| | NCAA basketball...especially the ACCPage 1 of 3 (1, 2, 3) | | Haven't seen much discussion of NCAA hoops and March Madness is just around the corner. Who does everyone like? Who are the dark horses....the potential Cinderella teams? As you may have guess from my name I'm a Virginia Cavalier fan. UVa is, rather shockingly, leading the ACC right now and are poised to return to the Big Dance for the first time in 5 years. I'm pumped! Let's talk some hoops! | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/8/2007 7:45:24 PM | Great to see UVA doing well. The ACC is crazy this year. Gotta luv what the Hokies and BC are doing too!
But this year the big dance belongs to the TAR HEELS!!!! Deep and strong.
and sweet how them came back against the evil Blue Devils!
Ohio State and Florida are scary this year though. Haven't seen UCLA play yet. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/9/2007 2:43:51 AM | Good post, Cav. I had friends attend UVA during the Ralph Sampson era; so it is good to see the Cavaliers doing well! UNC looks really strong, though, in the ACC. Wisconsin in the Big Ten, UCLA in the PAC-10; and Florida in the SEC. I'm in Big East country, so I have to root for the Pitt Panthers to advance past the sweet-16 this year. It should be an exciting March Madness! | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/9/2007 5:33:19 AM | As good as UNC, UCLA, Ohio St, Florida, and a few others are, I don't see a dominant team this year. Remember Florida was unranked entering the Tourney last year.
Sportygirl,
No doubt UNC has the most talent and deepest bench in the conference, but their defense has been suspect at times as has been their shot selection. They throw up too many threes when they should let Hansbrough(sp?) or Wright touch every time down the floor. They are very young too. They should get to the Sweet 16 on talent alone but to go further they have to start listening to Roy Williams.
steelerfan,
The Big East is very interesting....the traditional powers are struggling and Pitt does look like the class of the league. And they seem to be flying a bit under the radar which will help them come tourney time....very good shot at a one seed if UNC or Florida stumble.
I got to see Sampson play back his day. UVa and Va Tech(before Tech joined the ACC)used to play their yearly match at a neutral in-state site(RIchmond or Roanoke). I had the good fortune to see a couple of Sampsons appearences in Roanoke. What a college player that guy was! Injuries shortened a promising NBA career but he was so dominant in college. Hard to grasp how big 7'4" is until you stand next to the guy. Shame he didn't have alot of help his last two years. They made the Final Four his sophmore year when Jeff Lamp and Jeff Jones were still there, but after that no further than a regional final(lost to eventual champion NC State in 83).
I see 7 or 8 ACC teams getting in....Maryland has alot of work to do to be that eighth team. I also see anywhere from 6-8 Big East teams too though I lean towards the smaller number. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/11/2007 5:30:13 PM | Selection Sunday in 4 weeks from today!
So who is going from the ACC
UNC
Boston College
Fla St
UVA
V Tech
CLemson
Does Duke or Maryland go? I'll take the Terps to go (but i'm biased of course lol)
Cav: Valid point about the Tar Heel's defence. Not aggressive enough I think.
Is UCLA still a #1 seed after losing to the Mountaineers?
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/12/2007 5:26:08 AM | I think Duke still gets in....several good non-conference wins and they'll get to at least .500 in the league. Maryland's win yesterday helps them but they still have some work to do. I think any ACC team that gets to .500 in the league ought to go.
I wasn't impressed w/ UCLA but i think they probably have to lose one more to lose the one seed. I think you've only realistically got a few teams with a shot at a one.
Florida
UNC
Ohio St/Wisconsin(Big 10 winner gets one seed)
That fourth one seed is up in the air between Texas A&M, Pitt., Kansas, and Memphis or maybe the second place Big 10 team. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/14/2007 10:54:14 AM | Gotta give props to the Hokies for beating my Tar Heels for the 2nd time this year! Crazy stuff, but good to see VTech with a tough young team.
I'm gonna say Duke won't make it in for sure. They have a tough sked the rest of the way and lost 4 in a row!
Would love to see Ohio St get in.
UNC wil probably end up at #3.
Go Tar Heels  | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/14/2007 11:50:50 AM | Well....I live 30 minutes from Blacksburg so I am sick to death of hearing about the Hokies...don't let their sweep of Carolina and home blowout of Virginia fool you....the real Hokies are closer to the team that lost to Marshall than the one that beat UNC. They have a good backcourt and play good defense....but have awful shot selection, are a poor free throw shooting team and last in the ACC in rebounding margin....all statistics which point to an early exit in the NCAA's.
