2005-06 NCAA Basketball

[Winslow]

Duke is no.1, but narrowly won their ACC opener with a last second 40 footer over Va Tech.

Top AP Top 20 as of 12/5/05:

1. Duke (61) 5-0
2. Texas (6) 5-0
3. Connecticut (4)
4. Villanova (1) 2-0
5. Oklahoma 3-0
6. Gonzaga 3-1
7. Louisville 1-0
8. Boston College 5-0
9. Memphis 3-1
10. Kentucky 4-1
11. Florida 5-0
12. Illinois 5-0
13. Michigan State 3-2
14. Iowa 4-1
15. Arizona 2-2
16. UCLA 4-1
17. Indiana 3-0
18. Washington 6-0
19. George Washington 2-0
20. Nevada 3-0

[Winslow]

Dang. No College Hoops fans on the Board?

Or do "you all" wait for March?

Michigan State Spartans whoop Boston College for a big win.

Maurice Ager is proving to be the calber of player that can lead the Spartans back to the Final 4.

http://cmsimg.greenandwhite.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=A3&Dato=20051127&Kategori=GW0201&Lopenr=512010803&Ref=PH&Item=3&MaxW=620&MaxH=500

[Dreadstar]

Dang. No College Hoops fans on the Board?

Or do "you all" wait for March?

Nah, but I really can't geared into it until after the bowl season. That said, when UK starts up in the SEC and Ohio State starts up in the Big Ten, I usually check the schedule and see if a good game is on tap.

I think OSU has St. Joe's next. A very good team, so I may give that a watch.

[Winslow]

Nah, but I really can't geared into it until after the bowl season. That said, when UK starts up in the SEC and Ohio State starts up in the Big Ten, I usually check the schedule and see if a good game is on tap.

I think OSU has St. Joe's next. A very good team, so I may give that a watch.

Izzo jump starts Michigan State's season by scheduling tough opponents upfront. So I usually get interested before Christmas. (That, and the Michigan State football team hasn't been to a bowl in 4-5 years. :( )

Sometimes it backfires though, as the Spartans lost all their games against top oppenents a few years ago, and they had a huge break in confidence.

It's cool to see the "swagger" back for the Spartans - that is, they believe they can play with anybody.

http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2005/basketball/ncaa/12/07/boston.college.michiganstate.ap/Michigan-State-12.6.jpg

BTW - Spartans record against Top 10 teams this year is 2-1. Dropped a triple OT loss to Gonzaga.

[Winslow]

AP top 25 as of December 30, 2005:

1. Duke (61) 11-0
2. Connecticut (7) 9-0
3. Villanova (1) 8-0
4. Memphis 9-1
5. Florida 11-0
6. Illinois 12-0
7. Washington 10-0
8. Gonzaga 9-2
9. Michigan State 10-2
10. Louisville 9-1
11. UCLA 10-1
12. George Washington 8-0
13. Boston College 8-2
14. Oklahoma 6-2
15. Texas 9-2
16. Maryland 8-2
17. Indiana 7-2
18. Kentucky 8-3
19. N.C. State 9-1
20. Nevada 8-1
21. Ohio State 8-0
22. Wake Forest 9-2
23. North Carolina 6-2
24. Wisconsin 9-1
25. West Virginia 7-3

Looking forward to the January 5th matchup of Michigan State and Illinois.

[Valmore]

How did George Washington get ranked as high as #12 with wins over their pathetically easy schedule?

[Winslow]

How did George Washington get ranked as high as #12 with wins over their pathetically easy schedule?

They beat Maryland.

Illinois is no. 6 and the only ranked team they've beaten is North Carolina

Most teams have pretty easy schedules upfront

The exception being the Spartans (Gonzaga, Arizona, and BC were all in the top 10 when MSU played them).

[Dreadstar]

Ah, it's all tune-up to this point, with a few quality games tossed in. I usually don't get a good feel for the game until about halfway through conference.

[PeteGunn]

Yeah, the college basketball polls don't really mean anything, unlike a certain collegian sport in a certain division level.

The most you can hope for with a high ranking is a little help in getting a good seed in the Tournament.

[Winslow]

No. 7 Michigan State travels to No. 6 Illinois to tip off the Big 10 season tonight! . .

Go Spartans!

[TitoJones]

Glad to see the conference games begin, so now I can see how good O-State really is.

Can't wait for Illionis-Michigan St tonight.

