College Basketball Random Chatter

• chicago510

  

  Yeah a team with Oriaki, Lamb, Napier and Drummond should not be struggling in a bad big east right now. Time will tell though.
• Mulva

  

  Miss St. falls to Ole Miss. Wins over Arizona, Texas A&M, and Utah State would usually be resume wins, but this season they don't really look all that impressive to this point. 0-2 on the road in the conference, and they play @ Florida and @ Vandy in their next 3 games. Talented team but not helping themselves out in terms of seed positioning.
  
  Memphis loses @ UCF too. 4 reasonably good teams in C-USA and the bubble looks weak again. I doubt all 4 of them get in, but it should be a multi-bid league for sure this year.
  
  Also, when is the last time the bubble wasn't horrible? The Big East will probably get 3-4 fewer teams than last season, the Pac-12 and ACC might only get 6 or 7 combined, etc. Where are the bids going to come from?
• Azubuike24

  

  The weaker bubble will just keep teams around. SEC has disappointed. ACC has disappointed. Big East has disappointed. Pac 12 sucks. Only the B1G, WCC, MWC, Big XII, and A-10 have really exceeded preseason expectations. C-USA, MVC and MAC have been about as expected, while the CAA has definitely NOT delivered.
  
  Right now, only 11 leagues have legit chances at at-large bids. Six BCS leagues, MWC, MVC, A-10, C-USA, WCC, MVC (Murray State), Sun Belt (Middle Tennessee), A-SUN (Belmont). The last 3 are barring upsets in the conference tournaments, and the last 2 are long shots either way.
  
  Outside of that, like you said, it's just going to be a weak-ass bubble with teams who have .500 conference records fighting for those final spots. You are going to see average a lot of average BCS league teams get in. I, for one, hope they are the ones who get pushed to the opening round games instead of kicking deserving mid-major conference winners there. We'll see...
• thavoice

  IU proved last night that they are pretenders and overrated. I guess ya cannot blame the voters for where they have them in the rankings as they did beat UK and OSU, but they just are not a team that is ready to compete on a nightly basis. That is one of the first steps of a blossoming program though being able to beat some top teams and losing to the lesser ones. They are a year or two away from being serious contenders for the B10
• Laley23

  

  thavoice;1058528 wrote:IU proved last night that they are pretenders and overrated. I guess ya cannot blame the voters for where they have them in the rankings as they did beat UK and OSU, but they just are not a team that is ready to compete on a nightly basis. That is one of the first steps of a blossoming program though being able to beat some top teams and losing to the lesser ones. They are a year or two away from being serious contenders for the B10

  Agreed.
  
  But if everyone comes back, they are a top 5 team next year, imo.
• vball10set

  Laley23;1058786 wrote:Agreed.
  
  But if everyone comes back, they are a top 5 team next year, imo.

  In your opinion, who do you see potentially leaving?
• Laley23

  

  vball10set;1058794 wrote:In your opinion, who do you see potentially leaving?

  Honestly, no one. Though they need a transfer to make room for all 5 recruits. Options I see. listed as most to least likely:
  
  1. Abell transfers
  2. Elston Transfers
  3. Etherinton Transfers
  4. Watford goes pro
  5. Maurice Creek leaves program (aka, cant play due to 2 knee surgeries and his torn Achilles)
  6. Zeller goes pro
  
  Also will need Roth to take a walk-on status. He has a year of eligibility and is in grad school already. But he redshirted so he technically is on scholarship. If he wants to return, Crean will have to make sure its walk-on and not scholarship.
  
  The lineup would be, imo:
  
  PG - Yogi Ferrell (Hulls)
  SG - Hulls (Hollowell, Patterson, Roth)
  W - Watford (Oladipo, Sheehey, Hollowell)
  F - Hanner Perea
  F - Zeller (Jurkin)
  
  Could also see Oladipo retain starting roll with Watford at the 4 and Perea off the bench.
• vball10set

  ^^nice job, and ya' really gotta' feel for Creek--that really sucks
• Laley23

  

  vball10set;1058922 wrote:^^nice job, and ya' really gotta' feel for Creek--that really sucks

  Yeah, if he is able to give even 10 minutes a game again, Id be shocked. Tremendous talent that just got killed by injuries. Too bad, he could shoot, slash and defend. Would be a huge asset to the program if healthy.
• thavoice

  Laley23;1058937 wrote:Yeah, if he is able to give even 10 minutes a game again, Id be shocked. Tremendous talent that just got killed by injuries. Too bad, he could shoot, slash and defend. Would be a huge asset to the program if healthy.

  Exactly. His injuries really setback the progress of the program. A player as good as him could have done wonders. Have to wonder if he will have anything left. I have kind of forgot...did he ever get awarded any sort of medical hardship or can you not apply for that after you exhaust your elibility? Not that IU would really want his schooly still on the books any longer but still.
  
  
  I dont think Watford will leave. He is a good talent, but not ready. Even tho zellar is the leading scorer, this team sinks or swins with how he does.
• Laley23

  

  thavoice;1058951 wrote:Exactly. His injuries really setback the progress of the program. A player as good as him could have done wonders. Have to wonder if he will have anything left. I have kind of forgot...did he ever get awarded any sort of medical hardship or can you not apply for that after you exhaust your elibility? Not that IU would really want his schooly still on the books any longer but still.
  
