Sweet 16 Games Thread

[Mr. French]

People forget how nasty Teague was at wake and even for the hawks.

I do agree with you, but I think Pettiford is a better scorer/shooter.

I thought Teague was incredible early on, thought he’d be a better pro honestly. But he was solid for years.

 

[RuffRuff]

Braden Smith had 30 assists to 5 turnovers in his last two sweet 16 games. He assisted every single Purdue basket in the second half and probably should've had 20 assists. Uzan fully extended his arm on the game winning attempt and Smith ended up on his back in the most obvious push off. Houston got a do over and now people are bashing Smith because Cryer came around uncovered and Smith went out to cover him.

He’s such a smart player - even in how he pump fakes passes, which is an underused technique. Against a Houston it was gold because they bite on it every time looking for a steal, and it gives him that extra second to make the right pass, his teammates just have to be ready for it. He’s taken every measure to give himself an advantage to offset his size. Was wild to hear about how he received no high D1 offers other than Purdue.

 

[Mots010]

You mean the player cutting to the basket for the winning layup? If Smith doesn’t jump to the cutter he probably scores.

If Houston has guys open all over the court, your inbounds defense probably sucks. I saw a comment on a Purdue board that something similar happened to them earlier this season with smith under the basket, so Houston may have seen this in the film room. Purdues coverage got completely blown up… it was like Houston knew exactly what to do.

 

[DogMania]

Probably already brought up, but I don't remember a year where the Elite 8 was 1 shy of all 1s and 2s, with Texas Tech being the only #3. In fact all 8 teams were ranked in the last AP top 9, with only St. John's getting knocked off early. This should lead to some well played, entertaining and highly competitive Elite 8, Final-4 and eventual championship games.

It still pains me, if not for UConn having one of their worst shooting games, missing so many open looks, we could easily be playing in the Final-4 next weekend. They finally played their best defensive game to only squander the chance of advancing and defending their championship because they couldn't make open shots...but I digress. It's still a headscratcher that instead of improving their 3 Pt shooting as the season went on, they digressed especially during the latter part of the season.

 

[BigTenFan]

He’s such a smart player - even in how he pump fakes passes, which is an underused technique. Against a Houston it was gold because they bite on it every time looking for a steal, and it gives him that extra second to make the right pass, his teammates just have to be ready for it. He’s taken every measure to give himself an advantage to offset his size. Was wild to hear about how he received no high D1 offers other than Purdue.

Great year for the Boilermakers. Smith was not recruited by any D1 programs out of Westfield IN...All American in his junior year.
Purdue needs 1 or 2 portal guys to be a top team next year

 

[Mr. French]

If Houston has guys open all over the court, your inbounds defense probably sucks. I saw a comment on a Purdue board that something similar happened to them earlier this season with smith under the basket, so Houston may have seen this in the film room. Purdues coverage got completely blown up… it was like Houston knew exactly what to do.

They scouted it well, but I didn't see Purdue do anything off the wall. In fact, a lot of teams do the strategy where the defender on ball turns and takes the first option cutter and then they rotate - perhaps someone missed a rotation, but Smith didn't just chase after a guy for no reason, with no threat. It was a great call by Sampson.

Also, guys were in no way "open all over the court" there was a quick rotation by Smith and the Houston guys made a snap pass right back to the inbounder. It makes Purdue look a bit lost, but there weren't guys open all over. It was really well done by Houston.

 

[tzznandrew]

Probably already brought up, but I don't remember a year where the Elite 8 was 1 shy of all 1s and 2s, with Texas Tech being the only #3.

2007 E8

1 Florida v. 3 Oregon
1 Kansas v. 2 UCLA
1 UNC v. 2 Georgetown
1 Ohio State v. 2 Memphis

2007 Final AP Top 10

1. Ohio State*
2. Kansas*
3. Florida*
4. UNC*
5. Memphis*
6. Wisconsin
7. UCLA*
8. Georgetown*
9. Texas A&M
10. Oregon*

 

[Mr. French]

2007 E8

1 Florida v. 3 Oregon
1 Kansas v. 2 UCLA
1 UNC v. 2 Georgetown
1 Ohio State v. 2 Memphis

2007 Final AP Top 10

1. Ohio State*
2. Kansas*
3. Florida*
4. UNC*
5. Memphis*
6. Wisconsin
7. UCLA*
8. Georgetown*
9. Texas A&M
10. Oregon*

I remember this fact to this day, because I told my then-GF "no final four in history has ever been all 1s" when she had her bracket filled out, to which she made a change and proceeded to not win 1st place when all 4 1s hit.

 

[storrsroars]

It's getting ugly for Florida. Down 10, 7.5 left.

 

[HooperScooper]

It's getting ugly for Florida. Down 10, 7.5 left.

As I told my son who bet on Florida to win it all, plenty of time left. And I was right. Gotta listen to your elders.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Probably already brought up, but I don't remember a year where the Elite 8 was 1 shy of all 1s and 2s, with Texas Tech being the only #3. In fact all 8 teams were ranked in the last AP top 9, with only St. John's getting knocked off early. This should lead to some well played, entertaining and highly competitive Elite 8, Final-4 and eventual championship games.

It still pains me, if not for UConn having one of their worst shooting games, missing so many open looks, we could easily be playing in the Final-4 next weekend. They finally played their best defensive game to only squander the chance of advancing and defending their championship because they couldn't make open shots...but I digress. It's still a headscratcher that instead of improving their 3 Pt shooting as the season went on, they digressed especially during the latter part of the season.

Florida is beatable. We had so many open look misses! Duke cleans their clock

 

[Edward Sargent]

Walter Clayton though ! Pitinos biggest miss at SJU

 

[tzznandrew]

I remember this fact to this day, because I told my then-GF "no final four in history has ever been all 1s" when she had her bracket filled out, to which she made a change and proceeded to not win 1st place when all 4 1s hit.

Fun fact, it was actually 2008 that had all 4 #1s, though it's E8 was a bit more "cinderella-y"

1 UNC v. 3 Louisville
1 Kansas v. 10 Davidson
1 Memphis v. 2 Texas
1 UCLA v. 3. Xavier

All the 1 seeds won. The Final Four in 2007 was Florida/UCLA, Ohio State/Georgetown

 

[Mr. French]

Fun fact, it was actually 2008 that had all 4 #1s, though it's E8 was a bit more "cinderella-y"

1 UNC v. 3 Louisville
1 Kansas v. 10 Davidson
1 Memphis v. 2 Texas
1 UCLA v. 3. Xavier

All the 1 seeds won. The Final Four in 2007 was Florida/UCLA, Ohio State/Georgetown

That’s the one - I was thinking that when I read your post, I didn’t even look at the year - I recalled it was the Memphis/Kansas year.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Florida is beatable. We had so many open look misses! Duke cleans their clock

God I hope not.

 

[Deleted at users request]

I remember this fact to this day, because I told my then-GF "no final four in history has ever been all 1s" when she had her bracket filled out, to which she made a change and proceeded to not win 1st place when all 4 1s hit.

Crazy way to lose trust in a relationship lmaoooooo (jk of course)

 

[Mr. French]

Crazy way to lose trust in a relationship lmaoooooo (jk of course)

Welp, we ain’t together so…you’re not exactly wrong lol