8:11 - I'll be back later, but Maryland just brought it...one of the few bubble teams to really stand up and say they actually want a bid. Congrats to them.
7:42 - I'll never understand why teams as talented as Wake, yet inexperienced have so much difficulty having consistency. Don't give me the "senior leadership" argument either.
7:40 - Gary Williams can coach, there's no question about that. The guy is going through a Tubby Smith faze unfortunately. Not playing the AAU game will get you way behind. It's too bad because I respect the guy more than most, but afraid he's going to be gone someday because of his inability to adapt to modern age.
7:31 - Louisville outscored Villanova by 15 in the first 5 minutes. Who wants to play this team?
7:28 - Maryland making the committee know they want into the tournament...haven't really seen the game much, but I imagine it's classic Wake Forest inconsistency.
7:22 - Good win by Illinois, basic domination from start to finish - play the winner of Penn State/Purdue, a team they got swept by and a team they swept. I'd like to see Penn State win so they can solidify their bid and also so we can see another 38-33 showdown.
7:19 - Poor Legion.
7:14 - Key word Louisville - patience!
7:12 - 13-0 run as Michigan has begun to play loosely and Illinois contracted the McCamey sleep disease.
7:03 - On that note, anyone who was claiming Weber a bad coach in his down years are eating their words now. College basketball is all about recruiting, that's it, and Weber hadn't done it well - that should have been where the criticism started and ended. Now? It's not a problem. Jerrance Howard is to thank.
7:01 - Funny how after '05 Weber has gone from offensive genius to defensive genius.
7:00 - Michigan is so not passing the "eye" test right now. Just sayin'.
6:57 - Jamal Crawford still has eligibility right?
6:55 - I may not watch enough, but does anyone think Beilein's system doesn't allow Harris enough room to do what he can? Of course he still gets it done, but he's talented enough to do it in any system, and if there's anything I've learned it's that coaches have issues forming a system around their players. Something to think about.
6:51 - Michigan is a pretty sad team when they get behind, they're just letting Illinois walk all over them...it hurts that they don't have a legitimate PG. I say they have Harris bring the ball up, decision making aside. Get something going.
6:43 - Davis is a major defensive problem for Michigan, they don't have anyone with his size, length, or athleticism to guard him. And Weber is making Michigan pay for it. On that note, do Tisdale and Davis ever miss 12-footers?
6:40 - Louisville tends to give up on their game plan to easily when they get behind, relying on jump shots rather than what they do well with their length and athleticism. This is usually spearheaded by Williams, and he needs to stop it. He needs to do what he does well - be a playmaker.
6:37 - Why doesn't Manny Harris use his talent on a guy not nearly as talented (Brock)? It makes little sense. He shows flashes of being a stud and then disappears for long stretches that Michigan can't afford. His decision making must improve.
6:32 - They bring up a good point...Villanova really is a bunch of unknowns who are all extremely talented. Not flashy (outside of Fisher's streetball moments) but they all get the job done. Although I have to ask, has Scottie Reynolds progressed much, if at all, since Freshman year?
6:30 - Three fouls on James Johnson in 10 minutes. How can Gaudio leave him in after a quick two? It amazes me how young, big guys have such problems staying out of foul trouble.
6:27 - Who else thinks Vazquez and Devendorf would be great friends?
6:24 - Which Wake team will show up today? Think it'll be the one who dominated UNC from start to finish or the one who let Jack McClinton walk all over them? So far it's the latter, but this team has no reason they shouldn't be a consistent top 5 team. Only thing they're missing is consistent outside shooting, but right now they have 3 NBA first round players in their starting lineup, no excuses.
6:21 - Shane Clark just airballed a lay-up. Yeah, it just happened.
6:19 - Remember when Louisville got killed by Western Kentucky and lost to UNLV and Minnesota? Yeah, neither do I.
6:17 - 25-24 Illinois at half, both teams visibly lacking anyone to create, and Manny Harris not surprisingly settling for jumpers rather than using his NBA-type skills.
6:15 - Legion already benched. He's a pathetic defender.
6:13 - Alex Legion is a sad case. He knows what he's doing on the floor even less than McCamey, just with less talent. He needs to let the game come to him rather than shoot as much as possible in the minutes he actually does play.
6:10 - By the way, Allan Ray's eye is still rolling around MSG.
