Thursday games: ACC, SEC, B1G, Pac-12

[Blue Huskie]

I can hear it now - a new level of urgency to the "Fahr Holy" movement.

 

[Plebe]

And 11 losses. They don't pass my eye test. Your results may vary, of course.

And that's why the committee doesn't rely on "eye tests," which is just a euphemism for subjective and unprovable personal opinion.

 

[triaddukefan]

Good Ole Rocky Top

 

[Wbbfan1]

Lady Vols lose. Will they be an #8 Seed in Bridgeport Region and play at Storrs. Its a possibility. Their Top 10 Wins should keep them off the #8 or #9 Seed line. Will there be a procedural bump that reduces their seed? Would be the most watched 2nd Seed Game ever if it happens.

 

[triaddukefan]

The top 4 teams in each of these conferences has a bye today. But still some important games in terms of tournament selection and seeding:

ACC:

• Louisville crushes Clemson, 68-46. That sets up a quarterfinal game against NC State.
  
• Virginia has the early lead in the 1st quarter against Wake Forest. Virginia is on the bubble and needs wins.
• Georgia Tech vs. Miami, 6pm ET
• North Carolina vs. Syracuse, 8:30 pm ET. An upset win by UNC could land them in the WNIT.

More like could land them another butt whupping on Friday night

 

[Ron and Vida]

Does this mean they drop to 8 or 9 seed in Creme's Bridgeport bracket. If so and if I'm reading this right Freese just got a get out of jail card.

 

[ochoopsfan]

Anyone knows what time Margo posts her video rant?

 

[Nuyoika]

They'll be in the tourney for sure. They finished better than they did last year in the SEC and they have more wins vs Top 10 teams than they had last year and less losses. They are in.... it just comes down to seeing and whos bracket.

 

[Nuyoika]

Anyone knows what time Margo posts her video rant?

I would say she is probably at work so later on tonight.

 

[Plebe]

And 11 losses. They don't pass my eye test. Your results may vary, of course.

Also, every year there are multiple at-large teams with 11+ losses:

2016: Indiana (19-11), Purdue (20-11), Auburn (19-12), Kansas St (20-12), Tennessee (19-13)
2015: Oklahoma (a #5 seed!) (20-11), Pittsburgh (19-11), Oklahoma St (20-11), Miami (19-12), Iowa St (18-12), Arkansas (17-13), LSU (17-13)

 

[Plebe]

Lady Vols lose. Will they be an #8 Seed in Bridgeport Region and play at Storrs. Its a possibility. Their Top 10 Wins should keep them off the #8 or #9 Seed line. Will there be a procedural bump that reduces their seed? Would be the most watched 2nd Seed Game ever if it happens.

They will be no lower than a #7 seed. They were a #7 last year with 13 losses, and their quality wins this year are way better than last year. Can't rule out a procedural bump but pretty unlikely.

 

[Plebe]

More like could land them another butt whupping on Friday night

So are you rooting for the Heels tonight just to get that pleasure?

 

[triaddukefan]

So are you rooting for the Heels tonight just to get that pleasure?

.. We whipped them last Sunday and our RPI dropped... Though sweeping them 3-0 for the year would be nice

 

[MJL243]

Anyone knows what time Margo posts her video rant?

 

[LO TRADER]

PAC-12 Tourney update: Cal defeats USC 71-58

 

[Plebe]

I know we are somewhat giddy about the Tennessee loss but elsewhere ...

Kristine Anigwe with a colossal game—34 points and 13 rebounds—to lead her team to a win over USC.

 

[HuskyFan1125]

Yep--missed the Tennessee loss.

I was glued to the PAC-12 Cal with a good win over a talented USC team.

ASU up next against Utah.

 

[EricSD]

Mercifully, it finally ends. I have watched LV's several time this season. I cannot fathom why anyone thinks they are a final four quality team.

I'm not sure anyone thinks they are a final 4 quality team, but they do have final 4 quality talent. Can you imagine what a good coach could do with that team??!! First, some players would sit on the pine for an entire game during the season based on lack of effort or enthusiasm. But if Geno (or Muffet or a bunch of other top coaches) could get them to play they way they are capable of, then sure they could be a final 4 team...

 

[Plebe]

With other bubble teams losing left and right, the door is just slightly open for Cal to sneak an at-large bid, even if they lose the next game to Oregon St.

The win over USC pushes Cal's RPI back up into the acceptable range at #53, and they have quality wins over UCLA, Oklahoma, and Oregon.

 

[nwhoopfan]

The win over USC pushes Cal's RPI back up into the acceptable range at #53, and they have quality wins over UCLA, Oklahoma, and Oregon.

6-12 in conference though. That's...troubling.

 

[BigBird]

I'm not sure anyone thinks they are a final 4 quality team, but they do have final 4 quality talent. Can you imagine what a good coach could do with that team??!! First, some players would sit on the pine for an entire game during the season based on lack of effort or enthusiasm. But if Geno (or Muffet or a bunch of other top coaches) could get them to play they way they are capable of, then sure they could be a final 4 team...