Have to disagree on Duke. Even if they finish 7-9 in the ACC, their RPI, strength of schedule, and reputation will get them in. If it comes down to a 22-9 Missouri State team and a 20-12 Duke team....who do you think gets the bid? In fact I think Duke breaks the skid and beats BC on the road tonight.
If Ohio State keeps winning they may get Carolina's one seed...although if UNC wins the ACC tourney I still think they get a one. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/15/2007 6:52:48 AM | Badger fan here-
Ohio St has the leg up on the regualr season title even after losing to Wi in Madison. Badgers still have to visit OSU and Wisconsin's loss at Indiana (the only other better than average Big Ten team), won't be matched by the Buckeyes, as they don't visit the Hoosiers this year.
From the Big 10, OSU, Wisconsin and Indiana will make the NCAA. After that, Illinois is a good possibility, if they finish strong (9-10 wins in conference and a win or two in the conference tourney). After that, there's Iowa, Michigan. etc. teams that haven't been able to compete with top flite squads. A miracle title at the conference tournament seems the only way for any of them to get into the big dance.
Florida has to be the favorite for the NCAA. They've got balanced scoring and a team of athletic players willing to adjust their games to the needs of the moment; ie focus on D or rebounding at the expense of scoring.
Texas could be a dark horse. That freshman of their's is incredible.
And he looks like a freshman. Greg Oden looks like he's 40. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/15/2007 7:12:45 AM | I thought the same thing about Oden.
I think anybody in one of the power conferences who gets to .500 in their league will get in. I think Iowa and Michigan State get in and maybe Purdue if they can get to .500....I know they have at least one good non-conference win(by 2 over my Cavs in the ACC Big 10 shootout).
Florida looks strong...except for the first half last night against Ala. It is, however, a very rare occurance for the top seed to win it all. Their experience will serve them well....it will be interesting to see who ends up in their bracket. Kansas beat them and could well end up a #2 or a #3 seed opposite Florida. Florida state is very athletic as well and gave Fla. fits.
Texas is a good dark horse pick....I like Georgetown too...they have size and are playing well right now. I like(i know i'm biased) Virginia to make a little noise too. Reynolds and Singletary are the best backcourt in the country in my opinion and they are veteran players. Veteran teams that rebound well and shoot free throws well generally do well in the NCAA's.
Your Badgers have a shot at a one seed now that UNC lost agin to Virginia Tech. If you can get the win v. OSU and get at least to the Big 10 tourney finals, i think you'll get a one. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/15/2007 8:14:43 AM | I would be disappointed if Mi St got in. I've seen 2+ games this year and they look terrible, sloppy, undisciplined, can't shoot- Indiana absolutely slaughterd them in Michigan. Wisconsin plays MSU 2 of the last three games so I'll get a better idea.
A win at OSu is a tall order. If they do that, I'd expect a #1. I don't think OSU and Wisconsin will both get a top seed ,though.
I'm hoping the success of the mid majors last year will carry over to the selection process this year.
On paper, the worst teams in the majors should be on par with the better mids. They get about the same level of recruits. The elite coaches at the major levels appear different in being able to keep their blue chip players focused on the college game and holding the NBA dreams at bay. It's easier at the mid majors, with fewer all world recruits, and a high level of coaching there results in better teams.
It's the mid and small school runners up that are the unknown quantity. We know about Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma. they couldn't do it during the year. They're not a more viable candidate by virtue of their name or level of competition.
I don't think the economics of major schools (oh, they have 30,000 enrollment and they travel well) merit selection over a smaller school. Those mids and smalls that have played well should go, even if they finished 3rd in the league and lost the conference tourney.
Those schools will put just as many people in the seats for a once in a lifetime chance as a major does for a one and done appearance. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/15/2007 8:23:26 AM | "I don't think the economics of major schools (oh, they have 30,000 enrollment and they travel well) merit selection over a smaller school. Those mids and smalls that have played well should go, even if they finished 3rd in the league and lost the conference tourney.
Those schools will put just as many people in the seats for a once in a lifetime chance as a major does for a one and done appearance."
