College Basketball Random Chatter 2013-2014 Season

• Azubuike24

  

  SportsAndLady;1567368 wrote:Not sure uk outclasses everyone in talent. Their talent is a tad overrated due to recruiting rankings. Kansas has the top 2 picks in next year's draft and another couple first rounders. Zona too.

  I guess it depends on how we define "talent." Sheer potential, Zona isn't really up there. They have 3 or 4 locks, but some other nice college players that I'm not sure will ever get true NBA shots.
• reclegend22

  

  Azubuike24;1567372 wrote:Happens on the road though.
  
  That's why I was disappointed because KU "broke through" last night. Arkansas, had they lost that, was staring at a bad, bad season. Instead, they are now on track to definitely make the NCAA's if they just hold serve. 2 of their 3 "tough" games are done.

  The thing is, and I know this all too well as a Duke fan, Arkansas probably won't hold serve. Truth be told, if Grand Canyon was coming to town to play at Bud Walton on Saturday, they'd probably win comfortably. We'll see if Arkansas can parlay this into something bigger, but, even though I have openly voiced my fondness here for Mike Anderson and his style of play, I doubt it.
• Azubuike24

  

  Believe me. The SEC "others" have a history of playing UK and UF extremely tough, but then Arkansas will find a way to lose games this year to South Carolina, Auburn or Mississippi State.
  
  We'll see though. Despite the loss, I actually don't root against the Hogs. It's disappointing to see the story about the fan starting it with Andrew Harrison and also the video of James Young being hit in the back of the head with something on a play in the 2nd half after he finished an and one.
• centralbucksfan

  SportsAndLady;1567368 wrote:Not sure uk outclasses everyone in talent. Their talent is a tad overrated due to recruiting rankings. Kansas has the top 2 picks in next year's draft and another couple first rounders. Zona too.

  Don't think it was overrated. But it was certainly overhyped. When you have all that talent, its going to be rated as the best, and easily was the best class in the country. Cal did his part to play into the overhype talk with his talk of wanting to coach an undefeated team. I don't think he ever directed at this team, but we all know it really was.
  That being said, when you look at the overall talent, it is certainly there. As Azu said, they have a roster full of NBA talent. KU may have 2 of the top players, but they don't have the pure talent depth that UK has.
• centralbucksfan

  Azubuike24;1567408 wrote:Believe me. The SEC "others" have a history of playing UK and UF extremely tough, but then Arkansas will find a way to lose games this year to South Carolina, Auburn or Mississippi State.
  
  .

  I thinke every conference has the "others" that play teams tough. Its conference play. The familarity is there. Not many easy games in conference play. Especially on the road.
• Laley23

  

  Kentucky May have more depth, but it's not that much deeper, IMO, especially when the 2 best (IMO) are on the Kansas squad.
• Classyposter58

  

  All this talk of potential is nice but I fail to see anyone mention Syracuse or Wisconsin or Arizona, all of whom are better than UK, KU or Duke. Talent is great but dumb freshman mistakes and inexperience are all much more of a detriment
• Azubuike24

  

  Wisconsin, no way. Wisconsin is what they are. Their offensive efficiency is amazing this year, but their defensive numbers will slide.
  
  Syracuse, always a wild card. However, we have about 20 years of Syracuse data to pull from. They have had many teams that looked very, very good at this point in the season. I can count on one hand how many of them played more than 3 games in the NCAA Tournament.
  
  Arizona, I can agree there. They have a blend of overall talent and better experience than the aforementioned squads.
  
  Until proven otherwise, it's hard to not say Michigan State isn't the best team. Them or Arizona right now.
• Azubuike24

  

  I also think people can agree that Duke has personel flaws that aren't going to be fixed by more experience or more reps. The same can be said for Oklahoma State, Villanova, Iowa State, Oregon and Louisville from what I've seen. Say one of these teams gets a 4-seed...
  
  Lets say they get Kentucky in a 2nd round game (as a #5), Syracuse in a regional semi (as a #1), Florida in a regional final (as a #2). That would be 3 games they would have to face superior bigs and would have to beat the odds on those match-ups each time.
  
  The right bracket, any of those above teams can make the Final Four or further. The wrong bracket, could be maybe one or two and done.
• Classyposter58

  

  Azubuike24;1567580 wrote:Wisconsin, no way. Wisconsin is what they are. Their offensive efficiency is amazing this year, but their defensive numbers will slide.
  
  Syracuse, always a wild card. However, we have about 20 years of Syracuse data to pull from. They have had many teams that looked very, very good at this point in the season. I can count on one hand how many of them played more than 3 games in the NCAA Tournament.
  
