Okay, admit it. Part of you felt happy when Kansas went down. Happy that Kansas would not win two titles in three years. Happy we did not have to deal with some columnist like Gary Parrish or Jeff Goodman try and tell us the 2010 Kansas team was better than 2009 UNC team. That much is clear after Kansas fell to Northern Iowa. Clear as day that Sherron Collins for all his talent is no Ty Lawson.
On the agenda today, the immense hope that somehow California can give Duke the same treatment. Last night there was a discussion on #1 seeds losing in the 2nd round and I posted a list of them. Duke’s name is conspicuously missing from the hall of shame. I think their time has come or we can certainly hope so.
The schedule for today:
#1 Syracuse vs #8 Gonzaga, 12:10 PM
#2 Ohio St vs #10 Georgia Tech, 2:20 PM
#4 Maryland vs #5 Michigan St, 2:30 PM
#2 West Virginia vs #10 Missouri, 2:40 PM
#4 Wisconsin vs #12 Cornell, 2:50 PM
#3 Pitt vs #6 Xavier, 4:50 PM
#4 Purdue vs #5 Texas A&M, 5:00 PM
#1 Duke vs #9 California, 5:15 PM
Enjoy the basketball and the fact UNC won their game in the NIT. I know it is not the same but at least you can relax a little bit.
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I would like to say that I love the picture of Coach K here:
http://www.sportingnews.com/college-basketball/article/2010-03-20/duke-tires-hearing-about-its-alleged-soft-bracket
some interesting matchups.
what a shame so many are on at the SAME TIME.
thanks, CBS.
^It’s ridiculous how much of a slave CBS is to 60 Minutes. Would it kill them to have 2 games at 7:30 ET?
how could we possibly live with only 51 of 52 weeks of 60 minutes? i’m supposed to postpone my enjoyment of male twin tennis players? that do everything (everything??) simultaneously? so they serve the ball together? seems illegal. maybe they shouldve considered simultaneous swimming.
or they could put the story on The Learning Channel 6: Not All That Much Learning.
(or they could join the Davidson basketball team. thats for you, william)
“Last night there was a discussion on #1 seeds losing in the 2nd round and I posted a list of them. Duke’s name is conspicuously missing from the hall of shame. I think their time has come or we can certainly hope so.”
Since 1985 Duke has failed to get to the Final Four 5 of the 10 times they were a #1 seed. 4 of those 5 times they failed to get past the Sweet 16.(2000, 2002, 2005, 2006). So maybe this at least puts them in the hall of under achievement.
In this same period UNC has failed to make the Final Four only 3 of the 10 times they have been a #1 seed, and only once failed to get past the Sweet 16.
blowout in progress.
at least i have another game to switch to.
oh, wait.
Jim Boeheim, John Calipari, and K should all send champagne to Bill Self for providing their motivational speeches for them…
So if we win Tuesday we’re tied again with Kansas in the wins column?
^i think thats right. but even if we dont, a 1 game deficit is better than the possible 7 game deficit was if we fell last week and Kansas ran the table.
Diamond Heels bullpen blows another lead to FSU. 3-1 in 7th becomes 5-3 loss.
Never doubt Jay Bilas. Cornell up 15 on Wisconsin…
Make that 24!
Maryland finally decides to make it a game.
Terps back from the brink. whoa!
Spartans absolutely self-destructing.
WOW. what a finish.
That was a legit finish.
I really didn’t see that coming.
see you later, Vasquez. i will not miss you.
1st great finish these FRI/SUN games have provided. Is it too much to ask for Gus Johnson to get one??
if only he was in Jax, CM. but we’ll have to put up with Nantz and Kellogg crying when dook loses.
***
where’s BuonRotto? his Big Red with a decisive victory today.
33 made FGs. by comparison, Kentucky had 38 yesterday.
^UK will obviously be a huge favorite, but Cornell is only about an hour from Syracuse, so UK will essentially be playing a road game. Duke could face similar circumstances if they have to play TAMU and/or Baylor.
great finish…for once a coach keeps that time-out & lets his team execute (or not). Fortunate for Izzo they’re able to execute 2 reasonable (but non-short) jump shots to win.
LETS GO, BEARSSSS!!!
the official BEAT DOOK thread!
This is not going to be easy to watch.
Could some please let me know if Duke is 8 points behind with 52 seconds to go.
that is the 3rd cut over an eye of the 2010 tourney. Cal needs a new cut man. 15 minutes to close a half inch cut is ridiculous.
