Final 4 sleeper | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Final 4 sleeper

Who would you be least surprised to see in the Final 4?

  • West Virginia

    Votes: 18 13.7%

  • Tennessee

    Votes: 45 34.4%

  • Maryland

    Votes: 18 13.7%

  • Mizzou

    Votes: 8 6.1%

  • USF

    Votes: 6 4.6%

  • DePaul/Marquette

    Votes: 8 6.1%

  • Other

    Votes: 28 21.4%
  • Total voters
    131
I voted Tennessee. As much as I enjoy them being down (nothing personal, just for the sake of my own team), I have faith in the “Return of the Lady Vols” every year it seems...

One of these years I’m going to be right...... right?
 
stwainfan said:
I am anxious to see Tennessee play Tuesday night. The main thing I'm looking for in that game. Is the point guard position between Westbrook and Hayes. I think the both bring skills to upgrade that position.
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Tennessee will be back among the elite. They have a solid core returning and some exceptional newcomers. I can easily see them making it to the Final Four.
 
Husky pride said:
Tennessee will be back among the elite. They have a solid core returning and some exceptional newcomers. I can easily see them making it to the Final Four.
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Nah. They always have exceptional recruits. By next year half the newcomers will probably transfer elsewhere. That's the trend these days.
 
Husky pride said:
Tennessee will be back among the elite. They have a solid core returning and some exceptional newcomers. I can easily see them making it to the Final Four.
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A good class about to sign also.
 
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For me it was between Tennessee and West Virginia.

WVU returns four starters, including Tynice Martin (who I predict will be an All-American, provided she recovers well from her foot injury). They also get a quality JC transfer in Naomi Davenport, and a promising freshman point guard in Ashley Jones.

If there were two "sleeper" teams that showed they can play up and take down some good teams, it was TN and WVU. Tennessee beat 3 of the 4 Final Four teams last year. WVU went on a rampage through the Big 12 tournament, beating Baylor in the championship game (where Tynice dropped 32 points).
 
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How bizarre is it to refer to Tennessee as a sleeper? Especially considering how much talent they have perennially. I guess if you underachieve enough years in a row, you magically become an underdog, even though you have as much talent on paper as anybody. Holly is a miracle worker!
 
nwhoopfan said:
How bizarre is it to refer to Tennessee as a sleeper? Especially considering how much talent they have perennially. I guess if you underachieve enough years in a row, you magically become an underdog, even though you have as much talent on paper as anybody. Holly is a miracle worker!
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Let's put it this way. Can you imagine the howls of protest around here if they were ranked in the top 8? But yeah, this could be the grand plan. Sandbag it for about four years to shed the burden of expectations, and then sneak up on everyone.
 
Plebe said:
Tennessee beat 3 of the 4 Final Four teams last year.
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That should infuriate their fan base, that they are able to play at such a high level yet somehow lose to Penn St., Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Auburn (by 18!), Georgia and Alabama twice.
 
nwhoopfan said:
That should infuriate their fan base, that they are able to play at such a high level yet somehow lose to Penn St., Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Auburn (by 18!), Georgia and Alabama twice.
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Infuriated just might be the one word that best summarizes the LV fan base over the past few years.

It's why I genuinely respect a fan like Margo, who manages to stay positive despite all the tribulations.
 
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vowelguy said:
Consider teams NOT in the pre-season top 12.
(UConn / SC, Miss St / ND, Lou, Duke / Oh St / UCLA, Stan, Ore / Tex, Bay)
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I'm probably a year or 3 away but VA Tech. is an emotional choice for me--I think Kenny Brooks is a comer, he needed financial backing JMU would not provide.
 
nwhoopfan said:
That should infuriate their fan base, that they are able to play at such a high level yet somehow lose to Penn St., Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Auburn (by 18!), Georgia and Alabama twice.
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Alabama—3 times. Straight!! I will never forget watching Andy Landers call out the coaches and players about losing to a team 3 times in row when you have more talent and know what they like to do.
 
I do think UT could get there if the freshmen work out and they stay healthy. Of course those things haven't worked out so well for them the last few years. I just hope the fans stay engaged as a lot of the "Fire Holly" talk caused a good bit of division and I think this class is a make or break for them.
 
triaddukefan said:
Can I change my vote to Okie State? :cool:
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Ha well this reminds me that I voted for one of only two teams to beat Okie State so far this year, which was Tennessee. :)
 
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Oregon has a great chance of making the Final Four and surprising people. Lots of young talent that has tournament experience thanks to last year. Sabrina Ionescu is a strong leader.
 