I agree, however, putting butts in the seats isn't the only consideration. After that first weekend of the tourney, TV viewers generally want to see big time schools playing for the title:
from LA Daily news, March 2006
"while all those Davids eliminating the higher seeds during the first weekend of the men's NCAA Tournament might provide the comic relief for fans attracted to their TV sets and now their computers, it's really the survival of the Goliaths that'll hold the audience there once everyone refocuses on the serious business of crowning a champ."
"All the underdogs (translation: mid-majors) may be the backbone of the tournament, but they only provide so much viewership momentum past the first two days.'
TV runs the show....and when it comes down to it, CBS would much rather have UNC, FLorida, Kansas, and Ohio St. in the Final Four than another George Mason. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/19/2007 6:02:29 AM | sportygirl,
what did I tell you about those Hokies? See them stink it up in Raleigh this weekend. Hokies better watch out or Duke will knock them out of a first round bye in the ACC tourney.
Looks like it's going down to the wire for the ACC regular season crown between UNC and UVa.
And down to the wire for the BIg 10 reg. season champ as well. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/19/2007 6:16:15 AM | | maybe i'm in the minority, but i want the george masons in the final four. i can see ohio st., north carolina,etc. every night of the week. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/19/2007 7:05:36 AM | | I think alot of people would say they feel as you do, filthy....but the numbers tell a different story...I'm with you...I enjoy seeing these mid-major teams make the Final Four....but the reality is that the TV ratings drop the farther these Cinderella teams get in the tourney. The upsets are fun the first weekend but after that people want to see the big time schools. I know they got hot but does anyone believe George Mason was the fourth best team in the country last year? | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/19/2007 8:36:43 AM | Wildcat fan (AZ Wildcats) here struggling through the worst season in memory. But I still expect the Pac-10 to be represented by maybe 5-6 teams in the dance. A lot of good teams out there. I like UCLA, Oregon St, Memphis is playing well now. All of the ACC looks good, with Duke in about the same situation as my 'cats. Both look to be a bubble team. If both are in it may be simply on the strength of a coach and a program. All of the top 5-6 should go fairly deep in the tourney.
George Mason couldn't have been called the "fourth best team" for the year, maybe the fourth hottest team in march. Winthrop could be the next GM? | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/19/2007 9:01:43 AM | Might be right about Winthrop....If I recall they lost close ones at Wisconsin and at UNC.
I'm not one of the folks who think your Wildcats are in trouble, maranathatennis. Pac-10 tougher than people thought it would be...who saw Wash. st. coming? I've seen AZ play twice(UNC, UVa) and i think they're alot closer to the team that played tough v. UVa than the ones who quit against UNC. You have good guard play and some depth. As long as they don't end up with an 8 or 9 seed and have to play a one seed in the second round, I look for AZ to make the Sweet 16.
Not sure about Memphis...Conf. USA way down so it's hard to tell how good they really are.
Less than 3 weeks to Selection Sunday | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/19/2007 10:18:13 AM | | mara---i understand what you are saying about "fourth best team" but, i think that most championships are won by the "hottest" team. thats why we have these tournaments. as for my favorites; give me a bobby knight coached team any day of the week. great coach, great teacher, and the best sound bite in all of sports. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/19/2007 10:38:02 AM | I'm a Bobby Knight fan too but his tournament record over the last 20 years(both at Indiana and Texas Tech)does leave something to be desired. I think all the furor over his behavior is overblown.....any good stories about him get buried and his kids graduate at a very high rate.
Any parent that sent his kid to play for Knight, and then became outraged because Knight grabbed the kid's jersey or cussed at him....is a complete moron. He's not there to baby these kids...he's there to teach them reponsiblity, make them better basketball players, and make sure they get their degrees. He does all those things....and his teams always win 20+ games every year.
I'd send my son(if I had one)to play for him in a minute.
A bit off-topic....Knight is/was great friends with a couple well known sports icons...Ted Williams and Bill Parcells...they used to hunt and fish together.
A no-nonsense, old school group if there ever was one. I'd love to hear those three pontificate on the likes of TO and all the other spoiled babies in pro sports today. Think Knight's and Parcells' press conferences were funny?......The conversation amongst those three would be hilarious. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/19/2007 5:14:37 PM | I would let my kid play for Bobby also. He has never had an investigation for recruiting violations. And this man probably had the largest war chest of any college coach at that time.