Scheyer puts his arm up under Gutierrez’ arm and ref falls for it.
can dook not play legitimate basketball on either end?
about 4 over the backs by dook also ignored.
I hate CBS. I don’t care about A&M and Purdue. I want to (and I can’t believe I’m saying this…) watch the Dook game!
^no extra channels out there?
22-17, dookies, at the under 8.
^Not that I’m aware of. I’m looking, but so far no luck. And I don’t want to watch the game enough to watch it online.
our cable has the games out in the 1061-1064 range.
takes 15 minutes to get the SECOND foul called on dook. yeah. because they dont play tight D? riiiiiight.
this is why i wanted Louisville to show up. tight D but somehow magically dont foul? remarkable.
I will not miss Greivis Vasquez.
^My dad (the Maryland fan) certainly will.
^your dad likes cocky loudmouths? thats too bad. he can miss Hayes, instead.
Will Cal be able to survive the Duke opening onslaught in the second half? I really hope Cal gets its game together in the second half.
Quick survey:
If it comes down to it in the Nightmare Final Four scenario, whom would you be more comfortable winning: Duke or Kentucky?
I think in that KY plays Duke in the semis and I will support KY, they definitely have more talent on that team.
^why do people ask that question?
its any team, any time, any where, other than dook.
the Bin Laden Bombers are the only team i root against playing dook.
^Kentucky. The reasoning: Calipari will likely have done something to have this season erased.
^^^^You can’t be….well, you know, serious?
For me, Duke winning the NCAAT would be adding rude, obnoxious, and very degrading insult to painful injury.
It would also put more distance between K and Roy. Not good.
Scheyer and Singler 4 of 16 and you cant win this game????
cmon, Bears. step up.
CBS Instructions to Refs:
Whatever you do, absolutely, positively do not call a foul on Duke under Cal’s basket.
Woohoo! I hope that Cornell can spoil BOTH Kentucky’s and Duke’s premature celebrations. In all seriousness, I think Kansas State has looked the best to take it all at this point, aside from Cornell who probably has the right attitude and coaching, but not necessarily the athleticism.
“Kentucky. The reasoning: Calipari will likely have done something to have this season erased.”
Yup. That’s why whoever makes it into the Championship game against UK will be the National Champion. They will either win it on the court, or 5 years later when the NCAA strips UK of the title…
did Cal attend the Marcus Ginyard Summer Layup Clinic???
anytime the double figure scorers of Cal want to show up, i’d be glad to see them.
just buy some freakin ribbon and put a bow on the game if you arent going to play with some heart, Cal.
I’ve met UNC fans that would rather Duke win that game due to intense hatred of Kentucky and claiming some sense of ACC Pride. Now, I hate Kentucky as much as the next guy, but that’s just silly.
This game was Cal’s for the taking, but they keep on taking horrendous shots. Whenever Zoubek looks like a world-beater, the other team is probably going to lose.
BuonRotto: Syracuse manhandled Gonzaga, which was somewhat surprising without their big center in the middle.
We want to thank you all for watching the Duke Invitational Tournament. Once the Blue Devils’ two exhibition matchups are completed, their real competition will begin next weekend.
Just had an odd thought does Coach Cryzuzskyski or ‘Ol Roy retire first?
^^^True dat, no real argument there.
Singler wears #12 for the guy who recruited him, Wojo?????
not a father, brother, favorite player, favorite number…
but Wojo.
so much to say, but this is a nice blog.
unbelievable.
not really.
If I didn’t hate Duke so much I would have to like them, and I have to give them credit.
I was at my son’s soccer game today–can anyone give me a report on the Terps game?
^^you really dont.
the rest of their bracket looking NIT-worthy.
Terps lost at the buzzer, after the General put them up 1.
Lucious with a 3-ball to win.
So the 1st #1 to play this weekend loses; the next 3 all win handily. Think there might be a little bit of a correlation there??
Lesson of the Day: Work on your end-of-game situations. You know, just in case.
*****
@eddavis32 So you’re coming back to Carolina? If you are JUST SAY IT, put the fans at ease! Or say you’re testing, HONESTY MAN! about 19 hours ago
@TheRookieWall I have no clue what I’m doing u will kno in about 3 weeks about 19 hours ago
^Honestly, that fan is out of line. Anyone who follows UNC bball knows that the players and coach meet after the season to discuss the merits of testing the water. The players don’t always listen, but they never say anything before then.
