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Post by Kentflash_05 on Jan 23, 2018 23:14:52 GMT
The more I watch professional sports the more and more I appreciate college sports. I have no real desire to see New England win another Super Bowl, so im already lookibg ahead to March! Whom does everyone like for the tournement this year? I think the Big 12, ACC and SEC are the best conferences this year but the Big East at the top is damn good as well. Here's a quick rundown and prediction by me -The top of the Big East is damn good and it would not suprise me at all to see the league get 3-4 teams to the Sweet 16....Xavier, Villanova and Seton Hall can play with anyone. I expect those three to be in the Sweet 16.....Xavier and Villanova are legit threats to win it all with the right bounces. -Kansas has its worst team in a long time and is getting stronger as the season goes along....i think they win the Big 12 again. West Virginia is probably the leagues best Final Four bet however. -Oklahoma is a big name with a really good shot to get knocked out in the dance early.....to much reliance on one player -Kentucky really isnt that good this year either....Florida wins the SEC. Virginia has a big lead in the ACC, and I think this is a Final Four year for them....best defense by a mile in the country. The Big Ten is disapointing, but I still think all things considered Michigan State is the nations best team. The league has has another team(Purdue) that has a strong chance at making a deep tourney run.
Cincinati will win the American, due to Wichita State hitting a mid season slide, but Wichita State will advance further in March.
My Final 4 as of today
Michigan State, Virginia, West Virginia, Villanova
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Post by Kentflash_05 on Jan 23, 2018 23:17:41 GMT
* My Buckeyes are a nice story, but there is a Sweet 16 ceiling with this year's team.
-Arizona State was on fire to start the seaon, and part of me thinka the Sundevils or Arizona could make a run as well.
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Post by Hero on Jan 24, 2018 2:04:17 GMT
Bama is better than they have been in years. Certainly makes it more interesting.
The NBA is long gone for me and the NFL has lost a lot of luster as well.
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Post by tigercpa on Jan 24, 2018 13:04:01 GMT
Clemson @ UVA was a disaster last night.
This game was 23-23 at one point.
Actually even worse, Clemson LED 23-16. Final:
UVA 61 CLE 36
Clemson went 21 minutes without scoring.
Ugg.
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Post by Bevo on Jan 24, 2018 14:14:33 GMT
Kentucky is NOT very good this year, but... as usual, you CANNOT count them out in the Tourney. Once again, we have a collection of future NBA players that are still trying to figure out how to play TOGETHER in Cal's system. If the light goes on, they're athletic enough to beat ANY team in the country. Sadly, they also could lose to at least 50% of the teams in the country.
More than most recent teams, this group seems to get bored in "regular" games. In the BIG games, they play better... but, they've come up short a few times. They just don't know yet who the "go to" guy is? They don't have good 3 point shooters. And, there's no real "Star"... it's just a very well balanced group of outstanding, TALL, athletes that can all run, jump.. and, score. It's been a struggle trying to get them all on the same page. FIVE freshman starters... ugh.
The best player on the team, Jarred Vanderbilt, missed the first half of the season. They've looked a lot better since he joined the team. I actually HOPE they don't do well this year. Then, maybe... a bunch of these kids will come back. Right now, I don't think ANY are projected to be Top 10 NBA picks. That would be a first for Cal, going back to his Memphis days.
If a bunch of these kids come back, LOOK OUT for next year.
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Post by doc on Jan 25, 2018 19:45:21 GMT
I'm hoping this is the year Xavier breaks through to the Final Four. it would be so cool for all the alums and supporters who have literally invested the past 45 years to get to this point. In 1973 Xavier eliminated their football program to put all their athletic focus on basketball. At the time they were a horrible, independent team - mostly slow white kids from Cincinnati's catholic high schools. In 1979 they hired Bob Staak as their coach and he started recruiting black players which put the white kids on the bench. Since then it's been a slow but steady climb. Every coach has bettered the program. In 1982 they joined the old MCC conference. From there they went to the A-10 and 5 years ago they joined the Big East. This year's team is the best ever. They have senior leadership, they're 3 deep at the center position, their point guard led the team to the elite eight last year as a freshman so he's battle tested and they can play 10 players without dropping off much.
