March Madness 2010

capt. scotty · Mar 11, 2010, 03:58 PM

not NCAA, but nice dunk by JR Smith last night

http://sports.yahoo.com/sportsminute

Ruckus · Mar 12, 2010, 02:36 AM

What a day in the Big East! So my sportsbook is offering a 20% reload for March Madness. I'm in. Action packed March begins next Thursday! :D

el_chode · Mar 12, 2010, 07:22 AM

I don't like basketball, but I've reported you to the NCAA for Trademark dilution and copyright Infringement.

Bob Loblaw · Mar 13, 2010, 12:33 PM

Oh my, Big Ten bias. I just don't understand it. That's the least enjoyable conference to watch in all of college basketball. Just stick with football guys. No need to play the same game but on hardwood. Now if we want to talk basketball, it seems the Big 12 is getting no love here. They'll probably put 7 teams in the tourney and are arguably the best conference in the league (RPI says so at least).

I also understand there's a lot of hate towards Bill Self for leaving Illinois, but can you blame him? Seriously. Basketball was invented at KU. I don't hate Roy Williams for going to North Carolina. Seriously, can you blame him? It made sense. It's been 7 years. You should be thankful for what Self did for the Illini program, National title contenders and all. Your anger should be directed at Bruce Weber for squandering the program Self had built up. I'm just sayin' ;)

Ruckus · Mar 13, 2010, 01:17 PM

QuoteOh my, Big Ten bias. I just don't understand it. That's the least enjoyable conference to watch in all of college basketball. Just stick with football guys. No need to play the same game but on hardwood. Now if we want to talk basketball, it seems the Big 12 is getting no love here. They'll probably put 7 teams in the tourney and are arguably the best conference in the league (RPI says so at least).

I also understand there's a lot of hate towards Bill Self for leaving Illinois, but can you blame him? Seriously. Basketball was invented at KU. I don't hate Roy Williams for going to North Carolina. Seriously, can you blame him? It made sense. It's been 7 years. You should be thankful for what Self did for the Illini program, National title contenders and all. Your anger should be directed at Bruce Weber for squandering the program Self had built up. I'm just sayin' ;)

Ahh, the return of BobLoblaw. I don't personally hate Bill Self. It's just popular to hate on him and I'm merely a lemming in line. What I will say is that I'm still not sold on Bill Self as a basketball coach. I put him more in line with the Caliparis of the world. This clearly isn't a bad thing but he is more a recruiter (a great one) than an x's and o's guy. As we saw, Weber took Self's team to the miracle season and I still think we should have beaten UNC. I guess one shot from Mario Chalmers can cement a man's legacy.

I don't understand why people love to hate on Big Ten basketball. All they do is consistently put numerous teams in the Sweet Sixteen. Don't be surprised to see more Big Ten than Big Twelve teams in the Sweet Sixteen this year to.

That said, I gotta think Kansas is the clear favorite. They are STACKED!

Oh yeah, Sharon Collins screwed us over too ;)

Bob Loblaw · Mar 13, 2010, 01:54 PM

I know, I don't make it in a lot so I apologize for jumping into the middle of conversations...

Anyway, what fun are sports without manufactured outrage? I grew up in Big 12 country and moved into Big Ten land about 6 years ago so talking trash on the Big Ten is one of my new past times. It's all in jest. My boss hates Bill Self and gives me the "he's a good recruiter but bad coach" argument alot. I agree that he may be a better recruiter than x & o's but I'm just not buying the overall argument that that makes him an inferior coach. You mentioned Sherron Collins earlier. If you look at how that guy has progressed from Frosh to Soph, that's clear player development. (Not to mention the fact that he's now the winningest Jayhawk in history and will get a degree this summer.) TX A&M was in control of the game for 30 minutes last night and going from a man to man to zone defense completely turned the game around. We get alley-oops off of inbounds plays all the time. That's x's and o's too. I just find it hard to argue with the overall success of Bill Self. He's done great everywhere he's been. From ORU, to Tulsa, to Illinois and he won a National Championship with Kansas. Sure, Mario made a miracle shot but that happens. Sure, Memphis couldn't hit their free throws but Self decided when to start fouling. Any other coach in any of the previous games could have done the same but they didn't.

Finally, it hurts a little to hear the Calipari comparison. Calipari has been so close to so many infractions and Self just hasn't. I don't like it when people put them in the same category. I'd love the opportunity to end Kentucky's season in the big dance. Anyway, enough stream of consciousness for one post...

Bob Loblaw · Mar 13, 2010, 01:54 PM

Oh yeah, what do you mean when you say Sherron Collins screwed you over? Do you mean by going to KU instead of Illinois?

Bob Loblaw · Mar 13, 2010, 02:05 PM

Quote[Don't be surprised to see more Big Ten than Big Twelve teams in the Sweet Sixteen this year to.

I'll take your half of the bet but I'll offer the other half. Don't be surprised to see more Big Twelve than Big Ten teams in the Elite Eight and Final Four.

Ruckus · Mar 13, 2010, 02:11 PM

You make good points and feel free to jump in anytime. I love good sports convos. In the end, Bill Self is a great coach. Just trying to knock the man down a peg ya know.