6:09 - Villanova is definitely taking over as "Guard U", there's a never ending supply for Jay Wright and that's why he has been able to maintain such consistency. Huge fan of him.
6:05 - Louisville/Villanova is about to be a massive game. Two high powered offenses for different reasons loaded with talent at every position. Williams is underrated in my book, but his statline is as impressive as they come.
Louisville 87 Villanova 81
6:03 - I'm not a fan of McCamey running the point for more offense, he's not near smart enough to lead a team when he has no idea whath e's doing from play to play. He's a playmaker when he thinks, but it's rare.
6:01 - Everyone can learn from Davis's moves. His floaters and turn arounds are all money.
5:56 - We need to get a few "RISE AND FIRE!"s from Gus.
5:52 - Most improved player this year is definitely Mike Davis, a major reason this team won 6 more Big Ten games than last year.
5:49 - Nothing looks better than when Illinois runs their offense like they should. Weber offense is great.
5:46 - Should probably check the facts but I think Harris is the only player to have a triple-double with turnovers.
5:44 - McCamey isn't sleepwalking today, good to hear.
5:43 - 6,000 calories diet. 6,000
5:42 - Gus Johnson shout-out!
5:41 - Last year I stated - "Frazier after three years is still trying to be Dee Brown, poor form." I'm hear today to tell you I'm wrong.
5:39 - Key to the game "contain Meacham". I think I speak for most when I say huh?
5:35 - Illinois/Michigan upcoming...not having Frazier will be huge for Illinois, one of the best defenders in Big Ten and their undisputed leader. McCamey can't survive without constant guidance, let's see if his head is actually there today.
Prediction - Illinois 56 Michigan 52
4:35 - I'll be back soon...
4:30 - The possibility of two bids for the SEC is getting higher and higher, absolutely pathetic for a high major conference. Homers will say they beat each other up - yeah, bad teams beating on worse teams. None of these teams besides LSU and sometimes Tennessee deserve a bid. You know it's bad when a team goes 10-6 in their conference and has almost no chance of an at-large (Auburn).
4:27 - You know Kentucky is still relevant when the major headline of the day thus far is "KENTUCKY STRUGGLES". I guess any pub is good pub, but it's worthless to say they're "irrelevant" as a program. All great programs go through lulls (sup UNC 8-20).
4:25 - Why don't teams foul more before the ball gets into play? Sure you play for a steal, but that is very, very rare. Besides, half these teams even forget to foul when they need to and allow way too much time run off.
4:22 - Downey just, and I quote, "dribble drived". Thanks for the plug guys!
4:22 - Here comes a free throw shooting contest. It's 4:22 now, 1:29 to go. Let's see how long this takes.
4:18 - I don't know what it is, but Miss. State makes USC look like they don't know how to play basketball. They just wait for a defensive breakdown and hope it happens before the shot clock runs out, it's a sad offense. They're doing a great job not allowing Downey to dictate the game like he has done so many times this year. Again, Downey makes this team look much more talented and better coached than they are.
4:13 - Darrin Horn is a good coach, but I'm not exactly excited about the talk of him being "great" because of this turnaround. When you're left with a guard like Downey and a wing like Frederick it makes the transition much easier - besides, Dave Odom was senile by the time he left.
Also, Dennis Felton did far better at WKU than Darrin Horn did and look what happened to him. It's not always a sure thing, never is.
4:07 - If South Carolina loses here and Florida wins tonight, USC is done. Just my opinion, but when your best win in non-conference play is Baylor and you are 0-3 against the top 2 teams in the SEC, you're not deserving. I won't bother to lay any more numbers on you, although against Kentucky they did pass the "eye" test!
4:05 - Raycom can't think of a better nickname for Varnado than "Swat". That's why ESPN bought them out for a 15 year SEC deal.
4:04 - Am I the only one who immediately assumes that a guy with an arm sleeve is a good shooter?
4:01 - How can you have a team full of 3 point shooters (with NBA range), one of the best big men in the country, and a very solid freshman PG, yet not even be on the bubble for the Tournament? I realize they had some bad breaks, but that's still no excuse for this team. I guess Stansbury is still wondering why all his great players have left to go pro way too early. (Jamont Gordon, Mario Austin anyone?)
3:58 - Read my posts from last year regarding Devan Downey. Same points still apply, this guy is fantastic and is a classic case of why guards are most valuable than big men in college.
