NCAA Basketball 2004-2005 discussion (2 Viewers)

[Raasean Asaad]

Anyone who seriously thought this is smoking Crack !!

 

[Casey Trowbridg]

Its funny because on I, Max on Friday Max Kellerman read an email from someone that said that Carolina would go undefeated...and then boom! So its whoever sent that email that jinksed them.

 

[Jed M]

NC fans, you should be excited about this year. Anytime Roy had a great team (or a 1 seed) in the tournament we wouldn't get by the first weekend, but when we were so-so (for KU standards) is when we would go deep in the tournament. The man can coach, but he is the last coach I would want in a big game. Davidson plays Duke tonight. That should give some indication of how bad Mizzou is going to be this year, considering they almost lost to Brown last week also.

I'm watching the Maui Invitational right now and Chaminade looks tough out of the gates. Fortunately for Texas there is still 35 minutes left.

 

[Casey Trowbridg]

Wake Forrest goes down in defeat tonight to Illinois 91-73. Yeah it was a road game for them but they really got spanked.

 

[Patrick Sun]

I couldn't believe how the Swarming Yellow Jacket Defense of GT simply shut down the Michigan's team last night in the first half, and cruised to a comfortable victory in Atlanta by over 25 points (I think). I wasn't used to seeing so many bench players get PT with 6 minutes to play.

 

[Haggai]

Casey, I think it's another indication of how wide open this season is going to be. I don't think there's a single team out there where we can say "it'll be a big surprise not to see them in the Final Four." I have a feeling that the madness will be completely in effect come March.

 

[Chris]

The final score on the Wake Forest game makes it seem way closer then it was. This game was a route from about 5 minutes in; at one point, the Illini were up by like.. 30+ points, it was just a destruction of Wake. They closed the gaps when the starters came out, but come out.. they got -pummelled-.

They should fall a few spaces, I can see Illinois leaping over Kansas, but right now those two teams (IMHO) are easily the best in the country.

 

[Dome Vongvises]

I thought that after Bill Self left, Illinois would slip, but I guess I was wrong.

 

[Shane Martin]

Dome,
I don't think Bill left the cabinet barren though. I guess we'll see how that turns out over the next few years.

Being an OU fan I don't have alot to look forward to during basketball season but I do like Kelvin Sampson. I hope they keep him around.

However I do think that Oklahoma State will be a powerhouse come Tournament time. They will be neck and neck with Kansas in the Big 12.

 

[John Alvarez]

I'm telling you now...
Keep your eyes on Florida....
These guys are playing complete games for a change and attitudes seem diffrent.

 

[Jed M]

I would just assume Illinois jump Kansas because I really don't like being #1. 2 is fine by me. I think Illinois will be fine with Webber, but Shane is right, Bill Self had his two best recruiting classes of his career (at that time) his last two seasons at Illinois. I remember because a lot of people thought he might stay since he had such an unbelievable group of freshman coming in and sophomores coming back.

UNLV's game was quite a nail biter last night, not that anybody else saw it. With Kruger I think they have a real shot at the NCAA tourney this year.

 

[Casey Trowbridg]

Georgia Tech goes down to the mighty Zags from Gonzaga.

Rick Majerus has pulled out of the USC job.

 

[Patrick Sun]

Looks like Gonzaga is an early season giant killer already, they go to Oklahoma State's home court and knock them off by 3 points, while dominating OK State for 3/4 of the game. That's 2 #3 teams that've beaten in their last 3 games.

 

[Matt Birchall]

OSU's home court is Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater.

Tonight's game took place at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.

Still a hometown crowd, but if they were playing in Gallagher-Iba, it would have been a different outcome.

 

[Patrick Sun]

Come on, give Gonzaga their due. I give them props for beating up on my team last week, even though it was in Las Vegas.

 

[Matt Birchall]

Not taking anything away from Gonzaga at all--just clarifying that OSU wasn't playing on their true home court tonight.

 

[Shane Martin]

Big difference beating OK State at Iba rather than the Ford Center.

Gonzaga does deserve their props but I'd be REALLY impressed if they did it @ Gallagher Iba. Completely different environments.

