Week of 3/11/24 Games (Conference Tournaments)

[gsmooth]

I put a futures bet on them at +10000 under the premise that they were arguably our toughest game in the tournament last year and might’ve been tougher without the injury—and they returned a bunch of good players.

Interesting bet. I was confident in UConn beating St. Mary's even though the beginning of that game wasn't great. UConn was only down 1 when Dukas had to leave and Dukas for the last 10 minutes of game time he played did nothing.

I think UConn's toughest match was the finals against SDSU. I will admit I got really nervous when SDSU cut the lead to 5 points with 5 minutes left in the second half. The game was legitimately in doubt where as the other 5 games were not. Thank the Basketball Gods that Hawkins made that 3 pointer to push the lead to 8. That 3 pointer was one of the biggest in UConn's history along with Rashad Anderson's 3 pointer in 2004 against Duke which cut the 8 point deficit to 5 (75-67 to 75-70) with under 3 minutes left.

 

[auror]

I don't want to see St Marys as an 8/9 seed in our region

Good chance they're above 8 after that win.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Honestly bad job by Larranaga this year. Tried to play the same style with worse players and Pack had a down year.

They had no PG so turned it over a bit, didn't get ORebs since they played small aside from Omier with a stretch 4 who didn't crash, and played a lot of 1v1 ISO with pull up jumpers so didn't draw a ton of fouls.

They had good shooters and shot well generally, but If you're not generating an advantage on 3 of the 4 factors, then you're not schemed well. Plus defense is still bad, which is both scheme and personnel.

It's so interesting observing the trajectory of the 4 Final Four teams, who all overachieved in the Tournament last year. My hypothesis was that those teams are usually overrated the following year. Results:

UConn: even better this year and exceeded expectations
SDSU: about the same as last year (5 seed) and in line with expectations
FAU: about the same as last year (9 seed), below expectations
Miami: fell off a cliff and well below expectations

 

[Kolumbo]

Wichita State did not in fact die in the AAC with 52 points in the first half, but Rice is racing back.

 

[Tenspro2002]

Well, we know who our first round opponent is now…because the committee loves those types of storylines.

I was so annoyed last year when they did the incredibly predictable thing and manipulated seed lines to stick us with Iona/Pitino in Albany.

 

[auror]

Wichita State did not in fact die in the AAC with 52 points in the first half, but Rice is racing back.

Rice can get hot or not score for 10 minutes, so who knows.

 

[gsmooth]

I was so annoyed last year when they did the incredibly predictable thing and manipulated seed lines to stick us with Iona/Pitino in Albany.

I thought manipulation occurred when Providence was matched up against Kentucky, Brice Hopkins' former team. I have a hard time believing that match up organically happened.

 

[Icehawk]

Close one, W for Xavier.

 

[Mister P]

Kansas is a 2.5 dog to a NIT team.
Just shows that they are nothing w/o their top 2 players.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Kansas is a 2.5 dog to a NIT team.
Just shows that they are nothing w/o their top 2 players.

I think Vegas knows they aren’t really trying to win. But certainly a team with no depth isn’t very good down it’s two best players.

 

[Kolumbo]

Georgetown's Epps has 25 points right now with 13 minutes left. MVP!!!

Poor rutgers getting beaten like a black knight.

 

[REB1094]

Syracuse with 16 turnovers as they're down 18 with 6 minutes to go against 10 seed NC St

 

[87Xfer]

I think Vegas knows they aren’t really trying to win. But certainly a team with no depth isn’t very good down it’s two best players.

'splain, please?

 

[87Xfer]

Syracuse with 16 turnovers as they're down 18 with 6 minutes to go against 10 seed NC St

But someone here said they were gonna beat Duke...

 

[87Xfer]

PeeCee beating Cooley again is fun.

 

[prankster]

But someone here said they were gonna beat Duke...

I don't recall anyone claiming they would be at Dook. But there were those hoping it might happen

 

[HuskyHawk]

'splain, please?

They are resting guys that are banged up. I think that tells you they aren’t prioritizing the Big XII tournament. Should still beat Cinci in KC

K-State leading Texas. Would be a mild upset.

 

[87Xfer]

They are resting guys that are banged up. I think that tells you they aren’t prioritizing the Big XII tournament. Should still beat Cinci in KC

K-State leading Texas. Would be a mild upset.

Thanks. I don't follow what's happening there so I had no idea.

 

[bfs3]

Wichita State did not in fact die in the AAC with 52 points in the first half, but Rice is racing back.

Wichita State is one of those programs I like to see do well (except against the good guys). VCU, SDSU, Saint Mary’s, Georgia Tech are all on the list of teams I’ve gravitated towards for no apparent reason that I can figure out. FAU is making its way on there too, their coach seems like a good guy from everything I’ve read.

Projected bracket has Kansas as our 4 and UNC as the #2. I don’t love the idea of seeing either of them if I’m being honest but it would nice to avenge that loss with a full squad.

 

[bfs3]

Yeah, those three-point heavy teams scare me. Not a great shot to go all the way, but if they’re hot, they can stay in any game.

Thats always been my biggest fear, each year we’ve had a decent seed in the tournament.

 

[REB1094]

7 seed Texas just got bounced by 10 seed K St. That one is gonna hurt

 

[REB1094]

It's probably not worth its own thread, but Villanova/DePaul is 10-9 after 9 minutes..

 

[WhereistheDove?]

It's probably not worth its own thread, but Villanova/DePaul is 10-9 after 9 minutes..

This game is ROUGH. Absolute bricks on both sides.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

PeeCee beating Cooley again is fun.

I wouldn’t have minded Cooley sending them to the NIT.

 

[navery12]

7 seed Texas just got bounced by 10 seed K St. That one is gonna hurt

Texas is far enough off the bubble that it won't matter. At worst it'll move them from like an 8 seed to a 9

 

[UCFan1513]

Kansas vs Cinci is basically who wants to lose more. To be fair it’s basically Kansas’ bench out there because of injuries. Also Timberlake is terrrrible

 

[Mister P]

Here’s Donny saying Nova is like last years UConn team. He thinks they are built for post season play after teams had their number during the regular season. Did he not watch any UConn games before mid-January of last year ? What is he smoking this time ?

 

[BGesus4]

Kansas vs Cinci is basically who wants to lose more. To be fair it’s basically Kansas’ bench out there because of injuries. Also Timberlake is terrrrible

But hearing commentators say “jizzle” never gets old

 

[FfldCntyFan]

If Nova wins a nail biter (or loses) Neptune should hop on the first train he can find headed north or west. He'll have no reason to return to Philly.

 

[Mister P]

Here’s Donny saying Nova is like last years UConn team. He thinks they are built for post season play after teams had their number during the regular season. Did he not watch any UConn games before mid-January of last year ? What is he smoking this time ?

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Having trouble posting the video.
If anyone else has it it’s worth the laugh.