NCAA Basketball (Page 11 of 30)

No excuses, the best player was Kemba in that game. The quote was from an eye witness sports reporter who was there in the tunnel and who said this on a widly broadcasted sports radio show, kinda bush if you ask me. Replays showed him walking into the sd player's shoulder who was looking the other way, then dropping as if he had been elbowed.

Good job Kentucky!

I missed the later games last night, I was at the Jeff Beck concert.  CONGRATS Liz, wow, what a great win!! I think you are probably on Cloud 9!

Rick, back to the UConn game, I did a little surfing during the game to see the other game on, but your post made me realize there were 2 technical fowls between Kemba and Franklin?  I saw the one where they weren't even playing and Franklin intentionally hit Kemba's shoulder really hard just walking down the court.  The other I didn't see, where Kemba ended up on the floor.  Its obvious there was extreme tension between these guys.

As far as the one I did see, even the announcers were saying...just juevenile...especially in an important game...stupid moves like that can haunt a team at the end in a tight game.

Generally speaking - Regardless of who was right or wrong, I feel your pain, I can't stand the feeling in a close game of an unfair call, changing the outcome.

About UConn - I keep going back to they were 9-9 in the Big East, they are fired up now.  Rocket, there has been a lot of buzz about the Big East. I heard Charles Barkley was trashing us.  I'm curious what you think - is the Big East too big, therefore problematic?

About the bracket - there was mention of the right side being blown up, SI came out with a revised Sweet 16, but the first one they did, only Kansas is left standing. SI had SDSU beating UConn and Duke beating Arizona and Kentucky being beat by Ohio State.

I can't believe Butler's made it back to the final four, but I'll be pulling for them again.  This will probably be Brad Steven's last year coaching the Bulldogs as his stock has gone through the roof.  There are some I.U. fans wishing he'd come to Bloomington, but that won't happen.  Here's a post someone found on Purdue's basketball site about Butler's success and people whining about the Boilers' coach Matt Painter.

A few thoughts about Butler...

There are many facets of what they do that impress me. Their defense, their hustle, their ball control, their ability to hit big shots...all of that is outstanding and integral to their success. But what I noticed tonight more than I've ever noticed was their incredible defensive anticipation. All good coaches try to instill the concept of moving on the pass rather than moving on the catch. Butler not only moves on the pass, they often move on the RELEASE of the pass. It's amazing. They're so tied together that by the time their opponents continue to the next phase of their set, Butler's already there swarming the ball.

You notice I wrote a whole paragraph praising Butler without devaluing Painter?

So about that...

Stevens is clearly a really good coach. Some think he's ready for both sainthood and knighthood. I respect him a great deal but believe time will tell how much of the success is due to having incredible individuals (notice I didn't say "incredibly talented") buy into the team concept. When other guys replace Mack, Howard, etc., and Stevens again guides them to the Final Four, then yes, I'll be willing to proclaim him Saint Sir Brad. But until then, I'll call him an outstanding young coach, which he clearly is.

And so is ours.

I don't think Painter should be above criticism, but frankly, I think many Purdue fans suffer from a lack of appreciation. The guy is an excellent young coach, yet he gets it from all angles. One minute people are soiling themselves in terror because Crean has some recruiting successes, the next people are salivating over Stevens like he's filet mignon while making gagging noises at Painter like he's a regurgitated Big Mac.

How about this thought: Butler's success shows that a team doesn't need multiple five-star recruits to succeed. Isn't that a logical conclusion? Shouldn't Butler's win make us feel good about what we have and where we're going?

Painter, like Stevens, is a system coach. Yeah, he'll tailor it to fit his personnel, but he'll always favor a specific brand of basketball. Purdue needs to get good players, but I believe that if we get good players and a team like IU gets great players that Painter's coaching and system will be good enough to at least draw us even. And if Painter is able to recruit guys as talented as some of the ones heading to Bloomington who are also willing to buy into a TEAM concept...well, look out. In fact, even though IU clearly has an excellent recruiting run going--a fact I won't dispute at all--I really like a lot of the guys we have coming in the next few years.

So, congratulations Coach Stevens. Congratulations Butler. I'll be rooting hard for you next week.

But I'll also be happy that Painter's our coach.

Posted on 3/26 11:46 PM | IP: 69.136.173.22

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Liz must be walking on air! Kentucky and Butler put on a great show. All the #1 seeds bite the dust. What next? Madness!
Rick

I listened to a very good talk today explaining the demise of the big power teams and the rise of the mid majors. The NBA draft is sucking the talent up before the players are in long enough to be seniors. VCU and Butler are made up of seasoned 4 and 5 year (JC transfer) veteran players up against younger teams. Experience tells and it is now a lottery for college recruiters with the top prospects only showing well for a year or two before they are gone. The present movement towards a minimum percentage of graduating players will stop that cold.
Rick

After last weekend's impressive wins over tO$U and UNC it would be hard to bet against Kentucky, but the Cats have to stay focused.  UCONN looks like a team of destiny and may have the edge to get to the National Final.  Either way both teams are on a roll and are hotter than McDonald's coffee.
I agree Liz that it's a shame the two Cinderella teams have to square off against each other.  If Butler and Kentucky win it could be a repeat of UK's first round game with Princeton.  Should be an exciting finals nonetheless.

UConn can beat a team 5 ways around Sunday.  To call them a 1 1/2 trick pony is not accurate for me.  Like Kentucky and North Carolina, they are a team that can have what appears to be a death knell to their prospects and somehow come roaring back and rise above victorious.  Slow them down won't necessarily work.  Dominating the defensive boards? Well, that works for just about everyone, unless shooting is totally off on the offensive end.

Rock ON & Keep the Faith,
Rocket

"He still doesn't charge for mistakes! "
http://jbonamassa.com/tour-dates/
"Everybody wants ta get inta the act!"
“Now, this isn’t your ordinary party crowd, here.  I mean, there are professionals in here.”

Sorry Liz. Those boys couldn't shoot a lick tonight. A dog fight for sure next.
Rick