  Arizona, I can agree there. They have a blend of overall talent and better experience than the aforementioned squads.
  
  Until proven otherwise, it's hard to not say Michigan State isn't the best team. Them or Arizona right now.

  Payne's injury worries me, plus MSU keeps suffering from the injury bug
• reclegend22

  

  Azubuike24;1567408 wrote:Believe me. The SEC "others" have a history of playing UK and UF extremely tough, but then Arkansas will find a way to lose games this year to South Carolina, Auburn or Mississippi State.
  
  We'll see though. Despite the loss, I actually don't root against the Hogs. It's disappointing to see the story about the fan starting it with Andrew Harrison and also the video of James Young being hit in the back of the head with something on a play in the 2nd half after he finished an and one.

  I have never had a great deal of respect for the Arkansas fan base, but I have an awful lot of it for the program. It's one of the top 15 all-time and, while some hate this argument, I believe the sport is more interesting when the historical powers are relevant. But that pig call and the almost-degenerate, vitriol-fueled behavior of the fans in Bud Walton often can be too much to stomach. Not Maryland level, though. That fan base is the worst of the worst.
  
  I like Mike Anderson and hope he can get the Razorbacks back to a Final Four.
• reclegend22

  

  Another John Thompson III classic in the making on CBS Sports Network. Xavier has erased a 17-point deficit against Georgetown to take a 3-point lead with under 3 minutes to play.
• reclegend22

  

  After Xavier went on a 35 to 14 run that gave the Musketeers a 70 to 67 lead, Georgetown never scored again. Xavier 80, Georgetown 67.
• Azubuike24

  

  Wow, I tracked that UMass game all night and they were down 6-12 all game. I go away, refresh the screen when I'm back and they win 88-87 over George Mason.
• reclegend22

  

  The Minutemen have had a penchant for great, last-minute comebacks this season. It's the reason I've stopped betting on their spreads. But it does show some character. However, doing that against Atlantic 10 teams is one thing. Doing that in the NCAA Tournament against the heavyweights is another.
• reclegend22

  

  Vegas running New Mexico right out of their own building. Up 33 to 17 midway through the first half.
• Mulva

  

  Uh, Baylor? Losing by 20 to Texas Tech is not a real good look.
• reclegend22

  

  Vegas clinging onto a three-point lead in the second half at New Mexico, after leading by 16 early. At 10-6 and with five losses at home already, including in their last two games to Air Force and Nevada, the Runnin' Rebels absolutely need this win tonight as a resume builder. If they lose, I think an NCAA bid is highly unlikely. They'll tailspin.
• reclegend22

  

  UNLV gets a huge win on the road tonight in The Pitt at New Mexico. They are 11-6 now, so still a ton of work to do, but this silences the NIT talk for the time being.
  
  Painful to watch such a talented team play so haphazardly from one night to the next. Tonight, they looked like a legitimate Top 25 team.
• Azubuike24

  

  Barring a blow up, does anyone catch Doug McDermott for NPOY?
  
  Parker and Randle would have a shot, but their teams have too many losses and nobody has numbers like Doug.
• Azubuike24

  

  And LOL. I read someone offered 50K for the game ball from UK/ARK on Tuesday. The one that was thrown into the scoreboard. Arkansas decided to decline the offer and leave it up there as memorabilia.
  
  Of course, then they will increase tuition for all like 6000 incoming Freshman...
• reclegend22

  

  Being that Creighton is in the new Big East this year and no longer playing against mid-majors on a nightly basis, there is no argument against McDermott getting the award at this point. Dude's averaging 25 and 7 and has eclipsed 30+ on six occasions. He is every bit as deserving, if not more so, as Jimmer Fredette was in 2011.
• Iliketurtles

  

  reclegend22;1568060 wrote:Being that Creighton is in the new Big East this year and no longer playing against mid-majors on a nightly basis, there is no argument against McDermott getting the award at this point. Dude's averaging 25 and 7 and has eclipsed 30+ on six occasions. He is every bit as deserving, if not more so, as Jimmer Fredette was in 2011.

  Definitely agree with this. It will be a shame if he keeps this up and doesn't win NPOY.
• Classyposter58

  

  Very cool College Gameday in the Palestra. I have to say I love the basketball version of College Gameday, the football has gotten to be almost too much
• Azubuike24

  

  Andrew Harrison with 26 points, 3 assists, 10 for 10 from the line and zero turnovers. By far his best game ever. Dakari Johnson, slowly, is becoming more effective than Willie Cauley-Stein. Wouldn't be surprised if he starts taking his top minutes very shortly.