We can formally anoint the winner of our Bracket on the other thread after the Championship game, but I thought that THIS Final Four deserves it's own thread.
After all, four #1 SEEDS ARE PLAYING. This is HUGE. Not only that, but all of the side stories that are developing/can possibly develop are incredible.
Besides the obvious Kansas vs. UNC or Roy vs. Lawrence or whatever bout, we're going to get to watch arguably the best two freshmen (excluding Beasley) face off with the Love/Rose matchup. And looking ahead, it could potentially be a battle of the big men (if all works out) with Kevin versus Tyler!!!
And, did I mention, that the bracket NOW is:
#1 vs. #1 #1 vs. #1
!!?!?!?!?!?!?
I'm busting!! This has been the longest wait for a sports event in my life in a while (since at least the 2005 NCAA tourney leadup).
Thoughts?! Isn't college basketball the shit?!
This will be a very memorable Final 4 and a wonderful finale
to another great tournament. 9 combined losses for all teams!
I'll be rooting for Memphis to bring it all home, but I really don't
have a dog in the hunt, just want to see some more great college
basketball.
You know, back in the old days, the losers of the Saturday games
would play before the Championship game for 3rd place. They should
reinstate that this year (the last time they did it was in 1981).
So, in honor of the Final 4, here's some of my all time, old school
favorites from the tournament:
David Thompson - NC State- 1974
(http://home.carolina.rr.com/mcguires/IMAGES/Thompson%20skys%20over%20Maryland.jpg)
Ricky Green - Michigan - 1976
(http://www.coverbrowser.com/image/sports-illustrated/1144-1.jpg)
Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell - UNCC - 1977
(http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/01BP0nq4g78HD/340x.jpg)
Butch Lee - Marquette - 1977
(http://www.dtmagazine.com/si4477.jpg)
Butch Lee with Coach Al McGuire - 1977
(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/04/01/sports/01mcguire.1.600.jpg)
Sydney Moncrief - Arkansas - 1978
(http://www.hognation.net/magpics/021378large.jpg)
Jack "Goose" Givens - Kentucky - 1978
(http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Graphics/GameAction/19780327Duke.jpg)
Mark Aguirre - DePaul - 1979
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f296/ycartrob/20486259_419f18ff75_o.jpg)
Darrell Griffith "Dr. Dunkenstein" - Louisville - 1980
(http://www.comcast.net/data/2005/04/01/bin30182.jpg)
Should be a good one.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc232/bowlofwax/winners.jpg)
The finest basketball moment ever
I am pretty psyched to watch the NC/KU game. So many story lines in that game. Tyler is a local kid. Plus the Big 12/KU/Roy Williams/Bill Self from Illinois thing. Part of me wants the Big 12 to do well, but I can't root for KU so I'm hoping for a Memphis/NC championship.
And on the eve of the Final Four, the AP names Mr. Hansbrough its NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR! Congrats! It is much deserved.
(http://www.mrtarheel.com/tylerdunk2.jpg)
QuoteIsn't college basketball the shit?!
Yes, college basketball is the shit. To tell you the truth, I really don't watch much college ball during the regular season, would generally rather sit down to watch an NBA game if I have free time and there's something good on. BUT, I've always thought that the NCAA Men's Basketball Chamionship Tournament is THE BEST SPORTING EVENT IN THE WORLD.
I still have a chance in this thing too! GO BRUINS!!!
And Tracy, great collection of pictures!
Quote
And Tracy, great collection of pictures!
Thanks! I grew up pretending to be each of those guys, at some point, working it out on the driveway bball goal.
I miss the old shorts and socks pulled up to my knees. They should bring that look back. :)
Memphis up by 3 at the half.
And can we get some love for the UCLA cheerleaders? HUBBA! :o
WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?!?!?
This is the worst display of baskeball I've ever seen. Ever. I'm crawling into a bottle...good luck the rest of the way Kansas :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
Pretty sad. :(
Hey look, they're right back in it. 12points is nothing with this much time. Perk up GGG. I'm sad I missed the UCLA cheerleaders.
I seriously think there might be something wrong with the rim on that one side of the court.
Terrible games tonight. I'm glad there was other sports on to flip to.
UNC and UCLA out.
(sigh)
4 #1 seeds in a Final Four = Who gives a fuck?
Quote4 #1 seeds in a Final Four = Who gives a fuck?
so, umm, why comment on the Official Final 4 Thread if you don't give a fuck? Do you go to every thread that you could give a shit about an express your disinterest?
I've been watching the tourney since the mid 70's and thorougly enjoyed the games tonight from start to finish. However, I gave a fuck.
Quote I'm sad I missed the UCLA cheerleaders.
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f296/ycartrob/ucla_opbb-2866-mid.jpg)
QuoteQuote4 #1 seeds in a Final Four = Who gives a fuck?
so, umm, why comment on the Official Final 4 Thread if you don't give a fuck? Do you go to every thread that you could give a shit about an express your disinterest?
I've been watching the tourney since the mid 70's and thorougly enjoyed the games tonight from start to finish. However, I gave a fuck.
And I've been watching the tourney since 1980 and love it and "give a fuck". The tournament this year was great until the Final Four. I can't get too jacked to cheer #1 vs #1 and #1 vs #1, especially by the likes of UNC and UCLA. Part of the fun of the tournament is to cheer for the small schools or the underdog. I hope the final is a good game though, even if I don't care who wins.
Well, we came back within 5 and I really thought we had a shot, but I guess the basketball Gods weren't shining on us.
Oh well. Great season anyway, it just kind of sucks to go out like this.
