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NCAA Basketball - 2011
- Thread starter MJ5150
- Start date
They were robbed like a bank!
Sidenote wouldn't it be cool if there was an FSU-UF final four? It'd be great beating you guys in two sports!
Oh yeah, I forgot FSU is a mens basketball dynasty too with all those championships they have won.
If the matchup were to materialize, it wouldn't be much of a game. Billy Donovan can out coach Leonard Hamilton in his sleep.
-Mike
If the matchup were to materialize, it wouldn't be much of a game. Billy Donovan can out coach Leonard Hamilton in his sleep.
-Mike
Man I know high school teams that could win the championship if they played in the SEC. Seeding and all that jazz. Bias. Rigged. Refs. Mascot. Cheating. Yeah.
Maybe if Leonard Hamilton had a lobotomy and Billy Donovan had a brain transplant with Stephen Hawking.
Remind me please how many NCAA mens basketball championships Mr. Hamilton has won as a head coach? Actually, let me make it easier, how many times has Mr. Hamilton coached a team to the NCAA tournament championship game please?
Side not, I have no issues with Leonard Hamilton. Seems like a fine man from what I know.
-Mike
Side not, I have no issues with Leonard Hamilton. Seems like a fine man from what I know.
-Mike
Two different programs, Leonard Hamilton has not had the recruiting abilities Florida had when it comes to basketball. Texas, has no excuse though and Rick Barnes should be fired.
I'm off to bed, and to clean up my hip waders so I'm ready for you in the morning. 
As usual, thanks for the banter. It was pleasant as usual.
-Mike
As usual, thanks for the banter. It was pleasant as usual.
-Mike
That's a good point. Billy D. started coaching UF in '96 and has had an advantage. For all but two years of his career, he's been competing for in-state recruits against...Leonard Hamilton.
I know Florida has a wealth of football recruits - enough to stock the big 3 in-state teams with enough left over to export to other big-time progams or keep instate at smaller programs.
What does the FLA basketball talent look like and (paraphrasing The Clash) does it stay or does it go?
In Massachusetts, we don't have much and when it is truly big-time, it goes (Patrick Ewing to G-town, Rumeal Robinson to Michigan). It doesn't help that there is only 1 D-1 school in a glamour conference (BC). The one local guy on the Scouts Top 100 this year is going to Notre Dame (that has to really hurt the folks in Chestnut Hill).
Last year, there were three and all left (one is close at UConn).
What does the FLA basketball talent look like and (paraphrasing The Clash) does it stay or does it go?
In Massachusetts, we don't have much and when it is truly big-time, it goes (Patrick Ewing to G-town, Rumeal Robinson to Michigan). It doesn't help that there is only 1 D-1 school in a glamour conference (BC). The one local guy on the Scouts Top 100 this year is going to Notre Dame (that has to really hurt the folks in Chestnut Hill).
Last year, there were three and all left (one is close at UConn).
More of the same, with Bob Lee alone in the lead but the gang of five is now the gang of four just 10 points (1 first round game) behind.
JP and clearcache lost their champions - Notre Dame and Pitt respectively. I had both of these teams advancing to the Elite Eight so I feel your pain.
iamkramer is just 10 behind the gang of four, but will need help from Carolina
to win it all.
Ohio State looks awfully strong. My Heels are capable of beating if they get to that point and even then it will take their "A" game, which we really haven't seen yet.
I'm not sure if it is some kind of record - but an 8, 10, two 11's and a 12 in the Sweet Sixteen is pretty convincing evidence that there was a ton of parity this year in college hoops. Once you get past OSU (maybe Kansas, but I'm not sold yet) there is not that much separation between the next 45 teams.
JP and clearcache lost their champions - Notre Dame and Pitt respectively. I had both of these teams advancing to the Elite Eight so I feel your pain.
iamkramer is just 10 behind the gang of four, but will need help from Carolina
to win it all. Ohio State looks awfully strong. My Heels are capable of beating if they get to that point and even then it will take their "A" game, which we really haven't seen yet.
I'm not sure if it is some kind of record - but an 8, 10, two 11's and a 12 in the Sweet Sixteen is pretty convincing evidence that there was a ton of parity this year in college hoops. Once you get past OSU (maybe Kansas, but I'm not sold yet) there is not that much separation between the next 45 teams.