I'll pick WV as a sentimental choice although Martin has to return, and they need a few breaks.
 
chrissaran said:
Oregon has a great chance of making the Final Four and surprising people. Lots of young talent that has tournament experience thanks to last year. Sabrina Ionescu is a strong leader.
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Oregon was ranked 11th in the preseason AP poll and talked about heavily in glowing terms on this board. In fact I excluded from the list bc I knew everyone would vote for them. I'd say they're not a sleeper.
 
vowelguy said:
Oregon was ranked 11th in the preseason AP poll and talked about heavily in glowing terms on this board. In fact I excluded from the list bc I knew everyone would vote for them. I'd say they're not a sleeper.
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They are more a sleeper today than they were yesterday---after the disection Miss St did on they last evening---they Oregon looked like a Div 3 team--
Obviously Mss St isn't a sleeper---Tenn too looks less sleepy. But it's only early DEC not March.
 
BroadwayVa said:
They are more a sleeper today than they were yesterday---after the disection Miss St did on they last evening---they Oregon looked like a Div 3 team--
Obviously Mss St isn't a sleeper---Tenn too looks less sleepy. But it's only early DEC not March.
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I wouldn't bet against Oregon if they had a rematch....even with Vivians having one of the best shooting days in her career, and McCowan having the best day of her career (35 points, 19 rebounds, 5 blocks, 15-18 FG, 5-6 FT), MS St only won by 11.

If Vivians misses a couple of her bombs or they box out better on McCowan, it's a much closer game. Also, McCowan probably wont shoot 5-6 on FTs again in a rematch...she shoots under 50% on the season.
 
bballnut90 said:
I wouldn't bet against Oregon if they had a rematch....even with Vivians having one of the best shooting days in her career, and McCowan having the best day of her career (35 points, 19 rebounds, 5 blocks, 15-18 FG, 5-6 FT), MS St only won by 11.

If Vivians misses a couple of her bombs or they box out better on McCowan, it's a much closer game. Also, McCowan probably wont shoot 5-6 on FTs again in a rematch...she shoots under 50% on the season.
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The coach of Oregon was lost from the first half and got more confused as the game went on ==how to stop 3 scoring machines. S.I. , I like most things she does, but she is not a point guard in the mode of Danger or Rene--she'd be more effect in another position.
If someone could box oout McGowan, Geno would have done that in April--no better in-game adjuster than Geno--McGown took a couple of long range shots but lived under the basket.
From now until March/April all things are possible, but I'd bet Oregon would lose again should Mss St play the same game as last night. Defense was near impossible, the jumpers in the key were hitting the 3's were seening only net, no stopping McGown once she had the ball, they were fast, quick and effective.
 
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T. McGowan, C, MissSt has to be one of the rising stars on the WCBB scene! She has improved her game 150%!
Much of that improvement is the confidence she acquired during the victory over UCONN in FF semi's!
She is still only a 6'7" junior and by the time she graduates will be among the 1st 5 draft picks in the WNBA draft, most likely a 2019 lottery pick!
IMHO her game is miles ahead of A'ja Wilson SoCar and not a diva! If I had to choose a draft pick, I'd choose McGowan 7 days a week & twice on Sunday! Just saying!
 
bballnut90 said:
I wouldn't bet against Oregon if they had a rematch....even with Vivians having one of the best shooting days in her career, and McCowan having the best day of her career (35 points, 19 rebounds, 5 blocks, 15-18 FG, 5-6 FT), MS St only won by 11.

If Vivians misses a couple of her bombs or they box out better on McCowan, it's a much closer game. Also, McCowan probably wont shoot 5-6 on FTs again in a rematch...she shoots under 50% on the season.
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Agreed. McCowan is much improved but there was nobody on that roster capable of guarding or boxing out McCowan. Oregon was disillusioned defensively for much of the game and just did not match up well with MSU athletically.

McCowan has yet to face a forward/center of her caliber. That won’t be the case when she’s going up against Russell and Wilson in conference, two players that definitely won’t be intimidated by her and know how to neutralize her.
 
BroadwayVa said:
S.I. , I like most things she does, but she is not a point guard in the mode of Danger or Rene--she'd be more effect in another position.
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I think she is playing another position. Or maybe Oregon has 2 starting PGs. Maite Cazorla I would definitely call a PG.
 
nwhoopfan said:
I think she is playing another position. Or maybe Oregon has 2 starting PGs. Maite Cazorla I would definitely call a PG.
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I was going by who had the ball his whose hand most. To me it appeared S.I. had the ball more than I would expect. You are correct on paper Maite is the PG of choice. Thanks for the reply.
Since you are an Oregon knowledgeable poster--what happened??
 
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