December General CBB Discussion Thread (Non-BE)

[karstenkibbe]

I guess I'm in the minority, I take no pleasure in Syracuse being horrible. Many of their fans took great joy kicking dirt on UConn but so what? They have a serious inferiority complex when it comes to us because we blew past their program a long time ago and kept widening the gap but college basketball and northeast basketball is better when the Cuse is good and the Dome is rocking with 35,000 fans in there.

Nah. Schadenfreude is delicious.

 

[dennismenace]

FWIW, I watched a bit of the Hofstra/Pitt, and Hofstra has some really good players. I’m kinda surprised they’ve lost four games, tbh, and not surprised at all they beat 'Cuse.

Hofstra's PG (who played for Pitino at Iona and for a cup of coffee with St. Johns) went for 36 against Pitt and 22 and 9 today. He can really play.

(Junior) Cruz Davis 6-3 pt guard shooting 44% from 3 and avg 20 pts a game with 5 assists. He could do better than Hofstra.

 

[Inyatkin]

I like a good UConn. The idea of caring whether Syracuse or Providence is any good is alien to me

 

[B1GEast]

So you don't want a good Providence, St. John's, or Seton Hall either?

I'm specifically referring to Syracuse and BC, but now that mention it, yes, those teams included.I would hope that BE teams get their act together.

It's only going to get worse for the BE. NIL is going to crush this league.

 

[SwingDog]

Syracuse was really robbed on a late drive to basket when a player was clearly fouled on the arm but there was no whistle. Most would rightly argue though that it shouldn't have come down that.

 

[superjohn]

I'm specifically referring to Syracuse and BC, but now that mention it, yes, those teams included.I would hope that BE teams get their act together.

It's only going to get worse for the BE. NIL is going to crush this league.

You want the Big East teams to get better but you want UConn to be the only team in both the Tri-State Area and New England.

That makes no sense but okay.

 

[businesslawyer]

I guess I'm in the minority, I take no pleasure in Syracuse being horrible. Many of their fans took great joy kicking dirt on UConn but so what? They have a serious inferiority complex when it comes to us because we blew past their program a long time ago and kept widening the gap but college basketball and northeast basketball is better when the Cuse is good and the Dome is rocking with 35,000 fans in there.

Absolutely correct. You’re in the minority.

 

[Mr. French]

I don't love correcting the Syracuse hatred, BUT the guy that suggested Brad Stevens said later in that thread he was being sarcastic, but to the point many posters there didn't realize that because they're so delusional.

It seems many of their better posters (subjectively of course) give props to UConn and Danny and realize they are miles away from us at this stage.

PS - I spent a year of my grad school days at Syracuse U, and wore my Huskies gear every day and talked smack consistently. That was when we only had 2 titles. I wish I was there now, haha

 

[John]

Orange fans rushed the court last week after beating #15 Tennessee. Wonder how they feel now

Running in the opposite direction

 

[John]

Agree.. how could anybody still feel the same hatred for cuse that they did 15 years ago? Might as well go get a Linkin Park tattoo while you're at it.

Because the hatred runs that deep.

 

[mike012]

I guess I'm in the minority, I take no pleasure in Syracuse being horrible. Many of their fans took great joy kicking dirt on UConn but so what? They have a serious inferiority complex when it comes to us because we blew past their program a long time ago and kept widening the gap but college basketball and northeast basketball is better when the Cuse is good and the Dome is rocking with 35,000 fans in there.

I’m good, New England only needs one team. Them being good doesn’t do us any good. I would prefer to dunk on Syracuses athletic departments demise while in MSG.

 

[Scrutineer]

Hofstra also beat Pitt last week.

Further proof the ACC needs to add UConn and delete BC or add us and NDu as full members in all sports.

 

[RuffRuff]

That was some 2nd half by Arizona.

@RuffRuff, what did you think of Burries tonight? He's averaging about 20 ppg the last 4 games.

I'd say I should listen to myself rather than @superjohn when assessing teams. AZ was bound to continue getting better since they have young studs. Michigan is a beast. Two teams that were considered "overrated".

The top flight is really separating - 4 teams. The top 2 may separate right now.

