College Basketball Thread 2007-2008

[ShiftyPowers]

I know I wasn't the only one furious about Hansborough's performance tonight.

Actually, let me rephrase that, I know I wasn't the only one furious about the refs swallowing their whistles constantly when UNC was playing defense. I've never seen more fouls that aren't called. So let me get this straight, Tyler Hansborough can absolutely mug guys all night, and he never has to worry about foul trouble, but if a 7 footer like Roy Hibbert or Brooke Lopez so much as bodies a guy up, he's instantly whistled for a foul? As long as I know the rules. Unbelievable. There were so many times where there was a blatent UNC foul which wasn't called, and then Louisville would turn the ball over later in the possession. I'm not defending their turnovers, but had the refs called the game competently it would have been fine.

Now look, I had Louisville in my bracket, and I definitely hate Tyler Hansborough (although after tonight's offensive performance I respect him a lot more on the offensive end than I ever thought I would), but I still was a neutral onlooker. I was disgusted by the refs tonight. That crowd completely influenced the game. It was like watching Bennett Salvatore call a Game 7 at the Staples Center.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Dickie V, after sucking Tyler's cock, and then saying "I don't care about the NBA..."

Preseason, back in October, I had Carolina 1, Memphis 2, Kansas 3, UCLA 5, Georgetown let me down, I had them 4!

1.Memphis
2.North Carolina
3.Kansas
4.UCLA

Suck it V. And speaking of great announcers, how about Enberg tonight! Did Hansborough ever get that 10th assist for the triple double?

The first two pages actually have a lot of really good predictions from everyone here, but the best preseason statement by FAR goes to Bobby:

Davidson is the 2nd best team in North Carolina, fact.

 

[Yossarian]

---no doubt, bro


man, I'm really disappointed with Pitino's erratic subbings and stringent playcalling. I thought that they would've gotten their turnover/poor decision making issues somewhat corrected by now, but I guess not? Some terrible malfunctions in crucial situations coupled with Pitino insisting on having Padgett, who's half the player he was before the injury, guard TH is what what lost 'em the game. Of course there was also the awesome guard play from UNC, but I mean ****! Why couldn't he have someone more athletic and aggressive on TY than David? I don't think that Caracter saw any action in the second half at all-----I realize that the kid is an uncoachable dumb****, but this was no time to be trying to prove a point to a hard headed kid----it should've been all about the game at hand and not personal battles with a kid who's likely not even gonna be here next season.


btw, Palacios....did this guy even get a touch? What a sad ending for those two heroic Seniors.....leaving that court as shells of their former selves.....that was ******* depressing./


btw2x.......how much of a difference, if any, does a neutral court make on the outcome of this particular game? In the gambling World, HC is usually good for about 5pts.

 

[SlayerDeuS]

Sour grapes...give it a few days Shifty, I can sense you're still pissed by the Wisconsin loss and your bracket collapsing.

 

[newbie original]

Haha, I thought Texas would rip that fake Memphis to shreds,....with "home court" waiting and all...

 

[Back Door Skip]

I'm pretty bummed about how bad Texas got whooped earlier. But I think Davidson beating Kansas would be something I would definitely settle for.

 

[$teauA]

Why in the world did Curry dribble the ball up on the last possession for Davidson?

Stupid Texas, my final four picks would be perfect if they would have beat Memphis.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Too bad Memphis is a great team that the media and a lot of people sold short all year. They also have the best point guard (by far) in a year with a lot of great college point guards.

I don't think Kansas vs. UNC is going to be all that entertaining for me. I don't know, they're both good teams, but I just don't really care much about either. I really like Bill Self, but not enough to form a cheering interest for Kansas. I really dislike Hansborough, but not enough to create a cheering interest against UNC.

UCLA vs. Memphis on the other hand, should be amazing. I adore so many players on both teams. Rose, CDR, Dorsey, on Memphis, Love, Collison, Westbrook on UCLA. With the exception of Dorsey, that's probably 5 of my 6 favorite players to watch in the NCAA.

Most compelling matchup for me in the final is probably Carolina vs. UCLA just because I think their talent is so similar, and I really want to see Lawson and Collison battle it out for draft position. Derrick Rose is awesome though, and I would have no problem watching him play for a Title, although I just think Memphis would be overwhelmed by UNC.

Kansas has so much experience and some great athletes, but I just don't like watching them play.

 

[SlayerDeuS]

KU has a great team, but when they need a bucket I'm not sure they know where to go...I guess Rush but he hasn't really proven that so far this season. All of the other teams have stars and proven clutch performers...Rose/CDR, Love/Collison, Ellington/Hansbrough. I think Memphis and especially Rose are going to abuse UCLA's team. UCLA's Shipp, Keefe, etc. don't have enough athleticism to hang with Memphis.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

It will definitely be interesting. Rose vs. Collison is a great match up, and like Augustin today, Collison has an opportunity to make a lot of money if he can out play Rose. Augustin fell flat on his face.

I think Mario Chalmers is a pretty clutch player, and Rush definitely is. Darrell Arthur has all the talent in the world in the post. It will be interesting, but I just don't think they play with an edge like UNC, Louisville, Memphis, and UCLA do. They're statistically the top team in the country this year though, with the #2 offense and #3 defense.

