The Official 07-08 NCAA Basketball Thread

Non-Phish General
#214

^^
Even my grandmother, who is 81 and knows more about basketball than the average 81 year-old woman, thought the refs were ridiculous in that game.

Baylor can score a lot but their defense is also horrendous. They’re really not used to the gritty, lock-down style Purdue plays. Purdue’s inexperience with their freshmen and sophomores may offset that, though, resulting in a close 65-62 type game.

My picks are eerily similar to yours in that I’ve got Stanford in the Final 4 and I have USC beating Wisconsin. My Dad says any althletic team that Wisconsin plays will run their slow, white asses out of the gym. Particularly that stooge Brian Butch.

I won’t reveal any of my other choices…

#215

Let me know if you have any inside information on the hiring situation. Skiles is an Indiana guy, but I don’t know if it would work. I’m open to the idea, but they need to bring someone in to turn the program around and Skiles has never really been involved in the recruiting process and such.

There are reports that Devin Ebanks IU’s top recruit next year is still considering coming to Bloomington. I’m not holding my breath.

As for the tournament I’m using the Mike Golic strategy. I’m in two different pools and I’ve done three sheets will all different winners, but I honestly think UCLA is the team to beat. This assuming everyone is healthy.

Maybe it’s just me because I haven’t wathced them enough, but I can’t even name the starting 5 for UNC. I live sports and am having trouble with this one. Hansborough, Lawson, Ginyard, ?,?. Is ginyard even right?

Do you guys have Stanford against UCLA in the final four? Would be crazy to meet for a 4th time. Surely it would be tough for UCLA to beat them 4 times in the same season.

#216

In 2000 when Wisconsin went to the Final Four I believe they beat Purdue 4 times that year.

Wisconsin was a #6 seed and beat the #3 seeded Boilers in the B10 Tourney, and in the Elite 8 Wisconsin was a #8 seed and beat the #6 seeded Boilers. I’m pretty sure they played twice during the regular season as well.

#217

I definitely had this and I figured that Stanford will be pissed about the screwjob wins in the regular season and will finally get it done. I could be wrong, of course. Like I said…I have too much man-love for Stanford this year. Every year I have one team where I like them a little TOO much and it ruins my bracket…and it’s usually because of a few players on the team. This year it’s Stanford (Lopez twins). Last year it was Texas A&M (Acie Law). When Illinois made the finals, it was Arizona (Salim Stoudemire), before that it was Wake Forest (Chris Paul). I’m sure it’ll get me again this year.

You may be right about that, but I know for a fact that Michigan State beat Wisconsin four times in 2000 as well. Beat them twice in the year, then in the Big Ten tourney, then took them down in the Final Four on the way to winning it all. Strangely, that’s when Bo Ryan took over and just started owning Tom Izzo year after year so maybe that’s not the best thing.

Stevo

#218

Is it just me or has officiating in sports gotten worse the older I get. Yeah there have been some famous missed calls from back in the day like the HR ball brought over the fence by Jeffrey Maier, The 1985 World Series call at 1st base, and any officiated game in Rupp Arena, but it seems today as if officiating is just generally worse.

It’s funny you mention Ed Hightower because that is one of the few NCAA referees I’m familiar with too. Used to be a good referee back in the day, but he’s been officiating ever since I’ve been watching IU basketball and I’m 28. Having your team coached by Bob Knight for a significant amount of years, I know alot more NCAA officials names than most should. What with the run ins with Ted Valentine and such.

Anyways across the board officiating, umpiring, referreeing, they all suck. Baseball is even going to instant replay this year for HR calls and other calls. Maybe it’s because every game is televised and every call can therefore be scrutinized, but I honestly believe that the officiating is honestly deteriorating.

Do I even need to mention the NBA? It’s been a joke for years. The NFL is okay at times, but I want to rip my hair out at other times. Case in point last years regular season game pitting the Colts and Chargers. One of the worst officiated games I have ever seen. Then assigning a first year referee to some of the most important games of the year was puzzling. The Colts vs. Pats had a first timer and so did the Pittsburgh vs. New England game. What is Goodell in cahoots with Belichick?

Don’t get me started on the strike zone. It’s either gotten so tiny or so huge according to who is behind the plate. Last time I checked boys its letters to knees.

Yeah the NCAA is following this route. Horrible Horrible. How many bad calls have there been involving UCLA. What about the call in the Georgetown Villanova game. Horrendous. Something has got to be done.

Maybe Congress can look into it!!!

#219

I see where IU hopes to have a coach named by the Final Four! WTF? Why the sense of urgency? I know you want to get a coach in place and get acclimated and all that, but damn.

They’re saying Tony Bennett tops the list. I see Mike Montgomery is possible, too. I always liked him.

I still say go with Scott Skiles.

Freakin’ IU fans, man. Crazy bunch.

#220
#221

You’re halfway there!

