I didn't see the end of the Gator game, but congrats to the Gators and congrats to the SEC on landing 3 teams in the Elite 8. I gotta say though, the real story of the tournament is South Carolina. North Carolina and Kansas have the horses to run, but South Carolina is playing tremendous team defense. They are just physically kicking the **** out of people. They put the beat down on a Duke team that was every bit as good, if not better, than North Carolina. Then they followed that with another beat down of a very athletic Baylor team. It's not fun and gun. It's not sexy. However, it's real effective.
Thanks, no it didn't hurt me in the contest at all. The only time I ever won this contest was the first time the Gators went all the way and they put me over the top. I have them going all the way again so we shall see. South Carolina indeed looks very good, once they got hot against Duke they have been unbeatable. They led the SEC this year for over half the year, at one time by two games. But they stumbled down the stretch and tournament but have taken off in the Big Dance. I hope we can stop them later today. I think Kentucky gets by NC. which would put two SEC teams in the Final Four.
Oregon very impressive in their win over Kansas! Eight blocked shots by the Duck's big man was unbelievable!
Oregon losing a starter and still doing this in the tourney. Great run by the Ducks. But "Fighting Ducks" I don't think such a thing exists. Fighting Irish...all over the place, esp when drunk!
Have you ever gotten close to a female duck's nest? I have. They can be very mean when protecting their own. The males, I don't know.
Oregon actually lost their big man in the P12 tourney. This is the 'other' big man they had down low who is tearing up the tourney. South Carolina continues to impress as they currently hold a 4 point lead over Florida with 24 seconds left.
I heard the So.Carolina Coach on XM earlier this week. I liked him, he said So. Carolina is not the place for you if you don't want to play old school...defense, get the ball down low to the post and attack the rim make the chipin or get fouled. No 4 guards bombing 3's from the outside for him. So it's 1) Pac12 team, 1)ACC team and 1) SEC team and 1) Mid Major. Sounds about right. I'm hoping for a Gonzaga win.
I would say vs. SC that UF sorely missed their big man Egbunu today. Could have used his defense and rebounding as he was UF's leading rebounder when he went down. Their bigs were too much at the end.
Since 2006 North Carolina has the most Elite 8 appearances (7).... tied with one other team: Florida I like what I see with Mike White in his 2nd season at UF. Hopefully he can have continued success like this and help us to get past not having Billy D on the bench.
No doubt Mike White has done an excellent job with the Gators. Now that he's shown that he's a quality coach, I wonder if the Gators will now start attracting the one and done NBA kids like Kentucky. BTW Kentucky has, again, the #1 recruiting class coming in for 2017/18 season 5 or 6 McDonalds AA's and at least 3 of them sure NBA lottery picks.
I used to think that Calipari had a couple of lucky freakishly good seasons coaching these one and doners to great success a few years back. Now he does it so consistently almost year after year that I have to give him credit.... not so much for being able to recruit them but for his ability to mold them into a high quality team especially when March comes around. No question that the two best teams I saw on TV this weekend were UK and NC yesterday.
I wouldn't disagree, but I'd add a third team...Oregon, whose defense completely dismantled the team (Kansas) many thought would win it all.
And yet the oddsmakers have Gonzaga as a slight favorite over the heels to take it all. I'll take the heels myself.
I like the Zags, but you can't discount the NCAA Final Four experience of UNC. I'm surprised they aren't the favorites. On the women's side there isn't a person on the planet who doesn't think UCONN will with it's 5th in a row. And consider this, their top 3 players all of them AA's, are Sophmores. They could run their winning streak to 200 games and 7 straight NC's. Of course the law of averages is eventually get them, they will play another team who is good and have an off night. But right now it's hard to look forward and see anybody else winning the NCAA title on the womens side.
AP All American team is out, and Frank Mason of KU is the Player of the Year. Swanigan of Pudue is 1st team AA along with Mason of course, Hart of Nova, Ball of UCLA, and Jackson of UNC. ND's Bonzie Colson is a 3rd team AA. http://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/kansas-frank-mason-iii-is-ap-player-of-the-year-unanimous-all-america-selection/
Of the 15, there are 3 I haven't seen play (Baylor, Washington, and Arizona), so I can't comment, but I would not argue with any of the remaining 12 selections. I also would not dispute the choice of Mason as POY.