3:50 - "When a reported suggest that any UK basketball coach is a public figure with public responsibilities, Gillispie said, 'That wasn't on the job description'". Look, I know you have personality issues and whatever else may be wrong with you, but if you don't believe you need to be a public face for the most moronic fanbase on this planet, you have no clue what you're getting into.
3:48 - Not that I really care to watch, but the Ghosts of Szatko is playing America. Nice.
3:44 - The infamous "eye" test. I don't like it. If a team looks like a tournament team, but never performs like it, they're not a tournament team. It doesn't matter if you look good, it matters if you win games. That's why I get a laugh out of people discounting all the numbers used to determine the 34 at-large teams. There's a strong correlation between winning and making the tournament - figure it out.
3:42 - Losing Lighty crushed this OSU team, but let's be real. Are wins over Notre Dame, Miami, and Butler really wins to hang your hat on? Eh, I just think this team benefitted from the Big Ten beating each other up. Overrated conference in all reality, way below the ACC and Big East, yet still the third best conference. Sums up college basketball this year though.
3:40 - Kai looks like Thad Matta.
3:39 - Who's the better version of PJ Hill? Football or basketball?
3:38 - Let's get one of those whites to hit a three here, Wisconsin.
3:37 - And the dream dies. Shumpert thought there was like 30 seconds left. YOU GOTTA GO DUDE.
3:35 - And Hamilton draws up a nice play, shocking. Terrible defense though, they teach you to cut off baseline in 3rd grade man.
3:34 - Running a weave at the top of the key and running to the corner is what I'd do too Leonard.
3:34 - Leonard Hamilton timeout - using that NBA experience to draw up a nasty play.
3:33 - PEACOCK!
3:30 - I don't think we fully gave credit for how unbelievable Georgia's run in the SEC tournament was last year. Remember, they won 2 games in one day against two legitimate teams in Kentucky and Mississippi State (although Stansbury is TERRIBLE). Still unbelievable, something I'll never forget.
3:28 - How was a team (FSU) with so much talent picked to finish 10th in the ACC? Even Leonard Hamilton can't stop Douglas and crew.
3:25 - John Feinstein claims the Big Ten deserves two bids. Thanks for that, guy.
3:20 - I guess LSU. But still, come on. The recruiting advantage you get from making a Final Four should be enough to be a contender for awhile, not a complete joke. But congrats on Derrick Favors, Paul Hewitt. You've got work to do in one year to keep your job.
3:20 - Has any program that made a Final Four ever bottomed-out faster than Georgia Tech?
3:19 - Hm. I thought Bohannon graduated in '04. Pulling what is called a "Paul Davis".
3:17 - If anyone's listening, Lavin says "that's a bad 'straturgy'".
3:14 - Leonard Hamilton recruiting tip - recruit positions, not like 6 big guys and a walk-on PG. He finally got it these past two years. Must be that NBA experience! (19-63 career)
3:11 - Bo Ryan, you're a great coach, but are you ever going to try to make a Final Four? Example - stop recruiting big stiff white guys and no name guards who hit three's all day. It's not going to work. You're great, but try somethin' different for your sake and the fans. We hate watching you play.
3:09 - Georgia Tech channeling their inner Sundiata Gaines...
3:08 - It's been a few minutes since Jimmy Dykes said "violent cuts" and "hoss". Alert the media.
3:04 - Toney Douglas transferred from Auburn after his freshman year because they wouldn't let him play PG...good choice, Jeff Lebo. (Who did a great job with Auburn this year, for what it's worth)
3:01 - Why is the Big Ten consistently so boring? Over the past 3-4 years they've consistently been the slowest (possessions/game) in the country. A high major conference at that, get with it dudes.
2:59 - By the way, thanks for the season Kentucky, it was great, really. Meeks has his worst game of the year, Patterson continues his getting blocked party. Good luck on testing the waters guys, they're not going to tell you want you want.
2:52 - And we're back. Get ready for another Seth Greenberg meltdown about missing the tournament, folks, should be a good one. On another ACC note, it's pretty hilarious that Leonard Hamilton might get CoTY. I mean seriously, dude's brought in more talent than almost anyone in the country in the past years and has done even less with it than Mark Gottfried had. Two dynamic coaches there, hope you're having fun at home, Mark.