Headed to the sweet 16:
The Good news:
1) Duke is still alive (though they gave Michigan a real chance)
2) ACC rules (7-1 record, 3 of 4 teams still playing).... Big East drools (9-9 record, 9 of 11 teams gone)
3) And I'm not in last place!
The Bad News:
1) I've already lost 3 of my Final 8, and had Pitt going to the Championship game. I won't be challenging for the win.
Still have a chance for another Duke Vs UNC game.... That would be fun.
The Good news:
1) Duke is still alive (though they gave Michigan a real chance)
2) ACC rules (7-1 record, 3 of 4 teams still playing).... Big East drools (9-9 record, 9 of 11 teams gone)
3) And I'm not in last place!
The Bad News:
1) I've already lost 3 of my Final 8, and had Pitt going to the Championship game. I won't be challenging for the win.
Still have a chance for another Duke Vs UNC game.... That would be fun.
I thought that the Big East would have done better to this point in the tournament. But its two strongest teams were a little suspect in 20/20 hindsight. Pitt has underperformed in the tournament lately and ND is just getting back to being a high level program.
UConn and UNC are pretty much all I have left, but with the exception of Ohio State, they are as strong as anyone left.
UConn and UNC are pretty much all I have left, but with the exception of Ohio State, they are as strong as anyone left.
Nate Silver (538.com) on the NCAA tournament and the Big East in particular. I am a huge Nate Silver fan - he can break down any data and write about it in such a way that it is understandable and enjoyable to a non-stats person.
Big East's Performance Is Upsetting, But It's No Failure - NYTimes.com
This is a different post on seedings. I didn't realize how narrow the gap is between the 5 to 13 seeds and that it has been that way for awhile until I saw that chart.
When 15th Is Better Than 8th: The Math Shows the Bracket Is Backward - NYTimes.com
Big East's Performance Is Upsetting, But It's No Failure - NYTimes.com
This is a different post on seedings. I didn't realize how narrow the gap is between the 5 to 13 seeds and that it has been that way for awhile until I saw that chart.
When 15th Is Better Than 8th: The Math Shows the Bracket Is Backward - NYTimes.com
Silver's column was interesting, I hadn't read him before. However, I thought one reader's comment was quite valid:
"The problem I have with your analysis is that you're basing your comparison of the Big East's tournament performance vs. expectations on your expectations. People believe they are over-rated in terms of number of teams in the tournament and seeding. Based on seeding, the Big East should be 14-6 at this point in the tourney and have 5 teams in the Sweet 16 (any team seeded 4 or above will only play lower seeded teams until, at least the Sweet 16). Instead, only 2 teams made it through and in each case only be beating another Big East team."
I'll check out the other article later.
Yes, interesting article, and thanks for posting. OTOH, it is kind of silly when 11 teams from one conferecne get in. Big East represented over 16% of the 68 team field. And 69% of the Big East teams made the tourny. That's just wrong.
I think they should institute a rule, sort of a reverse automatic-bid rule. You gotta finish in the top 1/2 of your conference to get a bid.
Silver's column was interesting, I hadn't read him before. However, I thought one reader's comment was quite valid:
"The problem I have with your analysis is that you're basing your comparison of the Big East's tournament performance vs. expectations on your expectations. People believe they are over-rated in terms of number of teams in the tournament and seeding. Based on seeding, the Big East should be 14-6 at this point in the tourney and have 5 teams in the Sweet 16 (any team seeded 4 or above will only play lower seeded teams until, at least the Sweet 16). Instead, only 2 teams made it through and in each case only be beating another Big East team."
I'll check out the other article later.
The other posting will make the one about the Big East easier to buy. The short take is that seeds 5-13 are closer than the numbers 5 and 13 would suggest.
"Instead, only 2 teams made it through and in each case only be beating another Big East team."
Yes and no - I'll grant him UConn but Marquette beat the regular season A-10 champion and 6 seed to put itself in the position to play Syracuse.
Maybe Pitt and ND should have had lower seeds - how much lower? - Pitt was 28-6 - ND was 27-7 - all losses to tournament teams.