  
  I dont think Watford will leave. He is a good talent, but not ready. Even tho zellar is the leading scorer, this team sinks or swins with how he does.

  1. Creek will have a redshirt this year at the very least. They are trying to get his FR/SO years combined into a single medical redshirt. So they are hoping for 2 years on top of his SR year next year. In all likelyhood, they will only get this years redshirt. His medical redshirt they are going for is a longshot, though it has happened before. He played in too many both years to be granted one either year (FR/SO). But...who knows what the NCAA will do. But Im with you, not sure we even want him on scholly much longer.
  
  2. Watford is NOT ready. But his name is out there due to big games against top competition. He has the body for the NBA and the shot. Just not near quick or explosive enough. He will never make it in the NBA, but this year he has a better shot of being drafted than next, imo. Next year he wont be the sure-fire 2nd option behind Zeller. Many games probably the 3rd and 4th. His numbers and focus will go down, and with it his draft stock. Thats how I see it. He isnt EVER going to be ready, so if he has a shot, might as well take it now.
• thavoice

  I concur about Watford, just dont see him being much in the NBA, with that said though he can be a very important cog in the IU machine next year. I still think he will be a 1st or 2nd option next season for the hoosiers. The diff is that he can create his own shot whereas Zeller needs a little assistance just like most big guys.
  
  
  AT lunch today the ending of the game last night was on....made me sick seeing it again. Up 11, with the ball, and 6 min to go.
• wildcats20

  

  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
  
  Pretty sure Dexter Strickland just blew his knee out.
• swamisez

  

  Pretty sure Virginia Tech doesn't run an offense. All I have seen in the second half is a high ball screen then lots of standing around watching Hudson and Green
• wildcats20

  

  swamisez;1059692 wrote:Pretty sure Virginia Tech doesn't run an offense. All I have seen in the second half is a high ball screen then lots of standing around watching Hudson and Green

  Yeah, they aren't good.
  
  Couldn't miss in the 1st half though.
• ironman02

  Glad to see the Heels finally start playing. GREAT second half. Winning by double digits in Blacksburg when VT makes like 13 threes is pretty crazy.
  
  Really hope Dexter isn't done for the season. If he is, McDonald better get well soon. No back-up PG without Dex.
• Mulva

  

  BYU lost at home to Loyola-Marymount. That's a pretty damning loss if you want an at-large bid.
• Mulva

  

  Saturday could be a pretty damn good day of college basketball.
  
  Noon: Purdue 14-5 (4-2) @ #9 Michigan State 15-4 (4-2)
  Noon: Alabama 13-5 (2-2) @ #2 Kentucky 18-1 (4-0)
  1: Xavier 13-5 (4-1) @ Dayton 13-5 (3-1)
  1: #20 Michigan 15-4 @ Arkansas 13-5
  2: #5 Missouri 17-1 (4-1) @ #3 Baylor 17-1 (4-1)
  3: Cincinnati 15-4 (5-2) @ West Virginia 14-5 (4-2)
  4: #7 Kansas 15-3 (5-0) @ Texas 12-6 (2-3)
  4: Florida State 12-6 (3-1) @ #4 Duke 16-2 (4-0)
  7: #18 Mississippi State 15-4 (2-2) @ Vanderbilt 14-4 (4-0)
  10: New Mexico 15-3 (1-1) @ #14 UNLV 17-3 (1-1)
  
  Then throw in other less flashy but still pretty important conference games like Colorado St @ Wyoming, Stanford @ Washington, and Marshall @ Southern Miss, and I feel like Saturday is going to be the 1st time all season that I accomplish nothing all day other than watching hoops and drinking beer.
• vball10set

  wildcats20;1059674 wrote:NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
  
  Pretty sure Dexter Strickland just blew his knee out.

  any word?
• wildcats20

  

  vball10set;1059908 wrote:any word?

  Nothing I have seen. He said last night after the game that it was just sore. Which could be a good sign, but who knows. It was pretty nasty looking. The official twitter of the program was saying he would be re-evaluated when they got back to Chapel Hill.
  
  I really, really, really hope it is nothing. Losing him would kill this team.
• Little Danny

  

  Mulva;1059776 wrote:BYU lost at home to Loyola-Marymount. That's a pretty damning loss if you want an at-large bid.

  How many points did Hank Gathers score? :laugh:
• Heretic

  

  Little Danny;1060223 wrote:How many points did Hank Gathers score? :laugh:

  Him and Bo Kimble combined for 87. Off night for them.
• Heelz

  

  ironman02;1059751 wrote:Glad to see the Heels finally start playing. GREAT second half. Winning by double digits in Blacksburg when VT makes like 13 threes is pretty crazy.
  
  Really hope Dexter isn't done for the season. If he is, McDonald better get well soon. No back-up PG without Dex.

  Pretty sure I read Leslie is getting a medical redshirt this year.
  
  I really hope Dex is ok, that could hurt the Heels real bad.
• cats gone wild

  Derek Willis (2013) is suppose to pick his school today at 4. Looks like UK.
• Azubuike24

  

  Nice to know the #23 player of the class will be by far the lowet rated player Cal will bring in.
  
  Many feel the 2013 UK class will be the best ever. They are arguably the leaders for the top 4 players right now and Aaron Harrison (#7 overall, his brother Andrew is currently #1). Going to be a sick class. Especially if it also goes along with Ryan Harrow, Willie Cauley, Alex Poythress and Kyle Wiltjer.