Question though, do they only play once like they did last year, or do they play a home and home like they should this year?

[Winslow]

I wish Dee Brown would have gone pro.

Dee puts the smackdown on MSU, scoring 34, as the Spartans lose. Spartans can't seem to find a way to win in Champaign.

Actually, no one seems to be able to win in Champaign as illinois' home win streak was extended to 30 last night.

[Winslow]

Question though, do they only play once like they did last year, or do they play a home and home like they should this year?

Illiois comes to Michigan State this year. So they play twice.

Is OSU for real?

[Dreadstar]

Illiois comes to Michigan State this year. So they play twice.

Is OSU for real?

Too early to tell, really.

I mean, c'mon, Penn State...

They have 4 guys that can shoot the lights out from beyond the arc, though. Reminds me a little of Pitino's UK bomb squad from 10 years ago. And the guards will rob you blind.

Unfortunatly, force and height looks like it might eventually be a liability, along with the usual death by cold shooting.

[Ottmeister X]

Dang. No College Hoops fans on the Board?

Or do "you all" wait for March?

I start watching as soon as the games start. NFL football is king, but college b-ball in next in line for me, just barely above college football. I'm a die-hard Dukie fan and have been that way for 20 years. With the abundance of TV coverage of Duke these days, I hardly ever miss a game and usually tape them if I can't watch live. I even spent some hard-earned cash a few years ago to fly out to North Carolina to watch the Blue Devils play the Wolfpack (unfortunately, not in Cameron).

Whenever the tourney games come through Denver, I'm on top of it with my buddies to get tickets. We usually get the 1st and 2nd round games, which is cool because it's 6 games total and prices aren't too bad.

With the Broncos in the playoffs, most of my focus is on them. However, I usually check all of the Division I scores each day and look at the conference standings every few days to see who's off to a good start.

Colorado is a tough place for college basketball, especially CU. Ricardo Patton does as good as he can in fielding a team, but there is a horrible lack of fan support. The arena usually only has a few thousand and when Kansas comes to town, and the arena is almost a home game for them because there's so much red in the stands. CSU gets better home crowds than CU does. However, there's a good story transpiring down in Colorado Springs at Air Force. If you recall, they were in the tournament a couple of years ago; not a common occurrence for them. They didn't make it last year and the coach left to go to Princeton. The new coach is Jeff Bdzelik (think I spelled that right) of the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets, right before he was replaced with George Karl. Jeff has the Falcons off to a great start. There was a lot of concern about them being halfway decent, and that was before their best player went down for the year with an injury. As of now, they only have one loss and that was to the #10 Huskies.

[Winslow]

Duke remains undefeated and No. 1. NC State may give them a game on Wednesday.

Florida also remains unbeaten and No. 2 - but I'm not a believer since they haven't played a top 25 team yet. Indeed, their entire schedule looks like tip toe through the tulips (Kentucky is having an "off" year).

Michigan State Spartans win a thriller in Double OT in Columbus. Great game. MSU played all four top ranked Big 10 teams ~ 3 on the road ~ right out of the chute of the Big 10 season - (seemed like unfair scheduling to this jaded fan) - and came away 2-2.

[Lubichev]

(Kentucky is having an "off" year).


Boy, you can say THAT again. Maybe if they learned how to shoot a basketball or cared about playing as a team.

[Dennis K]

Duke remains undefeated and No. 1. NC State may give them a game on Wednesday.

Good call, with under eight minutes to go NC St. is leading by four.

[Dennis K]

Duke was just too strong down the stretch, winning 81-68

[literally exaggerated]

this Duke team is scary. They've got a few weaknesses, but they are very well coached, tremendously talented, and really, really hot right now. If they keep playing at this level, I don't know if any team in the country can beat them.

[J Dog]

IU kicked Illinois' butt two nights ago. That means the Hoosiers are back in the promised land in basketball.

[Winslow]

There's no place like home in the Big 10 . . . .

Indiana shocks Illinois and prove they're for real . . . at Assembly Hall in Indiana.

Ohio State gives Wisconsin its first conference loss in a game in Columbus.

Big 10 champ may have 3 or 4 losses before its all said and done.

And in other news . . . yeah, Duke looks unbeatable right now.

[Tadhg Adams]

IU kicked Illinois' butt two nights ago. That means the Hoosiers are back in the promised land in basketball.

