Dear AAC and it's fans

[Inyatkin]

"I didn't crap on UConn once in this thread." Hours after a UConn NCAA tournament win, you called the play of the conference, and therefore UConn, "embarrassing."
You're presumably sober by now, maybe best to just stop posting.

 

[intlzncster]

we have such a weird fanbase, after a win like that to get the juices pumping the last thing I would do is run to the board and post nonsense like this. it seems like some of ya'll don't even get joy out of following UConn basketball, go bake a cake or do something else more productive with your time.

Omar Calhoun should never play a minute of organized basketball again in his life. We nearly lost the game because of his single minute of playing time. Everything other takeaway from from this game is secondary.

/s (it's sad I have to put this caveat here, but I do...)

 

[tzznandrew]

Omar Calhoun should never play a minute of organized basketball again in his life. We nearly lost the game because of his minutes of playing time. Everything other takeaway from from this game is secondary.

/s (it's sad I have to put this caveat here, but I do...)

I like that the kid got some time. I hope he gets vhis confidence back, because he can be dynamite. But on a personal level...he deserved it! He came to UConn despite not being able to play in the NCAAs his freshman year. The kid has heart and devotion to the team. You get him minutes when you can, and hope he can come through. He's shown he's not afraid of the big moments.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I like that the kid got some time. I hope he gets vhis confidence back, because he can be dynamite. But on a personal level...he deserved it! He came to UConn despite not being able to play in the NCAAs his freshman year. The kid has heart and devotion to the team. You get him minutes when you can, and hope he can come through. He's shown he's not afraid of the big moments.

Yes, I agree. But he was brutal while in.

 

[intlzncster]

Yes, I agree. But he was brutal while in.

But he only played one minute.

 

[whaler11]

Whaler. Indeed, it does get annoying when people think that picking against UConn, ever, is part of some vast conspiracy.

But this thread...this is one where you're wrong. The seeding was crappy, regardless of how the teams performed. Nobody thinks Oklahoma was overseeded because they lost to ND State. And Texas needed a last-second shot to beat Arizona State...is the Big XII overrated?

No.

But by judging strictly by the metrics the NCAA put out, the AAC was screwed. You know as well as I do that trading St. Joe's and Villanova for Harvard and Michigan State is a trade no one would make. But those are two different discussions that have been conflated (appropriate seedings vs. favorable matchups). This is an argument I think you're totally on the wrong end of, and the timing (2-1 from the conference) was weak.

I disagree that the qualtative prerformance of the league yesterday doesn't take some of the argument away from the seeding complaints.

Half the point is that seeding isn't as important as it's made to be anyway.

If you don't like your league or team's seeding? Guess what you get the chance to play the games and prove them wrong. The league went 2-1 yesterday, but it's tough to still complain about seeding when they did it in an ugly fashion.

But thanks for a reasonable response you make some solid points.

 

[intlzncster]

I disagree that the qualtative prerformance of the league yesterday doesn't take some of the argument away from the seeding complaints.

Half the point is that seeding isn't as important as it's made to be anyway.

If you don't like your league or team's seeding? Guess what you get the chance to play the games and prove them wrong. The league went 2-1 yesterday, but it's tough to still complain about seeding when they did it in an ugly fashion.

But thanks for a reasonable response you make some solid points.

I'd say that early rounds don't really reflect quality of the league as much as later (elite 8 and above). When the Big East got 9(11?) teams in a few years ago, most lost early, but having 3 in the Final Eight and 2 in the Final Four spoke to the quality of the league.

 

[whaler11]

I'm not going to question your fandom but you do realize the inherent flaw in your argument, right?

Under seeded teams play higher, than they should, teams. So the chances of close games or losses are higher. UL feels it should be a 2 or 3, playing a 14-15 seed. A 13 should be better. Same with Cinci (though I thought they were seeded fairly. UConn should have been playing a 11-12 seed, which should be worse than a 10. It's almost a self fulfilling prophesy by the committee that an under seeded team would do worse than if they were seeded fairly/higher. By under seeding the entire conference they built in tougher games for the entire conference, theoretically.

For example, Cuse blew out the team they played but if they were under seeded and flipped with Cinci or UL I bet the game would be a ton closer.

Overall, Harvard was probably also under seeded based on how good they actually are (though not record). St Joes was fair. Manhattan was an interesting team that probably could have played spoiler if facing a team not named UL.

Really we are talking about two teams being underseeded and it's really by one line. Cinci and Memphis are right where they should be. UConn and Louisville should gave been a line higher.

The amount of crying over two total seed lines given they got easier roads was insane.

Is Manhattan so much better than the average 14 seed that it would impact how Louisville played? If UConn played NC State rather than St Joes you think they would have been more impressive?

Cincinnati played like a team that would have lost to anyone who could field a team. It was only Harvard's ineptitude at the line that kept them in the game.