I attended Illinois during the Lon Kruger years and graduated the year we got Self. We loved him because we hadn't gotten that kind talent to start looking at us since the Flyin' Illini years. I speak from experience though as I recall many a game where we just weren't defensively motivated and he seemed flustered and indecisive in certain late game situations. My apologies for misspelling Sherronaman's name. He didn't screw us over but it was just another Chicago boy bailin for all the beautiful women of Kansas. ;)

Perhaps comparing him to Calipari is unfair because he is an ubashed greaseball. Self just puts on a better front. The way I look at it, if you haven't cheated in recruiting, you don't belong in DI basketball.

Ruckus · Mar 13, 2010, 02:14 PM

Quote
Quote[Don't be surprised to see more Big Ten than Big Twelve teams in the Sweet Sixteen this year to.

I'll take your half of the bet but I'll offer the other half. Don't be surprised to see more Big Twelve than Big Ten teams in the Elite Eight and Final Four.

Purdue is still playing well w/o Hummel. I'll concede to you on the Final Four Front but I can imagine at least 2 Big Ten teams making the E8 depending on how the brackets look. It's always a question of whether the refs will let 'em play or not.

capt. scotty · Mar 13, 2010, 02:26 PM

I dont get how (for football or basketball) people can say the Big 10 is boring. Why? Because they play good defense? Because the games are low scoring? Because there is more halfcourt play than transition?

Ive watched almost every game of the Big East tourney, and the majority of those games have been in the 50's-60's point wise at the end of the game and all of them have been great. Nothing boring about it.

...and saying the Big 12 will have more teams in the Final 4 isnt exactly going out on a limb. Kansas will likely be there and no Big 10 team will be expected to make it to the final 4. I agree with Ruckus that the Big 10 could have more in the Elit 8 though

Bob Loblaw · Mar 13, 2010, 02:46 PM

I agree with everything you said, especially the beautiful Kansas women. ;)

Purdue is definitely a great team. Where do you think the Illini stand right now? Bubble team? The win over Wisconsin and a good first half against Ohio State should help them out a lot if they are.

Bob Loblaw · Mar 13, 2010, 02:47 PM

I wouldn't mind blanking out the entire East & West Coasts with a KU, K-State, Purdue, Ohio State Final Four.

Ruckus · Mar 13, 2010, 02:49 PM

QuoteI agree with everything you said, especially the beautiful Kansas women. ;)

Purdue is definitely a great team. Where do you think the Illini stand right now? Bubble team? The win over Wisconsin and a good first half against Ohio State should help them out a lot if they are.

I am loving this game right now! They can be so erratic though. Either way, win or lose, after the the win over Wisconsin, I think they are in already as a likely 10ish seed.

Ruckus · Mar 13, 2010, 02:51 PM

QuoteI wouldn't mind blanking out the entire East & West Coasts with a KU, K-State, Purdue, Ohio State Final Four.

Where are the Illini? :-/

Bob Loblaw · Mar 13, 2010, 02:52 PM

QuoteI dont get how (for football or basketball) people can say the Big 10 is boring. Why? Because they play good defense? Because the games are low scoring? Because there is more halfcourt play than transition?

Ive watched almost every game of the Big East tourney, and the majority of those games have been in the 50's-60's point wise at the end of the game and all of them have been great. Nothing boring about it.

...and saying the Big 12 will have more teams in the Final 4 isnt exactly going out on a limb. Kansas will likely be there and no Big 10 team will be expected to make it to the final 4. I agree with Ruckus that the Big 10 could have more in the Elit 8 though

Boring mostly because of the low scoring. I like games that get into the upper 70's or 80's. Wasn't there a game Illinois was part of this year where total scoring was under 80? That's just not enough action for me. Just my opinion but I like games with a lot of steals and transition. Note that this does not mean I like running and gunning. Steals and transition offense should come from really, really good defense.

I wasn't really trying to go out on a limb either it was just another underhanded way to claim the Big XII is better than the Big X overall. [insert obligatory smiley emoticon]

Bob Loblaw · Mar 13, 2010, 02:54 PM

Quote
QuoteI wouldn't mind blanking out the entire East & West Coasts with a KU, K-State, Purdue, Ohio State Final Four.

Where are the Illini? :-/

Well there's nothing wrong with being hopeful but I'd keep that to my personal bracket, not the one that I've got to pay $20 to get in to the competition.

Bob Loblaw · Mar 13, 2010, 02:57 PM

Preapology for complete tangent but at least you're the OP... Is your name, Ruckus, at all a reference to the Old Crow?

capt. scotty · Mar 13, 2010, 03:14 PM

QuotePreapology for complete tangent but at least you're the OP... Is your name, Ruckus, at all a reference to the Old Crow?

I think its related to him bringing da muthaeffin ruckus like the muthaeffin Wu Tang Clan

and if it isnt, it should be ;D

Ruckus · Mar 13, 2010, 03:15 PM

Quote
QuotePreapology for complete tangent but at least you're the OP... Is your name, Ruckus, at all a reference to the Old Crow?

I think its related to him bringing da muthaeffin ruckus like the muthaeffin Wu Tang Clan

and if it isnt, it should be ;D

The Ruckus part was always a nod to the Jacket in Elizabethtown. Yes, the original BringDa was a natural Wu fit.