|
|
Post by ajbuckeye on Mar 4, 2020 3:34:10 GMT
Usually I am a Debbie downer when it comes to the hoops season because the regular season to me was always more of an exhibition than anything else. If you were a good team that had a legitimate shot at the championship you were going to get your wins and get your invite. That left the remaining teams to duke it out for the remaining at large bid.
Got to admit I have watched far more hoops than I have in a long time. Part of that may be due to my coaching career coming to a halt. But then again in AJ world lots of good is going on.
First you got the Wright State Raiders. I am sure this team is way off the radar to most but my daughter is very good friends with the coaches daughter and I have gotten to know him pretty well. Definitely a down to earth type of guy and you would never guess he was a college coach when you talk to him but he has something going on. They have a pretty strong big guy in the middle and some shooters. They are pretty scrappy as well and fun to watch.
Next you got the Buckeyes. Looked great, looked horrible and now they seem to be turning it on. I think it took a while for the players to understand there roles and they certainly have identified some additional weapons.
Finally, the Dayton Flyers look amazingly good. I know the talk is all about Toppin but every starter on that team can shoot the 3 and penetrate the lane. That is why Toppin has had about 1000 dunks this year. Not sure why they are not a 1 seed yet be if they get a 2 seed in the same bracket as SD St I will be happy. All of Bracketology has a WSU vs UD matchup. Please please don't let that happen. That is almost as bad as watching tOSU vs UD.
|
|
|
|
Post by bluehen on Mar 4, 2020 13:07:15 GMT
I love the 'off the radar' teams getting a shot. Wish the FB 'invitational' was more inclusive.
|
|
|
|
Post by doc on Mar 4, 2020 14:21:51 GMT
Usually I am a Debbie downer when it comes to the hoops season because the regular season to me was always more of an exhibition than anything else. If you were a good team that had a legitimate shot at the championship you were going to get your wins and get your invite. That left the remaining teams to duke it out for the remaining at large bid.
Got to admit I have watched far more hoops than I have in a long time. Part of that may be due to my coaching career coming to a halt. But then again in AJ world lots of good is going on.
First you got the Wright State Raiders. I am sure this team is way off the radar to most but my daughter is very good friends with the coaches daughter and I have gotten to know him pretty well. Definitely a down to earth type of guy and you would never guess he was a college coach when you talk to him but he has something going on. They have a pretty strong big guy in the middle and some shooters. They are pretty scrappy as well and fun to watch.
Next you got the Buckeyes. Looked great, looked horrible and now they seem to be turning it on. I think it took a while for the players to understand there roles and they certainly have identified some additional weapons.
Finally, the Dayton Flyers look amazingly good. I know the talk is all about Toppin but every starter on that team can shoot the 3 and penetrate the lane. That is why Toppin has had about 1000 dunks this year. Not sure why they are not a 1 seed yet be if they get a 2 seed in the same bracket as SD St I will be happy. All of Bracketology has a WSU vs UD matchup. Please please don't let that happen. That is almost as bad as watching tOSU vs UD.
Grew up in Dayton so I've always followed the Flyers - I recall their 1968 NIT win over Kansas for the championship. I actually worked at Wright State prior to Xavier - I worked with WSU's current Athletic Director, Bob Grant. He was the athletics development officer at the time. I know what you mean about a potential WSU/UD match-up, I felt the same way when OSU played Xavier in the NCAA back in 2007 - no win situation. I was in the Xavier section with all the Xavier donors when OSU tied the game to go into overtime, I blew my cover and started celebrating. There I was in Xavier gear amongst Xavier fans cheering for Ohio State - that didn't sit well with my co-workers. |
|
|
|
Post by Bevo on Mar 4, 2020 15:36:27 GMT
Kentucky has had some rough patches this year, but they are getting better and better every week. As usual, they have real talent on this team.
I honestly doubt they can make it all the way. They're really only playing 7 players...They have 2 more that can fill in, but if they get significant time, the Cats will be in trouble.
UK has three really good guards that are MONEY at the free throw line. The Bigs are good at FT shooters too. We'll be a tough out.
But, they are ALL young, with young bodies. As in the past, they'll have trouble with a team of five or six seniors who've played together a long time and can out-physical UK's 19 and 20 year olds.
|
|
|
|
Post by ajbuckeye on Mar 5, 2020 15:01:58 GMT
Kentucky has had some rough patches this year, but they are getting better and better every week. As usual, they have real talent on this team. I honestly doubt they can make it all the way. They're really only playing 7 players...They have 2 more that can fill in, but if they get significant time, the Cats will be in trouble. UK has three really good guards that are MONEY at the free throw line. The Bigs are good at FT shooters too. We'll be a tough out. But, they are ALL young, with young bodies. As in the past, they'll have trouble with a team of five or six seniors who've played together a long time and can out-physical UK's 19 and 20 year olds. The Buckeyes got Kentucky when they sprinted out of the gate but a lot has changed since then. I think there are a lot of teams that can make runs this year especially when look how this season has gone. You have the Big 2 for the Big 12 and then you have 3 teams from non power conference occupying the other 3 spots in the top 5. The lower half of the top 10 has been like musical chairs.
Kentucky has a track record that you can never count them out and have been on a nice run but then again they just dropped one to Tennessee. The Flyers played the second best team in the A10 on the road last night and won by 25. I can really see them making it to the final 4 this year.
The one team that I think looks scary good is Kansas. They have a great point guard with Dotson and then you have Embigtallke that is such a strong force inside. When Dayton played Kansas those 2 were a beast to defend. Should be a good year of madness.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bevo on Mar 5, 2020 16:01:04 GMT
Kentucky has had some rough patches this year, but they are getting better and better every week. As usual, they have real talent on this team. I honestly doubt they can make it all the way. They're really only playing 7 players...They have 2 more that can fill in, but if they get significant time, the Cats will be in trouble. UK has three really good guards that are MONEY at the free throw line. The Bigs are good at FT shooters too. We'll be a tough out. But, they are ALL young, with young bodies. As in the past, they'll have trouble with a team of five or six seniors who've played together a long time and can out-physical UK's 19 and 20 year olds. The Buckeyes got Kentucky when they sprinted out of the gate but a lot has changed since then. I think there are a lot of teams that can make runs this year especially when look how this season has gone. You have the Big 2 for the Big 12 and then you have 3 teams from non power conference occupying the other 3 spots in the top 5. The lower half of the top 10 has been like musical chairs.
Kentucky has a track record that you can never count them out and have been on a nice run but then again they just dropped one to Tennessee. The Flyers played the second best team in the A10 on the road last night and won by 25. I can really see them making it to the final 4 this year.
The one team that I think looks scary good is Kansas. They have a great point guard with Dotson and then you have Embigtallke that is such a strong force inside. When Dayton played Kansas those 2 were a beast to defend. Should be a good year of madness.
Every time I say something good about Kentucky, they immediately lose... or, worse, lost the night before and I didn't know about it yet. I'm not going to mention them again this year!  I agree that Kansas looks the scariest to me of any team right now. But, Dayton is impressive. I think it's wide open this year. Kansas also has a bunch of young players. I could see them laying an egg somewhere along the way. I am looking forward to the tourney this year. It SHOULD be crazier than we've seen in a few years. |
|