The NCAA is all about match-ups but Xavier can play many styles. Their biggest challenge is the quick, scoring guard - they give them fits. Other than that, they can play with anyone. I would love to see the Xavier fans get a shot at the Final Four - they've been so loyal and it would truly bring tears to all their eyes. So if you want to root for a feel good story - throw your support to the Musketeers! Watch, they'll probably wind up playing Ohio State at some point, that is my biggest fear.
And one more thing - in 1986 Pete Gillen hired a nun, Sr. Rose Ann Fleming as the teams' academic advisor. Today she's in her mid-80's and still going strong. Since her hiring every player that has reached his senior year at Xavier has graduated - over 100 straight. She's one of the most impressive persons I've ever met.
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Post by Bevo on Jan 29, 2018 0:39:06 GMT
Did you notice Kentucky? On the road, coming back from 17 down to beat West Virginia. I'm warning you. This team is SUPER talented. It's almost as if they don't play to their potential until fully challenged. If they start to put it together? They'll be very dangerous.
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Post by Kentflash_05 on Feb 2, 2018 1:21:32 GMT
Did you notice Kentucky? On the road, coming back from 17 down to beat West Virginia. I'm warning you. This team is SUPER talented. It's almost as if they don't play to their potential until fully challenged. If they start to put it together? They'll be very dangerous. Kentucky's win against WVU was impressive, thier showing against Vandy left alot to be desired. If they put a few games together and get hot at the right time....Kentucky has the talent to beat anyone. If the Kentucky that played for 3/4 of the Vandy game shoes up, they can go home early. Kentucky will probably be the hardest team to forecast come tourney time.
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Post by Bevo on Feb 2, 2018 1:24:23 GMT
Yep.... They can BEAT anyone, and..... They can lose to anyone
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Post by Kentflash_05 on Feb 2, 2018 2:20:03 GMT
Yep.... They can BEAT anyone, and..... They can lose to anyone The tournemen5 depends on matchups as well. I think they matchup well with Purdue if they're a 4# in a Sweet 16 mathcup. I think if they play Virginia, the Cavaliers would work them over.
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Post by Bevo on Feb 2, 2018 13:47:44 GMT
Yep.... They can BEAT anyone, and..... They can lose to anyone The tournemen5 depends on matchups as well. I think they matchup well with Purdue if they're a 4# in a Sweet 16 mathcup. I think if they play Virginia, the Cavaliers would work them over. Agree. Very disciplined teams that play great defense give them trouble.
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Post by doc on Feb 2, 2018 14:10:07 GMT
Did you notice Kentucky? On the road, coming back from 17 down to beat West Virginia. I'm warning you. This team is SUPER talented. It's almost as if they don't play to their potential until fully challenged. If they start to put it together? They'll be very dangerous. If the Kentucky that played for 3/4 of the Vandy game shoes up, they can go home early. Kentucky will probably be the hardest team to forecast come tourney time. Vanderbilt absolutely handed the game to UK - they had it won. How can you foul someone with two seconds left going after a loose ball at the foul circle on the other end of the floor. Had the defender just stood there, Vanderbilt wins. You have to know what the situation is and they totally blew it. Plus, a guy who was 10-10 on the foul line missed his 11th try which would have given the Commodores a 3 point lead. You really have to try to lose a game under those conditions and damned if Vandy didn't execute it to perfection.
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Post by Kentflash_05 on Feb 2, 2018 19:21:17 GMT
-Sparty is really starting to scare me, as Michigan State is looking shaky in a year that the Big Ten isnt that good. I still think when they put everything together they are the best team, and for now my national title pick.
Rest of new Final Four lol
MSU, Arizona, Xavier and Villanova
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