Tuesday, February 12, 2008
College B-Ball update
The Clarion is widely known to ignore college basketball before the turn of the calendar on January 1st. During especially good NFL playoff years, like this one, we have been known to pay little attention to college basketball until the Super Bowl ends. And as we all know, there is only a tiny window between the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500. So we had better get on it while the gettin's good.
Without further adieu a few college basketball thoughts, to be expanded on more fully at a later date.
The Clarion's early Final Four picks
Georgetown
UCLA
North Carolina
and Big 10 team (from Michigan State, Indiana and Purdue)
The Clarion's National Championship pick-Georgetown
Don't Sleep on...
Baylor- Scott Drew, Bryce's brother, Homer's other kid, is coaching the heck out of a team that came back from a cataclysmic blow to the program. (murder.)
The Atlantic 10- Could be a four teams in the tourney year for the A-10!?! Xavier looks as good as they have since NBA All-Star, David West, was leading the squad to the Elite Eight.
Maryland- Gary Williams squad, if they can squeak into the tournament, always plays to the level of their competition good or bad. They are the only team to beat a healthy North Carolina this year. Greivis Vasquez and James Gist are guys who are going to play at the next level.
Kevin Love- The UCLA freshman center is the real deal. He is being compared to Wes Unseld and Bill Walton, two of the best passing NBA big men ever. To say a guy throws the outlet pass like Unseld is as high a compliment as can be given on outlet passing. To have your low post passing game compared to Walton, who could riff with anyone, and made everyone around him better, is mighty special.
Labels: college basketball, Predictions, sports
Comments:
Have you seen Memphis play? I know they play in a week conference and might not be battle tested, but that team is filthy athletic and can shoot.
Oh, and look at that, Kelvin Sampson is in trouble again. Weird.
Oh, and look at that, Kelvin Sampson is in trouble again. Weird.
Georgetown? Roy Hibbert looks like he's lost! He sure is tall, though.
Final Four: UNC, KU, MEM, UCLA/STAN/BUTLER!
Champ: MEM over UNC... They are too good to lose to an inconsistent team.
Don't sleep on Butler! They're a near-lock for the Elite Eight, and could easily sneak into the final weekend. Stanford brings the twin towers of power (7'0" Lopez bros.) to the game every night, and with a decent PAC-10 schedule, they'll be tougher come March/April. UNC has the talent, but Ol' Roy's habits will come back to haunt him (see KAN, 1988-2003).
KU has recovered from the loss of Roy, and has as much talent as ever. Very similar to MEM, but without the team concept. Great individual performances could bring KU a Final Four berth.
Final Four: UNC, KU, MEM, UCLA/STAN/BUTLER!
Champ: MEM over UNC... They are too good to lose to an inconsistent team.
Don't sleep on Butler! They're a near-lock for the Elite Eight, and could easily sneak into the final weekend. Stanford brings the twin towers of power (7'0" Lopez bros.) to the game every night, and with a decent PAC-10 schedule, they'll be tougher come March/April. UNC has the talent, but Ol' Roy's habits will come back to haunt him (see KAN, 1988-2003).
KU has recovered from the loss of Roy, and has as much talent as ever. Very similar to MEM, but without the team concept. Great individual performances could bring KU a Final Four berth.
One at at time:
Annaliese!! Love the spirit.
I have changed my mind watching your Heels gut it out without Ty Lawson the last couple games. Earlier in the year I was thinking Sweet 16, now, as I wrote, I think better is possible. Tyler Hansbrough is the best college basketball player in the game. He won't be the best pro in this year's draft, but he is the best college player. I could see a John Wallace/Syracuse like run out of him. Too bad the Heels don't play any defense or they'd be the favorite.
Annaliese!! Love the spirit.
I have changed my mind watching your Heels gut it out without Ty Lawson the last couple games. Earlier in the year I was thinking Sweet 16, now, as I wrote, I think better is possible. Tyler Hansbrough is the best college basketball player in the game. He won't be the best pro in this year's draft, but he is the best college player. I could see a John Wallace/Syracuse like run out of him. Too bad the Heels don't play any defense or they'd be the favorite.
Dr. C- Yes, I am ashamed of the Hoosiers. Fire Sampson. Fire A.D. Rick Greenspan. Let Eric Gordon go play at Illinois or in the NBA. This isn't the Indiana I loved.
As for Memphis I have no idea. I know that beat UConn, USC and Gonzaga. Can they play in the tournament? Do they have a point guard? Or other ballhandlers? I have never been enamoured with Calipari as a game coach. He's a great recruiter, not an X's and O's guy. Have they already peaked? I think a loss would help them at this point, rekindle their desire, relieve some pressure and all that whatnot.
As for Memphis I have no idea. I know that beat UConn, USC and Gonzaga. Can they play in the tournament? Do they have a point guard? Or other ballhandlers? I have never been enamoured with Calipari as a game coach. He's a great recruiter, not an X's and O's guy. Have they already peaked? I think a loss would help them at this point, rekindle their desire, relieve some pressure and all that whatnot.
Old Memphis looked a little unsteady at UAB, eh?
And Duke, Duke is the leader of the all overrated brigade!! Their big wins are Marquette(5 losses in the Big East,) Wisconsin (at home, but impressive,) and over a depleted UNC team. This Duke squad is heading for a first or second round tourney loss if they can't hold on to the #1 seed in the East.
And Duke, Duke is the leader of the all overrated brigade!! Their big wins are Marquette(5 losses in the Big East,) Wisconsin (at home, but impressive,) and over a depleted UNC team. This Duke squad is heading for a first or second round tourney loss if they can't hold on to the #1 seed in the East.
Memphis sure looked vulnerable tonight against Tennessee, who might've left the blue print to beating them. Still, I think that loss will help them more than hurt them and I wouldn't want a piece of them in the tourney.
Good call on dook, as they've taken it on the chin twice. It seems like just yesterday I feared they were going to win the championship every year -- where have you gone, 2001?
Good call on dook, as they've taken it on the chin twice. It seems like just yesterday I feared they were going to win the championship every year -- where have you gone, 2001?
Another reason to doubt Memphis, their point guard, Derrick Rose, averages nearly 3 turnovers a game in their crappy conference!!
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