That's a pretty fair summary. This team must be driving the LV fans up the wall.

 

[Plebe]

6-12 in conference though. That's...troubling.

Which is why I say the door is just slightly open LOL. That weekend when they got swept at home by Utah and Colorado really hurt them bad, and I gave up on them at that point. But the bubble is just that weak this year.

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Also, every year there are multiple at-large teams with 11+ losses:

2016: Indiana (19-11), Purdue (20-11), Auburn (19-12), Kansas St (20-12), Tennessee (19-13)
2015: Oklahoma (a #5 seed!) (20-11), Pittsburgh (19-11), Oklahoma St (20-11), Miami (19-12), Iowa St (18-12), Arkansas (17-13), LSU (17-13)

Why would you impose logic on a good taunting! Kill joy. Besides, we want recognizable names in the "slaughter of the innocents rounds".

 

[Vowelguy]

I'm not sure anyone thinks they are a final 4 quality team, but they do have final 4 quality talent. Can you imagine what a good coach could do with that team??!! First, some players would sit on the pine for an entire game during the season based on lack of effort or enthusiasm. But if Geno (or Muffet or a bunch of other top coaches) could get them to play they way they are capable of, then sure they could be a final 4 team...

They are 6-3 against the top 20, and will likely have gone 2-0 against #1 seeds, so they absolutely are a threat. They were likely a 5 or 6 seed before this. The loss should drop them only slightly to a 6 or 7 seed.

Also, why does everyone assume all the problems are the coach's fault? No doubt the buck stops at the top but the players bear some responsibility. Was it entirely Genos fault that UConn hit a dry spell 05-08?

 

[LO TRADER]

With other bubble teams losing left and right, the door is just slightly open for Cal to sneak an at-large bid, even if they lose the next game to Oregon St.

The win over USC pushes Cal's RPI back up into the acceptable range at #53, and they have quality wins over UCLA, Oklahoma, and Oregon.

If Cal takes down OSU, they are in the tournament. For OSU's sake, I hope that doesn't happen. I just love the fact that you all are so well versed in your team's conference, but pay attention to PAC-12, 3 time zones away! We can't get the east coast sportscasters/writers to pay attention. A BIG Thanks from the west coast!

 

[Plebe]

If Cal takes down OSU, they are in the tournament. For OSU's sake, I hope that doesn't happen. I just love the fact that you all are so well versed in your team's conference, but pay attention to PAC-12, 3 time zones away! We can't get the east coast sportscasters/writers to pay attention. A BIG Thanks from the west coast!

Well, I've been a UConn fan for many years, but I've also been a left coaster now for a while. I've been as happy as anyone to see the Pac-12's recent surge.

 

[j66kicker]

Margo with a pretty realistic take on whether DD and/or Mercedes will be back next year (unlike most homers who always think their WNBA-eligible players will return for a final year - they almost never do).

 

[Plebe]

I'm not sure anyone thinks they are a final 4 quality team, but they do have final 4 quality talent. Can you imagine what a good coach could do with that team??!! First, some players would sit on the pine for an entire game during the season based on lack of effort or enthusiasm. But if Geno (or Muffet or a bunch of other top coaches) could get them to play they way they are capable of, then sure they could be a final 4 team...

How many people last year thought that Tennessee might make the Final Four? Yet they had regular-season wins over two of the Final Four teams, and they were one good 2nd half against Syracuse away from getting there.

This year they are 5-3 against the projected top 16, and of those 3 losses, the only one where they were never in the game was the Baylor loss.

 

[Plebe]

They are 6-3 against the top 20, and will likely have gone 2-0 against #1 seeds, so they absolutely are a threat. They were likely a 5 or 6 seed before this. The loss should drop them only slightly to a 6 or 7 seed.

Also, why does everyone assume all the problems are the coach's fault? No doubt the buck stops at the top but the players bear some responsibility. Was it entirely Genos fault that UConn hit a dry spell 05-08?

I take it you mean 2-1 against #1 seeds? Still, I agree on all other points.

 

[EricSD]

They are 6-3 against the top 20, and will likely have gone 2-0 against #1 seeds, so they absolutely are a threat. They were likely a 5 or 6 seed before this. The loss should drop them only slightly to a 6 or 7 seed.

Also, why does everyone assume all the problems are the coach's fault? No doubt the buck stops at the top but the players bear some responsibility. Was it entirely Genos fault that UConn hit a dry spell 05-08?

Well Geno didn't have the talent back then that Holly does. But Holly is a "weak" coach. She seems like she'd rather be "friends" with her players than actually coach them. Top coaches would never tolerate lack of effort on the court, even from their stars. Geno sat Stewie and Morgan for an entire game for lack of effort, and they've never shown the laziness on the court that Deshields shows for sometimes long stretches in pretty much every game.

Geno will never allow a player to cheat their talent, and neither would most other top coaches. That's what I meant by "imagine what Geno or some other top coach could do with the talent that Holly has". And, by the way, if the player(s) in question continued to be lazy, he'd play a walk on over them. For the entire game. And he'd take a loss. He will never settle for laziness or mediocrity from any of his players...