Well it helps that Illinois has no offensive firepower this year.

[Valmore]

IU kicked Illinois' butt two nights ago. That means the Hoosiers are back in the promised land in basketball.

Holding on for a two-point win by no means constitutes a "butt kicking." It was a win, but not a "butt kicking."

[Evil Sneak]

There's no place like home in the Big 10 . . . .

Indiana shocks Illinois and prove they're for real . . . at Assembly Hall in Indiana.

Ohio State gives Wisconsin its first conference loss in a game in Columbus.

Big 10 champ may have 3 or 4 losses before its all said and done.

And in other news . . . yeah, Duke looks unbeatable right now.


Man, the Big Ten is gonna be brutal this year. I can't wait for 2/12/06 when I get to see my Buckeyes take on the Illini in Columbus.

[Evil Sneak]

Well it helps that Illinois has no offensive firepower this year.

Well they did shut down Dee Brown, if he had anyting close to an average game, Illinois likely wins.

[Valmore]

Not a good day to be an undefeated team, as all three of the last unbeatens fell from the ranks. Duke lost to Georgetown; Florida lost to Tennessee; and Pittsburgh lost to St. John's.

And what's with #15 Wisconsin losing to North Dakota State. Can someone say "straw giant"?

[Winslow]

And what's with #15 Wisconsin losing to North Dakota State. Can someone say "straw giant"?

Wisconsin's starting center was declared academically inelligible . . . .

Edit: I take it back, both players Wisconsin lost were not starters. Chalk it up to looking past an opponent . . . I guess . . .

And yet another edit:

"The Badgers shot 16-for-72, including 4-for-27 from 3-point range."

That explains it . . .

[d00m]

Not a good day to be an undefeated team, as all three of the last unbeatens fell from the ranks. Duke lost to Georgetown; Florida lost to Tennessee; and Pittsburgh lost to St. John's.

I was at the Duke/Georgetown game. As a Duke fan, it was pretty disappointing. But it was a hell of a game. The MCI Center was sold out and louder than it's ever been at any Wizards games I've been to. It was pretty funny seeing the security guys trying to keep the Georgetown students from running onto the court afterwards.

Duke almost came back, but Georgetown deserved that win. Duke was just outplayed for the entire game. Coach K couldn't have said it better: “We’ve been in the penthouse all season, having room service. Somebody jammed up the elevator today.”

[J Dog]

So, the last of the unbeatens have fallen.

(moment of silence)

Anyway, the team of the week is...

North Dakota State!

For beating Wisconsin AT Kohl Center!!!

[pennywisdom]

I think the team of the week should be UConn. They just moved up in the rankings.

[Ottmeister X]

I was at the Duke/Georgetown game. As a Duke fan, it was pretty disappointing. But it was a hell of a game. The MCI Center was sold out and louder than it's ever been at any Wizards games I've been to. It was pretty funny seeing the security guys trying to keep the Georgetown students from running onto the court afterwards.

Duke almost came back, but Georgetown deserved that win. Duke was just outplayed for the entire game. Coach K couldn't have said it better: “We’ve been in the penthouse all season, having room service. Somebody jammed up the elevator today.”

Duke fan also. The Hoyas just played awesome. Not quite sure why that team wasn't ranked previously because they have some scary talent. Those two big guys should make a formidable matchup for most teams. Watch out, Big East.

"When we don't match another team's intensity -- that doesn't happen very often -- then all of a sudden we do 'J.J.-watching,' where we're watching J.J. play," Krzyzewski said. "We might as well get tickets and sit behind the bench. No one is doing anything out there."

[TitoJones]

Is it me or does it seem like Sheldon Williams fold up like a chair whenever he faces a decent big man.

[Ottmeister X]

Is it me or does it seem like Sheldon Williams fold up like a chair whenever he faces a decent big man.

I would prefer not to admit to it, but it does seem that way.

[Winslow]

Dang . .

Michigan State loses to Michigan. Third Big 10 loss for Spartans - put some serious jeopardy for Spartans to gain a Big 10 title. I don't like to whine about officiating, but a 34-10 foul line disparity in U of M's favor doesn't sound like fair officiating. Alas . . .

Three other top 25 teams got upset . . .