I remember a brief discussion on Davidson earlier in the year here as well, but I doubt any of us would have said “Oh, yeah, they’re a Final Four (or even Elite 8) team.”

Stephen Curry is just one of a handful, less than 5 I think, of players who have averaged at least 30 points in his first 4 NCAA tourney games. Three played this year and one last year. Big Dog Robinson is on that list, too.

#222

The four best teams all year long have made the Final Four. Very compelling.

I like the idea of a Cinderella crashing the party - George Mason in 06 - but when it comes down to it I’d rather see power schools rich in tradition beat the shit out of each other. This is like Colts vs. Patriots, Yanks vs. Sox.

What matchup would I most like to see next Monday? UCLA vs. North Carolina. Love vs. Hansbrough. The two most storied programs in NCAA history. Both teams have guys that are extremely athletic.

What matchup do I think is going to happen? Memphis vs. Kansas. Powerful, big, long teams duking it out.

Although when all is said and done, any matchup will be great. I think CBS is in line for its highest ratings in perhaps 10 years. They badly need it, too.

#223

Memphis / UNC for the championship.

If Kansas plays at all like they did yesterday, UNC is going to destroy them!

And I UCLA can’t ever seem to finish strong. Memphis is going to have their way with them I think

#224

Memphis will beat UCLA, I’ve got a strong feeling of it.

I’m not sure on the other game. I’ve thought all year long pretty much that Kansas and UNC were the teams to beat. I’d like to see UNC win it though. To the best of my knowledge UNC and Memphis have not ever played each other so that would be badass.

Although, if its Memphis and Kansas, I’ll lock up our OhKeePa Bracket Challenge regardless of what happens in the championship.

Either way, I’ve said it all year long and I won’t back down now. My Tigers will take it all.

#225

UNC should have played Memphis (State) in '85 at the Final Four, except the Heels choked their chickens and lost to Villanova in the Elite 8.

#226

How did Purdue do that year?

I said do do!

#227

Your right Ghost we are a crazy bunch. Any inside information on the coaching situation? I don’ t think Skiles is the answer, but you piqued my interest with Mike Montgomery. Good call.

What has our program sunk to. Tony Bennett is turning the job down. You’d rather stay in Pullman, Washington (BFE) than coach a prestigious university with a storied reputation. I don’t get that. His sister even coached the ladies from 2000-2005. I think she was in a really bad car accident if I remember correctly.

Also Jamarcus Ellis and Armon Bassett are leaving the program. Okay. Not a big surprise there. I expect to see Jordan Crawford, Eli Holman and Brandon Mcgee follow as well. Whatever were starting over. I get that. The plus is that the college game has changed so much. You can turn a program around in 2 years. Get a couple of key recruits and your right back in it. I’m thinking 3 years though. I see bad bad times in Bloomington until at least 2010. Oh well we’ll survive. And I bet we make a headline move coaching wise.

#228

“Leaving the program” is an awfully nice way to put it…

I saw where Bennett and Pearl have said thanks but no thanks. If they don’t go with Skiles, I think Montgomery would be a good fit. He’s got experience with a major college program as well as dealing with asshats in the NBA.

Purdue went through some horrible years from 04-06…now it’s IU’s turn, damnit!

#229

Don’t worry guys…Isiah said he’s not interested but I think you can get him to change his mind. Isiah in 09!!!

Stevo

#230

If there’s one thing that IU fans will blindly support, its an “in-house” guy taking the reigns, regardless of their questionable past coaching/personal history.

Zeke could murder a guy and IU fans would still make a case to hire him because “he’s an IU guy.”

#231

Welp, it’s official: Dan Dakich out, Tom Crean in.

I’m indifferent either way…although Crean did a nice job at Marquette.

I thought the search would take longer than it did, though. I guess they’re rearing to get going, perhaps for recruiting purposes.

Something tells me Ellis and Basset will be reinstated.

#232

Wow, so much for Izzo and Crean not scheduling games against each other. The only thing that’s weird is how Crean runs a version of Izzo’s system and philosophy in his teams…and you would think that Izzo would use this knowledge to own his teams when they play (MSU demolished his Marquette team last year in the tourney). I wonder if this trend will continue considering Izzo taught Crean everything he knows. Should be interesting.

Not a bad hire though but, maybe it’s me, but Crean’s never really done that great in the tournament except for Dwyane Wade’s last year.

Stevo

#233

This just pisses me off:

NEW YORK (AP) – In a locker room outburst equal parts joy and angst, Jamar Butler finally dropped the charade Ohio State had been playing for nearly three weeks and revealed its main motivating factor for a roughshod run through the NIT.

“This is what happens when you put an NCAA tournament team in the NIT,” Butler yelled, surrounded by his teammates after beating Massachusetts 92-85 in the title game Thursday night. “Write that down and send that to the committee.”

Really, Jamar?

You think OSU is an NCAA-tournament team?

What a towel!