europe now.
Michigan has come out on fire on Texas A&M with a 21 point first half lead...... keep it going boys !!
Michigan rolls over Texas A&M 99-72......... and how about Loyola ???
Florida State beat Gonzaga....... Did anyone see that one coming ??
That one doesn't surprise me, given Florida state beat Xavier and Gonzagas history of underachieving in the tournament.
Maybe part of their history. Last year went to the title game, and have been to four straight 16s. They have had some high seeds and didn't pan out, and have never won a title. It's still hard for me to call them underachievers based on where they came from and where they are.
The reason I say underacheivers is they have consistently fielded teams that go deep in the tournament. They have had many teams that were good enough to win the title. But just can’t seem to get there.
Did anyone stay up late enough to watch the K-State game, they beat Kentucky for the first time in their history and are going to the elite eight!
As a result of last night's four games, two #9 seeds and a #11 seed are in the Elite Eight.
Remarkable!
Getting ready to watch 'Nova and W.V. 'Nova best not take them lightly.
The Rock
Good game until 'Nova figured them out.....then bombs away.
The Rock
W Virginia is a beast. A lot of banging in that game, reminds me of the big east of old. Took Villanova a while but when they found their range it was all over.
Syracuse and Duke is an interesting game. It's starting off about as I expected. Syracuse is going to get themselves into foul trouble though, attrition is going to determine this I think.....Well they slowed down all the fouls they were racking up early. That, not real zone defense of weak shooting Syracuse kept them in this game. It did to Duke what it does to most, frustrates and keeps the score low.
A bit of normalcy returned last night with Two #1 seeds, a #2 seed, and a #3 seed making into the Elite Eight.
Thanks for the heads up Kevin !! After that at 6 is the Central Michigan women's team in the sweet 16 over on ESPN.... They'll be a big underdog against Oregon........ Of course there's 2 of the men's games tonight including Michigan at about 9 PM
bb, .......yes. ;-)
The Rock
Well Rocky, It's hard to argue against that 2-3 zone when you have two of the best coaches in the game running it effectively. Boeheims teams have been driving opponents insane with it since the beginning of time.
Wow Kevin !!! Ferris State National Champions Div. 2
Their first National Championship in any sport !! Congrats !!! They have a great hockey program and lost in the championship game in Division 1 recently..... They also have a great criminal justice program where the graduates actually complete their State Certification when they graduate.... The equivalent of the Police Academy....
bb,
No doubt about it. The Syracuse zone swarms the ball handler and gives offense teams who play down low fits. I think Duke is the most talented team in this years Madness but Villanova does have the " Arc Assassins" and a zone does give teams a good look at the basket and Nova has 3 killers to stop. This is going to be interesting.
The Rock
Michigan !!! Final 4 baby !!! And let's not forget our Division II National Champions ... Ferris State !!! Nice day in college basketball in Michigan !!!
The final four did not play as of yet. They will play tomorrow. All four teams tomorrow could easily beat both teams that advanced today including the Red Raiders. You will see the cream come to the top tomorrow, today was cake.
Michigan and Loyola? You gotta be kiddin' me.
Wow Rock..... Way to piss on Michigan and Loyola.....
Guess what ?? 2 of those 4 teams you're talking about will be out of the tournament tomorrow....... And Loyola And Michigan will still be in it..... They'll be the underdogs to win it all..... but they won't be going home like 2 out of the 4 you're talking up.....
BB, Nothing personal about your team but they are not polished enough. You made my point. The two that are in most certainly will be going home. Guaranteed. They could double header tomorrow's game winner/winner and the Champion will be crowned. Did you watch the Michigan game today? Are you telling me that was good round ball? Come on.
Of course I watched it. It looked sloppy because it was a scrappy defensive game.....
Did you see Michigan put up 99 against Texas A&M ????
They make the final 4 and you say they suck...... come on man.
I didn't see the game. But Michigan isn't to be taken lightly, they have a good team and can score in bunches.
"All four teams tomorrow could easily beat both teams that advanced today including the Red Raiders. "
Ignorance is certainly bliss, but I guess any team that lost in the tournament could say that they could have beat the winning team. What a joke.