 

[UCHuskies08]

When you cry for a week about seeding and the three teams play like that, it's embarassing by definition. The league was a Brimah rebound and a Hancock three from being swept out the door today.

Yah, and if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle....

 

[caw]

Really we are talking about two teams being underseeded and it's really by one line. Cinci and Memphis are right where they should be. UConn and Louisville should gave been a line higher.

The amount of crying over two total seed lines given they got easier roads was insane.

Is Manhattan so much better than the average 14 seed that it would impact how Louisville played? If UConn played NC State rather than St Joes you think they would have been more impressive?

Cincinnati played like a team that would have lost to anyone who could field a team. It was only Harvard's ineptitude at the line that kept them in the game.

NCSt is a dumb dumb team, so yes. Manhattan I don't think anyone has seen them play enough to say. Memphis is probably also under seeded. So three of four.

I still don't get why Cronin stuck with his press. It was obvious they were breaking it to score and Cincy has a fantastic half court defense. That was a horrible call by him.

 

[tzznandrew]

Really we are talking about two teams being underseeded and it's really by one line. Cinci and Memphis are right where they should be. UConn and Louisville should gave been a line higher.

The amount of crying over two total seed lines given they got easier roads was insane.

Is Manhattan so much better than the average 14 seed that it would impact how Louisville played? If UConn played NC State rather than St Joes you think they would have been more impressive?

Cincinnati played like a team that would have lost to anyone who could field a team. It was only Harvard's ineptitude at the line that kept them in the game.

Eh. I think UConn merited at least a 5. They had more Top 25 RPI wins than a number of teams seeded higher than them.

Seeding is on previous body of work, and the concern that many expressed with regards to the seeding was more for the future. The league was pretty good this year, yet two teams got underseeded. Maybe it doesn't matter. But what happens when the league is similarly good RPI wise (not as hard as you think, given Louisville's woeful RPI relative to their ability), and a team looks like they could be a 1 seed. The difference between a 1 and a 3 seed is pretty large. Performance in the tournament is irrelevant in this scenario...and I think that was most of the complaining.

Most people said something like: I wouldnt' trade our path for Cincy's, but damn if I don't hate the fact that the league was treated like garbage.

 

[whaler11]

Eh. I think UConn merited at least a 5. They had more Top 25 RPI wins than a number of teams seeded higher than them.

Seeding is on previous body of work, and the concern that many expressed with regards to the seeding was more for the future. The league was pretty good this year, yet two teams got underseeded. Maybe it doesn't matter. But what happens when the league is similarly good RPI wise (not as hard as you think, given Louisville's woeful RPI relative to their ability), and a team looks like they could be a 1 seed. The difference between a 1 and a 3 seed is pretty large. Performance in the tournament is irrelevant in this scenario...and I think that was most of the complaining.

Most people said something like: I wouldnt' trade our path for Cincy's, but damn if I don't hate the fact that the league was treated like garbage.

A 1 and a 3 are a huge difference. A 5 and a 7 are nothing in today's game.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

LOL at this thread. This is the typical contrarian, self admitted whaler thread.

You either love him or hate him. I'm somewhere in the middle.

 

[AZHuskiePop]

When you cry for a week about seeding and the three teams play like that, it's embarassing by definition. The league was a Brimah rebound and a Hancock three from being swept out the door today.

"If , ifs and buts were candy and nut what fine Christmas we would have"
The late Dandy Don Meredith.
Your anger has really clouded your logic. The NCAA tourny is filled with IF 's they are the lament of losers. In our history I could name a few notables.
If Tate George just deflected that inbounds pass in 1990 we would have gone to the FF. If The UCLA kid doesn't make that last lay up we would have been NC in 1995.
Fodder for fans. Meaningless in reality.
Two
Under seeding a team gives them an tougher first round game.
We ended up playing the hottest team in the A10 a 6 team league.
Cinny plays the tourney darlings
Louisville plays the MAAC champs instead of someone like American.
MAAC teams have usually been tough outs .
Whaler will you please get help. Your posts are starting to scare me.
There is a fine line between acerbic and venomous. You have crossed that line.
Why don't you just walk away from the BY for a few months. This place can challenge your sanity.

 

[itgoeslike]

I didn't crap on UConn once in this thread.

I'm pointing out that the crying about the aeeding was silly becuase it was overblown and the AAC teams were underwhelming yesterday.

But as usual anything that isn't crowning UConn king around here is met with the same response.

You'd think three National Championships would keep a fanbase from having such an inferiority complex.

Sure you did. As the first round was closing out you started a thread that implies AAC teams (including UConn) were all playing really bad (underwhelming), were overrated, and that their lower seeds were justified, which is silly because lower seedings typically means tougher 1st round games. Furthermore, the implication appears to be an attempt to marginalize the value of conference wins. I don't see how that doesn't hurt UConn in the short term. If the ACC went 0-3 and were blown out, your comments would have merit. The reality is that the conference went 2-1 and three tough match ups, so it looks like you have an agenda. What that is, I have no idea.