Hopefully the entire starting lineup will be back next year because NONE looked NBA calibar last night.
I think I'm going to pull for Memphis the rest of the way. They've earned to right to win their first national championship.
QuoteQuoteQuote4 #1 seeds in a Final Four = Who gives a fuck?
so, umm, why comment on the Official Final 4 Thread if you don't give a fuck? Do you go to every thread that you could give a shit about an express your disinterest?
I've been watching the tourney since the mid 70's and thorougly enjoyed the games tonight from start to finish. However, I gave a fuck.
And I've been watching the tourney since 1980 and love it and "give a fuck". The tournament this year was great until the Final Four. I can't get too jacked to cheer #1 vs #1 and #1 vs #1, especially by the likes of UNC and UCLA. Part of the fun of the tournament is to cheer for the small schools or the underdog. I hope the final is a good game though, even if I don't care who wins.
One post you say "who gives a fuck" and the next you say you "give a fuck"? My bad...
Smaller schools making the Final 4? That rarely happens anyway ((George Mason 2 years ago, makes 3 mid majors in the Final 4 the past 20 years). And if you wanted to cheer for the underdogs, Memphis and Kansas were both underdogs (Memphis has been the whole season) and then you would cheer
against the 2 you have such a hard time cheering
for (UCLA/NC). Plus, how can any basketball fan
not enjoy watching Memphis
State run all over quality programs by the likes of UCLA? (And Texas, and Michigan State). Those guys are an amazing team to watch.
Rooting for Memphis
State to bring it home! Should be a great game!
Ya, I know smaller schools rarely make it into the Final Four, but I can't root for two of the most stories programs. I've got nothing against Kansas really, so let's go Memphis State! Is Memphis still a state university or did they get an "upgrade", hence the dropping of State? I remember when they dropped State, but I still call them Memphis State as do my friends.
QuoteYa, I know smaller schools rarely make it into the Final Four, but I can't root for two of the most stories programs. I've got nothing against Kansas really, so let's go Memphis State! Is Memphis still a state university or did they get an "upgrade", hence the dropping of State? I remember when they dropped State, but I still call them Memphis State as do my friends.
they changed their name to shake the "stigma" of being a state university. It's interesting how Bobby Knight (and a couple of others who know that they are no longer Memphis State) continue to call them memphis State, b/c, well, they still are.
Trying to wrap things up at work to get home and watch the game...at this point, I really don't care who wins, just hoping for a GREAT game. Memphis was a 2 point favorite at the Vegas casinos when I checked earlier today.
QuoteQuote I'm sad I missed the UCLA cheerleaders.
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f296/ycartrob/ucla_opbb-2866-mid.jpg)
UCLA, USC and Texas...the holy trinity of college cheerleading.
wow, the Memphis players and fans got to be sick about that loss. Kansas rose up, as great teams do.
no more basketball for a while... :-[
Well, I got what I was hoping for...THAT was a great game. Congrats to the Jayhawks, and more importantly, to Brian (lucky bastard ;)).
Indeed. Congrats to Kansas AND Brian.
Now if I can just make it through baseball season, I'll be alright.
Hey Triple G, what did you think of Roy Williams wearing the KU gear? I can't decide if it was classy or just him trying to suck up to all the ChickenHawks who hate him now.
Ha, I won the Sweetpickles trophy this year. This is the first time I've ever even had a decent bracket much less won.
Seriously, thank you.
QuoteHey Triple G, what did you think of Roy Williams wearing the KU gear? I can't decide if it was classy or just him trying to suck up to all the ChickenHawks who hate him now.
I'm torn about it honestly. I mean, I know it's just a sticker and of course he would pull for the Jayhawks in the title game (as he had said all last week). But it left a sour taste in my mouth.
I mean, no problems with sitting in the stands cheering them on, but do you really have to wear a Kansas logo on your shirt just hours after your team, who has put their heart and souls into the season, just lost to them?
I'm just making mountains out of anthills, and it's really no big deal in the long run, but I think the sticker was a WEE bit unneccesary. But I'm still very down with Roy and I'm sure he's 150% down with Carolina. I can see it from his perspective in supporting the school he coached for 15 years, but you have to be a little bit more sensitive to the Carolina community. JMHO.
Gregg,
Looks like we'll be rooting against one another early next season...Michigan State v. N. Carolina in Detroit at Ford Field. I know I'm looking forward to next season. Despite a ridiculously horrible 1st half against Memphis our freshmen looked great at the end of the year and we've got some (supposedly) great recruits coming in.
http://noise.typepad.com/hey_joe/2008/04/msu-vs-north-ca.html
QuoteGregg,
Looks like we'll be rooting against one another early next season...Michigan State v. N. Carolina in Detroit at Ford Field. I know I'm looking forward to next season. Despite a ridiculously horrible 1st half against Memphis our freshmen looked great at the end of the year and we've got some (supposedly) great recruits coming in.
http://noise.typepad.com/hey_joe/2008/04/msu-vs-north-ca.html
Oooooooooo, I hadn't seen that yet. Thanks for the update!
It should be a great game...maybe the first non-tournament game for these two teams since the mid-90's?
I'm going to assume both teams will have pretty depleted rosters, so it WILL be good to see how our freshmen perform.
We lose Neitzel and Naymick which is quite a bit but I actually think we may be better next year. As much as a player that Neitzel was I don't think he had the athleticism to create his own shot and I think the new guys may fill his void quite nicely.
We've got this Delvon Roe kid coming in who is on some top 10 lists and is a 6'9 guy which we really need a low post scorer. He is coming off knee surgery so you never know how that will affect him but I'm crossing my fingers.