West Virginia lost to 8-9 Marshall - (lesson - don't schedule meaningless non-conference games in the middle of the conference season can you say, "Wisconsin")

Seton Hall whooped no. 14 N.C. State

South Carolina gives no. 4 Florida its second loss

[taintedlunch]

As bad a year as UK is having, and they're still 1 game out of first in the SEC. Under Billy Donovan, Florida is, and always has been, an underachiever.

[TitoJones]

As bad a year as UK is having, and they're still 1 game out of first in the SEC. Under Billy Donovan, Florida is, and always has been, an underachiever.

I'm just waiting for the tourament so I can bet for Florida's first round opponent.

[Winslow]

EA SPORTS NCAA March Madness 06:

ESPN simulated the tournament and it was Duke . . . .

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2308330

Michigan State has the "Big 3" (Ager, Brown, and Davis) - but they're pretty one dimensional in that if you stop Paul Davis, they usually lose.

[Dennis K]

I went to my first ACC basketball game this past weekend, Virginia Tech vs. Wake Forest. Wow, is Wake Forest bad, they've got about 0 ball-handling skills.

[Dennis K]

Anybody catch the Notre Dame vs. West Virginia game last night? Good, good stuff.

[Tadhg Adams]

It's not often I feel sorry for Notre Dame, but their last 4 losses have been painful.

[Winslow]

Big 10 is all knotted up at the top:

Iowa 7-3 (18-6)
Illinois 6-3 (20-3)
Michigan 6-3 (16-4)
Michigan State 6-3 (18-5)
Ohio State 5-3 (16-3)

[Winslow]

Spartans drop 2 in a row and are fading . . . . :( I had hopes for a return to the Final 4, but they're playing like crud right now.

In big news, Villanova topped Connecticut. Villanova may be for real . . .

[Dennis K]

I wish I could have watched the UConn vs. Villanova game the other night.

[TitoJones]

Spartans drop 2 in a row and are fading . . . . :( I had hopes for a return to the Final 4, but they're playing like crud right now.

In big news, Villanova topped Connecticut. Villanova may be for real . . .

I don't know if it's so much the Spartans fading, as to the fact that it's almost impossible to win a road game against a qualilty opponent in the Big 10.

Which raises the question, right now, how would rank the conferences?

1. Big East
2. Big Ten (this is a very close second)
3. ACC
4. Pac 10
5. SEC
6. Big 12

[Valmore]

The ACC is still the king conference, and they won the Acc-Big 10 showdown. ;)

[J Dog]

Davis calls it quits. (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/seth_davis/02/15/indiana.davis/index.html)

My wish came true!

[Winslow]

The ACC is still the king conference, and they won the Acc-Big 10 showdown. ;)

True . .

But until the ACC puts 3/8 teams in the elite 8, and 2/4 teams in the Final 4 (2005 Tournament), the Big 10 still has bragging rights. ;) :D

I think the Big East is the best conference this year. Connecticut, Villanova, and West Virginia all look like Final 4 teams.

The Big 10 is so whacky, I don't know what to think until the tournament.

And while Duke looks pretty good, the rest of the ACC looks just so-so.

[Winslow]

Davis calls it quits. (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/seth_davis/02/15/indiana.davis/index.html)

My wish came true!

Eddie Sutton stepped down as coach of Oklahoma State also . . . DUI charge did him in.

[Dennis K]

I'm starting to get bracket fever already.

[Valmore]

I'm not sure if the ref crew in Tallahassee had it in for Duke or if this was a make-up for the bad calls in the first game, but there were a crapload of ticky-tack fouls called against Duke in the second half, and the Seminoles went to the line more than double the times the Blue Devils did. Far be it for me to say the fix was in, but with it being so close to bracket time and the ACC rumored to not get more than 4 teams in the tournament up until now...

[Winslow]

. . . and the Seminoles went to the line more than double the times the Blue Devils did ...

Oh, so that's how they did it . . .

Ohio State is for real in the Big 10.

Michigan State is still a good team, but has faded fast in the last few minutes of their 3 recent losses. If they can find a way to finish well, they can play with anyone. Interestingly, Izzo is blaming himself for the late game failures (failure to protect key players from foul trouble - substitution errors resulting in late game fatigue, poor game plans in the final minutes).

[Valmore]

Oh, so that's how they did it . . .

I'm not a Duke fan by any means, and I have been known to root for the Seminoles in various sports, particularly baseball. However... something just doesn't seem kosher about that game. Duke shot 44% from the field; Florida State only 34%. Duke made more 3-pointers, and was only barely outrebounded. I can't wrap my head around how Duke got tagged with 30 team fouls while Florida State only got flagged with 17 - and 18 of those Duke fouls came in the second half and the Seminoles only had 9.