^ I find the fan/player relationship on twitter to be a bit ridiculous to begin with. Most of the time, only bad things can come from it.
go A&M (extra session). Houston will be a decidedly pro-Big 12 setting if both the Aggies and Baylor Bears are playing.
Duke is a better team this year, and Zoubek has truly gotten his game together.
Cal was not…repeat not a good test, but Duke is playing with a lot of poise and their inside game is starting to give them more and more balance. I hope there is someone strong enough left in the Final Four to thwart their attempt at cutting down the nets.
^once again, you really dont have to give them credit. seriously.
and if by getting his “game together”, you mean “camp out under basket for scraps”, then yes, Zoobeak finally figured that out after 94% of his playing career was over.
A&M HAS to win this game.
^^^^I tend to agree. I think it could be good, but too many people think that it entitles them to information that they really aren’t entitled too…
Duke’s 1999 team would blast this year’s version out of the gym. not close.
and continuing on the topical ***h*le coaches or teams few, if any, here like: Calipari is the teflon man. It only sticks to the program, and not him.
^I know I don’t have to, but if I want to be the least bit credible in my analytical approach, and not just be considered an anti-Duke homer, then I am going to…..not a great deal, but some.
Duke’s 3 pt. shooting was atrocious, but they were able to win with strong inside play and rebounding. Something they have been lacking ’til this year.
You know, to some coaches camping out under the basket and getting 6 of 6 putbacks and 13 RB’s is a good thing.
Update: I posted twice, giving credit to Duke. I lost my first post, then it reappeared making for some repetiton which I fixed. It has never been my habit to do that more than once a year, if at all.
OK. Now back to trying to figure who’s going to beat them.
CM:
Or just good old fashioned hate, a lá Mississippi State fans with DeMarcus Cousins.
Cal’s best player scored 2 points on 4 shots. after getting blood let from over his eye.
he was never fouled, of course.
starters not named Lance or Brian only committed 3 total fouls. in what was likely about 114 playing minutes.
Larry,
i guess i just dont feel the need to even fake credibility when it comes to dook.
if they never won a game in every sport til the end of time, it wouldnt be enough.
high-quality defending by A&M. not even.
I’ve always preferred Purdue to Indiana. Can they give Duke a game, though? I have no idea.
crap, A&M.
dook by 20 next round.
4 guys in double figures today will become 1 guy on Friday.
might as well start steeling myself for dook to add to their FF total.
good. at least they get the 10 o’clock start. they hate those.
SJ:
Yeah, nothing emboldens a coward like the feeling that he is anonymous. I’m betting there aren’t many who would be willing to spew that stuff to Cousins’ face…
I don’t like Purdue’s chances against Duke, but then again, I didn’t like their chances against Siena.
I think our best hope is for Duke to have to play Baylor in Baylor’s backyard…
Hopefully A&M can keep being decent for the next few years. If I end up going to A&M for college, I want a decent basketball team…lolz.
i think what you see is the best you’ll get, Tex11. I like Turgeon as a coach though, he did some nice things at Wichita St. lucky Aggies, to get rid of Billy Clyde G.
CM:
Exactly correct. Fan behavior will almost always involve facepalm incidents, like Steve Kerr Incident at ASU, but it seems to have gotten worse the past decade.
^I blame Al Gore for that…since he invented the internets (anonymity, etc)
And it also his fault, that DFW received snow today. What in the name of global non-warming is going on. (to be fair, it’ll hit low 70s again by Tuesday). bizarro March
^Exactly, Tx. I had to make sure I was still in Texas. This winter has been insane.
After that disgusting Wisconsin debacle I had to try and recover by putting a ton of cash on Duke, not a good feeling cheering Duke makes, but money talks. Can I beg for forgiveness?
if you find the overflowing of this reported windfall a problem I’ll gladly help alleviate such a problem
i could use a few sleeves of Pro-V1 for a new golf season
I don’t fancy Purdue’s chances against Duke. There are no big bodies out there to battle in the paint. Duke basically won this game on rebounding.
@THF, to say Kansas choked does not give enough credit to No Iowa. That team played with guts and a devil may care attitude. Most other teams (including UNC) allowed Cole Aldrich to bully them in the paint, their big fought with Aldrich for every square inch of real estate under the paint and I take my hat off to that team. Kansas had no answer for them.
Dook is still a beatable team…last weekend it’s a tight win, over Miami in the semi-finals (right?)
