Week of 3/4/24 Other Games

[UConnTrumbull]

Arizona will be a popular first round exit pick

 

[connVA]

I can't believe UNC has (likely) somehow managed to stumble their way into the fourth #1 seed. What a logjam mess of a basketball season...

 

[August_West]

Reed Sheppard is too good man

Field of 68 just came in their undies

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Three Championship games this afternoon. Here's a preview of the first one.

Big South - Noon - ESPN 2 - #5 Longwood (KP 168) vs #2 UNC Asheville (KP 155)

Today's matchup is against the last two winners of the Big South tournament as UNC Asheville looks to advance to its second straight NCAA tournament led under the two-way force of fifth-year senior Drew Pember (20.8p, 8.4r, 3.6a, 1.9b, 2.1 3PM, 37.6 3P%, 84.3 FT%).

The 5-seed Longwood Lancers won two straight games as the underdog to advance to the Big South finals after a thrilling 80-to-79 overtime victory yesterday over top seed High Point. Three starters scored a dozen or more points, but it was backup center Szymon Zapala's 17 points that was the game's X-factor.

The season series between the two teams is split and both games were determined by five points or less. Attempting just 28.4% of their field-goal attempts from three (347th in the nation), Longwood made an uncharacteristically high thirteen three pointers in their win over UNCA on February 24th, including a 2-for-5 clip from Longwood's star junior point guard Walyn Napper (14.7p, 4.4a, 1.6s).

 

[gsmooth]

Three Championship games this afternoon. Here's a preview of the first one.

Big South - Noon - ESPN 2 - #5 Longwood (KP 168) vs #2 UNC Asheville (KP 155)

Today's matchup is against the last two winners of the Big South tournament as UNC Asheville looks to advance to its second straight NCAA tournament led under the two-way force of fifth-year senior Drew Pember (20.8p, 8.4r, 3.6a, 1.9b, 2.1 3PM, 37.6 3P%, 84.3 FT%).

The 5-seed Longwood Lancers won two straight games as the underdog to advance to the Big South finals after a thrilling 80-to-79 overtime victory yesterday over top seed High Point. Three starters scored a dozen or more points, but it was backup center Szymon Zapala's 17 points that was the game's X-factor.

The season series between the two teams is split and both games were determined by five points or less. Attempting just 28.4% of their field-goal attempts from three (347th in the nation), Longwood made an uncharacteristically high thirteen three pointers in their win over UNCA on February 24th, including a 2-for-5 clip from Longwood's star junior point guard Walyn Napper (14.7p, 4.4a, 1.6s).

I loved being at the AMP yesterday with the silenced PC fans. But I hate that CCSU lost

 

[gsmooth]

They are starting to concern me too. They are still not a good defensive team, but they've gotten better. If we see them and it's a shoot out, anything could happen.

100%. This is why Miami scared me a lot more than Texas or Houston last year in the Final Four. Miami was a high powered offensive team that could make tough contested shots.

 

[BigTenFan]

Nervous times 1st half at Purdue - Braden Smith went down with injury in first half
Back in second half

 

[phillionaire]

the refs in this Purdue game suck

 

[gtcam]

I think this will come through better. I love Hurley, but I chuckled.

To go from the AAC to the B12 and win it in that 1st year?
After all the clowns on this BY were saying that Houston would be lucky to go .500 in their new league.
Sampson will be COY nationally and deservedly so - if not for Houston's results, Dan Hurley would win the honor.

 

[BigTenFan]

the refs in this Purdue game suck

Agreed-let both teams play
Bad calls all over the court

 

[Hurleyman216]

FS1 commentators already trying to tell viewers how Purdue’s season is a success even if they flame out in the tournament early…LOL

 

[gsmooth]

I am watching the Indiana St-Drake game for the MVC Championship. I used to thumb down my nose at teams like these, but I no longer do. These teams can end up producing memorable upsets and humble the bigger names from the Power 6 teams. Indiana St has a very good offense. Their D, not so much.

 

[gsmooth]

This MVC title game is nuts. Indiana St just went on a 15-1 run in the last 3 minutes. Drake 70 Indiana State 69 4:30 left

 

[shizzle787]

If Drake wins, Indiana State is 50/50 to get in.

 

[gsmooth]

If Drake wins, Indiana State is 50/50 to get in.

I would hope both of these teams would get in. I would rather see these teams get in then some mediocre, half ass, split waste team from the Big 10, ACC, or SEC. I realize I might be putting a shiv to my wishes of all the Big East bubble teams making it.

 

[traitor71]

Drake took it. Really fun to watch a game like this.

 

[UConNick]

Hope both get in. Indiana State has the higher metrics so I’d think they might have the better at-large case, but Drake had 3 Q1 wins to ISU’s 1, and decent-ish metrics themselves.

And Stetson wins the A-Sun for their first-ever tourney bid, per the broadcast. This time of the year might be better than Christmas.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

I am watching the Indiana St-Drake game for the MVC Championship. I used to thumb down my nose at teams like these, but I no longer do. These teams can end up producing memorable upsets and humble the bigger names from the Power 6 teams. Indiana St has a very good offense. Their D, not so much.

We need Cream Abdul-Jabbar in the tourney.

 

[FearThePups]

I can't believe UNC has (likely) somehow managed to stumble their way into the fourth #1 seed. What a logjam mess of a basketball season...

I still to think the last #1 seed is still be determined and will rest with the outcomes of the ACC, SEC and PAC 10 tournaments. Tenn, NC, AZ, and possible Kentucky. Should be fun to watch.

 

[huskymedic]

If Drake wins, Indiana State is 50/50 to get in.

 

[Scoe]

Sounds like they should get a bid over an ACC team.

 

[Scoe]

We need Cream Abdul-Jabbar in the tourney.

But looks like George Mikan.

 

[Travelman6]

Lol, they got way more on themselves than any of the unc players. Brilliant.

 

[Travelman6]

Some middling 14 loss b10 team will get in over them like all those other cases. Indiana St 100 percent deserves in.

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

If Devin Carter isn't throwing himself to the floor after a missed shot, even money says he's rubbing a body part as if it is about to fall off.

I have formed the belief that he does exactly this. I can specifically remember the body part in three games I've seen him play this year, even blanking out on the second one last night.

Knee when Georgetown visited w/Cooley in January. Close to game's end.

Did not make a strong impression on me in the 1st UConn game.

Thumb against Villanova for certain.

Shoulder last night against UConn. Then later, something else I can't remember. This was after I'd already identified it as a thing he does.

In none of the instances was there a foul called nor was any announcer comment made until the camera focused on his self-massage, and then they remarked. Never a replay to show if something happened. And Carter went over to a ref after the shoulder 'incident.'

There are many things he does well, but I'm of increasing belief that these non-visible injuries, and the wincing & running in their aftermath are a dubious 'extra' that he adds to each game. My suspicions are raised, and I'll now watch more closely.