 

[Robertelamin]

Sure you did. As the first round was closing out you started a thread that implies AAC teams (including UConn) were all playing really bad (underwhelming), were overrated, and that their lower seeds were justified, which is silly because lower seedings typically means tougher 1st round games. Furthermore, the implication appears to be an attempt to marginalize the value of conference wins. I don't see how that doesn't hurt UConn in the short term. If the ACC went 0-3 and were blown out, your comments would have merit. The reality is that the conference went 2-1 and three tough match ups, so it looks like you have an agenda. What that is, I have no idea.

To be an attention whore?

 

[tzznandrew]

A 1 and a 3 are a huge difference. A 5 and a 7 are nothing in today's game.

I guess we'll disagree. Most years, a 5 gives you an easier first and second round date and neutral court. You also might get a 13. The only disadvantage to the 5 seed is that, if you do get out of the first weekend, you get the 1 seed earlier.

A 7 gives you a strong mid-major or a solid major conference team in the first round, and then the 2 seed, usually in their backyard. We "lucked out" this year, in that we think Villanova is the weakest 2, and that Buffalo isn't particularly close to them...but they're still a really good team.

And, the expected wins are also different. A 5 is expected to win 1.15 games...a 7 0.85 (a 6 seed is actually the best of the three, though, I think, both statistically and in terms of expected wins (1.28).

 

[Pudge]

It's always fun to have someone clueless have reality pointed out to them lash out with nonsense like this.

Yes, because I have eyes and am not a baby about the Big East that means it's 'my almighty Big East'.

You are a Bully (anonymous at that) ... and don't know what you are talking about.

We actually played well yesterday AGAINST a really good team (also under-seeded). Enjoy your lunch ...

 

[itgoeslike]

As an aside, I hope Mercer busts my bracket. . .

 

[itgoeslike]

Enjoy your lunch ...

I think Whaler just hurt his neck doing a visual sweep of the restaurant. . .

 

[Durks07]

67*

63. Those other games don't count as "tourney" games.

 

[itgoeslike]

I like that the kid got some time. I hope he gets vhis confidence back, because he can be dynamite. But on a personal level...he deserved it! He came to UConn despite not being able to play in the NCAAs his freshman year. The kid has heart and devotion to the team. You get him minutes when you can, and hope he can come through. He's shown he's not afraid of the big moments.

I agree. One of my friends had a daughter who failed the driver's test twice. By the time the third time came around she was so stressed she was ready to give up driving altogether. She passed the test and now it's a distant memory. Ollie keeps putting in Calhoun to have some breakthrough minutes that he can build on. I hope it happens for him.

 

[itgoeslike]

63. Those other games don't count as "tourney" games.

Cool. So the NBE only got three teams in the tourney.

 

[Durks07]

Cool. So the NBE only got three teams in the tourney.

The other got a participation trophy.

 

[itgoeslike]

The other got a participation trophy.

It could have been a ribbon. . ."Excellent Participation".

 

[Husky25]

All four AAC teams were underseeded by at least 1 spot, when compared to the EOY AP rankings. Cinci and Memphis should have been 1 higher. UConn and Louisville should have been 2 higher. I know someone said the Committee doesn't consider them in Tourney placement, but if that's the case, there is no reason to have the Top 25 anymore or at the very least any human voting polls.

 

[Durks07]

It could have been a ribbon. . ."Excellent Participation".

Well, let's not go crazy! "Adequate Participation" sounds about right.

 

[tzznandrew]

All four AAC teams were underseeded by at least 1 spot, when compared to the EOY AP rankings. Cinci and Memphis should have been 1 higher. UConn and Louisville should have been 2 higher. I know someone said the Committee doesn't consider them in Tourney placement, but if that's the case, there is no reason to have the Top 25 anymore or at the very least any human voting polls.

Eh. They do two different things. The AP poll is a flawed look at who the press thinks are the best teams right now.

The tournament committee is supposed to seed teams based on body of work.

 

[HuskyHawk]

You are a Bully (anonymous at that) ... and don't know what you are talking about.

We actually played well yesterday AGAINST a really good team (also under-seeded). Enjoy your lunch ...

I can't agree with this. We played well on offense, considering Bazz had a tough shooting night. The defense in the first half was astoundingly bad. We made a mediocre team look brilliant.

 

[intlzncster]

I can't agree with this. We played well on offense, considering Bazz had a tough shooting night. The defense in the first half was astoundingly bad. We made a mediocre team look brilliant.

And yet they hit some ridiculous shots. Credit for hitting their open ones, but still, it was absurd.