NCAA Basketball 18-19 Catch-All

When I tuned out, I thought Louisville had it handled, then heard it had gone to OT! Was shocked to see the outcome.

The Duke / UVA game turned into almost a blowout (relative, of course). I tell you what, if Duke keeps shooting like that, they will be VERY hard to beat. They were what... 62% from 3pt range tonight? That's better than double their season avg. Argh.

Not looking forward to being UVA's bounceback game Monday night.

Tyrian wrote:

When I tuned out, I thought Louisville had it handled, then heard it had gone to OT! Was shocked to see the outcome.

The Duke / UVA game turned into almost a blowout (relative, of course). I tell you what, if Duke keeps shooting like that, they will be VERY hard to beat. They were what... 62% from 3pt range tonight? That's better than double their season avg. Argh.

Not looking forward to being UVA's bounceback game Monday night.

Annnnnd as expected, another year, another loss to UVA. I don't know what it is about Tony Bennett and crew, but they give UNC *FITS*.

Down goes KY to LSU in a controversial finish.

IMO, both teams goaltended on the last play. KY guy hit the net while the shot was up on the initial shot, then LSU put it back in off the rim while the ball was still over the cylinder.

As a TN fan, not sure how I feel. We play both of these guys soon, but we've got to get by SC first in TBA tomorrow night. Rupp should be fun afterward.

Exactly. My dad pointed it out then I saw it on the replay. UK hand through the rim and the backboard was moving on the first shot.

So even if goaltending and basket interference were reviewable, UK still would have lost.

Stele wrote:

Exactly. My dad pointed it out then I saw it on the replay. UK hand through the rim and the backboard was moving on the first shot.

So even if goaltending and basket interference were reviewable, UK still would have lost.

Well, to be fair, if they'd called it on KY, they'd have still had a couple of seconds to inbound because it was before the buzzer. But probably

Gah, Louisville. What are you doing?!

I'm going to need a break for a while guys.

f*ck.

Tyrian wrote:

Gah, Louisville. What are you doing?!

They just lost it mentally. When it was 7 minutes out, and they were rushing the 3 point shot while up nearly 20, I couldn't understand. And it got worse with all the turn overs. That was a mental loss more than a basketball loss.

They played lights out for 3/4 of the game, though.

Well, that happened.

I don't know where this UK team came from, but they're a whole world of different than the one that got absolutely HAMMERED at the start of the season by Duke.

That was a ridiculously physical game, too. Things that have been called all season long were strangely quiet last night. I mean, I wasn't on the floor, so maybe there weren't fouls occurring... but damn if it didn't look like there was a lot of "let em play" going on.

Holy crap. Not the UNC / Duke game we expected (but one I'm happy to see the outcome of!)

Hopefully Zion's knee injury is minor, I would hate to see his future impacted before he's had a chance to really play in the pros!

Still though, what a freaking game. Luke Maye and Cam Johnson were monsters, and other than the sloppy ball handling (too many turnovers), the Heels played really well.

I missed most of the UNC/FSU game yesterday, as I was visiting in-laws. Looks like FSU's poor road performance ghost was stronger than UNC's poor home performance ghost, so UNC ended up with a win.

Conference play is brutal this year. I am not looking forward to the Duke rematch.

Louisville blew another double digit lead, this time to UVa.

Ugh. At least should beat Boston College and Notre Dame to get some momentum back and stay in the polls.

Still not sure what this team really can do. Destroy UNC for a whole game and handle VT, both on the road, no problem. But then destroy Duke, UVa, and FSU for a half or more, and then blow all 3 in the 2nd. If they can put together 40 minutes at a time, they might make a Final Four. Or they might flame out in the first weekend.

Stele wrote:

Louisville blew another double digit lead, this time to UVa.

Ugh. At least should beat Boston College and Notre Dame to get some momentum back and stay in the polls.

Still not sure what this team really can do. Destroy UNC for a whole game and handle VT, both on the road, no problem. But then destroy Duke, UVa, and FSU for a half or more, and then blow all 3 in the 2nd. If they can put together 40 minutes at a time, they might make a Final Four. Or they might flame out in the first weekend.

They've looked amazing at times. The first 24 min of the Duke game, they were as dominant as I've seen (other the absolute trouncing they delivered to UNC at chapel Hill. Bleah).

I think they have the talent to be a second weekend team. But like you said, they'll have to find the consistency to play solidly for consecutive halves. ACC tournament should be interesting.

UNC manages to squeak out of the Dean Dome with another victory, but definitely a hard fought one. I don't know how many fouls were called total, but at least 3 people fouled out of the game in the 2nd half.

And Duke goes down to VT (@VT). Something about Feb 26th @ VT is cursed for Duke.

i don't think that kills Duke getting a 1 seed, but they won't be the overall 1 for sure.

I feel better about TN. Swapped blowouts with UK. We'll see in the SEC tourney.

MannishBoy wrote:

I feel better about TN. Swapped blowouts with UK. We'll see in the SEC tourney.

Yeah, they looked more like the team from earlier this season. Solid effort across the board.

I'm not sure if they can claw back to a #1 seed, but it might depend on how the other projected #1s fall out.

Tyrian wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:

I feel better about TN. Swapped blowouts with UK. We'll see in the SEC tourney.

Yeah, they looked more like the team from earlier this season. Solid effort across the board.

I'm not sure if they can claw back to a #1 seed, but it might depend on how the other projected #1s fall out.

They were projecting KY as a #1 after we lost to them and LSU. I don't see how we don't at least have the opportunity to work back to that.

