Non-Big East Conference Tournament Discussion | Page 5 | The Boneyard

Non-Big East Conference Tournament Discussion

Hey Adrien! said:
ESPN: "Last Four in"
CBS: "Last Four in"
Athletic: "Last Four in"

In summary, a Cincy win could knock Cuse out, but that unlikely event means that there's a pretty good chance Cuse is in.
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The bubble is so friggin bad
 
Hey Adrien! said:
12 PM - Patriot - #9 Loyola (MD) vs #2 Colgate - CBSSN:

With Colgate playing all of their games in conference, their 13-1 record is completely throwing off analytics. Case in point, they’re ranked nationally in: 7th in fg%, 5th in preventing turnovers, 1st in 3p defense, 20th in tempo, 33rd at preventing teams from getting to the line. Are they as strong as their NET. Haha, no. Can they win a game in the tourney? Yes. With four double-digit scorers, they’re led by senior lead guard Jordan Burns (17.1p, 4.5r, 5.5a, 1.6s, 41 3p%, 89.2 ft%).

Loyola (MD) has been most recently known for their Spain connection, with three players from Spain, most notably skilled 6’11 sophomore big Santi Aldama (21.8p, 10.3r, 2.3a, 1.8b, 37.8 3p%). A recent boon is the return of sophomore sharpshooter Cameron Spencer, who after returning in February as averaged 11.8p, 5.0r, 3.3a on 50 3p%. Colgate is -9.5 favorites, but I’m leaning towards picking Loyola (MD) on the spread.

1 PM - A-10 - #1 Saint Bonaventure vs #2 VCU - CBS:

With six teams in the top-100 KenPom, this was been the A-10’s best season since 2014. Despite the competition, the top two teams advance to the finals, both of which will dance regardless of the outcome of this game. Those who have read my previews know I’m a fan of both teams, most notably the Bonnies thanks to their balanced D (20th KenPom, 14th in fg%, 110th in turnover %, 84th in preventing teams to the line) and their offense that combines solid shooting (131st) with very strong offensive rebounding (31st). With three rotation players transferring mid-season, their depth takes a toll, but their all-junior starting lineup is still around, all averaging between 10.3-14.2 ppg. I like their combo of 6’10 double-double threat Osun Osunniyi (10.3p, 9.3r, 2.4a, 2.8b) with their 4-out offense with their good-sized guards all clocking in between 6’3-6’5 and 190-215.

With VCU, it’s all about their defense (8th overall, 23th at fg% and 7th at causing turnovers) but Bones Hyland (19.4p, 4.7r, 37.2 3p%) is healthy and is their best offensive player since Eric Maynor. I really like both teams and wish them well, but the Bonnies have more staying power in the dance thanks to their veteran backcourt.

1 PM - SEC - #3 LSU vs #1 Alabama - ESPN:

LSU has the 6th most efficient offense in the nation but only the 125th most efficient defense. However, if you look closer, they are 17th in perimeter defense, so if LSU lines up with three-point reliant teams, that can make a nice little run in the tourney. Freshman sharpshooter Cam Thomas has come as advertised (22.8p) but is more volume than efficient (40.8 fg%, 31.6 3p%). To me, the inside/out duo of Trendon Watford and Javonte Smart are the backbone of the team. Alabama isn’t a 3P reliant team, so I expect them to pound the paint between Yale grad transfer Jordan Bruner, Herbert Jones and John Petty driving inside.

3:15 - AAC - #5 Cincinnati vs #2 Houston - ESPN:

After a dreadful 2-6 start to the season, Cincy has won 9 of their last 12 thanks to the emergence of sophomore forward Jeremiah Davenport (1.9 ppg last year vs 11.8 ppg this year).

It’s fun to crap on the AAC, but Houston is a legit Final Four contender. They’re balanced (9th KenPom O, 16th KenPom D), their slow, old and between Quentin Grimes and Marcus Sasser have two bucket getters who can take over a game. Depending on their draw, they can be a E8/F4 team for my bracket. Despite the -13.5 spread, I may take Houston: they beat Cincy by 38 a few weeks ago.

3:30 - B10 - (overall rankings) #9 Ohio State vs #3 Illinois - CBS:

I have no idea what to think about Ohio State: They went from winning seven straight in Jan/Feb to losing four straight in Feb/March to winning three straight in the B10 tourney. Sophomore forward EJ Liddell is a special player but Kyle Young’s nagging injuries makes me wonder about their ability to play bigger teams. On the other hand, Illinois is on fire: 13-1 in their last 14, top-7 in both O and D in KenPom efficiency and between Cockburn, Ayo, Miller, Curbelo and Frazier they have a diverse offering on offense. I’m in the minority here, but I really enjoy watching Illinois and if I had to make a bracket today I’d put Illinois and Gonzaga in the title game.
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IMO Illinois is the real deal
 
Hey Adrien! said:
Why depth? Why have a solid eight-man rotation with their #7 and #8 guys getting 15 mpg.
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Yeah I’m really just splitting hairs given how good they really are. But I do get concerned if Ayo goes out for an extended period how they will facilitate offense. He’s incredible.
 
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Drew said:
Yeah I’m really just splitting hairs given how good they really are. But I do get concerned if Ayo goes out for an extended period how they will facilitate offense. He’s incredible.
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"Splitting hairs" as you said but I disagree. They beat Michigan by a billion on the road without him and I think if Curbelo was on UConn he would be our second best guard, so I don't think facilitation will be an issue. Illinois is a wagon.
 
alphasigko said:
IMO Illinois is the real deal
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It amazes me that teams don't get King Kofi in foul trouble more. He is their frontcourt, but he never fouls out. Usually bruisers get called a lot. I saw him get away with a big push yesterday, but generally he stays out of trouble.
 
