Elite 8 Thread

[August_West]

Sorry AW

About what?

 

[tzznandrew]

They


Meh... they can have their elite 8s and final 4 appearances. I'd rather have the banners.

You realize they have way more than us historically? And that they're way closer than we are to winning another? And that we only have 1 more than them in the time span under question (2010-2019)?

Yeah, gotta be honest, I'd rather win a title once a decade and be in 3 other Final Fours and 3 other E8s our current situation. Almost every team would.

 

[superjohn]

I would kill to have UConn underperform like UK does.

UK under Cal has been to 2 title games, willing one.

They've been to 2 other Final Fours (so 4/5 of UConn's entire history total, and 2x more than Duke or Kansas or UNC over this same time).

They've been to 7 E8s in the time he's there. 70% of their seasons, they're playing for the right to go to the Final Four. UConn has gone to the E8 a total of 11 times ever, and his team has gone 7 times in 10 years.

Yes, they bring in a lot of talent. But so do UNC, Duke, KU, Arizona, and a bunch of others. And unlike some of those other teams, they're playing 18 year olds. Very good 18 year olds, but they're matching up often against teams that have played together for years.

It's not enough for much of big blue nation. He lost with a team that had KAT, Booker, Lyles, Cauley-Stein, Harrison twins, and Ulis. He lost with Wall, Bledsoe, Cousins, and Patterson, and Darius Miller.

 

[superjohn]

You realize they have way more than us historically? And that they're way closer than we are to winning another? And that we only have 1 more than them in the time span under question (2010-2019)?

Yeah, gotta be honest, I'd rather win a title once a decade and be in 3 other Final Fours and 3 other E8s our current situation. Almost every team would.

You realize it's insane we have 1 more than them in that 2010-2019 span considering the talent discrepancy?

 

[BugsyCT]

You gotta give it up for Auburn - they took down Kansas, UNC, and Kentucky all in one region.

At least we got a couple first-time teams in there next week with them & TTech. Virginia-Auburn should be interesting too.

 

[tzznandrew]

It's not enough for much of big blue nation. He lost with a team that had KAT, Booker, Lyles, Cauley-Stein, Harrison twins, and Ulis. He lost with Wall, Bledsoe, Cousins, and Patterson, and Darius Miller.

In each of those cases they were pretty much all freshmen. We lost with Ray Allen. We lost with our 2006 team. Single game elimination tournaments are flukey.

You realize it's insane we have 1 more than them in that 2010-2019 span considering the talent discrepancy?

Which of course goes to this. You'll never convince me that the 2011 team wasn't the best team that year. Actually. The 2014 team, though? That was one hell of a fluke.

 

[August_West]

In that case I fully respect it

Duke by two hundred and thirty six

 

[intlzncster]

MSU can't go this cold from 3 if they want to win.

 

[UConn_Top_Dog]

You realize they have way more than us historically? And that they're way closer than we are to winning another? And that we only have 1 more than them in the time span under question (2010-2019)?

Yeah, gotta be honest, I'd rather win a title once a decade and be in 3 other Final Fours and 3 other E8s our current situation. Almost every team would.

Yes I understand their history no doubt. But at the end of the day no one remembers the runner up. Champions are remembered. And yes I would love to be in their shoes when it comes to competing almost every year for a title. But tbh I enjoy being the underdog.

 

[intlzncster]

They also care about NCAA titles. UK has won one, played for another, been to 4 Final Fours in 10 years, and been to the E8 7 times. If you want to play for a national championship, it's a good place to go.

True, was being a bit hyperbolic. But I do think exposure/hype draft position etc is number 1 on the list.

It goes without saying they'll be competing for titles and in the spotlight in March.

Those things go hand in hand.

 

[UConn990411]

Is it just me, or does Grant Hill bring nothing to the broadcast?

 

[UCfor3]

I also don't like the 18 year old argument. It's a problem of Calipari's own making. He uses it as an excuse every year but nobody is making him recruit so many one and done players. He could mix in some more 2nd tier recruits that stay 3 years with the top 10 guys and have a better mix of experience and elite talent. Duke is doing the one and done model better than Kentucky anyway. It's no secret Kentucky has done well and are in way better shape than us. It's also fair to say they have underachieved with finishing the job considering all the talent. Both can be true.

 

[Travelman6]

Seeing Kentucky fans look distressed warms my heart.

Bunch of Hicks, wonder if they send death threats to the refs again, absolute worst fans.

 

[UCfor3]

True, was being a bit hyperbolic. But I do think exposure/hype draft position etc is number 1 on the list.

It goes without saying they'll be competing for titles and in the spotlight in March.

Those things go hand in hand.

I think Calipari says that about the draft because he knows it's what recruits want to hear, not what he wants. He's always selling. His annual attention seeking at the draft is nauseating.

 

[intlzncster]

Which of course goes to this. You'll never convince me that the 2011 team wasn't the best team that year. Actually. The 2014 team, though? That was one hell of a fluke.