Michigan - just massive and can overwhelm you with that size
Arizona - similar in nature
Duke - best player in the game
Uconn - death by a thousand cuts. Not fully curated.

 

[superjohn]

I'd say I should listen to myself rather than @superjohn when assessing teams. AZ was bound to continue getting better since they have young studs. Michigan is a beast. Two teams that were considered "overrated".

The top flight is really separating - 4 teams. The top 2 may separate right now.

Michigan - just massive and can overwhelm you with that size
Arizona - similar in nature
Duke - best player in the game
Uconn - death by a thousand cuts. Not fully curated.

Yeah I disagree with you that Michigan's talent blows away UConn's talent. I disagree with you that Karaban doesn't have a matchup advantage over anyone he'll play against this season. I disagree with you that Nimari Burnett is better than Solo Ball. I disagree with you that Tarris is soft. I disagree with you that 3-3 needed to be the goal in our marquee out of conference games. I do think we would've rolled Arizona if we had Tarris and Braylon.

 

[EnochRoot]

The team was ranked 18th before the tournament. When they played Michigan St., MSU was ranked 11th. I don't think it would've been some huge upset to take UConn there. Pretty evenly ranked.

Then they played #1 Florida. They had already beaten Florida during the season, so it wasn't unthinkable.

Finally, they played a Kentucky team in the final. That team was unranked going into the tournament, so I'm not sure why you believe they should've been picked to lose each game when the competition in the final was inferior.

Not to mention the round of 64 game.

That was a defense slugfest as much as it was a Napier coming out party (in the final, particularly). Hard to watch, but it was a championship nonetheless.

 

[EnochRoot]

Yeah I disagree with you that Michigan's talent blows away UConn's talent. I disagree with you that Karaban doesn't have a matchup advantage over anyone he'll play against this season. I disagree with you that Nimari Burnett is better than Solo Ball. I disagree with you that Tarris is soft. I disagree with you that 3-3 needed to be the goal in our marquee out of conference games. I do think we would've rolled Arizona if we had Tarris and Braylon.

Michigan is bigger. The difference will be how well UCONN guards develop this season. But as it stands, Michigan is in a class by itself. Arizona is probably a tick below UCONN.

 

[RuffRuff]

Michigan is bigger. The difference will be how well UCONN guards develop this season. But as it stands, Michigan is in a class by itself. Arizona is probably a tick below UCONN.

With Burries now putting up big numbers, I'm not sure they're a tick below Uconn.

Yes, Uconn has a lot of room to develop at the PG and Solo needs to be better than a 28% shooter from three for Uconn to get there.

 

[RuffRuff]

Darius Adams having a rough freshman year. Danny would have coached him up. Hope it was worth the NIL $$.

Really hard to decipher what route is the better for someone in his shoes, less PT with a great coach, or more with a less than. This one is hard to know.

 

[FlippinCrazy!]

Not that anyone is saying it, but you can count out Kentucky winning the national championship. Chuck predicted they're going to win it all.

I thought he was referring to Arizona when saying he thought the Wildcats were gonna win it all, I only tuned in for like 10 minutes though.

 

[FlippinCrazy!]

Michigan is bigger. The difference will be how well UCONN guards develop this season. But as it stands, Michigan is in a class by itself. Arizona is probably a tick below UCONN.

Michigan hasn’t played UConn’s or Arizona’s schedule. Their best win against Gonzaga was the 3rd game in 3 days for both teams, I think we all know how unpredictable those games can be. Only other team they’ve played is Auburn, also in the MTE with both teams on no rest. Give me UConn on a full week’s scout (or even a 2/3 day turnaround) in the tournament.

 

[RuffRuff]

Michigan hasn’t played UConn’s or Arizona’s schedule. Their best win against Gonzaga was the 3rd game in 3 days for both teams, I think we all know how unpredictable those games can be. Only other team they’ve played is Auburn, also in the MTE with both teams on no rest. Give me UConn on a full week’s scout (or even a 2/3 day turnaround) in the tournament.

Uconn will always have the coaching edge and force the other team to execute on both ends. May is no slouch that said.

Cannot minimize Michigan - they are slaughtering everyone. You're reaching with the rationale. It may not have been Uconns schedule, but they are obliterating everyone.