.......yes and any team that lost in the playoffs could have won the Super Bowl. Ignorance is a ailment when grading teams and will dig deep into your pocket when you pick one. ;-) BB, Babe Ruth also hit 60 HR'S....ONCE, long ago. bb, If you know "b" ball and I think you do Michigan put on a display of ineptness against a haplessly over matched Fl team. The Zags would have run them off the floor yesterday even as they were sitting home. BTW..I know Michigan is legit. Have to start a fire somewhere. ;-)
BB, Now admit it. I have just given you reason to watch these final games with both consternation and excitement in the hope that Michigan wins it all and you can rip me pillar to post. Thank me later for that feel good moment IF it occurs. ;-).....but I did pick Trump and the Eagles to win and I can always fall back on that to lick my wounds. ;-) Don't get upset. Its all in the game of sports rivals. ;-)
The Rock
I don't think Michigan will win it all..... But they have a better chance than the 2 teams that lose today.........;-)
BB, There was an old skit on SNL when the Bears were dominating in 1985. They asked these two bears fans if the Bears were to play the Packers and half the Bears missed the flight what were their chances to win.The fans said Bears: 45-7. Then they asked them if the entire team missed the flight an only the staff and Ditka showed up what were their chances to win. The fans said Bears 21-7. Lastly they asked.."OK..if ONLY Ditka showed up. The fans pondered it then said.."well in a close one but Ditka 10-7. So I am not so sure about the two teams that lose today. ;-)
You must admit today's games are packed in talent.
The Rock
That was about as ugly as it gets. Worst I ever seen 'Nova shoot fg's TT forcing 'Nova to attack the rim which is all well and good snuffing out their snipers from 3 but fouls..WOW. Shows that you can play lousy and the line will save you.
The Rock
Yeah.... They should be asked to leave the tournament.... ;-)
You ain't kiddin. This is the worst display all year for this team. Terrible.
The Rock
8 min left In KU vs Duke. Great game!!
ROCK CHALK!!
Now this is basketball. Saved my day. OT....Jayhawks are tough....
The Rock
Thats that......my pick Duke is out. My daughter is laughing at me as I type this chanting 'Nova ..'Nova. ARGHHHHHHHH......I guess the defacto championship is Kansas/Nova.
The Rock
Kansas beats Duke in OT, 85-81.
This is one of those games you really don't care who wins, then when the game gets going, you find yourself cheering for one of them.
Rock Chalk, Jay Hawk!
Missed both games today, looks like the duke game was a good one
One more time for my fellow B-Ball brothers....ROCK CHALK!!
Give your daughter a hug for me, The Rock.
;-)
The Matt
Well Rock I'll trust that the defacto championship game is Kansas vs. Villanova as much as I'll trust your pick on Duke !!!!
Go Michigan !!!!!!
BB, Well this is not the first time I picked the wrong side and ate humble pie and it won't be the last...but I never said this about Duke which I picked from the beginning...
"I'll be rooting for Michigan on the Men's side on Thursday... but I don't know if they're good enough to get much further"........and Now? You can't have it both ways. :-)
The Rock
You never know.... That's why they play the game.... !!!
Maybe Loyola will shock the world !!!!!
BB, It is about the game but I don't think Loyola is going to shock anybody. They are in over their heads....but as you said we will see. I know one thing and I will have to say it low in this house. If Nova puts on another performance like today they will follow Duke out the door.
The Rock
FSU was beaten yesterday. :)
Well out of my original final four picks, 2 are in. Nova and Michigan. Duke fell flat with their killer zone D ;) or I would have been 3 for 4. Turns out Kansas and the big twelve is better as a whole than I thought.
It’s hard to argue against a zone when 2 of the best coaches are running it? Not really because neither one made the final four. I never said it couldn’t be mildly effective but it’s not going to consistently produce final four teams and coach K knows it. It was a bandaid for a struggling defense this year. Kansas put up 85 points on that killer zone, enough said.
This is your argument against the zone? First of all, you play the odds, Odds are teams aren't going to hit three pointers the way Kansas did, second, Duke put up 80 points also. So it wasn't like the man to man coverage fared any better, the score was tied at the end of regulation. If it was a blow out you might have an argument. Go back in history and look at the Syracuse Teams. They have been playing zone forever and it works for them. Look at this years team, They can't score...haven't scored all season. their only hope is to keep the game, low scoring, which they successfully did. Defense takes you just so far, you have to score points. You have to look at all the stats of the game, not just cherry pick the ones that fit your argument.
Tell me which final four team frequently plays a zone defense..........
Defense wins championships my friend. A zone can win some games and sure Boeheim has won a few with a zone but year in and out it’s a lockdown man that gets it done.
"Odds are teams aren't going to hit three pointers the way Kansas did"
At a 36% clip? 101 teams in Division 1 averaged better than that for the season. They did not hit 3's at a "clip". They actually shot poorly from beyond the arc.
Nothing like hitting one out of three from behind the arc to loosen up that zone, ha. So I guess you’re saying that a zone works best against a team that can only hit 1 outa 4 from behind the arc. Lol
This Kansas team is good and playing well at the right time but their outside shooting isn’t at Kansas standards. Kansas proved themselves but before the tournament had no business as a 1 seed.