2011 just had a bunch of perfectly fit pieces, along with by far and away the best player in the nation. Never lost single elimination. A really, really good team.

2014 I wouldn't call flukey. Having the best player in the tournament and the best perimeter defender is a huge advantage. They all settled in and played their roles to their absolute maximum.

It was definitely surprising, and they did catch a bit of lightning, but a lot of that was self imposed. When they took that haymaker and knock down by Ville, they came up swinging and never stopped. Very Calhoun-like.

 

[tzznandrew]

I also don't like the 18 year old argument. It's a problem of Calipari's own making. He uses it as an excuse every year but nobody is making him recruit so many one and done players. He could mix in some more 2nd tier recruits that stay 3 years with the top 10 guys and have a better mix of experience and elite talent. Duke is doing the one and done model better than Kentucky anyway. It's no secret Kentucky has done well and are in way better shape than us. It's also fair to say they have underachieved with finishing the job considering all the talent. Both can be true.

I mean, I guess. They won 1 title with the model (2015). Same as UK. But if we say taking Kyrie is the year they began to embrace the 1 and done model, you go:

Titles

1 each

Final Fours

UK: 4 (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015)
Duke: 1 (2015)

Elite 8s

UK: 6
Duke: 4

Now Duke may add another Final Four, and maybe even another title. But I don't know that they're doing demonstrably better than UK. Probably worse, actually, since they lost to a 15-seed and a 14-seed in the first round, and a 7-seed in the second once.

 

[tzznandrew]

Bunch of Hicks, wonder if they send death threats to the refs again, absolute worst fans.

Given half the people on our board's reaction after games we aren't even a part of, I'd say there's a high chance they'll be doing the same when we're good again...

 

[mauconnfan]

Cal got outcoached again today. No way he should lose to Auburn without their biggest threat in the paint on both ends. And how long can you keep Herro on Harper?

Tough one to root for either coach but Pearl gets the edge even in that lol

 

[intlzncster]

I think Calipari says that about the draft because he knows it's what recruits want to hear, not what he wants. He's always selling. His annual attention seeking at the draft is nauseating.

But effective.

 

[tzznandrew]

I think Calipari says that about the draft because he knows it's what recruits want to hear, not what he wants. He's always selling. His annual attention seeking at the draft is nauseating.

But it's not designed to make you happy, so who cares? It helps him get great recruits year in and year out.

 

[Travelman6]

Given half the people on our board's reaction after games we aren't even a part of, I'd say there's a high chance they'll be doing the same when we're good again...

I don't think they will, we tend to be more educated than the average UK fan, for sure educated enough not to make death threats and leave fake reviews on a refs fbook page after a loss or harass the poor guy with endless phone calls to his house. All done after the UNC loss... But who knows...

 

[UCfor3]

I mean, I guess. They won 1 title with the model (2015). Same as UK. But if we say taking Kyrie is the year they began to embrace the 1 and done model, you go:

Titles

1 each

Final Fours

UK: 4 (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015)
Duke: 1 (2015)

Elite 8s

UK: 6
Duke: 4

Now Duke may add another Final Four, and maybe even another title. But I don't know that they're doing demonstrably better than UK. Probably worse, actually, since they lost to a 15-seed and a 14-seed in the first round, and a 7-seed in the second once.

I said that because they got the top 3 recruits this past year not because of the results in recent years but I get your point and your info is spot on. My larger point other than that one comment was using youth as an excuse for not winning championships is ridiculous when it's a problem of your own making. It's fair to say they have underachieved winning championships. Ask a Kentucky fan if they are psyched about making elite 8's. As soon as you do make sure you duck.

 

[UCfor3]

But it's not designed to make you happy, so who cares? It helps him get great recruits year in and year out.

Basically exactly what I just said. A lot of things clearly don't make you happy. I just don't feel the need to scold you about it.

 

[superjohn]

In each of those cases they were pretty much all freshmen. We lost with Ray Allen. We lost with our 2006 team. Single game elimination tournaments are flukey.


Which of course goes to this. You'll never convince me that the 2011 team wasn't the best team that year. Actually. The 2014 team, though? That was one hell of a fluke.

You sound like Calipari. They were all freshmen because he was basically getting 5 of the top 10 freshmen every year and he was basically preseason #1 every year.

The 2011 UConn team was ranked below Quinnipiac and Maine preseason, we were coming off an 18-16 season and it was Kemba, Oriakhi and a solid recruiting class.

 

[tzznandrew]

You sound like Calipari. They were all freshmen because he was basically getting 5 of the top 10 freshmen every year and he was basically preseason #1 every year.

The 2011 UConn team was ranked below Quinnipiac and Maine preseason, we were coming off an 18-16 season and it was Kemba, Oriakhi and a solid recruiting class.

Of course, but Kemba and Oriakhi had played together.

Again, the youth is an excuse he uses which is pretty lame. But if you're actually talking about what wins basketball, well, yeah, some combination of talent and continuity.