 

[FlippinCrazy!]

Uconn will always have the coaching edge and force the other team to execute on both ends. May is no slouch that said.

Cannot minimize Michigan - they are slaughtering everyone. You're reaching with the rationale. It may not have been Uconns schedule, but they are obliterating everyone.

All I was trying to say is that Michigan hasn’t fully proven they are the best team. They’ve played their schedule well, but they have yet to play a 1A team outside of 1 game in the MTE. Credit to them still for those games in the MTE, but normal rest and scouting can change a game a lot. Their schedule is pretty loaded end of January forward, so gonna be able to tell a lot about them then.

 

[AllHusky]

If you've watched them, they have some elements of Nolan Richardsons 60 minutes of Hell to their defense. On offense just toss the ball towards basket and somebody will grab it and jam it through. Rebounding, defense and a couple of guys who can shoot the 3. Gonna be a handful.

 

[RuffRuff]

All I was trying to say is that Michigan hasn’t fully proven they are the best team. They’ve played their schedule well, but they have yet to play a 1A team outside of 1 game in the MTE. Credit to them still for those games in the MTE, but normal rest and scouting can change a game a lot. Their schedule is pretty loaded end of January forward, so gonna be able to tell a lot about them then.

I believe they play Duke OOC. They'll also have Purdue and MSU. We'll know how good they are by March. Right now they look they have a step on everyone else.

 

[KingAG]

I believe they play Duke OOC. They'll also have Purdue and MSU. We'll know how good they are by March. Right now they look they have a step on everyone else.

Their front court is amazing. I still don’t trust Cadeau and Burnett. I think by the end of the year our back court will be clearly better and our front court won’t be far off.

The one major advantage they have is size.

 

[RuffRuff]

Their front court is amazing. I still don’t trust Cadeau and Burnett. I think by the end of the year our back court will be clearly better and our front court won’t be far off.

The one major advantage they have is size.

Cadeau has outplayed Silas. And he’s new to their system. I get that you’re betting on the Huskies. Elliott was a burger boy, so it’s not like he’s not coming from good stock.

I’d say size and athleticism. Their major advantage is they have a legit rim protector at the 5 and a first team all American at the 3.

 

[KingAG]

Cadeau has outplayed Silas. And he’s new to their system. I get that you’re betting on the Huskies. Elliott was a burger boy, so it’s not like he’s not coming from good stock.

I’d say size and athleticism. Their major advantage is they have a legit rim protector at the 5 and a first team all American at the 3.

By the end of the year I’d take the bet on Silas>Cadeau. Rim protection accounted for, Taris is better. UConn isn’t built like Michigan. They don’t have to be. And in a one off Karaban can and will hold his own against Yaxel.

UConn has advantages. Michigan has advantages. Would be a great game. We won’t see it until the final 4.

 

[noelle]

Michigan's offense is a bit simpler than ours and they play a fast pace so the raw numbers will look better for Cadeau. Silas is shooting like garbage from 3 this season but it is probably going to go up, especially after he gets comfortable with the offense. There's still some uncertainty with that but he has a much tougher job on offense than Cadeau.

 

[prankster]

"Preseason" is pretty much over. Yeah, the cream has risen to the top, so far.

Conference play starts now. Everyone gets tighter and better through conference play. Strengths and weaknesses revealed.

March is the great sorting.

April is where it counts.

 

[RuffRuff]

By the end of the year I’d take the bet on Silas>Cadeau. Rim protection accounted for, Taris is better. UConn isn’t built like Michigan. They don’t have to be. And in a one off Karaban can and will hold his own against Yaxel.

UConn has advantages. Michigan has advantages. Would be a great game. We won’t see it until the final 4.

I don't think AK would defend Yaxel - Yaxel plays the three. Morez Johnson plays the 4. They have 6"9 at both the 3 and the 4. Not sure how Hurley would defend that.

No, they're not built similarly at all. If anything, UM is built a bit more like the 2024 team was.

Again, UM more talented team. If you argue that, you're just a homer. You could argue Uconn has better: depth, coaching and system. Is that enough, only playing could say.