Your cavs played my cats early when we lost an 18 point lead. Then won 12 straight. I am looking forward to the tourney but conference tourneys first. I love those also. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/19/2007 6:25:08 PM | | a fly on the wall with those three. please. i don't think i could stand it. parcells was hands down the best post game in the nfl. cav is right about knight and the unsung things he does. he totally took care of landon turner but nobody reports that. the best they can come up with is the chair incident. i could go on about he and parcells, i've read books on both, but i wanna stay on topic. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/20/2007 5:54:40 AM | "Your cavs played my cats early when we lost an 18 point lead. Then won 12 straight. I am looking forward to the tourney but conference tourneys first. I love those also."
Virginia's guards outplayed 'Zona's....I thought that was the difference. What's up with Arizona's poor play in the Pac 10? I expected them to be challenging for the reg. season crown. And certainly did not expect UVa to be tied for first w/ UNC at this point in the season. The Cavs haven't been in first this late in the year since Ralph Sampson's days.
Question for you maranathatennis: Are you familiar with Santa Clara? I've seen NCAA tourney projections with UVa a #5 seed playing Santa Clara in the first round.....I know nothing about them....have you seen them play? | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/20/2007 7:46:03 AM | during the 12 game stretch they looked and played like a Lute Olson teams: a lot of passing, driving the lane, getting trips to the foul lines. In short, they played like a team. Since then I have seen some of that, but mostly I have seen 5 players who were all going to be playing in the NBA someday, playing like players showcasing.
If you look at the power ratings Santa Clara matches up well with you. But projections never seem to happen, no point in speculating this early. Your team playing well is good for our power rating too. BTW, AZ Wildcats had (depends on whose rating) the #1 toughest schedule in div 1, some as low as 7th toughest schedule. Only Big East and the ACC look to be as tough. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/20/2007 8:48:42 AM | My quick take on the landscape entering March:
Best conferences
1. PAC-10. After a horribly down year last year, the PAC-10 is back with a vengeance. I like UCLA as the favorite to win it all.
2. B-10, another conference that was way down last year. Well, it's still way down in most respects. If you take away tOSU and Wisky, the rest of the conference couldn't finish in the top six of the BE, which is way down this year. I like Wisky over tOSU for the B10 tourney title.
Most inconsistent
ACC. Duke, UNC ... HELLO? Damn, Va Tech and BC are doing way too well in the ACC for me to give it much more respect.
Way down
Big East: Is Pitt the class of this conference? I dunno and I am a huge Pitt fan and booster. Marquette, IMO, is the best team in the conference and has the best chance to go deep in the NCAA because it has very good guard play. Gtown is so-so. Pitt, IMO, is pretty well overrated. The Panthers guards are average, though they can shoot the 3 pretty well when left alone. Aaron Gray may be the most overhyped player in the country this side of Tyler Hansbrough.
The Rest
B12 and SEC ... I really can't tell them apart any more. Florida is pretty good, but not good enough to defend. Great draw last year for the Gators. The whole Big XII leaves me feeling kind of "Meh" ... some good teams, but no one that really excites you.
The Mid majors ... again, Meh ... one of them will do very well in the tourney, as always.
Nothing really excites me going into the tournament. No single team is wearing a target on its back, not even the defending champ. I think it's wide open, which may eventually be the allure of this year's tourney. | |
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| NCAA basketball...especially the ACC
Posted: 2/20/2007 9:08:06 AM | ACC has 8 teams in the RPI top 40...Pac 10 has 5
UNC is 22-4...would hardly call that inconsistant...Duke is down but they are young and getting better and have non-conf. wins over Air force, Indiana, Georgetown, gonzaga. They'll be fine....most analysts have the ACC getting 7 or 8 bids.
I would still put the ACC as #1 conference
2-PAC 10
3-BIG 10-too top heavy
4-Big East
5-SEC
The ACC teams that are surprising(BC, UVa, Va. Tech.)are where they are because of veteran leadership. Especially the two VA schools...seniors and juniors in the backcourt.
Veteran leadership, good defense...these are the things that teams that advance in March do well.
Haven't seen UCLA play so can't offer opinion here other than they are very young....only 2 or 3 juniors and the rest all frosh and sophmores...that could spell trouble in the later rounds.
You're right ....no dominant team but....Fla. wasn't even ranked at the start of the tourney last year and you can't really say the only reason they won is because of the draw. They are very talented and do everything well. I'll be shocked if they don't at least get to the Elite 8. | |
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