It just seems too convenient for me that Florida State, the ACC's biggest bubble team (fifth in the conference) gets its biggest win of the season right before selection week, and getting 40 trips to the line compared to Duke's 17 (and two of those on a technical foul for the fans and FLAST bench charging the floor with 1.7 seconds left). Especially since Only Duke, UNC, Boston College and N.C. State were guaranteed berths to the tourney, and the talk was clearly showing the ACC only getting those 4.

[Winslow]

Especially since Only Duke, UNC, Boston College and N.C. State were guaranteed berths to the tourney, and the talk was clearly showing the ACC only getting those 4.

I haven't been following the ACC as much, and I do recall seeing only 4 teams in most projections of turnament seeding.

Is the conference having a "down year?"

[Valmore]

I haven't been following the ACC as much, and I do recall seeing only 4 teams in most projections of turnament seeding.

Is the conference having a "down year?"

On the contrary - 7 teams have 17 wins or more; 9 teams have overall winning records and 1 has a .500 record. They just beat up on each other in the conference. Before beating Duke, Florida State lost to VA Tech by double digits, and VA Tech is only 14-14.

Consider Michigan State is almost a lock at 19-9, yet they're only 7-7 in thr Big Ten. FLA State is 18-8 but 8-7 in the ACC and still arne't a lock if they lose to Miami.

[Maleficentogre]

Big East>ACC. they're having a very down year. after the first 5 teams everyone flat out sucks. Maryland, Virgina, Clemson, VT, GT, Miami, Wake. God wake. They're going to get owned out of the Big dance in a few rounds. Duke and state will cary them to the sweet sixteen. Don't see either of them getting much further than that

[Winslow]

On the contrary - 7 teams have 17 wins or more; 9 teams have overall winning records and 1 has a .500 record. They just beat up on each other in the conference. Before beating Duke, Florida State lost to VA Tech by double digits, and VA Tech is only 14-14.

Consider Michigan State is almost a lock at 19-9, yet they're only 7-7 in thr Big Ten. FLA State is 18-8 but 8-7 in the ACC and still arne't a lock if they lose to Miami.

It certainly appears unfair on the surface.

I'd have to look at records against ranked teams. Michigan State has beat many teams in the top 10 this year.

[Valmore]

Big East>ACC. they're having a very down year. after the first 5 teams everyone flat out sucks. Maryland, Virgina, Clemson, VT, GT, Miami, Wake. God wake. They're going to get owned out of the Big dance in a few rounds. Duke and state will cary them to the sweet sixteen. Don't see either of them getting much further than that

The Big East has little room to brag when the always craptacular Rutgers has 16 wins - 1 less than Clemson.

[Maleficentogre]

rutgers sucks too.

[Valmore]

rutgers sucks too.

And what's with the Big East having, like, 50 teams in its conference, anyway?

But, I'll say what I said two years ago and helped a friend win his NCAA pool... if there's no clear favorite, pick UConn.

[Maleficentogre]

It's all the ACC's fault. If the ACC wasn't money hungry and raided the big east the big east wouldn't have raided C-USA and then my school wouldn't have gotten shoved in the weaksauce A10 (which by the way is 1000 times better than the missouri valley)

[Valmore]

It's all the ACC's fault. If the ACC wasn't money hungry and raided the big east the big east wouldn't have raided C-USA and then my school wouldn't have gotten shoved in the weaksauce A10 (which by the way is 1000 times better than the missouri valley)

Remember when the A-10 was good? Like, two years ago they had St. Joseph's and Xavier in the Elite Eight. Now... unless someone beats George Washington, they're only gonna get one bid.

I wonder why Temple can't recruit like they used to. They used to be a force for years, now they can barely stay above .500.

[Maleficentogre]

The A10 will be good again soon. I hope Charlotte can win the tourny and get into the NCAA. I hope we can beat them saturday.

[Winslow]

I wonder why Temple can't recruit like they used to. They used to be a force for years, now they can barely stay above .500.

Most kids these days don't like a disciplinarian like Cheney.

[Maleficentogre]

Most kids these days don't like a disciplinarian like Cheney.
that's the whole thing. cheny's style of coaching is over. kids these days won't respond to it, ego's are way too high.