Carolina #1 offense, #19 defense
Memphis #4 offense, #5 defense
UCLA #7 offense, #2 defense

Statistically these are the 4 best teams in the country this season and the difference between 1 and 4 is essentially nothing.

 

[$teauA]

Yeah I was just thinking today about the teams left and I was thinking to myself how I can see either Carolina, Memphis or UCLA winning but I just can't see Kansas going all the way. They are very good but when compared to the other three they fall short and I'm not really sure I trust Bill Self.

 

[Yossarian]

is Rose a two guard at the next level a la Wade, or what? I think that they're gonna try to convert em into a two even though he adamantly opposes being labelled anything other than a point.


He's virtually unguardable if he sets his mind to just aggressively driving to the net everytime he gets the basket.....the dude is built like an Abram tank, man....he's as muscle bound as any guard coming into the league (B-Diddy/Billups) as I've ever seen and ridiculously ahtletic to boot.


he's more athletic than a young Baron Davis, right?

 

[Yossarian]

hmm.....Curry's kid-----has he got even a remote chance of making an NBA roster when he declares, or should he just dispense with the pretenses of ever having an NBA career and just go directly sign up with the best paying Euro club?

 

[Bobby]

He could make it, but he needs to stay all 4 years at Davidson.

 

[Yossarian]

sh!t----didnt know he was just a soph. You're right. He needs to mature physically a lot more and improve skill-wise in key areas, but he's not gonna get a more golden opportunity to throw his name in the draft than this one, bro. His success and notoriety is not going to peak any higher than it is right now.


*With their second round pick, the Charlotte Bobcats select Nepotism Curry...errrr Stephen Curry from Davidson College*

 

[SlayerDeuS]

Financially Curry is alright, his pops was in the NBA for a good 15 years. He doesn't have much going for him in terms of potential but he can still work his way up and become a better player. Next year he'll be the starting PG for Davidson. BTW his mother is a basketball MILF goddess.

As for Rose, he is an ideal NBA point guard. His shooting is not good enough for the 2 guard but he is perhaps one of the most athletic PG's to ever play the game.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Yeah, Rose is undoubtedly a point guard. OJ Mayo is probably a 2, but not Derrick Rose. He's going to lift some team out of the lottery really fast.

Stephen Curry.... eh, I don't know. He'd be a superstar in the international game, but I'd be very hesitant to put him on my NBA team. Let's see how he handles playing point guard for Davidson next year. His ball handling looked pretty pathetic when I saw it (like that last shot against Kansas), and if he can handle the ball just a little bit he'll become a lot more valuable. NBA offenses just aren't geared towards guys like Redick and Curry running off 10 screens, and they can't really get their own shot. Curry has a quicker release than Redick, but I don't know.

Best comparison I've seen is Salim Stoudamire. Salim couldn't play point, but I think he was a better ball handler than Curry is now.

 

[Yossarian]

well clearly he's not hurting for money and isnt urgently looking at basketball as a means of financially supporting both himself and his family, but in regards to his post collegiate sports life, I'd imagine he'd still want to continue on playing the game. I mean, he's been following his pops to practices since he was just a mere toddler, so I imagine that he's got a real passion for the game that will not be quelled after his college career is over.


-regarding Rose's place on the court at the next level......yeah, I think that you guys are right. He doesn't seem to have that shoot first, chucking gene in 'em that's glaringly apparent in most twos, but at the same time, he doesn't give off that vibe of a true commander out there on the court.....he can be awfully passive and even submit to the whims of those around 'em quite often it seems.

Who does he remind you guys of the most in the League? I can't think of one single player to be honest.....body structure-wise/athleticism, though, he's like a freakish combination of Davis/Billups/Francis in my view of em.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtZd2koUMrk

^^ UNREAL......the dude's just so VULGAR!!~

 

[SlayerDeuS]

Yeh the first name that came to mind when comparing him to another NBA-er was Francis, but boy his skill much deeper.

To think that UNC was once the leader for Derrick Rose and was a finalist with UCLA to land Kevin Love just makes me want to cry...not that hard though cuz UNC is definitely doing well. If we get knocked out by UCLA or Memphis that would suck.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Sadly, I think Stevie Franchise might be a pretty good comparison. I think Rose is more of a pure point guard than Francis turned out to be, but I guess we don't know what will happen once he gets to the League.

After the Championship Game ends, I'll start talking about the NBA Draft. I can make a pretty good guess about whether most guys will come out, but there are a few I'm unsure about. I have no idea about: Joe Alexander, Budinger, and Thabeet. Probably staying: Earl Clark, Ryan Anderson, Donte Green, Mareese Speights. Hansbrough will go if the Heels win the Title and probably stay if they lose, Ellington I have no idea, but I'm leaning toward him staying, Lawson is gone, Collison, Love, Westbrook are all gone for the Bruins, Augustin and Bayless are both gone, as is Randolph from LSU. Blake Griffin I'm not sure, but leaning toward him leaving. Darrell Arthur and Brandon Rush are gone if they win it all, Rush probably regardless. Bill Walker probably gone.