Jay-Bone said:
It amazes me that teams don't get King Kofi in foul trouble more. He is their frontcourt, but he never fouls out. Usually bruisers get called a lot. I saw him get away with a big push yesterday, but generally he stays out of trouble.
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Agreed! That push w/his body was on Luca going up for a layup and was a no-call....they would have called that on Adama all day long.
 
Jay-Bone said:
It amazes me that teams don't get King Kofi in foul trouble more. He is their frontcourt, but he never fouls out. Usually bruisers get called a lot. I saw him get away with a big push yesterday, but generally he stays out of trouble.
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Playing just 27 minutes/game and having Bezhanishvili backing him up helps big time.

With that combo, it's easy to manage those minutes/fouls: Bez helps Cockburn stay fresh and out of foul trouble.
 
Hey Adrien! said:
Playing just 27 minutes/game and having Bezhanishvili backing him up helps big time.

With that combo, it's easy to manage those minutes/fouls: Bez helps Cockburn stay fresh and out of foul trouble.
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But that's it and Bezh.... only rebounds 2.6 a game. No one else on the team over 6'-7" plays more than 7 min a game. Thats like Sanogo and Carlton being our only frontcourt players. You get Kofi in trouble, you get Illinois in trouble. Lets see if Liddell goes up into him.
 
Last edited:
Who thinks the Shockers will make it? Wichita State has played 4 seasons in the AAC. They split with Houston, beat Cinci during the season and lost to Cinci in the tourney. Cinci and Houston play at 3:15. I'm sure the outcome of this game affects their chances.

Regular season finish
2018 - 2 - NCAA Tourney
2019 - 6
2020 - 4
2021 - 1
 
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Kolumbo said:
Who thinks the Shockers will make it? Wichita State has played 4 seasons in the AAC. They split with Houston, beat Cinci during the season and lost to Cinci in the tourney. Cinci and Houston play at 3:15. I'm sure the outcome of this game affects their chances.

Regular season finish
2018 - 2 - NCAA Tourney
2019 - 6
2020 - 4
2021 - 1
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I think they’re in. 72 NET is definitely worrisome but 4-4 v Q1/Q2 and only 1 loss in Q3/Q4. When you look at who they’re up against the resume comparisons are fairly similar but Houston is the most impressive win out of all of them. Plus they have the @ Ole Miss win which is pretty enormous when comparing bubble teams. The other bubble resumes are.. meh. Drake? Colorado St? Utah St? Cuse is 1-7 in Q1.

I actually think Memphis is a much better team than WSU and quite frankly better than any of the other “bubble” teams but not having Williams for the first month or so absolutely killed their at large chances. They really needed to beat Houston and had 2 great chances to do it but suffered two excruciating losses. If there was ever a year for “eye test” to get a team in, that Memphis team would make it. But they don’t have a single Q1 win- there’s realistically no way to justify them making it as an at large other than “we just think they’re better than Drake and Colorado State“- which I would certainly agree with.
 
I somehow just got suspended from twitter while talking college basketball.. bad time for the algorithm to flag me for something stupid 🙈
 
Storrs South said:
Does Colgate still make the tourney if they lose their title game today?
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No.

15 games only against Patriot League teams won't cut it. A low-major has to at least play against decent OOC teams to qualify for an at-large bid.

Case in point: I don't think Winthrop would have made the tourney if they lost the Big South. I loss in the Big South would make them something like a 22-2 team and they beat UNC-G, Furman and Little Rock, all solid mid-major teams.
 
Cam Thomas is unreal, he would've made us a legit title contender.
 
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UofCT said:
Is Keith Williams okay? What happened?
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No clue what his injury was yesterday, but sounds like he's gonna play today?

Just was looking at some Kenpom stuff. This game versus Houston is basically equivalent to like a 2 vs 15 game in the NCAAs. Gonna be brutal I feel like, especially after we smacked them for the last 2 tournament titles. Sampson is just that petty.
 
Storrs South said:
Does Colgate still make the tourney if they lose their title game today?
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They took care of business so we will never know. But I highly doubt they would have made it if they had lost. I wonder if the Patriot League has ever sent 2 teams to the tournament.

www.espn.com

Colgate 85-72 Loyola Maryland (Mar 14, 2021) Box Score - ESPN

Box score for the Colgate Raiders vs. Loyola Maryland Greyhounds NCAAM game from March 14, 2021 on ESPN. Includes all points, rebounds and steals stats.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
 
Vuce said:
Probably a Cuse or PC fan overseeing the algorithm or something
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I got basically the same thing as this for something similar.

Looks like twitter algorithm is all sorts fo screwed up

 
Storrs South said:
Same thing happened to me! Literally talking college hoops and now locked for 12 hours. !
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I appealed it to see if I can get unlocked- can’t be banned on selection Sunday lol
 
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jcp33 said:
Cam Thomas is unreal, he would've made us a legit title contender.
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we are a legit title contender when complete and healthy. be productive and think healing vibes for rj, that's all we need. didju watch any cbb in the last 3 months?
 
Cincinnati trying to steal a bid. They are about to tip off.
 
Drew said:
I somehow just got suspended from twitter while talking college basketball.. bad time for the algorithm to flag me for something stupid 🙈
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I got suspended from twitter early this morning and beginning my sentence with word shoot. I was talking about college basketball. You get dinged once nobody to appeal too for their immediate stupidity
 
Jay-Bone said:
But that's it and Bezh.... only rebounds 2.6 a game. No one else on the team over 6'-7" plays more than 7 min a game. Thats like Sanogo and Carlton being our only frontcourt players. You get Kofi in trouble, you get Illinois in trouble. Lets see if Liddell goes up into him.
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Although without Kyle Young, OSU is helpless to stop the beast.
 
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