[Parrotheadpress]

Everything is just plain screwy this year. There's a game of musical chairs for No. 1 in women's hoops action, thanks to N.C. and Duke (I'm not even going to count the Lady Vols in that league right now), and then in men's action, the No. 1 team in the nation is getting upset by unranked Florida St., Kentucky edges Tennessee (who shouldn't even be ranked!), and things aren't quite so sure as they once were.

[Winslow]

. . . and things aren't quite so sure as they once were.

Heh

That's a big reason why I love March Madness . . .

[Maleficentogre]

back to real basketball. tennessee should totally be ranked, bruce pear has done an incredible job with that team. The teams that shouldn't be ranked are thos BS missouri valley teams

[Parrotheadpress]

back to real basketball. tennessee should totally be ranked, bruce pear has done an incredible job with that team. The teams that shouldn't be ranked are thos BS missouri valley teams

That's the thing. A year ago, if you had told someone, even in Knoxville, that the men's team should be ranked, they would have laughed you out the door. Now the men are slowly becoming more of a sure thing than the Lady Vols. It's insanity down here because people finally have something to cheer for with the men's team. It's wild. Nice, but wild. Pearl has truly done an incredible job. Thank God Peterson's gone.

[Maleficentogre]

haha, I love watching pearl coach. We've finally found someone who sweats more than gary williams (maryland).

[Valmore]

back to real basketball. tennessee should totally be ranked, bruce pear has done an incredible job with that team. The teams that shouldn't be ranked are thos BS missouri valley teams

Did you just call SEC hoops "real basketball?"

[Maleficentogre]

no, someone was talking about girls basketball earlier.

[Parrotheadpress]

First off, what's wrong with SEC hoops?

And secondly, did you just say that womens' basketball isn't real basketball?

[Maleficentogre]

can't stand to watch it. make my eyes bleed.
also, what's up with espn putting the duke/chapel hill game on like 9 channels?

[Valmore]

First off, what's wrong with SEC hoops?

Aside from Kentucky (who is surprisingly having an off year this year) the SEC is a bunch of perennial underachievers. Led by Florida.

[Dennis K]

Duke vs. UNC.... Saturday night... this is gonna be good.

[Parrotheadpress]

The SEC is full of ups and downs, I'll admit that, but some of its teams can still kick ass when necessary.

And Mal, I'm sick to death of people bashing women's basketball. One of our sports writers thought it would be funny to piss off half the female population of this county by making some comments about the WNBA. Luckily, it was edited out.

[Maleficentogre]

The SEC has tennessee LSU and alabama and that's it. The other teams are giant ball of inconsistancy. It all depends on seeding but I don't see any of those teams save for 'bama getting that far in the dance.
I also hope that none of the regular season conference champions from real conferences win their tournaments so the missouri valley won't get more than 2 teams in. the idea that they're better than the A10, the pac-10, and the C-usa is a joke so unfunny I laughed.
Organized girls basketball is slow, and boring to watch. I don't understand what happens when girls get organized and play basketball. The girls I see outside on the street playing can keep up with the men, but the girls on the courts on tv look like slugs.

[Valmore]

Organized girls basketball is slow, and boring to watch. I don't understand what happens when girls get organized and play basketball. The girls I see outside on the street playing can keep up with the men, but the girls on the courts on tv look like slugs.

That's because you're watching street ball, which has, shall we say, a "loose" definition of the rules and allows for more, shall we say, exploiting of those loose rules and a complete lack of fundamental basketball.

Women's teams actually use those fundamentals, since refs won't let you play street ball. Street ball female players would get tagged with violations and fouls and would be fairly useless in organized basketball - much like their street ball male equals, since men's teams also use fundamental ball, but just have the advantage of being able to dunk and create a more exciting game.

[Maleficentogre]

The girls play slower when they play against girls. fact. Watching my school's girls team play against florida and it was atrocious basketball, but when I watched them play againts our own men's team they played a totally different style of basketball. It's not that it's girls playing. it's the style of play that's bad. there's a difference between dean smith super slow holding the ball to set up screens kind of basketball with a lot of off the ball movement and just slow basketball.

[KingEli]

I wonder wich is Better the Big East or The ACC?

Anybody got an opinon?

[Maleficentogre]

the big east. cause it is. and I said so. as for legitimate reasons It has more good teams than the ACC does. The ACC has a massive drop off in quality around the 4/5 mark where as the big east's drop off is around 8/9.