And if we don't jump KY in the polls like they did us...I don't understand. Not that polls matter tremendously, but it won't make sense if it doesn't happen.

MannishBoy wrote:
Tyrian wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:

I feel better about TN. Swapped blowouts with UK. We'll see in the SEC tourney.

Yeah, they looked more like the team from earlier this season. Solid effort across the board.

I'm not sure if they can claw back to a #1 seed, but it might depend on how the other projected #1s fall out.

They were projecting KY as a #1 after we lost to them and LSU. I don't see how we don't at least have the opportunity to work back to that.

And if we don't jump KY in the polls like they did us...I don't understand. Not that polls matter tremendously, but it won't make sense if it doesn't happen.

Because the committee members are fickle and arbitrary, mainly. Not any specific reason.

Looks like Roy Williams hit with vertigo again and UNC losing now in the 2nd half without their coach.

Hope he's ok.

Stele wrote:

Looks like Roy Williams hit with vertigo again and UNC losing now in the 2nd half without their coach.

Hope he's ok.

Freaking scary game. And I really don't get how that last possession was a no-call. I mean, I'll take the W, but reaaaaallly?

Tyrian wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:
Tyrian wrote:
MannishBoy wrote:

I feel better about TN. Swapped blowouts with UK. We'll see in the SEC tourney.

Yeah, they looked more like the team from earlier this season. Solid effort across the board.

I'm not sure if they can claw back to a #1 seed, but it might depend on how the other projected #1s fall out.

They were projecting KY as a #1 after we lost to them and LSU. I don't see how we don't at least have the opportunity to work back to that.

And if we don't jump KY in the polls like they did us...I don't understand. Not that polls matter tremendously, but it won't make sense if it doesn't happen.

Because the committee members are fickle and arbitrary, mainly. Not any specific reason.

So, I stand corrected. At least one mock bracket today has the Vols back in a #1 slot (with my Tar Heels as the #2 in the same region, could be a fun matchup there).

Still a week to go, plus conf. tournament games, so lots of remaining chances for shakeups. I don't see UNC pulling a #1 seed unless they both beat Duke (2x - this weekend and in the tournament) AND UVA in the ACC tournament. Maaaaybe if they lose the season ending Duke matchup, but win the other 2.

Saturday's UVA / Louisville matchup could be interesting too.

Duke so damn lucky

FSU pulled off a heck of a comeback last night and secured the 4 seed in the ACC. Hopefully they can use the rest to win a game or two. Most likely, they will come out rusty and lose

/bitter ankle basketball fan

Stele wrote:

Duke so damn lucky

They really really are. That last shot... wow.

I mean, Wake hung with them the WHOLE game. At Cameron. Sure, Zion's not on the floor... but Duke should have the talent to keep them at arm's length. I mean, I'm sort of glad they didn't lose... that would give them ANOTHER reason to cream us at Chapel Hill this weekend (as if they needed more ammunition).

FSU was getting the hound beaten out of them in the first half, but rallied to bring it to OT and then took control to finish it out. Solid win. I guess the prize is facing UVA in the ACC tournament, though. Wheee?

Tyrian wrote:

Saturday's UVA / Louisville matchup could be interesting too.

Tyrian wrote:

I guess the prize is facing UVA in the ACC tournament, though. Wheee?

Wait a minute. If Louisville can beat UVA, UNC can still get the 1 seed...

Tyrian wrote:
Stele wrote:

Duke so damn lucky

They really really are. That last shot... wow.

I mean, Wake hung with them the WHOLE game. At Cameron. Sure, Zion's not on the floor... but Duke should have the talent to keep them at arm's length.

Agreed. Duke also gets a pass somehow in the polls for not having a player. A pass that nobody else gets.

Oh, and that pass by Jordan Bone...

Earlier Vol Twitter had been upset he was not a finalist for the Cousy Award for best point guard.

Vol Twitter is a force of nature. It even gets football coaches fired before they set foot on campus

Stele wrote:
Tyrian wrote:

Saturday's UVA / Louisville matchup could be interesting too.

Tyrian wrote:

I guess the prize is facing UVA in the ACC tournament, though. Wheee?

Wait a minute. If Louisville can beat UVA, UNC can still get the 1 seed...

Oh, crap. Yeah, for some reason I thought they'd clinched already. But they have to win on Saturday.

So, Coach K is still riding the "we don't expect him to play" line for Saturday's game. He's not above some psychological warfare, but I imagine this is probably him being cautious. Z's got a bright future, and he doesn't want to be the one that wrecks it.

Even if UNC wins out, they'll still need some help from Louisville to get that #1 seed (as Stele alluded to earlier), so... Go 'Cards? Charlottesville is a tough place to play.

NCSU apparently likes living dangerously, as they elected to lose to Georgia Tech last night in the final seconds. Defense? What's defense? I suspect they may have irrevocably damaged their NCAAT hopes with that loss, but the bubble is miiiiighty soft this year. PAC12 is basically not great. WCC isn't better. Limiting those to 1 team probably helps with some of the power5 teams, but it's anyone's call right now.

FL couldn't do their ONE job and close out a win over LSU to give TN the ability to play Auburn for one seed for the SECT, and sole ownership of the SEC title. Assuming Vandy doesn't do something crazy and beat LSU, and TN wins at Auburn (which isn't assured), they'll tie for SEC Champs, and LSU will get the 1 seed. TN will have to play KY again on Saturday. If they can beat them again, they'll then play probably play LSU.

Of course, LSU might be in NCAA trouble depending on what comes out of this FBI wire tap stuff. So who knows, their season might even not count if they're shown to have illegally paid off a player/family.