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Kansas is the best team in college basketball. It's not even close, they are a different level.
Even then, they still seem beatable.
I think this is going to be an awesome tournament. Hell it's awesome every year. It just seems like there is a pretty even level going into this one.
i agree. usually, this time in the year, there are 10teams whom you can pretty much pick out the final-4. maybe somebody else sneaks in, but it'd have to be shocking to do it (ala VCU).
this year, can you pick out that top10? heck, can anyone separate the Big10 teams?
#gmstrong
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It's funny...
Every year I say that the tournament is more open than it has ever been...and I'm not wrong...and the next year...I say the same thing...and am still not wrong.
Someone asked me who I had in the final 4...I picked 6 teams...
I think our front runners on the year are Kansas, Syracuse, Michigan, Indiana, Florida, and NC State (NC State only on the strength of their ability to play well in big games...not their games against teams like Maryland and Wake Forest)
Duke doesnt have enough without Ryan Kelly
Louisville doesnt have enough scoring if Siva or Smith have an off day
Arizona's propensity to fall behind early will doom them
Butler will struggle against more athletic teams
K-State, Minnesota, Michigan St, Ohio St...all just have holes that will get exposed by any complete team they face.
Darkhorse final 4s:
Gonzaga - Harris, Pangos, Olynyk...they have too many guys to shut down completely
Oregon - They are doing a really good job playing solid across the board
Wichita St - A supremely talented team that hasnt had the chance to show how good they really are. Well coached and athletic and can D and shoot it
Ole Miss - Prolly wont get there...but they have the talent, and the chemistry to make a run...havent played anyone of value yet...will know more when they see Florida, and others
Miami - Murdered Duke and Fla St, back to back...big test against NCST on Saturday. We'll see what they really are then.
"It has to start somewhere
It has to start somehow
What better place than here?
What better time than now?"
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if I had to pick the favorites for the Final-4, then I would go with: Butler - I'm done questioning Stevens genius. Mich. State - same w/ Izzo Kansas - have they done enough to get past their tourney demons? I say yes. Ohio State - only because there is no 4th team for me and I like the Bucks  but, I can poke holes in any of those teams above easily. at this point, you almost have to just go with coaches with the track record who have top teams this year and hope for the best.
#gmstrong
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My final 4:
Florida
Kansas
Butler
Georgetown as my shocker, there style of play will . off a lot of teams
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Quote:
if I had to pick the favorites for the Final-4, then I would go with:
Butler - I'm done questioning Stevens genius.
Mich. State - same w/ Izzo
Kansas - have they done enough to get past their tourney demons? I say yes.
Ohio State - only because there is no 4th team for me and I like the Bucks
but, I can poke holes in any of those teams above easily. at this point, you almost have to just go with coaches with the track record who have top teams this year and hope for the best.
Agree with those except OSU. Although I think we get an A or an F from them. Either knocked out the first weekend, or they're back in the Final Four.
I do think the Big Ten tournament is going to be incredible this year, and I think it'll be beneficial to all the teams in the conference who make the field of 64.
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Duke doesnt have enough without Ryan Kelly
Isn't Kelly expected back in mid to late February? I think they will be fine come tournament time.
yebat' Putin
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He's projected to be back by then, but everything I've read about it is that his return is up in the air. No one really knows when it will be healthy enough to survive a full game...
Even then, it will take him time to get back to good. Duke isnt deep enough to weather it. Even when he comes back, it may be too late for them to get a good draw in a bracket, and I dont see them beating a team like a Kansas, a Michigan, a Michigan State even for that matter.
Quinn Cook isnt ready for the big time yet imo, Sulaimon is a freshman, Plumlee is a beast, but I feel as though he'll come back to earth by season's end. He's not a great FT shooter and isnt a great back to the basket post player, Kelly is a big question mark, his backups arent ready (though Jefferson is really talented but really green), and Curry is really really hit or miss. If he is on...theyre amazing...but if hes off...they really struggle.
I just dont trust Duke enough. Too many let downs, too short a bench, too hot and cold to sustain over 6 games...
"It has to start somewhere
It has to start somehow
What better place than here?
What better time than now?"
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Nobody is beating Kansas.
They are unbelievably fast and elite on defense
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Their schedule doesn't look too tough to finish out the season... should easily be a #1 seed...
<><
#gmstrong
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You absolutely must shoot and space out Kansas. They run a weird defense. They don't really switch like traditional man to man, but they collapse every single time you try to drive inside. If you have shooters it is possible to exploit them. Butler would be a nightmare matchup against them. Clarke and Stagall would light them up.
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Im not so sure about that...
If they stay home on shooters especially Clarke and Stigall, with Releford and McLemore...they still have Withey and Young to protect that paint. Withey is an unbelieveable shot blocker more than capable of protecting the paint on his own, especially against a Butler type team that relies on jumpshooting. They do have two solid bigs, but not like him.
"It has to start somewhere
It has to start somehow
What better place than here?
What better time than now?"
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The X factor would be Andrew Smith because he can also shoot 3's
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He would be...
Smith is a ball player that could change that game. But switching Withey and Young between Smith and Marshall could keep Withey in the paint enough.
"It has to start somewhere
It has to start somehow
What better place than here?
What better time than now?"
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You would be correct.