Purdue should start trolling those tapes, double quick. and get the scout team to run moving screens and the fake-foul on 3ptr move
that’s about the only thing I have ever agreed with you on cb74.
I know that I am biased and I have not watched other conferences as much this season, but to me, Duke’s bracket seems weaker than the other brackets.
Dook is weak, KY can lose as well, Cornell maybe for KY and perhaps the Gaels can take down Dook – they certainly took it to Gonzaga this year. What a crazy tournament – this is a down year in basketball though so far KY has done a fair job of destroying the competition. I really don’t want KY or Dook winning and I can’t find it in my heart to choose one over the other. Don’t like either one at all. Like State, Dook can go winless until the end of time in my book. We really don’t need Coach Cal getting more recruits though and it would be swell to see Wall head off to the NBA after losing in the tournament.
Go Heels!
“@THF, to say Kansas choked does not give enough credit to No Iowa.”
Where did I say Kansas choked?
I think it was on one of your tweets.
I think what people find perplexing is whether it was the press or rather, the increased intensity that brought Kansas back yesterday. If it was the intensity, then why did they wait so long, as did UNC in 1994.
I doubt that anyone on here thinks this current team was as good as the Kansas squad from two years ago, but I still think Memphis was better that year, if Calipari and crew had not both choked down the stretch in that game. You could tell that Self realized that a coach only has a handful of legitimate chances to win it all and that his team let one definitely get away yesterday.
I haven’t really followed all the NCAA bracket since my beloved Heels ain’t in it, but I think the final match up could be Duke & Kentucky, with Kentucky winning it all. Don’t know in reality if that is possible since I haven’t paid attention who is in what bracket but I think it is realistic.
cb74,
Negative. @bomani_jones and @TheBigLead were debating whether or not you would characterize Kansas losing to UNI as a “choke.” Bomani made reference to The Kansas Game as a choke and I replied:
@bomani_jones Speaking as a UNC fan “choke” does not even capture what happened vs Kansas. To this day I don’t know what to call it.
That was the only thing I mentioned on the public timeline. Bomani and I had a direct message discussion about UNC-Kansas but I never commented about Kansas-UNI. I was of the opinion that (1) UNI flat one the game. (2) Kansas did not show up like they needed to and (3) Ali Farokhmanesh has serious stones.
By the way, I have been a big follower of Pomeroy, but his ratings seem to be essentially in shreds this tournament. He is no better at predicting the mid-majors than anyone else, not to mention that somehow, year in, year out, he always has Duke rated higher than anyone else. Pure points is probably the best, but there must be issues in equating or schedule, or just a huge amount of random variation playing out this year.
william,
Someone said on Twitter that UNI better work on their press offense because Michigan St is not going to wait.
BTW, had MD won that game, they would have been in good shape vs UNI. MD’s press gave Michigan St fits and had they met UNI and used it, chances are they are in a good position to win.
MSU lost Kalin Lucas so it will be interesting to see how they do vs UNI missing their senior PG.
I think MSU has been defanged. It is always disappointing to see a comeback end like that, but Maryland probably outperformed this year.
By the way, Pomeroy has UNC and UAB essentially rated equally, which makes the home team a four point favorite….
I know this is totally off subject, but I was checking info. today on how many double-digit seeds have gone to the Elite Eight since 1985 (11, by the way), and that led me to Loyola Marymount, and the 1990 season, and I started thinking about Hank Gathers, Paul Westhead, and how special that team was………..
Well, here’s a link to Loyola Marymount’s schedule for 1989-1990. Take a look at the box score of the LSU game. By the possession-computation formula that most people use today, I figured that game had 125-130 possessions. (No doubt they had games that year that were even higher.) I’ve also read that Shaquille O’Neal was so tired that he literally fell onto the bench.
http://www.lmulions.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/8990-result.html
^If Shaq was tired, I can only imagine what happened to Stanley Roberts.
Actually, the more I think about it, the more I’m amazed at the stats in that game, so I’m just going to list them.
Here are the COMBINED totals for Shaquille O’Neal’s LSU Tigers 148-141 victory over Hank Gather’s Loyola Marymount Lions in overtime on Feb.3, 1990:
POINTS- 289
FGM/FGA – 113/211
3PM/3PA – 20/59
FTM/FTA – 43/60
RB’S – 108
ASSISTS – 57
STEALS – 30
BLOCKS – 16
TO’S – 49
PF’s – 50 (3 players fouled out)
It’s pretty easy to see what kind of ruckus can occur when you put a bunch of lions and tigers together.