Did any of you guys see the end of the Syracuse/Pitt game last night? I watched some of the 1st half then got doing some other things and went back to it later when there was only a little more than a minute left. Very tight game, Syracuse scored to take a 1 point lead and Pitt came back and got fouled and made both shots to take a 1 point lead...only 4 secs left and Syracuse Freshman guard runs the ball up the court and launched one from 35 feet or more that swished right after the buzzer sounded. It was clearly out of his hands before the buzzer. Unbelieveable ending...Pitt was stunned they couldn't believe they lost it, they had lead the entire game. except for that 1 pt 'Cuse lead with under a minute to go. I see other Skyboxer teams are doing well. The Gators are looking like the class of the SEC even over the Kentucky HS All-Star group that Cal has assembled in Lexington. They will likely be a #1 seed. Ohio State after being in the top 5 has struggled mightly in B10 play, Michigan has recently gotten hot recently, Iowa is a top 25 team, Michigan State looks like they will be in the hunt for a #1 or #2 seed. Purdue is struggling in conference play, not sure if they are young or what. Irish are struggling big time, may not have a winning record although recent win over Clemson was a good win, but they need to finish strong and get at least 1 ACC tourney win to even hope for the NIT. Arizona looks like the class of the Pac12. March Madness is not that far off. I wonder when Joel will announce his final four.
final 4.... I normally announce at beginning of play of the 65. However, I will start early and give you 2 ...Pitt and Mich State. Hopefully they wont be in same bracket :roll:
Lots of buzz on online sports sites about UF maybe being the best team in the country right now after last nights big win over the Cats. I think it's possible they may be right.
Yeah.... UF lost by a point at UConn without a couple of players and then at Wisconsin without a couple of players ( suspensions ) as well for the Gator's only two losses. NC State should have had those guys last night at Syracuse but came up short for the Orangemen's second one point win in a row and meanwhile UF was ending Ky's 22 game home winning streak by 10 points. That's why the pundits are touting UF today as maybe the best in a season where no team looks completely dominant. No matter.... the key is getting a no. 1 seed for the tourney and lots of work left to be done for that goal.
A couple of things. Best in the nation, of course a lot of people would disagree with whoever is picked. But at least one oddsmaker has Florida, Syracuse and Kansas all listed as 6-1. Odds To Win The Big Dance Makes me happy. Terry, did you see the escape that Syracuse had over NC State last night? They just keep pulling off miracle after miracle.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Men's_Division_I_Basketball_Championship#Teams_.231_in_national_polls Interesting question Terry... No argument with 2012 Kentucky... they were very strong coming in to the tourney. I have to wonder why 2007 Florida in the second year of their back-to-back championships were not ranked #1 when they were the overall #1 seed in the tournament.
MCG, in 2007 we had lost a couple of games late in the 2007 season including a real thrashing by Tennessee and the voters put a team, I don't remember who, with a better record on top, but the committee ranked us #1 in the tourney.
Terry, I don't know how many but the number 1 team frequently does not win. 20012 Kentucky did and I imagine during UCLA's run they were frequently ranked number 1. Heck it's not often that all the number 1 seeds get to the Final Four.
Yeah that Kentucky team was pretty awesome. I think it's interesting that after that season everybody was thinking a HS All-Star team of 1 and done's was the way to go, not that many teams could put together modern day fab 5 classes, but the very next year Kentucky had an insane number of highly ranked/McDonald's AA's and didn't do all that well. Same thing this eyar increcredible freshman class, but a older more mature Gator team, but not as highly rated in terms of NBA Top Draft picks are a much better team than Kentucky. Some say that is why so many mid majors are doing well, they don't get the players who are heading to the NBA after 1 year or even 2 years, so they are more likely to be Sr. lead teams with maturity.
Right you are Bill: ( from Wikipedia ) The Gators locked up the SEC regular season Championship relatively early in the 2006–07 season and were in possession of a 24–2 record before going on a late-February 1–3 skid that mirrored their 0–3 run a year earlier. For the second season in a row, the losses in February would be their last. Florida closed out Kentucky on Senior Night to end the regular season 26–5, and won their third straight SEC Tournament Championship with relative ease, beating Georgia, Ole Miss, and Arkansas 77–56. They were indeed the number one overall seed heading in to the tourney. This team seems headed also for wrapping up the SEC regular season early so I hope they don't have a similar letdown.
Syracuse goes down to Boston College in OT. Shockers only undefeated team at this point. Season is rapidly drawing to a close. Should be an interesting NCAA Tournament.
The Gators seemed tired last night but I love the way they persevered over a hot shooting Auburn team and won anyway.... showing poise at the end that Auburn did not have. I am getting to be very optimistic about this UF team's chances in the NCAA tournament.
Syracuse had been flirting with losses for a week or so, needing last second scores to beat Pitt and NC State. They were primed for the loss, and BC isn't a very good team. As we all know it's all about being ready for the tourney run, you can have an outstanding regular season but if you can't get on a run at the end and play your best you'll be out pretty quick.
So UF is now ranked #1. Unless they tank mysteriously or have crucial injuries I will be going with the Gators as the champion in my NCAA bracket pools. Normally I am pretty cautious putting my heart where my money is but it's fun to win a pool when I have done so with UF even though as I say I avoid doing that most years. Might as well go along for the ride and see what happens. Go Gators!!