Elite 8 Games Thread

[Hans Sprungfeld]

Yes he's the recruit of the infamous reports of him being on campus for a visit all weekend with a bunch of insiders weighing in, then it came out a few days later he was never even on campus

That was a great thread, with, among other things, notable contributions from Chief, learning how tight-lipped Hurley & staff were, and speculations that Caldwell was a rude to flush internal leakers, emerging with Javonte Ferguson choosing UConn over Kansas, and paving the path for out-recruiting Willard for Sanogo. And I think all of this was in the wake of Underwood spiriting away Kofi Cockburn in a late plot twist.

 

[Mr. French]

I have a feeling if everyone here said Sampson was a cheating scum, superjohn would be combatting that argument saying it was barely anything.

 

[UCLJ0211]

All four number one seeds again for the Final 4. First time since 2008. Makes for some good games but I wish there was a Cinderella or two this year.

 

[Deleted at users request]

This kind of represents the change in college hoops over the years.

2 NBA MVPs, greatest UNC college career ever, and the guy who also hit one of the most clutch shots in cbb ever.

Vs

Cooper Flagg and a bunch of people too old to be on their parents insurance.

And Cooper Flagg and his squad may walk through them because they have actual NBA talent and not guys who are just good because they are old.

 

[RuffRuff]

This kind of represents the change in college hoops over the years.

2 NBA MVPs, greatest UNC college career ever, and the guy who also hit one of the most clutch shots in cbb ever.

Vs

Cooper Flagg and a bunch of people too old to be on their parents insurance.

And Cooper Flagg and his squad may walk through them because they have actual NBA talent and not guys who are just good because they are old.

Not sure I'd reduce it to that. Auburn is old, yes. They have NBA players on their roster. Clayton is a true AA. We have 4 of the to top 10 KP teams of all time in this F4. KP goes back to 1999.

People want to poopoo the quality of hoops these days, but between conditioning, analytics, offensive sets, the play is better than what we saw back in the "old days". Kids these days go through top level training from the age of 14. Maybe the raw player was better back in the day, but the overall quality is better today. When you watch all the rim run dunks, lobs, cutting, intricate sets, these were few and far between back when iso ball reigned supreme.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Not sure I'd reduce it to that. Auburn is old, yes. They have NBA players on their roster. Clayton is a true AA. We have 4 of the to top 10 KP teams of all time in this F4. KP goes back to 1999.

People want to poopoo the quality of hoops these days, but between conditioning, analytics, offensive sets, the play is better than what we saw back in the "old days". Kids these days go through top level training from the age of 14. Maybe the raw player was better back in the day, but the overall quality is better today. When you watch all the rim run dunks, lobs, cutting, intricate sets, these were few and far between back when iso ball reigned supreme.

If everything is so much better why is American basketball starting to fall behind?

 

[RuffRuff]

If everything is so much better why is American basketball starting to fall behind?

70% of NBA players are American. It's not so much about American's falling behind as it is basketball growing internationally.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Not sure I'd reduce it to that. Auburn is old, yes. They have NBA players on their roster. Clayton is a true AA. We have 4 of the to top 10 KP teams of all time in this F4. KP goes back to 1999.

People want to poopoo the quality of hoops these days, but between conditioning, analytics, offensive sets, the play is better than what we saw back in the "old days". Kids these days go through top level training from the age of 14. Maybe the raw player was better back in the day, but the overall quality is better today. When you watch all the rim run dunks, lobs, cutting, intricate sets, these were few and far between back when iso ball reigned supreme.

I mean, yuck man look at this. And a freshman is still one of the best players on the team.

 

[RuffRuff]

I mean, yuck man look at this. And a freshman is still one of the best players on the team.


View attachment 108312

I thought you liked development - these guys have average about 7 years of it each.

Mazara looks like he could have 4 kids.

 

[Deleted at users request]

70% of NBA players are American. It's not so much about American's falling behind as it is basketball growing internationally.

And those international guys are taking over the league. If we listed the top 5 players in the NBA we probably wouldn’t name an American. France might come to our house and whip us for gold in 2028.

In 2024, the best American players were guys who were developed in the old days before analytics in there upper 30s. If this way is so much better why aren’t there guys coming out better than these ones?

 

[navery12]

I thought you liked development - these guys have average about 7 years of it each.

Mazara looks like he could have 4 kids.

And Baker-Mazara is the one who will be back at Auburn again next year

 

[Deleted at users request]

I thought you liked development - these guys have average about 7 years of it each.

Mazara looks like he could have 4 kids.

Oh yeah, learning from 4 different coaches is great for your game.

 

[Deleted at users request]

And Baker-Mazara is the one who will be back at Auburn again next year

Okay I was joking about the insurance thing but if that’s the case it’ll be real for him next season

 

[superjohn]

Not sure I'd reduce it to that. Auburn is old, yes. They have NBA players on their roster. Clayton is a true AA. We have 4 of the to top 10 KP teams of all time in this F4. KP goes back to 1999.

People want to poopoo the quality of hoops these days, but between conditioning, analytics, offensive sets, the play is better than what we saw back in the "old days". Kids these days go through top level training from the age of 14. Maybe the raw player was better back in the day, but the overall quality is better today. When you watch all the rim run dunks, lobs, cutting, intricate sets, these were few and far between back when iso ball reigned supreme.

These teams are good and Duke looks like a younger not as good version of UConn last year but I can't see these other three teams matching up with '95 UNC and '98 UNC who never won anything. I also struggle seeing Duke beating them but this Duke team is legit.

 

[aceboon]

I mean, yuck man look at this. And a freshman is still one of the best players on the team.


View attachment 108312

Matt Barnes had a pretty good rant on this the other day, if I want to watch 24 and 25 year olds hoop I'll watch the pros, give the college game back to the kids please

 

[gtcam]

I mean, yuck man look at this. And a freshman is still one of the best players on the team.


View attachment 108312

Everbody talking about Broome being so old - crap he's the youngster!
Pearl must have recruited the convalescent home for old street ballers

 

[Deleted at users request]

Matt Barnes had a pretty good rant on this the other day, if I want to watch 24 and 25 year olds hoop I'll watch the pros, give the college game back to the kids please

The point of college is suppose to be to watch future stars. Not guys trying to get their 15 minutes of fame.

People will remember the players from that 2008 Final Four forever. I’m not sure if anyone will talk about Johnni Broome or Walter Clayton in 10 years.

 

[BGesus4]

why? I have nothing against auburn

Get acquainted with Bruce Pearl

 

[bendm]

Well if Duke wins at least they will have def earned it…. Can’t ask for a harder path than Zona > Bama > Houston > Auburn/UF