If I were Stevens I would try to get Smith to make Whithey step out. Khyle Marshall is a great athlete, but he is a post guy. Kameron Woods would change things up.
Also I would need to tell Roosevelt his only concern is staying in Mclemores grill all night.
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I wanna watch this game now. Who can make this happen?
"It has to start somewhere
It has to start somehow
What better place than here?
What better time than now?"
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This is just embarrassing offense
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I like the Gators chances at this point. They can go in or out depending on the opponent.
If everybody had like minds, we would never learn. GM Strong ![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/small-gator-chomp.gif)
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I think the Gators are playing at an elite level. Thus why I believe they make the final 4.
Incredible that we didn't send Wisconsin to the FT line.
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I think the Gators are playing at an elite level. Thus why I believe they make the final 4.
Incredible that we didn't send Wisconsin to the FT line.
Florida's issue is the same one the Buckeyes have in football. They are the only elite team in their conference and they have to challenge themselves in order to continue to get better. That is a tall order. Kentucky has been able to do it the past few years, we'll see if the Gators can this year.
#gmstrong
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I love the lineup right now with Ross and Amir. We can win a title with that starting 5 at their best.
Love seeing Amir play tough and giving effort on D.
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I'm really struggling to figure out Miami... this is a team that lost to Florida Gulf Coast and Indiana State... but they seem to have it figured out. I think they have had a little luck like playing Duke right after losing Kelly and blowing them out.. but this team is good and I can't seem to figure out why...
yebat' Putin
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Aaron Crafts defense is just incredible to watch. I've run out of words to describe it.
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A new #1 every week. I still maintain that this is what makes college basketball better than college football... I understand the argument that in football every single game matters.. but a team like Bama has what, 2 games a year that they might lose.. OSU has 1 or 2, Oregon has a couple.... There is so much more depth and parity in college basketball.. that's what makes it fun to watch.
yebat' Putin
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A new #1 every week. I still maintain that this is what makes college basketball better than college football... I understand the argument that in football every single game matters.. but a team like Bama has what, 2 games a year that they might lose.. OSU has 1 or 2, Oregon has a couple.... There is so much more depth and parity in college basketball.. that's what makes it fun to watch.
The last few years of college football have been meh, it seems like there are less early season big time matchups. Michigan played Bama, and that was pretty much it. Boise was in a down year, and they went to MSU, so that wasn't as big of a game as we thought it'd be. The year before LSU and Oregon played, and that's awesome, but it just seems like there is less of that.
The B1G this year has been really fun, but some of the past years it's been kinda boring to watch OSU sleepwalk through to the tournament. I think if nothing else, this season has prepared the Buckeyes well for tournament play, even if it's not exactly their best team in the last 5 years.
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What a game last night. Wow.
SaintDawg™
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What a game last night. Wow.
until that final no-call at the end.
though Craft has to know he isn't the guy to finish going against their best defender (Burke) and having help come over. the rest of the team was just watching him too, someone should have been cutting to the corner or something. Craft isn't a rim-finisher.
#gmstrong
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It was a bad call, but Ohio State had their chances, and it was a complete crime that Thomas didn't touch the ball in OT. It seemed like it was 75-72 the entire time. The Buckeyes definitely blew that game more than the refs did.
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You can make the argument that its a foul, but at the end of the day, scoring 2 points and having two huge turnovers in OT isn't a recipe for success.
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A new #1 every week. I still maintain that this is what makes college basketball better than college football... I understand the argument that in football every single game matters.
In college football every game matters to about 6 teams. BYU loses a game in week #2 and non of their other game matter. Michigan loses to ND before the Big Ten schedule starts then loses to Penn State early in that Big Ten schedule and the only other game they have that matters in the OSU game (and only because of the rivalry). So that argument that "every game counts" in hogwash.
Am I perfect? No
Am I trying to be a better person?
Also no
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Amir and Laquinton showed us flashes of their potential.
It's gonna be exciting to watch heading in to march
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I really hope Matta is watching TCU right now. There defense is making kansas miserable.
I have a feeling we will face those bastids again
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Just got done watchin the meetchicken wisc game.. wow!
I predict the last sec shot by wisc before the end of regulation will be #1 tmr morning ESPN SportsCenters Top Ten
SaintDawg™
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Kansas is the best team in college basketball. It's not even close, they are a different level.
not knocking you. just using this as demonstrating how crazy this college bball year has been.
Oklahoma State, TCU and now Oklahoma. 3 in a row. Crazy!
#gmstrong
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That was a redic shot by WI.
But seriously.
This storming the court stuff needs to be toned down.. Seems like every night someone is doing it..
Am I the only one that pronounces hyperbole "Hyper-bowl" instead of "hy-per-bo-le"?
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I still think they are.
Just going through a tough skid.
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OP
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Quote:
This storming the court stuff needs to be toned down.. Seems like every night someone is doing it..
They're college kids, let them have fun, blah blah blah.
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Hopefully OSU plays with high energy today. Playing Indiana will be a track meet. Our athletes match up with them well though.
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My God
This team makes offense look so much damn harder than it really is
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This is painful to watch.
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2nd worst game all year. We were competitive against Sparty, Michigan, Kansas and Duke.
This is embarrassing and some guys needs to be ashamed at their half azz selfish effort.
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