Oh boy.........another past poster. Don't hear a word until the clouds roll in and tell you its going to rain.
The Rock
Just thought I’d point out that viscous zone even under achieved my expectations. ;)
You’re going to base your argument on the Duke Kansas game? I would say the zone was at least as effective as the man to man in that game.
I would argue the man to man was a final four appearance and 5 pts more effective. ;)
LINK,
You totally disappear and then show up to tell me that MTM defense won those games? Here is some ABC type info that you should retain. You will see more zone hybrids in the future, if you can see that far. Its called match ups. Coaches of this caliber that use it are leaders not followers. "I would argue the man to man was a final four appearance and 5 pts more effective. ;)" I don't think you know enough about the true inside mechanics and GEOMETRY of the game to argue zone/MTM with those remarks. ;-)
BTW.....and I hate when people do this to me.. but that would be VICIOUS zone. ;-)
I never disappeared. I only posted once your lockdown zone even under achieved my expectations. Had they lost in any of the earlier games I would have posted then but who wouldn’t expect Duke to make it to the elite 8 even with a terrible defense. Rocky have you played organized basketball that wasn’t an old man/ church league? A hybrid zone is something different all together. A straight up zone will always be for a team that has weak defensive players that can’t hack it in man to man. Sure if your defense is lacking a zone might be better for you. A man to man defensive with solid defenders will always win the day. How many zone defenses to you see in the NBA or college for that matter. The better offensively the challenger the zone becomes even more worthless. Zone is not something new, it’s been weighed, measured and found lacking at all levels of the game.
The last team to win a national championship with a full-time zone defense was Syracuse....15 years ago.
I loved playing against a zone because I was a big man who could shoot and pass from the outside. What I lacked in raw physical talent, I made up for with ball-handling skills. I always found playing zone defense a lot easier, too. It was almost like getting a breather on the bench.
Matt
I for one don't know enough about the game to tell you what defense or offense is best...... But common sense tells me you have to have talent and be on a roll to get this far.... and at this point anything can happen.... Or why even play the game ??
BB, .....or very lucky. Say something like a Hail Mary winner at the buzzer or a ball rimming out with no time left like Dukes final 10fter which drops 99-100 times at the buzzer against Kansas.
LINK, Nope. Never played and don't know anything about the game except I think your supposed to put it in the hole more times than the other team. The obvious things everybody knows. I know nothing about plays ,offense, defense, strategy or geographical location.
bb, You probably know this but I am saying it any way. San Antonio brings up a bit of a problem for Villanova and truthfully every good shooting team. They will be playing in a Dome not a arena and shooting teams usually suffer in Dome's if not acclimated because of perception to the basket vs. a arena. Nova best be on that floor as much as possible shooting day and night all week.
Oh wait. I am not supposed to know that. Sorry LINK. I know you knew. ;-)
The Rock
Rocky I’ve never played in a dome but I’ve played in venues big enough that the nearest thing behind the backboard was was a couple hundred feet. So I understand the effect it can have on depth perception. It didn’t even take reading some sports analysts opinion to tell me that. ;)
Grey Ghost stat is all a man should have to hear but what do I know I don’t even watch ESPN. Ha
If I am reading this correct you must have been frantically checking to see if I know what I am talking about. I KNOW you did and you can' tell me any different. Maybe just maybe the old saying is true in this instance: "Those that can, do. Those that can't coach". Stick with memories of your OLD playing days. ;-) "Rocky I’ve never played in a dome but I’ve played in venues big enough that the nearest thing behind the backboard was was a couple hundred feet".
So have I. Every playground league in Philly had that much distance behind the rim but I never saw one in a arena that far behind. BTW....its not the distance behind the rim that matters in a Dome its the breadth of the Dome itself that counters and slightly alters your perception to the arc of your shot. Some more food for thought. Keep inquiring though. That is the way you learn. ;-)
The Rock
The Rock
"You probably know this but I am saying it any way. San Antonio brings up a bit of a problem for Villanova and truthfully every good shooting team. They will be playing in a Dome not a arena and shooting teams usually suffer in Dome's if not acclimated because of perception to the basket vs. a arena" Not to worry, My scoring system is in that arena. We're all set. On another note, A couple of hundred feet of space behind the backboards? A typical Hockey rink is a couple of hundred feet in length. Now you've peaked my curiosity. Were you playing in the dallas Cowboys Stadium? Not so sure that even there would be 200' of space on either end.