[literally exaggerated]

Big East, more good teams, more great teams.

After that guy ran over all those kids on the UNC campus, this game is gonna have some seriously charged emotions.

[Maleficentogre]

yeah, wtf was up with that? it's one thing to no like other teams fans (like I can't stand WV fans) but I'd never run any of them over. I just dont care that much as to take a human life or go to jail.

[KingEli]

Big East, more good teams, more great teams.

After that guy ran over all those kids on the UNC campus, this game is gonna have some seriously charged emotions.


What the Hell happend?

[Dennis K]

What a great college basketball day yesterday was. I got to take one of my nieces and one of my nephews to the N.C. State vs. Wake Forest game, then watched North Carolina vs. Duke later on. It was nice to finally see Wake play with some real heart and desire. They never trailed in the game and eventually won by 13. As far as UNC v. Duke, I was right, it was good, and Dick Vitale may just be right, if all the underclassmen come back, combined with their recruiting class, the Tar Heels could be one of the best teams in the nation next year.

[Maleficentogre]

I listened to the game on the radio because I can't stad vitale. as for the thing with the suv driver.
CHAPEL HILL -- Shocked UNC students watched in disbelief around noon Friday as an SUV plowed through a crowd at The Pit, the central gathering place, injuring at least two students.

Several students said the driver was young and wearing a dark suit and tie and they said he intentionally swerved to hit people.

The driver fled but was arrested soon after by Chapel Hill Police. His name was not immediately available.

Classes had just changed and The Pit was crowded. Witnesses said the SUV was going at least 40 miles per hour as it passed Lenoir Dining Hall. The condition of those injured was not immediately available.

The driver was arrested at Plant and Hillview Roads in Chapel Hill, according to police spokeswoman Jane Cousins. There was no chase.

Read The Herald-Sun on Saturday for complete details.

[Dennis K]

Who here has the time and saavy to set up a brackets tournament?

[Valmore]

There's something seriously wrong with the world if the Big East gets 9 teams and the Missouri Valley gets 6 into the field.

[Dennis K]

There's something seriously wrong with the world if the Big East gets 9 teams and the Missouri Valley gets 6 into the field.

Up until this year I never really followed college basketball until the tournament of 64 started, so please forgive my ignorance when I ask you to please explain why.

[Brian Cronin]

Just because that is a LOT of teams coming from one conference.

By the by, my alma mater just made the tourney for the first time in its history!

Go Albany!!

-Brian

[Valmore]

Up until this year I never really followed college basketball until the tournament of 64 started, so please forgive my ignorance when I ask you to please explain why.

Basically, the Big East has a slew of teams in the conference because it raided a bunch of other conferences - they have 16 teams. Which means there's an entire bottom of crappy Big East teams that the upper tier teams got to beat up on. Syracuse, the 9 seed, ended up winning the conference tournament and got an automatic berth, meaning a bubble team out there lost its invite. Logic should dictate that a bubble team from the Big East should lose its place, since it couldn't get anywhere - like Seton Hall or Cincinnati. But the word is that all those 8 teams ahead of Syrcause in the conference standings will get in. Seton Hall isn't any more impressive than, say, Florida State, and actually they're probably less impressive since Duke totally obliterated Seton Hall earlier this season.

As for the Missouri Valley, most of the teams play very weak schedules, and the conference isn't that good to begin with. For some reason, though, the media is spooging over the Missouri Valley Conference like they're on a par with the ACC, SEC, Big 10 or Big East.

[Maleficentogre]

I understand the big east getting 9 (they won't) because they have just a few shy of a million teams in their conference. The missouri valley is a joke? there's not a person that doesn't belong to that conference that will tell you that those teams are better than the A10, the pac10, the mid american, colonial, mountain west, WAC, West Coast, or even the Sun Belt. They've been beating up on each other after playing a mediocre out of conference schedule to build their RPI. If they get more than 3 teams in it'll be a rip job. Those teams won't make it out of the second round.

[Winslow]

Tournament pics start tonight . . .

Maybe we should start a new thread called "March Madness?"

Spartans looked horrible yesterday against Iowa. Don't know what to think . . . . they are really fickle. Hoops team got infected with whatever the football team has.

[Maleficentogre]

Izzo'll have 'em runnin smooth for tournament time.
This is my favourite time of the year.