- Joined
- May 30, 2019
- Messages
- 1,337
- Reaction Score
- 3,464
I don't think Shea will forget to get a phone call to Carla
It's purely about NCAA balance of power -- politics, if you like that word, or consensus-building, or compromise.Can someone help me understand why an 11 seed would still have to compete in a "play-in" game? And there's even a "play-in" game for a 12 seed. I can understand- sort of- a play-in for the lowest seeds, the 16's. But why in the world would relatively well-seeded teams be forced into a play-in? Seems really random and unfair to those teams.
Rhetoric aside, hopefully the spreadsheets reflect on-court performance. Would you prefer a tournament with only AQs? No Stanford, Ohio State, UCLA, LSU... ?...while the 11's and 12's got picked by a bunch of people sitting in a room looking at spreadsheets.
No but conferences should be limited to 5 or even four Teams in so that all mid majors could have 2 seats, march should be in sports recognition. For me there is no reason a # 9 team in his own conference has more recognition than a #1 in a lower conference wins the regular champion tititle but misses in the conference tournament.Rhetoric aside, hopefully the spreadsheets reflect on-court performance. Would you prefer a tournament with only AQs? No Stanford, Ohio State, UCLA, LSU... ?
No, I'm perfectly fine with at-large bids, but the weakest of those should be assigned to all of the play-in games.Rhetoric aside, hopefully the spreadsheets reflect on-court performance. Would you prefer a tournament with only AQs? No Stanford, Ohio State, UCLA, LSU... ?
For someone who admits they haven't seen Vandy play much this year (probably once), it's hard for me to imagine anyone criticizing them. UConn doesn't always play well, sometimes we are great, sometimes not. This is the NCAA tournament, and as Shea said it can be a grind. Last night it was, as they didn't play their best. I know because I have seen them play many times this year. I congratulate Shea and her players for getting an NCAA win, the first in many years. UConn wins games when they don't play well, and Vandy just did the same, which leads me to believe that if they do play well, they can beat Baylor. It's funny, I just saw Baylor play once this year and they were terrible, but I know they are more a capable team than the one I watched months ago. They deserve credit, so I am giving it to them now. Anchor Down!The curmudgeon in me reappears.
Among others, it was hard to root against Columbia, the only group who actually defeated Carla's Ivy juggernaut. Nice team, nice coach...and a reestablished fan base in my ole home town...cool
They actually outplayed Vandy for much of the first half and didn't give up at the end.
But where was Shea's offense? That's all they do?
Looked like Tennessee of 5 years ago...pass it around the outside, heave up long shots or feed the post and hope for an O board putback. Is the SEC disease catchy?
I must admit to not having watched them through the season as they compiled an excellent record but this was a disappointing performance. And unlikely to be a one-off: they'll get killed in the next round or two if that's all they do.
I know, we're all loyal to UConn alums and Shea is one of the best.
But based on last night; Carla's coaching can be found somewhere in another light-year of the galaxy.
Before you get outraged....Watch the first half
I'm not exaggerating. It was not great. Far from it.
I just couldn't fathom all the standing aroundFor someone who admits they haven't seen Vandy play
Here's a crazy suggestion: Eliminate the automatic qualification for conference winners. But there is a reason for including them. I get it. But there is also a downside including bringing in less than qualified competition. Just a thought. OK, let me have your poison. I can take it.It's purely about NCAA balance of power -- politics, if you like that word, or consensus-building, or compromise.
The NCAA is nothing more than a thin veneer over committees made up of college ADs and conference commissioners -- and at the highest level, presidents. As the number of conferences has grown and threatened to take away the number of at-large spots, some new compromise had to be worked out. So far in both women's and men's, the compromise has been half the First Four of AQs (16-seeds) and half of AL (usually 11s, occasionally 10s or 12s).
There isn't some cabal full of external folks called "NCAA" that bosses the schools around and just can't make up its mind who is more deserving. It's the schools themselves who have negotiated a balance of power that everyone is sorta-OK with...
...for now, which will all fall apart when the football factories secede and ruin everything else. But for now, I'll enjoy it even in its imperfection.
Slightly off topic, but does Abbey Hsu have a 5th year of eligibility even though she already played four? I think Ivy rules allow for a 5th Covid year if the student athlete enrolls as a grad student at the institution. Pretty sure Hsu won't get drafted to the WNBA, so maybe she comes back to a REALLY strong established core for another run.
- Abby Hsu had a horrible shooting night (3-14 overall) and that's probably the difference. Vandy had something to do with this initially, but she got her looks in the 2nd and just was off. Tough way to go out, but -- hey -- what a great career.
Abby knew of the Ivy "Four years only" rule and was pro-active about it:Slightly off topic, but does Abbey Hsu have a 5th year of eligibility even though she already played four? I think Ivy rules allow for a 5th Covid year if the student athlete enrolls as a grad student at the institution. Pretty sure Hsu won't get drafted to the WNBA, so maybe she comes back to a REALLY strong established core for another run.
It is tough to have a "play-in" game and then the short turn around. I suspectThey lost to Baylor today. Nice season though. A lot to be proud of.
Had conundrum once. Once they straightened out my enigma it all went well. Good luck.I really want to root for Columbia but I cannot root against Shea. It's a conundrum.