BB, I would think you know that in ANY sport luck can be the deciding factor. The best team does NOT always win regardless what the losers may say. ;-) bb, I may have misunderstood LINK. If he was talking about the last row up and the wall, well yes, maybe. I was thinking of first row seating distance from the rim which at 200 ft would make the game just a rumor to the last row seating fans. ;-)
The Rock
I remember the last time Villanova went into a big stadium and had to "learn to shoot". I think they shot 71% from the field and beat the Sooners by 40 down in Houston.
Hack,
I thought it grew hair on your palms. ;-)
Matt
You guys are really overlooking the important things here. The Uconn Women made it back to the final four.
Hackbow,
Yes he did but you obviously did not see the multiple stains placed upon your shirt. Try again. ;-)
Matt, I heard it PUTS hair on your palms, and, it does. ;-)
The Rock
The Rock
Playgrounds in Philly? Your grade school expertise explains so much. Yeah I’ve never played on an outdoor court either. ;)
He he he......now I know if you played as you claimed you were a bench player at best. Street baller's or playground players in Philly which somehow seemed to have eluded you are known nationwide. Ever hear of the Sonny Hill League there sport. Maybe Kobe Bryant will ring a bell or Earl Monroe. Maybe Brian Watson one of the best players ever never discovered. Playground players in Philly, people no one has ever heard of have taken many college and pro players to the reck and could have wrecked their careers one up. Btw...you could NEVER have played on one of these outside courts I know that, then again maybe you could practice that killer crossover with a broom.........
The Rock
Uh huh and exactly how many of these Kobe types let you on the court to play with them? I will say your probably right that I couldn’t have played on a lot of those courts unless the matchup was right, or they ran a zone defense. ;) Regardless don’t kid yourself I’ve played against many D1 players from Dallas to Omaha and managed to do ok. So let me guess you’re one of these undiscovered backyard brawlers, lol.
Saturday needs to hurry. Unless your a duke fan.
Link, when all this is over, will you please drive to Lexington Kentucky, and teach the Wildcats how to shoot a freethrow? .. ..
.. ..
I will pay for your gas, and two nights in a Hilton.
Apparently, Calipari is not teaching or having the team practice freethrows anymore.
:-( . . . . . . .
When we were young there was talent off the charts that never made it and fell to other things like drugs. Great no name ball players. I was not a player in their league by any stretch or dream but was on the court many times with the likes of Wally Jones, Hubie White and Brian Watson on the hard courts of Philly. You must remember these great players and others from Camden and Brooklyn were burgeoning H.S. and young college players. On a scale from 1-10...10 being a Brian Watson, who deserved every bit of a 10, I was on a good night maybe a 2. Maybe. I hustled my ass off but could not run with these guys but were in a league in Port Richmond where every team had ringers. I saw and played on the same court with street players you never heard about who were simply lights out. I listened and learned a lot back then and stayed with the ever changing game. Now at 6'2 I was a small forward but I could get up. The "hoops" which we called the blacks back then would yell out when I took a board "WDT" for the White David Thompson. It was derisive but the fact I could sky for my size made me feel good. Unfortunately that is where the ability ended. ;-)
How many of the thousand of players who played on Philly concrete could run with these guys? Not me or the thousands who came from all over to try.
The Rock
Rocky I could jump for my size but my 5’10” height is what killed me. I wasn’t a great jump shooter but I made my bones driving and dishing, I was a great spot up shooter when it got kicked back out. I was taught fundamentals and knowledge of the game. My highschool team and my summer league team was made up with mostly average size white kids, I think there were two all staters. We played teams from all the major cities in the mid west and after nearly every game you could hear them gripping about how they just got it handed to them by a bunch of honkies. We were always less athletic but way more skilled and fundamental than our challengers. It’s hard to beat teams that average 8-9 turnovers a game, play great help man-man defense and run 10 deep where the second five are as good as the first. We could all fill it up from anywhere on the court. Most of the time we played full court defense and after 3 minutes it was like hockey, the coach would make a line change. We ran people into the ground and a lot of teams would try to play slowball to keep it close. The games we lost were ones where the entire line up was guys over 6’6” with post usually over 6’8”. It’s hard to contend when your giving up 5-6” at every position. I’m sure none of the teams we played compared to the teams in your day or the courts of Philly but we played some good ball for our part of the world.
We can dis agree on the zone and it’s effectivenes. I’ve liked duke since the early 90’s. Coach K is as good as it gets and if he’s running a zone it’s because he thinks it makes that team better one way or another.
LINK, I figured you were a player and I was just breaking your ball (s) a little. You really woke me up to a past that was almost totally forgotten and some great memories. Man I can still see my white Converse Chuck Connors and two pair of socks when they were $ 5.25. Some players from outside the city would wear BATA Bullets but we would not get caught dead in them. ;-)
The Rock