 

[Elizabeth S]

My Rainbow Warriors have started off the season 8-0. We'll be playing at Fresno State in several hours. We're one of 13 still undefeated teams in the country, and I hope we can keep it going a bit longer. It's truly difficult with all the disadvantages of our location to recruit, as well as the physical grueling travel of tens of thousands of miles more every season than any other Division I school. Despite all that, we've done well in post-season in recent years.

My basketball dream is having the Rainbows make the Sweet 16 within my lifetime.

 

[Shane Martin]

Well Villanova pulls an upset today by owning Kansas by 21.

The odd part is that Digger Phelps from the College BB Gameday picked this one!


Meanwhile It appears the Texas has lots it leading scoring to academic inillegiblility(sp?)

 

[Anthony Wolfe]

Uh-huh, well, if anybody is interested in this sort of thing (I know there is an NFL thread, but I'm a college basketball junkie DAMMIT), North Carolina and Duke are meeting for the 218th time in what is sure to be the best College Basketball game until the Final Four.

This is actually ranked as the 2nd best rivarly behind the Yankee's and Sox (which I mean, come on). Both teams are ranked in the top 10 this year (in both polls), North Carolina is ranked 2nd in the nation behind an undefeated Illinois team, and Duke is ranked #8 in the country. Simply put, this is a matchup that all of the college basketball has been waiting for. Coach K vs. Roy Williams, two experienced teams with experienced coaches facing off. These are arguably two of the most respected programs in sports (consisting of two of the most respected coaches). Game for the ages I tell ya.

Anywho.

Both teams come into the game with 2 losses on the season (Duke is 17-2, (7-2 in the ACC), Carolina is 19-2 (8-1 in the ACC, leading the ACC), and both teams comes in sporting players that lead the ACC.

Factors:

J.J. Redick (Duke)

+ The three point specialist who has recentely learned how to put the ball on the floor, leads the ACC in scoring averaging 22.8 Points Per Game. He comes off a low screen like no one else and has the ability to drain the three all night long (not to mention the free-throw). Has the ability to really get it going.

- Even though UNC dropped two games to Duke last year, J.J. Redick was held to making only 6 shots between the two meetings. Carolinas' defensive specialist, Jackie Manuel, held Redick down, often blocking his shot outright. Fast-Foward a year, UNC a more complete defensive team, JAckie Manuel will have a challenge, but is likely to step up and hold J.J. Redick back.

Rashad McCants (UNC)
+ An all around great player and shooter, very fundamentally sound and has the ability to create a highlight reel as well. The kid is amazing. This year he has become much more of a team player or rather an overall basketball talent as he distributes the ball more yet still has the ability to take over a game (leads UNC in scoring, averaging around 16 ppg).

- Can only hold himself back, attitude has improved quite a bit, but still seems to get caught up in emotions at times, all in all, he's his own worst enemy.

Difference Makers:

Daniel Ewing and Sheldon Williams (Duke)

Daniel Ewing is quite underrated as a point gaurd, but he has the ability to create, shoot the three, and come off high screens for the easy lay in, Raymond Felton must do a good job of containing him.

Sheldon Williams inside presence is very physical and he has often dominated other ACC centers, it will be up to Sean May, another very big and physical center, to hold him back.

Marvin Williams (UNC)

THE PHENOM FRESHMAN, come on now, if you're reading this thread, Marvin Williams needs no introduction, could have been a number 1 pick in the NBA draft, but instead chose to go to UNC (baby!). Has great shooting ability, is EXPLOSIVE on the boards and around the basket and is simply hard to stop. HE COMES OFF THE BENCH PEOPLE! Now that's depth, if he performs tonight, UNC might be off to a 10+ point victory.

This will be another great year for the UNC - Duke rivalry. Remember, Duke lost at home to Maryland a couple of weeks ago, so while the Cameron Crazies will be out in full force supporting Duke, UNC has a great chance of stealing one from the Dukies. I love it.

My Pick: I'm biased, UNC, they have the depth, the talent (they just about have an NBA team), the coaching and the unity to get it done, the only ones holding them back are themselves. UNC has a crazy transision game, if that gets going, it's OVER for the dukies, lets just hope the refs call the game fair.

Here's to a great game.